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.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Baaaaah. No liberal 'Rats, no liberal RINOs, capiche ?

[fieldmarshaldj]

Ask "A Broken Glass Republican" for an expert opinion, Ceej. ;-)

[Tempest]

Sorry, but this whole Valkyrian going down in a blaze of glory and taking the entire party with you mentality is what's making McC earn the title of Crackpot in my eyes.

[A Broken Glass Republican]

That's what I was thinking...

Arnold wins. Has to run again for re-election in 2006 with McClintock running with him (At the same time) as Lt. Gov. McClintock is then a shoe-in, in 2010.

Republican Dynasty.

One can dream. But this is the Stupid Party...

[fieldmarshaldj]

"A Broken Glass Republican Since Aug 25, 2003"

[FairOpinion]

I've heard of "yellow dog" Democrats -- from their own mouths, right on TV, meaning they will vote for a yellow dog, as long as it's running as a Democrat.

[pogo101]

You certainly have a lot of pictures of sheep. My pictures tend to be of family and friends. Hmm.

[section9]

Oh, I get it now.

McClintock has taken tribal money for years. So it won't look bad when the Tribes start ladling Rat money into McClintock's coffers. McClintock can say, "No, I'm not Cruz Bustamante's' b*t*h! Why, I've been giving aid to the Tribes for years!"

When in fact, McClintock is taking money from people whose only interest is to see their stooge, Bustamante, elected.

As another poster said, time to send in Clemenza to have a sit down with Fredo....

PRESIDENT BUSH: "Why don't you cut the crap? I got more important things for you to do. How's Tom McClintock?"

JIM BAKER, CONSIGLIERE: "Aw, Tom? Won't see him no more."

Be Seeing You,

Chris

[Tamzee]

And if the left were so left, why are they fawning all over McClintock?

And if our "true Republicans" were such true Republicans, why are they constantly shouting the DNC talking points?

And if "principled conservatives" are principled conservatives, why do they use the same attack methods as the commies?

So MANY questions, so little time ;-)

[Cultural Jihad]

I hate the Democrats and the failed butcher Bustamante, but McC's presence in a race he can't win but could spoil has me mad as hell. That doesn't serve the party or the people in any way CJ. I find that the hardest issue to ignore.

Let's give the good Senator a little more time. I suspect that he is being asked to stay in for a spell, but if his numbers do not catch up with Arnolds then he will leave. Tom is not stupid, and I doubt he wants to start looking for his first private sector job.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Just hate them Republicans, doncha ?

[fieldmarshaldj]

"You appear to be agitating for Republican LOSS in the election."

Nope. I support the Republican in the race, Tom McClintock.

[Cultural Jihad]

Your continued posting of the sign-on date of someone else can be construed as abusive.

[TheAngryClam]

Want to bet?

I've been publicly saying that on FR for a while.

[A Broken Glass Republican]

Yes.

He called me "Ill-informed" and said I've got my name wrong. I should be called a "Red Dog Republican". Of course he meant "Yellow Dog Republican" as the opposite of what you had described.

The joke was...I don't think there is such a thing a "Red Dog Democrat"???

LOL!! Irony.

[FairOpinion]

More on McClintock:

===
Apparently he has always been an "outsider" in the Republican party, because of his unwillingness to compromise over anything. It's his way or the highway, which are not exactly the right characteristics for a governor, nor does he seem to be someone who would lift a finger for the party -- or California for that matter. He very much reminds me of Perot: all ego, the heck with the wellfare of the nation or state.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/974057/posts?page=73#73

"Even within his own Republican Party, state Sen. Tom McClintock has always been an outsider, consigned to counting his victories indirectly -- as the instigator of ideas that catch on later, usually with someone else's name attached.

As governor, he says, he would bypass the deadlocked Legislature, if necessary, to balance the budget through executive order and ballot initiative.

McClintock knows many of his proposals are not popular. But the tart-tongued, abrasive state senator has never been a consensus builder. He has taken shots at what he sees as excessive spending by both parties for two decades.

He criticized Republican Gov. George Deukmejian regularly on a variety of issues. For a decade, he has railed against Republican Pete Wilson for imposing "the biggest tax increase in American history" when he was governor.

Some arguments between McClintock and Wilson were so strong, legislators who attended the Republican strategy sessions said they watched in awe.

He so angered Wilson that the governor opposed McClintock's first bid for state controller in 1994, drying up campaign contributions, said Tony Quinn, a Republican strategist in Sacramento for three decades.

"Everything in McClintock's career has turned out to be a cul-de-sac: He drives in, and there's nowhere to go," Quinn said.


====

http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/news/6655233.htm

McClintock refuses to get out of the way

Ross Perot comparison

McClintock is being labeled an underfunded revolutionary, with only a pitchfork facing cannons. And he is being likened to Ross Perot, whose 1992 run for president threw the race to Bill Clinton, many Republicans believe.

Being a target is nothing new for McClintock, who has roiled the waters of Sacramento politics almost since he joined the Assembly in 1982 at age 26. He has run two failed races for state controller, barely losing last year to former eBay executive Steve Westly.

He is ``the only politician I know who's been cussed out by both Gray Davis and Pete Wilson,'' said Assemblyman Ray Haynes, R-Temecula, a Sacramento colleague and friend. ``He's the North Star for conservatives, but he's not a great consensus-builder.''

.....

Few believe McClintock will drop out. It is not his style, say those who know him well

[fieldmarshaldj]

Only stupid parties nominate liberals.

[heleny]

Has to run again for re-election in 2006 with McClintock running with him

In 2006, Bustamante, Lockyer, and Angelides will likely run for governor. Shelley may run. Westly might, too, if the economy has improved. Even if Schwarzenegger wins this time, his reelection is uncertain; if he goofs up as governor, he dooms the Republican party.

The Lt.Gov position is pretty meaningless. Davis used to be LtGov, but he was also a former Controller.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Snapshots of the RINO Ah-nold supporters in the thread. You might recognize 'em ? ;-)

[Scott from the Left Coast]

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 have the truth of it. I have said that I don't think McClintock hurts Arnold all that much, yeah, there's drain there but it's at the marginal levels and could be considered decisive if the election (between Bustamante and Arnold) were exceedingly close.

I certainly could get close as the Democrats come home, but I think it unlikely to get that close -- unless Arnold stumbles badly on his own (no amount of sleaze stories are going to hurt Arnold with his particular base -- which is the moderate Republican/Independent/Democrat-who-will-tolerate-conservative-fiscal-policy voters sitting smack dab in the middle of the California electorate).

The McClintock voters are only a big deal if the race is razor thin, because Arnold would only ever get a fraction of them that far on the right anyway. If that fraction made a difference...then it would hurt. But I don't think we can say at this point that the race will come down to such fine margins (1 percent or 2 or so). If it looks that way very late, then there would still be time for McClintock to cut a deal in exchange for support. Arnold will only get a modest slice of those votes though, even with an endorsement.