A Magic Bullet for the Anti-Schwarzenegger Camp (Option B for McClintock Supporters)

My own thoughts... | 09/22/2003 | DoughtyOne

[DoughtyOne]

For about a month now, there has been a tit for tat disagreement here about who to vote for in the 2003 Recall Election.  A number of people have supported Tom McClintock's candidacy faithfully here.  Just about everyone else stated they would vote for Tom if he was viable, but would vote for Schwarzenegger if Tom couldn't get his numbers up.

This has led to some heated debates, even among friends here.  Even if Tom was losing the battle, they thought loyalty to him and his policies trumped everything else.  Look, I don't necessarily frown upon that, except where it may facilitate the likes of Cruz Bustamante being elected instead of Tom's opponent.

Even here a number of the McClintock supporters have disagreed.  Over the last month there have been literally hundreds if not thousands of anti-Schwarzenegger posts.  If the same article could be found from different sources with the exact same wording, the McClintock camp made sure every one of them were posted here at least once, if not multiple times.  Do a search for anti-Schwarzenegger articles.  Then do a search for anti-Bustamante articles.  Then do a search for anti-McClintock articles.  It will become clear who has had an agenda to drive here.

The argument that Cruz Bustamante might be the beneficiary of the McClintock camps tactics has been dismissed by them.  It is said constantly here that Schwarzenegger would make a worse governor than Bustamante.  One person told me that Bustamante wasn't really all that bad.  Okay... I didn't and still don't agree with this, but if this is truly how McClintock supporters see this, there is something they can do about it.

Look, there's one option out there that is perfectly suited for the McClintock supporters.  Tom is now at 14% in the polls.  If his supporters are able to understand that a little over 1/8th of the vote won't win it, then they may want to consider this.  If they vote "No" on the recall, then "Bustamante", they'll achieve the victory of blocking Arnold Schwarzenegger from becoming California's next governor.  After all, that seems to be the worst case scenario for them.

I suppose folks will think of this as a slam, but I don't think it should be viewed that way.  If they truly think Schwarzenegger is the worst possible candidate among the three, this is a sure-fire way to make sure he doesn't get in.  Even a few percentage points thrown to Cruz by Tom's people should lock Arnold out.  And that's the main goal here, let's be honest.

Evidently it is something worthy of consideration for McClintock folks.  Why leave this to chance by voting for Tom and risk Schwarzenegger getting in anyway.  Put your vote where your mouths have been.  Just let your conviction be your guide and make sure Arnold Schwarzenegger doesn't get in.  Vote "No" and "Bustamante".

By your actions, you folks seem to agree this is conservatism's best choice this time around.  If you do, then go for it.  Don't leave California's future to fate.

[finnman69]

bwahahaha. But but but Mr. 15% will win the whole thing if only 80% of Arnold's supporters vote for McClintock.

[Rabid Dog]

Furthermore, if you are going to continue to cast stones on Tom supporters and do quasi-analysis on who posts what - take the time to look at the posters. I think you will find a small number of posters in either camp are responsible for the posts. Perhaps they don't have day jobs - or maybe they are government employees.

Your vanity posts are divisive in nature and serve no purpose other than to make you feel better and rile up the masses. It is not what we need at this time.

Please work on mending fences.

[bmwcyle]

Proof goes a long way. Your statment goes about a 1/4"

[DoughtyOne]

Why did you guys use the LA Times 18% figure as proof Tom was rising in the polls, if you didn't believe it was true? Please answer that before you move off to another subject.

Tom's last poll figure was 14%. Now you believe that figure. That's a 22.2% drop in the polls. If you believe figures, then you have to be willing to believe what they prove.

You have gone back three or four weeks to find a low poll you can compare the 14% figure to. Do you really think that is honest?

Why wouldn't it be more honest to check two contemporary polls against each other?

If none of these polls mean anthing to you, why don't you stop touting them as proof of anything at all?

[Lazamataz]

Most pro-McClintock posters on Free Republic are Democrats shilling for Bustamante.

Wow! That's the first time I have seen that much BS packed into so few words!

[Bikers4Bush]

You're right I haven't seen it so I may have to revise.

Got a link?

[Waywardson]

Every time I read these same sad "we can win" RINOs I cant help but wonder three things...

If they actually won... If we DID roll over one time... and say Arnold WAS elected and then did EXACTLY as we predict Governed as a left wing nut case and the GOP was totally embarassed... Would the RINO's be happy? Would they preach "he can win" still for the next faux (R) that had some money and name ID but no ideology at all? Would they STFU for once and find their missing "parts"?

Sadly, I think they would be #2 and snicker at how stupid we (conservatives) are in that we can be tricked into choosing SLOW socialism over our true beleifs, because we'd much rather "win the popularity and addoration" of the RINO's than stand for anything.

As for me, I know not what course these RINO's may really choose... but I say Give me a Conservative or give me the loss. (thanks to PH)

[Rabid Dog]

You cannot compare polls from different sources against each other. Stick with the same poll source or your whole argument is fallacious. Or if you do compare them, you need to provide a disclaimer.

The PPIC poll is not the Field Poll and it is not the LA Times Poll.

Deport has posted a very nice table with all the results; perhaps he can do so again.

[TheDon]

Actually, while you may have come up with this idea on your own, I've seen some of Tom's supporters claim this is exactly how they will vote. I very much doubt there are many of this mind set though.

[Rabid Dog]

I don't believe that I, personally, ever touted the results without it being tongue in cheek because it is afterall the LA Times. Nor did I EVER compare the LA Times results to those of another poll.

[palmer]

I was joking. It's next on the list after "MY CAT IS MISSING!!!!! HELP!!!!!".

[Rabid Dog]

Care to weigh in on this before the thread degrades?

[deport]

Are you talking about the RCP table with all the polls?........

[The Old Hoosier]

This is silly. The whole point of supporting McClintoci is that strategic voting in order to reach a desired outcome is foolish.

If you want to sleep soundly, just vote your conscience and let the consequences come as they may.

[Rabid Dog]

Yes that the one. I tried to post it but got garbage. (I love that table)

[Bikers4Bush]

Lol!

[DoughtyOne]

I'm must humbly bow to the devisive-free posts of the McClintock camp. Good call.

[NathanR]

Sure, just follow the Dem recommendations!

Those recomendations make more sense than voting both for the recall and Tom. (Especially when knowing that Tom can't win.) That would be jumping out of the frying pan into the fire.

[Rabid Dog]

Why don't you start a daily rant free thread for Arnold. FairOpinion did one a couple of days ago and it was a beautiful thing. There were only a couple of disruptors, incredible pics of Arnold and some very very positive posts.

There are two weeks left before the election and it would be a shame not to have a place for people to do to if they wanted to have questions answered or just post a pic without it getting slaughtered.

We'd post more pics on the Tom thread but as you have probably noticed, he isn't very photogenic. Registered makes him look better than anyone does but that isn't the kind of graphics I have in mind.

[DoughtyOne]

Let's not ignore the issue of that 18% poll from the Times. Are you saying the McClintock camp didn't use that poll as proof he was closing in on Schwarzenegger?

As for this 14% poll being from a source that reported McClintock at 5% early on, please provide the wording of both poll questionairres so we can be sure they were identical.