Independent Arnold

American Spectator ^ | 9 Dec 05 | Carol Platt Lebau

[rellimpank]

It's been a week since Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger named Democratic operative, abortion rights activist and former Gray Davis aide Susan Kennedy as his new chief of staff, and Republican fury is unabated.

Republican leaders in the state Senate and Assembly have criticized the choice; California Republican Party Chairman Duf Sundheim has scheduled a closed-door meeting with the Governor next week to express his concerns -- most notably, that a Democrat would be privy to confidential Republican strategies next year as the Governor runs for re-election.

[Political Junkie Too]

I'm angry because he's taking away an opportunity to groom a future GOP governor! What was he thinking? It's not so much that he has a former Gray Davis Chief-of-Staff for his own (well, it is, really), but that he isn't taking advantage of the opportunity to let a CA GOP person take that position to be groomed to run for Governor one day! What better place is there for someone to get to intimately know the workings of Sacramento, to build a network of supporters, to learn the issues, than the Chief-of-Staff slot?

Why would Schwarzenegger deny the CA GOP the benefits of holding that position?

-PJ

[rellimpank]

--But one thing is certain. The sad truth is that in California's current political climate, no Republican gubernatorial candidate but Schwarzenegger can defeat a Democrat in a head-to-head matchup. An independent Schwarzenegger in a three-way race, however, might attract enough Democratic support to allow 40% of California -- the conservative base -- to elect one of its own. How ironic: By leaving the party and choosing to run as an independent, Arnold Schwarzenegger might do Republicans the greatest favor of all.--

--somehow I doubt this is how it will work out--

[paudio]

most notably, that a Democrat would be privy to confidential Republican strategies next year as the Governor runs for re-election.

Do they still want him to run as a Republican?

[Uncle Hal]

I have heard that in CA., a person who is in office and decides to run again, cannot change party affiliation with less than 12 months to go until the next election. Thus with the governors race in early November, Arnold would have to run as republican. I do not know if this is true but I heard it on the radio from a political operative of the GOP.

[calcowgirl]

Full Article:


It's been a week since Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger named Democratic operative, abortion rights activist and former Gray Davis aide Susan Kennedy as his new chief of staff, and Republican fury is unabated.

Republican leaders in the state Senate and Assembly have criticized the choice; California Republican Party Chairman Duf Sundheim has scheduled a closed-door meeting with the Governor next week to express his concerns -- most notably, that a Democrat would be privy to confidential Republican strategies next year as the Governor runs for re-election.

But Sundheim's worries may be premature. Rumors are beginning to swirl that Governor Schwarzenegger might abandon the Republican Party and seek re-election as an independent. Prominent California political consultant Dan Schnur, a former adviser to Governor Pete Wilson and to Senator John McCain, encouraged the gambit, writing in the December 6 Los Angeles Times that, "If Schwarzenegger is truly an independent, who supports Republican positions on some issues and Democratic positions on others, maybe his reelection campaign would be a good time to come out and say it."

Many Republicans couldn't agree more. They have noted Schwarzenegger's apparent reluctance even to be associated with them. Last week, when the Republican Governors were meeting in Carlsbad, California, the Governor refused to be seen publicly with them; he has shunned President Bush on his last two visits to the state.

And although California Republicans appreciate Governor Schwarzenegger's commitment to holding down taxes and his refusal to provide illegal immigrants with drivers' licenses, the appointment of Susan Kennedy has created legitimate apprehension that the Governor may seek to salvage an agenda -- any agenda -- by, in effect, capitulating to the Democrats. If that's to be the Governor's course, Republicans are understandably reluctant to deploy any more of their fundraising or grassroots assets on his behalf.

In fact, a decision to run as an independent may hurt no one so much as the governor himself. Even if he is able to eke out a re-election victory, he will have to find a way to govern without any partisan backing -- bereft of any organized statewide or organizational support, and without a "team" of legislators that is willing to support even politically difficult decisions for the sake of party loyalty. As an independent, the Governor would have to forge ad-hoc coalitions constantly (and often in opposition to both parties) in order to enact an agenda.

During his first run for Governor and immediately thereafter, given his white-hot charisma and widespread public support, Schwarzenegger might actually have succeeded as an independent -- when he could credibly threaten to go over legislators' heads to communicate with the voters who so obviously supported him. Thanks to the Democrats' often-dishonest attack ads during the special election campaign, however, his public support has eroded; Democrats know they need not fear his political power. And if he chooses to leave the Republican Party, its members will likewise be at liberty to criticize him without constraint.

Rather than seeking to revive his political fortunes -- and those of the Republican Party as a whole -- through incremental but principled measures, like continuing to oppose giveaways to government employees and drivers' licenses for illegal immigrants, Schwarzenegger has apparently decided to forge a new political identity. Whether his makeover will include actually leaving the Republican Party remains unclear.

But one thing is certain. The sad truth is that in California's current political climate, no Republican gubernatorial candidate but Schwarzenegger can defeat a Democrat in a head-to-head matchup. An independent Schwarzenegger in a three-way race, however, might attract enough Democratic support to allow 40% of California -- the conservative base -- to elect one of its own. How ironic: By leaving the party and choosing to run as an independent, Arnold Schwarzenegger might do Republicans the greatest favor of all.

[calcowgirl]

Ping to another good article from Carol Liebau

Yesterday's article: From One Extreme to Another - Schwarzenegger’s Strategy of Capitulation

[Amerigomag]

I do not know if this is true

Your source is correct

[calcowgirl]

Do we know for sure that Arnold hasn't already changed his party affiliation? (Just a wild thought).
Is that information public?

[Amerigomag]

Do we know for sure that Arnold hasn't already changed his party affiliation?

You've been at your keyboard too long. Take a rest. You're sounding like a FO doppleganger.

[Czar]

"How ironic: By leaving the party and choosing to run as an independent, Arnold Schwarzenegger might do Republicans the greatest favor of all."

Works for me.

[SierraWasp]

"Works for me."

I'll buy that! It's step one in squeezing the puss out of the Party boil IMO!!!

[goldstategop]

Its not like the party leadership is growing balls. There's a huge disconnect between and the base. I didn't care enough to go and vote this November. I knew things weren't going to change - why bother? And events since have only proven me right... they've gotten worse and now we're back to the Gray Davis Era - only in this case, Arnold is for practical purposes, his alter ego!

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie.Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[goldstategop]

That assumes the liberal vote will be split several ways. I think that's a stretch. If I'm a Democrat, I'm going to vote for a real liberal Democrat, who reflects my values. Why would I want to vote for a pretend liberal in Arnold, when my party offers me the real deal? So a lot of Democrats who voted for Arnold last time simply will not vote for him again. Do the math. By next year, this state will be an even deeper shade of blue to boot.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie.Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[NormsRevenge]

Thanks for the ping.

I been busier than a moderate during haPPy hour. Looks like you been having fun today jousting with some remnants of posse-resembling folk, the Baghdad Bob wing of the moderate segment of the CA GOP.

I heard about this earlier today. The Judge comes out of the East Bay, Alameda County, Ellen Tauscher country.

I am curious if she ever sat on the bench in court proceedings including Kamala Harris, the SF DA that refuses to pursue death penalty convictions, even one a year ago by a gang banger who gunned down a young offier for no reason. Is she a pro-whack the perp death penalty kind of gal?

She's only 1 vote on a predominantly republican appointed court, but ya never know the depths some will go subvert institutions these days.

'Evil' independent comservatives like me would like to know a bit more, not that it would likely make any difference, I'm sure Susan K. 'vetted' her for the Gub. ;-). ;-)

[NormsRevenge]

fyi--

Schwarzenegger taps moderate to Calif. Supreme Court

---

excerpt, looks to be staunch death penalty advocate, successfully prosecuted death penalty in 1986, first by female prosecutor ever in Alameda Co.

Carol A. Corrigan

AGE: 57

CURRENT POSITION: Associate justice, 1st District Court of Appeal, San Francisco.

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND: Alameda County deputy district attorney, 1975-85; senior deputy district attorney, 1985-87; Alameda County Municipal Court judge, 1987-91; Alameda County Superior Court judge, 1991-94; associate justice, 1st District Court of Appeal, 1994-present. Corrigan also has held several law school teaching positions.

EDUCATION: Bachelor of arts degree, magna cum laude, from Holy Names College, 1970; graduate work in clinical psychology, St. Louis University, 1970-72; law degree from Hastings College of the Law, University of California, 1975.

FAMILY: Single.

[calcowgirl]

the Baghdad Bob wing of the moderate segment of the CA GOP.

Oh... man. Now I'm even more confused. Is that the same as the BaghdadBob wing of the French Wing of the CA GOP. With such a huge tent, I'm having a hard time placing 'em on the spectrum!

I want to see more on her record as well, and would really like to know where she stands on Gay Marriage, as that is currently pending. Time will tell!