Schwarzenegger's liberal views leave GOP flummoxed; pro-choice, pro-gun control and pro-gay rights

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 08-14-03

[Brian S]

Washington -- As Arnold Schwarzenegger explodes onto the national political scene as California's great Republican hope, conservatives are increasingly voicing concern over his lack of right-wing credentials.

From talk radio to the pages of conservative journals, Republicans are openly struggling over whether to rally around a man who may break the Democratic lock on state government, or keep their distance from a candidate who appears to be at odds with their core ideology.

[Snerfling]

We could keep putting it off but its finally crunch time.

Boy, you got that right. Just like the situation with the build-up to Iraq, once pressure builds to this level, you just gotta do whatever it takes and damn the consequences. That's why, no matter who wins the governor's spot, Davis is toast.

My wife has a couple of a bunch of liberal friends at work (in-house attorneys) and they're all in uniform agreement that Davis has got to go. I'm thinking the recall vote might be 70/30 in favor, thereby ensuring its rightful place in history as a reminder to all leftists.

[Hoverbug]

deception is part of the Art Of War. If I may say so myself, we're catching on fast.

Yep! And the Master is Bill Clinton. Maybe we'll be just like him someday!

Hb

[ImpeachandRemove]

Yes Buffett is for higher federal taxes. The super rich always have enough loopholes so that it doesn't make any difference to them personally. He is interested in the macro effect.

The Clinton tax hikes, engineered by Bob Rubin, helped drive the dollar higher. This is what those in the world of stocks and bonds, like Buffett and Rubin, want. It creates a whirlpool that sucks capital from around the world into the US stock and bond markets. Carried to an extreme, it even helps create financial bubbles like the Clinton bubble, which creates an opportunity for those who are in on the game (e.g., the silicon valley con artists who backed Clinton for this very reason, to make their dot com options valuable).

What has been missed by many is that, in a historic reversal, the Democrat party has become the strong dollar party and the Republican party is the weak dollar party. A complete reversal from the days of William Jennings Bryan.

A moderately weaker dollar is part of a program to relieve the financial distress facing manufacurers and farmers. The Republican base of support is in rural America. The sky high dollar was absolutely killing farmers. A weaker dollar helps hold up commodity prices. Bush knows what he is doing, and so does Buffett. They are just looking out for opposing interests.

In Cali, I expect buffett to advise spending cuts. On a state level the important thing is business climate, and state tax and spending policies have no effect on macro issues dear to buffett's heart like the level of the dollar.

[Afronaut]

Arnold cannot become President

[spokeshave]

"Exactly. Hillary recently tried to revive the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy. Arnold makes her look silly. Suddenly, Hillary seems paranoid. Not to mention, the Clinton's are becoming old news. Arnold is the same age as the Clinton's. Compared to Arnold, Bill & Hill look like stodgy old politicians."

Exacamondo...the toons high profile "help" for grey out davis is doomed to failure....and I mean Big PUBLIC Failure.

Add to the schism between bill and schrill who is seeing her CA power base melt away.

Arnie in the guvnors mansion forces the dems to spend a TON of money in '04 that would have gone elesewhere.

Also for '04 can you imagine Dubbya and Arnie fundraising....stand by to double up from $175M to $350M in GOP funds.

[NorseWood]

Taking over the California Goveror's office looks like a nko win situation. there is no way a Republican is going to make much of a difference in the balance of Davis's term. The state legislature is far to socialist. I would rather stand by my principles and let the Democrates take the heat for the mess that California is in. If DAvis somehow was to stay in office he would be under the microscope for every single move he would make over the balance of his term and the GOP could use that as ammunition to get a truely conservative canidate into office following his disaster.

[Eva]

The big struggle is between the Neo-cons and the conservatives in the Senate. It doesn't matter all that much in the individual state contests. California is going be a liberal state, no matter who controls Sacramento.

[steve50]

Fiscally conservative somewhat, socially liberal - almost libertarian.


Nothing libertarian about him. He should fit in well with the compassionate conservatives tho.

[Nonstatist]

I dont know; if you leave Davis in there he wont be able to raise taxes nilly willy. I think Shwarznegger will raise taxes substantially.

[spokeshave]

Arnold cannot become President

Yes ....but Maria can...

That would be a hoot....a female Kennedy in the WH with Arnie as back up.

Would drive schrillary bonkers.

[dawn53]

You beat me to it! I was just about to post the same thing.

[Afronaut]

Now someone is putting the pieces together.

Will Arnold support and help Conservatives or will "follow his conscience" and support his true beliefs in office? After Buffet it should be perfectly clear he is using star power. When is a fund manager an economist? Or an expert in state budget finances? Buffet is a true enemy of any conservative, he is beyond evil. No problem for some though.

[Nonstatist]

In Cali, I expect buffett to advise spending cuts. On a state level the important thing is business climate, and state tax and spending policies have no effect on macro issues

Except California's ability to borrow will be favorably affected if they raise taxes, dont forget.

[Afronaut]

.

[wayoverontheright]

In Cali, I expect buffett to advise spending cuts.

This would be a good thing certainly, do you have any insight on how Buffet might address the current egregious business un-friendly tax and regulatory policies, I know that he was against the repeal of estate taxes which I found to be astounding coming from someone who owes so much to free-market capitalism.

[biblewonk]

Wouldn't it be better to hope to see California continue to fail financially for it's gross liberality on all moral issues since that liberality isn't likely to change, especially with Arnold in charge?

[spokeshave]

I think Arnies choice of Buffet is a STRATEGERY....that is it causes an intense media buzz....throws the dems off focus and diverts their campaign against Arnie in terms of his position on immigrants/nude pics/steroids/smoking pot and any other dirt the dems can rake up.

In effect Arnie dropped a Neutron bomb on the dems and didn't even break a sweat.

The dems are going bezerk right now....I bet schrillary is developing her abs hefting all those weighty ashtrays.

[mike_9958]

He's a Califiornia Republician.... which is of course going to be more liberal if they are expected to win.

The state has 1 million more registered democrats. I think Arnold is playing this perfect.

I think he deserves support... and I think its very wise that Bush stays out. Supporting Arnold in Cal may hurt his chances.

[spokeshave]

It's even worse for the dems....

Who is going to slime Maria Kennedy and her lovely husband...?

I bet Ted Kennedy is keeping a little black book (like the one Dubya has for terrorists) of all those dems that dish Maria.

I bet Torres is in it.

Arnie got the dems by the short and curlies.

[spodefly]

Arnold is a RINO, wired to the core with socially liberal ideals and pedigree.

His statements on policy indicate that he will do nothing to roll back the size of Government, nothing to halt the erosion (especially in CA) of gun rights; he will pander and fawn over socially liberal policies that shove GAY GAY GAY 24/7 down everyone throats, he will continue the Orwellian hate crime/thought crime policies, the intolerant tolerance, the rigid conformity of diversity; and he will do nothing to limit illegal immigration nor their access to services and taxpayer dollars.

Other than having an (R) next to his name, he bears no resemblance in policy, character, and ideals to a Republican, or rather to what Republican used to mean. I suppose that Republicans of today are really just Democrats of 20 years ago. The slide to big government socialism will not slow or alter course one whit under Governor Arnold.

Or maybe he is playing the game to get into office wherein he will suddenly transform into a Reagan republican and surprise us all ...