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"George W. Bush did what it took to win the Republican primary and the general elections. Remember all those people who said we had pick McCain in the primary, and Bush could never win..."

President Bush was always considered the front runner. McCain was second. I agree that there were people who thought that President Bush could not win in the general election and that McCain could. But the numbers were always good for GW. McClintock does not have good numbers. McClintock is in the teens and Bustamante is in the high twenties or low thirties. The facts don't agree with your comparison.

McClintock cannot win. There was a chance that McCain could have won. He was getting large and enthusiastic crowds. That's not the case with McClintock. McCain was able to raise money. McClintock is not.

What I'm trying to understand is why and/or how people who say that Arnold is 100% responsible for the outcome of the this election have come to that conclusion. I can't follow the logic that tells me that conservatives believe in personal responsibility and yet somehow, magically, McClintock is not personally responsible for his impact. I just don't get it. Davis is having an "impact" on this race. Bustamante is having an "impact" on this race. Arianna is too, as is Arnold, as is the media, as is Clinton and all the dems who have come and campaigned for Davis. Everyone has an "impact" and is "responsible" for their choices and decisions and the consequences of those choices and decisions.

Why is McClintock the only person who is not responsible for his impact?

I didn't say anything about McClintock one way or the other. I was just saying that Schwarzenegger never tried to ``lock up his base.'' (If, in fact, they are his base) Whatever they are, he never did it. And if McClintock didn't exist, he still would be in the same position. Learn from President Bush.

I live in California. Last year, Bill Simon lost to Gray Davis by less then 5% of the vote. The total number of illegal votes was over 5% (in some counties it was 37%) The state GOP here did not back Simon because he wasn't their chosen guy. The state GOP hurt his campaign big time. Some of the big shots even started a group ``Republicans for Davis.'' Whenever I pointed this out to anyone, I was told it was all Simon's fault and that no one else is to blame except the candidate himself. So why should it be any different from Schwarzenegger?

And as a post script, I called up my county GOP offices and volunteered. They gave me all the material, but they told me not to bother campaigning for Bill Simon and Tom McClintock actually. They said they were really trying for Bruce McPherson and not to worry about the rest, That sgould tell you something about the GOP in this state.

I don't think Schwarzenegger is 100% responsible. The state GOP has caused a lot of these problems by continually giving the finger to Republican voters in the state. The reason I criticize Schwarzenegger is that I don't think he has done what it takes to get those votes. I don't think it would take a Herculean effort. If I was his campaign manager I think I could figure it out. A lot of campaign managers could. But Schwarzenegger hasn't done this, so I guess he doesn't think he needs those votes. But that's his decision. He could go out there and win them over.

>>>>>Why is McClintock the only person who is not responsible for his impact?

Because McClintock supporters need someone to blame if McClintock lose the election for the Republicans.

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President Bush was always considered the front runner. McCain was second. I agree that there were people who thought that President Bush could not win in the general election and that McCain could. But the numbers were always good for GW. McClintock does not have good numbers. McClintock is in the teens and Bustamante is in the high twenties or low thirties. The facts don't agree with your comparison.

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Let's not forget that though we disapproved of McCain and his choice to run further to the Left than Bush (but still to the Right of Gore), that he took his defeat properly and remained a very good party man. He campaigned vigorously for Bush. He didn't get petulant and stay in the race right up to the convention. He did the right thing for the party and the nation and bowed out.

Contrast that with McClintock.