Posted on 08/13/2003 1:45:44 PM PDT by DoctorZIn
A key to Arnold Schwarzenegger's prospects in the coming recall election is one that few have taken notice of: His campaign is being run by the most brilliant California Republican campaigner since Ronald Reagan. Former governor Pete Wilson, who is chairman of the Schwarzenegger campaign, shares Arnold's centrist brand of Republican politics, which is the only kind of Republican politics that can win at the state level. Even Ronald Reagan left issues like abortion on the back burner when he led California Republicans to victory. This is a state, it should never be forgotten, that has a million more registered Democrats than it does Republicans.
Pete Wilson figured out how to solve this problem. In his last successful gubernatorial run in 1994, he crushed the scion of California's most powerful modern political dynasty, Kathleen Brown. The secret of his success was his willingness to seize two political issues that appealed to a winning majority but also fired up the conservative Republican base and put it solidly behind his campaign.
These issues were his opposition to illegal immigration (Prop 187) and to racial preferences (Prop 209). Interestingly, Ward Connerly, the sponsor of Prop 209 has another anti-racial division measure (Prop 54) on the recall ballot.
What was particularly impressive about Wilson's support for these propositions was how unapologetically and forcefully he got behind them. Unlike other centrist Republican politicians Wilson understood and articulated the moral imperatives of what had been considered (erroneously as it turned out) solely conservative issues. Because of his own conviction and political courage Wilson was able to turn around a race that he was losing by a wide margin and surge to a landslide victory.
Most observers of the current race have missed the significance of the fact that the first gauntlet the Schwarzenegger camp has chosen to throw down is the revelation that Arnold voted for Prop 187 when it was on the ballot in 1994. Liberal Democrats have already seized on this (and on the fact that Arnold is on the board of US English) as though it were an Achilles heel that will trip him up as the campaign proceeds. This conclusion is wrong and comes from reading too much of their own press. In fact, the opposite is more likely.
Liberals who think Prop 187 is a political albatross for Arnold are in deep denial and should think again. While it is true the liberal establishment and media denounced Proposition 187 as xenophobic and worse, a landslide majority of Californians -- including more than 40 percent of Hispanics -- embraced 187 and turned it into law. They will do so (symbolically) again. Who better than a grateful American immigrant like Arnold Schwarzenegger to point out to obtuse liberals the difference between legal immigration and illegal entry – and the crippling consequences of not making the distinction?
Of course once Prop 187 was passed, the liberals immediately set out to overturn the people’s vote. They took it to their friends in the judiciary who scuttled it. Californians have been forced to live with the destructive consequences of illegal immigration ever since. But that only makes Prop 187 an even more volatile memory now.
Two events that have taken place since Wilson's victory have actually increased the likelihood that Californians will embrace Arnold's position and reject the Democrats' prejudice again. The first of these is the 9/11 attacks, which have made the importance of secure borders an even more pressing issue than before. Particularly since Governor Davis and the Democrats have now seen fit to provide drivers' licenses to illegals. This is a typical Democratic scheme to gain new constituencies for the party, in effect granting illegals the right to vote (a driver's license and address are all the identity credentials needed). But the Democrats' scheme also allows terrorists to establish themselves as citizens of the country they plan to attack. Californian voters will not appreciate this.
The second event is the impending bankruptcy of the state's finances. Illegal immigration is a significant component of this problem, which liberals don’t like to discuss. As a result of the judicial scuttling of Prop 187, big-ticket items like education, health-care and welfare are still available to anyone crossing the border, whether he crosses legally or not. The costs of this generosity to aliens who are here illegally amounts to billions of dollars every year in addition to unpaid taxes which are estimated at $7 billion dollars annually, i.e., almost 20 percent of the budget deficit.
If Arnold Schwarzenegger takes a leaf from the book of his chairman’s campaigns and champions these issues, he will put together a coalition that will stretch from the electoral center which he already dominates all the way over to the Bill Simon -- Tom McClintock right. That is the formula for a win.
Aug. 13 (Bloomberg) --Arnold Schwarzenegger, the actor who is running for governor of California, said billionaire investor Warren Buffett will be the financial and economic adviser to his political campaign, the campaign said in a statement.
Singular.
Arinold's own press release, which said Buffett would be THE huge influence on his economic and fiscal policies, not "an influence" or "part" of a team. Additionally, Arinold has Dicky Reardon heading up his policy on social issues. Go figure.
If Arnold's instincts were formed by "Free To Choose" that's a good start <<
They were, except he probably learned that slogan from Maria's buddies at NARAL.
Candidate Schwarzenegger Taps Buffett as Economic Advisor
By Glenn R. Simpson, Staff Reporter of The Wall Street Journal
WASHINGTON -- Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, the leading Republican candidate for governor of California, has signed up investing legend Warren Buffett (news - web sites) as an economic advisor.
Mr. Schwarzenegger signed up Mr. Buffett, a longtime friend, after a round of personal wooing in recent days, two people familiar close to the Schwarzenegger campaign said. Both Mr. Buffett, the billionaire chief executive of Berkshire- Hathaway Inc. (BRKA, BRKB), and the Schwarzenegger campaign had no immediate comment. The campaign says it is planning an announcement of interest to the financial community.
The backing of Mr. Buffett the billionaire could be a major boost to the credibility of Mr. Schwarzenegger the action-film star, who thus far hasn't taken many positions and whose capacity to govern the huge state has been ridiculed.
"If Warren Buffett thinks Arnold Schwarzenegger has the chops to run the world's sixth-largest economy, I would take that as quite an endorsement," said political analyst Bill Whalen of Stanford University's Hoover Institution.
Mr. Buffett is often identified with Democratic causes -- he contributed to the campaign of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (news - web sites) -- but is believed to be politically middle of the road.
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Sounds to me like this is one of a number of advisors, but regardless, the announcement from Schwartz's campaign hasn't been formally made, so what role, or how extensive a role Buffett would have is completely speculation. The fact the Hoover Institute guy thinks Buffett's endorsement is pretty good is good enough for me.
We don't know know what Buffett will be advising Arnold on. Frankly, if he's going to be advising him on the nature of market investments in the overall economy, it sounds like a pretty good pick.
What kind words to bestow on someone you followed closely. Must be fairly true, for I've heard nothing but praise for him from my family and friends in CA.
IMO, California is not the "liberal" leftist state that most people make it out to be. It IS winnable. In my time, only the Brown's and Grayout have been D governors. Simon lost to Grayout but I personally believe there was a lot of FRAUD. Democrats have learned how to work the computerized era system. They can sort out where to implement the FRAUD so it is not obvious. They have won many elections here in Texas by voting the dead and illegals on the ballot or those who have moved but whose names are still listed. At least 1/2 the names on any precinct list have moved, are dead or illegal. If more than 50% vote in an urban area I'd consider FRAUD playing a part.
Say, I lived in Sacramento for 8-9 years. I still come out that way couple times a year. Love the city. Love the State. Thanks for sharing your views. God Bless Texas and California :-)
Yup. That way you get to understand what the opposition's reasoning/thinking is. Then you're better positioned to respond with more reason, logic, and talent addressing their positions or issues.
Actually, look at a map of California's election last year, or better yet (since it's more readily available), look at the "Bush Country" map of red vs. blue (Gore) counties in the 2000 election. If you slice off most of the coastal counties -- Humboldt, Mendocino, Sonoma, Marin, SF, San Mateo (the whole Bay Area, actually), Santa Cruz, Monterey, Santa Barbara, and LA, the rest of California is pretty solidly Republican. Unfortunately, it's those coastal counties where most of the voters are located. But the interior -- places like Sacramento, the San Joaquin Valley, Fresno, and the like, and San Bernardino, Riverside -- are the areas of greatest growth. Here's hoping that some day, the Republican areas will rise in influence, and voters in the "blue" counties will wise up, or move to Oregon.
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