California recall

Aug 9, 2021
Aug 9, 2021 Updated Apr 13, 2025
26

Editor,

I’m sure by now you’ve heard that there will be a special election to recall Gov.Newsom Sept. 14. Maybe your reaction is “Why?” or “That’s a waste of time and money” or “Doesn’t affect me, I’m a (fill in your political affiliation).”

(26) comments

Lou Aug 9, 2021 9:19am

Thank you Ms. King.

With this recall, we have the opportunity and responsibility to stop participating in the demise of California. Vote YES!

Then, vote for a candidate with abilities to help, and lead us, build it back up to it's once greatness.

HFAB Aug 9, 2021 9:43am

What absurdity. Will the jackals leading this effort also recall the coronavirus, wildfires, sea level rising, homelessness crisis, on and on? No. They, like their worst cohorts would like to ban mask mandates, ignore science, and further increase the numbers of impoverished people in California through high housing and health costs and low wages and on and on.

Dirk van Ulden Aug 9, 2021 11:38am

Hey HFAB, let's see, the number of homeless, the increasing crime, the housing and water shortage are all the result of mismanaged liberal policies supported and perpetrated by the last governors. Let's not conflate issues such as the pandemic, selective science interpretations with an escape from years of politically driven programs that did not do many any favors except to the powerful labor unions and the big tech moguls.

Ray Fowler Aug 9, 2021 1:20pm

Hello, Dirk

I must have been typing while you were posting. We spoke to similar themes, but you did so eloquently... and in fewer words. Thanks

Ray Fowler Aug 9, 2021 11:52am

Dear HFAB

You point to a number of serious problems in California... and there are others not listed. IMO the "jackals" are looking for someone to start implementing fixes for those problems. They are looking for leadership. Governor Newsom has not provided that leadership.

Years ago, I came across a DVD featuring former Commandant of the Marine Corps, General Chuck Krulak, USMC- Ret., addressing the midshipman brigade at Annapolis on leadership. I'm sure you would agree General Krulak probably knows a lot about what it takes to be a good leader. He said leaders must have two qualities... integrity and moral courage.

Poverty, homelessness, gas prices, taxes, unemployment, business failures and people moving out of the Golden Stare have all increased dramatically over the past several years with a Democrat presiding over our state government in Sacramento. A leader would need integrity, moral courage and no small amount of mental toughness to start tackling those problems. We have not seen those qualities during Governor Newsom's term.

The "jackals" you refer to are millions strong and they come from the ranks of Republicans, Independents, and... yes, even Democrats. A plurality of the Latino community supports the recall. It is not simply a partisan drive to remove Governor Newsom from office.

But there are "jackals" out there... with an increase in crime across the state, criminals are returned to the streets to commit more crimes and prosecution of criminals seems to be flagging in our largest cities. The EDD system has been bilked out of $31 billion due to fraud. Where is the leadership from the Governor's office?

We need integrity and moral courage in Sacramento. Governor Newsom told CNN that he is struggling through Zoom school like a lot of California parents. Not true. His children returned to in-person instruction at a private school last fall. On the subject of schools... our public school system ranks in the lower half of school systems across the country. Yet, as long as unions, especially the teachers unions, keep pumping money into campaigns... including the current recall... leadership in Sacramento will not hold the teachers unions accountable. This is the same union leadership that was OK with California teachers volunteering to teach children coming across the border but refusing to return to their own classrooms.

I don't know what will happen next month. You'll see Senator Elizabeth Warren on TV imploring Californians to reject the "Republican" recall of Gavin Newsom. She's wrong... it's not a Republican thing. Oh, I'm sure there are a lot of conservatives in our state who would like to see the recall succeed, but recall petition organizers would not have been able to get more than 2 million signatures from a lot of folks with differing political affiliations unless they were unhappy with Newsom's performance.

I would challenge your assertion that recall supporters would like to "further increase the numbers of impoverished people in California through high housing and health costs and low wages and on and on." How does an increase in poverty help anyone?

Terence Y Aug 9, 2021 12:10pm

Ms. King – thank you for your letter. It’s hilarious to see Pocahontas pandering to Democrats and trying to label the recall as a partisan effort. Unfortunately for her and Newsom, there’s bipartisan agreement that Newsom is a disaster. Look to the $31 billion lost to criminals via the EDD. The flattening the curve debacle with useless masks. The continuing train-to-nowhere union giveaway. CA reaching third-world status due to mishandling of forests, water, electricity, homelessness, gas prices, soaring crime rates, to name a few. For once, people on all sides of the aisle agree – King Newsom’s horrible and disastrous reign has ruined CA. Vote YES on the recall. BTW, if people don’t vote for Larry Elder, are they labeled as racists?

edkahl Aug 9, 2021 1:42pm

Thank you well written letter. I think that Newsome's siding with the teachers unions on keeping schools closed will lead to his defeat in the re call or the election next year.

Tafhdyd Aug 9, 2021 2:32pm

I don’t have the time or the inclination to get into the middle of a excrement throwing contest. I will offer one viewpoint that seems obvious to me but will be missed by millions.

The same conditions exist leading up to the recall that existed when Trump won in 2016. The apathy of the voters got us Trump, who came within an eyelash and a few minutes of destroying America and who continues to try and destroy America even now while out of office. People voted for Trump because they “knew he wouldn’t win” and they were not going to vote for Clinton.

The feeling or idea that Newsom will not get recalled because there are too many Democrats in California only works if they vote. From the lack of enthusiasm I have seen it is possible that he could lose with a low turnout due to apathy. Keep that in mind if it happens and some right wing hack is elected to run the equivalent of the fifth largest economy in the world. Like the saying goes, be careful what you ask for, you might get it.

Dirk van Ulden Aug 9, 2021 3:03pm

Taffy - please pray tell me how Trump is trying to destroy America? Isn't Biden doing that job already? You probably love the zillions of illegals crossing the border, gasoline more than at least one dollar higher, inflation and crime skyrocketing, and the social media establishment now controlling what we are allowed to learn. And that is just in his first seven months! The definition of destruction.

Tafhdyd Aug 9, 2021 5:32pm

Dirk,

You know the saying about the yacht salesman. If you have to ask how much it costs, you can't afford it. If you have to ask, what is wrong with Trump and America, nothing I tell you will do anything to change your mind.

Dirk van Ulden Aug 9, 2021 6:44pm

Great Taffy - you have just provided a splendid definition of 'non-sequitur.' Thank you.

Ray Fowler Aug 9, 2021 5:06pm

Tafhdyd... there you go again.

The folks on the left side of the aisle in this forum are fairly predicable. Regardless of the topic, it always comes back to a harangue featuring some form of "Orange Man Bad." Conditions today are not the same that existed when Trump prevailed in 2016 unless you want to favorably compare Governor Newsom to Candidate Clinton. I don't think you can compare a Democrat governor's failed leadership to the Democratic Party's nomination of an unlikable candidate. That's just me.

Again, I don't know what will happen next month, but you seem to feel Newsom could lose with a low turnout due to apathy. I believe he has not provided the leadership we need in our state. A low, apathetic turnout could just be an indication that he has not led from the front... and as his party's leader, he has not inspired his constituency to go to the polls. We'll have to wait 36 more days to find out...

Tafhdyd Aug 9, 2021 5:29pm

Ray,

As you say...there you go again. Making good sense in your comment. It is too bad more people on here don't make more sense with their comments. I know you don't like to go backward with the orange man but...it is the right wing gullible folks that keep the conman grifter in the front of the news. They are pushing for him to be the leader of the Grand Eunuch Party and I say 4 more years, four more months, four more minutes is too much of the liar to be anywhere but in an orange jumpsuit.

It is after 5 PM.Is your clock still stuck at 4:59?

Ray Fowler Aug 9, 2021 8:37pm

Tafhdyd...

Thanks for the compliment. Your position on the Donald has been made abundantly clear more than once... more than twice. I cannot argue against your viewpoint... it is a 100% reasonable position for you. And I acknowledge that die-hard Trump supporters are uncompromising in their devotion to him. Wouldn't you agree that we saw the same commitment and devotion to Bernie by his supporters? The question I don't hear Democratic Party folks mulling over is... what happened during Barack's tenure that allowed Trump to succeed in 2016? It sure wasn't the Russians...

Tafhdyd Aug 9, 2021 9:25pm

Ray,

The mulling over question...I think you are mixing apricots and almonds. No matter what Obama did or not, his term was up and we were getting someone new. Don't forget that the entire 8 years of the Obama terms, Moscow Mitch and his gang did everything they could to obstruct progress, even if it hurt the nation, so they could make Obama look bad. The reason Trump won in 2016 was poor campaign strategy by Hillary. She didn't bother to work the crowd because she figured they were going to vote for her anyway. A couple of days in the swing states probably would have turned the election. I have given you my breakdown of who voted for Trump before so I won't labor the point. Some would not vote for a women regardless, some would only vote Republican regardless, etc.

Ray Fowler Aug 10, 2021 7:20am

Tafhdyd...

No doubt... Hillary made campaign strategy mistakes. But the question re: how did a person with no elected office-holding experience come out of nowhere and turn key states like Florida and Pennsylvania plus key Rust Belt constituencies seems to still baffle Democratic Party leadership. I don't buy their Trump supporters were "uneducated and uninformed" explanation. They were not happy with Barack's administration. During Barack's tenure, the Democratic Party lost 1,000 legislative seats across the country. Does that sound like people were happy with Barack's administration?

I don't know what will happen in the 2022 midterm elections, but if the Republicans take back the House, don't you think that would have something to do with general dissatisfaction with the current administration?

The "Mitch and the Gang" record has been played so many times the grooves are worn clear through the vinyl. Yes, Republicans opposed policy... didn't Democrats do the same during the Donald's term? However, in modern politics, what would be the Schiff Show's song and dance review titled "Russia, Russia, Russia"?

I mentioned a long time ago a t-shirt being sold during Trump's term. The shirt's slogan said, "I Survived Obama... You Will Survive Trump." Democrats did survive. It's time to turn the focus away from the previous administration... there's plenty to do right here, right now. It seems to me that Democrats pouring energy into supporting Joe would be better for your party than returning to "Orange Man Bad" over and over again. Maybe.

Tafhdyd Aug 9, 2021 5:37pm

Ray,

Oops, I forgot to ask. Can you tell me anyone on the list of 46 candidates for governor that is TRULY QUALIFIED to run the state?

Ray Fowler Aug 9, 2021 9:06pm

This will be fun...

What?! Tafhdydicus Maximus... are you, as a card carrying, bag totin' member of the Democratic Party, saying an African American candidate and a transgender candidate are not qualified to run for governor? For shame! The Squad is gonna get you.

Just kidding...

I don't know a whole lot about Larry Elder. I'm confident he is very knowledgeable about issues but that does not translate into the ability to run the state. Caitlyn Jenner... I'm not confident she is very knowledgeable about issues. Without any government experience, it would be a tough uphill slog for her if she was elected. I could be wrong about Larry and Caitlyn, but let's just say the list has been whittled down to 44. So, let's cut to the chase...

I like Kevin Kiley. He's got five or so years experience as a sate assemblyman. He's got a law degree from Yale and knows how to use it. He's the guy who got that special DMV office open only to legislators and their families shut down. Then, he took on Gavin's overreach in the exercise of emergency powers... and won. Kiley knows his way around Sacramento... that's an asset.

What about Kevin Faulconer? His expereicne on the San Diego City Council then mayor of San Diego matches well against Gavin's service on the SF Board of Supervisors and mayor of San Francisco. Faulconer is fiscally conservative and liberal on social issues. That's a good combination for our state.

You asked who "on the list of 46 candidates for governor that is TRULY QUALIFIED to run the state?" I like Kevin.

But I could be swayed by almost anyone who could derail the bullet train and divert those monies to water storage.

Tafhdyd Aug 9, 2021 9:32pm

Ray again,

I will take a closer look when we get near the election. I have only heard casual, comments about Larry Elder and what I heard sounded like he was way out of touch with the reality of California. His ideas might fly in Alabama or Kentucky but I don't see it here. I haven't had time to worry about it yet so i will dig a little deeper in a few weeks. I will vote no on the recall anyway but I am curious to see what what we might get if he loses.

Terence Y Aug 9, 2021 6:47pm

Blah, blah, blah, there goes Taffy inventing an easily debunked rationale so he can segue to an anti-Trump rant. I guess it was a fluke that the so called apathy of voters resulted in the greatest number of votes in history for a presidential election. Notwithstanding that horrendous example of voter apathy and the TDS-fit, I agree some Democrats may decline to vote, providing an advantage to recall supporters. BTW, pretty much all 46 candidates are more qualified to run the state than Newsom.

Tafhdyd Aug 9, 2021 9:39pm

Terence,

When are you going to take the time to read the comments before you jump on your hate the left drivel? I said the apathy was in the 2016 election not the 2020 election. Everyone knows the greatest turnout of voters was in 2020 for the simple reason that people did not want to take a chance on having the great conman grifter get re-elected. BTW, how are you doing with your bamboo fibers?

Terence Y Aug 10, 2021 2:41pm

Taffy, when are you going to take the time to comprehend comments before you submit a knee-jerk response? Voter apathy would have resorted in much less votes, in general, and yet we had record turnout in 2016. So much for your voter apathy rationale. Meanwhile, in addition to Newsom releasing over 75,000 inmates to the general public, Newsom now paroles a killer who buried a victim alive. And Cuomo resigns - the left eating one of their own. I think impeachment should continue, though. We can witness a real one in action, not the wasteful and idiotic sham impeachment of Trump. Vote YES on the recall.

Tafhdyd Aug 10, 2021 6:06pm

Terence,

I comprehend just fine, here is your quote. " I guess it was a fluke that the so called apathy of voters resulted in the greatest number of votes in history for a presidential election." You said the "greatest number of votes in history", you did not qualify it by adding "at that time" or "was until 2020", you said in history which includes everything up to today, including 2020, which was the greatest turn out in history as I said. BTW, how are you doing with your bamboo fibers?

Terence Y Aug 11, 2021 7:55am

Sorry Taffy, but no qualifier is needed. I did provide the year in my last quote to elicit yet another unsupported comment and/or personal attack. Success! Everyone knows the vote tallies in 2020 are highly suspect as evidence is continuing to mount each day regarding the stolen 2020 election. After all, if it wasn’t stolen why are all the Democrats dead set against election audits? What are they afraid of?

Tafhdyd Aug 11, 2021 9:18am

Terence,

Good morning. I don't want to ruin your day so early but you really need to get a new tinfoil hat. There was no voter fraud in the the 2020 election. Even Trump's hand picked people at the top levels of the corrupt Trump administration say that. Everyday new info comes out about how Donald tried to pressure people to lie about the election. The only people that believe there was fraud are the gullible fools that continue to send him money for his "campaign". His campaign to skim as much money from the suckers as he can to line his pockets before they fit him with the orange jump suit. Democrats would be happy to have an audit if there was a need for one, but there isn't, which you will find out if you ever make it back to the world of reality. BTW, I have been doing good on my fishing trips, how are you doing with your bamboo fibers?

Terence Y Aug 11, 2021 11:36am

Actually, Taffy, far from ruining my day, you’ve made it better in my winning the trifecta before 10am. You’ve already resorted to your usual fantasy world shtick, your usual fake news and lies, and your usual anti-Trump drivel. I see your King Newsom just had a major meltdown in a recent video interview (can be found on Larry Elder’s Twitter account, among other places). Please be careful if you tune in though, Newsom swears quite a bit and throws a hissy fit (a la Pelosi) so you may want to excuse sensitive ears. BTW, be careful with eating too much fish – high mercury levels cause neurological changes and you don’t want to further deplete any of your abilities.

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