Calif. GOP divided over recall race (Why McClintock supporter supports Arnold)

MSNBC/Washington Post ^ | Aug. 31, 2003 | Dan Balz

[FairOpinion]

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 31 — State Assemblyman Ray Haynes is one of the most conservative members of the California legislature, but when he looks at the stakes involved in next month’s recall election here, the choice is clear. He’s for a Republican who can win.

“I’ll be real blunt,” Haynes said in an interview. “I was involved in the recall with Tom McClintock from the beginning, but I didn’t get involved in this to hand the governorship over to [Democratic Lt. Gov.] Cruz Bustamante. That’s something I need to be cognizant of and other conservatives need to be cognizant of.”

FOR GOP, A CRITICAL CHANCE

Adversity breeds such pragmatism. Republicans see the recall election as a critical opportunity to begin the rebuilding process after a series of devastating elections that shut them out of power in the state. Democrats control the governor’s office, the state Assembly and Senate and every statewide constitutional office.

State Senate Republican leader Jim Brulte reiterated this weekend his willingness to help talk second-tier GOP candidates out of the race. “California will be no better off if Gray Davis is recalled and Republican candidates finish two, three and four,” Brulte said.

Haynes might be part of that effort. “I’m at the point,” he said, “of saying to McClintock, ‘Show you can bring the resources to the table to win, or get out of the way.’ ”

[FairOpinion]

ping for your CA recall summary thread

[AmericaUnited]

“I’ll be real blunt,” Haynes said in an interview. “I was involved in the recall with Tom McClintock from the beginning, but I didn’t get involved in this to hand the governorship over to [Democratic Lt. Gov.] Cruz Bustamante. That’s something I need to be cognizant of and other conservatives need to be cognizant of.”

Wow! A conservative who can think rationally. Reality check dittos! What, no "I'm a spoiled little brat and will take my ball home and sulk if I don't get everything I want, now!"

[Nephi]

State Assemblyman Ray Haynes is one of the most conservative (says who?) members of the California legislature, but when he looks at the stakes involved in next month’s recall election here, the choice is clear. He’s for a Republican who can win.

Perhaps, he's not aware of the astute, but not so politically correct observation that Ahrnold made in his more radical days about the inability of blacks to self-govern?

[FairOpinion]

"not so politically correct observation that Ahrnold made in his more radical days about the inability of blacks to self-govern? "

---

It may not be politicall correct, but it's certainly TRUE. Just look at any country in Africa. Does Zimbabwe ring a bell?

[Amerigomag]

It seems a great irony that some conservatives in California are saying:

"You represent my political viewpoint exactly and because you do you can't run for governor".

[DoctorZIn]

PING!

Your One Stop Resource For All The California Recall News!

Want on our daily or major news ping lists? Freepmail DoctorZin.

[ambrose]

It seems more ironic that many "conservatives" are saying:

"You don't have to represent my viewpoint in the least. You can be a lying moral degenerate scum who is to the left of Bill Clinton on all major issues, but I'm voting for you anyway because you have an 'R' next to your name."

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

How could you possibly have a problem with liars?

[Amerigomag]

but I'm voting for you anyway because you have an 'R' next to your name

It think a more accurate statement would be: because you can win.

The question to these individuals that I've posed over and over again on this forum is: Win what?

[george wythe]

.

After reading posts by some of McClintock supporters, not only on this website but also on other web pages, it seems that there is a priority list of whom should be governor of California. For these über-conservatives, this is their wish list:

1. McClintock.

2. Davis.

3. Bustamante.

4. Schwarzenegger.

For these McClintock supporters, if McClintock cannot be elected at this time, it is better to have Davis or Bustamente as governor.

According to their predictions, their reason is simple. . . McClintock will be elected governor in 2006 if the California governor mansion stays in Democratic hands.

[PeoplesRep_of_LA]

Dang, if only I could ping this hypocrite Ray Haynes too with this, oh well, you same ol' same ol' (R)nold Stormtroopers will have to do.

After the lying about the Oui article, the refusal to debate this week, now the weird comment about South Africans, this is like shooting fish in a barrel with you brilliant "Triangulationists."

[TheAngryClam]

“There’s no question that it is very important for Republicans to try to win this office, and they would be willing to consider a candidate they would never otherwise consider, but that Republican has to make the case that they’re better than Bustamante, and Schwarzenegger hasn’t done that yet with conservatives,” said former state GOP chairman Mike Schroeder. Mike Spence, president of the California Republican Assembly, which has endorsed McClintock, said that despite Schwarzenegger’s efforts to tack to the right, many conservatives will resist his appeals. Asked how conservatives will feel if they wake up on Oct. 8 with a Democrat still in power in Sacramento because the Republican vote splinters, he said, “I think we’ll be disappointed that Schwarzenegger took away so many voters from our conservative candidate.”

Don't propagandize by quoting only the parts you like.

[Hugin]

No, what they are actually saying is "you can't win". Anybody can run. Winning is something else.

[MrNatural]

Yes, and here is what makes him think as he does: Democrats are 45% of the registered voters, Republicans 35%, Independants and others 20% (in round numbers)

Therefore, in order for a candidate to win, he must carry his own base plus some from the 20% Indies. If you are a Democrat, you only need a little over 1/4 of the Indies to get to 51%. If you are a Republican, you need a little over 3/4 of the Indies to get to 51%.

This is what dooms McClintock. He'll carry his base, and maybe split the Indie vote with the Dem, and lose.

This is why Arnold is ahead, and can win: He will carry the base, most of the Indies, and 1/4 to 1/3 of the Dems.

California politics is just that simple. It's why we've lost the last several elections. The Republicans run a definite conservative, someone the Dems can easily demonize, and (enough of) the frightened Indies give the race to the (D).

[Walkin Man]

Isn't it funny how the Washington Post and MSNBC, those bastions of conservative thought(/sarcasm) want to encourage conservative republicans to sell out their beliefs and convictions to support a far-left candidate like The Infant Terminator Arnold.

See the left can't lose if Arnie is the only repub in the race, his politics and the Rat parties are the same.

[Hugin]

According to their predictions, their reason is simple. . . McClintock will be elected governor in 2006 if the California governor mansion stays in Democratic hands.

Anyone who thinks that is a fool. If McClintock acts as a spoiler and ensures a Bustamecha victory, he is done in CA politics.

First, half the conservatives in CA will move out of state.

Second, most of the remaining Pubs will not forget or forgive.

[TheAngryClam]

You're ignoring turnout.

Republican turnout always outpaces Democratic. It is a matter of getting people to the polls. Arnold doesn't excite the base at all, and that will sink him.

[TheAngryClam]

Not if he outperforms Arnold in the polls in the weeks leading up to the election, which is looking increasingly likely.

Schwarzenegger can't gain any traction, and has been languishing at 20% for weeks now, after the heaviest free advertising frenzy by the media ever.

[ProtectorOfTwo]

Exactly my friend! We deserve what we reap if we sow illogic.