Federal judges in San Jose to consider delaying recall election

[Judi Lynn]

Posted on Fri, Aug. 29, 2003

Federal judges in San Jose to consider delaying recall election
Associated Press

SAN JOSE, Calif. - A three-judge federal panel here could decide Friday afternoon to postpone the Oct. 7 gubernatorial recall election.

Any delay would be based on a lawsuit civil rights groups filed which asserts that the election's hurry-up timeframe is forcing California counties to change their voting plans in ways that disenfranchise minority voters - and that those changes require federal approval.

Under federal law, the U.S. Department of Justice must pre-clear any revisions to the voting process in Monterey and three other California counties with a history of low voter participation.

Unless federal lawyers approve Monterey County's plan to pull off the vote on short notice by consolidating some polling places, the judges could delay the election, perhaps to the March presidential primary. (snip/...)

http://www.montereyherald.com/mld/montereyherald/news/6650549.htm

[hang a left]

1. I can't help but tell you that I have

serious doubts when these issues get to the federal courts. Please, please, God save California, the US and the Planet.

[Nottingham]

2. This may be Republicans Saving Grace! With Arnold's Polls

Polls dive Bombing!

[realFedUp]

8. I agree

Republican rumors are that if Ahnold's numbers don't look
good, Repubs will silently vote against recalling Davis.

[gratuitous]

3. Delay the election until March?

People will be shooting each other in the streets by then! It will be like the worst television series you've ever seen, and you think it should have been canceled at the first commercial break, but no.

On the other hand, the more time this takes to unfold, the more the backlash will build against Issa and his stupid idea to finance this recall. Since Issa's already hustled his ass out of the race, the only recourse for people to let him know how little they think of his stupid idea will be to vote against it. There's also the possibility that by next spring, word will have gotten out that the budget "crisis" isn't nearly as bad as the Repukes would like the average Californian to believe.

[AP]

4. If this gets appealed up to the Supreme Court

and the SC has to issue ruling allowing current time frame, it would really help Davis with his argument that this is just a Repubican power grab.

[David__77]

5. EXCELLENT, stupendous point!

I had not thought of that with regard to this. 2000 redux, no? Scalia, Rehnquist and Thomas are pretty damned unpopular here.

I have mixed feelings on a delay. It does seem there may be legal validity to delaying it if civil rights cannot be protected with such short notice, which is really unprecedented. Politically, there are plusses potentially in both directions.

I'm willing to guess that Arnie will implode/explode and McClintock emerge as the GOP favorite in the case that it is significantly delayed. His opportunism cannot stand up to prolonged scrutiny from the right... or the left. The judge strongly hinted 2 weeks ago that a delay might be ordered.

[BrotherBuzz]

6. You took the wind out of my sail

I'm willing to guess that Arnie will implode/explode and McClintock
emerge as the GOP favorite in the case that it is significantly delayed.
His opportunism cannot stand up to prolonged scrutiny from the
right... or the left. The judge strongly hinted 2 weeks ago that a
delay might be ordered.



I believe this is happening as we speak, and if the election is held in March Arnie will find himself trailing McClintock in the polls. Arnie is a empty suit and his own worst enemy. The up side is that California is a Dem state and we will hold onto the governor's office when all is said and done. The big question is whether Davis will actually keep his job...I guess I'm in the minority because I believe the recall election will be a lot closer than the polls indicate because of the simple fact that Arnold's fans can't be bothered to register, let alone vote!

No on recall
Yes on Bustamante

[Bandit]

9. Arnold's fans can't be bothered to register, let alone vote!

I agree because the majority are between 12 and 18 years old.

[GregW]

7. This is how the San Jose judges should treat the recall ...

... like it's a steaming pile of dog shit, reminiscent of the statue of Quetzalcoatl in the Plaza de Cesar Chavez downtown: