Arnold for governor would be powerful candidate

Sacramento Bee ^ | 7/14/03 | Daniel Weintraub

[William McKinley]

I don't know if Arnold Schwarzenegger will run for governor. But I do know this: Our standard-order politicians are dreaming if they think they are going to blow him away.

I'm not surprised that the general public sees Schwarzenegger, so far, as little more than a Hollywood celebrity. But the political class should know better. This is a man of substance with accomplishments in charity and business that would make him a very formidable candidate for the state's highest office, even if his lack of political experience makes it difficult to guess what kind of governor he would ultimately be.

[dalereed]

I won't vote for him no matter what happens!

[farmfriend]

Not sure I will either, waiting to see who is on ballot. Just my guess he will win. He is the only R Dems will vote for. Another R might have a chance if Feinstein runs.

[dalereed]

"He is the only R Dems will vote for."

Democrats that are conservative leaning or "moderate" will never vote for a "moderate" Republican, they will always vote for the democrat. It takes a conservative Republican to gain their vote, that's the falicy of running a RINO in a district that registration favors the democrats. RINOs only win in Republican registration districts and then only because they somehow made it through the primary.

I proved it when I ran against Richard Alatore for the Assembly. It was a 26% Republican district, mostly welfare mexican (east L.A.) and I ran a ultra conservative campaign and got 39% of the vote, the highest any Republican had ever received in that district, even more suprising is that i'm a blond blue eyed Norwegian/German and the mexican Republican that ran the 2 times before against him only got a vote percentage in the 20s.

I didn't run against him to win. I only did it at the request of the state party to keep his massive bankroll from being spread into other district where it could have done some real damage. I re registered at my office that was in his district in order to do it.

[GraniteStateConservative]

Ah-nold will run. I would be flabbergasted if he doesn't. He considered a run last year, but passed because the timing wasn't right. It's right, now. He's already said he'd love to be governor, so the interest is there.

Davis, you ahh erased!

[tubebender]

If the 'Rats vote for him then he won't miss my non vote...

[My2Cents]

This recall is a get-rid-of-the "D" race and that's the bottom line.

I wish I was as confident. 40% (or something like that) of the petition signers were Democrats. I doubt they view this as a "get-rid-of-the-'D'". Davis is the issue.

But consider this scenario:
Davis successfully keeps any major Democrat from filing to be on the ballot. The only ones on the ballot end up being a list of Republicans, and perhaps Peter Camejo (Green Party). Then Davis pits the recall as a partisan attempt by the Republican Party to reverse the 2002 election. He makes a very partisan plea to Democrats to retain him -- he'll pitch it as him vs. a field of Republicans. By then the budget will have passed, and there will be a sense (a false one) that the fiscal crisis is over. Much of the political heat will be off of Davis (at least the animosity among Democrats will have subsided). Under such a scenario, Davis could beat the recall effort, making us all look like idiots.

[Captainpaintball]

If Schwarzenegger runs, Democrats won't be able to lay a finger on him with issues they've long used to demonize Republicans: abortion, gun control, gay rights, the environment

That's because they agree with him, you nitwit!!! What good is having a RINO with a Kennedy wife, and kennedy staffer moles?

"But I alzo belief zhat govunment eez important -- und zhould be in ze biz-ness of educating our children, devending our pee-pul, enzhuring public safety, advancing zientific and medicul rezearch, und more."

NONONONONONONONOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! Government should be in the business of edjookading our children? Please, Ah-nuld..Danny Devito called. He wants to make the sequel to "Twins" called "Triplets" with you and the guy who plays "Mini-Me." I promise to pay the 8 bucks to see it if you drop this governor thing...

[autoresponder]

no problemo

[kellynla]

You can wake up now 'cause you are dreaming. The fiscal crisis will not be over for years. Period. Even if the morons in Sacramento cut the budget, as Tom McClintok proposes, by almost ten percent it will be another two years before we will see relief. The budget is just one major problem for the Dimwit Davis, we are also facing years and billions of dolllars, forty five billion to be exact, of long term electrical contracts that he signed that we will paying for many years. Finally the roads, schools, water and business climate in the state are the worse in history thanks to the Dimwit Davis and his family of idiots in Sacramento. Your scenario wouldn't even classify as believable fiction much less a likely scenario. Have a good one.

[My2Cents]

The fiscal crisis will not be over for years.

Oh, I agree with you. I'm talking about political perception. What lie will the Democrats, Davis, and the media put out there during the recall campaign? They have the capability of creating a perception that the fiscal mess has been cleaned up, and the voters, an disturbing number of which are gullible, will buy it. And if the recall election is projected as the Republican Party trying to reverse the results of a legitimate election, Davis could win. There's only one thing he is good at, and that is savaging and demonizing his opposition. I have this gut fear that the recall plays right into Gray Davis' strength.

[kellynla]

perception, projection! BS! Bottom line: and I have made the points for the Dimwit Davis' removal eloquently already if I must say so myself. Eighty percent of the public is against Davis. He is the most incompetent and possibly the most corrupt governor in CA history. I don't know and really don't care what your point is in holding up Davis but the moron is history. And all of your projections, perceptions and hocus pocus won't change that fact. Game, Set, Match!

[My2Cents]

Yes, you've made your points. (Unfortunately, you seem completely incapable of understanding what I'm saying, but I'll try again.)

As someone who has not only observed, but has been involved in California politics for years, I say the outcome of the recall election may not come down to logic and reason. Davis is the master of scorched earth politics. I will vote for his recall, because political corruption should not be tolerated. But don't be surprised when the dust settles, if he's still governor. And remember where you heard it first.

[kellynla]

I am not "incapable" of understanding. I just refuse to believe the likelihood. There is a very big difference. I base my assumptions on facts while you make predictions based on projections and perceptions. But in the meantime I'll pick up a copy of "The Wizard of Oz" to read, if that will make you "feel" better. BTW ya wouldn't want to make a small wager on your "prediction" now would 'ya? Say dinner at "Spago's"...

[My2Cents]

I'm not saying it will happen; I'm saying don't be surprised if it does.

A poll out today says that 51% of Californians support Davis' recall, with 43% opposed. It looks good. But looks are deceiving, and four months in politics is an eternity. The 43% support FOR Davis is twice his job approval rating. Bill Simon at one point had a 7% lead on Davis last year, right after the primary, and eventually lost by 5%, so it's not impossible for Davis to swing the 8% deficit he now faces, back into his favor. Davis overcoming the odds is dependent upon a unified Democrat Party during the recall election, which means no high-ranking Democrat on the ballot. I'm simply lining out a scenario which is plausible. Davis is the slipperiest politican in America. Don't count him out. And the Republican Party has yet to prove they can run an intelligent, effective campaign. Anyone who considers this recall a "done deal" is dangerously naive.

[hobbes1]

Arnold would be bad, bad news.

You must really like sitting on the sidelines kvetching aobut people like Davis, Feinstein, Boxer, Waxman, Sanchez, Pelosi, Matsui et als....

Joe friggin Stalin and Chairman Mao run to the RIGHT of that crew...

Arnold may have some socially left positions you disagree with, but Politics is a game of Electability, and incrementalism

So, unless you think the people are going to stop drinking whatever is in the Kool Aid out there over night, you should hope that you can tug the state rightward a little at a time.

[hobbes1]

Davis will resign the day before te election and make Bustamante Governor.

[kellynla]

Still waiting for a wager from you...but I won't be holding my breath.

[ricpic]

The real question, if Arnold runs and is elected, is whether he will then use the line item veto on enough spending items to even begin to bring the California budget into equilibrium. I doubt it. He is not a committed conservative. He will not be resistant to much of the out of control spending on social programs.

[My2Cents]

Man, you really are incapable of comprehending simple sentences. You haven't understood one thing I've written. Unbelievable.

[GraniteStateConservative]

He's a businessman who has made millions turning around dumps into valuable properties. Sounds like the exact situation in Sacramento.