Recall High Anxiety

FrontPageMagazine.com ^ | 9/26/03 | Tammy Bruce

[kattracks]

Earlier this week a disturbing tune had begun to infiltrate my conversations with friends. Both Republicans and Democrats (yes, I have pals who hail from both camps), began to express something which I can only describe as Recall Fatigue. Even though we’re being bombarded with messages by people who do not have our best interests in mind, it’s too important a time to tire.

Many of my Democrat friends, most of whom had signed the recall petition and were looking forward to voting “Yes” on the ballot, began to respond to the cries that poured out of the Democratic Party that the sky was falling and democracy would be destroyed if we, uh, used it.

Senator Dianne Feinstein began running television ads urging a no vote on the recall using that pathetic, stupid and just plain wrong complaint that the recall was “bad” for democracy. It’s unfortunate that someone like Feinstein would tell the people of California that keeping Gray Davis was a good idea when he’s virtually destroyed our state. It’s not true and she knows it.

I, for one, simple have no respect for her any longer. She was one of my favorite politicians and a favorite senator -- ‘was’ being the operative word here. And despite everything I’ve seen in politics (which has been plenty) I still feel betrayed (and rather silly) because she, in the end, was like every other politician: party first, people last.

It has been truly remarkable to watch everyone ranging from Al Gore to Howard Dean traipse into our state with the sole mission of explaining to us how we had no clue, are anti-democratic, and that this whole process was a circus, an abuse of the system, yadda-yadda-yadda. At least they dropped the "right-wing conspiracy" line when they finally realized Gray Davis’ 20 percent approval rating means everyone hates him. Bill Clinton’s use of churches for political rallies to galvanize support for Davis was especially detestable.

All of them exposed the disdain they not only have for us, but for the system itself. We have dared to challenge their comfy status quo. And it’s about time.

I watched these people come here and work to condemn the people of this state because of their own selfish, political motives of wanting to keep one of their own in office. This is very much like the time I complained to my feminist mentor at NOW about the behavior of the Kennedy men. At some point during the William Kennedy Smith rape trial I expressed my outrage at the misogynistic behavior of those supposed liberal flameholders, like Ted Kennedy. My mentor then said with a wink, “Yes, Tammy, the Kennedy men are pigs, but they’re our pigs.”

Well, that wasn’t good enough for me then, and it’s not good enough  now. I have told my Democrat friends they shouldn’t be brainwashed into believing their family’s future and the future of this state should be sacrificed for the benefit of “The Party.” If World War II taught us anything, it was that people and a nation (or state in this instance) should never again take the backseat to malevolent politicians who do not have our best interests in mind.

We deserve better than that. It is time to put party affiliation aside, recognize that Arnold Schwarzeneggar is truly independent from the system, and while he’s a registered Republican, he’s a man who can represent all the people of this state. It’s funny how Republicans, more than Democrats these days, manage to do that.

The issues here, though, transcend, political affiliation. You see, what party you belong to means nothing if you can’t put food on the table because of a tripled  car tax. Kids aren’t liberal or conservative—and hungry feels the same to a kid regardless of the politics of his parents.

Not being able to find a job isn’t reserved for just Republicans or Democrats. Unemployment is truly equal opportunity and brought to you in California by Gray Davis. Absurd corporate taxes, nutty worker’s compensation costs and other ridiculous business mandates have driven businesses out of the state. Bye bye companies! Bye bye jobs! Bye bye Gray Davis!

This brings me to my last point. My Republican friends have been wringing their hands over an entirely different issue—that fact that Tom McClintock is morphing into Ralph Nader right before their very eyes. While his politics are appreciated, his refusal to do the right thing by dropping is responsible for creating a lot of high anxiety among the conservative set.

For many of them, watching Nader take votes away from Al Gore in the 2000 presidential election was fun and amusing. Now a spoiler in their midst isn’t so funny.

But McClintock isn’t just a spoiler for Republicans—if he remains in this race, he’ll be a spoiler for every Californian. During an interview, Fox News Channel’s John Kasich asked McClintock if he thought the Republican Party would ruin his career if he didn’t get out of the race (effectively handing the state over to Bustamante). That’s a fair question, but I reminded John in a later segment that it isn’t the Republican Party that would ruin McClintock’s career if he doesn’t get out—it will be the people of California.

At some point, politicians must put themselves behind what’s best for the people. If they don’t, we will do it for them. In this instance, it is time for McClintock to do what’s right for California: gracefully get out of the race, and then join Arnold’s administration where he can implement some of his great ideas and be part of our recovery.

And as for every Democrat who has prostituted him or herself to support a man who has virtually destroyed this state, we’ll be putting you behind us, as well.

This recall is democracy in action, as is our rejection of those who view the people as speed bumps on the road to wealth and power. We’re in the firing mood, and it will not stop with this election. 

---

Tammy Bruce is a Fox News Channel Contributor and author of The Death of Right and Wrong.

[kattracks]

ping

[Brian Allen]

BTTT!

[Put me on your ping list, please, k?]

[kattracks]

Will do.

[Brian Allen]

Thank you -- B A

[Russell Scott]

I always take my politcal advice from lesbians NOT!!!!

[poet]

She makes valid points, however, I disagree about Mc withdrawing. It's Arnold who should withdraw and give Californians are real choice instead of a democrat clone who has an R after his name. Bloomberg of NY also placed an R after his name and look what he's done in NY. I, for one, am fed up with pretend conservatives. Why is it that liberals always run as "conservatives" and never as liberals? Why is it that people cannot see that fiscal conservatism has nothing in common with social liberalism?

Arnold revealed his liberalism in the debate when he said that he wants to bring business back to CA so he can implement his spending on social programs. You know the liberal mantra: "for the children".

[alwaysconservative]

Thanks for posting this! Tammy sure nailed it with the idea that hungry feels the same to kids regardless what the politics of their parents are, and kids who don't get enough food because of the tripled car tax are victims of Gray Davis.

This is a golden opportunity to assert true democracy instead of clinging to the refuse that Democrat pandering has wrought. I appreciate that even she (feminist, non-Republican) doesn't buy into that hateful mantra about Arnold's past statements about women making him unfit for office (like other "rabid" Demofeminists).

Also, her recollections about the Kennedy men as pigs (and by implicit reference, x42), are hilarious. People ARE waking up and recognizing that Republicans offer leadership while Democrats offer sleaze.

[BibChr]

...like every other politician: party first, people last.

Well, can't say that about McClintock.

With him it's evidently, "ME first, people last."

Dan

[BibChr]

McClintock isn’t just a spoiler for Republicans—if he remains in this race, he’ll be a spoiler for every Californian

Looka that. Even a broken clock can be dead-right at least once a day — and more perceptive than some other clocks so proud of how broken they think they aren't.

Dan

[Congressman Billybob]

Tammy Bruce is similar to David Horowitz in one important aspect. Look back at her history, where she came from, and you would think she had nothing to offer to conservatives. But she, like he, has thought her way out of and above the liberal mantras. She, like he, has become an effective spokesman for clear thinking and common sense in modern politics.

Because of where she's been and what she knows, and because she is a clear and thoughtful writer, I never miss a byline by Tammy Bruce. We are fortunate to have her as part of our national political discourse.

Congressman Billybob

Latest column, "Lessons for Iraq from General Washington, Major Andre, and Der Fuhrer Adolf Hitler," discussion thread on FR. Article is also on ChronWatch.

[George W. Bush]

Regardless of who wins, I expect the losing side to file another recall immediately.

If turnout is as expected at around 2 million, the next recall will only require about 200,000 signatures. Either party could stir up that many in only a few weeks.

[FairOpinion]

ping

[lawgirl]

I do recall High Anxiety. Not a particularly funny film.

[50sDad]

[SteveH]

What we've got here is an acknowledgement of considerable attention for the Tom-Arnold high-wire act from the left side of the audience.

Feinstein was the shining beacon of light for any fiscally conservative Democrat when she first ran for Senate in the year of the woman. Now she is reduced to shilling for Davis, currently at $38B in the hole. The Democratic state leaders are truly on the ropes, contorted all out of recognition.

I've been saying this all along despite Arnie's Angels screeching, the apparent tension between Tom and Arnold now has the full attention of the Democrats. And it is forced attention, because their only other recourse is Davis the (D)iscredited.

But Davis is not viable because of all their friends and relatives who are now out of work (if not sleeping on their sofas).

McClintock has a lot of support from Democrats who regard Arnold as a buffoon. (Tammy just isn't putting that in writing.)

*Any* fiscally conservative Republican could win this race.

[DoctorZIn]

Join Us…Your One Thread To All The California Recall News Threads!

Want on our daily or major news ping lists? Freepmail DoctorZin

[christynsoldier]

I think many people recognize that Arnie is also one of their Kennedy PIGS based on a long history of libertine antics and disrespect for women... its deepseated and comes out all the time like last years comments to Esquire on blondes with big t*ts...

but but, but, he has an R behind his name...

[SteveH]

I think many people recognize that Arnie is also one of their Kennedy PIGS based on a long history of libertine antics and disrespect for women... its deepseated and comes out all the time like last years comments to Esquire on blondes with big t*ts...

Gender slur in debate debatable

[christynsoldier]

at the time, I thought he was complimenting her to difuse the level of attack...

still don't think it was a too clever slap, but that so called treatment doesn't even hit the radar screen compared to his actions just in the last few years...