McClintock Facing Republican Threats?

Belly of the Beast Blog ^ | August 24, 2004 | Eric Hogue

[Roscoe]

Arnold's support is shrinking and McClintock's support is growing.

You don't expect Arnold and his "advisers" to take responsibility for that, do you?

[McGavin999]

As Jim Robinson himself pointed out, Schwarzenegger is the Perot in this race.

Hmmmm, I don't recall Perot ever being the leader in any poll.

[McGavin999]

In May 1995 Tom McClintock was working on this document detailing his proposals to save the State of California over 11 billion dollars.

So he's been pushing his ideas since 1995 and still hasn't managed to accomplish it. That shows you what he'll be able to do after he's elected. If he hasn't been able to get his ideas across in 8 years, then he has little chance of doing it after he's elected and become target No. 1.

[beckett]

I guarantee you that head to head Arnie, a household name for decades, could take McClintock, a virtual unknown before this past month, in Thousand Oaks or anywhere else in Orange County, let alone the rest of the state.

Delude yourself all you want. You will never get the opportunity to address Tom McClintock as "Governor." The Perot in this race is McClintock.

[Roscoe]

Really? How do you "guarantee" it?

"C'mon. He can call for reducing taxes. If he admits that Californians are being punished by high taxes, why shouldn't he call for some relief? Like I said the other day, he reminds me of Ross Perot. He sees all the problems, but has no solutions. Gonna get a bunch of people under the hood and study the problem. Hell, the problem is too much government. The solution is to get the government the hell out of the way. Conservatives know this instinctively. Less government. Less spending. Less taxes. It aint rocket science." --Jim Robinson

[Roscoe]

So he's been pushing his ideas since 1995 and still hasn't managed to accomplish it.

Who do you think got the car tax cut?

[RonDog]

Depends on the smog levels. From 35% down to 22% would seem to be a decline.
Or were you using NewMath?

LOL!

Sorry for the personal attack.

You are correct, though.

I am using the "new math" of "non-traditional" voters who will vote for Arnold in MASSIVE NUMBERS.

These "non-traditional" voters may not have voted very often in the past, and are probably "under the radar" of most traditional polls.

Personally, I like Tom's IDEAS.

I am just concerned that he cannot WIN - outside of the comfortably gerrymandered district that allows him to remain in the state Senate - where he has done wonderful things.

Remember that just last year he LOST - in a state-wide election - to a political neophyte with lots of money...

And that loss was without the withering attack that would come from the Davis slime machine, if they ever decided that Tom has a PRAYER of winning.

Tom McClintock has a major role to play in California, but GOVERNOR is not it.

[Roscoe]

I don't recall Perot ever being the leader in any poll.

PerotII is trailing Cruz.

[Roscoe]

I am using the "new math" of "non-traditional" voters who will vote for Arnold in MASSIVE NUMBERS.

Pinning your hopes on low propensity voters?

[McGavin999]

Didn't last did it? Isn't everyone up in arms over the tripling of the car tax?

Besides, big deal, it's going to take more than lowering the car tax to get California out of it's problems. What are Tom's connections to the big money corporate world, how's he planning on bringing those big boys to California? How is Tom going to get free face time to convince the people of Cali when he needs something done? Do you really think he can get the face time that Arnold can?

Who are his connections in the bond market? Where are his long time ties to the financial community?

[McGavin999]

So, which member of his own party is he trailing?

[Bernard Marx]

The only way to gain name-recognition statewide is to run for office and do all the talking-head shows, newspaper interviews, etc. I have every confidence that at the appropriate time (if the polls indicate it) Tom will stand aside in favor of the candidate most likely to win.

At the same time he'll have gained a lot more name recognition and his ideas will be in play. Think of how many times Reagan had to stand for office before he was finally elected. It's an incremental game. I think Tom will run as hard as he can for as long as he can. If he withdraws I have every hope he'll hold Arnold's feet to the fire to gain every conservative concession possible in return for his endorsement.

[JoeSchem]

McClintock has no chance of winning.

In Mein Kampf, Hitler said that the more uncertain someone is of a certain political point, and the more unable one is to back up his view with hard facts, the more he should declare with absolute certainty that his view is correct.

Glad to see you didn't slack when you were assigned to read passages from Mein Kampf in high school history class.

[Roscoe]

Didn't last did it?

It was illegally increased without a vote in the legislature. Even Arnold has finally gotten around to saying that he would repeal the increase, now that his handlers have decided what he should think on that issue.

[Roscoe]

So, which member of his own party is he trailing?

This is a recall, not a primary. Read a book.

[beckett]

Jim Robinson's Perot analogy for Arnie applies to what Robinson sees as the emerging Schwarzenegger campaign strategy. He may have a somewhat valid point, but the analogy falls apart at the crucial comparison -- the polls. Perot was a never anywhere near as strong a contender for the office he sought as Arnie is for Governor of California.

I frankly I admit I am not a purist in politics. I subscribe to an old and honored strategy of practical politics -- compromise -- because I believe politics is the art of the possible, not the imposition of perfection.

[RonDog]

Pinning your hopes on low propensity voters?

I would PREFER to count on loyal California conservatives switching from Tom the "ideal" candiadate to Arnold the candidate that can actually WIN, but yes, I am counting on the great masses of average frustrated traditionally non-politcal Californians to provide the margin of victory for Arnold - with or wothout the assistance of the rebel activists who right now appear to favor purity over VICTORY.

But, I truly believe that when "push comes to shove" - in the final stages of this strange election, Tom McClintock will direct his loyal supporters to "do the right thing" and vote for Arnold.

[Roscoe]

Arnold the candidate that can actually WIN

Repeating it doesn't make it so.

[Roscoe]

He may have a somewhat valid point, but the analogy falls apart at the crucial comparison -- the polls. Perot was a never anywhere near as strong a contender for the office he sought as Arnie is for Governor of California.

Historical revisionism? Actually, he was stronger.

The Gallup poll taken in early June 1992 showed Perot at 39 percent, with George Bush at 32 and Bill Clinton at 24 percent.