California GOP Insiders: McClintock Will Drop Out

newsmax.com ^ | 09.09.03 | Eric Leonard, NewsMax.com

[VU4G10]

California GOP Insiders: McClintock Will Drop Out Eric Leonard, NewsMax.com Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2003 LOS ANGELES – Leading elected Republicans have made it clear for the first time the party will stand behind only one candidate in the recall election to ensure a victory over Democrat Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante. Neither state Sen. Tom McClintock's nor Arnold Schwarzenegger's campaigns say they are considering dropping out of the race, but results from the most recent Field Poll, coupled with GOP pressure, point towards McClintock being asked to "take one for the team," insiders say.

"I believe we're going to have one candidate," said Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., during an appearance today on CNN.

He said the party's decision would likely be made during the state's Republican Party convention this weekend in Southern California.

"I'm going to the convention to bring the party together. I'm confident we're going to get to one candidate," Issa said.

Hours earlier, California Republican Party chairman Duf Sundheim made similar comments during an interview on Fox News Channel.

While McClintock has been more closely aligned with the Republican Party's traditional philosophies, Schwarzenegger continues to lead with voters, according to the most recent Field Poll.

The poll revealed little change in voter support now that Peter Ueberroth, a Republican who said he was running as an independent, quit the race.

With Ueberroth out, Schwarzenegger went from 25 to 27 percent, McClintock from 13 to 14 percent, and Bustamante from 30 to 32 percent.

However, with McClintock out, Schwarzenegger vaults into the lead over Bustamante.

[NormsRevenge]

How about this for a deal.. Oct 1, Tom drops out and Parsky and Firestone and the country clubbers step down as the CA GOP marionette string pullers and return the party to real conservatives? That would be one way I would use Tom's "leverage". just a thought. If Arnie wins, fine, hell Busty is going bust either way as things look now.

[EternalVigilance]

Every election is about abortion, until we end it.

No man or woman is qualified for public office who supports it.

You just don't understand the negative effects of the ascension of an abortion-on-demand politician like Schwarzenegger. It puts us even further away from the day when the barbarity ends.

I have to step out now, but would be happy to continue this conversation later...

[RonDog]

Check THIS out, from section9:

To: dead

I posted this weeks ago.

The only thing that is going on right now between the two camps is haggling about the price. Arnold has to do four things:

1. Let Tom and his people in the SS and the Assembly have a big say when crafting the budget in December.

2. Take care of Tom's Thousand Oaks Senate district (repaving the 101, making sure Ventura county schools and law enforcement get their cut, etc.). There is more horsetrading going on even now, I'll bet.

3. Leave Tom's people in the party alone and tell Gerald Parsky to back the f8^k off. Arnold needs to make sure this happens if he has any hope of corralling some of Tom's base voters. I'm told they just don't like Parsky.

4. Give Tom an open field to run against Boxer next year. Personally, I think McClintock might be on the cusp of something. He is distinguished from the other candidates by his unswerving honesty and devotion to what he believes in. TMC is a guy who is ready to break out and go national. My belief is that he should serve a couple of House terms and go after Feinstein's seat when she bails.

Tom McClintock holds all the cards here. He wins by being the good party man, but must not bail out before this weekend's convention.

This is where Tom gets his "A Time For Choosing" moment to establish himself as the Next Reagan. This convention is where Tom speaks to the base and bonds them to him for future campaigns.

This is also where Tom tells the base that California's fate is too important to take second place to Tom's own ambition. Tom pulls out after a Reaganesque speech that will establish him as the next, incorruptible Republican star. Tom convinces the base to go for Arnold rather than condemn California to the "Davis-Bustamante" regime.

Schwarzenegger may become governor, but the big winner will be McClintock; if it can be seen by the Party rank and file that McClintock threw his entire support to Arnold. Any which way, Tom wins, even if Arnold loses. Even if it turns out that there are pictures of Arnold having rough trade sex with the Villiage People, McClintock can say "I was just being the good soldier...".

Tom McClintock can become the new kingmaker in California politics precisely because he owns his base, and can move to the center at his leasure. Arnold has no base, only superstar attraction and a reputation for being able to do things. Bustamante's base is there for him, but it's fractured. If Tom handles his Moment properly, he can propel himself to the Senate.

Be Seeing You,

Chris

114 posted on 09/10/2003 1:44 PM PDT by section9 (To read my blog, click on the Major!)

This is the most optimistic "best case" scenario that I have seen.

If Tom McClintock has learned ANYTHING from his many years of service in Sacramento, he will understand that acting as section9 proposes here is his duty, and his destiny.

And, if Arnold is the media-saavy genius that many here believe him to be, he will milk this "made for TV event" for all it's worth.

Stay tuned for an EMOTIONAL convention this weekend. :o)

[TheAngryClam]

I'll be the one booing his endorsement of Arnold from the crowd if he does that.

And I've already voted for Tom, by absentee.

[abigail2]

McClintock is a real hero and loves California alot. That is why he would drop out, I don't like you putting him down. He should be the candidate.

[DoughtyOne]

I believe your scenario holds some bones for everyone to walk away with. I hope that it comes to pass.

I would urge Tom to work on his demeaner over the next year or two. The guy has excellent ideas, but watching him on the turbe bothers me. He needs to smile more and become more personable.

Some will think I'm just trying to trash the guy, but these suggestions will make him much more electable next time around.

Thanks for the ping Ron and S9.

[RonDog]

Let us hope that Mr. McClintock has read Dickens. :o)

From "A Tale of Two Cities":

"It is a far, far better thing I do than I have ever done.
It is a far, far better rest I go to than I have ever known!"

(Ronald Coleman as Sydney Carton,
sacrificing his life for the greater good.)

click here
to HEAR him

[DoughtyOne]

LOL, pulling out the big guns now hugh. Good one.

[BigWaveBetty]

Your favourite subject ping!

[A CA Guy]

So he is trying to blackmail everybody and wants to be loved? LOL ROTFLMAO!

[isthisnickcool]

McClintock is a real hero and loves California alot. That is why he would drop out, I don't like you putting him down. He should be the candidate.

"Real Hero"? Audie Murphy was a hero. The firemen and policemen that ran up stairs in the WTC towers 2 years ago were heros. Mcclintock may be a quasi-career politician that has been involved in California politics for years but a "hero"?

I did see where in 1984 "he received the civilian Medal of Merit from the Ventura County Peace Officers Association for rescuing an elderly man from a condominium fire". Is that what you are referring to?

I'm not "putting him down", I'm just observing that in a Democratic state like California in a very short election cycle like this one he doesn't really have a chance. Even if Arnold dropped out.

[theFIRMbss]

>"Necessity is the plea of every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves." -William Pitt

It all depends on
your "belief-set." For instance,
none of the indians

who fought Europe's sprawl
across North America
won. But the indians

cooperating
with the, then, new world order,
where absorbed into

Europe's advancement.
Now, today, our world order
of individuals

and spiritual
(or even conceptual)
beliefs and passions,

is being replaced
by globalism and gangs
built around business.

Just as the indians'
hunter-gather world vanished
(regardless of how

they chose to respond)
now our world will disappear.
The choices we make

don't matter one bit
here, but only between God
and us. For people

who join the new age,
they're not "slaves" any more than
free indians were slaves

for helping Europe.
(They're not "slaves," but I believe
they'll get tough questions

from God soon enough.
I think it's a bad choice, but
I don't think they're slaves...)

[MeekOneGOP]

Caption the Useful Idiot
(Santa Cruz "Impeach Bush" Supporter)

[flamefront]

Debate first, then decide.

[Princeliberty]

If he does that he is finished he made himself
by being a man of character and principle if
he sells out he supporters will leave him.

Ask Riley and Pryor in Alabama about this!

[autoresponder]

Great audio clip!

Brings your point to life!

Hurray for (olde) Hollywood!

[MeekOneGOP]

he he ! I'm a member too ...

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

[mendedheart]

The current LA Times poll is not showing the correct numbers- its a very liberal newspaper and wants Tom to believe he is running high on the numbers to keep the split between Arnold & Tom.
I heard on FOX this morning that Arnolds numbers is much higher then the polls read at this time.