Chance to ATTACK!! CA GOP Chairman LIVE at washingtonpost.com, 3pm ET

Politics: California Recall
George Sundheim
California Republican Party Chairman
Friday, August 22, 2003; 3:00 p.m ET


http://discuss.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/zforum/03/sp_politics_sundheim082203.htm

Is the California recall just "a right-wing power grab" as Gov. Gray Davis (D) stated in his Tuesday night address to voters? Will Arnold Schwarzenegger's new 60-second television commercial help boost his popularity? Can Lt. Gov. Cruz M. Bustamante's "Tough Love for California" plan rally supporters?

George "Duf" Sundheim, chairman of the California Republican Party, will take your questions and comments on the recall.

Submit your questions and comments before or during the discussion.


<Be sure to call him Duf. He loves that.>

What is it with you Republicans? Can't you guys gain office without resorting to illegal redistricting, suppressing votes, purging vote lists, and undoing popular elections with recalls and impeachments? How is this "by any means necessary" politicking good for the democracy OR the republic?

:kick:

Arlington, Va.: If Gov. Davis is successfully recalled, what do you expect the successor to accomplish that would be considered a success, to both Republican voters and the general California public? Would you expect the next governor to eradicate the deficit by the next gubernatorial election?

Duf Sundheim: The number one issue in our state today is fiscal responsibility. At his speech earlier this week the Governor indicated he had no apology for the fact that he had run up the deficit because he has spent them on things people wanted.

Without even addressing the issue of whether it was things the people wanted or the labor unions and other special interests who contributed $70million to his campaign, the issue is responsibility. It reminds me of the husband who takes the mortgage money and buys his wife a new mink coat; and as a result, loses the house. The husband claims he is a good husband because he bought a gift for the wife. The wife on the other hand is upset because they are now out on the street. This Governor has put the people of California out on the street.

And Bustmante's solution is in stark contrast to the Republican candidates. We believe Californians have been taxed enough and we should hold the line on taxes. Bustamante wants to have the largest tax increase in our history.

So the choice Californians face is a party committed to hold the line on your taxes vs. a party that is committed to raising your taxes.

Is that because most of the questions he's getting are hostile and he doesn't want to answer them? Or is it because he's an incredibly slow typist?