Posted on 08/17/2006 10:00:23 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
Sacramento -- Newport Beach (Orange County) Councilman Richard Nichols won't be among those cheering when Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger takes the stage this weekend at the state Republican Convention in Los Angeles.
Like a lot of conservative voters, the 66-year-old Nichols said he's disillusioned with the governor's recent efforts to recast himself as a political moderate in order to curry favor among Democrats and independent voters.
Schwarzenegger's new strategy, which has boosted him in the polls, has also attracted criticism from both ends of the political spectrum that the governor has reversed position on key issues -- like education spending, the environment, health care reform and immigration -- for political advantage.
A close review, however, shows the governor's record is far more mixed: some positions have clearly changed, others have merely evolved and some have remained consistent but the rhetoric surrounding the subject has changed.
Still, even the perception that a candidate has flip-flopped on issues is a big danger and something Schwarzenegger will be looking to quell this weekend among party loyalists and later as he tries to appeal to Democrats and independents.
"I've not endorsed the governor, even though they've asked me a number of times to do so," Nichols said. "I feel he's abandoned the constituency that elected him."
The charge is a serious one that voters from both parties pay close attention to, said Thad Kousser, a political scientist at UC San Diego.
"As the last presidential election made clear -- changing positions can be more damaging to a candidate than having unpopular positions," he said. "Not being steadfast becomes a character issue."
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
And how to tell a flipflopper from a waffler?
He just lied.
Angelides and his ideas anneals the GOP base to Arnold, no matter how empty he and "RINO" he may be. The debate on that one is over, in my view. Angelides needs to bag the independents, and reduce his Dem defections to near single digits. He has an uphill battle.
Since taking office, however, Schwarzenegger has backed massive borrowing programs. He along with Democratic leaders pushed Proposition 57 in 2004, a $15 billion bond measure to refinance the state's budget deficit. This year, the governor proposed an even bigger bond deal to pay for new schools, roads and water systems -- the $37 billion infrastructure bond measures that will be on this November's ballot.
Fiscal Conservative.... yeah, right.
Since taking office, however, Schwarzenegger has backed massive borrowing programs. He along with Democratic leaders pushed Proposition 57 in 2004, a $15 billion bond measure to refinance the state's budget deficit. This year, the governor proposed an even bigger bond deal to pay for new schools, roads and water systems -- the $37 billion infrastructure bond measures that will be on this November's ballot.
Fiscal Conservative.... yeah, right.
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You ain't seen nothin' yet!
It could well be a real nail biter in the end..
Too bad some here construe some folks efforts here as working for PHILth, when in fact, we are trying to send a message to CA GOP central and the Gub to rein in their leftward plunge or we will all pay dearly,,
Playing to the middle is dangerous business and for business as things are going now,, with the climate chnage and massive bonds in play at a time when their is
No attempt at restrining spending at all evident.
Hopefully that message can be reinforced at the convention.. but if things stay the course, it will be ignored as it was last go around.
Arnold has not been a very effective governor in so many ways, putting aside ideology. No doubt about it. He is superficial, in my view. He lacks intellectual capital. In that regard, his bond ideas were ludicrous, and his handling, and then advocacy. of his ballot intiatives was pathetic. But my post stands. His opponent is unacceptable, to anyone conservative or reasonable moderate, or even liberal and informed. In the end, one must make a choice. That is my judgment. I have voted for Dem governor candidates before in California (I stray more in state races than federal races), but I will not this time.
I'm leaning towards the libertarian at this point. I read his positions on his website. He's a fiscal conservative, strong on immigration and American values. Libertarians can be a little nutty sometimes, and I am not a libertarian on things like drugs, but one libertarian governor would not be able to legalize anything. If he wins, great. If not, maybe someone else who has good positions will run next time. Maybe he'll even be a Republican.
I have voted for Dem governor candidates before in California (I stray more in state races than federal races), but I will not this time.
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I never have voted dem, in some ways , I feel like I am being forced to. I have not completely ruled out voting for him, tho the odds are very slim, PHILth is not even an option.
I agree with your statements re: state v federal races
yitbos
(No more Olmert! No more Kadima! No more Oslo!)
(No more Olmert! No more Kadima! No more Oslo!)
Next up, the liberal Rudy Giuliani.
Don't we have enough liberals in government, no more please!
I was being tongue-in-cheek....
When Arnold said that he was going to Sacramento to blow up boxes, I assumed that he meant he would be destroying them. He apparently meant he was going to inflate them.
I hope the CA GOP holds Schwarzenegger's feet to the fire, but I'm not at all optimistic.
McClintock is the hope for California Conservatives.
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