The Invigorator

http://www.theamericanprowler.org/article.asp?art_id=2003_8_20_20_58_7 ^ | August.21,2003 | George Neumayr

[Reagan Man]

A distracted celebrity who parachutes into an emergency election on a late-night whim with a political philosophy still under construction resembles a vain elitist more than a populist. "Mobilizing the Machine: Schwarzenegger is harnessing his talent agents and Hollywood contacts to raise funds and rally the electorate," reads a headline in Wednesday's Los Angeles Times.

This is populism? Rob Lowe, whose previous grass-roots experience includes appearing on NBC's West Wing, will lend a hand. So will the Creative Artists Agency. "Candidate Schwarzenegger wants to cast his agents against type as aides in his run for the California governor's seat," says the Times.

Schwarzenegger is lighting his populist prairie fire not at Republican barbecues in Placer County but in his agents' offices in Beverly Hills. This, says the Times, "is part of a broader move to line up Schwarzenegger's Hollywood support team of publicists and entertainment business associates -- many of them Democrats -- behind his Republican bid to replace Gov. Gray Davis." (Meanwhile, Schwarzenegger has blown off grassroots Republican events. One Republican county chairman called Schwarzenegger's campaign for buttons and bumpers sticks to hand out at a fair. "I never heard back. I didn't get a phone call," he told the Times.)

Hollywood handlers, usually asked to stand as a buffer between their star and the encroaching common man, are now a pillar of Schwarzenegger's populist campaign. Bonnie Reiss, a Schwarzenegger campaign organizer working in Hollywood, says without irony: "Because of Arnold and Maria's circle of friends in the entertainment community, the phones have been ringing off the hook…We're following up with all of them to help invigorate the electorate."

Invigorating the electorate? No, Schwarzenegger is invigorating the elite. Normally the scourge of the Republican Party, the Hollywood elite is warming to the idea of a Schwarzenegger governorship. They recognize him as a fellow liberal and regard the "R" after his name as a convenient charade. Peter Bart of Daily Variety chuckled to CNN that he is a "Schwarzenegger Republican." The Times reports that "director-producer Bud Yorkin, a liberal Democrat, said he wouldn't hesitate to vote for Schwarzenegger," and Canadian movie director Ivan Reitman is planning to co-host a fundraiser for him next month.

Schwarzenegger is the sort of Republican Hollywood can let out of the closet -- a Democrat in Republican garb. Hollywood liberals are no doubt thrilled at the chance to help Schwarzenegger turn the state Republican Party into an appendage of their own.

The Schwarzenegger victory superficial Republicans so crave is a victory for liberals. When the Democrats can get Republicans starry-eyed over a de facto Democrat like Schwarzenegger, they have already won. A Republican Party that loses its principles in order to win still loses. Having lost its principles on the way to victory, it will govern without principle, rendering its victory meaningless.

If the California Republican Party believes that no real Republican can win in the state -- this is the argument that many establishment Republicans use to justify a Schwarzenegger run -- then it is declaring itself useless. Why should rank-and-file Republicans give money and support to a state party which just exists to raise the white flag?

Gray Davis, in his non-apology apology on Tuesday, said that the recall is a "right-wing" power grab. Would that it were true. It is more like an establishment liberal power grab. A Bustamante-Schwarzenegger race is akin to a Democratic primary. Bustamante is the liberal Democrat, Schwarzenegger the somewhat more moderate one. Establishment liberals win either way, while Republicans are reduced to cheering for Democratic lite.

Some victory. Schwarzenegger's agents at CAA will have engineered a populist win no more substantial and real than his movies.

[Reagan Man]

Interesting.

[summer]

I agree. Very interesting.

How 12 Editorial Cartoonists View the CA Gov Candidate, ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER

[summer]

From article: Having lost its principles on the way to victory, it will govern without principle, rendering its victory meaningless.

[Reagan Man]

Thanks for posting them. The first one says a lot.

[Prince Caspian]

I've heard this issue argued so many times, it is anything BUT interesting anymore. You know, the whole "stand by your principles / down with RINOs" vs. "political reality / win with incrementalism" argument. Why don't we just refer to the first position as "Position 12B" and the second position as "Position 29A". Maybe everyone can just put a reference to which position they adhere to in their tag line, and then we can all move on to new topics.

[summer]

I disagree. I think it is very important to stand by your principles. Whatever they may be. Without integrity, there is nothing really. Just nothing.

[Prince Caspian]

Almost forgot my tagline...

[Reagan Man]

Sorry you find the issue boring.

This is a conservative political website and the object on this forum is to discuss politics. After all, its not everyday that so-called conservatives are so willing to throw away the vast majority of their principles, in the hope of electing a liberal RINO, Governor of California.

[Prince Caspian]

Discuss away...

12B! NO!-29A! You gotta be kiddin' me - 12B all the way! No way man - 29A for sure! 12B... 29A... 12B... 29A... 12B... 29A..............

Hey, maybe it's just me. Maybe I've got a low boredom threshhold, or something.

[Reagan Man]

Silly boy!

[hotpotato]

This is hilarious! :-)

[nickcarraway]

ping

[nickcarraway]

(Meanwhile, Schwarzenegger has blown off grassroots Republican events. One Republican county chairman called Schwarzenegger's campaign for buttons and bumpers sticks to hand out at a fair. "I never heard back. I didn't get a phone call," he told the Times.)

[FairOpinion]

"The Schwarzenegger victory superficial Republicans so crave is a victory for liberals. "

--

I thought a Bustamante win is a victory for liberals.

[Reagan Man]

Read Arnold's political opinions and then read the GOP party platform. You'll be amazed to find out to what degree Arnold is not a Republican. On social issues Arnold is closer to FatTeddyK then Reagan or PresBush. On economic issues Arnold hasn't proven he's a fiscal conservative, so far. And I doubt he ever will.

[dirtboy]

lishment liberals win either way, while Republicans are reduced to cheering for Democratic lite.

Another fine line from this editorial.

[GatekeeperBookman]

Mr. Limbaugh has kept himself at arm's length from Arnold. He read from this article today.

[GatekeeperBookman]

Integrity, character-there is nothing else.

[daviddennis]

Yes, it is.

But you also have to choose your fights. If we fought over every violation of conservative principles in politics, we'd die of depression before we got out of our teens.

So sometimes you have to pick your fights, and choose which principles are really important to you. Then you have to decide if you have enough in common with a candidate who has potential for victory to vote for him in good conscience.

In Arnold's case, the waters are even muddier because I realize that he has the ability to express his case to the public better than anyone else in the race. He has the ability to attract people to his cause, whatever it is, better than anyone else. So when he says he can cut the budget, I believe him. I believe much less of a non-charismatic figure such as McClintock or Bustamante.

So do I elect someone who agrees with everything I say, but who's unlikely to excite anyone but his base (McClintock), or do I elect someone likely to be EFFECTIVE in pursuing his policies (Arnold)?

As long as Arnold doesn't counteract my primary interest in this election, which is saving the state's hapless budget, I'll vote for him no matter what other views he has.

I think of that as upholding my principles, even though they are partially compromised, by choosing the best man for a very difficult job.

Hope that helps.

D

[DoctorZIn]

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