Total Recall - His advisers say Arnold Schwarzenegger WILL run for governor~ John Fund

The Wall Street Journal. Editorial Page ^ | July 25, 2003 | John Fund

[Elle Bee]

The recall of Gov. Gray Davis is heading for a fall election. "It'll be covered like a mini-presidential race," says GOP consultant Joe Shumate -- and watched like a thriller movie. Part of the reason will be Arnold Schwarzenegger, who, his campaign advisers believe, will be running -- or starring, to put it in Hollywood idiom, in a political sequel to his "Total Recall."

[Elle Bee]

		July 25, 2003

REVIEW & OUTLOOK

Governor Moonbeam

California Governor Gray Davis will now officially face a recall vote, but he's still in denial about the reason. The Democrat is blaming a "hostile takeover by the right" and "partisan mischief." Introspection is not his strong suit.

The world is supposed to believe that the 1.4 million voters -- 500,000 more than required -- who signed petitions were all manipulated by a few rowdy Republicans. And that his 26% approval rating has nothing to do with the energy crisis he helped create or the $12 billion surplus of five years ago that he's turned into today's $38 billion deficit. Voters also aren't supposed to care that in last year's campaign Mr. Davis misled them about both the magnitude of the state's fiscal problems and how he planned to raise taxes.

This is the same sort of buck-passing that got the Governor here in the first place. Far from a "coup," the recall is entirely constitutional, put in place in 1911 to remove "dishonest, incapable or unsatisfactory" public servants. Mr. Davis has earned this honor.

The election itself, slated for October 7, is bound to be messy. Voters will decide if Mr. Davis should go, and if so who should replace him. Potential candidates are still sorting themselves out, and the threshold for qualification is low. Which means a small number of voters could ultimately elect the next state governor. So be it. The fate of Gray Davis is a powerful lesson for unresponsive political elites in both parties.

	URL for this article: http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB105909324582940900,00.html

Updated July 25, 2003

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[dennisw]

To put it crudely, all the Mexicans are going to vote for Arnold. They love an action guy like him. So this kills the 'cRATS with the Hispanic vote. Matter of fact this is the reason why Arnold is the only GOP candidate who can win in such an overwhelmingly 'cRAT state

[familyop]

Yes, Arnold, the more-money-for-afterschool-programs dude.

But Michael Savage might run!

TOTAL RECALL
WorldNetDaily Exclusive
Michael Savage to run
for California governor?
Radio talk-show host, best-selling author
considering independent bid in October
--WND
http://www.worldnetdaily.com

And do the poll!
WND POLL
The Savage State
Tell us what you think of radio host as gubernatorial candidate
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/polls/

Get the word out before midnight, when the
poll ends!

...need to register for the poll, but it's only to
prevent double votes.

LOL! Yes!

[familyop]

Yes, Arnold, the more-money-for-afterschool-programs dude.

But Michael Savage might run!

TOTAL RECALL
WorldNetDaily Exclusive
Michael Savage to run
for California governor?
Radio talk-show host, best-selling author
considering independent bid in October
--WND
http://www.worldnetdaily.com

And do the poll!
WND POLL
The Savage State
Tell us what you think of radio host as gubernatorial candidate
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/polls/

Get the word out before midnight, when the
poll ends!

...need to register for the poll, but it's only to
prevent double votes.

LOL! Yes!

[familyop]

Yes, Arnold, the more-money-for-afterschool-programs dude.

But Michael Savage might run!

TOTAL RECALL
WorldNetDaily Exclusive
Michael Savage to run
for California governor?
Radio talk-show host, best-selling author
considering independent bid in October
--WND
http://www.worldnetdaily.com

And do the poll!
WND POLL
The Savage State
Tell us what you think of radio host as gubernatorial candidate
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/polls/

Get the word out before midnight, when the
poll ends!

...need to register for the poll, but it's only to
prevent double votes.

LOL! Yes!

[familyop]

Yes, Arnold, the more-money-for-afterschool-programs dude.

But Michael Savage might run!

TOTAL RECALL
WorldNetDaily Exclusive
Michael Savage to run
for California governor?
Radio talk-show host, best-selling author
considering independent bid in October
--WND
http://www.worldnetdaily.com

And do the poll!
WND POLL
The Savage State
Tell us what you think of radio host as gubernatorial candidate
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/polls/

Get the word out before midnight, when the
poll ends!

...need to register for the poll, but it's only to
prevent double votes.

LOL! Yes!

[Elle Bee]

And the rest of the GOP field is begining to look like another version of the dem's presidential cluster _ _ _ K

The fate of Gray Davis is a powerful lesson for unresponsive political elites in both parties.

... but I doubt they will notice

.

[familyop]

...sorry. My web browser malfunctioned, and I don't know
how to delete the duplicates.

[Elle Bee]

Yes, Arnold, the more-money-for-afterschool-programs dude.

I think that's too shallow a read on the proposal

I believe it is keyed to revenue increase ... it's not an entitlement with a life of it's own

.

[Caipirabob]

Does anyone have an confirmed details on Arnold's political leanings? I heard he was a SOCIAL Conservative, which is a code word for "Democrat who won't say he's a Democrat".

Do people think because he kills lots of people in his movies that he'll make a good conservative?

Anyone have any facts they can share on this man's thoughts on conservative policies? So far all I've seen convinces me that he's not the choice people need in CA.

I'll reread the above posts, but from what LITTLE I've heard, Arnold is NOT the man for the job.

[patriciaruth]

The State of California is a total mess. We are all going to share in the suffering before this is turned around.

But I finally decided to sign a recall petition because Arnold said some terrific funny things chiding Democrats. A spoonful of sugar to make the medicine go down. As long as we are going to suffer through this correction of our course, we might as well be entertained and have someone open the eyes of voters to the failings of Democrats and the good points of Republicans.

Arnold is a Republican. He is not a conservative as defined by Jim Robinson. But he can be a bridge to a more informed electorate, and a better run State.

I hope he is going to run.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Ah-nold is a textbook leftist RINO, Tricky Dick Riordan with muscles and an uncle-in-law named Ted Kennedy. He is a menace to the Republican Party.

Tom McClintock is the ONLY choice for Governor.

[fieldmarshaldj]

If you want a liberal Governor, then vote "no" on the recall. No more damned RINO liberal trojan horse 'Rats.

[goldstategop]

Both Rush Limbaugh and the Los Angeles Times Steve Lopez both think Arnold won't run. Call it a gut feeling. But since the liberal Lopez followed up, it looks like another example of cutting edge social evolution known as the Limbaugh Syndrome Echo at work here!

[Miss Marple]

Limbaugh didn't think Hillary would run, either.

[goldstategop]

True. Even a radio talk show host can be wrong.

[fieldmarshaldj]

I would think one reason why he wouldn't is the pay cut he'd have to take. Does anyone around here recall how dreadful his buddy "The Body" did as Minnesota Governor ? At least Ventura had the common courtesy to run 3rd party so he wouldn't leave the GOP saddled with his legacy (and as a bonus, we picked up his job when he quit). If Ah-nold ran 3rd party, I wouldn't be nearly as opposed to his candidacy (mind you, I would still oppose his being Governor).

[Miss Marple]

Do you honestly think people run for office for the pay? Do you think that even enters into the calculation, when you have millions of dollars in the bank?

One advantage to Arnold running (and I am trying to think of this dispassionately, as I am not a Californian) is that his election would give Republicans time to get their act together out there. If he can pull some Hispanics into the party and browbeat the Assembly into a reasonable budget, it would help the state's Republicans get a toe-hold and develop a wider base.

No, he isn't conservative, but the issues in which he is NOT conservative are also issues in which he has zero influence, since they are all addressed by federal legislation or court decisions.

Plus, he would get media coverage and he wouldn't have to get name recognition.

[fieldmarshaldj]

"Do you honestly think people run for office for the pay? Do you think that even enters into the calculation, when you have millions of dollars in the bank?"

Actually, for some, yes. Ever wonder why more Hollyweird types refuse to run for office ? They can't afford the loss of income which would seriously crimp their style. If Ah-nold doesn't run (and we're getting conflicting info), one reason he'd decline is over the salary issue. He may have millions in the bank, but most of these people need to have those millions keep coming. Win office and that stops.

"One advantage to Arnold running (and I am trying to think of this dispassionately, as I am not a Californian) is that his election would give Republicans time to get their act together out there. If he can pull some Hispanics into the party and browbeat the Assembly into a reasonable budget, it would help the state's Republicans get a toe-hold and develop a wider base."

And it's a reasonable conclusion, but it won't work. Why ? Because RINO Governors prove devastating and divisive to the primary and to the base. I just had 8 years of a RINO Governor and his parting gift to us was the loss of a Congressional seat and a brand new 'Rat Governor and a seriously fractured base. No RINO Governor in recent memory anywhere in the U.S. left their party in better shape leaving office then going in, and I can go over that state by state. Since you're in Indiana, and it's been almost 20 years since a Republican was last elected there (and hopefully we'll get in Mitch Daniels), do you think someone with the voting record of Baron Hill or Julia Carson running as a Republican would do much for the state GOP ? Even Frank O'Bannon would be better than Ah-nold.

"No, he isn't conservative, but the issues in which he is NOT conservative are also issues in which he has zero influence, since they are all addressed by federal legislation or court decisions."

Some, meaning he couldn't sign into a law an outright ban on abortion, but as for other issues, he could conceivably worsen the situation on other issues that are clearly wrong-headed and anathema to the party. I submit he is not a fiscal conservative in the least, which, at the moment, is an absolute necessity. We can't just elect an "R" for the sake of an "R", they have to stand for the principles we hold dear, otherwise they just enact the other party's agenda and destroy our integrity.

"Plus, he would get media coverage and he wouldn't have to get name recognition."

We could run a pig for Governor, dress it up real pretty and get tons of media coverage, but no matter how you slice it, it's still a pig. Tom McClintock is the only one who fits the bill.

[Miss Marple]

I think most Hollywood types don't run for office because it is actually hard work, they aren't guaranteed unlimited adulation, they have to deal with public criticism, and for most of them it is booooring.

I think Arnold is smarter than people think...if you will notice in the article it talks about his real estate holdings. Thus, I don't think that money is a prime motivator for him.

As I said, it is just my idle, uninvolved comment.

Indiana needs Mitch Daniels to be governor, and I wish McIntosh would drop out of the race. Instead I see he is going to start running ads now. He is not suitable for the governorship, as I consider him a poor administrator. He ran a poor campaign and had no way to connect to the swing voter.

I am certain he will lose in the primary, but I don't like to see the party go through any divisiveness, especially because the Rat running will no doubt be that poisonous little dweeb Joe Andrew, last seen heading the DNC during the Gore campaign. UGH.