The buzz: Jones is failing to fire up Republican bigwigs

Sac Bee ^ | 7/24/04 | Dan Smith

[NormsRevenge]

Senate candidate Bill Jones paid a brief "courtesy" visit to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in Santa Monica this week but don't expect to see the Republican governor do much for Jones' underdog bid to unseat Democrat Barbara Boxer.

Schwarzenegger has agreed to appear at one Jones fund-raiser and maybe make one campaign appearance for him while President Bush is in California next month, aides say - about as much as Republicans John McCain, the Arizona senator, and Vice President Dick Cheney have agreed to do.

It's not that Schwarzenegger doesn't like Jones. He gave him a big boost with an endorsement in the GOP primary, but - in the harsh world of pragmatic politics - aides say it's unlikely he'll do more for a lagging candidate.

[novacation]

It's the Republican party the least bit interested in getting rid of Boxer?I haven't heard a single ad for Jones or heard anything from him.Maybe he isn't enough of a rino for them.

[byteback]

Well then why did Arnold endorse him if he's not going to support him? We all had our own candidates who are more dynamic but Jones had the insider vote. I like Bill Jones but he doesn't campaign so what good it that?

[Honestfreedom]

I would have liked the Hispanic woman to have been the nominee. That would have put Boxer in a tight spot.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Bill Jones who?

GW, Rove, the RNC and RNSC should forget about California for the time being.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

PS, I donate a HUGE amount of $$$ to the 'pubs. IMO, the California GOP is so poorly managed that I wouldn't give them a penny.

Hey Cal GOP! Care to get in touch?

[NormsRevenge]

Maybe Bill Jones is going for a knockout punch at the one and only debate August 10.

[ambrose]

I was rooting for Jones in the primary because, among other reasons, I thought Ahnold would work hard to get him elected (i.e., give Jones his donor Rolodex). That hasn't happened. Say hello to another six years for Babs Boxer.

[Torie]

Barbie was almost a lock, even if space aliens took over the minds of California liberals. The idea was that Jones would not reinforce the idea, that in the California environment, Pubbies were not loser loons.

[A CA Guy]

You noticed that Jones wasn't a Strong candidate?

I was saying that in the primaries as well. There was a woman who was a treasurer of the United States under Bush I think that made a better candidate by far. (If memory serves)
The support was too thin in the primaries, but she had the only chance IMO!

[backtothestreets]

Don't look now, but the problems with the California GOP are affecting the entire GOP.

Many people are seeing the Democrats and Republicans as extremely similar. They've good reason. On the national scene commentators are noting how similar Bush and Kerry are on many issues. The party platforms will differ somewhat, but when applied to government, the results will be very similar. Both parties are now BIG government parties, bent on expanding Social Security, federal programs and government controls over nearly every aspect of our lives.

The problem is not the party platforms, or the leaders. It's much more basic, and can be found in their respective party rules, not the platforms.

The Democratic Party has for years relied on delegates to conventions based on population only. A couple decades back, the Republican Party started incorporating delegate selection with a higher emphasis on population. They've steadily expanded this practice. In doing so, the party has broadened the amount of influence large metropolitan areas and heavily populated states bring to bear on party policies, including the platform and the actual act of governing.

If the Republican Party adhered to republican principles nationally, more emphasis would be placed upon the individual state republics, and less on population numbers. At the state level, greater emphasis would fall to the counties.

Demographically, large populations are more liberal in granting the government rights over their lives, and expecting the government to provide for their welfare.

If the trend continues, the Democrats and Republicans will be able to join their parties into a mega political party in another decade or so, maybe sooner.

I haven't lost hope yet, but I am looking for a political party that adheres to republican principle within their own party rules. If a party does not adhere to these principles, they can not govern by these principles. It would be like expecting an atheist to teach a child about Christianity.

In the meantime, look for more mud slinging from both parties. With so little separating their policies, it's about all they've got to set themselves apart. The old adage "You only hurt the ones you love", should be the motto for both parties.

[ambrose]

Boxer has always polled poorly, but she has always had lucky breaks with her opponents. In 92, Hershchensohn had the race at hand until the last minute sleaze attack on him. Matt Fong was hapless.

Jones... I expected better of him...



Oh, and just think... if Ariana hadn't hired an illegal alien maid, Michael Huffington might be a senator right now. Heck, he may have edged out W. in the 2000 primaries and become president... ever see "Being There"?

[Torie]

Michael Huffington might be a senator right now. Heck, he may have edged out W. in the 2000 primaries and become president.

It is time to cut down on the mind altering stuff. When you push 50, all things in moderation become almost mandatory. The bod at that point begins to really disappoint. Trust me.

[jnarcus]

Oh you mean the GOP actually has someone running against Babs? Gosh who would have ever known?

[GeronL]

The RINO's would rather have a Democrat win than a conservative. End of story.

[novacation]

If it wasn't for Free Republic I wouldn't know he was a candidate at all.

[First_Salute]

Bruce Herschenson is a good man, and the Republican Party's failure to back him well enough, is a model of how the Californian and National Republican Party is failing. The "management" are obsessed with cash flow models, directing funds here and there, in a fashion as though they are running a business.

It's not a business.

It's not about money.

The Democrats know this, and that is why they win.

Few people know and understand, for example, that the Washington Post is an unprofitable newspaper --- it is supported under the table by liberals' donations, its national circulation is entirely supported by liberals' donations, they do it in order to support the appearance, in the public eye, of "the acceptance of liberal political solutions."

Ironic that the Republicans charge the Democrats with "just throwing money at the issues," when in political campaigning for office, the Republican Party of California and the National Republican Party, are just throwing money at the most expensive "sound bites" which are least remembered.

Without print newspapers in support of conservative issues on a weekly basis, in which to establish a conservative context, in which, in turn, a conservative "sound bite" will land in the public eye and with better understanding by the public because the public has been reading the newspapers and therefore has more background information with which to understand what the Republican is saying ... Republicans face the challenge and costs of much steeper learning curve of the public, on Republican / conservative issues, than do Democrats on Democrat / liberal issues.

The Republican Party, in short, is just throwing away our money on top-dollar campaigning which glimpses are not remembered.

When a lack of foundation and a lack of building foundations, is nearly, overwhelmingly, the Republican Party's problem.

Second to that, is that managment believes that none among them have the creative talent to build foundations, and so they spend a lot of money trying to pay for political advice --- that is, media advice. They spend most of the money, right there.

They refuse to believe that among the ranks of Republicans in this country, there is creative talent with which to convey to the public, good illustrative examples of why Republican beliefs are good and will work and have worked.

Yet, at the same time, they refuse to allow into their management ranks, the very people, Republicans in the trenches, who can demonstrate the talent they have.

Well, now, the Internet pages have begun to "show up" the Republican management, when here and there, Republicans who have creative talent, are putting their talent to work.

I' ve sat there and listened to the most high, blabber on about how "we must hire liberals because they are creative."

Sad stuff.

You might say, the the biggest reason why California goes to the Democrats, is not really as much that Republicans don't believe they have enough money to win, it is more that the Republican management don't believe they have the talent to win.

Well, they don't; yet among the ranks, they, we, do ... if the fat-cat minded Republicans would just get out of the way.

Bruce Herschensohn still could run, and I wish that he would run, right now, as a write-in for Senator.

The Republican Party managment cannot imagine that Bruce can win.

THAT is the problem with the Republican Party management: they cannot imagine, and, they know it!

They just are afraid of losing their powerful spots in the party, to people who do have an imagination.

[A CA Guy]

The other lady running had a chance, this Jones is a blank in the race.

I don't even thnink Democrats have to worry about spending money on him and THAT is pathetic for Republicans.

[A CA Guy]

The Democrats win because they have a machine here in CA that bribes voters with government jobs, and obscene connections to unions and trial lawyers.

They are basically, the MOB!

If you could hand out money in a popularity contest, wouldn't you be the primary beneficiary of power over the person who says work for it buddy?

They appeal to the low end of human nature and enough of them vote and call themselves Democrats.
Shameful really.