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.

[Cultural Jihad]

Thanks for the ping. A recent member does not make one a troll. I haven't seen any trollish behavior by that individual, have you? All I see is someone who is politely advocating for who he honestly sees as the best electable candidate.

[heleny]

But the larger story is what Issa did after he spent a million dollars to help make possible a race he was destined not to enter. He stepped down for the good of his party.

Issa knew he couldn't win. He polled lower than Simon, McClintock, Schwarzenegger, and Riordan, and Issa had high negative ratings because Davis was already demonizing Issa. He also appeared to be hijacking a grassroots project by buying into it many weeks after it started.

[Yossarian]

Liberal newbie trolls agree, RINO Ah-nold Bustaschwarzenkennedy is their man. Get lost, troll. This is a REPUBLICAN forum.

Oh brother - this is getting really pathetic!

Look, I don't like some of Arnold's positions, and some of his advisors. But he's showing he can build enough of a consensus to win - and that's exactly what he'll need to do to lead once elected.

Compare this to McClintock and his, ah, promoters here on this forum. He has the ideas I like, but he can't build an effective team. That's really sad for the conservative cause, and I hope he learns from this experience.

As for those that want to treat fellow Republicans in the incredibly rude and bullying manner as I've seen here, I'll remind you of

Ronald Reagan's 11th Commandmant!

I'm just somewhat glad Ron can't really fathom what is happening to the party he led just a few decades ago....

[A CA Guy]

It's either going to be Arnold ot Bustamante, the others could be spoilers, but at best are also-rans.

[jmstein7]

Woah. McClintock is no Reagan.

[Cultural Jihad]

Please let us know when you or McClintock decide to attack Democrats instead of Republicans.

[TheAngryClam]

You're wrong. Arnold will come in third. Mark my words.

[fieldmarshaldj]

A recent member does not make one a troll, no. This recent member make a troll he is, yes.

[Tamzee]

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

Well, thank you kindly :-) I've been in awe of some of yours!

/note to self... stay on PhiKapMom's GOOD side...

[PeoplesRep_of_LA]

Wow, August 25, 2003? Now was his old name "68 grunt" or was it "CarmetyVillie"?

Did you hear (R)nold on John and Ken just now stammer so bad on tax policy that he hung up on the largest audience during drive time after 6 minutes. Please come back from the dark side. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/974788/posts

[pogo101]

Another "compromise pact" scenario is:

1. After a hard but not vicious campaign through late September, Arnold agrees privately with McClintock that, if McClintock drops/endorses, he (McClintock) shall be Arnold's budget director, with extensive independence -- i.e., he is not just some Arnold appointee or flunky.

2. McClintock agrees, and drops/endorses, but makes it very clear that he will continue to speak out against wasteful spending AND unfair taxes, even if such is not the position of the Arnold "administration" ... and that he's ONLY agreed to drop/endorse because he has been assured of such independence. Arnold reiterates that, yes, Tom would be an independent budget director and that he (Arnold) wants Tom's penny-pinching expertise, even if it's tough to hear.

3. Recall succeeds. On successor ballot, Arnold wins, but not by much, over Cruz.

4. State economy turns around between '03 and '06. McClintock gets much of the credit. Grateful GOP party apparatus ("grateful" for his having bowed out in recall race, plus his aid in transforming the state thereafter) makes clear to would-be GOP gubernatorial contenders that Tom Has The Pary's Full Support Whenever He Chooses To Run.

5. McClintock serves two glorious terms as governor, '06-'14, transforming the state into a model for efficient growth, and ushering in GOP dominance in the Legislature for the first time in decades.

[fieldmarshaldj]

"Ronald Reagan's 11th Commandmant!"

Ah-nold is not a Republican.

[jmstein7]

Yeah. . . except for the fact that letting the Dems have the Governor's Mansion in '04 gives them a BIG pulpit from which to bash Bush and the GOP. Even putting a RINO in there deprives them of that sniper's nest -- and it's a BIG sniper's nest.

[A CA Guy]

Just think, McNadertock can at best muster a third of Arnold's vote.

[heleny]

Bust-a-move is out in 2004? 2006? via term-limits.

You aren't from CA, I gather.

[Cultural Jihad]

Nice troll image you posted. Apparently holocaust survivors are simply to be used to score cheap political points by McClintock's trollish goons. Shame on you.

[NewsGal]

Amen.

Do you know what the poll results are on FR on this issue. I just voted but could not locate the percentages.

Hopefully, California Republicans, Independents, and Democrats will do they right thing and vote for Arnold.

[PhiKapMom]

How are you going to advance a conservative agenda if you continue to support candidates that allow DemocRATs to win?

There were 10 Republican Senators on impeachment that didn't feel it was the right charges against Clinton. But then I think he should have been brought up on treason and that the Monicagate was all a scam to cover-up China and the real treason.

Guess you put Fred Thompson in the liberal category since he didn't vote for both articles of impeachment.

Actually I thought the way the impeachment of clinton was handled was an embarrassment as well. The House members were left high and dry! Senators saw the handwriting on the wall that the evidence made no difference to the RATs, they would never vote to remove. The RATs wanted a full blown trial so they could use it on Republicans in 2000! The Senators didn't take the bait but yet get dumped on here by people that voted for Perot in some instances in 1992 to teach Republicans a lesson. The real culprit in impeachment was allowing the Clintons to turn it into a sex only deal which doomed impeachment from the beginning.

Why would I expect some of you to understand that either? I keep hearing that it was President Bush's fault in 1992 that allowed Perot to take away so many votes and gave us Clinton. Guess Carville meeting with Perot's Lt's had nothing to do with it. Clinton's people praised Perot as well. See any similarity -- I have my doubts you do!

[Reagan Man]

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

You can't see, but I'm laughing. Laughing at your silly whinings. Hahahahahahaha

And I do believe you're a disruptor, from DU or one of the other anti-FReeper websites. You've been here for eights days and you know all about the term disruptor. I'd venture a guess, this isn't the first time you've nailed for what you really are.