This past week, Q-line asked: “Do you support recalling Gov. Gray Davis from office? Why or why not?”
Here are your responses: ■ “I don’t like Gray Davis but the people behind this recall are even worse. The recall is an abuse of the process that is being perpetrated by a bunch of right-wing zealots and opportunists. These opportunists are trying to take over California by stealth. The recall must be opposed.” ■ “If a recall election were held today, I would vote no. For one thing, a fall special election is estimated to cost $25 million or more. Recall supporters don’t want the election to be part of the March 2004 Democratic Primary, an election that would cost much less because they fear too many Democrats will be at the polls. Even though I don’t want the recall, I think there is a good chance one will occur. I work for a public opinion poll and the people I interviewed for it were panting to oust Davis. The big problem now is that the Democrats do not have a candidate for that election except Davis. And with his 22 percent approval rating, I think he may very well be turned out. California Democrats should face their situation and urge U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein or Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante to run. Otherwise California will have another Republican governor, such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Richard Riordan or Rep. Darrell Issa, a multi-millionaire who is the number one financial resource behind the recall drive.” ■ “I support recalling Gov. Davis, but since this is a one-party state — Democrat — I would support recalling Barbara Boxer, Dianne Feinstein, Cruz Bustamante and all the other Democrats that have led us into the fiscal mess we’re now in.” ■ “I do not support recalling Gov. Davis from office. Only because it’s not his fault because of the budget deficit. The fault is the government of the United States. Our so-called elected president has created this whole problem. It’s not only California, it’s most of the states in the union. Recalling Gov. Davis will not change anything.” ■ “Davis has shown again and again that he is unfit to remain in office. He lacks leadership abilities and has spent us into the poorhouse. It’s time to go Mr. Davis.” ■ “California fiscal problems have more to do with the Bush gang retaking Washington D.C. than Gray Davis. There are wealthy entities in the United States who have tightened their enormous purse-strings to display their contempt for the Bush takeover. Still, wealthy people have one thing in common: greed. When the red ink starts to flow on to the bottomline, the cash will start to flow again. When the cash flows, taxes flow. Then the economy will stabilize to business as usual.” ■ “I do believe Gov. Davis should be recalled. He does not account for the $38 billion in the last five years. We can’t afford to have another $38 billion if we keep him in office for the next three years.” ■ “No I don’t support the recall. There’s no basis for it. The economy is part of the cause for the California budget deficit. And the energy crisis, the causes of which were contributed to by Enron and the Republican response to it and Bush and his jokers. The recall is a joke and it should be turned down. Anyone with enough money can get something on the ballot.” ■ “Why not recall Gray Davis? If they can recall Art Harris and Kelly Olson by the Santa Monica City Council, why not put in all the repressive politicians?” ■ “Gray Davis? No I don’t recall Gray Davis.” ■ “Yes I support a recall effort. I definitely think lying about weapons of mass destruction to the people merits recall from office.” ■ “Voters realize complacency will dictate what happens. What the Republicans are counting on is that all the people who are happy with Gov. Davis aren’t gonna go out and vote because it will be too much trouble. And all the Republicans who want Davis out will, thereby ensuring that Davis is removed and Issa or somebody else will be put in power. This is a big waste of time and money.” ■ “Absolutely. Because he is the leader of the Democratic Party here in California and through that time an energy bill was crafted that guaranteed the type of crisis that was created. Clearly Gov. Davis has been leading the charge to bankrupt this state. Now we’re in a hole and he should go.” ■ “The recall for Gov. Davis is absurd. We just had an election. Davis won. We’re already in a budget crisis, not all because of Davis’ government, but because of 9-11, the economy and so forth. To waste valuable time and money on a recall is absurd.” ■ “Yes I am in favor of recalling Davis. I did sign the recall petition. I think Davis is trying to make a big thing out of this $25 million. He should have thought about that five years ago when he started running for office. He has done more harm in his five years than any one governor in the State of California. I wouldn’t vote for him if was the last man on Earth.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 11, 2003. Read the original PDF.