Hugh Hewitt: California recall: One issue, and one issue only

WorldNetDaily.com ^ | Wednesday, September 24, 2003 | Hugh Hewitt

[JohnHuang2]

The big debate gets underway at 6:00 p.m. tonight, PST, and the media is working itself into a frenzy. My take is that unless Arnold comes up with the California equivalent of President Ford's declaration of a free Poland in 1976, the debate will be a non-factor in the race.

Oh, it could seal the end of Tom McClintock's career if he tries to land cheap shots on Arnold, and it might scare another few points away from Cruz when he announces his latest lame-brained idea ("We should socialize surfing – all boards the same length, all waves the same height and rides divided up equally, with extra attention paid to people who cannot surf!"). Arianna's desperation is growing more and more repellant, so expect some shrieking from her end of the stage, but generally, a non-event.

But no matter how odd the behavior of the second-tier candidates, or how boring the questions, it just won't matter. There is only one issue that matters to most voters. It absorbs all other issues in this race: The corruption in Sacramento.

The workers' comp mess? It is about the corrupt influence of the trial lawyers. The huge giveaways to prison guards and other public-employee unions? The corrupt influence of big labor. The massive expansion of tribal casinos and the obscene amount of money pouring from the slots into the voting process? The corrupt influence of California's Indian tribes.

Most of this corruption is legal. Most corruption is. But the stench of the decay in Sacramento doesn't diminish because Gray Davis has invented transparency in payoffs. The tribes brazenly gave millions to Cruz who transferred it to an anti-initiative campaign that features, surprise, Cruz. The money-laundering is out in the open, on the front lawn of the State House – but it is no less corrupt.

The tribes pumped huge sums into a pro-McClintock fund. This is legal, but it stinks. It is a manipulation of the electorate – a cynical assist to Cruz via the draining of votes from Arnold. Corrupt? Of course it is. Tom McClintock cannot raise enough money on his own under the $21,200 limit of the law, so he's welcoming the tribes' largesse via an independent expenditure.

Every single interest group lined up to get something from Gray as Gov. Clouseau's career dwindled into its final month. All the hands were stuck out, and Gray walked the line distributing bennies all along the way. Hiram Johnson never imagined corruption on this scale. The Los Angeles Times tut-tuts that the recall is bad for the state. How can anything that smashes the machine up north be bad for the state?

The scale of the collapse of public ethics is so huge that most pundits have given up commenting on it. Tammany is reincarnate. The Davis administration is epic in its fundraising and epic in its deal-making. It is the only thing that will be memorable about Davis – the size of his appetite for cash and the sleaze that was required to feed that appetite.

On Thursday, observers will be dissecting what Arnold said about paid leave or what Cruz said about the car tax. How boring and how beside the point.

This election is about the numbers of people that have a share in Davis, Inc. vs. the rest of us.

I think there are more of us than there are of them and that as a result Arnold wins hands down. Only McClintock can save Cruz at this point. The only interesting question is will he?

[Cinnamon Girl]

Oh, it could seal the end of Tom McClintock's career if he tries to land cheap shots on Arnold,

I think Tom McClintock has already written off his future in politics. He just doesn't care what anyone in the party thinks, and that might sound cute and noble, but how's that attitude going to get anything done with a bunch of lefty legislative nuts in Sacratomato, let alone the GOP?

I'm anticipating that tonight it's going to be a free for all attack on Arnold, the man everyone knows is the frontrunner, the man who has inspired the request of 400 press credentials from all over the world to cover tonight's debate.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the heads up!

[DoctorZIn]

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[hotpotato]

You know that and therefore you are deliberatly playing fast and loose with the facts.

Saw them do that on the local ABC news last night. About mid-way through the program, one talking head announced that Issa said he was withdrawing support for the recall and voting no and didn't explain the rest. My jaw dropped at the blatant deception. I guess there were some irate phone calls to the station because just before they went off the air, there was a very quick insertion of a clarification made that Issa said there were too many republicans on the ticket to guarantee a win by the republicans and he might vote no if someone doesn't drop out.

[DoughtyOne]

Don't forget everyone who endorsed Schwarzenegger. You can't respect them anymore either. The list gets pretty long for you doesn't it.

[Reagan Man]

>>>Do you think that the scorched-earth policy is a good one? Is it OK to criticize and rip apart every Republican that supports Arnold? Rove, Hewitt, Hannity, etc??? How is that productive?

First off, I've never engaged in any scorched earth policy, nor have I ripped apart Republicans. I said I've lost respect for Hugh Hewitt. I think Sean Hannity is wrong. I have severely criticized those who would support Arnold and set aside their principles and convictions, to vote for a liberal Republican.

>>>Is it OK to violate RR's 11th amendment (thous shall not attack fellow Republicans)?

I've said it before and I'll say it again. I'm not Ronald Reagan and more importantly, neither is Arnold Schwarzenegger. Arnold is a self professed social liberal and over the last month, I've yet to see Arnold express a political agenda that seriously addresses the issues related to fiscal conservatsim.

>>>Comments on FR that Arnold supporters hate Tom and wouldn't vote for him are just ludicrous and divisive. 90% or more of us would vote for Tom if we felt he had a realistic change...

I don't know why your lumping me in with those who "hate" Arnold. I don't hate Arnold. I just don't agree with his politics and have said so going back some 6-7 weeks now. Many conservative Republicans are of the same opinion.

We don't believe Arnold advances the conservative agenda and the GOP party platform. That is the basis for my opposityion to his candidacy.

>>>so...
The choice is clear... BustamanteDavis or Arnold.
My vote would have been obvious. Yours?

I don't have a vote in California, but if I did, I would cast it for Tom McClintock. If Arnold was a moderate Republican and made a serious effort to address the issues that concern conservative Republicans, I wouldn't hesitate to support him. Arnold hasn't addressed those issues as they relate to conservative Republicans. I can't support a liberal, Republican or not.

[NYC Republican]

Have you read today's piece on the WSJ?

By the way, those questions and comments weren't targeted towards you in any way, just more of a general comment towards the McClintock supporters.

[RonDog]

Don't forget everyone who endorsed Schwarzenegger. You can't respect them anymore either.
The list gets pretty long for you doesn't it.

Here are a few MORE "RINOs" from http://www.joinarnold.com/en/leadership/endorsements.php:

California Chamber of Commerce

Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association

California State Firefighters' Association

California Farm Bureau Federation

Western Growers Association

Associated Builders & Contractors

The Latino Coalition

SENECA NETWORK, INC

Iranian American Republican Council of California

Filipino-American Republican Council of California

Chinese American Republican Council of California

Laotian American Republican Council of California

Vietnamese American Republican Council of California

National Republican Hispanic Assembly

California Republican National Hispanic Assembly

Japanese American Republicans

California Republican League

California Young Republicans

California Women's Leadership Association

The New Majority Committee

Republican Leadership Council

Coachella Valley Lincoln Club

Los Angeles County Lincoln Club

Northern California Lincoln Club

The Lincoln Club of Orange County

Riverside County Lincoln Club

Lincoln Club of San Diego

Lincoln Club of Santa Barbara

Ventura County Lincoln Club

Congresswoman Mary Bono

Congressman Ken Calvert

Congressman Chris Cox

Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham

Congressman David Dreier

Congressman Jerry Lewis

Congressman Howard "Buck" McKeon

Congressman Gary Miller

Congressman Devin Nunes

Congressman Doug Ose

Congressman Dana Rohrabacher

Congressman Ed Royce

State Senator Roy Ashburn

State Senator Jim Battin

State Senator Jeff Denham

State Senator Ross Johnson

State Senator Bruce McPherson

Assemblyman Greg Aghazarian

Assemblywoman Patricia Bates

Assemblyman John Benoit

Assemblyman Russ Bogh

Assemblyman John Campbell

Assemblywoman Lynn Daucher

Assemblywoman Bonnie Garcia

Assemblyman Ray Haynes

Assemblyman Tom Harman

Assemblywoman Shirley Horton

Assemblyman Guy Houston

Assemblyman Doug LaMalfa

Assemblyman Tim Leslie

Assemblyman Abel Maldonado

Assemblyman Kevin McCarthy

Assemblyman Robert Pacheco

Assemblyman George Plescia

Assemblyman Keith Richman

Assemblyman Todd Spitzer

Assemblyman Mark Wyland

Jeannine Martineau, President - California School Boards Association*

Marian Bergeson - Former Secretary Governor's Office of Child Development and Education

Superintendent Rudy Castruita - San Diego County Office of Education

Superintendent David Long - Riverside County Office of Education

Superintendent William Habermehl - Orange County Office of Education

Superintendent Pete Mehas - Fresno County Office of Education

Raymond Bender - Trustee, Center Unified School District

Philip Yarbrough - Trustee, Rancho Santiago Community College District

Stewart Morris, Jr. - President, Temecula Valley Unified School District

Public Safety

Association of Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs (ALADS)

Doris Tate Crime Victims Bureau

Memory of Victims Everywhere (MOVE)

Citizens for Law & Order

Former California State Fire Marshall Ron Coleman

Sheriff Bob Brooks - Ventura County

Sheriff Bob Doyle - Riverside County

Sheriff Charles Plummer - Alameda County

Sheriff Keith Royal - Nevada County

Chief Richard Bull - City of Ripon

Chief Burnham Matthews - City of Alameda

Chief Manuel Ortega - City of Bell Gardens

Chief Craig Steckler - City of Fremont

Ed Jagels - District Attorney, Kern County

Mike Ramos - District Attorney, San Bernardino County

Michael Riese - District Attorney, Del Norte County

Thomas Reeves - Prosecutor, City of Long Beach

Robert Shannon - City Attorney, City of Long Beach

Mike Reynolds - Author, Three Strikes Law

Local Government

Supervisor R. J. Beeler - Butte County

Supervisor Kim Yamaguchi - Butte County

Supervisor Paul Stein - Calaveras County

Supervisor Keith Hansen - Glenn County

Supervisor Ted Gaines - Placer County

Supervisor Robert Weygandt - Placer County

Supervisor William Dennison - Plumas County

Councilmember Gregory Gandrud - City of Carpenteria

Mayor George Stettler - Cathedral City

Councilmember Charles England - Cathedral City

Councilmember John McCann - City of Chula Vista

Councilmember Roberta MacGlashan - City of Citrus Heights

Mayor Gary Monahan - City of Costa Mesa

Mayor Walt Allen - City of Covina

Councilmember Richard Lowenthal - City of Cupertino

Councilmember Jill Orr - City of Dixon

Mayor Sophia Scherman - City of Elk Grove

Mayor Jerome Stocks - City of Encinitas

Councilmember James Bond - City of Encinitas

Councilmember Dan Dalager - City of Encinitas

Councilmember Christy Guerin - City of Encinitas

Councilmember Ed Gallo - City of Escondido

Mayor Steve Miklos - City of Folsom

Mayor Mel Berti - City of Fortuna

Mayor Alan Autry - City of Fresno

Councilmember Jerry Duncan - City of Fresno

Mayor Pro Tem Mike Clesceri - City of Fullerton

Mayor Frank Cook - City of Gridley

Mayor Lori Van Arsdale - City of Hemet

Councilmember Robert Meadows - City of Hemet

Councilmember Robin Reeser- Lowe - City of Hemet

Mayor Edward Escareno - City of Huntington Park

Mayor Robert Bernheimer - City of Indian Wells

Councilmember Ed Monarch - City of Indian Wells

Councilmember Conrad Negron - City of Indian Wells

Councilmember James Gomez - City of La Habra

Vice Mayor Ernest Ewin - City of La Mesa

Councilmember Dave Allan - City of La Mesa

Councilmember Terry Henderson - City of La Quinta

Councilmember Ron Perkins - City of La Quinta

Councilmember Marcia Rudolph - City of Lake Forest

Councilmember Tom Cosgrove - City of Lincoln

Mayor Ed Murray - City of Lindsay

Vice Mayor Frank Colona - City of Long Beach

Mayor Pro Tem Michael Ucovich - Town of Loomis

Councilmember Fred Freeman - City of Los Alamitos

Mayor Rob Schroeder - City of Martinez

Mayor Michael Kasperzak - City of Mountain View

Mayor Steven Bromberg - City of Newport Beach

Mayor Harvey Sullivan - City of Norco

Councilmember Frank Hall - City of Norco

Councilmember Herb Higgins - City of Norco

Treasurer Joe Yew - City of Oakland

Mayor Mike Murphy - City of Orange

Councilmember Jim Ferguson - City of Palm Desert

Mayor James Ueford - City of Palmdale

Mayor Pro Tem Michael Dispenza - City of Palmdale

Councilmember Richard Loa - City of Palmdale

Councilmember Richard Norris - City of Palmdale

Mayor Mickey Cafagna - City of Poway

Mayor Dave Roberts - City of Rancho Cordova

Mayor Pro Tem Linda Budge - City of Rancho Cordova

Councilmember David Sander - City of Rancho Cordova

Councilmember Alan Seman - City of Rancho Mirage

Councilmember Colleen Jordan - Redwood City

Councilmember Dan Prince - City of Ripon

Councilmember Ed Adkison - City of Riverside

Vice Mayor Brett Storey - City of Rocklin

Councilmember Jim Madaffer - City of San Diego

Mayor F.H. Smith - City of San Marcos

Vice Mayor Mike Preston - City of San Marcos

Councilmember Lee Thibadeau - City of San Marcos

Mayor Cameron Smyth - City of Santa Clarita

Mayor Randy Vogel - City of Santee

Mayor Tom Golich - City of Solana Beach

Vice Mayor Joe Kellejian - City of Solana Beach

Mayor Ron Warner - City of Tehama

Councilmember Pat McIntyre - City of Torrance

Councilmember Frank Scotto - City of Torrance

Councilmember Doug Davert - City of Tustin

Vice Mayor Pauline Clancy - City of Vacaville

Mayor Steve Herfert - City of West Covina

Mayor Pro Tem Russell Paris - City of Westminster

Councilmember Karen Cartoscelli - Yuba City

* Title for Identification Purposes Only

[Reagan Man]

>>>Don't forget everyone who endorsed Schwarzenegger. You can't respect them anymore either. The list gets pretty long for you doesn't it.

I told you many weeks back D1, respect is a two way street.

You're pretty good at placing words in other peoples mouths. You just did it with me. If you look at RE:#146, you may get some insight into my politics, that goes beyond your fabricated soundbite.

People can hold differing opinions and still agree on many issues. The issue of who to replace Boy Davis with, is important to the future of the California GOP and the conservative movement in general. In my book, Arnold doesn't measure up to my ideas, beliefs and values of conservatism and what I've learned through the years, from the likes of Bill Buckley, Ronald Reagan and Rush Limbaugh. Period.

[Reagan Man]

I don't care about the WSJ. You made some charges aimed in my direction. I responded with a thoughful reply and you totally ignored it. LOL Typical for someone more interested in a candidates name recognition and Hollywood star power, then anything to do with the political issues.

[hotpotato]

I kept reading about "RINO"s and wondered what it stood for until I learned here on FR that it stands for "Republican In Name and Oath."

Some people on FR (claiming to be "pure" republicans) seem to rewrite this oath to include/exclude more than it does.

[NYC Republican]

I don't care about the WSJ. You made some charges aimed in my direction. I responded with a thoughful reply and you totally ignored it. LOL Typical for someone more interested in a candidates name recognition and Hollywood star power, then anything to do with the political issues.

I didn't ignore it, I was busy working, and posting on other threads... After you "star power" comment, your post doesn't really warrant any response... If you think that I, and other Arnold supporters back him cause he's a star, you're beyond delusional.

[mercy]

Well all you dim witted McClintock patsies have to hate Hugh Hewitt now too. Heh heh heh.

[BibChr]

For some others, I coined the term NEINO's.

Stands for "Not Even In Name Only." Aren't even Republicans, just trying to slash and trash and bash.

Doesn't hurt that it's also German for "No."

Dan

[hotpotato]

See #51 regarding "RINO's" in this thread.

[hotpotato]

The media has concentrated on the "circus" aspect of the recall to include the bizarre army of candidates. The real circus is the way the republicans are bashing each other (democrats trash those outside their party while republicans trash each other.... amazing).

[Reagan Man]

Another cop-out. As long as you and the other Arnoldnauts, keep ignoring the issues, rational people will keep reaching the same conclusion. There's absolutely no good reason(s) for conservative Republicans to join you, in setting aside or surrendering their principles and convictions, to back a liberal Republican like Arnold.

[demnomo]

These CA tribes are being formed out of whole cloth and then given Reservation land--usually prime pieces of CA real estate off a major highway access to be used for a gambling casino. A bunch of Sonoma County, CA people have been fighting a newly-formed "tribe" endorsed by Senator Barbara Boxer. The "tribe" said in its original mission statement and at a federal hearing to grant them "tribal recognition" that they would NOT have a gambling casino. Guess what: THEY LIED.

Guess what: Barbara Boxer's son is one of the "tribe's" lawyer consultants along with a very close crony of Gov. Davis.

This "tribe" wants to put their federally-designated "sacred lands" on a prime piece of real estate right outside the borders of a quiet suburban community. The "tribe" has already bribed local politicos into going along with this idea, even though the "tribe" can, at any time in the future, renege on any voluntary financial hand-outs that they promised to the community. (The large campaign contributions to the politicians stay.) Those local politicos are being recalled, but by then it may be too late.

Indian Gaming Reservations are run by outside "tribes" from Neveda and New Jersey who love the fact that the casinos are on "sovereign land" that is not subject to the laws, rules, regulations, local, state and federal taxes that you and I have to abide by and pay for.

The Indian casinos cause a world of hurt to citizens outside the borders who must bear the brunt of the infrastructure and social costs--not to mention the loss of the citizens right to self-government since their politicians are afraid to anger the tribe and not get any campaign cash or "contributions" to alleviate a fraction of the crime, traffic, poor people gambling their paychecks away, and DUI-related accidents caused by a 24 hour casino operation.

The Indians are just front men for gambling concerns. A few million given away now and then to the politicians and communities is nothing but a bribe to make nice with the boys from Vegas or Atlantic City or else their "tribal partners" will withold any contributions in the future. An Indian casino stands to make hundreds of millions of dollars without taxation or legal oversight save what the tribal counsels dictate. It's not like a taxpaying, law-abiding "special interest" company or organization who contributes to a candidate and must play by the rules or else. It's far, far worse.

Indian casinos belong on older already established Reservations, not plucked down in the middle of family-friendly communities where the citizens have no say. Anything else is just Red Reparations gone mad.

[NYC Republican]

Another cop-out. As long as you and the other Arnoldnauts, keep ignoring the issues, rational people will keep reaching the same conclusion. There's absolutely no good reason(s) for conservative Republicans to join you, in setting aside or surrendering their principles and convictions, to back a liberal Republican like Arnold

How about... he's eons better than BustamanteDavis? Call him a lib all you want. He's a lib on social issues, which no governor in Cali will have the power to change (not even McClintock), a moderate on fiscal issues.

[PhiKapMom]

The Indians are just front men for gambling concerns.

Thanks for posting your comments about the Indian Gaming in #158. Cannot believe that they are allowed to just get the land and build a casino when no one has even heard of the tribe! It was an obvious conclusion to reach that the Indians were not capable of pulling this off by themselves. Now I find out that Boxer's son is involved -- not surprised!