Reply #34: Too late.

[deurbano]

But the damage has already been done… She helped make him more palatable to even (too many) Democrats during the recall/election. Plus… I believe he was actually an underlying reason for the recall. When Republican operatives saw the low turnout numbers in the 2002 gubernatorial election-- and the low approval ratings (much of that courtesy of the damage Enron, etc., did to our state) for Davis—they knew they had the ability to gather enough signatures (the number required is based on turnout in the previous election) for a recall vote. A couple of operatives have even admitted that the recall idea came to them in November, 2002, right after his reelection, since they could see “success” was possible—democracy and elections be damned. And I think, all along, they hoped to slip in Maria’s husband (who wouldn’t have made it through a primary, given the radical rightwingedness of the CA Republican party), assuming (correctly) his Star Power (and Kennedy connection) could carry the day, and put a Republican back in the governor’s seat.

There was much less time for the usual vetting: the Sec. of State verified a sufficient number of valid recall petition signatures on July 23, 2003; the next day, the Lt. Gov. said the recall vote would be held on Oct. 7th; on August 6th, Maria’s husband announced he was running; and the coup/install a new leader vote occurred two months later. Leno and Oprah gave their friends a huge (free) forum during the “campaign” (which was more like a tour to promote a movie)… and it was all so EXCITING… and poor Davis just didn’t have the charisma to fight all that media hype and frenzy-- and relentless, free publicity. (And let’s not forget the pivotal role played by the wealthy Republican Darrell Issa, who bankrolled the recall drive, apparently under the delusion HE would be the next governor.)

And doncha just love how the Republicans HATE any Hollywood celebrities with a political opinion (“Sbut Up and Sing!”), except when they are busy drooling over (and trying to elect!) whatever inexperienced, incompetent REPUBLICAN Hollywood celebrity they can scrape up?

Plus, there is this:
http://www.salon.com/news/politics/republican_party/index.html?story=/politics/war_room/2011/04/28/arnold_amendment_foreign_born

Arnold was raised by a NAZI (which made the father, at one time, an actual enemy of our country): http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/2003-08-24-arnold-father_x.htm

Obama met his father only once (over a two week period when he was in 5th grade in Hawaii) after his parents split up when he was a toddler:
http://www.newsweek.com/2008/08/22/on-his-own.html

To summarize:

If you are born and raised in another country (that has been at war with the US) by a Nazi father (a one time enemy of the US)-- and have achieved the fame and power that you have achieved because of a body that was (admittedly) enhanced by steroids (War on Drugs anyone?), and are a known serial cheater (Family Values, anyone?)-- Republicans will (in a dangerous and cynical manipulation of the political process) mount a recall effort to remove an actual American (Bronze Star) veteran (who has JUST been reelected to a second term) in order to put you in power… and even try to get the Constitution changed so you can be president! (As long as you are a Republican- especially an Aryan -- they don't care where you were born or who you father was…. not to mention whether you have abused drugs or repeatedly committed adultery.)

On the other hand... If you are a black man, though raised almost entirely by a white mother and white grandparents (including the grandfather who was your main father figure-- a man who served in the US military in WWII on OUR side, not as a Nazi storm trooper)... and were born in THIS country... and only spent four years (ages 6-10) in Indonesia, while otherwise being raised entirely in THIS country... and you only saw your African father ONCE in your life after you were a toddler, and never even visited Kenya (a country that was not an enemy of the US in two World Wars) until you were an adult (and your father was already dead)... you can NEVER be considered a legitimate president because you are BLACK and NOT a Republican. (Well, just being a Democrat, as Bill Clinton can attest, is enough to make you illegitimate as president, but the Black/African heritage means you aren’t even a “natural born” citizen—but no one will be proposing any constitutional amendments on your behalf…)

I think Maria hoped to get another Kennedy (sorta) in the White House… or, at least, another Kennedy in the Senate. (Don’t need the amendment for that one.) When she realized her husband’s disastrous legacy as governor would preclude either of those possibilities, she decided to bail. (Obviously, I’m just guessing about any motivations behind the separation, but I do hold her partially accountable for the mess we are in, since I don’t think he could have become governor without her.)

Sorry for the rant. I am still bitter about that recall...