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California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger ... after speaking at California Republican Party state convention, in Los Angeles on Saturday, Aug. 19, 2006. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)
Posted on 08/19/2006 6:49:34 AM PDT by calcowgirl
LOS ANGELES — Not quite certain what will be on the menu today, delegates to the state Republican Party convention — in the main, a conservative bunch — got their serving of red meat on Friday night.
The party's core conservatives hope to maintain their delicate truce with a Republican governor who is not one of their own when Arnold Schwarzenegger speaks at today's luncheon, but the first night of the convention belonged to the candidates who stir their political souls.
The down-ticket GOP slate took center stage Friday night, and it features some of the conservatives who help keep the uneasy alliance with Schwarzenegger intact — among them Sen. Tom McClintock of Thousand Oaks, the party's candidate for lieutenant governor, and former Assemblyman Tony Strickland of Moorpark, the GOP candidate for controller.
The down-ticket conservatives and the top-of-the-ticket moderate form what state Republican Chairman Duf Sundheim believes will be a mutually beneficial relationship.
Schwarzenegger's star power and fundraising prowess will help all Republican candidates, Sundheim said, and having true believers on the ticket will help bring conservatives to the polls.
"The people who come out to vote for Arnold, especially the Republicans, are going to vote for the other guys on the ticket," Sundheim predicted. "And the people who vote for Tom and Tony are clearly going to vote for Arnold."
Earlier in the week, Democratic Party Chairman Art Torres asserted that Schwarzenegger will have to answer for what he called the right-wing views of the others on the Republican ticket. Torres predicted that Schwarzenegger would not jointly appear with McClintock, Strickland and the others at this weekend's convention.
It remains unclear whether that will happen, but Strickland said the important thing is not that Schwarzenegger campaign with him, but only that the governor does well.
The top-of-the-ticket race typically has a significant influence on races for attorney general, secretary of state and the other state constitutional offices.
In 1994, when Republican Gov. Pete Wilson won a landslide re-election, Republicans captured all but two of the other statewide offices. In 1998, when Democrat Gray Davis won in a similar landslide, Democrats won all but two of the other offices.
The question is whether 2002's results might have indicated an across-the-board tilt for Democrats. Even though an unpopular Davis narrowly won re-election in a lackluster race, Democrats swept every statewide office, with three Democratic candidates actually capturing more votes than Davis.
Sundheim is hoping that a more balanced ticket — moderates Schwarzenegger, Secretary of State Bruce McPherson and insurance commissioner candidate Steve Poizner on the same ballot with four conservatives — could have broader appeal.
But Friday night, as the candidates' advisers acknowledged, was not a night for nuance. It called for a serving of red meat.
McClintock emceed, opening with a jab at Schwarzenegger's Democratic opponent, Treasurer Phil Angelides: "Somebody needs to explain to Phil that when you debate an empty chair, you're not supposed to be sitting in it."
In today's speech, Schwarzenegger is expected to stress issues upon which he and the party's conservatives agree — notably, his foursquare opposition to tax increases.
In an unusual move, the Schwarzenegger campaign Friday evening released to reporters excerpts from the speech the governor is to deliver today. The excerpts include only one reference to an area in which Schwarzenegger and conservatives disagree — the governor's support for $37 billion in public works borrowing that conservatives argue is fiscally irresponsible.
Schwarzenegger is expected to tell delegates today that the bonds are necessary to build the state's economy. The excerpts released Friday include this line: "We will invest in our infrastructure, building the roads and ports we need to move products and people."
Interesting that WE have to answer for putting mainstream Conservatives on the statewide ballot, while the 'Rats don't have to answer for putting up a slew of troglodytes from the Stalinist wing.
(No more Olmert! No more Kadima! No more Oslo!)
I see Duff is using RINO math. I'm glad I decided to stay home this weekend.
I envy the convertible man. Interchanging partisanship with political values without pause. Simply moving along on a path well traveled. Not pondering their mutual exclusivity but occasionally stopping to tip his hat to the more stunning of the political whores frequently encountered.
Some party insiders predicted Schwarzenegger would generate even more fervor among activists by endorsing Proposition 73, the initiative requiring parental consent for teens to obtain an abortion."That is one of our secret weapons," California Republican Party Chairman Duf Sundheim said. "People feel very passionately about that."
Sundheim and others said the initiative will increase voter turnout among abortion rights foes, who would be likely to support the measures the governor has endorsed.
Are you in favor of socialized Hillarycare?
SB840 passed the CA Senate and it's in the Assembly, where it's expected to pass, becaue of the Dem majority.
The only way stopping it, is if Arnold will veto it. Arnold is on record opposing it, Angelides is on record that he will sign it, if he becomes governor.
Are you sure you still want to keep campaigning for Angelides?
CA should lead the way in health insurance (Bill for Single Payer in CA Assembly)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1686523/posts
Do me a favor, Don't ping me again, Thanks!
Actually it is YOU who are helping Angelides. By enabling Arnold in his drunken liberalism, by cheering for him whenever he strays from the party platform, you are encouraging more of the same. And since we all know that his liberalism will suppress the Republican vote, then that helps Angelides.
Why don't you do you part to HELP Arnold. Point out to him and the world whenever he strays to the left and puts his reelection chances in jeopardy. Stop helping Angelides the way you have been.
Absolutely not. I have posted about it before.
Arnold is on record opposing it.
Glad to see he got one right. What will he do with AB 32? AB1441? AB1056? AB606? SB1578? SB532? etc. etc. etc.
Will he finally endorse Proposition 90 to roll back eminent domain abuse?
Are you sure you still want to keep campaigning for Angelides?
Quit posting lies. No one here has campaigned for Angelides.
Most have campaigned FOR Conservatism and FOR the Republican platform and AGAINST liberalism, no matter the party label.
..California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger ... after speaking at California Republican Party state convention, in Los Angeles on Saturday, Aug. 19, 2006. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)
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