For the GOP, it's More than a Recall

Lt. Col. Gil Ferguson, USMC (Ret.)

[truthkeeper]

Haven't you heard? Rush isn't a "team player" anymore.

I have indeed heard that, many times, on this forum...and I find it pathetic. He has done more to advance the cause of conservatism that anyone I can think of, except for Ronald Reagan.

[Rabid Dog]

Ditto

They have never supported Tom and never will. I think they would rather have Boxer win then get behind a Republican that upholds the published planks of the party.

[pgyanke]

Busta's going to be Guv, and it is going to be the Perot Factor that does it.

You may be right but I get the sense from your post that you consider McClintock to be the Perot of the situation. Let's see...we had a GOP candidate who espoused Reaganesqe ideals in the race from the start. Whenever he's heard unfiltered, his poll numbers rise... maybe he should be heard more often. Maybe the GOP should support this guy.

Instead, we get an Arnold-come-lately who espouses social policies which don't jibe with the GOP platform and who, despite spending millions, can't increase his numbers in the polls. The GOP throws their support here because they just hope to win on his star power--regardless of his beliefs or policies.

The Perot in this scenario is Arnold who is siphoning votes from the only true conservative candidate in the race--the only one who actually recites the GOP platform.

[Political Junkie Too]

One thing that concerns me is that having McClintock as governor will lose his voice as a state senator. Having Schwarzenegger as governor and McClintock as his right-hand man in the state senate would make a very powerful duo. I think they would be able to accomplish more in that configuration than if McClintock were governor and Schwarzenegger went home.

Also, the tag team of Schwarzenegger/McClintock will help propel McClintock in a run against Boxer for Congress in 2004. That, in my opinion, would do more for California and the GOP than a McClintock win for governor in 2003.

-PJ

[truthkeeper]

I am with you on your comments in post #38. Tom is already a dead man walking in the eyes of these people, and has been for many years. He never will get their support.

They could at least be honest about it.

[FairOpinion]

"I think they would rather have Boxer win then get behind a Republican that upholds the published planks of the party. "

===

You guys are the ones who are working hard to get Bustamante elected, not us.

[k2blader]

Great article.

I'm watching the recall brouhaha from afar with no little revulsion at the current state of the CA GOP, particularly those so enamored of (R)nold that they are compelled to viciously attack the only conservative in the race.

Those who support McClintock are those who make the Republican Party worthy of respect.

[Poohbah]

Let's see...we had a GOP candidate who espoused Reaganesqe ideals in the race from the start.

In a state that's shifted a long distance to the left since Reagan left the Governor's office in 1974.

Whenever he's heard unfiltered, his poll numbers rise...

Only when the LA Times (aka "The Aztlan Daily Worker") deliberately stacks their polling sample to overstate his support.

Maybe the GOP should support this guy.

Maybe this guy should go after Democrats and quit kowtowing to the Bustamante supporters who donate money to him.

[jmc813]

Interesting points.

[Poohbah]

Those who support McClintock are those who make the Republican Party worthy of respect.

Especially when tell those who disagree with them that they're RINOs, "un-Christian," "sodomites," et cetera.

[HardStarboard]

>>>And I'll respond by posting Arnold's conservative views. ROFLMAO! <<<

Great sword you have there Star.....too bad you have elected to fall on it.

remember that we Republicians don't believe in suiside....

[VRWC_minion]

Running to the Left is not going to convince people on the Left (or even in the Center) to move to the Right.

Who is runing to the left ? California can't go any farther left. Besides you miss the point. Mathmatically there isn't enough people that will go as far right to elect McClintock. You cannot get there from here regardless of who takes a principled stand..

Standing firm on principle and offering a distinct choice will yield results.

Okay. Your standing on the ship labeled Principled-Titanic. Please explain how your principled stand will yield results except to lose ?

However, it may not bring an instant victory.

You still don't get it. You can repeat this process till enternity and the outcome will be the same. You will lose each time. Its simply not possible for the majority to knowing elect someone whose principals are that different than those of the majority. Peeing into the wind will bring about better results than attempting to repeat a losing forumula time after time.

Capitulation in the name of expedience is a losing proposition.

If you were the coach of a football team using your logic, every play you would make would be throwing for a touch down pass because trying to gain one yard at a time is compromising your principles ? Thats nuts.

We've done it for years, and it just makes the Left stronger.

The left has gotten weaker because the GOP has figured out how to gain yards inch by inch and go for the occasional big play. We always lost when we attempted push the American electorate farther right than they were prepared to go.

[Rabid Dog]

So, is the author right or not?

[FairOpinion]

"his(McClintock's character as a conservative Republican, are impeccable. "

Conservative Republicans don't collude with the enemy and don't consciously and deliberately want to Democrat to be elected.

---

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/985534/posts

Tom McClintock - The conscience of a conservative?

September 19, 2003
by Bob Chandra


In recent days, Tom McClintock, the "other Republican" in California's recall race, has accepted a million dollars spent on his behalf by a left-wing special interest group. He has claimed that a Democrat victory in the recall election would be desirable, as it would better his chances in 2006. And he has joined with Democrat Cruz Bustamante in a boycott against fellow Republican, Arnold Schwarzenegger. This is the man we're supposed to believe represents the conscience of conservatism? At the end of the day, Tom McClintock's Faustian Pact with the Left has made one thing clear - it's all about Tom McClintock.

The $1 million to be spent on McClintock's behalf is by Indian gambling interests, a staunch Democratic special interest. I wrote about the possibility of left-wing special interests backing McClintock in order to divide Republicans several weeks back. Now it is a reality. The Sacramento Bee has announced that the Morongo tribe is spending $1 million to boost McClintock's candidacy and it's not because they want him to win. The money spent on McClintock is meant to split the Republican vote so their loyal servant, Democrat Cruz Bustamante, can emerge the winner. With enough left- wing money, McClintock can steal enough votes from Arnold to make that happen. Tom's win-at-any-cost mindset has him collaborating with leftist groups who want nothing more than a divided Right to throw the election to Bustamante. Does McClintock see that the Left is using him? Maybe there's a reason it's called "blind" ambition.

McClintock's partnership with the liberal special interests raises serious questions about his loyalty to the GOP. McClintock has said he puts his personal "principles" before the party. But there's a deeper reason McClintock doesn't care that his spoiler candidacy will doom Republicans in the recall race.

In a conversation with US Congressman Dan Burton, Tom McClintock said the following: he (McClintock) didn't mind it if Democrats win the gubernatorial race because it could improve his own chances in 2006. According to the Los Angeles Times, "Burton, one of the more conservative members of Congress, also said McClintock had seemed to suggest that it would be acceptable for a Democrat to hold the governor's office, because he might create a clamor for a Republican in 2006.". So that's what this is really about. If McClintock can't win, he can at least prevent the Republicans from winning so he has a better shot in 2006. Aren't we glad he's playing for our team?

McClintock is now collaborating with Cruz Bustamante to boycott the California Broadcasters Association's debate on the 24th as a means of showing up Arnold Schwarzenegger. Bustamante led the boycott charge on October 17th with McClintock soon followed his lead. When you see a Republican siding with a Democrat against a fellow Republican, you know something is wrong with the picture. Don't adjust your set- this is Tom McClintock, the self-styled conscience of conservatism.

As if things couldn't get any worse, McClintock is justifying his candidacy on a poll strategically conducted by the left-wing Los Angeles Times, which wants nothing more than to keep him in the race. That Times' poll has been debunked by Field and even invalidated by the Times' own reporting. It added 6% more self-identified conservatives than other polls and naturally gave McClintock an artificial 5% bump. But McClintock is clinging to this cooked poll, another leftist ploy, because it serves his interests.

What kind of a conservative lets left-wing interests drive his candidacy like this? The answer is a candidate who is so blind with ambition that he does not see how the Left is using him to their own ends. Thus far, McClintock has claimed he stands for principle, but it is obvious that his hopeless candidacy is based on personal ambition. It's no longer appropriate to view McClintock as merely a misguided crusader. He is a bigger threat to Republican victory on Election Day than Cruz Bustamante. Up until now, McClintock has responded to arguments for stepping aside with denial, delusion, and arrogance. Given his collaboration with the Left, Republicans must get serious with him. McClintock's "stalking horse" candidacy must come to an end.

[jmc813]

Out of Arnold and McClintock, which candidates' opinions on the issues most closely resemble yours?

[wku man]

"Just don't be surprised if alot of us leave the party."

A lot of us already have, bro. The RINOs don't seem to realize they need us conservatives, but we don't need them.

Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!

[SunStar]

You guys are the ones who are working hard to get Bustamante elected, not us.

That is such a f***ing smear...

We are working to elect a conservative to replace a liberal while you guys are working diligently, on a conservative forum, to discredit the conservative in the race and elect a Hollywood liberal!

[rdf]

On prop 54, check out this good news

http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/story/7485185p-8427432c.html

Tom is for it, Arnold tells Connerly's right hand man, Justin Jones, that it's the work of "Right wing crazies." And in the debate, Arnold says he agrees with what Cruz. B. said on 54, "exactly."

I'll be walking for Tom on Oct 4th, and after I post this, I'll send him another $50.

It ain't over 'til it's over.

Cheers,

Richard F.

[pgyanke]

Maybe if all of you RINOs (and yes, I mean it) would support the only candidate in this race who follows the GOP platform, we could actually win.

Instead, all we hear is "well, he is obviously the BEST candidate but he can't win so, Go Arnold!"

FACE IT, HE CAN'T WIN BECAUSE YOU WON'T SUPPORT HIM. Just take the blame for the failure of conservative ideals in CA and be honest about it.

[habs4ever]

I'll leave you to your delusions, but you act like the terms under which this recall and election are being conducted are NORMAL, and thus you have all the time in the world to do what you normally do.The way it has been done in the past is moot, but continue thinking you have that choice.You don't.You don't have that luxury, so it's your thinking that is out of step and completely irrelevant to the facts on the ground.

You have but one choice and one only: vote for the most conservative candidate who can win.That's the only criteria that matters, not some wish list dreamed up to use as a stump speech around the State.Putting winning ahead of the fantasy of the most desirable candidate is the most RATIONAL choice available.I have stated this over and over to many here, going past 5 wks, and yet, this basic fact is lost in a spew of recriminations about purity, and honour and 'principles"

This is no different than those who think you can continue the pre-9/11 charade of acceptable asymmetrical warfare.That world has changed and there are new rules.Figure out the rules to this recall and how to win, and you may develop a rational thought after all.I'm not going to waste my time on dimwits, so post to someone else.