Schwarzenegger Outcome Could Affect Bush in 2004 (McClintock & Simon to quit?)

Washington Post ^ | Aug. 14, 2003 | Dana Milbank and Mike Allen

[FairOpinion]

In the best scenario for Bush, Davis is ousted, Schwarzenegger triumphs with a united Republican vote and California's bleak fiscal situation begins to improve. With the governorship in popular Republican hands, the state's 54 electoral votes, once a lost cause for the GOP, could come within Bush's grasp in 2004.

Alternatively, if Schwarzenegger's candidacy implodes, it could leave the Republicans without an obvious candidate to face reinvigorated Democrats.

Don't expect Bush to say that publicly, however. Bush aides believe that appearing to meddle would backfire and boost Democrats' efforts to link the California recall to the Florida recount. Still, California Republicans say, lawmakers and others tied to the White House have been putting what one called "heavy pressure" on Simon and McClintock to drop out -- and one GOP strategist close to the White House expects one or both to quit.

[Scarlet Pimpernel]

Exactly! As an independent voter, I want a choice and I'm not getting one.

[far sider]

For me here is the bottom line on Arnold:

1. I'm glad he is running as a Republican and not a Democrat.

2. I'm glad he can't run for president.

[Bigg Red]

Schwarzenegger triumphs with a united Republican vote...

Huh? From what I read about this RINO, true Republicans will stay home if he is the only R on the ballot.

"It changes the fortune for the presidential campaign dramatically if we win,"

Maybe I’m just not smart enough, but I do not get this line of reasoning. Even if Schwarzenegger would turn out to be an exemplary governor, how would that necessarily turn Bush haters away from the Rat party? I really don’t see how support for their governor would automatically transfer to Bush.

…bringing angry Hispanics to the polls, particularly because Bustamante, the leading Democratic candidate if Davis is recalled, is Latino

Gee, how insulting is that to Hispanics to say that they will vote for Bustamante just because he is Latino?

[Carry_Okie]

My point is that it's form over substance in order to get elected: pull in a batch of big names to please everybody with no respect for conservative principles.

Pleasing everybody to get elected is exactly how we got into this mess. It's the hallmark of a liberal.

How much do Steve Forbes or Warren Buffet really know about California fiscal spending, by department? Laffer is a macro-economist, not an expert on how to get past environmentalists to allow construction of electrical power plants. Meanwhile, as I said, Buffet never saw an entitlement he didn't like and is a stock picker, not a person familiar with government operations.

Had Schwartznegger picked a person with detailed knowledge of California's regulatory morass, and who knows where the money goes, NOW (not after a year of study), I would have been impressed. This is just whimsical demagoguery that won't help California and demonstrates no loyalty to the President.

[Snerfling]

Or it shows how far the GOP has moved to the left...

Exactly. If one were to view politics using an economic model, there is a bushel of 'ideas' (as opposed to goods) that represents the greatest cross-section of America. Now, whichever party wishes to compete for this market merely has to match its platform (if not ideals) to the demand.

For some reason, the Dems have gone insane and have left the middle-ground completely open. Since nature abhors a vacuum, the Repubs naturely gravitated to the left to fill this space. In other words, until the Dems wake up, the Repubs are sitting on a permanent majority.

[Bigg Red]

Arnold also hired Steve Forbes..

&&
(PKM, did you know this?)

Now, that is very interesting. Last night, I watched NBC (I know, I know, but I don't have cable for Fox.), and there was no mention of the Forbes factor. They were really talking up the Buffett hiring and reminding everyone of Buffett's ties to Rat ideals and to Hitlery. It was quite evident that they were working hard to discredit AS among Republican voters-- following Rat talking points, as usual. There was no mention of Forbes or of anyone else that AS is consulting with.

[Bigg Red]

The WP "centrist"? Huh?

[Bigg Red]

This point would especially affect the immigrant vote that counts for so much out there (Arnold is a foreigner.)
***

Aren't you stretching a bit there, friend? Do you really think the immigrants that are in CA identify with an immigrant from Austria?

[Bigg Red]

Thanks for the flag, girlfriend.

[Brandon]

If they're still in single digits by Labor Day, they'll both quit.

If they're both in single digits, and Schwarzenegger is still leading Bustamante by 10-20 points, it hardly matters whether they stay in or get out, does it?

[FairOpinion]

Sorry, I meant 2008. I'd like to give Arnold the rest of Davis's term and 4 more years. That should be enough time to have a good start in cleaning up CA and and turn the state enough, so then they may be more accepting of a Repubican governor, who is more conservative.

As people pointed out, Wilson was a moderate Republican and he did pretty well.

[Delphinium]

How is stating the fact that many people are moving here from left leaning places a complaint? Doesn't mean I think they are left leaning?

You are reading what you want and I guess it's because I am a conservative and you aren't, and you want to argue?

[CyberAnt]

Wait a minute. Davis got elected in 2002. That means the next election is 2006 for a CA gov - for an 8 year term - that would 2010

[afuturegovernor]

I just think that Simon had his chance and he blew it just a few months ago. I agree with many of the things that Simon stands but I don't think he can or really should be elected governor. I agree with lots of people that I don't think would do a very good job as a public official.

[FairOpinion]

"that would 2010 "

--

OK. 2010 it is. That's what happens when I am doing three things at once.

[CyberAnt]

LOL! Join the club!!

[daviddennis]

Arnold is not beholden to every special interest in the book.

So his judgement won't be blinded by lobbyists. He doesn't need them.

This ensures that he will be a much better governor than Davis, since the major problem with Davis was that he could not stand selling out the people he relied on for political cash.

Bustamante is similar to Davis - except that his IQ appears to be significantly lower, so he'll probably do even worse.

Compared to either of these nice folks, Arnold looks like a genius.

D

[Princeliberty]

But McClintock is the man! He would be a great
governor and will win if conservatives unite
behind him!