So did Issa decide to do this recall on his own... or was he enticed

[salin]

and what the hell must he be thinking now...

I re-read this little item a few days ago when Michael Huffington got back into the race:

http://www.lcrga.com/archive/98120903.shtml

The Strange Odyssey of Michael Huffington
Drop $30 million on a campaign. Lose the race. Seach your soul. Divorce Arianna. Decide you're gay.

January 1999

(salin's comment: buried in the article I found this:)
In mid-1993, just months into Mike's first term, Senator Phil Gramm of Texas, the head of the Republican senatorial campaign committee, whose job it was to recruit candidates and raise money, summoned Mike to his hideaway office in the Capitol. Gramm had been a family friend: Roy Huffington was one of his major political backers. Gramm told Mike that the party wanted him to challenge Dianne Feinstein in the 1994 Senate race. The campaign would be costly -- $10 million to $15 million, Mike figured -- and Gramm promised him at least another $1 million from the party. Mike agreed to think about it.

--------- (read the article for more)

By the way - Gramm NEVER came through with the money.

Back to Issa. Did someone from the RNC or from the WH (Rove)... play on his ego (he got into politics initially to run for governor - with no experience - in 1998 - to lose in the primary).. and lure his money into this effort?

If so (or even if not) what must he be thinking now?

On the news coverage this evening about Ahrnald - Huffington (Ariana) was mentioned, Davis (of course) was mentioned, but Issa's name just never came up.

Hey Rep. Issa... maybe you are learning... karma is a bitch.

[blm]

1. As soon as I heard he put that money up

I posted that this was the White House's doing. He NEVER would have gone to that extreme without the White House approving and encouraging it. I suspect they "requested" or blackmailed him into it.

[gasperc]

19. probably blackmailed

or convinced hey go ahead, and then fucked him over yesterday, get out or this is what'll happen. we'll never know what this was but if I spent $1.6million I won't just drop out.

[ibegurpard]

2. the only good thing to come out of this mess

is to see that insufferable, smarmy puke get his comeuppance.
Just goes to show what the Greedy Old Pig party does for it's lackeys.

[mitchum]

3. This scam has Rove's fat little fingers all over it

[salin]

4. A day later the question... if he was enticed to spend the dough

what was he promised to bow out of the race?

A clear shot at a senate seat?

His getting out fo the race today - is stunning.

Come, lets speculate.

[Cheswick2.0]

5. come let's speculate, good idea!

Let's see, they tricked him into doing this and then dumped him. I think it was clear today that he was really heart broken about not running. Someone should have told him the pug party always kicks its dogs to the curb.

[salin]

12. snuck a peek at a linked freep thread

they are all speculating that he was "bribed" out - in terms of being offered full support in the next Senate race. That is possible, but if he bought it (after buying the...spend your money on the recall... you'll be a hero, a shoe in.. which I think was part of his bankrolling scenario) than he is a HUGE fool.

[blm]

6. You have to understand your Bush history, my dear.

Poppy Bush used to regularly blackmail fellow congressmen in his own party to wrangle votes for Nixon's legislation. He would set them up in some deal that would compromise them in some way and hold it over their heads. I think it was Parry who had some stories about that. Or Hatfield.

[Clete]

7. I think the WH was behind it

and now that Issa is no longer useful to them, he has been thrown aside in typical fascist fashion.

[jiacinto]

8. Well

I think the WH pushed Issa out of the race.

[Clete]

9. I thought that was what I said.

:-)

[jiacinto]

10. Ok

I said it directly.

[salin]

13. but I think the Wh also enticed him to spend his dough on the recall

in the first place. Which makes it so very, very interesting.

[jiacinto]

16. This is what I think happened

1. No one took the recall seriously until Issa threw his money in.

2. Issa saw this as a chance to get his name out and to run for office.

3. The White House stayed out of it at first so that they did not give the appearance that they were supporting Issa.

4. When it made the ballot Arnold came in the picture.

5. The White House then pushed and bullied Issa out of the race so that Arnold would have the field to himself.

[dansolo]

11. This is what I believe happened

They coaxed him to go for the recall, because they knew that the Democrats would try and stand behind Davis, and not put anyone on the ballot. At that point, they couldn't care less who won, as long as it was a Republican. But then Arianna decided to run. Even though she wasn't a Democrat, she would be preferable to the Republicans that were running. So at that point, they needed someone who could have more popular appeal. Enter Arnold. It looks like Arnold is their guy, so they need to convince all of the other Repulicans to withdraw from the race so as to not dilute their votes. Karl probably gave Issa an offer he couldn't refuse. That is probably why he was crying, because he was basically being forced to withdraw after funding the signature drive.

[salin]

14. My take as well.

But why would he take them up on another offer after getting screwed by them? Perhaps there is also a mallet over his head (dirt)?

[jiacinto]

15. Or he was bullied out of the race

I think that that is more likely.

[Enraged_Ape]

20. You're absolutely right, jiacinto

The way the man was boo-hooing, and the amount of green he laid to fund this thing, clearly point to bullying/ blackmailing/ strongarming. If I laid down that kind of cash, and the BFEE called me to sweet-talk me into dropping out, I'd KNOW I was being hosed and would tell them where they could put it. Why make a NEW deal with someone who's cheating you?

[julka]

17. willie brown said the WH was behind it

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=145208&mesg_id=145208

[jiacinto]

18. What are his long term plans

OR will he just stay as Mayor of SF?