ARNOLD TO GOP: "COME VIT ME IF YOU VANT TO LIVE"

Federal Review ^ | Sunday, August 10, 2003

[Behind Liberal Lines]

As nearly everyone in the free world (and even Ithaca, the City of Evil) has heard, box-office superstar Arnold Schwarzenegger has announced he is running for California Governor in the wake of the pending recall election of incumbant Grey Davis.

Early reports have Arnold, a Republican, holding a commanding lead in the polls. Given that California is the largest state in the nation, and given that Arnold is a Republican, you would think that every Republican on earth would be wildly ecstatic right now.

Unfortunately, that isn't so. As is, sadly, too often the case, a vocal minority of the GOP is working on shooting the party in the foot again.

Rather than rejoice at the possibility of a "Terminator Juggernaut" (which would be a great title for a movie, by the way), some on the right are complaining that Arnold isn't conservative enough.

Instead of uniting behind an electable candidate, they're whining that Arnold, who is, admittedly, a moderate to liberal Republican, is not "ideologically pure" enough for them. So they are throwing support at different candidates, including Bill Simon (who lost to Davis just last year--now there's a track record) and complete unknowns like Tom McClintock and Rebecca Jackson.

The Republicans who are doing so are, in my opinion, shooting themselves, and the party, in the foot, for a number of reasons.

First off, they forget that California is not a conservative state. A Republican presidential candidate has not carried the state since 1988. They are represented in the U.S. Senate by two of the biggest liberals out there, Diane Feinstein and Barbara Boxer and in Congress by, among others, ultra-liberal Nancy Pelosi. Their Federal Appeals Court is the infamous Ninth Circuit, that banned the Pledge of Allegience. Two of its largest cities are Los Angeles (home to every Hollywood leftie from Barbra Streisand to Susan Sarandon) and San Francisco (nuff said). In fact, in California, Democrats outnumber Republicans by 1.5 million voters.

Therefore, the only way for the Republicans to win a governorship is to win over Democrats. And a conservative candidate is not going to do that. But Arnold, a more liberal Republican married to a Kennedy, and blessed with superstar charisma, can.

In addition, an Arnold win has repercussions for the entire nation. Because of its size, California can help decide the 2004 Presidential race.

As noted in Insight magazine, "a Republican governor would do wonders for President George W. Bush's effort to win California's 55 electoral votes in the fall of next year, say GOP activists..

Furthermore, an Arnold win is not just good for President Bush. It's bad for the Clintons.

The Chicago Sun-Times has reported that "[Former President Bill] Clinton has been [to California] a couple of times and is managing the [Davis campaign] by phone. If Davis survives, he'll owe it to the Clintons. Then, if Hillary jumps into the presidential race, she'll have the California delegates locked up as well as the ones in New York." On the other hand, if and when Davis loses, and Arnold wins, that's another nail the Clinton coffin, coming on the heels of the disasterous showings for candidates he supported in last year's House and Senate races.

So, to recap, an Arnold Schwarzenegger victory would give the Republicans the governorship of the largest state in the nation (and one the most liberal). It would help cement a victory for President Bush in 2004 and embarrass Slick Willie and the Hildebeast. So what's not to like?

Politics has always been the art of compromise...and about winning elections. Arnold may not be the most conservative candidate out there, but he's certainly the most electable. For that reason alone, Republicans ought to get behind him...or resign themselves to running behind the Democrats one more time.

[sinkspur]

Therefore, the only way for the Republicans to win a governorship is to win over Democrats. And a conservative candidate is not going to do that.

This should be repeated, over and over and over. There is simply, mathematically, no way for a conservative candidate to win.

[thoughtomator]

But isn't the cult of electability the problem that got California into this mess to begin with?

[Behind Liberal Lines]

No it was the fact that the state is liberal.

[Jay D. Dyson]

ARNOLD TO GOP: "COME VIT ME IF YOU VANT TO LIVE"

GOP TO ARNOLD: You are not our saviour. RINOs are the bane of the Republican Party.

[Not gonna take it anymore]

Great article.

Bill Simon was so bad in the last campaign against Davis (who nobody liked) that to lose was for Simon the death knell. I voted for him in the primary. Boy was I stupid. He lost because so many people didn't vote and they didn't vote because they didn't want Davis or Simon.

If I had it to do over, I would have voted for Riordan in the primary. He had a chance to win against Davis.

I will be listening to Arnold and will probably vote for him. The Rs and Ds in this state have been equally irresponsible and I am ticked at both parties.

[nothingnew]

Given that California is the largest state in the nation,

Gee. And all the time I thought Alaska, followed by Texas, was "the largest state in the nation". What a fool I am.

FMCDH

[Howlin]

Why don't you go somewhere and post a thread about McClintock and posts his good points, rather than spamming each and every thread that might disagree with you.

You're not doing your candidate any good with your constant trashing other Freepers.

Unless, of course, you're being paid to disrupt FR.

[thoughtomator]

Aha. And the state is no longer liberal now?

[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

If some "un"timely accident should befall Feinstein or Boxer, as occurred to Wellstone last year, better for a Republican governor to appoint McClintlock, Simon or most probably Riordan as a replacemt.

That, if not for any other reason, should be enough for every conservative to support Arnold!!!

[John Lenin]

JD, I am suspecting you are a DU plant ?

[rolling_stone]

If some "un"timely accident should befall Feinstein or Boxer, as occurred to Wellstone last year, better for a Republican governor to appoint McClintlock, Simon or most probably Riordan as a replacemt.

That, if not for any other reason, should be enough for every conservative to support Arnold!!!


Excellent point! not that I would wih any tragedy on Boxer or Feinstein...

[FRgal4u]

this is so right on...

the NY GOP learned to tolerate a Pataki and a Rudy..at least one of which could have 2008/2012 prez potential

Cali GOP kept on committing suicide with the un-electables...

sad but true...

Cali GOP is so obsessive with abortion that they abort themselves in the process...

again, would the same crowd saying AS is not republican enough voted for Ronnie in 1966?? I bet not...

[Behind Liberal Lines]

bump

[jocon307]

"It would ...embarrass Slick Willie and the Hildebeast. So what's not to like?"

I like it, I like it!

I've been ruminating on the Arnold thing for a few days now. I think pubbies should go for it. He's getting an overwhelming response, I think the only thing that could doom him would be party regulars splitting their votes between other candidates, and then what would you have? Maybe Gary Coleman, or Arianna (at least she's got 1/2 a brain), or some other joke cadidate as the winner. Or else you'll have Bustamante, on name recognition alone. (Not that I blame him for running, if I were he I'd certainly run, sheesh, who are those voters trying to elect me a new boss, that would be my atitude). And freepers make him sound somewhere to the left of Joe Stalin.

You gotta go with Arnold, state needs shaking up. This is, unfortunately, not an opportunity to refute "liberalism", which many if not most Callifornians don't want to refute, it's an opportunity to refute "democratic rule", that they are sick of. More gains to be made later. Look at Arnie as a loss leader if you must, but please, get rid of Davis & others like him.

[D Rider]

This is my view exactly. What we need is conservative federal judges, (since the liberal ones have made the legislature and governorships increasingly irrelavent.) We need Bush to win the WH and more big R senators. If liberal Arnold helps us with that, then more power to him.

[Bluntpoint]

I think you both are cuties.

[ex-snook]

Arnold "Ich bin ein Berliner RINO".
Republicans "We're all RINOs now."

[South40]

Good post Howlin!

There are a few die hard mcClintites here who have been disparaging any and everyone who dare voice a dissenting opinion of their man. I recieved three unanswered posts from one last night while I slept. Could they be any more desperate?

It's mostly childish blathering that in no way abets their cause which leads me too, to question their motive(s).