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]

Yes, a lot of it comes from the frustration of not getting what they want. It is childish and infantile and immature and irresponsible. What can we do as likely victors to help smooth their transition to maturity? It is certainly worth the effort, as we need to win, and also we need to separate out the wolves who have come here to throw salt into the wounds, so to speak.

[fieldmarshaldj]

"Speaking as someone who's somewhat "on the fence" about Arnold vs. Tom (check my posting history for a week or so if you wish), I can say I've witnessed about double the number of smarta** posts like yours from McClintock folks as the number of them from Arnold folks."

Apparently you haven't been reading enough. The ad hominem attacks in this thread towards my side have been astounding. I've already had 2 posts pulled for sheer personal hatred/obsceneness against me in this thread alone. This is the calibre of the people supporting a leftist RINO.

[Torie]

Thanks for the ping. Overall this is a quite awful thread, generating more heat than light. Folks are just nervous. I suspect it will all work out. I am perhaps one of the few serene Freepers around (perhaps the only one) on this matter. The candidates are under tremendous time compressed pressure. I think any suggestion of McClintock dropping out, until the fallout of Arnold foreclosing more than just one debate (on talk radio I heard that in that one "debate" questions will be submitted to the candidates two days in advance; wazzup with that?), and his performance in that one debate (did he show that adequately prepared with the presubmitted questions?), is probably foolish from an overall Pubbie standpoint. Having said that, I hope that McClintock and Arnold don't trash each other too much (and I am quite confident they will not on a personal level).

Arnold seems to be under tight handling by Drier. Maybe a wiser strategy would be to just let Arnold be Arnold, just let him to do it in all the debates, and let the chips fall where they may. Folks will forgive Arnold not being a technocrat, if he is quick on his feet, shows a sense of humor, and has a reasonable overall vision for dealing with California's fiscal house of cards, with at least some detail as to how he will approach the tough tradeoffs.

[fieldmarshaldj]

...2 posts pulled written TO me, not from me (in case I was misunderstood).

[Reagan Man]

I don't give a rats arse what they think about over at DU. I don't believe their even capable of thinking.

Criticising and challenging your political opponent, is a time honored American tradition. Don't get this centuries old tradition, confused with mindless insults that come from mindless people.

My objective is to see conservatism triumph over liberalism. May be I'm wearing out that phrase in some people's opinion. In my opinion, that phrase says it all. Like good versus evil. Right versus wrong. Yanks versus Red Sox's.

If Arnold came out of the gate, supporting a strong dose of fiscal conservatism for California, he would have had little problem with most conservative Republicans. He didn't do that and has paid the price.

[TatieBug]

Exactly right. We all think McClintock would do a fantastic job as Governor and will not knock him for being conservative in any way...BUT...he can't WIN. If he stays in and we lose, it will be so devastating to the Party work-a-bees that winning a state wide election any time soon would just be impossible. I'm anything but a downer person but I'm tired of trying so hard and losing. Arnold is a new kind of a guy with lots of new ideas, I hope, and I really hope these people will reconsider and give him a shot at this very difficult job.

[ArneFufkin]

Michael Medved handed him his head so many times, I thought it was a ping pong tournament.

LOL.

Habs, I did catch his insane little messianic rant here the other day. Hence, my interest in his - let's call it inauspicious - appearance on Medved today.

This process is interesting, because it is really just a beta run for when our handful of Brigader Life Losers (with truckloads of screen names) unleash their assault on Bush next year. They'll rally behind Tancredo, or some other unelectable druid, just to start sh*t and assert their conservative moral authority over all others on FR. They're useless dweebs.

[pogo101]

You have your story, I have my experiences. Meanwhile, keep up what you're doing. If your "count" is correct, you're helping to even the score. Congrats.

[Torie]

What has McClintock said to "panic" moderates as it were? This "moderate" who supports him would really like to know. I am more panicked by someone who can't add, or refuses to add, or if he or she does add, refuses to reveal the bottom line, and just dissembles.

[Torie]

You are not an abuse button pusher are you? I never hit the abuse button regarding any post the animus of which is directed to me. That is my inflexible policy.

[Kevin Curry]

You're a tin-plated boob, CJ. Never thought I'd say that, but you do not have the courage of your convictions. You're pathetic.

You have the depth of milk-mold.

Good-bye.

[FairOpinion]

"What can we do as likely victors to help smooth their transition to maturity?"

===

If Arnold wins anyway, I am willing to try, although the more I read, the less hope I can cling to that it's possible to reach them.

But if Bustamante wins, because of their petulant, selfish behavior, a lot of Republicans, myself included won't feel very forgiving and charitable towards them.

They already gave us Clinton twice, by voting for Perot, gave us the reelection of Davis, by insisting on nominating an unelectable conservative, and they still haven't learned, they insist on snatching defeat out of the jaws of victory, yet again.

The race between Arnold and Bustamante is VERY CLOSE and these conservative votes may really make the difference and deliver the governorship to Bustamante.

[Cultural Jihad]

That's a shame you feel that way, Kevin, and feel you have to personalize political differences during this special election. I certainly expected better from you, and will continue to hold you to a higher standard than you apparently hold yourself to now.

[LdSentinal]

MNF doesn't start until Thursday?

Monday Night Football on a Thursday?

This is freaking me out.

[B Knotts]

Uh oh...as unfathomable as this may seem to you, you may have just been relegated to the ranks of the "ultra right." :-)

[fieldmarshaldj]

"Incrementalism towards moving further right, braintrust."

That doesn't happen under RINOs, ma'am.

"California has been far to polarized by the media here to elect a Tom McClintock anytime soon."

So then why isn't Tom Campbell a Senator or Bruce McPherson Lieutenant-Governor ? If CA is so "polarized", how is it that McClintock received a much higher number of votes than them ?

"A moderate like Arnold"

Hillary ? Ah-nold is not moderate, and your repeated fraudulent usage of that term continues to undermine what little credibility you have left. Pro-abortion, anti-2A, pro-expansionist of gubmint, pro-gay special rights, ain't moderate, ma'am.

"will be able to dispell a lot of the myths and prejudice that is levied against conservatives and the Republican party."

Dispell a myth that we don't elect hard-left drug abusers that have "outercourse" with underage girls and group sex with his musclehead buddies ? How 'bout ones who pontificate on racial supremacy on par with David Duke ? Yeah, it sure will dispell a lot of myths that we're not as pathetic as the 'Rats to nominate cretins of this calibre !

"Rudy Guilliani and John McCain are two others which have been very high profile and succesful at dispelling these myths and even though you may or may not consider them to be "RINOs" they have not dilluted the conservative platform in any manner even with their popularity."

Giuliani started out a quintessential RINO (remember he did endorse Cuomo for reelection !) but "grew" a bit in office, but I wouldn't endorse him for a Senate seat and would be very reluctant to endorse him for the Governorship, as he would have to deal with social issues he's clearly wrong on that would be destructive. He's better dealing with "law and order" as a Mayor. As for McCain, he's done scarcely anything to further the AZ GOP (indeed, as we speak, he's openly sabotaging the LONE Republican in the Phoenix Mayor's race) and showed his true character with the stunt he pulled in MI in '00 by utilizing 'Rat-style fraud to take that state's Presidential primary. He's a megalomaniac who is a menace to the party.

"Heck some of you nuts have even been refering to Sean Hannity as a RINO lately which he obviously isn't. He just DOESN'T AGREE WITH YOU and if you were a stable person and were capable of coping and dealing with that fact. You'd realize that winning takes strategy along with will."

You're getting me confused with someone else, I've never mentioned Hannity or the like. If he supports Ah-nold, he's plain wrong, same with Medved. It's that simple.

[Torie]

Shreading friendships over disagreements is very sad. Be good to your troop, as Peggy Noonan once said, even if sometimes you must disagree in a caring and loving manner. That's my motto. The poster with whom I am closest on this forum has taken off on a direction with which I dissent to a fair degree on that Moore affair. We can both handle it, and do, in part from my standpint because the other chap has done a hell of a lot more research than I have, and thus I really don't want to mess with the chap anyway, until I have more time (which I don't now), to deal with it all. The other chap handles it because he is a fundamentally decent and fair human being. That is all I ask of anyone.

[LdSentinal]

This Freeper civil war is getting nastier every day -- and, yes, both sides are at fault. OTOH, it's nothing like the civil war last December about Trent Lott. That was a hundred times more vicious.

Seriously, Arnold should not be worried about McClintock at the moment. I'm not saying this because I am a McClintock supporter, but that Arnold's voters are being taken by Uberroth, who polled 6% in the last poll. They're both moderate Republicans (yes, even the Austrian) that appeal to the Denise Brown-wing of the Republican party. Arnold supporters should first target Uberroth and make him drop out of the race before they target McClintock.

[Reagan Man]

>>>If [Hannity] supports Ah-nold, he's plain wrong, same with Medved. It's that simple.

Bravo!

[B Knotts]

You make a good point. Ueberroth would surely be drawing from the same voter pool as Schwarzenegger. I really doubt that Schwarzenegger could ever hope to pick up more than about a quarter of McClintock's support. There is too much of a philosophical difference between the two, as evidenced here quite vividly.