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More Parsky Watch Parsky Watch - The Magazine Take the Parsky Watch IQ Test Visit the Parsky Watch Store	Back to Parsky Watch archives Jumping in front of the parade Parsky Watch #51 July 30, 2003 PARSKY’S PANICKY RECALL POW-WOW Tuesday, July 29 at 10:30 a.m., CRP Shogun Gerry Parsky is hosting a summit (downplayed as a “working lunch”) in his high-rise perch. Its purpose: to put together a state GOP plan for the recall. Parsky has extended invitations to a who’s who of recall and California GOP figures: CRP Chairman Duf Sundheim CRP Vice Chairman Mario Rodriguez Ron Rogers, speaking for Recall Davis and Bill Simon Joe Shumate, representing Ah-nuld. Tommy Ross, emissary of Sen. Jim Brulte John Stoos, agent of Sen. Tom McClintock Chris Wysocki, plenipotentiary for Darrell Issa and Rescue California Ted Costa and Mark Abernathy of Davis Recall Committee Flanking Gerry will be inept henchwomen Lorelei Kinder and Dora Kingsley, in addition to failed CRP Finance Chair Tom Stephenson. An impressive roster, to be sure. But at this point, what exactly do Gerry Parsky and the debt-ridden CRP have to offer the recall campaigns? They managed to qualify the recall on their own, despite the alternating indifference and sometimes outright opposition from Parsky and Parsky acolytes like Stephenson, Rodriguez and Rob Stutzman. What incentive do the various recall campaigns and candidates (both declared and undeclared) have for pledging obedience to whatever half-baked recall strategy Gerry and Lorelei cook up? After all, it’s not like Parsky has the kind of political track record that inspires confidence. Parsky’s public apathy and private opposition to the recall deprives him of any moral authority to persuade, cajole and badger the various camps into agreeing upon a united effort. He was perfectly willing to let the recall effort wither and die before Darrell Issa revived it – and now he wants to be the captain of the team? Still, there are some concrete measures the CRP could take to help the recall effort. Registering Republicans is one. Several counties have experienced GOP registration booms in the last few months, fueled by the recall drive and Davis disasters such as tripling the VLF. Unfortunately, Parsky defunded the state party’s registration program between November 2002 and June 2003 – costing us tens of thousands of GOP voters we will wish we had come October 7. The CRP could also help with a good absentee ballot program. Unfortunately, that would cost millions of dollars our party doesn’t have due to the utter failure of Parsky and Stephenson as fund-raisers (remember, this is the same Tom Stephenson who’s fundraising ineptitude cost him an invitation to the big BBQ at the President’s Crawford, Texas ranch). Even if TeamCal had any money, we wouldn’t expect Gerry to spend it on something as sensible as an absentee ballot program. Our prediction: Parsky will try to strong arm the various campaigns into giving him control and financing his political incompetence through Team Cal (or whatever money-controlling device Parsky dreams up). It makes sense if you’re Mr. Parsky – the CRP is broke and he’s a mediocre fund-raiser on a good day. You see, it’s finally dawned on Parsky that this train long ago left the station while he was inside looking at himself in the men’s room mirror. He’s scared Davis will be recalled and a Republican elected in his place – starkly revealing his completely irrelevance to the entire historic event. Thus, his breathless, desperate sprint to position himself at the head of the parade and assure everyone that he’s been with them all along. Parsky reminds us of the campaign worker who only shows up to help after the last envelope has been stuffed, but still demands a say in making strategy and credit for the victory. Our advice to participants in Parsky’s Panicky Pow-Wow: try not to laugh in Gerry’s face, make sure you still have your wallets on the way out – and don’t count on having your parking validated.