[Snerfling]

The thing to do to avoid Cruz is to vote "no" on the recall, and choose McClintock

Who cares which way the AS and McC supporters vote? As with the stayed 9th, this issue has become a 'nullity'. The election is now a 3-way race. It's pretty clear that since McC is not going to drop out, AS has to move further towards the left to pick up even more Dem votes.

This of course will provide McC supporters with further evidence of AS's suspect conservative credentials. Problem is, since AS is going to have to run further left than he actually personally believes, he's going to be looking for revenge after the election is over.

If McC doesn't think this will personally effect him when AS is firmly esconced in the governor's seat, he is sadly mistaken. The GOP will drive him out of his seat (by backing a different candidate from T.O. and pumping in the money) and never let him hold any other partisan office.

McC is toast now matter how one looks at it.

[thoughtomator]

Arnold's leftism and socialism are the result of his true beliefs. He had ample reason and opportunity to court conservatives, he was begged to do so, and he emphatically passed on the opportunity.

The best result is if (R)nold runs left and cuts into the Busty vote, and the conservative vote coalesces around McClintock. Next best is leaving Davis in office and preparing for the 2004/06 elections.

[=Intervention=]

If that happens, heads will roll at the party central office. The grassroots guys got Simon through the primaries and they'll sack Parsky et al if they do this. Or do you think that the party doesn't need the grass roots? Again, if this happens, McC is made into a martyr, and that would spell the end of the line for the liberal leaders in the GOP. McC would probably then run for Republican party state chairman or whatever the position is and clean house. Then, he'd send the $$ out to conservative politicians in their races across the state. Hmm. Looks like McC could win big either way.

[SteveH]

If McC doesn't think this will personally effect him when AS is firmly esconced in the governor's seat, he is sadly mistaken. The GOP will drive him out of his seat (by backing a different candidate from T.O. and pumping in the money) and never let him hold any other partisan office.

The state Republican party is officially neutral. Even if Arnold wins, he has to win the support of every Republican lawmaker (if his win is to signify anything like what Arnold supporters are projecting now), including McClintock in the Senate.

Also Arnold has to satisfy all the other Republican lawmakers who held their noses and endorsed him.

Unless you are suggesting Arnold will flip once in office... ;-)