Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Die-hards and the damage done: Hugh Hewitt likens McClintock recall race, Buchanan bid
WorldNetDaily.com ^ | Wednesday, September 17, 2003 | Hugh Hewitt

Posted on 09/17/2003 1:44:36 AM PDT by JohnHuang2

A picture hangs on my office wall that reminds of the glory years of the Reagan Revolution. It shows the White House team entry in the D.C. Nike Challenge from 1985. The six participants include Dick Hauser, then Deputy Counsel in the White House; John Roberts – newly confirmed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit and then a young White House lawyer; and me, also a young White House lawyer. The captain of the "White House V-toes" was Pat Buchanan, at the time the Gipper's communications director.

Whenever a visitor's eye turns to the picture, I point to Pat and say, there's the man who put Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen Breyer on the U.S. Supreme Court. Only the politically inclined get it: Pat Buchanan's primary challenge to President George H.W. Bush in 1992 bled the incumbent and opened the door to Perot. Perot, of course, put Clinton in the White House, and Clinton put those justices on the highest court.

Buchanan fans sputter a lot when they hear this recounting of history, and many splendid arguments follow. They protest too much, the Pat people do, because of the impulse to disguise guilt with vigorous and emphatic denunciations. Facts, to quote Reagan quoting Lenin, however, are stubborn things. Buchanan wrought what he wrought, and honest accounting requires that the two Clinton appointees be put credited to Pat's legacy ledger. So much for the pro-life platform upon which Pat has long stood. There is no doubt that he sincerely believes in the platform – but there is overwhelming evidence that the unborn would have been far better off had Pat never launched a public career.

This history becomes relevant as the California recall vote draws near. Like Pat, Tom McClintock is a smart, talented and principled public man. Like Pat, Tom is supported by a legion of dedicated, energetic activists. Like the Buchanan campaign of 1992, the McClintock campaign of 2003 thinks it has momentum, a mirage created wholly by an elite media eager to wound a Republican front-runner. A decade ago, that front-runner was President Bush; these days it is Arnold.

And like the Buchanan campaign of 1992, the McClintock campaign of 2003 is playing the role of unwitting pawn of the Democrats to a perfection.

It will not be clear for some years what the real costs of the McClintock candidacy will be. The GOP is already damaged in California, but the real disaster will arrive only if Cruz Bustamante replaces Gray Davis, winning the second part of the California recall with a margin less than the total number of votes garnered by McClintock.

The die-hards ought to think about Breyer and Ginsburg as they launch rhetorical salvo after rhetorical salvo at Arnold. These attacks are very similar in tone and detail to those hurled by the Buchananites against the elder Bush in 1992. Whether they will result in the declaration as unconstitutional of such laws as a ban on partial-birth abortion remains to be seen, but Pat Buchanan clearly didn't set out to destroy such protections with his candidacy of 1992.

But he did. What will the McClintock ledger show a decade hence?


TOPICS: Editorial; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: hughhewitt
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 121-140141-160161-180 ... 341-346 next last
To: doodlelady
You, sir, are the one in drag.

Funny stuff when you "google" drag:


141 posted on 09/17/2003 9:28:59 AM PDT by CheneyChick
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 133 | View Replies]

To: Saundra Duffy
Last time CA elected a RINO (Pete Wilson), the Republican Party was utterly DESTROYED!!! Vote McClintock.

Sure, vote for a man who cannot defeat bustamante and you'll get bustamante.

What a great plan.

142 posted on 09/17/2003 9:30:44 AM PDT by South40 (Vote Mcclintock, elect bustamante)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 117 | View Replies]

To: BibChr
You have the nerve to say 'shame' to me when you are shilling for a pro-abort, pro-homosexual agenda, leftist gungrabber?

Amazing.
143 posted on 09/17/2003 9:32:22 AM PDT by EternalVigilance
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 140 | View Replies]

To: CheneyChick
There are disruptors of all persuasions CC.

Why a man who lives in DC would care to see bustamante elected California's governor isn't clear.

That he's doing all he can to make it happen is.

144 posted on 09/17/2003 9:33:05 AM PDT by South40 (Vote Mcclintock, elect bustamante)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 126 | View Replies]

To: EternalVigilance
I certainly do have the nerve, when I am "shilling" for THE MOST CONSERVATIVE CANDIDATE WHO CAN WIN.

I am a grownup. I live in the real world. I have to deal with hard decisions.

You live in Washington, DC, I hear.

You can't relate.

Dan
145 posted on 09/17/2003 9:34:07 AM PDT by BibChr ("...behold, they have rejected the word of the LORD, so what wisdom is in them?" [Jer. 8:9])
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 143 | View Replies]

To: A Broken Glass Republican
If you don't want me to respond to you, don't come on a thread and call conservatives idiots.
146 posted on 09/17/2003 9:34:07 AM PDT by EternalVigilance
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 139 | View Replies]

To: JohnHuang2
READ MY LIPS --- it was George "fooled-you, I raised-your taxes!" Bush who defeated George Bush. Pat Buchanan just delivered the eulogy.
147 posted on 09/17/2003 9:34:18 AM PDT by churchillbuff
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BibChr
The President lives here. Your congressman lives here.

Your attack along this line is hypocritical and laughable.

All it does is show how little substance you have to work with.
148 posted on 09/17/2003 9:36:01 AM PDT by EternalVigilance
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 145 | View Replies]

To: CheneyChick
LOL

Actually, I was picturing that holy robe
of the Emperor in Star Wars.

149 posted on 09/17/2003 9:36:34 AM PDT by b9
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 141 | View Replies]

To: South40
#148 is for you as well.
150 posted on 09/17/2003 9:36:51 AM PDT by EternalVigilance
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 144 | View Replies]

To: EternalVigilance
You're a darned poor reader, or dishonest.

Neither is my fault.

But thanks for bumping this great article about what a destructive, self-absorbed wrech McClintock and his enablers have become.

Dan
151 posted on 09/17/2003 9:37:32 AM PDT by BibChr ("...behold, they have rejected the word of the LORD, so what wisdom is in them?" [Jer. 8:9])
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 148 | View Replies]

Comment #152 Removed by Moderator

To: South40
...and, every time, he bumps a fantastic essay.
153 posted on 09/17/2003 9:38:32 AM PDT by BibChr ("...behold, they have rejected the word of the LORD, so what wisdom is in them?" [Jer. 8:9])
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 152 | View Replies]

To: BibChr
But thanks for bumping this great article...

No problem. Sleazy tactics like Hewitt is using in this article need a full hearing amongst conservatives. That way everyone knows how low the Schwarzenegger supporters will go.

154 posted on 09/17/2003 9:40:27 AM PDT by EternalVigilance
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 151 | View Replies]

To: goldstategop
The question is, when do principles matter? At some point, one has to say "enough", I've compromised and compromised but received nothing in return. I will compromise no further.

That is where we are with the Arnold campaign. I have asked, now more than 20 emphatic Arnold supporters who post here on FR, for ONE conservative reason to vote FOR Arnold, other than as a vote against Cruz. I have not recieved one answer based on any facts. I attempt to debate those people with the facts, and never hear back.

So, to all Arnold supporters, including sell-outs like Hugh Hewitt, who are intersted in an "R" winning to help their careers, regardless of even one iota of conservative principle, stop crying when people with some principles refuse to sell-out. A compromise is one thing, but for conservatives to compromise their beliefs to vote for Arnold, Arnold has to offer nothing. Instead, Arnold has insulted conservatives and opposed each and every conservative position on any issue. Please explain why any conservative should vote for Arnold, with or without McClintock in the race?

Indeed, a thorough analysis of the situation, shows that an Arnold win would actually be worse for conservatives than any other outcome:

- Arnold wins:

-a message is sent to all CA republicans, and all national republicans, that moving way left of any conservative positions is ok with the base - thus the party moves further to the left than it already has.

- Arnold raises taxes (most likely based on his statements straight out of Pete Wilson's campaign textbook); Arnold raises spending (most likely based on his statements); Arnold supports homosexual rights of every sort; Arnold supports gun control; Arnold supports expanding benefits to illegal immigrants; Arnold passes more environmental regulation (most likely with Robert Kennedy Jr. as his advisor on environmental issues). Thus CA does not recover and the GOP is blamed and CA is controlled for the next 50 years by liberals.

Cruz wins:

- CA becomes so bad that people actually start to realize what a failure liberal/socialist policies are and conservatives begin winning more and more state elections.

There is much more downside in the long run to an Arnold victory. Most of the big-name "conservatives" have a stake in getting ANY "R" elected, as w/ access their radio shows, or consulting businesses, lobbying, etc. do better. Hugh Hewitt is simply put, a sell-out.

At some point principles do matter. Many Republicans have now shown that principles matter nothing to them, only the thought of winning. What next? Do we vote for Hillary? After all, Arnold's positions are almost exactly the same positions that Bill Clinton campaigned on. So what is the difference?
155 posted on 09/17/2003 9:40:50 AM PDT by brownie
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: BibChr
He's yet to explain in any manner how standing by principle when the result will be a bustamante win makes any sense.

156 posted on 09/17/2003 9:41:08 AM PDT by South40 (Vote Mcclintock, elect bustamante)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 153 | View Replies]

To: South40
I thought I used your ego as a urinal enough yesterday. You want more?

You think too highly of your own abilities.

157 posted on 09/17/2003 9:41:28 AM PDT by EternalVigilance
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 152 | View Replies]

To: EternalVigilance; Admin Moderator
Alright...You've made it clear that you're going to stalk me if I DARE comment on threads that interest me while I ignore you at the same time.

Now you're going to get what you've asked for. I'll let Admin Moderator handle it...

Admin Moderator,

This person and I disagree on basic issues but we are interested in the same topics. Therefore we show up on many of the same threads. I stopped posting to him a long time ago due to his flaming of me, and asked that he return the favor. He has not. I have asked him to do so about a dozen or so times since then, but he continues to harass me.

Would you please ask him to leave me alone? You have my word that I will return the favor.

Thank you for your attention to this post of mine. Anything you can do will be more than I've been able to do.
158 posted on 09/17/2003 9:43:37 AM PDT by A Broken Glass Republican
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 146 | View Replies]

To: EternalVigilance
You think too highly of your own abilities.

It's not just my thoughts. I received half a dozen private messages from fellow FReepers all who thought you I made a fool of you.

That's not entirely true, of course, as you did most the work.

159 posted on 09/17/2003 9:43:48 AM PDT by South40 (Vote Mcclintock, elect bustamante)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 157 | View Replies]

To: South40
It's not just my thoughts. I received half a dozen private messages from fellow FReepers all who thought you I made a fool of you.

So, you have groupies. Big deal.

160 posted on 09/17/2003 9:45:42 AM PDT by EternalVigilance
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 159 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 121-140141-160161-180 ... 341-346 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson