Nathan Newman tells not to play games with the recall going on in California:
This recall effort may be a rightwing plot, but gambling with the lives of the poor in California is f—– irresponsible. Gray Davis has repeatedly screwed his own base — vetoing pro-immigrant legislation, vetoing pro-labor legislation, vetoing health care bills — to the point that there is either apathy or antipathy towards him.
Davis is just not that important. Folks should campaign against the recall, but the Dems should have an alternative on the ballot as a backup.
And if the Democratic establishment won’t run someone, progressive Dems should take the opportunity and put someone on the ballot. There are great progressive Congresspeople in the state — Barbara Lee, Pete Stark, Bob Filner, Maxine Waters — who should run if the mainstream folks sit it out.
Otherwise, the Dems are shooting themselves in the foot, since that will leave my old friend Peter Camejo of the Greens as the only progressive alternative on the ballot.