Arnold's bid for total recall puts conservatives in bind (ROEPER ALERT)

Chicago Sun-Times ^ | August 7, 2003 | RICHARD "DOPEY" ROEPER SUN-TIMES COLUMNIST

[optimistically_conservative]

But now I have a question for all the conservatives, in California and across the nation, who believe Schwarzenegger will make a fine candidate: If you think this actor's views should be taken seriously, then you must agree that the opinions of Sean Penn, George Clooney, Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon should be heard and respected as well, right? Because if your answer is "no," that would mean you want to hear only from those Hollywood figures whose opinions agree with yours--which sounds rather un-American to me.

Why doesn't it surprise me that a liberal still doesn't understand that Penn, Clooney, Robbins, Sarandon and Sheen were losers in the marketplace of ideas they were discussing. They were heard and resoundingly dismissed, in fact rejected. Californians have the same opportunity to hear Schwarzenegger and decide how his ideas will be received.

The fact that Schwarzenegger would be considered right-wing in California is not surprising either.

[Arkinsaw]

California is the mega economic powerhouse that helps make this country great. Even in a bad economy, California is the 5th largest economy on the globe.

Sounds like utopia.

Funny how some of you in places like Arkansas, sit on the sidelines and gawk at the political earthquake coming out of California, calling this a circus, while we are fixing to remove from office the biggest, most powerful, leftist socialist machine in the country.

You aren't even close to removing your biggest, most powerful, leftist socialist machine in the country. You'll be doing very well just to remove Davis and replace him with a RINO. That will be something to celebrate for a while. But its not going to change the underlying culture of arrogant "liberal elitism".

The people of California making political history, while some, in places like Arkansas, like you, just can't stand it.

I can stand it. In fact I can enjoy it immensely. LOL.

Missouri state motto, "At least we aren't Arkansas".

I have the pleasure of visiting Missouri on a regular basis since they are next door. I can tell you from face to face conversation that most Missourians I've met don't much appreciate left coast political arrogance either.

A lot of folks are sick and tired of pronouncements from Berkeley, Janeane, Maxine Waters, the 9th Circuit, Gray Davis, etc., etc. about how they know the best way for all of us to live and how we should be perfect like them. I'm sorry for you that this crap comes out of California and that your state has to live with the resulting disgust these pronouncements generate. You will just have to live with it like we had to live with Clinton. Sorry.

If you would like to prove that such arrogant liberal elitist crap doesn't spew forth out of California, that the media hasn't portrayed California as a socialist utopia for years, and that I have no reason to think these things then I am willing to listen to the argument. I'll try not to think of Boxer, Feinstein, the 9th Circuit, Janeane, Berkeley, Condit, Maxine Waters, etc. while you are explaining.

They always say that social progress starts in California and then sweeps across the rest of the country. Well...now that people see where that progress leads....maybe that will stop.

Nothing personal, hope California can fix itself.

[Asclepius]

If you think this actor's views should be taken seriously, then you must agree that the opinions of Sean Penn, George Clooney, Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon should be heard and respected as well, right?

I do take them seriously. They articulated their viewpoints entirely without humor, irony etc. This is why I both despise and dismiss them. Next stupid question?

[Joe Hadenuf]

I'll try not to think of Boxer, Feinstein, the 9th Circuit, Janeane, Berkeley, Condit, Maxine Waters, etc. while you are explaining.

Yeah, we have our share, but none of these can beat the disgrace and the dishonor that came out of Arkansas, or Janet Reno, who hails out of Florida. These two make people like Feinstein look politically tame.

In any event, you just keep watching, while we in California unseat the biggest, leftist socialist governor in the nation, one that wanted to run for President of the United States. Now he'll only be running to the airport, to run back home to NY where he came from. Enjoy the show.

[Joe Hadenuf]

That will be something to celebrate for a while. But its not going to change the underlying culture of arrogant "liberal elitism".

Yeah, well that certainly isn't isolated to Cal.

Look no further than Little Rock.

[optimistically_conservative]

A Californian and an Arkansan walk into a bar ...

Table 2.  Top Nations/States of the World ranked by GDP
(according to the CIA's 2001 World Factbook)

Rank		State	Area (km2)	Population (106)					GDP (1012 US$)
1		United States	9,629,091	284.796,887					9.820,7
2		China	9,596,960	1,273.111,290					4.5
3		Japan	377,835	126.771,662					3.15
4		India	3,287,590	1,029.991,145					2.2
5		Germany	356,973	83.029,536					1.936
6		France	547,030	59.551,227					1.448
7		U.K.	244,820	59.647,790					1.36
8		California	411,049	34.501,130					1.344,623
9		Italy	301,230	57.679,825					1.273
10		Brazil	8,511,965	174.468,575					1.13
11		Russia	17,075,200	145.470,197					1.12
12		Mexico	1,972,550	101.879,171					0.915
13		New York	127,190	19.011,378					0.799,202
14		Canada	9,976,140	31.592,805					0.774,7
15		South Korea	98,480	47.904,370					0.764,6
16		Texas	691,030	21.325,018					0.742,274
17		Spain	504,782	40.037,995					0.720,8
18		Indonesia	1,919,440	228.437,870					0.654

 

[Joe Hadenuf]

Your table is obsolete......Sorry.

[Arkinsaw]

Look no further than Little Rock.

Those in Little Rock are only busy stealing from the people of Arkansas, not telling everyone they are a progressive utopia and that everyone should do as they do.

If you want to defend your "progressives" and claim they haven't been arrogant socialist live-like-we-do jerks then you are certainly free to do so. I'm not gonna buy it though.

[optimistically_conservative]

LOL ... saying it doesn't make it true.

[Arkinsaw]

Yeah, we have our share, but none of these can beat the disgrace and the dishonor that came out of Arkansas, or Janet Reno, who hails out of Florida. These two make people like Feinstein look politically tame.

Arkansas and Florida are essentially conservative States that produced monstrous young. Georgia is also an essentially conservative State that produced Jimmy Carter.

Every State elects freaks here and there. But there are really two arrogant liberal bastions of thought....Massachusetts and California that think the rest of the world should live as they do and the media constantly harps about how "California has laws that....." or "Massachussetts has a health policy that...." or "unlike more progressive States like California".

Its true.

This is not saying that all of California is bad. In fact, if you look at the Blue/Red map you can see that vast swaths of California are not in that category and are essentially held hostage politically.

I hope you fix your State. But I'll be damn glad if I hear no more about how wonderful California's environmental laws are, or how progressive California is, or how advanced California is in its prison system, or how ethical California is to give free healthcare to illegals, etc., etc.

[optimistically_conservative]

I find it interesting that California's GDP is the same size as that of France -- and has pretty much the same problems as France does: neo-socialist government, an immigrant population which refuses to assimilate, entrenched and expensive social programs -- gosh, the list just goes on and on, doesn't it?

There's one major difference, though. France gets about 75% of its power needs from nuclear power plants. Too bad California will have to buy most of its power from neighboring states, at inflated prices. Just wait until summer, and power shortages and brownouts start happening, again.

Squeal lahk a pig, boy...

[Joe Hadenuf]

I noted Georgia isn't even on the list.

Squeal lahk a baboon, boy...

[Joe Hadenuf]

Just wait until summer, and power shortages and brownouts start happening, again.

Yeah boy, just think, when summer gets here we're gunna have power shortages.... Snort....

:O

[Clemenza]

Damn Joe, you're more defensive about Californication than I am about New York.

BTW: New York (especially Manhattan) is FILLED with ex-Californians. Then again, Cali is filled with ex-New Yorkers I understand (Dick Riordan, Bob Dornan, Michael Eisner, etc.).

[optimistically_conservative]

Yep, and if I was from GA, I'd be hurt. Just here temporarily, one of a half dozen states I've lived in, among several countries for a half year or more.

Oh, and on the power situation, you really need to read more ...

The power crunch could come as early as August 2006 and lead to blackouts in August 2007 if the state endures successive abnormally hot summers, according to a California Energy Commission forecast.

Even a normal summer would force the state and utilities to turn to spot market imports, with their high prices, by August 2007, the commission warns.

The commission says California's dysfunctional power market must be repaired by 2005 or the state will face dire consequences. (Note: it takes a minimum of 2 years to license a power generation facility in California)

Last rolling blackout

The last rolling blackout in the state was May 8, 2001. Since then, the state's power fortunes have improved significantly. By August, new power plants will have added 7,916 megawatts to the power supply, enough to serve about 5.9 million homes.

Meanwhile, conservation, more energy-efficient homes and the stagnant economy have all reduced demand. And a wet April has boosted the amount of water available for hydroelectric power this year.

But because California imports so much power -- from 3,000 to 5,000 megawatts -- from out of state, it is more vulnerable than most regions ``to the whims of Mother Nature,'' said Gary Ackerman, executive director of the Western Power Trading Forum.

``California cannot make it through the summer without importing power,'' Ackerman said.

A sustained heat wave across the Western United States could force other states to withhold their excess power, meaning less might be available for California -- just as millions of residents are flicking on their air conditioners.

[Zevonismymuse]

If you think this actor's views should be taken seriously, then you must agree that the opinions of Sean Penn, George Clooney, Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon should be heard and respected as well, right?

I would love for all of those listed would throw their hats in the ring. It doesn't mean I should respect their views; it means they should risk putting their views to the ultimate test, like Arnold is doing.

[Joe Hadenuf]

Yep, and if I was from GA, I'd be hurt. Just here temporarily, one of a half dozen states I've lived in, among several countries for a half year or more.

Just temporarily huh? Hehehe

[Joe Hadenuf]

Quit cryin.......I haven't needed an air conditioner or a freaking heater for years. Don't need it. Oh, and to set you at ease, I have yet to see a power failure in Cal, except 5 years ago when a tree fell on a line two miles from my hideout.

I do understand that the mid west and back east have many more power failures than California though. All nasty weather related.....

Squeal like a baboon boy!

[optimistically_conservative]

I do understand that the mid west and back east have many more power failures than California though. All nasty weather related.....

Yes, we all here on the East coast wish we had it as good as ya'll on the West coast for power generation and transmission grid reliability - ROTFLMAO.

Tell ya what, when I'm back in NY in 2005, I'll remind you how California didn't get their act together in time to avoid the upcoming energy crisis in the summer of 2006.

[Joe Hadenuf]

Hate to tell you, but we never experienced one singly power failure here in Cal in the past 25 years. I even bought a Belkin regulator for my computer about two years ago, due to all the hype about the power, and it's never been used. LOL! The only time it ever popped on was when we put in a new spa and I tripped the circut breaker to shut off the power and it went into action. I was hoping we would get at least one power failure so I wouldn't feel like a fool buying it. Never happened.

Sorry to disappoint you. Hehehe