The democrats are piling the wood and the Republicans are tossing the matches.
Posted on 11/11/2005 8:53:00 AM PST by NormsRevenge
The Inland area, a bastion of Republican votes that overwhelmingly supported Gov. Schwarzenegger in the recall election, didn't come through at the ballot box this week, party officials said Thursday.
Voter turnout in Riverside and San Bernardino counties was among the lowest in the state.
It fell several points below the statewide average, as well as turnout in Democratic coastal strongholds.
The results have local Republicans worried about 2006, when Schwarzenegger and seven other GOP candidates will need solid Inland victories if they hope to win statewide.
"I realize that we were not going to offset everything on the coast and in the north," said Barry Hartz, a member of the San Bernardino County Republican Central Committee. "But for being one of the most conservative areas of the state, I think we did a pretty stinkin' job countywide."
Of those Republicans who did show up Tuesday, some of them broke from the party line.
"I was optimistic that Schwarzenegger was going to do a good job. But frankly I've been disappointed," said Brian Novak, a registered Republican from Winchester who said he voted against all four of the governor's propositions. "He's managed to alienate virtually every segment of the electorate."
GOP bastion Orange County was the only place in Southern California where a majority of voters approved all of the governor's propositions.
"When your own people don't show up, you've got a heck of a problem," said Professor Jack Pitney, who teaches government at Claremont McKenna College.
Riverside and San Bernardino counties are among the fastest-growing in the state. The number of registered voters has increased by more than 260,000 since fall 2002, with Republicans outnumbering Democrats last month by more than 120,000.
In past elections, the Inland area was a cornerstone of GOP strategy.
Two years ago, more than 70 percent of Inland voters supported the recall of former Gov. Gray Davis -- some of the highest levels in the state. Majorities of voters also backed Schwarzenegger's election.
Last year, the region strongly backed President Bush's re-election. Support for Bush was up several points from both counties' 2000 totals, reducing Democrats' statewide margin of victory.
California Republican Party spokeswoman Karen Hanretty said officials will take a hard look at turnout in the Inland area.
The party particularly wants to know the Republican vote, data that will not be available until officials finish their canvass later this month.
Thursday in Sacramento, Schwarzenegger accepted responsibility for his propositions' defeat. "The buck stops with me," he said.
Inland GOP activists agreed, saying none of the governor's propositions seemed to motivate Republicans as much as the 2003 recall or Bush's re-election.
"Was there a lot of energy? I don't think there was," said Jan Manske of Murrieta, a Schwarzenegger supporter and donor. "I don't know why, but people didn't think (the propositions) were that important."
Kevin Jeffries, chairman of the Riverside County Republican Party, said it's easier to rally voters around a candidate than around complicated ballot propositions. Also, Tuesday's election marked the fourth fall ballot in a row.
Only half as many volunteers helped get out the vote for Tuesday' election as they did in last year's presidential contest, Jeffries said.
Hartz said San Bernardino County's GOP leadership should have done more.
"There was not a concerted effort to mobilize the 30 or 40 members of the central committee in their various communities," he said. "It's pretty obvious that the Dems kicked our butt up in getting the vote out."
Pray for W and Our Freedom Fighters
And there you have it. It's pretty obvious that the Pubbies take conservatives for granted, and are ignoring us to reach out to some mythical "center." Hope they've learned their lesson for '06.
Haven't all the Republicans moved from CA yet? Those voting with their feet ought to be noticed soon. They aren't like Democrats that vote in perpetuity, whether they've moved or died.
I'm not surprised. It was a mid week election. Republicans have jobs to go to and most Democrats don't.
Its all the Meth in Riverside and San Berdoo. They were too busy tweaking to get to the polls.
Maybe they were. I frequently hear from those on FR who claim to be the 'real conservatives' that they are going to withhold their votes to 'teach the Republicans a lesson.' Seems these voters did just that.
I heard that San Diego County also supported the Governator's propositions.
Pray for W and Our Freedom Fighters
The democrats are piling the wood and the Republicans are tossing the matches.
I noticed. There was no one at the polls; you just walk in and walk out. I knew we were toast.
I was in and out in 3 minutes..
The last general took over half an hour which is still not much.
Having this many initiatives on an off year election and the fact we have been voting like banshees every few months the last few years may also have had some bearing on turnout.
"Not real Conservatives!
Maybe they were. I frequently hear from those on FR who claim to be the 'real conservatives' that they are going to withhold their votes to 'teach the Republicans a lesson.' Seems these voters did just that."
These are the true Rhinos-(Whinos).
So when isn't it a mid week election?
Your ignorance of California is astounding. California gave George Bush his largest number of votes in the last election, the most political contributions, and the most contributions to FreeRepublic. Oh btw: You're aware this site is in California right?
When I went to the polls there was a line out the door for the Democraps side. My friend who was working on the Republican side said they only had about forty voters show up so far. I knew then the propositions were doomed!
In that Leftist revolutionary book "The Monkey Wrench Gang" there is talk of torching billboards as some sort of anti capitalist expression. I must admit, I had more than one thought of torching some of the billboards bashing Arnie that were funded by the Communistic unions. Good thing for them I am a law abiding citizen.
The other fact people are not considering. Republicans are moving out of the state in large numbers.
I grew up in San Bernardino co and lived in Riverside until 2 years ago. My wife and I packed up and crossed the CA border into AZ on June 1st, 2003. One of the best days of our lives.
San Bernadino and Riverside will be taken over by the influx of illegals and liberals leaving LA. It has already occured in north Orange County. The Orange curtain was destroyed by the votes of illegal aliens.
If this happenes in '08 Hillary Clinton will be our next president.
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