Posted on 02/12/2005 3:54:58 PM PST by FairOpinion
SACRAMENTO, Calif., Feb 12 (Reuters) - California's Republican loyalists said on Saturday they are ready to rally behind Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's ambitious political agenda that includes ballot measures Democrats vow to defeat.
Republicans meeting at the party's state convention in Sacramento said they will eagerly fight by Schwarzenegger's side if he asks voters to support this year's agenda through ballot measures, a sharp contrast to a September convention when party officials feared key conservative members would not embrace the socially moderate Hollywood icon.
But Schwarzenegger has in recent public appearances rarely missed an opportunity to stress he stands with conservatives on fiscal matters and that he has ruled out tax increases to balance the state's budget. California faces a $9.1 billion shortfall in the next fiscal year starting in July.
"When he first came onto the scene, I was skeptical ... but I think he's proven himself," said R.Q. Williams of Napa County's Republican Central Committee. "He hit the nail on the head, pointing out that what we need to do is rein in spending, not worry about how to figure out taxes and new fees."
At a dinner on Friday night, Schwarzenegger launched into a blistering attack on California's Democrat-led legislature to get rank-and-file Republicans to support potential ballot measures to overhaul the state government.
Democrats, he said, are "spending addicts" who are standing in the way of his agenda, which includes a plan to partially privatize the state's public pension funds. The largest and third-largest U.S. pensions funds are in the state.
PUT IT TO VOTERS
His plan mirrors White House aims for the Social Security system.
Democrats, public employee unions and pension fund officials oppose the plan, which Schwarzenegger says is needed so the state can rid itself of costly financial obligations to the funds. Schwarzenegger has threatened to put the plan to voters if lawmakers do not seriously consider it.
The plan would strike at the heart of one of the state Democratic Party's most significant sources of support.
"The train has left the station and there's three things they can do," Schwarzenegger said. "One is they can join and jump on the train. Number two, they can go and stay behind and just wave and be left behind, or number three, they get in front of the train and you know what happens then."
Republicans gave Schwarzenegger raucous cheers, reflecting a new confidence after years of being shut out in California's political wilderness.
"There's a euphoria that we're relevant again," said U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa. "The Republican party was doing very well in Washington, and was irrelevant in California for a number of years. It was also divided and leaderless. Now they are united with a tremendous leader."
The Recall was not a 'primary', it was a 2 part winner take all, so who's confused. with a Qfactor 'star' power interloper put up to run and make hay for secial interests in the guise of saving the state.
and the insult comment stands.
And just for the record, for a relative newbie now weighing in so 'intelligently' on the Recall, I can't tell from your profile page, do you live in california or are you just one more out of stater chiming in for the hell of it or just a conservative basher?
On you post #174, wow!
One of the problems with free enterprise, and the understanding of it these days, is the rush to globalization. I am in the vast minority that disagrees with globalization. I do not see 600 billion dollar trade deficits as a plus for our nation or it's citizens. I do not approve of the WTO, NAFTA, the ICC or the proposed FTAA. I see them as encroachments.
I do support free enterprise within sovereign nations. I also favor reasoned international trade. But in the extreme internationalist version, you can't have free enterprise unless you surrender sovereignty. That process is well entrenched at this time. It's about to get a lot worse.
I agree with the premise you raised. I do however recognize that we may disagree on what I've said to this point. I believe that internal free enterprise and moral behavior are integral to the well being of our nation. I do believe the issues regarding free enterprise have become more complex over the last decade. As for moral behavior, it's a tough sell these days with all the cultural conflicts.
I recognize that we have a small minority of moderates who support the things you mentioned. They are not conservatives. Yes, some they think they are. I must admit, I view them as disrupters. Their views are in some instances identical to the groups we disagree with the most. I have no idea why they remain here, except for reasons that cannot be related to advancing conservatism.
Well, when it comes to the enviro folks, it's like trying to explain to someone that children need limits. They either get it or they don't.
While I do agree with the idea that there is division among the Republican ranks, I'm probably not as convinced as you, that the divisions are as pronounced. I believe that for whatever reason, there is a contingent on this forum that is here for reasons that do not relate to conservatism.
I believe that the other side is smart enough to realize that the best way to defeat conservatism, is to enter it's ranks and foster confusion and dissension. I also recognize that there are not infrequently instances when we do it to ourselves.
I try never to be a part of that, but well meaning people are not always correct. We can only do the best we can and hope we get it right more often than not.
You see globalization as a consequence of free enterprise. I don't. I see globalization as a consequence of differential regulation often foisted by political means in order to make extranational investments profitable. Further, I see American owned assets within sovereign foreign nations enjoying the substantial subsidy of American military protection. In both cases, the taxpayer is either penalizing domestic investment or subsidizing investment overseas. Tax policy adds substantially to that set of effects.
But in the extreme internationalist version, you can't have free enterprise unless you surrender sovereignty.
You would need to read my book on that one. You know that I am an advocate of national sovereignty and controlled borders, else the inability to effect laws within those borders renders representative goverment meaningless.
I recognize that we have a small minority of moderates who support the things you mentioned. They are not conservatives. Yes, some they think they are.
Small? If so, they are extremely vocal. I agree that they think that they are conservatives, but when one examines the consequences of social policy, the claim to be both a social moderate and fiscal conservative is simply ingorant.
Well, when it comes to the enviro folks, it's like trying to explain to someone that children need limits. They either get it or they don't.
I don't think that's the point. They don't understand the power of private property and free enterprise to manage the complexity of environmental problems.
I believe that for whatever reason, there is a contingent on this forum that is here for reasons that do not relate to conservatism.
Lower taxes and strong military defense. Me, me, me...
I believe that the other side is smart enough to realize that the best way to defeat conservatism, is to enter it's ranks and foster confusion and dissension. I also recognize that there are not infrequently instances when we do it to ourselves.
This is a might presumptuous. It presupposes the ability to make an objective judgment of the distinction. I would go into detail, but it would involve mention and discussion of the attributes of specific FReepers, which I won't do.
I try never to be a part of that, but well meaning people are not always correct.
Then you fell in with the wrong crowd during the recall, D1. Personally, I beilieve that the incessant (and frankly, vicious) attack McClintock suffered at this website, was enough to convince the staffers of elected Republican Party legislators and officials that conservatives could be cowed into supporting Arnold. It was the focus of the tipping point when McClintock had risen from 4 to 12 points in two weeks while Arnold had dropped somewhat. The resulting endorsements of Chris Cox etc. were then enough to sink McClintock's effort. I have a few acquaintences in Sacramento who have admitted to me that what happens here is influential. Admittedly, when Tom accepted that tribal donation, it supplied his enemies with ammunition. If the conservatives who supported him weren't such skinflints and had sent him $20 apiece, it wouldn't have happened.
To this day, I believe that had people voted their preference for governor rather than their fear of Bustamante, Tom would have won that election. There were internal polls in the campaigns that strongly so indicate. If you liked that table I posted above, you should know that I will eventually get the data on one that proves that point. This isn't about spilled milk or sour grapes; it's about teaching FReepers that voting your convictions and supporting others in doing so can win elections. We have more power than we realize.
Another example of disruption from supposed conservatives is what happened to Bill Simon here on FR. It was ugly. Frankly, I had my problems with both Simon's detractors and his paid help operating on this website, which is supposed to be about grassroots activism. I believe that there are more paid operatives here than we realize.
C'est la guerre.
Denny Crane: "There are two places to find the truth. First God and then Fox News."
Denny Crane: "There are two places to find the truth. First God and then Fox News."
Wrong. The Rules committee voted yesterday to strike out an outdated rule requiring that the CPR not endorse a candidate until after the last primary, and allow CPR to endorse a candidate for governor before the next primary. The convention will vote on it today.
You should be more worried about the labor union goons that crashed the convention yesterday. More on that later.
McClintock is running for Lt. Governor and is very well respected by the party.
I'm sorry, GVgirl, but that is NOT an outdated rule and voting to revoke that great tradition is exactly as I said... A HIJACKING of the traditional primary process to lock out any potential challenger to A.S. who fears the primary process with good reason! It is undemocratic, unfair, unwise and typical of what's plaguing the Party and why I checked out of it immediately after voting for Bill Simon!!!
Why the heck do you think that lady in charge of the process resigned in disgust yesterday? Don't be pulled in by the Sundheim Sway on this and for the sake of conservatism in what's left of the Party of Reagan, please resist this rotten pre-emption of righteous rules.
If A.S. had nothing to fear from this traditional rule, why would ANYONE be motivated to fix what ain't broken???(at least that's the way it looks from the Wasp's nest deep in the heart of the sickening Sierra-Nevada CONservancy!)
No sale. The CPR has primed a buzzsaw.
Didn't vote for Schwarzenegger but I can't say I'm all that disappointed with his performance thus far.
OUTDATED???? Do you realize the danger in this? Do realize how IMPORTANT that rules and how it came to be? I was there along with Dora when this rule was put in place. Do you realize how UGLY our conventions can and will now get.
I was seriously going back there this morning and proposing an amendment on the floor to also include the endorsement of Tom McClintock for LG, Bill Simon for Treasurer, and Chuck Poochigian for Attorney General. Would that not also be good for the Party? Or was this all about just one candidate?
BTW, I thought that the "CPR" was the California Performance Review. Didn't you mean the CRP (California Republican Party)? Is there another CPR we don't know about?
Den Schwartzie ist gut.
And as Lili Tomlin's "Edith Ann" used to say... "And that's the truth! Plbplbplbplbplb!!!
HoustonSacramento, we have a problem!!! (a crucial process is in the process of being corrupted... BIGTIME!!!)
This thread should be studied from beginning to end, including each reply, by anyone wishing to fully understand why the historic CA Recall election was rescued from the "Peasants With Pitchforks" by the "Powers That Be," and why such a strident battle broke out here on FR before and after it was all over.
Special thanks to Carrie_Okie and calcowgirl for working together to make reply #101 so absolutely revealing!!! (and disturbing to California Conservatives!!!)
"Didn't vote for Schwarzenegger but I can't say I'm all that disappointed with his performance thus far."
You are a breath of fresh air. A McClintock voter with an open mind. :)
Given all the contraints of having the huge deficit handed to him, having to deal with the liberal Dem Legislature, Arnold has been doing extraordinary well, walking around the landmines and actually steering the course the right way. Sure he had to compromise on some issues, but he is pushing through his own agenda on the fiscal issues and changing the political landscape by redistricting -- all of that is good for California and the GOP.
Do me a favor and cut that crap. You don't know the first thing about California politics. It wouldn't be fair for me to tell you to sell your banjo and take your cousin and buy some shoes for the kids you had with her. Likewise it is not fair for you to watch a few political stories from San Francisco and claim to be able to judge life in the state that is the jewel of this great nation.
There are a million MORE more Republicans in California than there are PEOPLE in Alabama. In the last election more people voted for Bush in California than in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Georgia and South Carolina COMBINED.
While the country was all talking about the new trend for marriage between a man and a woman this year. California approved it's marriage protection act 4 years ago, by 62%.
Now please. Wait until you know what you are talking about before you make any more ignorant pronouncements.
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