Were today's recall events part of a Democratic plan in California?

[Democat]

Here is what happened today, is this right:

1. News reports say Arnold will not run.
2. Feinstein releases statement saying she won't run.
3. Arnold announces that he is going to run after all.
4. Cruz Bustamante announces he is going to run.

I believe this is the order that the events unfolded in, though I'm not positive about the order of numbers 1 and 2.

What I'm wondering is who was bluffing who, and who won the game today?

Did Arnold trick Feinstein into saying she won't run by floating fake rumors he wouldn't?

Did Feinstein trick Arnold into running because she thinks he'll have a harder time winning that Riordan?

Was Bustamante waiting for Feinstein to push Arnold into running because Democrats believe Bustamante can beat Arnold but not Riordan?

Was Arnold bluffing all along about not running to confuse Democrats?

Would Bustamante really have announced he's running only a few hours after Arnold if it really wasn't planned in advance?

Is Davis involved in any of this strategy?

Is there any plan at all or was this all just chaos like the rest of the recall?

I'm hoping there is some Democratic plan to make sure that we hold onto the office that we won in a valid election a year ago.

Does anyone have any opinions on what was really going on and who won the game today?

[ronnykmarshall]

1. Cruz is running?

Where did you hear this?

As to Arnold, I think you're right. I don't believe for one minute that Dianne was going to run ..... I wanted her to, but the buzz around town was that Arnold would not run. I was actually suprised when they annouced it on the radio when I was on the way home. Ironically the DJ was saying how tacky it was for him to go on Leno and announce we was running.

Do you have any other info about Cruz??

[Democat]

2. There are a number of articles

Cruz Bustamante becomes first prominent Democrat to announce plans to run for governor

Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante announced late Wednesday he plans to take out papers as a candidate for governor in the Oct. 7 recall election targeting Democratic Gov. Gray Davis, making Bustamante the first politician to abandon the effort to keep prominent fellow Democrats off the ballot.

Bustamante, the first Hispanic to hold statewide office in California in more than a century, said in a faxed statement he planned to pick up candidacy papers at 10 a.m. Thursday in Sacramento.

"He will get his papers and file them tomorrow," Bustamante spokeswoman Lynn Montgomery said Wednesday night.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2003/08/06/state0141EDT0338.DTL

[Perky]

5. everyone had plans

If Riordan has jump in Feinstein could justify jumping in. Since she jumped in Arnold jumped in. Arnold and Riordan are buddies and I suspect they were in cahoots.

When Feinstein jumps out....Arnild Jumped out and as a result there was more pressure for a Dem to jump in.

I am suprised Cruz jumped first. I was really hoping for Leon Panetta but did not campaign


So

Simon 10%
Arnold 15%
McClintock 15%
Issa 15%

Huffington/Flynt/coleman 5%

Bustamante 30%
Garamendi 5%

On the Recall Vote 45% will vote for Gray Davis He loses but will have gotten more votes than anyone else

[slackmaster]

3. No, Democrats have no coherent plan in CA

Democratic Party leaders and prominent politicians are making a huge strategic blunder by not getting behind one backup candidate to prevent a Republican takeover in case Davis gets the boot.

Did Arnold trick Feinstein into saying she won't run by floating fake rumors he wouldn't?

Feinstein's decision to not run is a no-brainer for a very brainy woman like her. In the US Senate she can make things happen. Why would she trade that for a chance to become governor of a state with a major fiscal crisis and a brewing right-wing takeover?

Was Arnold bluffing all along about not running to confuse Democrats?

I think Arnold Schwarzenegger has played the media for his own benefit.

Does anyone have any opinions on what was really going on and who won the game today?

The TV people and Hollywood won. I suggest you prepare yourself to vote in October, and for now sit back and watch events unfold for their entertainment value.

[Walt Starr]

4. There is no plan on either side of the aisle

This is Chaos, baby.

We are now seeing an active and thriving anrichy reigning in California. Wilie Brown is prepared to bankroll the recall of the recaller and you can bet your boots that the Repukes will do the same.

We've spiralled into total chaos and anarchy in one of the largest economies in the world. The effects of this will ripple across the world. Nobody will go unscathed.

[Perky]

6. Ok chicken little

the sky is not falling


We will be fine.

[Hubert Flottz]

7. You Wish!

I agree Walt! This is out of hand! Should be on Jerry Springer instead of Jay Lono!

[Walt Starr]

10. IT will defiitely have economic repercussions

There is now no way to avoid it, and because the California economy is so large and plays such a role in the U.S. economy, and thus the global economy, this affects the entire world.

[ibegurpard]

8. I can definitely see it having the effect of completely turning

people off of voting. Of course, the pukes will get out to vote if they have to get off their deathbeds to do it.

[Hubert Flottz]

9. Even if the rethugs don't get out to vote!

Their votes will count on the new world order vote tabulation system anyway! The Democrats who do go to the polls won't count!