No weasel words for George Deukmejian. The former California governor’s personal animus was plainly evident as he described Richard Riordan as “a person I have no respect for and in no way I could vote for.”
Nor did Riordan, the former mayor of Los Angeles and leading Republican contender for governor, conceal his annoyance with Deukmejian, when the remark was raised in a gubernatorial debate an hour later at a GOP state convention.
“George Deukmejian has a bad memory,” Riordan snapped. “The only things he remembers are his grudges.” Deukmejian, sitting nearby, was visibly jolted by the rejoinder.
Sounds like the old Jerry Springer Show, doesn’t it? No matter who wins the Republican gubernatorial primary, in November California voters will have a choice between a real human, with warts and all, and mechanoid fundraiser Gray Davis. This is shaping up as the most interesting political contest this state has seen in a very long time.