Of course, their efforts to defend scumbag George tooth-and-nail caused the state GOP to get wiped out in 2002. Oh well.
Posted on 09/18/2003 2:42:37 PM PDT by FairOpinion
California Republicans converged upon the Los Angeles Airport Marriott Hotel last weekend for the California Republican Party Convention. According to regular attendees, this convention was the biggest one in years, and by far the most exciting. No doubt the upcoming recall election was the main draw, because it dominated conversation. The convention took on historical significance, both for the Republican Party and for California, because of the split in the party between supporters of candidates Arnold Schwarzenegger and Tom McClintock. If the vote remains divided, Republicans could lose the election, should Gray Davis be recalled.
While McClintock supporters held firm, the majority of the convention attendees rallied behind Schwarzenegger and what they saw as a winning, moderate platform. A straw poll was taken and although such polls tend to be unreliable, the results were still startling: 82% for Schwarzenegger. On top of that, by Sunday, various groups were publicly endorsing Schwarzenegger, including the Hispanic 100, who actually asked McClintock to step down. And perhaps most telling of all, in a memo distributed the same day, 33 out of 34 county chairs backed Schwarzenegger. There seems to be a real hunger among Republicans not only to win, but also to try and repair the damage done to the state by one-party Democratic rule, and Schwarzenegger’s candidacy provides them with a glimmer of hope.
Nowhere was the excitement surrounding Schwarzenegger more evident than at his rally in the hotel parking lot on Saturday morning. It was attended by a huge crowd of enthusiastic supporters wearing ''Terminator for Governor'' T-shirts and waving ''Join Arnold'' signs. Schwarzenegger gave a crowd-pleasing speech, in which he detailed his fiscal priorities, as well as promising to repeal SB60 (the bill Gray Davis just signed that gives drivers' licenses to illegal aliens), and the car tax.
The crowd really went wild when the rally ended with the 80’s heavy-metal band Twisted Sister’s ''We’re Not Gonna Take It.'' Even several members of the press, who seem to pride themselves on their glumness, looked as if they were having a good time. A few protesters, both from the right and the left, expressed their opposition to Schwarzenegger on the outskirts of the rally, but they were clearly in the minority. Even Democratic Assemblyman Mark Leno made an appearance, handing out flyers that attempted to raise questions about Schwarzenegger’s stand on gay rights.
Last weekend’s convention conveyed a lot of energy and optimism, which would be a real shame to squander by continuing to split the vote. McClintock supporters often argue that Schwarzenegger backers are ''giving up their principles.'' But isn’t it better to institute some of your political principles, rather than none? And what of the fate of California, a state that clearly needs a change of direction. If McClintock could see past his own candidacy for a moment, he would opt out for the sake of the party and the state. Despite the circulating rumors about backroom deals leading to him eventually dropping out of the race, he showed little inclination for doing so at the convention. He certainly will not find himself very popular within the party, should the Republicans blow it in the recall election.
If the Democrats do retain the governership, at least the Republican Party will have added thousands of new members to its rolls and energized its base for the next election, so all will not be lost. Only time will tell, and at this point, the wait could either end in October or be extended until March of next year. To quote Bette Dave in the film ''All About Eve,'' ''fasten your seatbelts, it’s gonna be a bumpy ride.''
¨ ¨ ¨ Cinnamon Stillwell, who attended the convention, is a contributing editor to ChronWatch. She lives in San Francisco and receives e-mail at: cstillwell@chronwatch.com.
There was a recorded message on my answering machine the other day from Arnold Schwarzeneggar inviting me and my family to attend the convention. Too bad I was out of town on business or I would have come out with many...uh, signs about his campaign for Governor...
Of course, their efforts to defend scumbag George tooth-and-nail caused the state GOP to get wiped out in 2002. Oh well.
1. Due to California demographics, Tom has ZERO chance at beating Bustamante, even if he ran alone against Bustamante, hence this scnario would certainly give us Bustamante or Davis (people voting against the recall, because they are afraid of Cruz).
2. With 2 R candidate, Arnold may have a problem with beating Bustamante, again we'll end up with Davis or Bustamante.
3. Arnold CAN beat Bustamante, if Tom drops out and his supporters don't stay home, but vote for Arnold, the Republican, against Bustamante and Davis, who are the "real terminators of California" as Arnold said. THIS IS THE ONLY SCENARIO WITH THE MAXIMUM CHANCE OF UNSEATING DAVIS AND DEFEATING BUSTAMANTE.
Cartoon is by "Registered" and says it all -- as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words.
We do?
Due to California demographics, Tom has ZERO chance at beating Bustamante
Just like Reagan.
With 2 R candidate, Arnold may have a problem with beating Bustamante
What in the world are you talking about? Everybody is voting for (R)nold because he agrees with all Californians about everything...ever, except for the closeminded, stupid, racist, sexist, bigotted, homophobic ultra conservative McClintock voters.
Arnold CAN beat Bustamante
That's more like it, there's the unbridled arrogance and overconfidence of the (R)nold Groupies I've come to know and love.
who are the "real terminators of California" as Arnold said.
Come on now, just for a split second, isn't there some nook or cranny in your soul when you quote this Snake Oil Salesmen with empty cliches that feels the LEAST bit silly?
Cartoon is by "Registered" and says it all -- as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words.
Yes is sure does, I already confronted Registered about it earlier but he ran away, its coming dangerously close to ripping off this cartoon from 9/2/03, and yes indeed considering alienating the base, those things say it all.
My mom got one of those today instructing her to vote no on 54 (thanks for nothing Arnie) and send in her absentee ballot right away with a vote for Arnold.
She doesn't vote by absentee.
Wait a tic, I thought Captain Electable was still "studying" the issue and the reports that he was against it "never happened"...Course that depends on which statement you believe because I heard he wasn't actually lying about not remembering the Oui article, its just that he had lied and exagerated about some of it when he first gave the interview in order to generate interest in Pumping Iron so that of course made it harder to remember. You need a scorecard to keep up with (R)nold's stances, my goodness, when are the (R)nold Groupies going to wake up that this is Clinton II?
She doesn't vote by absentee.
Yeah, I got that picture too on the absentee balot. Must be because I am a registered Republican who voted absentee once. What a bunch of blather, talking about being the People's Governor and whatnot. It's the same old cliches, I had it up on my fridge, everytime I saw it I thought of Back To The Future and how the cliches of Mayor Red Thomas in 1955 and Mayor Goldie Wilson in 1985 were nearly identically vague and pushing the same buttons.
That's actually quite astounding that he has gone from not supporting it to actively campaigning against it.
Arnie-bots? What say you? Let's hear the 'scuses.
I feel the same way now as when I held my nose and desperately tried to stifle the gag reflex and voted for Wilson. Both Mrs. Wasp and I decided right then and there that we were never gonna to THAT again. His terms that followed and the way he sold out everything we believe in was proof enough to us as a couple with NORMAL self-interest!!!
There was NOTHING in it for US!!! BOHICA, except that "fool me once... shame on you... fool me twice... SHAME ON ME!" I'm not goin there again and that's why I'm a fed-up "Die Hard!" If any of the Schwarzenegger Swooners can't grasp that, they don't understand a Phyrric Victory, or that continual appeasement just gets you an eventual appeaseotomy!!!
So Moses should have done a poll beforehand and checked out which of the commandments would go down well with the people? If we go with Arnold he will redefine the Republican party in California and principled conservatives will increasingly be labeled "right-wing crazies". Being pro-abortion used to be enough that a Republican candidate would be shown the door. I guess times change; but principles don’t.
I'll give you a break in that I can't possibly take you seriously. How are you supposed to know what is different about my home from across the country in Penn? The only break you deserve is that you supposedly support the same party as I do, other than that I have no breaks for you.
I mean, really now. McClintock is no Reagan. Reagan didn't have a holier than thou zealot attitude towards either his party or government.
Another reason to not take you seriously, you put forth circular arguements then beat strawmen. Reagan won because his supporters didn't hurt his detractors feelings? Grow up.
A liberal Republican actually ran in the 80 election and took about 7%, yet Reagan still won. There was all kinds of consternation in 76 about Reagan's Conservatives destroying the Party from the RINOs of his day for running against Ford. Yet the next time he won, then the time after that he won in one of the biggest landslides in US history despite the press' best effort. He redefined that Party, but you people are still supporting the next Gerald Ford who couldn't articulate conservative ideals if life itself depended on it in a world gone mad.
Then I'll say I'm still waiting on an answer to post 90, big boy.
I knew LA let the mentally disturbed out on the streets, but now I know they also have internet access
But I thought I wasn't really in LA and that I was part of a DU conspiracy to push a more conservative candidate that couldn't win over the electable one, which is something to post "LOL" about from an Alan Keyes supporter, Registered.
p.s. How did your tattle tailing work out?
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