NYT: Twists & Turns of Recall Have Voters Feeling Fatigue

[kskiska]

MARTINEZ, Calif., Sept. 20 — The deluge of completed absentee ballots in the mail has dried up. The lines for advance voting at county offices have vanished. Even the telephone calls have dropped off from voters asking about the California recall election, its curious cast of candidates and that confounding ballot that goes on and on.

"I am looking at my phones, and there is only one busy line," said Stephen L. Weir, the clerk-recorder in Contra Costa County here east of San Francisco, where an election officer training course today managed only half of the expected turnout. "They should be lit up like a Christmas tree."

After a week of legal uncertainty, the Oct. 7 recall election for Gov. Gray Davis is back on. In fact, it was never officially called off as appeals court judges stayed their ruling postponing the vote, and state election officials will get a new hearing on Monday.

But local election officials, bleary-eyed and a bit short-fused after two months preparing for the hurried-up vote, now worry they may be left standing at the altar on Election Day. It seems the many uncanny twists and turns of the past two months, beginning with the early splash of vanity candidates and now the quarreling in court over punch-card voting, have left many Californians with cold feet about the unprecedented recall.

more…
http://nytimes.com/2003/09/21/national/21RECA.html?hp

[PartyPooper]

1. And, I'm STILL sitting on my absentee ballot!

What to do...what to do?

:dem:

[jeter]

3. Vote anyway. Jesus.

No to Recall. Yes to Bustemante.

[PartyPooper]

6. Jesus. Can't just vote, anyway.

Still waiting for the court's decision. 400,000-500,000 absentee voters have already cast their ballots.

What if the 'recall' is delayed?...will the same ballots be used?...will new ballots be issued? Will ballots cast in the October 'recall' be invalidated...with new ones issued?

I know how and for whom to vote. I'm just waiting for rulings on the 'technicalities'!

:-)

[Nottingham]

2. Most Californians I talked to feel Disgusted!

Its really turned into a Disaster :bounce:

[MoonAndSun]

4. I hope most of the Californians who are disgusted will take it

out on the perpetrators of this farce, the repukes, and Darrell Issa in particular. Why they are not being called on this by the mainstream press is just beyond me. They all know this was a ploy put into place by Herr Rove, if they would only lambast him for this mess!

[Journeyman]

7. Yes, most every Californian I know is disgusted. . .

and ready to take out their frustrations at the ballot box. I don't know that I'd characterize their anger as directed at the Republicans, but it's definitely against the Recall. And this spans the spectrum, from Progressives to Reactionaries. Their feelings towards Davis are mixed, but none believe his "failings" constitute cause for removal. More importantly, they view the entire process as farce, and resent the air of unreality that has descended on our State's democracy.

Whether their anger can be channeled against those responsible remains to be seen. So far, the connect to Republicans, though it's recognized, doesn't seem as focused as the general disgust with the recall process. Fortunately, if those I speak with are indicative of the population, I foresee the Recall failing by a good margin. . . perhaps by as much as Gray won the election in 2002.

[PartyPooper]

5. Yes, We just want it 'over with'!

Can you imagine what it's like to be deluged with Arnold adverts...like with him talking about how the game is "over"...ad nauseum? This goes on all friggin' day and night!

:puke:

However, most good Dems will go the distance...I'd rather wait until March...if that will put this recall nonsense to bed...once and for all!

:dem:

[Democat]

8. Arnold the opportunist will save America!

He will terminate Democracy and clean up the "immigrant problem" in California.

Immigrants from countries other than Mexico are fine, though. :)