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.
Actually, there does come a point where it is simply a matter of voting for those who are transporting you to hell at a slower pace.
You will eventually arrive in hell.
The slower pace vote is supposed to buy you time to come up with a new plan and better alternative.
Since that has not happened, the reason for voting one more time to go more slowly to hell would be that one sees a plan taking shape. If the plan never seems to be getting off the ground, then it eventually begins to make sense to try some other party.
There must be some effort by Republicans to restore conservatism and conservative candidates. If there is no effort to do so, then one is dealing with apathy, lethargy, betrayal, incompetence, or direct disagreement.
— Thomas Jefferson, Founding Father and third U.S. president (1743-1826)
Vote for Angelides...get Villaragosa
We're so screwed.
Every vote NOT supporting Arnold and Tom.
your statement
"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."
Howard Dean's philosophy
"It is horrible but it seems to me the National Democrats has left the South 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 RED column."
The two most important bills coming up seem to be the CDLs for illegals and the healthcare bill.
If Arnold signs one of those, he's off the table for me.
There's a growing suspicion that the Austrian's recent, high profile, public appearances with Nunez are part of a pact to increase the chances for Villar to become the CADEM gubernatorial candidate in 2010.
For his part the Austrian will enhance the image of both Democrats and keep the spotlight off potential, conservative, CAGOP candidates during his campaign. During his second term Schwarzenegger will continue to marginalize Republican legislators and work to support and approve legislation championed by both Nunez and Villar.
How bout those of us who live in California who have had to endure the increased spending and borrowing, the expansion of the rights of deviants and the erosion of property rights.
Don't those count?
I voted for Gary Coleman...
There is no question that California is circling the drain.
The question is what to do about it?
Myself, there are two candidates who will get me into the HQ again this year, on the phones, walking the precincts, and driving around on election day checking the voter index and calling the no-shows.
I may or may not vote for Arnold (didn't last time), but that's not nearly as important as supporting Mountjoy and McClintock.
Tom McClintock
"I voted for Gary Coleman..."
Mary Carey had more impressive "qualifications."
I'm undecided whether to hurl or ralph at the thought of choosing between Ahnold and a Rat.
Ever here the old saying, 'Don't cut off your nose to spite your face'. IMO, voting for Democrats is doing precisely that.
The only reason to vote for Arnold is the "Down ticket".
Hopefully several good Republicans will ride into office on his coattails.
Tom McClintock, Tony Strickland, Claude Parrish and Chuck Poochigian.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.