Total California Recall [David Horowitz: Arnold is "the only possibility of a win for state GOP"]

FrontPageMagazine.com ^ | August 11, 2003 | David Horowitz

[justshutupandtakeit]

David nails it again.

[justshutupandtakeit]

Because so many make a fetish about "principle" trumping any chance of political success.

[Flashman_at_the_charge]

I guess we're all entitled to change our minds.

FrontPageMagazine.com - June 3, 2003

The Gray Davis Recall Campaign

Republicans in California are also mounting a moral campaign that is making them feel very good about themselves but which will result in a defeat for the Republican cause. It is generally conceded that Gray Davis is an atrocious governor. Under his administration a $4 billion surplus has been turned into a $40 billion deficit. His approval ratings are as low as Nixon’s were on the eve of his Watergate resignation. Davis is despised by Democrats and Republicans alike. Some Republicans have seen this as an opportunity to punish a man who deserves to be punished and to make a political gain in the process. They have sponsored a recall movement which if successful would remove Davis and elect a successor at the same time. Republicans are pouring millions of valuable political dollars into this campaign and mobilizing the passions of their rank and file to bring it to success.

All this makes perfect sense until you look at what will actually happen if the recall campaign is successful. In the worst-case scenario, Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein, who is about to retire at the end of her term, will instead put her name on the ballot and become the new governor of California. She will then appoint her own successor in the Senate. California Republicans will have achieved two knockout blows (but of themselves) at the same time. The California Republican Party already holds no statewide offices. With Feinstein retiring Republicans had a chance to run for an open Senate seat in the next cycle, which is always an advantage for a party out of power. If this recall scenario holds they will have created a situation in which they will have to run against an incumbent instead. Likewise, instead of running for an open gubernatorial seat against the legacy of a discredited Democratic administration they will either have to run against a popular Democratic incumbent or her anointed successor.

There are other possible scenarios – California Attorney General Bill Lockyear a savvy Democratic politician might run (and win) the governor’s seat for example. This is not quite as certain as a Feinstein victory but it is certain enough. But what if the Republicans win? They will then inherit the monster deficit and all of its unpleasant problems, with less time than even Davis has to fix it for the next election.

You could talk to the leaders of the recall campaign until you were blue in the face and never convince them that this is a bad idea. I will undoubtedly be criticized for writing these words, even though they are friendly advice. Conservatives will say Horowitz is defending Gray Davis, just as Christian conservatives presumed I was criticizing their theological views, and pro-reparations blacks that I was denying that slavery was unjust.

But of course the justice of the Gray Davis recall movement is not what I am challenging. It’s the political wisdom of the recall campaign. Politics is about winning. If you don’t win, you don’t get to put your principles into practice. Therefore, find a way to win, or sit the battle out.

[ScudBud]

You are right on. ALL of my nieces and nephews, and my two kids as well, have registered to vote for the first time so they can vote for Arnold. Chalk up seven new republicans and AS supporters from my family alone.

[justshutupandtakeit]

Arnie will be the best thing that could happen to Bush. He will play a big role in the re-election because his election will wreck havoc with the RATS costing them loads of cash and deprive them of illegalities they could get away with under a RAT governor.. This is going to cost them in about every possible way and it will assure that the media is distracted from anti-bush attacks 24/7.

If you enter the office with the persona of this guy it will make it very difficult for the legislature to continue its spending when he is in opposition. Plus, he will be a huge benefit campaigning for the senatorial candidate and W.

This is a good thing.

[justshutupandtakeit]

Recall IS part of the Law, in California, at least. With 2 governors (out of 1000s) thrown out of office in our nation's history this hardly seems to be the Barbarians at the Gate scenario you paint.

While I was skeptical of the recall initially, it is going forward so there is no reason to keeping harping on its appropriateness.

[HamiltonJay]

I agree given the fact the recall is happening that Arnold is the only canidate who can force the legislature not to stonewall him.

However that doesn't negate the fact that this whole thing is not a good thing in the BIGGER PICTURE of republicanism. Relying on "democracy" or mob rule to subjugate legitimate elections is never a good thing... all this is doing is setting up precidence for perpetual sour grapes by the losing side of every election that can capitalize on it.

The only reason there isn't an R in the governorship now is because of the R's putting a foolish canidate up last election... the only person on the planet who couldn't beat davis, and by God the California Republican's found him... You don't change leadership based on mob urges.. the Greeks taught the world this lesson ages ago! We are either a republic and ruled by the rule of law, or we are a democracy and ruled by the mob!

Not one founding father ever called this nation a democracy, they knowingly created a republic for a reason, and I don't honestly see this recall bringing out anything good in the greater scheme of american politics (and no I'm not talking about the 2004 election as being a greater scheme, because that's not, thats just current affairs, I am talking in the long term future of our nation, which one election cycle is not.)

[At _War_With_Liberals]

The fact that none of them come out and rather go with the flow proves my point.

I mean that even in the private sector, objecting to government policy a nd rejecting socialist agendas is a no win situation.

[At _War_With_Liberals]

The fact that none of them come out and rather go with the flow proves my point.

I mean that even in the private sector, objecting to government policy a nd rejecting socialist agendas is a no win situation.

[HamiltonJay]

Riddle me this, of the 2 out of thousands that were thrown out, how many of them were thrown out due to efforts directly and unabashedly funded by political oponents?? This current recall isn't a uprising of the grass roots californians, its a callous attempt to undermine civil governance.

Remember, there are a lot of liberals with money in California, and you better damn well believe they will in the future just be knawing at the bit if they so much as smell the ability to remove a republican from power.... this is not the way republics do business.. Gray Davis is a horrible governor, but everyone knew that in the last election and he won anyway... and frankly Republicans in california have no one to blame but themselves for that.

The recall is happening, and nothing is going to change that, but believe me, between the nonsense that was Florida in 2000, and now this follow up crap in Cali, we are indeed moving closer and closer to barbarians at the gate, than simple civil discourse.

[KayEyeDoubleDee]

I feel like a broken record (since I was saying this all day yesterday), but the most important question is how many people Arnold can get to vote Republican.

[justshutupandtakeit]

Recall is the rule of Law. It may be a dumb law but still the law.

Let's see if there are any imitators in other states. I don't think so.

California's case is not an example of mob rule but of people getting fed up with a bunch of lying RATS. They are exercising their rights under their state law. I am a great devotee of Hamilton but do not see this as mob rule nor would he. Excessive democracy maybe mob rule? No. This was not Shay's rebellion but lawful petitioning and abiding by state law.

This is a VERY rare event.

[djreece]

The only reason there isn't an R in the governorship now is because of the R's putting a foolish canidate up last election... the only person on the planet who couldn't beat davis, and by God the California Republican's found him..

You are grossly underestimating Davis' abilities as a candidate to trash and burn his opponent. He has NEVER been elected because people liked him or thought he was best for the job. He is elected because he is able consistently to paint his opponent as the Devil personified. Also, he wields enormous influence among opinion makers, and the media here act as cheerleaders for all things liberal.

IMHO, the worst part of the recall is that the media who were complicit with Davis in covering up the severity of the budget crisis and in painting Simon as a corrupt, "silver-spoon" rich kid are now benefiting from the boost in ratings from the recall coverage. The media have helped destroy the state, and it is too bad there is not a way to hold them accountable.

[At _War_With_Liberals]

"but do nothing to counter the stereotype they OWN of being radical right wing oligarch extremists filled with hatred that are the biggest threat to the US ever. "

This is the face democratic strategists have put on republicans. Since it is not true, I believe in changing the stereotype and Arnold's publicity is helping to change some perceptions of everyday working Dems.

I can appreciate your position and your support for McClintock...we're stuck with McGreevey, Lautenberg, Corzine, et al here in NJ

[BunnySlippers]

I'm voting for Arnold!

[PeoplesRep_of_LA]

I see, I thought you were forwarding the ol' lines. Sorry.

Yes, we will continue to push Arnuld "don't caw me Me-ayor Bloomberg" rightward with our McClintock.

[Publius]

I had lunch Saturday with a Democratic state senator (Washington State) in connection with my freight and passenger rail work. The state senator in question is a moderate Democrat and very sharp: I've never had to educate him on rail issues because he "knows his brief", as Margaret Thatcher would have phrased it. He had some pithy comments about what was going on in California.

• Gray Davis is a very effective fundraiser.
• Gray Davis is an effective campaigner because of his innate viciousness.
• Gray Davis doesn't know a damn thing about governing.
• The entire California political class, particularly the Democratic side, has no creative ideas because there has been no genuine competition in that state for years due to gerrymandering.
• California needs a "political enema."
• Arnold Schwarzenegger is a shoo-in.

I don't get that kind of candor very often from politicians, especially when they are conducting a peer review. It was refreshing.

[Vets_Husband_and_Wife]

I think we had BETTER get behind ONE candidate and QUICK. We have LESS THAN two months to get a REPUBLICAN Governor elected. We do NOT have two years!!

This is Califorinia. YOU WILL NOT GET AN EXTREME RIGHT WING REPUBLICAN ELECTED IN CALIFORNIA.. THAT IS THE ULTIMATE PIPE DREAM!! If Republicans keep thinking that way.. they will KEEP ON LOSING CALIFORNIA!!

The Arnold, Maria combo is JUST what the doctor ordered. I'm sorry but the Democrats HAVE TO BE foaming at the mouth on this one!! There are siezures of epic proportions happening all over the state!! Gray Davis's complexion got noticeably GRAY'ER!!

I may not support all of Arnolds political beliefs, but I do believe he will turn around California!! He has FAR to much at stake to NOT do so. As a result, REPUBLICANS will benefit in the long run. The "R" behind his name, will NOT be forgotten!! Not in OTHER elections! Not in the upcoming PRESIDENTIAL election, not in future STATE elections!!

There isn't enough time to get the NAME recognition that is needed for McClintock, and Simon is UN-ELECTable!!

IF the VOTE gets splintered by republicans having TOO MANY CANDIDATES and dividing up the vote, WE CAN LOOSE this election!!!

Whoda thunk Gray Davis could WIN the last election?

If conservative Republicans are so stupid to stick to their "moral" rigidity to the point that they shoot themselves in the foot, and end up with a DEMOCRAT back in office who will be PRO ABORTION AND PRO GAY RIGHTS BUT ALSO HAVE A "D" BEHIND THEIR NAME,... then perhaps they deserve to keep losing!!

Because I PROMISE you, McClintock CANNOT WIN California, nor can Simon. But many of us tried to tell that to people before. No one listened then. Will they now?

Will they ever??

[goldstategop]

Every dollar the Democrats have to spend in California means a lot of other races can be won with much less effort. That's why conservatives should rally behind AS cause even if we're not ideological sweethearts, just think of what it means for conservative candidates elsewhere in the country. Consider it a blessing in disguise and don't look at this gift horse down the mouth.

[CarmelValleyite]

Arnold is NOTHING like Jesse Ventura -- thank heavens!