POLITICS-Opinion
Recall Circus Has Come to Town (Again)
Are you not entertained?
There have been 55 governor recall elections in California beginning in 1911 but only one was successful — Thanks Arnold, Grey Davis was just too lackluster for this great state.
As per usual, the field of candidates is long enough for the Secretary of State to be awarded Triple Gold Status in the Staples Volume Printer Club™. The ballot has two parts. One, should Newsom be recalled from the office of governor, and two, who should succeed Newsom if he is recalled? This last question is problematic because if the number of votes for any one candidate does not exceed 50% of the votes on the first question then it is a minority that is determining who occupies the office. This will no doubt be raised in the courts if the recall is successful.
Like the Grey Davis recall, the real circus is the candidate list. The 2003 election featured actor Gary Coleman, porn publisher Larry Flynt, comedian Leo Gallagher, and the adult film actress Mary Carey, in addition to Ahh-nold Schwarzenegger. Though this year’s list is much shorter than the 135 candidates listed last time, there are a few worth gawking at.
Here are the forty-six candidates are on the ballot, but just for fun, I’ve included one extra on the Secretary of State’s official list. See if you can find it (but don’t highlight it!)
- Holly L. Baade — Mother/Business Owner
- John R. Drake — College Student
- Patrick Kilpatrick — Actor/Screenwriter/Producer
- Jacqueline McGowan — Cannabis Policy Advisor
- Kevin Paffrath — Financial Educator/Analyst
- Armando “Mando” Perez-Serrato — No Ballot Designation
- Brandon M. Ross — Physician/Attorney
- Joel Ventresca — Retired Airport Analyst
- Daniel Watts — Free Speech Lawyer
- David Alexan — Realtor/Multifamily Developer
- John Cox — Businessman/Accountant/F
- Larry A. Elder — Broadcaster/Author
- Paul Coogan — Medium Writer
- Kevin L. Faulconer — Businessman/Educator
- Rhonda Furin — Nonprofit Pres
- Ted Gaines — Board of Equalization Member
- Sam L. Gallucci — Pastor/CEO/Consultant
- David Hillberg — Aircraft Mechanic
- Caitlyn Jenner — Businessperson/Entrepreneur
- Kevin Kiley — California Legislator
- Chauncey “Slim” Killens — Retired Correctional Officer
- Jenny Rae Le Roux — Business Owner/Mother
- Steve Chavez L — Retired Homicide Detective
- David Lozano — Executive Officer/Attorney
- Diego Martinez — Businessman
- Daniel Mercuri — Father/Business Owner
- Robert C. Newman II — Farmer/Psychologist
- Doug Ose — Farmer/Small Businessman
- Sarah Stephens — Pastor
- Denver Stoner — Deputy Sheriff
- Joe M. Symmon — Community Volunteer
- Anthony Trim — Entrepreneur/CEO
- Nickolas Wildstar — Musician/Entrepreneur
- Leo S. Zacky — Businessman/Farmer
- Heather Collin — Business Owner/Hairstylist
- Dan Kapelovitz — Criminal Defense Attorney
- Jeff Hewitt — Riverside County Supervisor
- Angelyne — Entertainer
- James G. Hanink — Retired Educator
- Kevin K. Kaul — Real Estate Developer
- Michael Loebs — University Lecturer
- Denis Lucey — Teacher
- Jeremiah “Jeremy” Marciniak — No Ballot Designation
- David Moore — Public School Teacher
- Adam Papagan — Entertainer
- Dennis Richter — Retail Store Worker
- Major Singh — Software Engineer
Hometown Politics
Living in San Diego has given me first-hand exposure to the hubris of Kevin Faulconer, mayor of America’s Finest City from 2014–2020. His focus was on development deals including a new convention center while homelessness spiraled out of control. I find it amusing he lists himself as Businessman/Educator in a move to emphasize his position as a populist rather than the toxic term career politician. Perhaps that is a good strategy considering how he was “pwned” by Trump in 2019.
Faulconer was at the White House on other business when invited to meet with Trump in the Oval Office. He discussed the Marine Corp, United States-Mexico-Canada-Agreement, and need for federal assistance to clean up sewage spills from Tijuana. The meeting was later twisted into Faulconer supporting Trump’s border wall effort.
“The mayor was just up in my office great guy, he came up to thank me for having done the wall because it’s made such a difference. He said it’s like day and night. People have been flowing across and now nobody can come in.” — D. Trump on Hannity 2019
Here was a seasoned career politician using proximity for self-promotion getting twisted in the wind by the orange shit-weasel. As part of a long list of betrayals, this wreckage is not even worth slowing down for.
The kicker is Faulconer voted for Trump’s reelection after not voting for him in 2016. Bad politician. [hits with rolled newspaper].
Tinseltown
Caitlyn Jenner has gotten plenty of press for putting her overpriced pumps in her yap so I will skip over this part and throw a spotlight on some of the better acts coming out of Hollywood.
Patrick Kilpatrick
Using the political proximity effect, Kilpatrick states he has worked with Steven Spielberg, James Cameron, and, of course, Arnold Schwarzenegger. What caught my eye was his work on 3 Ninjas: Knuckle Up. Perhaps the magic ingredient making it surpass 3 Ninjas, 3 Ninjas Kick Back, and 3 Ninjas: High Noon at Mega Mountain.
Adam Papagan
Sorry, Adam, for an “entertainer” there is nothing about you in Daily Variety so I’ll have to pass. Same for YouTubers, regardless of how many followers you have.
Angelyne
The only candidate in the race with single-word name recognition is no stranger to the recall race. Angelyne was on the ballot in 2003 and I suspect she will be on the ballot in 2033, and 2150, and 2310…
Angelyne managed to keep her real name, age, and identity a secret until 4 years ago, 67 years of keeping a secret, she should run for CIA Director.
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For those not familiar with the mean streets of Hollywood, my total experience of her while working in the entertainment industry was as a mysterious and anonymous bombshell plastered on billboards and up the sides of buildings in pure and brazen publicity. It worked, and in 1988 she landed a role in Earth Girls Are Easy. Today you can hire her to drive you around in her trademark pink Corvette.
I hope you find your way to the polls and vote this circus out of town. The fun’s over and it’s wildfire season.