Schwarzenegger, McClintock prepare to make case to GOP convention

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | Spet. 12, 2003 | ERICA WERNER

[FairOpinion]

Prodded by many Republicans to pull out of the gubernatorial recall race, state Sen. Tom McClintock found strength Friday in new poll numbers that show him gaining on both Arnold Schwarzenegger and Democratic Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante.

The Los Angeles Times poll released late Thursday also showed support growing for another underdog: Democratic Gov. Gray Davis. Likely voters were nearly split over whether to recall the governor, after weeks of polls showing heavy support for his removal.

[FairOpinion]

"No matter what anyone tries to do and say, I will never say anything negative about Tom McClintock," he (Schwarzenegger) said. "I respect him, I think he's a terrific man, and this is a decision that he has to make for himself."

Arnold has class. He follows Reagan's 11th commendment of not speaking evil of other Republicans.

Other Republicans could learn from him.

[FairOpinion]

Here is a link to the collection of polls:

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/Congressional/California_Recall3.html

[prairiebreeze]

So, if McClintock ratings should overtake Arnold's, would the Republicans ask Arnold to step aside??

Prairie

[FairOpinion]

We keep going round and round on this.

Even if McClintock would be even or slightly higher that Arnold, he could NOT beat Bustamante. Visions of the last CA election, when Davis beat Simon didn't teach some people anything.

Some, probabaly half or so, of Arnold's support comes from new voters, who registered to be able to vote for him, from independents and some Dems, all of whom would either not vote or vote for Bustamante, if Arnold were not in the race.

The Dem machinery, on the other hand will turn out their voters in droves.

Net result on a two-way race betwenn Bustamante and Mcclintock, is Bustamante, by a mile.

On the other hand, if McClintock weren't in the race, most of his supporters SHOULD vote for the Repulican in the race, and Arnold would win.

[FairOpinion]

Ping

"No matter what anyone tries to do and say, I will never say anything negative about Tom McClintock," he (Schwarzenegger) said. "I respect him, I think he's a terrific man, and this is a decision that he has to make for himself."

[plain talk]

Yeah, if frogs could fly they wouldn't drag their arses on the ground. McClintock should bail out and quit doing a Perot.

[Frohickey]

On the other hand, if McClintock weren't in the race, most of his supporters SHOULD vote for the Repulican in the race, and Arnold would win.

Or stay home.
Or vote for a Libertarian.

[A CA Guy]

But, I don't respect him one iota any more, he doesn't deserve it because he crossed the line of doing what he thought was best for himself over what the whole rest of the Republican party (INCLUDING THE WHITE HOUSE) said was best for Republican's chances and the people of California.

Arnold is being a good politician by being positive, but I think Tom is burying himself every day here and it won't get better.

A non-team player who ends up getting the Democrats elected would not be someone to ever admire again IMO!

I think Tom's on the way toward political retirement.

[Parley Baer]

Hey guys this is an LA Times poll. If ever there was ever an agenda driven poll it is this one. Don't waste your time with it. Parley

[A CA Guy]

YES, THE LA TIMES IS FOR GETTING DEMOCRATS ELECTED JUST LIKE TOM McCLINTOCK SEEMS TO BE DOING.

DON'T EXPECT TOMBOTS TO BUY A VOWEL AND GET A CLUE ABOUT THIS THOUGH. FOR THEM THE TOM IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN GETTING A MILITANT DEMOCRAT ELECTED.

THIS IS THEIR FINE PRINCIPLES AND WHEN PRINCIPLED THEY FEEL GETTING MILITANT DEMOCRATS ELECTED IS ACCEPTABLE.

[speekinout]

Arnold is being a good politician by being positive, but I think Tom is burying himself every day here and it won't get better.

I think that's very true. If Tom stays in the race (and particularly in the stubborn selfish way he seems to be doing) he's going to wind up a political loser.
If by some off chance he does become governor, that would be good for him. But if he stays in this race and doesn't win (the most likely outcome), he will be viewed as a "spoiler", a loser, and not very useful to the GOP. That would be likely the end of his political career.

[A CA Guy]

Tom IS a political loser. The White House asked him to get out and he refused.

So he is now acting like he is grander than the party or the people.

He was supposed to serve the people, not try and make the party serve his personal career to the point of a Republican front-runner loss to a militant Democrat.

Tom is burning bridges and he will always be thought ill of by more and more powerful political people as this goes forward.

[NormsRevenge]

That's OK, the grassroots love him and so do the "purists". At least he has made himself accessible and was willing to debate and discuss the issues in front of his own party.

[Hildy]

If anyone gets the chance, please watch a documentary airing on HBO this month called "The Making of Pumping Iron." It's a behind the scenes look at the early 1970's cult classic which catapulted Arnold into the star he is today. It's a wonderful look into what kind of man Schwartzenegger is and how he got to where he is. He's one of those one in a billion kind of men who, I believe, have the ability to change the world. Failure is not an option and he is a Republican, not matter what any of you think.

[FairOpinion]

"He's one of those one in a billion kind of men who, I believe, have the ability to change the world. Failure is not an option and he is a Republican, not matter what any of you think. "

===

I agree.

Here is a speech he gave a couple of years ago, that is worth reading also:

http://www.schwarzenegger.com/en/life/hiswords/words_en_sac_perspectives.asp?sec=life&subsec=hiswords


Excerpt:

"Today I stand before you - an immigrant success story.

I am the living, breathing incarnation of The American Dream.


...
But this much I learned:

Humphrey talked about protectionism, more government planning, and a lot of liberal solutions. It sounded like the socialism in Austria.

The Republican - Nixon - talked about less government, lower taxes, the free market, international trade, and a stronger military.

After the translator finished, I realized: Yes! I’m a Republican!

From then on, I campaigned for Republicans. I voted for Republicans. I gave money to Republicans. I pretty much thought it was as simple as the movies: The Republicans were the Good Guys - and the Democrats were the Bad Guys.

But then I traveled around the country for the Special Olympics and the President's Council on Physical Fitness. I met with Republican and Democratic governors, senators, Congressional leaders, mayors and other local officials.

I learned how American really worked. And what I realized was this: both parties had good ideas - so it was dead wrong to see things only as us versus them, Republicans versus Democrats. That was destructive.

I've seen it myself. The more the two parties point fingers at each other for the sake of political gain, the more divided we become as a people. We’ve certainly seen the opposite in the past week-and-a-half - how powerful it is when this nation comes together.

As for me, in the past dozen years I've worked with Republican Presidents and Governors. And now I'm working closely with the new Democratic Mayor of Los Angeles, Jim Hahn. That's the only way to go - the only way to move forward. That's by taking the politics out of public policy.

Now, I can hear people saying: "Arnold! That means you're not a real Republican anymore!"

As a matter of fact, Jesse Ventura said: "You're sounding a lot like a member of the Reform Party!"

And the Kennedys are just chomping at the bit! They've been waiting for me to come around for years!

Well, not my wife, Maria. She's tried - and she knows I'm not going anywhere, and I'm not switching sides. I'm still a Republican.

I still believe government should ensure a fair start and fair competition for all. It shouldn't rig outcomes.

I still believe in lower taxes - and the power of the free market.

I still believe in controlling government spending. If it's a bad program, let's get rid of it.

But I also believe that government is important - and should be in the business of educating our children, defending our people, ensuring public safety, advancing scientific and medical research, and more.

So, yes, I’m still a Republican. Just not the same Republican I was at the beginning of this journey I call my education as an American.

I am still strong. I'm just a lot more flexible.

[speekinout]

Tom is burning bridges and he will always be thought ill of by more and more powerful political people as this goes forward.

That's what I thought. I've only seen or heard Tom on a few interviews, but he really doesn't come across as a nice person. He's belligerent and non-responsive.
I can't see how he would ever be able to get any of his ideas accepted by the people in his party, let alone people in other parties.

[Hildy]

Thank you for posting this. And I mean it, watch the documentary if you can, it interjects old, never before seen footage of him at the end of his bodybuilding career with him speaking about it today. The fact that he's still best friends with those men from those days is a huge testimony about his character. They all adored him, although he was always the winner. He had such an easy way about him that was irresistable. But he also knew how to be tough and imposing when he needed to and that's the kind of person we need to fix California.

[NittanyLion]

I don't respect him one iota any more, he doesn't deserve it because he crossed the line of doing what he thought was best for himself over what the whole rest of the Republican party (INCLUDING THE WHITE HOUSE) said was best for Republican's chances and the people of California.

Yeah - how dare he deny the Republican Party the ability to install a candidate whose views reflect far less of the party platform than his own? That McClintock's got some nerve!

[Mudboy Slim]

"Arnold has class. He follows Reagan's 11th commendment of not speaking evil of other Republicans."

Slinging mud against a solid conservative such as McClintock would only deepen the divide between Arnold and the RightWing.

"Other Republicans could learn from him."

I could have missed it, but I haven't seen McClintock trashing Arnold either...MUD

[DoctorZIn]

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