Posted on 12/06/2005 9:49:18 AM PST by BurbankKarl
SHOULD GOV. Arnold Schwarzenegger run for reelection as an independent?
Schwarzenegger is a centrist — conservative on taxes, crime and illegal immigration, and moderate on cultural and environmental issues. That balance is what attracted the support of swing voters when he was elected two years ago. But it has also kept him from forming a stronger relationship with the most ideologically committed members of his Republican Party.
When Schwarzenegger announced his candidacy during the recall campaign against Gray Davis, it was a combination of star power and animosity toward Davis that allowed many conservative voters to overlook the actor-turned-politician's support for abortion rights. His campaign promises to repeal the "car tax," balance the budget and block driver's licenses for illegal immigrants effectively secured the backing of more than three-quarters of GOP voters.
Since his election, Schwarzenegger has fought Democratic attempts to raise taxes and has reduced the size of the state's deficit. He has vetoed legislation that would grant driver's licenses to illegal immigrants and praised the work of volunteers who patrol the U.S.-Mexico border. Most recently, he invested almost his entire store of political capital in a special-election reform effort supported almost solely by conservative voters.
Schwarzenegger's entry into state politics came in 2002, when he sponsored a ballot initiative to fund after-school programs for California children that many fiscal conservatives privately dismissed as a big-government spending program. Social conservatives were irate when he told Jay Leno last year that he would not oppose the preferences of state voters on the question of same-sex marriage. In 2004, even while campaigning for President Bush's reelection, he endorsed a ballot measure funding stem cell research that almost two-thirds of Republicans opposed.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
maybe...but the GOP would certainly be better off without Arnold. I don't care how much money he can raise, he's an unprincipled liberal.
So how are the circulation numbers at the LA Times these days?
Can he write off 40% of the vote?
Dropping like a rock of course!
I don't see why he doesn't run as a Democrat
your quote "the GOP would certainly be better off without Arnold"
the la times quote "Since his election, Schwarzenegger has fought Democratic attempts to raise taxes and has reduced the size of the state's deficit. He has vetoed legislation that would grant driver's licenses to illegal immigrants and praised the work of volunteers who patrol the U.S.-Mexico border. Most recently, he invested almost his entire store of political capital in a special-election reform effort supported almost solely by conservative voters. "
Are you sure you don't want to change your mind ?
AS takes the route of Bubbas mentor, Carroll Quigley. (Make the two parties so identical that there is no difference in them) That's just about what we have today in the "Two-Party Cartel".
Centrist????? What a laff.
Note that liberal is a word that no longer exists in the MSM. If you're not conservative you are "moderate." Arnold is fiscally conservative but socially "moderate." If you are pro-abortion, pro-homosexual-marriage, anti-death-penalty, you are "moderate." I can't imagine what the liberal position would be on these issues.
All this will be a moot point if Ahhnold caves to Tookie.
The Pubbies will hate him forever, and the dems will still reject him anyway.
If he doesn't cave to Tookie, then his political life will still be alive...though not very...
A while back some sort of "independent" group I'd never heard of before approached me (and I am sure, have approached many other Cal GOPers). It was clear that they were doing the bidding of Arnie. They wanted to talk about those propositions that were on the November ballot, sponsored by Arnie. Hmmmmm.....
Even with a Republican governor, the Calif. GOP is rudderless, visionless, leaderless, not to mention often petulant and immature. I still remember from '95-'96 how the Republicans had a majority in the Assem., but weren't able to accomplish anything because they were fighting with each other about who would be Speaker. The Calif. GOP is worthless.
Oh man - I got a phone call about that. And here I thought I was special. Before the 2004 election I get a call, pick it up, say hello....and "Hellow. Dis is Guvana Ah-nold Schwahzneger...." damn near dropped the phone.
"The Calif. GOP is worthless."
After watching the non-campaign they ran against that useless waste of space Barbara Boxhead (I mean, do you even remember the NAME of the Republican candidate?), I have written them off. I register as a independent now.
He is a B grade actor and politician. I will not vote for this clown again.
He told me "hasta la vista, baby!" LOL!!!
Kalifornicate would certainly be a lot better off without Arnold...
The wrong man got too many votes...
As usual -- the sheeple, star dazed women and ignorant elected the wrong man again...
Semper Fi
I'm betting he caves on "Spookie Tookie"...
Semper Fi
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