Schwarzenegger Stumbles, But Can Still Recover

GOPUSA ^ | August 18, 2003 | Carol Devine-Molin

[GOPBlonde]

The Schwarzenegger campaign has made a significant blunder - a miscalculation that has caused considerable consternation among the ranks of the GOP. Choosing financier Warren Buffett to head-up Schwarzenegger's economic team has sent precisely the wrong message to Republican voters. Not surprisingly, Republican challenger Bill Simon is initiating radio commercials that will capitalize on Arnold's misstep.

Buffett suggested that property taxes be raised in California, which is considered anathema to the conservative GOP crowd that holds the Reaganesque dictum, "Thou shall raise no taxes" as sacred and inviolate. This is hardly hyperbole. We all know that breaking his "no new tax" pledge was the undoing of Bush senior in 1992. It's not unusual for a Republican to remind with a smile that we (the GOP) were placed on this planet for the purpose of lowering taxes.

In a state where the GOP is slipping and sliding toward the fate of the dodo bird, many pragmatic Republicans were willing to endorse Schwarzenegger's gubernatorial candidacy predicated upon his fiscal conservatism and star-power appeal. They were inclined to give Schwarzenegger a considerable pass on his Left-leaning social philosophy (views that are notably widespread in California) if he stayed true-blue to the basic tenets of Reaganomics with tax-cutting at the forefront. Of course, the GOP is painfully aware that Democrats have a formidable 1.4 million voter registration advantage over Republicans in California.

But when Arnold's campaign selected Warren Buffett as its economic pointman, a liberal Democrat cogently opposed to tax-cutting in general and Bush tax cuts in particular, it managed to alienate numerous Republicans in one fell swoop. Mr. Buffett is considered a sage when it comes to investing, but he's certainly not an expert on state fiscal policy and its attending political implications,

[RJCogburn]

The California show just gets better and better.

[GOPBlonde]

Are the Clintons going out there?

[PGalt]

Buffett can't wait to sit down at the "tax and spend" buffet. Is he wasting away in taxandspendaville? What a buffoon!

[LS]

If he even hints at raising taxes, as the Drudge Report suggests, then he isn't as smart as I thought he was.

[drstevej]

Arnold and Warren and Rob...

Oh my!

[goldstategop]

Arnold was quoted as saying in San Jose Mercury Sunday he and Buffett had reached an understanding to the effect that Arnold remains committed to Prop. 13 and Buffett's advice in the future is strictly in house, like with the rest of Arnold's advisers. Every one has to be a team player. And if Buffett's not going along with the program, sooner or later he'll be quietly shown the door.

[goldstategop]

Think of it as a Made In Hollywood production...

[drstevej]

***Think of it as a Made In Hollywood production... ***

Ishtar II ???

[G.Mason]

Nothing like a little exposure to the elements to take the gleam off base metal.

[goldstategop]

LOL!!! We'll find out soon enough if Arnold has more than just star power and good looks.

[RJCogburn]

Is he wasting away in taxandspendaville?

Some people say there's a deficit to blame, but Warren knows it's his own damn fault.

[drstevej]

He ought to go on a "listening tour," worked for Hildabeast. THe less he says, the better his chances.

[ClearCase_guy]

And if Buffett's not going along with the program, sooner or later he'll be quietly shown the door.

Or not so quietly. Wouldn't it be a great tactic to suck Buffett in for awhile, then fire him with great fanfare and announce, "Warren wanted to increase the tax burden of California residents. I terminated him. Taxes will not go up while I am governor."

It would get lots of press, and probably attract a lot of voters.

[Gabrielle Reilly]

read later.

[Seeking the truth]

I believe Schwartzeneggerbots should really question his judgement as CEO of the fifth largest economy in the world.

His two biggest decisions thus far were deciding to run. We all remember the absurdity that was. The blindsiding of everyone who was working for him who believed he was not going to run and then his announcing on Jay Leno (and shortly beforehand) that he would run.

Next came the Buffet fiasco. Everyone, with the exception of Ahnold, knew Buffet for what he is. Mr. Berkshire Hathaway didn't dissapoint. He behaved according to form - a liberal dem.

In the corporate world, Ahnold might already be explaining himself to the BOD for such strange, muddled poor decision making.

George Schulz ???? Wasn't he SOS? What does that have to do with Economic Recovery Team?

Rob Low ??? Nuff said.

Sorry, from the getgo, I didn't buy the PR and now his own actions/inactions buttress my initial impression.

"Eine Leere Flasche" This is a perjorative term in German, which means literally, an empty bottle or in Americanese, an empty suit - Ahnold understands this term.

[Treebeard]

I'm tellin ya, it's gonna beat any Reality TV show currently going. It's just fun to watch from a distance as a giant machine tears itself apart from its own poor design.

[Noumenon]

Let's see - a candiadate who is

Anti-gun
pro-abortion
wants to raise taxes

tell me again why I want to vote for someone who opposes everything I believe in...

[DoctorZIn]

PING!

Join Us for a Complete Listing of All The Recall Threads.

[McGavin999]

And just how many of these rumors have been started by the Davis campaign? Remember what he did to Roidan? The conservatives ate it up and pushed Simon who ran the worst campaign in history. They're about to fall into Grey's trap once again.