National Review: WHY NOT MCCLINTOCK?

National Review Magazine ^ | Sep. 29 issue, 03 | NR Editors

[churchillbuff]

From Sep 29 issue of NR Magazine: Why Not McClintock? Recall facts.

By NR Editors

ast year, California governor Gray Davis vetoed a measure to let illegal immigrants have driver’s licenses, calling it a security threat. This year, he is pandering to Hispanic voters in order to defeat a recall election brought on by his own misgovernance. So he has signed the measure. Arnold Schwarzenegger, the leading Republican candidate to replace Davis, opposed it. (Nobody seems to be advocating the appropriate solution, which is that the illegals be given free rides, back to Mexico.) But Schwarzenegger is still offering little to conservatives — except, now, insults. He came out against Ward Connerly’s Racial Privacy Initiative, which would keep the state government from collecting data on race.

That’s disappointing, but there are honorable opponents of the initiative. What is less excusable is Schwarzenegger’s labeling of its supporters as “right-wing crazies.” The only candidate in the race who isn’t pandering is conservative Tom McClintock. Schwarzenegger skipped a debate with the other candidates in order to avoid giving a spotlight to McClintock. This was wise: The more people hear from McClintock, the more they will understand that he has convictions and knows how the state government should be run. McClintock points out that Schwarzenegger refuses to pledge not to raise taxes — and that it takes a Republican governor to raise taxes in California. We know that McClintock is currently behind Schwarzenegger in the polls. But we also know that if elected, McClintock would fight the spenders and taxers in Sacramento. About Arnold Schwarzenegger we know no such thing.

[SunStar]

"And on Sunday, the LA Times reported that Robert F. Kennedy Jr., cousin of his wife and an environmental extremist, is Mr. Schwarzenegger's new point man on the politics of logging and global warming."

[South40]

Tom Mcclintock receives an important position in the bustamante administration.

"Can I get you anything else, Governor Bustamante?"

[ambrose]

But Schwarzenegger is still offering little to conservatives ? except, now, insults. He came out against Ward Connerly?s Racial Privacy Initiative, which would keep the state government from collecting data on race. That?s disappointing, but there are honorable opponents of the initiative. What is less excusable is Schwarzenegger?s labeling of its supporters as ?right-wing crazies.?

[dalebert]

I honestly think Arnold can pull more votes. If McClintock stays in the pubbie ticket will be split and the Dems win. Who knows maybe things will turn around. I will wait and see.

[churchillbuff]

Dang those stubborn people at National Review for not getting with the program. They pulled the same numbskull stunt back in the 70s by supporting Reagan in GOP primaries, even after the moderates TOLD THEM he was a right wing loon and couldn't get elected. Guess NR will never learn.

[churchillbuff]

Dang those stubborn people at National Review for not getting with the program. They pulled the same numbskull stunt back in the 70s by supporting Reagan in GOP primaries, even after the moderates TOLD THEM he was a right wing loon and couldn't get elected. Guess NR will never learn.

[strela]

Tom'd make a great pool boy in the Bustamante household. He'd really be good at sucking those dead leaves right out of the filter.

[marron]

I'm not suicidal, and I intend to make my vote count on election day.

And I can understand Arnold positioning himself to attract Dem voters to cross over.

But I always wanted to persuade them, not simply pander to them. There will never be a better time to make our case than right now, when the Dems have driven the state to its knees, and even they know it.

A good percentage of Dems are prepared to vote for recall of Davis, and it would make no sense to recall Davis and replace him with another of the same ilk, who will implement the very same policies. But while Arnold is the most attractive personality in the race, in terms of his cross-over appeal, he is the least able to articulate the changes that have to be made. He is another Bloomberg, who adopts a Republican tag without fully understanding the underlying philosophy.

Until I heard McClintock speak I was going to vote Arnold, and that was the end of it. But having heard both of them, I am very impressed with Tom, and I am going to give him the benefit of the doubt. Come election day, I will have to consider the practicalities of getting Davis and his lieutenant governor out of office. But its hard to see what will be gained by replacing them with someone who will not know what to do, and will mismanage the state as a Republican.

[churchillbuff]

Dang those stubborn people at National Review for not getting with the program. They pulled the same numbskull stunt back in the 70s by supporting Reagan in GOP primaries, even after the moderates TOLD THEM he was a right wing loon and couldn't get elected. Guess NR will never learn.

[strela]

Stop spamming.

[independentmind]

They pulled the same numbskull stunt back in the 70s by supporting Reagan in GOP primaries, even after the moderates TOLD THEM he was a right wing loon and couldn't get elected. Guess NR will never learn.

And what about Goldwater? Don't many conservatives believe that without his loss, Reagan would never have won?

[South40]

Tom'd make a great pool boy in the Bustamante household. He'd really be good at sucking those dead leaves right out of the filter.

If he stays in this race and IS the reason bustamante gets elected, that's the only job he'll be able to get.

[South40]

Tom'd make a great pool boy in the Bustamante household. He'd really be good at sucking those dead leaves right out of the filter.

If he stays in this race and IS the reason bustamante gets elected, that's the only job he'll be able to get.

[churchillbuff]

"L'Audace. L'Audace. Toujours, L'Audace."

Somebody with that philosophy ought to be for McClintock with his bold challenge to the status quo, not Arnold and his timid political pap.

[maica]

And of course every word printed in the LATimes is true, isn't it!

[strela]

If he stays in this race and IS the reason bustamante gets elected, that's the only job he'll be able to get.

Some of the more extreme wackjobs on McNugget's side have been saying all along that a Bustamante win would actually be a good thing for California. On this one wafer-thin example, they might actually have a point.

[South40]

Sorry about the mulitple posts. I blame the screwed up touch pad on my laptop.

-SoFo

[Diddle E. Squat]

Your spam is pathetic.

[strela]

Somebody with that philosophy ought to be for McClintock with his bold challenge to the status quo, not Arnold and his timid political pap.

Its not audacity to support a candidate with no chance of winning. Some call that "political suicide."