McClintock Key to Democratic Victory in California

Intellectual Conservative.com ^ | 9/2/3 | Bob Chandra

[socal_parrot]

A Democratic plot to boost Tom McClintock’s candidacy at Arnold Schwarzenegger’s expense has recently come to light.

On paper, the recall election should be a cakewalk for California Republicans. A cursory analysis reveals a governor with an approval rating below Richard Nixon at his low point. The only serious Democrat candidate is the state’s uninspiring lieutenant governor, Cruz Bustamante, who unquestioningly followed Governor Davis through his mishaps with the budget and energy crisis. It should be a breeze for Republicans, right? Think again. Democrats are euphoric over Tom McClintock’s intransigence in continuing his long-shot bid for governor. This allows Democrats to divide and conquer their way into office. Democrats are attempting to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat and Tom McClintock is an essential part of their game plan.

For starters, Democrats know McClintock cannot win. They know that he has ran for statewide office twice before and lost both times. McClintock’s problem is not so much that he’s unknown but that Californians know about him and have rejected his candidacy time and again. Knowing this, a Democrat plot to boost McClintock’s candidacy at Schwarzenegger’s expense has already surfaced. According to the Sacramento Bee’s Daniel Weintraub, “Ever since Cruz Bustamante entered the race, it's been assumed that California's Indian tribes were going to pool their money and do independent expenditures on his behalf, expensive ads that get around the $21,000 limit on contributions. Now I am hearing rumblings that the Indians might think about helping Cruz in a more creative way as well. If they spent, say, $4 million on behalf of state Sen. Tom McClintock, the most conservative Republican in the race, they might pump McClintock's numbers up while hurting Arnold and not harming Cruz a bit. Remember, Cruz needs a split GOP vote to win. That would be one way to get it.” The reliably Democratic Indian tribes, loyal to Bustamante, would essentially throw their weight behind McClintock to chip away at the support of Arnold Schwarzenegger, the GOP front-runner. The Democrat strategy with regard to Tom McClintock is: “If you know you can beat ‘em, join ‘em.”

McClintock is unfazed by this conniving scheme and is more than happy to play along. His actions suggest that he’s willing to make allies with loyal Democratic groups under the logic, the enemy of my enemy (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is my friend. On August 28th, McClintock and Bustamante went together before the California Nations Indian Gaming Association to pledge their support. Needless to say, money will follow. Whether McClintock knows it or not, he’s being used by the Left. If Democrat allies can keep McClintock in the game, they can put a cap on Arnold’s support. A recent Los Angeles Times poll shows Bustamante with 35% of the vote and McClintock with 12%. The poll indicates that McClintock will lose decisively but more importantly, his vote will ensure that GOP front-runner Schwarzenegger loses as well.

It doesn’t have to be this way. McClintock could see the light and do what’s best for the party – as Bill Simon did by bowing out of the race. Other than his new Democratic support, the picture continues to grow bleaker for McClintock. The Washington Post and Sacramento Bee are reporting that there will be a record turnout for the recall election. This invalidates the early calculus by McClintock supporters - that in a low turnout election, grassroots could carry the day. Further, the base is growing more familiar with Schwarzenegger’s conservatism – Arnold came out against partial-birth abortion, against gay marriage, and for a constitutional spending cap.

There comes a time when personal ambition must be set aside and self-affirming but false justifications for one’s candidacy need to be reexamined. If McClintock stays in the California Senate, and assuming Arnold wins the governorship, he and Arnold could play the good-cop/bad-cop routine to perfection, mirroring President Bush and Tom Delay’s efforts at the national level. Additionally, McClintock may be well positioned to challenge Barbara Boxer in next year’s US Senate race. However, if McClintock persists with his spoiler campaign and throws the election to Bustamante, it is doubtful he will have any political capital for a future race.

But assuming things stay the way they are, with McClintock’s help, Bustamante and the Democrats may well pull off an upset of a lifetime on Election Day.

[Jeff Gordon]

Is tarring and feathering still allowed?

If Tommy really does end up Nadering this election, I do believe T&F will be justified.

[TheAngryClam]

And you think that Simon's positions, rather than crap like the fraud judgment and his "I have this photo right here..." stunt, are responsible?

Those are mistakes a first-time candidate makes, and that's what sunk him.

Now, which of the two of us is supporting another untested, unproven, unknown?

[A Broken Glass Republican]

Yeah, I see your point. But I also see the Nader supporters saying basically the same thing when confronted by pi$$ed Gore supporters.

And my contributions to Candidate Bush in 2000 were followed only by my contributions to Nader.

Reality is reality.

[A Broken Glass Republican]

I'll personally work VERY hard to ensure the ruin of his poltical career.

What goes around, comes around.

[Republic If You Can Keep It]

Conservative and moderate Republican voters, with help from independent voters can get McClintock elected..

Riiiiiiiiight.......I can hear the strains of The Mammas & The Papas singing "California Dreamin'"

[heleny]

If it hadn't been for Darrell Issa's money,

That is simply untrue. The recall would have gathered enough signatures without Issa's paid signature gatherers. Perhaps the circulation would have taken longer without Issa's help, in which case the election wouldn't be October 7th, but I saw many more volunteers gathering signatures than paid petitioners.

Total needed: fewer than 0.898 Million
Total collected: about 2.2 Million
Total turned in: about 1.65 Million
Subtotal from Issa's paid petitioners: around 1.2 Million

[PhiKapMom]

You might be surprised as well! Some of those you like to trash that are "True" Republicans are not just people who sit behind a computer and do nothing in elections.

[Wolfstar]

You are right. I overlooked last year's modest pickup — easy to do when we are so deep in a hole in Sacramento that there's only darkness looking up from the bottom.

[JustAnAmerican]

"I ALWAYS support the Republican Party. I am the DEFINITION of a "Broken Glass Republican".

Actually the word that seems to elude your grasp oh ill informed one, is "Red Dog Republican" the opposite of the Dims "Red Dog Democrat".

[Dog Gone]

I'd be curious to hear from a McClintock supporter how he will both overtake Schwarzenegger and get enough votes to defeat Bustamante in the election without Arnold dropping out.

Arnold has captured the electoral middle, without a doubt. All the 25 year old magazine articles won't change that. And he's not dropping out. He has nothing to lose. He'll still be incredibly wealthy and he's never depended on politics to define his career. He doesn't have to live to fight another day.

McClintock cannot possibly win in California without capturing the swing voters in a state that is largely Democrat. Anyone who denies that is wearing XXL blinders.

The swing voters are already in Arnold's pocket, and I'm not sure what he could do to lose them.

[section9]

If what you say is true, then the Rat strategy would be upended by an Arnold/McClintock understanding.

AFTER the State Convention. It is important for the McClintock people to have their issues aired. It is also important for Arnold to shine and convince the convention goers and the throng of media that he is the man. This convention will be tailor made for Arnold: it's a media event. But it is important that an understanding, a la the agreement reached among the Corleones, the Tattaglias, Straci, Cuno, and Barzini after the "Salazzo Business", be reached. I am sure that Arnold is willing to deal. He has been dealing all his life. I also know that Tom holds the high cards and will want concessions in return.

Right now, McClintock is acting like the Razzato Brothers, moving in on Arnold's territory while Davis and Bustamante (the Hyman Roth figures in this drama) beat him up on the other end. Poor Arnold is like Frankie Pantangela here, wondering when George Bush will pick up the phone and play Michael.

Of course, McClintock will end up being Fredo if he plays ball with Tribal and Rat money. And we all know what happened to Fredo. I mean, I'd hate to see what would happen to McClintock's career if he has to have this man as an uninvited guest...

"Gee, Tom. That's a nice political career you have going. I'd hate to see something happen to it..."

Be Seeing You,

Chris

[A Broken Glass Republican]

Before bashing someone as "Ill-informed" you should REALLY make sure you're correct.

It's Yellow Dog Democrats.


LOL!!!

[Reagan Man]

>>>We MUST support Arnold.

This is a new strategy for you DU disruptors. Won't matter. You've been here since 8-25-2003, you support the liberal RINO Arnold Schwarzenegger and your calling conservative Republicans on FreeRepublic, RINO's. Silly boy.

>>>We MUST win!!

Yes, I wouldn't expect anything else from a DU disruptor. Go back where you came from.

Btw, if you look up "RINO" in a political dictionary, you'll see a group shot of Arnold, Susan Collins, Arlen Spector, Olympia Snowe and Lincoln Chaffey. The definition of a RINO, is someone who has an R next to their name, but rarely if ever supports the GOP and its conservative values.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Ah-nold Schwarzmente supporters pontificate on the heavy issues of the day...

Real Republicans "Baaaaahhhh-dd !"

[PhiKapMom]

Your Post #87 -- absolutely correct and I agree!

[FairOpinion]

"No free-thinking, common sense, non-dogmatic, conservative would vote for a selfish, power-mongerer like McClintock. . . "

===

Exactly. I used to give him the benefit of the doubt, but considering that Issa, who financed the recall with his own personal money, and Simon had the decency to drop out for the good of the party, while McClintock insists on staying in, even if that will result in electing not even just any Democrat, but Bustamante, obviously he has the same motivation as Perot: destroy the Republican party from the inside, because they didn't "appreciate" him enough.

Of course, as I have been reading about his past, McClintock has always been an outsider in the Republican party, attacking even Deukmejian, is never willing to compromise or consider anyone else's position, except his own.

I guess, he is willing to self destruct and take California and the Republican party with him.

[pogo101]

*L* James Baker ... I can just picture him, channeling Marlon Brando's lispy Vito Corleone: "What have I ever done ... to have you treat me so disrepectfully?"

[Cultural Jihad]

I figure many of the McClintock supporters would not vote for anyone else in the election anyway. They have their boy running, and that will draw them to the polls. This will assure that the recall succeeds because they will all support the recall. Arnold will not be hurt, and having McClintock to his right makes him more palatable to the liberal Californians.

You are not making any sense. Sure, the "YES on recall" will pass, but this is NOT a primary election. The presence of two GOP candidates will split the vote, handing a PLURALITY victory to Bustamante.

[A Broken Glass Republican]

Yep, There it is. Right on cue.

The big "Distruptor" charge. Simple minds stoop to simple tactics.


You wouldn't know satire if it jumped up and bit you in the McClintock.