response 201 of 264:

Sep 6 20:48 UTC 2003

I don't want to buy it as it is - not without a substantial discount which
overwhelms the BTU loss at least, which I never see.

response 203 of 264:

Sep 7 08:42 UTC 2003

From cnn.com, presidential candidate Howard Dean campaigns with Gray 
Davis in California:

"LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Presidential candidate Howard Dean 
Saturday urged Californians to vote against the effort to oust Gov. 
Gray Davis, calling it part of a plan by right-wing Republicans to 
subvert democracy. 

"I think this is the fourth attempt to undermine democracy in this 
country by the right wing of the Republican Party since the 2000 
elections," said Dean. 

Other examples, he said, were the refusal by the "conservative-
dominated United States Supreme Court" to order a recount of the votes 
in Florida during the 2000 presidential election and separate GOP-led 
redistricting efforts in Colorado and Texas that could result in a loss 
of seats currently held by Democrats. 

"I believe the right wing of the Republican Party is deliberately 
undermining the democratic underpinnings of this country," Dean told a 
news conference. 

"I believe they do not care what Americans think and they do not accept 
the legitimacy of our elections and have now, for the fourth time in 
the fourth state, attempted to do what they can to remove democracy 
from America." 

Davis expressed optimism that the voters would allow him to serve out 
his term. 

"This recall is nothing more than an attempt by Republicans financed by 
the right wing to steal an election they could not win. They lost fair 
and square and, I believe, at the end of the day, voters will do the 
right thing." 

Although Davis expressed gratitude for Dean's support, he did not 
reciprocate when asked whether he would support Dean's bid for the 
Democratic nomination for president. 

"I'm taking one election at a time," he said. 

Only after the October 7 recall vote will he decide whom to support for 
the Democratic presidential nomination, Davis said. But, he added about 
the former Vermont governor, "he has precisely the right experience to 
be president." 

The recall effort picked up steam when, shortly after he was elected to 
a second term as governor last year, Californians were told they faced 
a $38 billion deficit. 

Dean said it would be unfair to hold Davis wholly responsible for the 
state's budget deficit, which has since been pared to $8 billion. 

"The deficit that was incurred last year is directly traceable to the 
president of the United States' extraordinary financial policy in which 
he managed to turn the largest surplus in the history of America into 
the largest deficit in the history of America in only two-and-a-half 
years," he said. 

Davis said that since George W. Bush became president, the country has 
lost 3.3 million jobs, equivalent to 3,500 jobs per day. (Full story) 

Asked whether his presidential bid might be adversely affected by his 
support for Davis, Dean responded, "I don't care. My trademark is I say 
what I think, for better or for worse." 

He added, "I'm tired of having this country run by the right wing. That 
is not where most people are in this country, and I think we ought not 
to put up with this anymore." 

Asked whether he believed the White House was involved in the effort to 
unseat Davis, Dean said, "Absolutely. I think [Bush chief political 
adviser] Karl Rove and George Bush have their hand in this." 

The White House has said it is not involved in the race. 

Although Dean is the first of the nine Democratic presidential 
candidates to stump for Davis, all have signed a letter opposing the 
recall effort and others will soon follow Dean's lead, Davis predicted"

Now you can start to understand why Dean is gaining such support among 
Democratic party activists.  Will the other presidential candidates 
stand up and be counted?  I'm waiting to see Kerry, Gephardt and 
Leiberman come out to California and stand next to Davis and call 
things the way they are!

response 205 of 264:

Sep 7 18:08 UTC 2003

  Yes.  Apparently in California more voting = less democracy..

response 207 of 264:

Sep 7 21:19 UTC 2003

i dunno, ah-null is pretty funny.

response 209 of 264:

Sep 8 08:05 UTC 2003

you're right...he is not funny at all.

response 213 of 264:

Sep 8 17:20 UTC 2003

"A vast right-wing conspiracy."

response 215 of 264:

Sep 9 16:25 UTC 2003

I am surprised no one has made a film short called "Total Gubernatorial 
Recall" starring Arnold Schwartzenegger. 

response 217 of 264:

Sep 10 23:23 UTC 2003

Such a film couldn't be shown on TV at the moment due to equal time
provisions, but there have certainly been lots of "total recall" jokes here.

response 219 of 264:

Sep 11 13:21 UTC 2003

I've heard support for the recall is waning.  Heh.  Gray Davis will 
cite it as a mandate of support for his policies if it fails.  I don't 
care; that would be better than the aftermath if the recall succeeds.

response 221 of 264:

Sep 11 15:06 UTC 2003

I hope that effort fails.  Recall is a way of removing someone -before-
their term expires.  Waiting for a regularly scheduled election may be
fine for someone serving a four or six year term, but it's useless for
someone on a two-year term.

response 223 of 264:

Sep 11 16:49 UTC 2003

I don't have any problem with a recall vote ("election") being held as soon
as feasible.  The part I find insane is holding a simultaneous "successor
election".  I hope that Michigan has no such arrangement.

response 225 of 264:

Sep 11 19:32 UTC 2003

Re #223: I don't think that concept is bad, necessarily.  Why wait?  I
do think that California set the bar for getting on the ballot a bit
low.  Ideally you'd want only serious candidates, not the ridiculous
number that are on there now.