Some talk hosts saying Simon, McClintock are "Unelectable"?

08-10-2003 | brianbaldwin

[Brian_Baldwin]

What is this I am hearing some (conservative, “hot talk”) radio talk show hosts saying, that Bill Simon and Tom McClintock are “unelectable” in California? Anyone who has seen any of my posts of late, know I am giving Arnold Schwarzenegger the benefit of the doubt and have all three Republicans as considerations. I also feel that Schwarzenegger, now that he is in the race, has the best “chance” of winning over Simon and McClintock. But, “best chance of winning” isn’t what I am hearing from some of these talk show hosts. I've heard it several times now, and Again, I heard it today on one of the nationally syndicated conservative talk shows – that “Bill Simon and Tom McClintock are unelectable in California” . . .

What the hell does that mean? I mean, so in other words, if Arnold Schwarzenegger wasn’t in the race, that those Republicans who showed interest and involvement in the recall, specifically McClintock and Simon, should have just not even have run?

I mean, if they are “unelectable”, why run at all?

Saying they are “unelectable”, means they are unelectable whether or not Arnold was in the race. So, if that is what some of these conservative talk show hosts are trying to say, then pretend we don’t have Arnold in the race.

Pretend Arnold never entered the race. And, so, we have Simon and McClintock and Issa. And, according to some of these conservative talk show hosts, they are “unelectable”. Right? That is what some of them are saying right now – “unelectable”. And so what do we have? I mean, if it’s true now that Arnold is in the race, it was true back when Arnold wasn’t in the race. So, what were these same conservative talk show hosts saying then? I mean, if these Republican candidates are “unelectable”, then why bother? Right? So, in other words, we shouldn’t have the recall at all. Right?

Isn’t that what some of these talk show hosts are, well, pretty much saying?

I disagree.

Simon, McClintock, Issa – they were running. They said so, they acted so. Arnold wasn’t. And, anyone of them is electable. Anyone of them could have beat Gray Davis who is the dumps in the polls.

Now Arnold is running.

And so, probably Arnold has a better chance than Simon and McClintock. Issa dropped out, and probably because Simon entered the race.

Arnold probably has the “best chance”. That doesn’t make Simon and McClintock “unelectable”. Period. And anyone, ANYONE, whose been a political junkie long enough knows, an election can change on the dime, up one day, down the other.

No. Simon is very electable. And so is McClintock. And, it ain’t over until the fat lady sings.

[tallhappy]

Two of the three will have to drop out within one month.

If not Cruz is next Governor.

[lainie]

I think California would like to elect a true conservative. We just don't have the numbers yet (or think we don't, I'm not sure which). We beat back Riordan last year, and Simon came a lot closer to unseating Doofus than a lot of people are willing to admit. Of course, the campaign was flawed, and the CA GOP doesn't seem to have its act together.

[CHUCKfromCAL]

That is exactly right. That is what the Dems are counting on. It is another election where the California Republicans can and probably will snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

[pogo101]

I think McClintock COULD win, but he's got no money, so it's very tenuous in a campaign that, as a practical matter, will require so much money to win.

I think Simon COULD win, but he is tagged with that "amiable loser who fumbled the ball last time we gave it to him" label.

[Uncle Hal]

Heres the way I size up of the situation. I say this as a senior citizen, native CA. who has lived here all my life and conservative member of the GOP. Bill and Tom will get tops, 20% of the vote. Arianna, Larry, Peter etc. will get another 20%. That leaves Arnold and Cruz splitting the remaining 60% or so of the vote. Arnold will have to get 30% plus to win. As the field stands today only Arnold and Cruz can win. It will be interesting how the Dems handle the campaign with 2 candidates in the race. Remember they will have the usual supporters plus the liberal media which will go orgasmic with the prospect of a Hispanic Governor. The White House wants a Governor with an R after his name. They think it will put CA. in play in 04 if CA. has a Rep. Governor. They are probably right and the Dems know this as well. This a very different CA. than when Reagan got elected in 66. I do not know if a true conservative can be elected in this liberal state. So it may be the best we can hope for is an Arnold type Rep. Conservatives will be debating this for the next 58 days on these pages and where ever like minded people gather. It will make for great drama and interesting times. Plus it will be a very ugly.

[old school]

Talk-show hosts are not God. They all have opinions. We all have opinions. Their opinions are no more valid than our own. Do not base the conduct of your affairs, on someone else's opinion. In my opinion, McClintock has a very good chance of becoming our Governor! I'm going to act in my self-interest, not based on what someone else might think is best for me! Because, after all, opinions don't feed my family!

[lainie]

I've been mulling over some thoughts. [Just brainstorming here, bear with me]

I don't have answers but I agree with what Coulter said: The state's basically ungovernable right now.

The libs have had California as their little playground for X number of years, and we're looking at the results. You and I and everyone else conservative have seen it coming for years. And we've felt at times like we've been screaming into the wind. The good Simon showing last year (against seemingly all odds), coupled with the official recall this year, is instructive all by itself. It proves to an even larger audience once & for all how broken everything really is. Now that we have everyone's attention, we should at least consider letting the libs kill it deader than dead.

In a practical sense, things are different and more multi-faceted now than they were last year, you're right. We're in the midst of what's, for all intents and purposes, a free-for-all primary, for all the marbles.

But what are "the marbles?" Whoever is in the governor's office come October doesn't really matter as much as it could, because the legislature isn't changing too. If a movement to install McClintock also included a movement to push conservative assembly & state senate candidates, we'd be talkin' turkey.

Having said all that, it sure would be nice if McClintock could come in and kick some Terminator boondah; because if he could do that, he could kick Generalissimo Bustamante's too.

Will it happen? Probably not. If it doesn't, and Arnold is installed, the fact that he has an R next to his name is a bad thing in general. Because he's not a conservative and he will not fix California. I have no faith in him.

[truth_seeker]

"No. Simon is very electable. And so is McClintock. And, it ain’t over until the fat lady sings."

Tune in to Free Republic, and Brian Baldwin, for your expert political commentary.

[Eric Hogue 1380 KTKZ]

As a conservative talk show host, I believe it is TOO early to get TOO excited about this issue. We have 58 days of 'national attention' during the SLOW August news cycle...relax, the Republican leader will take shape in September. I'm a HUGE Tom McClintock fan (I like Bill too!), but I do understand the importance of the WIN here. Doing radio in Sacramento, I understand the NEED for the GOP to control the corner office, the line item veto and the 100 boards and commissions. But I think it is too soon to ride the Arnold train. He has much to deliver before he wins and McClintock is polling very well for this special election. The time to talk about going for the winners in September 30th, NOT August 10th! BTW...Davis is toast and Cruz is in bed with Idian Casino money and the Labor Unions - Garamendi was 'ordered' out by the Labor Unions during 'discussions' on Saturday morning! Right now, the Dems are positioning Cruz for the vote - let's let them offer their strategy before we implode so quickly!

[steve50]

Looked bad when Arnold was asked about releasing his income tax forms, I don't think anybody in their right mind bought that "can't hear you" BS.

[Eric Hogue 1380 KTKZ]

It sure did, but if anyone can get away with behavior like that - it is a moderate, Hollywood actor...not a conservative Republican. Remember, if you are a conservative, you are held to a higher standard. If you are a moderate, liberal - you have no absolutes - so you can fudge and duck and the media forgives you. If Bill Simon, Tom McClintock would have behaved this way, it would be news - notcie it is not news today...this is the advantage that Arnold has over the conservative running mates.

[Republican Wildcat]

Well, I don't know about McClintock, but I think Simon certainly proved he was unelectable with that embarrassingly incompetent campaign he ran last year. That election was his to lose, as he was ahead in the polls...he was the best person on Davis' re-election team.

[medscribe]

Bill Simon ran the most inept, pitiful campaign for a state house in recent memory. He IS UNELECTABLE in a state where moderates and liberals outnumber conservatives 5 to 1. He stumbles in his speeches, he's incoherent half the time, and he makes Al Gore look like Mr. Lively Party Hardy at campaign appearances.

Tom McClintock...the only response you'll get from 99% of the electorate is WHO!?!

It's 50-something days and counting to the recall election. The GOP needs a big name to win, and in the land of fruits and nuts, that big name is Arnold. This election will NOT be about issues where policy wonks can debate ad nauseum. This election will be a sprint to win the "mad as hell and not going to take it anymore" vote. And Bustamante won't have a snowball's chance against Arnold once those "nigger" ads start running.

[moehoward]

"Tom McClintock is unelectable”

Of course he is electable. There is a very real posibility that Arnold will fizzle.

[old school]

Had Simon been Karl Rove's choice for gubernatorial candidate, he might have received some advice on how to run an effective campaign, from the pros in Washburg; but they left him to his own devices, conceding the Statehouse to Graham Davis. The republican party is just full of geniuses, ain't it?!

[steve50]

Well, he's going to have to answer alot of questions in the next 50 days. Guess he's going to need a good script writer.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Excellent point!

And in that sense, the media can really control this election way more than I would like!

And they can turn on Arnoold too, but it is harder for them to do so! AND if they do, it might open some of the non conservatives eyes with regard to how biased the Big Print and Video Media is in the State and the Country!

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

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