Burnt Orange Report

August 08, 2003

CA Democratic Stupidity

By Byron LaMasters

I know I'm not really one to talk. Here in Texas we have no statewide Democratic elected officials. Over there in California they've got only Democratic statewide elected officials. Democrats control both chambers of the legislature in California, and none in Texas. Fine. But based on the past week, I have no clue how the California Democratic Party managed to sweep the state in 2002. No clue.

The stupidity of the party of the past couple of weeks is absurd. Davis should have handpicked a replacement candidate (Feinstein, Bustamente, etc.) for himself, and got every major Democrat to endorse that candidate in the second part of the ballot. Throughout the campaign the two of them could have run on a ticket of "Recall: No, Bustamente/Feinstein/etc: Yes!". Against a divided field, a 35-40% reliably Democratic vote would have at least won the second round of the balloting.

Instead, Davis showed no leadership, just like our bitch, err Governor Perry. Too bad Texas doesn't have a recall mechanism, but I digress. So instead of doing what would be in his and in the Party's best interests, Davis decided to rely on the courts to stop the recall and allow him to be on the replacement ballot. Someone should have talked some sense into him. One, going to the courts looks desperate. And, two, it didn't do him any good. (And before one of my conservative readers makes the comment that Texas Democrats are going to the courts and thus the preceding comments apply to them, I would respond by saying 1. The Texas Democrats have nothing to lose in going to the courts. The Texas Republicans are doing it, too. And none of the Texas 11 have much to worry about in re-election. In fact, there is a potential to lose 6-8 congressmen if they don't fight tooth and nail, and 2. There is a distinct possibility that going to the courts will do the Texas Democrats some good).

So, where did all this leave the California Democrats? Well, Arnold decides to run and the party decides that Davis is toast. Instead of coming up with a coordinated plan of how to deal with it, though, the situations spirals into chaos. Bustamente runs. Then Garamendi runs. Who knows who will run tomorrow. Most of us Democrats would agree that the recall is wrong, but the California Democrats strategy of fighting it is idiotic. Texas Democrats may not have figured out how to win a statewide office, but at least we know how to fight like hell against Republican power grabs.

Posted by Byron LaMasters at August 8, 2003 03:32 AM | TrackBack

Comments

Maybe Bustamente and Garamendi should have just gone to Nevada and held out a protest instead. That's how you get things done in politics isn't it? Running and hiding as opposed to doing what you were elected?

Posted by: Josh at August 8, 2003 02:51 AM

Well Josh, I don't know what you're talking about, as my state senator, Gonzalo Barrientos is doing exactly what I'd like for him to do. I'm very proud of my represtation.

Posted by: ByronUT at August 8, 2003 03:11 AM

So instead of doing what would be in his and in the Party's best interests, Davis decided

Well, you answered your own question there, Byron - Davis is a selfish, corrupt bastard.

By the way, you can make a similar case for the national DemocratIC Party in 1999-2000 - if Clinton had resigned upon impeachment, Al Gore would definitely be sitting in the White House today. Note, I am NOT making a case for Clinton's resignation, other than in the same tactical sense Davis faces today.

Posted by: Mark Harden at August 8, 2003 07:29 AM

It's kind of fun to watch this implosion, though. I mean, the Progressives bequeathed us the sorts of direct-democratic reforms being put to good use in California, and they were major advocates of substantive judicial activism. Watching the two mechanisms employed on the same issue is just fascinating!

Posted by: Kevin Whited at August 8, 2003 09:01 AM

It should be noted, Kevin, that while the reforms you speak of are indeed from the progressive era, that the specifics of the Initiave & Referendum movement in California began with governor Hiram Johnson ... a Progressive Republican (also ran as Teddy Roosevelt's running mate on the Bull Moose ticket). Your glee over the irony is a bit off the mark.

Posted by: Greg Wythe at August 8, 2003 10:48 AM

... and it must be Friday if I can't spell "initiative" to save my life.

Posted by: Greg Wythe at August 8, 2003 10:48 AM

my state senator, Gonzalo Barrientos is doing exactly what I'd like for him to do
As an Arizona Resident the Texas Senators are not representing me the way I see fit. Its time for some new priorities! Time for a recall!

Posted by: Josh at August 8, 2003 12:04 PM

Josh,

I don't know if you notice, but they are TEXAS SENATORS. I don't think a Texas Senator would really care about AZ issues. Texas senators will not represent your issues because you live in another state, or they will give you a phone number of a state senator in you state. That's why you have your own senators in your state.

Posted by: Mike at August 8, 2003 12:30 PM

Well, Greg, I can't spell representation, so you're not the only one.

Posted by: ByronUT at August 8, 2003 12:56 PM

Mike, I was making a joke man, lighten up.

Posted by: Josh at August 8, 2003 09:19 PM

This just in - Garamendi is out of the race... says it's a "circus".

... and then there was one (Democrat).

Go Cruz Go! Go Cruz Go!

Posted by: Jim D at August 9, 2003 06:11 PM

Yeah, it's looking a lot better now. Even if Arnold catches fire, I think that most Dems will stick with Cruz. Go Cruz!

Posted by: ByronUT at August 10, 2003 01:06 AM

News, Politics, and Fun From Deep in the Heart of Texas

August 08, 2003

CA Democratic Stupidity

By Byron LaMasters