Posted on 09/04/2006 10:19:40 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
I don't recall even being in a situation where the closer Election Day gets, the less likely I am to vote for the GOP nominee.
Yet, that is where I find myself vis-a-vis Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
I'm one of many conservatives who voted for Arnold in the recall, despite my preference for Tom McClintock. I found the prospect of Cruz Bustamante in the governor's office horrifying and wasn't convinced McClintock could win. The stakes so too high I though it prudent to back the Republican with the best chance of winning, and so I cast my vote for Arnold. Like other conservatives, I comforted myself with the rumor we'd heard for years that Arnold was really a libertarian. So, although he was squishy on the social issues, at least he'd be hard core on taxes, spending and freedom issues. After all, he was a Milton Friedman fan!
But ever since the Governor's nauseating policy of apologizing for the special election of 2005, it's been steadily more difficult to assembly a conservative Republican rationale for supporting his re-election.
He's signed a non-aggression pact with the government employee unions, promising he will never, ever again try to rein in their power. He talks a big game about building infrastructure, but is unable to just come out and support an infrastructure plan -- the 241 toll road completion in Orange County -- that has been EIRed and is ready to go.
This alleged acolyte of Milton Friedman signs an "anti-greenhouse gases" bill that will have no impact on the climate but will have negative impacts on California's economic competitiveness. And this is the same guy who tells every Republican crowd the same story about how he left Austria to escape its stultifying socialism -- even as he signs neo-Euro socialist bills like the emissions cap. I thought we elected a Republican as Governor during the rcall - not Al Gore.
Since being beaten by the government employee unions and adopting the Stoclkholm Syndrone as his political survival strategy, the Governor easgerly signs any minimum wage bill the Democrats send his way -- even though he knows they are job destroyers. He knows this, and yet signs them with a smile, anyway.
Old arguments employed to keep conservatives in line like "he's good on judges" hold no water when it comes to the Schwarzenegger Administration. Yes, he's appointed more Republicans than Gray Davis, but Republicans expect something more than appointing more Republican judges than your Democratci predecessor did. For example, how about no appointing public defedners who are proud of their qualifications to defend Serbian war crimninals at The Hague?
The Governor signed the latest in Sheila Kuehl's endless succession of "gay rights" bills -- SB 1441. Did the Governor actually read this bill?:
The bill would also expand the definition of discrimination under these provisions to include a perception that a person has any of these enumerated characteristics or that the person is associated with a person who has, or is perceived to have, any of these characteristics.
I would really love to hear the Governor affirm that he actually read that dangerous claptrap -- nothing is objectively real because reality is nothing more than perception -- and thought it was legislation that must be signed.
Everyday, I get e-mails from the Governor's re-election campaign. And I am trying to think of a single one that has, for even a moment, made me feeel proud Arnold Schwarzenegger is my party's nominee for Governor. And I can't think of a one. What I do remember are press releases bragging how Gov. Schwarzenegger is spending more money on education than anybody ever has in state history. Yessir -- that's why I became a Republican! To throw record sums of taxpayer dollars on failed government programs.
Perhaps the reader can detect the depth of my ever-deepening disenchantment with the Schwarzenegger Administration. Not that it really matters, because the Governor will be re-elected. He's blessed with a Democratic opponent who is a living caricature of the liberal excesses of his party and who gifted the Schwarzenegger campaign with his calls for billions in new taxes.
The Governor triangulates, buys off key Democratic special interests, adopts Democratic policies, and keeps enough conservatives in line by stoking their Fear of an Angelides Planet. He will win, and the Republican Party will find itself victorious in gubernatorial race but lacking a soul.
I think it was George Washington who said that a political party without principles is nothing more than a conspiracy to hold power. I'm afraid that is what is happening to the California Republican Party under the administration of Arnold Schwarzenegger, and that is why I have gone from being a unapologetic supporter of his election in the recall to being undecided about whether I'll vote to re-elect him.
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The numbers of such folks are growing every day, why do you think we have a choice few here who spam threads to downplay or minimize the points made in this piece.
I was there. Butcher boy and MechA scared the bejeebahs out of me.
He will win, and the Republican Party will find itself victorious in gubernatorial race but lacking a soul.
I think it was George Washington who said that a political party without principles is nothing more than a conspiracy to hold power.
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Just Win, Baby! Don't sweat the details! (or the massive spending increases and debt)
I've said it before, and I'll say it again. He's married to a KENNEDY. Did anyone really expect him to be anything other than a RINO? ;)
Whine, whine, whine.
The bottom line is still Arnold or Angelides.
Advocating that conservatives stay home will still make it easier for Angelides to win.
The election will be much closer than the polls indicate, because the unions will turn out their base by the busloads. Conservatives staying home may well mean governor Angelides.
STAY HOME IF YOU WANT ANGELIDES ELECTED. Otherwise get out and VOTE FOR ARNOLD.
If you think ARnold isn't conservative enough, wait until socialist Angelides gets into power, coupled with the socialist Dem Legislature.
The naivite of some conservatives is astounding.
Having visited Los Angeles several times, I say California NEEDED an emissions cap!
And I just wanted to add that I feel your pain. I have ENTRENCHED "Nobody's Senator" Kohl, "Moonbat" Senator Feingold and my "CongressLesbian" Baldwin looking out for my best interests (NOT) in Wisconsin. *Rolleyes*
We have a good shot at getting a GOP Governor in Mark Green this time around, but the WI GOP is clueless these days, too!
What's a matter, FO?
Have you no fight in you?
Are you and the FO account team so well paid and protected that you don't mind all the mindless socialism being foisted on this state by leaders of both parties.
Shame on you.
Reality is...You can vote for Arnold or Angelides. Staying home or voting for a third party candidate is just opting out of making a decision. So ask yourself...Is California better off with Arnold or Angelides as governor? Vote accordingly. It is that simple.
I can understand how deflated the conservatives feel
in California. This absurdity of the mini Kyoto
agreement is enraging to all level headed citizens.
It will be a big drag on industry and more regulation to follow. No more free market.
If you don't vote I would'nt blame you.
Sometimes you can't just hold your nose
and vote for the lesser of two evils.
Besides the whining I didn't see in the article who he will vote FOR. Schwarzenegger's main opponent supported McHovern and Dukasis and helped elect Boxer and Feinstein. Schwarzenegger is a far better choice than Angelides or the Green candidate Camejo. Elections are about comparative choices. Of course another option is for him to move to a more conservative state.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phil_Angelides
It is horrible but it seems to me the National GOP has left CA to its own devices. I personally think that is stupid. Triangulation politics has allowed states that should be competitive to slip further and further into the blue column.
Those arguments no longer hold water in this day and age where we have a split GOP party.
We now not only have to fight the dems, we also have dems masquerading as Repubs.
I know I don't need to remind you this is a conservative forum so Im used to being told to stifle it for the party.
The question I would ask is,, stifle it for what party?
CA: Unions, Immigrant Rights Groups Rally
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1695310/posts
As I said, it's Arnold or Angelides. Look who is supporting Angelides.
The truth be known, the national party has chosen a similar path nationwide as well, altho it has not spread to all 50 states yet... but don't be surprised when it does.
Between Soros and moderates of both political persuasions buying into the middle of the road muddled apporach to gubamint, this nation teeters on the edge of oblivion and mediocrity,, and the party bands play on.. imo
I won't vote for Phil, but I'm likely not voting for Arnold after the global warming thing. I know you can't govern as an absolute right winger in California and have any hope of winning re-election. But Arnold is veering so far left he's careened off the roadway. This has gone beyond even my ability to tolerate. If the race ends up looking like a squweaker in the week prior to the election, I'll just hold my nose and vote for him to keep that loser Angelides out of the governorship. But I'm not happy.
.. and who is supporting and has supported a Trojan Horse and operatives at the expense of many good conservatives across the state in recent years?
I'll vote for Republicans, but not for this putz.
If the polls numbers tighten, expect the Gub to officially endorse DiFi.. which he has already caught heat for considering and has been reluctant to come out with same.
He will not endorse the Republican candidate , Dick Mountjoy, won't even appear with him.
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