Posted on 08/10/2003 12:18:33 PM PDT by nwrep
In a typically caustic and brilliant column 3 years ago, Ann Coulter accurately described New Jersey RINO Governor Christine Todd Whitman as a "half wit". This characterization was vindicated last year when the New Jersey Supreme Court, which included 5 LIBERAL judges appointed by Gov. Half-Witman set aside the election law and allowed Robert Torricelli to be substituted by Frank Lautenberg, thus handing the Senate seat to the Democrats.
For those who are considering supporting Arnold for Governor of California, the lessons learned from the above episode should not be forgotten. A liberal Democrat running as with an R next to their name is still a Democrat.
Individual rights, the Republic, and the Constitution must be defended against attacks, whether those attacks are launched by liberal D's or liberal R's.
In terms of policy positions, Arnold closely mirrors the views of half-Whitman in such areas as the intent and size of government and gun control. Instead of using the argument about supporting a Republican who only agrees with them half the time, those here supporting Arnold should wonder whether they agree with him on ANYTHING.
Here are some of his stated positions:
Pro-abortion, pro-gay adoption, pro-gay rights, pro-gun control, pro-big government (as evidenced by his ballot initiative last year), pro-environmental legislation and pro-immigration.
Of his unstated views, I venture to guess the following by "connecting the dots" from his various interviews and TV appearances:
Anti-death penalty, pro-marijuana legalization, pro-gay marriage, and pro-Affirmative Action.
If all this is true, one wonders precisely what differentiates this man from a moderate-left Democrat candidate. One is also left with the unfortunate eventuality of Arnold actually being to the left of some Democrats on at least one of the above issues (say the death penalty).
Let us move on to the other argument posited by his supporters. A Republican Governor will make California more Republican-friendly territory, help Bush's re-election campaign there next year, and force Democrats to spend large sums of money defending this state.
To check the plausibility of this line of reasoning, one need not look any further than the 2000 Presidential Election. Here are the states which had Republican governors (some conservative, too):
* Michigan - John Engler
* Pennsylvania - Tom Ridge
* New York - George Pataki
* New Jersey - Christine Whitman
* Illinois - George Ryan
The outcome of the election in these states, ofcourse, was sobering. Bush lost every single one of them. So much for Republican Governors helping with Presidential prospects.
Bottom line, having the Governorship of California (or any other state) has nothing to do with General Election prospects of that party in the Presidential Election. These elections are won and lost on issues independent of who is in the Governors' mansions.
If conditions are favorable for a Bush landslide, that will happen regardless of how many Democrat Governors there are in the country.
The Governorship of a state like California is too important to be sacrificed for the lure of star power with the correct party affiliation and ill-conceived arguments about Presidential elections.
Why are so many so called consevatives on this board willing to compromise their basic conservative planks. And for what? So they can jump on a big stars bandwagon? So he can beat the evil blue meanies?
I hate to say this, being a person who worked to get signatures on recall petitions, but I'd rather see Davis stay on than have Arnold make Republicans look like stupid liberals.
You're kidding right? There are lots of Cal Republicans in office. For example, my representitve in congress is David Dreyer(R) 38th congressional district.
There's alot more to. You'd know that if you cared to look into it, instead of asking uninformed questions like this.
I guess I should start looking for a state to move to.
This is California, the far out leftist coast. More democrats are voters than republicans in this state. Hard cold fact. It's liberal country on the coast and conservative country in the inlands. More people live in the huge metro areas and vote democrat.
All I can say is Arnold Schwarzenegger brings colossal energy, dynamic charisma, and crushes magnificently the staid prudish Northeastern country clubber republican image.
I'd take Arnold as govenor any day over the crazy control freaking tax and spend happy lying leftists that irresponsibly have wasted our futures on liberal schemes that are an incredible waste of tax-payer income and undeniable failure. It will take an extraordinary mix of political ideology to break the stranglehold democrats have on this State.
Half a Republican Govenor is better than none. And a hell of a lot better than a Democrat.
It's time the republican party realize it needs new youthful energy, deep responsive compassion, in order to pave the way for conservative policies to emerge. One step at a time to wean a State so mired and chained to dastard liberalism.
Would that be the same conservitive john asscroft that pulled 128 federal agents off The terrorism task force to go after tommy chong for selling glass tubes that have been a 1st amendment protected art form since th e country was founded ?
is this the same conservitive that is so sexually represssed that he had to spend $65,000 dollars of taxpayer money to cover up a stone statue becasue he couldnt handle looking at concrete breasts?
Is it the same john asscroft that in writing says the second amendment applys to individuals then in the next breathe fully supports and enforces project exile ?
with conservitive friends like this who needs enemas
CA is totally screwed financially. The latest budget only makes the problem worse. Maybe winning the title of Captain of the Titanic AFTER hitting the iceberg is not really a win for Republicans.”
First, Republicans/Conservatives/the Right are better off with Arnold over Bustamonte … or Davis. He may not be our ideological soulmate, but he has declared himself to be on our side. I’ll take that.
Second, California will survive. Unlike the Titanic, it won’t disappear so your analogy doesn’t float. Whoever wins the recall elections will have a difficult job. The fact is that California is, like some of our biggest banks, “too big to fail.” It cannot be allowed to declare bankruptcy. So, when the state recovers or gets bailed out, wouldn’t it be nice to have someone with an R after his name at the helm?
The ONLY "statements" I listed that Arnold made while promoting a sci-fi movie was ONE LINE where Arnold compared his REAL LIFE pro-cloning position to the movie character's anti-cloning position. Hmmm, now who's making the distortions? If you have evidence that Arnold has changed his pro-human cloning position, by all means let us know. I'll be happy to apologize for "distorting" his position.
As for the other DOZEN statements, they were volunteered by Arnold at a wide variety of public announcements including his tax-and-send "leadership" as Chairman of the PCFSF and his 2003 campaign announcement speech. No matter how much you RINO apologists want to pretend Arnold isn't "ashamed to be a Republican", he made it clear who's side he was on during impeachment and showed his true colors. If you want to vote for a Clinton-Kennedy "Republican", go ahead, ignore my warnings. Better yet, we have PLENTY of similar RINOs who "can win". I'll be happy to send them to California, just say the word.
>> The play on his name doesn't say much to your objectivity either. <<
Awwww...people bashing liberals on a conservative forum. Imagine that. Look at all the plays on Clinton's name and you can we see we're obviously VERY biased against Billary too. Perhaps you'd like to find a more non-ideological forum where liberals get a free pass.
>> Bush promised to sign an extension on the "assault weapons" ban that puts him in line with Arnold on guns. <<
And does Bush say we need to make MORE gun laws, as well as legalized gay 'partnerships', abortion on demand? After all, the post said Bush was JUST as liberal as Arnold. Last time I checked, Bush caved on a few things, but he's not a Jeffords-style far-left kook like Ahhhhnuld.
You "replace Davis with ANYONE" Kool-aid drinkers DESERVE Larry Flint as Governor, but having Arnold raise taxes "for the children" and restrict your freedoms should be enough to give you what you deserve for blindly supporting a corrupt liberal who "can win".
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.