Posted on 06/18/2004 3:59:50 PM PDT by RonDog
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www.sfgate.com Return to regular view
GOP has star-power dilemma
How will party use Schwarzenegger?
- Carla Marinucci, Chronicle Political Writer
Friday, June 18, 2004With less than three months to go before the Republican National Convention in New York City, a prime-time cliffhanger is in the works over whether the Bush camp will use it or lose it -- the megawatt influence and star power of California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Among the most sensitive issues is whether Schwarzenegger, a GOP marquee name, will be given a prized prime-time speaking spot at the party's presidential convention August 30-Sept. 2 at Madison Square Garden.
On the pro side: As the party's star actor, Schwarzenegger would get worldwide attention, and -- to the delight of networks -- draw millions of potential viewers to the now scripted-for-television political convention.
On the con side: The White House worries about lavishing too much attention on one Republican elected official who has shown an uncanny ability to upstage the party's star, Bush himself. A prominent role for Schwarzenegger also could anger the Republican right wing, which opposes his social views on such issues as abortion and same-sex marriage.
Ken Mehlman, campaign manager for Bush-Cheney '04, in an interview with The Chronicle, made no commitment on the specific role the Bush team expects the California governor to play, saying only that Schwarzenegger "is one of the great leaders of our party.''
Asked about talk that the White House is worried Schwarzenegger might outshine Bush at the convention, Mehlman downplayed the matter, suggesting that Schwarzenegger is one of many stars in the GOP...
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
When Arnold starts governing like a Milton Friedman fiscal conservative, I'll be the first one to giove him credit. Until then, I'll continue pointing out Arnold's liberal politics.
>>>For all of you knuckle-dragging paleocons...
On national issue, I'm a old fashioned Regan conservative. Give me a strong defense, income tax cuts&reform, eliminate waste-fraud&abuse and support for pro-life issues and I'm satisfied.
You're not very convincing. And since I live in America and have the right to free speech, I think you're way outta line. Stuff it.
A friend of mine, a very attractive woman, was grouped by Arnold but voted for him anyway. She said he sometimes acts like a big slobery St. Benard dog who is all over you in a playful sort of way. But, she was impressed at how he organized things, how, when doing a picture, he paid attention to details. Every little thing he checked. So, she said she would never work for him again but, he was what we need in California government. No, so far he has done everything he said he would and that's something for an elected governor.
Indeed. All politics aside, Giuliani secured his legacy in the weeks after 9/11. He certainly is a hero.
just as Arnold is.
Remind me again what Arnold's done to put himself on a par with Giuliani...
Would you honestly rather see Gary Bauer or something on stage before the nation instead of these two?
No. I'd rather see Bill Owens or Rick Santorum, to name two that quickly come to mind.
Is winning elections anywhere in your agenda? How do you expect to advance any part of your agenda if you don't first win the election?
Let me see if I understand this...showcasing an up-and-coming conservative at the convention and winning elections is mutually exclusive. Is that your stance?
Didn't quite happen that way but I have a quote that is coming in real handy lately.
"This is the west, sir. When the legend becomes fact, print the legend."
Reagan made alot of compromises and did some budget gymnastics to get the country where he wanted it. One of Reagan's best lines was something like "get what you can today and go back and get the rest later". You guys going around clubbing people with the Reagan legend are useless.
What's a "jim-dandy?"
Well, that is one difference between you and me. I speak out against liberals and liberal policies. I want to advance the conservative agenda.
You're right about Pat Buchanan. OTOH, although he may have strayed from the Republican reservation far too often, his conservative politics are still in tune with the GOP platform. That's more then can be said for Arnold Schwarzenegger's liberal politics.
You are a political neophyte. Just from your comments it is apparent that you've never been physically involved in a single political campaign.
Look, I'm here in Alabama, the most conservative of all conservative states. We have open carry here. We have shall issue. We have tort reform. We have the death penalty. We fight to put the 10 Commandments into courthouses. And no conservative worth his or her salt gives a whit about Arnold's liberal leanings on various issues so long as he doesn't overdo it...because even out here in 'Bama we know that Arnold is the most conservative that California can currently elect.
Arnold repealed California's driver's licenses for illegals. You naive Arnold-bashers can vacuously opine that Arnold is going to pass a new law that gives drivers licenses back to illegals, but that's just talk...his actions were to repeal that law.
Likewise, Arnold repealed California's car tax. Arnold also ordered the gay marriages in San Francisco to be halted, and Arnold is against partial birth abortion.
So rather than act like some spoiled child who only wants the purist of pure leaders, grow up and accept the best that you can get...use that to your advantage...and come back to ask for more later when you have even *more* power.
In other words, let Arnold shine at the Convention, and back him to the hilt until you have a *viable* replacement that works even better than him for his particular area.
You're not up on the conservative politics of Ronald Reagan I see and his great accomplishments as POTUS.
...particularly one with "star" power.Personally, I would like to build upon THESE classic images, created by Free Republic's own parody masters, REGISTERED and counterpunch:
We all see them. Some of us even remember correctly how he did it.
He could deliver California to Bush. Will he do it?
...it was between HAMBURGER and RAT POISON.
I am enough of a pragmatist to believe that we must not "let the PERFECT be the enemy of the GOOD."
Perfect illustration!
You're right and Arnold is not going to go out of his way to support Bush
I believe that if he can he will.
And you don't know what you're talking about. I campaigned for Nixon in 68&72. Reagan in 76-80-84. And for GHWBush in 88. I even did a little door to door for Bush43 back in 2000.
By coming out of the blue and personally attacking me with such juvenile rhetoric, for speaking out against a liberal RINO like Arnold Schwarzenegger, you show how much of a know nothing idiot you really are. And here I thought you had something going for you. Sorry, I was wrong about you.
You bet the Republicans have a dilemma and its not Schwarzenegger's camera time. It's their Texas loyalists. No easy answer to that problem.
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