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"In the near future, people will look upon California and Mexico as one magnificent region....." ------Governor Gray Davis "I have proudly affirmed that the Mexican nation extends beyond the territory enclosed by its borders." - Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo |
http://www.dailynews.com/extra/opinions/forum.asp
Saturday, October 30, 1999
Gov. Davis evokes strong reaction from California voters
For today's Public Forum,
the Daily News asked readers if they think Gov. Gray Davis should be
recalled from office before
the end of his four-year term, or do you think he should be allowed
to serve out his term and let the real decision to oust him rest
in the 2002 election?
Gray Davis has proved he knows little, if anything, about governing the state of California. His first few weeks in office, he put forth issues about education that were a joke and an insult to the parents and children of California. He has pandered himself to the Mexican government at the expense of the California taxpayer. He has patterned himself after "Slick Willy" in Washington -- tell them anything and do nothing. As for what he has done to the voters of California about Propositions 187 and 227, this is out-and-out miscarriage of the oath of office he took when he became governor.
These issues were voted into being by the voters of the state, and as governor he was honor-bound to uphold these laws. Instead, he thumbed his nose at the voters and dodged his obligation as governor.
He is probably the weakest governor the state of California has had in decades, and the longer he is in office the more damage he is going to do to the state of California. I am sure a recall will be along the same vein as the impeachment of "Slick Willy." It would be expensive and end with a nothing result. There are too many politicians in Sacramento who want to keep Davis in office, because he can be manipulated to do most anything as long as he gets his picture in the paper.
No, Davis should go, but whether he will or not will depend on the voters of California in 2002. All we can do is keep a sharp eye on him and pray.
-- J.J. Moore, Sylmar
Gray Davis, apparently a man of good character, is the duly elected governor and is supported by unions and liberal groups that evidently constituted the electoral majority.
As a member of the loyal opposition, I am not happy with his performance or with that of our Legislature, but he is there fair and square.
No one would logically expect him to take any other positions than those held by his constituency. His veto of the local control anti-big discount store bill and his executive order requiring the Department of Motor Vehicles to cease collecting the illegal $300 fee for vehicles purchased out-of-state were correct decisions. Even his handling of the initiatives addressed some of the merits of opposition arguments and was skillfully done.
When California became a liberal-controlled state, since that election, I felt pain in my heart and fear for the contents of my wallet, but he has done nothing to (warrant being) recalled.
The people have spoken, and the voters will get another chance in 2002. Oddly enough and aside from basic political philosophy, administratively, he may be the most qualified chief executive we've had in the last 50 years.
Expensive recalls should be reserved for those committing criminal or gross immoral acts or extreme costly negligence in office, and one might look to the Los Angeles Unified School District or the executive or legislative branches of the United States for more suitable candidates for removal.
-- Don Roth, Northridge
Gray Davis is obviously one of the most outrageous liars I have ever heard of. It is such b------- that taxpayers' dollars are going toward food stamps, medical care, and any possible financial aid for illegal immigrants. If these people wouldn't receive these benefits, they would stop crossing the borders by the thousands every day. Look at Canada, Gray Davis.
Why doesn't this man stop lying to the voters? Canada doesn't have any of these problems because their citizens wouldn't allow their tax dollars to go toward illegal immigrants, so illegal immigrants don't bother to jump Canada's borders. They can't get any benefits there.
Gray Davis needs to be thrown out of office immediately. I don't think a good deal of our population is even aware of what's going on here.
-- Nanci Ablon, Los Angeles
Recalling Gov. Gray Davis is only an attempt to overthrow the California state government, just like they tried to overthrow the federal government with impeachment.
When are the American people going to realize that's what they're really up to? If you don't agree with your opponent, simply impeach them or recall them.
As Americans, we can't let them get away with this.
-- Gary Arment, Rosamond
Well, thank God for Gov. Gray Davis. Had it not been for his will to thwart the wishes of his constituents I would never have seen the error of my vote. Gov. Davis, thank you for standing up to my ignorance.
I must not have been thinking straight when I voted to spend precious tax dollars on programs that benefit legal issues and causes, rather than supporting people who have already broken the law by entering this country illegally. Perhaps Governor Davis, you would like to accompany me to the polls next November to make sure I don't waste my vote on any other foolish propositions.
-- Bradly F. Gerber, Winnetka
Yes, I voted for Gov. Gray Davis. And I back him 100 percent.
Californians are never satisfied. First with LAPD Chief Bernard C. Parks, now with our governor and the LAPD. We have the best. Why don't you people print something nice instead of hanging the chief of the LAPD and the governor.
-- Tone Bearfoot, Burbank
Gray Davis should be recalled for very important reasons. Some of which are: this "leader" has been bought off by factions who would undermine the sovereignty of California and the nation. The liberal Sacramento Democrats and the bleeding hearts in Washington, under the guise of humanitarianism, would have unlimited immigration, gun control and no gender guidelines for persons wishing to marry.
Davis tries to appease all potential voters, except conservatives and those trying to preserve the rule of law. He has gone so far as to try to steal their precious right to dissent by nullifying the initiative, by his secret mediation meeting behind closed doors with no record for public viewing.
That was to be the end of Prop. 187 and no test of its validity by the Supreme Court. I will put all my energies to recalling Davis.
-- Barbara Mark, Valencia
I signed a Gray Davis recall petition because I felt betrayed by his repudiation of the will of the voters on Proposition 187. It was a slap in the face to the democratic process.
While I disagree with most of his actions, I applaud his veto of AB 1363, which would have put so-called health centers in public schools -- subjecting children to the same types of mental-health-industries type of treatment and drugs that have been found a common denominator to a long string of school shootings and other tragedies, including Columbine and the attempted assassination of Reagan.
-- Eric Krackow, North Hollywood
As a member of the Recall Davis Committee and one of the original signers of the Notice of Intent to Recall that was served on Gov. Davis, I want to let everyone know why this governor must be recalled. In a nutshell, he's a liar and can't be trusted.
While campaigning to be governor, Davis said he'd uphold the will of the voters even if he didn't agree with them. It was the will of 59 percent of the voters that Proposition 187 should become law. Yet, we all saw Davis conspire with the president of Mexico and other opponents of 187 to deny us our right to have the constitutionality of Proposition 187 decided by the Supreme Court.
In his response to our Notice of Intent to Recall (incorporated into the petition, as required by law) Davis claims it's not true that illegal aliens are receiving taxpayer-paid benefits in California. Yet, one of his first acts as governor was to restore prenatal benefits -- the gateway to all benefits -- to illegal aliens.
Since learning of the recall effort, Davis has been careful to veto two bills that would have made it possible for illegal aliens to obtain driver's licenses, and one that would have made immigration status a protected class under our civil rights law. Does anyone believe he'd continue to veto such legislation if the recall effort fails?
-- Carol Keeler, Recall Davis Committee, Sylmar
Gov. Gray Davis has proclaimed that the people of the state of California and the state Legislature should "fulfill his vision." I thought elected officials were supposed to fulfill our wishes and vision, not the other way around. Davis is not governing for the people, he is governing for himself and the special interests who got him elected. This is not the governor I wish to represent me in Sacramento.
The last elected official who thought the government and the people served him was Richard Nixon, and we all know what happened to him.
-- Lori Sweet, North Hollywood
Should Gov. Davis be recalled? Definitely, but knowing the American voters, as long as it does not affect their pocketbook he might not be.
I am inclined to believe the average American voter is not aware of the recall effort or the reasons behind it. Gov. Davis' actions with the law behind the passed Proposition 187 and 227 undermines the fundamental principle of democracy -- the will of the majority.
Neither Proposition 187 nor Proposition 227 will adversely affect immigrants who chose to observe and comply with the laws of the land enacted to protect our health, economic and political life, and identity as a nation. Those laws are intended to foster an orderly, organized and constantly evolving environment, which sets our nation apart from primitive societies who resist change.
Davis' conduct in office, his visit to Mexico, and his very own words are almost an affront to our very own federal system of government. And his actions regarding 187 and 227 only conveys the fact he cares little for what those propositions were intended to do.
-- Michael A. Campos, West Hills
The most compelling reason to recall Gov. Davis is that the Republican -- yes, Republican -- Party leadership does not endorse the effort. Remember, these guys campaigned against Davis less than a year ago. Two-party system? No way. It is the people vs. the Establishment.
-- Michael J. Blair, Woodland Hills
I did not vote for Davis. The only ones who did seem to live in a fantasy world of their own making. We need this legend-in-his-own-mind, self-described "King of California" recalled and replaced ASAP. He is an ego-maniac micro-manager who thwarts the will of voters with secret deals.
His blatant disregard for gun owners' rights and bypassing of the initiative process has brought us to this extreme measure. It may take years in the courts to undo what his lily-livered, extremist, liberal Legislature has done in just a few short months. While we are at it, we should recall Speaker Tony Villaraigosa and the rabid radical, state Sen. Richard Polanco!
-- Floyd Farrar, Los Angeles
Recall of Davis is a must. He has proved it was a mistake to have even elected him and to wait till 2002, allowing him to stay in office, would be a disaster. His first remark to the legislators was, "I am the first governor to be elected by a 40 percent margin of votes, you in the Legislature must follow my rules and not anyone else." From then on he has flaunted the citizens of California by going around the court with Propositions 187 and 227, opposing the more than 60 percent who voted for these measures.
People must have forgotten that Davis was "Moonbeam" Brown's right-hand man and followed the same line of ultraliberal viewpoints that Brown voiced. We do not need a dictator to rule our lives in this state, we need representative government to follow and serve the citizens for their benefit, not other way around. Davis has even vetoed the public's right-to-know law SB 78.
-- Louis Rosenberg, Canoga Park
Gov. Gray Davis' dealings with the Mexican president were uncalled for, leading to the so-called end of Proposition 187, which is still not dead. Where does he get off with the economy being so great? I would like to invite him to talk to many of us small-business owners who have lost work due to NAFTA and Mexico. I am a proud American and wish your governor would look after us and less after foreign countries. The No. 1 issue in California is immigration and illegal immigration, which not one elected official has the guts to address.
-- John Lee, Newhall
Gov. Davis should be recalled because of his stance on Proposition 187. This proposition was passed by approximately 60 percent of the voters in California. We voted for a governor -- not a dictator. His action on Proposition 187 is telling the people of California their votes do not count. This is not the America that I have been raised to believe in. The voice of the people spoke when they passed Prop. 187. It is the law of the land. Governor, uphold the will of the people.
-- Bob Pemble, Reseda
Under oath, Gov. Gray Davis promised to defend and uphold the U.S. Constitution and he has done several things to break that oath, the first being his influence in stopping the people of California from implementing Proposition 187. He impeded the judicial process and refused us access to the Supreme Court to hear this case.
Gray Davis entered into an agreement with the president of Mexico to strike Proposition 187 because he and those who opposed the measure were afraid the U.S. Supreme Court would find it constitutional. This is a clear violation of his oath of office to see the laws are faithfully executed.
The president of another country should have no say in the politics in this country. California is overrun with illegal immigrants from Mexico, and it costs the taxpayers billions of dollars each year.
-- Lisa Lascody, Santa Monica
Gov. Gray Davis' opposition to Proposition 187 was known, yet he won the election. The problem with that was he said he would not do anything to thwart the will of the public. By not allowing the proposition to be heard in the normal course of events in the court system he did "thwart" the will of the public. He in effect destroyed the initiative process for any future initiative desired by the public. He became, like his idol Bill Clinton, a dictator who basically ruled by executive order.
Any future governor can therefore destroy any initiative that was done the "legal" way by the public. Our California state constitution is "null and void," beginning with Davis. He deserves to be recalled for that. He is a dictator and California cannot afford to have such a person in the driver's seat.
-- Ken Kleinman, Encino
Gov. Davis should be recalled for double-crossing California's citizenry. Davis himself said "If officials choose to selectively enforce only the laws they like, our system of justice will not long endure." But having sent the Proposition 187 issue to a one-sided mediation hearing was a form of selective law enforcement -- and that makes him a hypocrite. If Davis and those he patronizes really felt Proposition 187 is unconstitutional, then why were they so afraid to let the U.S. Supreme Court decide that? After all, as Davis himself said, "I'm a governor, not a judge."
Davis says that changes to federal law in 1996 made many parts of 187 redundant. That would be meaningful if Davis abided by those laws. But Davis not only refuses to enforce federal law, he has gone the next step -- signing into law legislation in direct contradiction to 1996 federal law -- making services to illegal aliens California policy.
If Davis would have simply said he believes 187 is unconstitutional and that he is turning the matter over to the Supreme Court for them to prove him right, he would not have lost his credibility. As it is, by slapping the voters in the face, he has created the mother of all divisive wedge issues -- his own recall.
-- Hal Netkin, Van Nuys
