Posted on 03/05/2006 12:29:56 PM PST by FairOpinion
WE like the way state Sen. Tom McClintock stepped up and told fellow Republicans to stop nitpicking the governor's attempts to woo moderates to the GOP. Addressing delegates last week at the state Republican Party convention in San Jose, McClintock said, "Let me ask you the critical question of this convention. What's greater - the differences among us as Republicans or the differences between us and the Democrats?"
Quite a mouthful for one of the most conservative Republicans in California.
He's right of course. He might just as easily have told those carping about Schwarzenegger's appointing a Democrat as his chief of staff and naming Democrats to the bench, "Stop acting like the Democrats."
The convention began with the kind of political back-biting and snipping that have fragmented the Democrats and prevented creation of a sound platform from which to launch a viable run for the White House.
California voters and pundits have called for bipartisanship in the statehouse and when the governor begins delivery, GOP ideologues want to put the brakes on.
They need to remember that despite the gains in Washington, this is California, home of the radical idea and action and where bipartisanship was once mandated by voters who deliberately chose their governors and lieutenant governors from opposite parties.
While Republican party leaders can certainly criticize the governor on budget issues, his support of a minimum wage increase ought to be viewed as the natural outcome of a vigorous economy. With an entire coastline as example, it's natural that Californians seek to float all boats on a rising economic tide.
The bottom line?
If Republicans are to maintain the governor's seat, they will have to back away from hard-line ideology and insistence that every single appointment go to dyed-in-the-wool conservatives.
That all-or-nothing stance plays better in Des Moines than in Marina del Rey.
People would do well to ponder it.
"WE like the way state Sen. Tom McClintock stepped up .."
McClintock ping
Excerpt:
"But if every candidate doesn’t agree on every issue, let us also remember Reagan’s wise words that, “anyone who is with you 80 percent of the time is your 80 percent friend – not your 20 percent enemy.”
I don’t agree with my wife on absolutely everything. But I still love her. And I don’t agree with this Governor on absolutely everything. But I still support him.
Let us never forget that this is the governor who rescinded the Democrats’ illegal tripling of the car tax on the very first day of his administration.
This is the governor who repealed the law that had already given drivers licenses to illegal aliens.
This is the governor who pushed through the most significant workers compensation reform in our history.
This is the governor who vetoed the bill that would have destroyed the entire concept of traditional marriage.
This is the Governor who last year had the backbone to confront the most powerful special interest group that has ever wrapped its tentacles around our government – and who took unprecedented personal abuse in doing so.
Governor Schwarzenegger has kept his promise not to raise taxes. The Democrats in the legislature are already talking about $10 billion of new taxes after the election.
Upon our united appeal to the people of California will hinge the future of this state for a generation to come. This is the election that will decide whether the recall was a fleeting curiosity or an historic turning point.
And upon us – my fellow Republicans – rests the question of whether our generation will restore the potential and the promise that California once stood for.
Never has the choice been clearer between the two parties in this state.
They offer the rationing of shortages. We propose a renaissance of new public works to restore the abundant water, clean electricity and open roads that we once took for granted. "
The more I hear of McClintock, the more I like him.
McClintock is probably the only one in California with the credibility to make this kind of a statement.
If Republicans are to maintain the governor's seat, they will have to back away from hard-line ideology and insistence that every single appointment go to dyed-in-the-wool conservatives.
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uh , whens the dems, gays and greens get half as many appointments as the right as a whole ,, what's with the dyed in the wool crack?
Why is it somehow bad to be a conservative in thought and deed and not buy the hype , hokum and overspun propwa$h.
I wonder if Tom even has to write his own speeches anymore? That's OK, he has quite a few under his belt already.
This one is one more attempt to put the face of unity on a houseful of division. Twist away with Tom. He will serve his state well when elected to his seat.
"McClintock is probably the only one in California with the credibility to make this kind of a statement."
===
You are right. I am glad he is making these statements and is working on unifying the CA GOP. There is a great deal at stake in this election.
He closed his speech at the convention with this:
"Ladies and gentlemen, look around this hall. A day will come when all that you see will be gone, all the fury and passion of these times will be as quiet as the grave. And on that day, history alone will look back upon our generation to judge our stewardship of this state. And when it does, let it be said that our generation rose to the occasion; that we struggled and sacrificed and ultimately succeeded in restoring to our children that Golden State – that California of opportunity and plenty – that our parents once gave to us. "
Related article:
McClintock gets 'Idol' treatment
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1590490/posts
It's all "strategery".
Arnold with Tom are a strong team -- I hope they turn out a spectrum of voters to win the election.
In CA, with only 35% of the voters being registered Republican, you need to votes of ALL Republicans, AND sufficient number of independents and Dems to win.
PING!
McClintock Ping List.
Please freepmail me if you want on or off this list
PING!
McClintock Ping List.
Please freepmail me if you want on or off this list
Ok, I'm pinged.
oH my bad, only one of those was a ping to me. I hate when that happens, you forget to put the list in.
Republicans should ignore this kind of snooty crap from the DriveBy media. They don't wish us well, so we shouldn't listen to them.
I would like to refer you to post 3:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1590495/posts?page=3#3
Containing excerpts and links to Tom McClintock's speech at the GOP convention, who, I assure you is NOT part of the MSM. Will you listen to him?
Shhh.... I was hoping no one would notice, LOL. :-) (DUH!)
Agreed. They not only don't wish him well, but love to promote anything that makes Republicans capitulate to the leftist agenda.
And that credibility went into decline with each party-above-principle statement that followed.
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