Posted on 11/09/2006 8:02:20 AM PST by SmithL
Whatever pitched partisan battles might be looming in Washington, D.C., Tuesday's election was a victory for collaboration over confrontation in California, as the state voted overwhelmingly to give a second term to a celebrity chief executive who has redefined what it means to govern from the center.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's landslide victory and the approval of his package of proposals to rebuild the state's public works showed that in the Golden State, voters will value and reward politicians who reach out and work with their opposition rather than trying to run them over in pursuit of total policy victories.
Schwarzenegger was leading Democrat Phil Angelides by more than 16 percentage points with only the late absentee vote still to be counted Wednesday.
Propositions 1A through 1E, which he shepherded onto the ballot, all passed by large margins in a year when voters cast a skeptical eye on most other propositions put before them.
Schwarzenegger's victory was sweeping. He carried 51 of the state's 58 counties, with Angelides winning a plurality in five and a majority in only two: San Francisco and Alameda, the state's liberal strongholds.
Schwarzenegger won big along the coast and bigger inland. He did well in the cities and demolished Angelides in the suburbs and rural areas.
According to exit polls, Schwarzenegger won among men, women and everybody more than 30 years old. He won among all income groups except those making less than $30,000 a year. And he won among all but the least educated, as Angelides managed to eke out a victory only among high school dropouts. Schwarzenegger even showed strength among ethnic minorities, winning 27 percent of the black vote, 39 percent among Latinos and 62 percent of the Asian American electorate.
(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...
Put that on your Resume.
Don't blame me, i voted for a write in candidate.
Did the Republicans win any other statewide race in CA?
...only the ones that were more charismatic than the Democrat, but just as liberal.
Insurance commissioner who was running against Bustamante. Not once did I see Arnold campaigning with the republican guys, but then, I have to admit, I don't watch our local news. I don't think Arnold wants to be associated with the republican party.
Schwarzneggar is no centrist.
He's a fiscal liberal. He'd be welcome for lunch with the Nelson Rockefellar klan.
A win for centrism?? No it wasn't. It was a loss for extreme liberalism and more radical confiscatory taxation.
Ahhrnold is basically a libertarian...that's why he won! Republicans could do well to tune out talkers Limpbull an Inshanitty and follow suit for '08
It looks like more pain is in store for your state.
I voted for Arnold. Today, I wish now that I had not! In order for Conservative Republicans to ever have a chance we are going to have to go through the losses like we went through on Tuesday I guess...American Christians, we must UNITE....
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus
It seems to me that the "Center" has moved pretty far "Left" these days.
Centrism works in liberal states provided the candidate is superficially appealing and doesn't do something overwhelmingly stupid. Angelides has negative charisma, he never had a chance. Also, you have to bribe all of the special interests, but not so much that people notice (see Gray Davis).
How do that "real conservative" McClintock do?
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus
"I seem to smell the stench of appeasement in the air."
-Margaret Thatcher
Centrism never would have gotten rid of slavery in America. They tried compromises, and they didn't work.
Centrism would not have won World War Two.
Centrism would not have extended the franchise to all adult Americans.
Centrism would not have founded Christianity.
Centrism would not have built America.
Centrism is an inability to lead and inspire.
Phew. Feel better now.
-Rex
I have the answer. Every Republican leaning toward the right needs to marry a Kennedy to balance things out. (Arnold is a Republican and pigs fly.)
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