Jim Brulte Backs Schwarzenegger

Jim Brulte | 9-23 | Jim Brulte

[ambrose]

Tuesday, September 23, 2003

This morning I am announcing my endorsement of Arnold Schwarzenegger for Governor of California.

I am endorsing Arnold for a number of reasons.

First, Arnold Schwarzenegger is a strong leader who understands the problems facing California and can bring people together to help solve them.

Second, Arnold Schwarzenneger will be the check we so desperately need in California government today. No matter what the outcome of the recall election, the legislature will continue to be controlled by liberals who over-spend, over-regulate and over-tax. California needs a Republican governor who can check the excesses of that legislature.

Third, Arnold Schwarzenegger is the only Republican that can beat Cruz Bustamante and ensure that, if the voters recall Gray Davis, he is replaced with a Governor who wants to take the state in a different direction.

In making this endorsement, however, I want to make it clear that I have the greatest respect for my Senate colleague Tom McClintock. I have known and worked with Tom for a number of years.

In fact, in 2002 I served as Co-Chairman of Tom's campaign for State Controller. In this volunteer capacity I helped raise more money for his campaign than anyone other than Tom himself. I look forward to helping elect Tom to statewide office in the future.

But at this time, in this election, I believe for Tom the governorship is simply a bridge too far. This eight-week recall campaign is three-fourths complete and Tom continues to be the third place candidate.

I also believe that his candidacy puts at risk not only the election of a Republican governor, but the recall itself.

I was not one of the earliest supporters of the recall. I was concerned that the California Democratic Party would be able to unite behind one candidate while Republicans would view the recall in the context of a primary election.

Unfortunately, my concerns have proven to be true. And while two very strong Republican candidates have withdrawn from the race, we still have two very strong and capable Republican candidates who are spitting the anti Davis-Bustamante vote.

And in a replay of what we experienced in the Denham/Arieas senate race last year, some supporters of Cruz Bustamante are conducting independent expenditures on behalf of Tom to ensure that the anti Davis-Bustamante vote continues to be split.

In the last two weeks I have talked with countless voters who would like to vote for the recall, but are hesitant because they fear the election of Cruz Bustamante. They would like to recall Governor Davis but are unwilling to go from bad to worse.

But California doesn't have to go from bad to worse. We have a better choice: a fresh face and new leader who has been successful in business, in the arts, in philanthropic activities, and in public service. That fresh face and new leader is Arnold Schwarzenegger

[ambrose]

[Registered]

http://www.jimbrulte.com/index.cfm

http://republican.sen.ca.gov/web/31/default.asp

[ElkGroveDan]

the legislature will continue to be controlled by liberals who over-spend, over-regulate and over-tax. California needs a Republican governor who can check the excesses of that legislature.

Sadly there is not one iota of an indication the Liberal Arnold and his Democrat advisors will do that.

[ElkGroveDan]

I also believe that his candidacy puts at risk not only the election of a Republican governor, but the recall itself.

No. If Tom were to drop out the recall would fail miserably as conservatives realized they had nowhere to turn and stayed home.

[B Knotts]

Fourth, Parsky told me to.

[DoughtyOne]

Failed Recall Election Candidate Solidifies Support

California's absentee balloting continues for the 16th day today.  The California Secretary of  State's staff is quoted as saying over 600,000 votes have been cast so far. (1) Secretary of State Shelley was shown on FoxNews several hours ago stating that 700,000 absentee ballots are now in. California's Recall Election is taking place.

Votes are being locked in.  These are votes that can never be reclaimed or designated for another candidate.

One candidate has chosen to continue to urge his supporters to cast votes for him even though polls show that he can only expect to recieve little more than 1/8th of the total votes.

Bustamante continues to benefit from this tactic.  Sadly, votes that could help a republican opponent defeat Bustamante are now being cast for a man that can only help him to win this election.  Please wise up Tom.

[Markd0713]

I suppose you would have advised George HW Bush to drop out in favor of Pat Buchannon, the real conservative?

[ambrose]

No. If Tom were to drop out the recall would fail miserably as conservatives realized they had nowhere to turn and stayed home.

It seems we're screwed either way now. Issa just announced the Republican Party's strategy of "Mutual Assured Destruction"... if Tom does not drop out, they will urge people to vote against the recall. I guess they really meant it when they said "Tom Can't Win!" over and over. Because even if he gets the most votes on the replacement ballot, the recall will fail due to RINO sabotage against the recall itself.

It appears the Fifth Columnists will prevail once again, and Davis will remain in office. Depressing.

[annyokie]

"realized they had nowhere to turn and stayed home. "




Oh, applesauce! My very conservative parents are voting for AS, as are all my other relatives. I took a poll this weekend.

They are all pragmatic and practical people.

[ElkGroveDan]

I suppose you would have advised George HW Bush to drop out in favor of Pat Buchannon, the real conservative?

No I understood the dynamics of that election, which were different than this one. I learned how to spell Pat Buchanan's name too.

[ElkGroveDan]

Oh, applesauce! My very conservative parents are voting for AS, as are all my other relatives. I took a poll this weekend.

Cool. You are polling just like Field -- arbitrary and unscientific.

[pierrem15]

You're ignoring the fact that even if McClintock won, he would be unable to govern, and would be turned into a demon by the dims and the press to be used by the left in the next election.

To put it bluntly, Schwarzenegger's celebrity and persona will allow him to bully a dim dominated legislature, which McClintock would be unable to do.

[annyokie]

BFD. I have a very large extended family who live in the San Joaquin Valley.

Many are in law enforcement. A pretty good indicator, since I also asked about colleagues, spouses, et al.

You TomBots can sit in your Barcaloungers and watch the Cruzer get swore in.

I hope that "taking the High Ground" feels good to you while you watch.

[MCRD]

JIM WHO?

[churchillbuff]

"I was not one of the earliest supporters of the recall."

Nuff said. McClintock WAS an early supporter - - so somebody who WASN'T shouldn't be able to muscle McClintock aside.

[Sloth]

Who?

[ambrose]

JIM WHO?

Jim Brulte, the man who helped lead the Republicans to an Assembly majority in 1994. He has helped win many other local races for Republican. If not for his work, the Rats would likely hold 2/3rd contro of the legislature, and would be able to pass any tax increases at will. Brulte's words are not to be taken lightly. IMHO.

[Emile]

Wishful thinking. When was the last Republican who bullied any Dem body? I think it was Reagan. I feel sorry for anyone who thinks that Ahnold has the communication abilities or persuasive power, much less the conservative beliefs, of the Gipper. The Dems'll find scads of new big-spending schemes that Ahnold will be more than happy to sign off on. He has never given any indication he wouldn't -- history indicates otherwise. Face it -- Ahnold is a Kennedy who just happens to be registered Pub. Furthermore, he's a political baby -- the Dems in the legislature will chew him up and spit him out. They might not even need the media to help, but they'll have it if needed.

[FreedomSurge]

My extraordinarily strong glutius maximus endorses Ahnold and his delightful pectoralis majors.

[Dog Gone]

some supporters of Cruz Bustamante are conducting independent expenditures on behalf of Tom to ensure that the anti Davis-Bustamante vote continues to be split.

McClintock knows this and yet he continues to be a dupe for Bustamante.