My platform: If elected, I will resign immediately, thus making lieutenant governor Cruz Bustamante the governor of California.
Because Bustamante and other prominent Democrats are so far refusing to run, out of solidarity with Gray Davis, I'm the backup plan for Democrats. Vote NOT to oust Davis, but then, as a backup, since you have to vote for somebody as a replacement, vote for me. If the right-wing attempt at a recall succeeds, their candidates will split the right-wing vote, and the pro-Davis votes will be concentrated on the one candidate who would ensure the succession of the lieutenant governor whom the state elected in 2002.
Just a thought. I have 17 days to declare. If you are reading this, you are my exploratory committee.
Article comments
1 - Joe
Brian, I'll support you in any way I can, as long as it doesn't involve money or anything that could go down on my permanent record.
2 - Eric Olsen
How did the film opening go? Your sinister governor plan makes sense to me - I don't think something as extreme as recall should be used so frivolously.
3 - Al Barger
Jump in buddy. Sounds like a heller fun time.
You're kidding yourself, however, if you call this recall "undemocratic." What could be more directly democratic than a citizen recall with millions of petition signatures? The fact that you don't like the direction the democracy is blowing in this case does not mean that it isn't democracy.
4 - Brian Flemming
Joe,
Thanks.
Eric,
Film opening went great. We're going to get a run at that theater now. Working out the details. Thanks for asking.
Al,
If 49% of the California electorate votes to keep Davis, and a replacement candidate takes the office with 5% of the vote, I will call that "undemocratic."
And it could happen.
5 - the evil queen
i *heart* brian flemming. and i'm a registered voter. hooray!
xoxo, jared
6 - mike
This is why I left California a few months ago (well, actually, I left because my wife took a job in Connecticut, and like the proud, independent man I am, I followed her, but never mind that); the initiative process and term limits have virtually crippled the state. Initiatives and recalls are fine in theory, but not when people can spend millions of dollars of private money and hire outside consultants to force their way onto the ballot. That's undemocratic.
7 - Natalie
Man oh manicotti, I've never before wished that I resided in California. If there is anything a Marylander can do to help, Brian, let me know. I am not a particular fan of Gray Davis, but this recall effort is anything but democratic.
8 - Amber
Well, Jello Biafra came in 4th when he ran for governor out there, so you might have a chance haha. Good luck buddy.
9 - mike
Actually, it was when he ran for mayor of San Fran, no?
A "Draft Jello" campaign would be nice, though.
10 - Steve Rhodes
Yeah, he ran for mayor. He talks about his campaign:
"I came in 4th out of the 10 legal candidates! Two of the people who came in below me had spent something like $50,000 apiece on their campaigns. I got 6,591 votes, 3.5% of the total. Dianne Feinstein's campaign manager said something to the effect that: 'If someone like that can get so many votes, this city is in real trouble.'"
He also ran for the Green Party nomination for president mostly to get younger people involved. I got to hang out with him a bit at Nader rally in Oakland in 2000.
11 - Brian Flemming
jared,
Thanks much for the endorsement.
Mike,
You're right about CA. I'm sometimes happy about the initiative process--it helps pass measures politicians might be too scared to pass (medical marijuana). But it does mean money rules the process. Fortunately, running for governor requires only $3500.
If every man, woman and child in California were to send me just one dollar, I could pay that fee and then also buy a very nice island to retire to after I resign on Oct. 8.
Amber,
Thanks a lot for the good wishes.
12 - Steve Rhodes
You can run for free if you get 10,000 signatures.
But my strategy will be to vote no on therecall and for Peter Camejo if the people throw the bum out.