Davis Gathers Allies at San Fran Rally

[Nambe]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP)

Embattled Gov. Gray Davis tried to galvanize allies Saturday against an apparently inevitable recall election, casting the effort as a Republican power grab at a "unity rally" with other prominent California Democrats.

"They are trying to spend $60 million to have a special election to recall all the progress you and I have made in the last four and a half years," Davis told about 500 cheering supporters in this Democratic bastion. "This is not about changing governors but about changing the direction -- I'll go forward, they'll go backward."

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi was among the California Democrats showing support at the rally, which came days ahead of a key deadline that recall proponents hope will trigger a recall election this autumn. ---

[Cha]

1. I hope Davis convinces those Californians that he will indeed "go

forward and the repugs will go backwards", as usual!

:kick:

[Jack Rabbit]

2. That's one tact he can take

It will resonate with those inclined to support Davis. A lot of good that will do! Davis needs to convince people who don't like him that much to vote against the recall as well.

A "see what a great governor I am" won't do it by itslef. Indeed, given Davis' approval ratings, it might not even do it. Davis must also remind voters that the consequence of removing him from office would lower the bar for recall. A recall is a more serious matter than an ordinary general election. A governor should only be rcalled for serious wrongdoiong. No serious wrongdoing has been shown; the backers of the recall are not even attempting to show any. This is a partisan abuse of the recall process.

If Darrell Issa were governor and were being recalled for no better reasons than he is seeking to recall Davis, would we support the effort? As uncomfortable as it is for some DUers to contemplate it, it would be just as wrong to support the recall of a hypothetical Governor Issa under those circumstances.

[Democat]

3. We will recall anyone who takes over the state

Forget about what was previously right and wrong. The Republicans are changing the rules. If the Republicans steal the office, then we will take it back using any legal means possible.

This is not about right or wrong, this is about winning. We won, they lost, and now they're trying to steal what they lost. Where have we heard this story before from the right wingers? When they lose, they try to steal what is not theirs.

No matter what happens, we cannot let them win. They must be punished for trying this and Democrats must do everything legally possible to punish them, regardless of whether some people think it's "right" or not.

We can only win if we are willing to get just as dirty as they are. Being a nice loser means nothing in politics.

[tlb]

4. How are the republicans changing any rules ?

The recall procedure has been in place for a century, and applied over thirty times against officeholders of both parties. The only difference is this time the officeholder has been such a failure that the recall has a good chance of succeeding. Blame Davis for this, not the " rules ".

Instead of focusing on revenge it might be more productive to give the voters a candidate such as Nancy Pelosi's suggestion of Leon Panetta. Someone the voters could rally around. Frankly I can't see any circumstances here that make Gray Davis worth a perpetual war.

That being said, I think the California dems will play it your way. Scorched earth is pretty stupid when it's your own turf though.

[haymaker]

6. All right, I'll bite....

trying to blame Gray Davis for the EXACT thing that is inflicting every state and the FEDS (see $455 billion defecit) as well is nothing more than the usual Repuk bullshit. Everything counts except for them. It is horseshit, and if you parrot it you are horseshit.

California is the biggest state, was hit harder than any other by the downturn in the tech sector, was extorted by Bush's buddies in the fake energy crisis, was hit hard by the phoney dot-com "laddering" scheme, and had a huge security problem after 9/11.

If you would so kindly pull your head out of your ass and realize that Gray Davis has done what amounts to a quite respectable job under the circumstances, then I would gladly not tell you what I really think of all you posers pretending to be Dems while at the same time trying to bring down Davis.

Now is the time when I tell you to eff off.

[Democat]

7. The law was written nearly 100 years ago and not intended for this purpose

The Republicans used big money and brought people in from outside the state to exploit an old law to try to overthrow the legally elected government.

You can explain it or spin it anyway you want, but you can also say that Clinton lying about sex was worthy of impeachment. Just because something can be done legally does not mean the law was meant to be applied in that way. This is nothing short of an attemted coup by the right wingers who are mad that they couldn't win in a legal election.

The Republicans are trying to overturn a legally elected governor with money and lies.

The only response to this type of corruption is to fight back with full force.

I would also be interested to know what your opinion on Clinton and Reagan are?

[Judi Lynn]

5. Great observation from Nancy Pelosi

(snip) Pelosi belittled the recall as "part of a national Republican agenda to achieve through the recall what they can't achieve in an election." (snip)

Here's another article, from an area paper:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Gov. Davis comes to San Francisco to rally support


Posted on Sat, Jul. 19, 2003

Gov. Davis comes to San Francisco to rally support
By Putsata Reang
Mercury News

Playing the most visible role yet in the effort to save his own job, Gov. Gray Davis on today took center stage at his first anti-recall rally, backed by a brigade of high-profile Democrats at an event in San Francisco.

Davis and his supporter are feverishly trying to thwart a recall election that could be certified as early as Wednesday when counties are required to verify signatures gathered by the recall committee. The campaign must have 897,158 valid names to qualify the recall for the ballot, and indications are that they have exceeded that number.

``This election is not about changing governors. It's about changing directions,'' Davis told the crowd of about 500 supporters. ``They want to go backwards. We want to go forward.''

Davis was joined by Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco and Terry McAuliffe, chairman of the Democratic National Committee. McAuliffe announced Thursday that the committee promises financial support to save the governor's job.

``We're going to commit whatever it takes. This is too important of a state for us,'' McAuliffe said. ``We'll have the funds.'' (snip/...)

http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/news/6342393.htm