GOP trying to budge McClintock supporters

Kansas.com ^ | 9-28 | Kansas.com

[ambrose]

	Posted on Sun, Sep. 28, 2003
	GOP trying to budge McClintock supporters By Barry Witt Mercury News If Republican state Sen. Tom McClintock keeps his promise to see this recall election all the way to its conclusion Oct. 7, then the real pressure will shift to Melissa Zenor. Never heard of her? She's a clerk for United Airlines who lives in the San Mateo County community of Montara. Last week, she contributed $5,000 to McClintock's campaign. ``As far as I'm concerned, he's the only candidate in the race that can get us out of the troubles we're in,'' Zenor said Saturday. GOP nightmare It's voters such as Zenor -- the ones who are standing by McClintock come hell or Cruz Bustamante -- who have state Republican Party leaders worried sick. They look at poll numbers showing Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger running neck-and-neck with Bustamante, the Democratic lieutenant governor, in a three-person race that includes McClintock. With McClintock gone, Schwarzenegger would open a big lead. Monday, the state's Republican leadership plans to gather in a special meeting to consider endorsing Schwarzenegger, just in case the daily pleas to McClintock supporters to abandon their candidate to improve the chances of taking over the governor's office haven't sunk in yet. Will that message make a difference? Not to Zenor. ``I've heard it time and again, but I just think I have to vote for the best candidate and hope my guy can make it through,'' she said. Zenor describes herself as a ``social conservative'' -- making McClintock a far better match for her than Schwarzenegger, who supports abortion rights, domestic-partner rights and limits on gun ownership. But she said the real reason for supporting McClintock is that she has more confidence in him on economic issues. Schwarzenegger's ``association with Warren Buffett certainly doesn't help him,'' she said of the business executive and Schwarzenegger adviser who has called for the state to undo Proposition 13. Francine Welstand, a homemaker from Pinole, also isn't about to jump from McClintock. She labels ``abhorrent'' the calls for the conservative senator from Thousand Oaks to drop out. No compromises ``He's the best man for the job. I don't think he should withdraw. I want to vote for someone who reflects my principles,'' said Welstand, who sent McClintock a $1,000 check in early August. ``I believe him when he says he will not raise taxes. No other candidate has said that.'' To be sure, some McClintock supporters will switch sides if it appears by Election Day that a vote for him will help Bustamante win. ``Tom McClintock is way up there for me, right to the ceiling,'' said Joe Czisch, 56, of Cupertino, who runs a precision machining company in Palo Alto. ``But if I find out one or two days before the election he can't win, I'll vote for Arnold just to get the Democrats out of there.'' Czisch, who sent McClintock $1,000 two weeks ago, said he wouldn't be entirely happy with his choice, but it's the best option he has. ``I'm a real conservative,'' he said. ``Some of the views Arnold Schwarzenegger has are not my views, but if we do this step by step, there would be a chance to turn things around eventually. Tom McClintock is a very good person. I wish he could be in power, but I'm not sure at this time.'' Contact Barry Witt at bwitt@mercurynews.com or (408) 920-5703.

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© 2003 Mercury News and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved.
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[LA Conservative]

Yes, the legislature is full of socialists, no doubt.
If you'll recall, Dr, Richman was able to craft a bi-partisan budget that implemented strong spending controls, in return for a temporary sales tax hike of a 1/2 percent, in order to close the budget gap.

This budget died as a result of the strong partisanship in Sacramento. And now we have a BS budget that really only defers our debt, and will probably further lower our bond rating, resulting in higher borrowing costs.

[noexcuses]

I'm guessing that all the Dennis Miller for senate hoopla I've seen and read about today is a warning to McClintock: get out or we will run Miller against Boxer instead.

[cksharks]

Yep!

[Golden Gate]

~ GOP trying to budge McClintock supporters ~

To GOP Leadership!   For the benefit of the people of California - Why don't you try another strategy?

Exclusive, free advice from FR's Golden Gate:

GOP Leaders and Activists need to try to persuade Democrat Voters !!

[Golden Gate Draft:] - From Democrats, - to Democrats and Others:

1. - When people here in California are concerned with the serious problems in this state and across America, they need to consider the tremendous influence that the Democratic Party has on our government, and on our culture. As Democrats, if we look to the Democratic Party as the Party of hope that has done what is right, - then we must also see the ways in which the Democrats have been the Party that has caused harm while doing what is wrong.

2. - Even Democrat voters need to question and scrutinize the policies and platform positions of the Democratic Party, before they cast their vote or offer continued support. In which ways have the policies of the Democrats helped solve our problems? And in which ways have they contributed to the problems, and even prolonged them?

3. - In any political party, we have to wonder and ask about the intentions of the leaders and the party activists. As Democrats, we must ask if the views of the leadership actually reflect the views of the average registered Democrat? And when is the Democrat voter being served by the leadership, and when are the voters being used by the Democrat leadership?

4. - We hear about the widespread apathy of the public. Even so, as long the political parties are powerful and have a tremendous influence, then each citizen should take an interest in the beliefs of the political parties. And each registered voter needs to take an interest in the statements and official actions of both the leaders and the activists.

5. What is the best way to discuss the controversial and divisive issues without carelessly dividing the Party? As Americans, what informaion do we need to know, and what lessons do we need to learn from our American history? And, what is the important history of the Demcractic Party?
-[more - pending]-

It would be preferable if prominent Democrats would finally admit to the major problems with the policies in the Democratic Party, and be willing to renounce and abandon many of the so-called 'liberal-progressive' policies. If a prominent Democrat won't step forward, then any Democrat leader should take the opportutinty to lead.

During this recall campaign, Democrat voters need to see the need for change in the Democratic Party and the Democratic leadership. Gray and Cruz do NOT deserve our support, and they do NOT deserve our Vote!

So there, GOP Leadership. Stop worrying about Tom, and focus on persuading the Democrat voters of the important need to replace Gray and reject Cruz!
Visit Golden Gate for Democrats and Others!

[ARCADIA]

If McClintock stays in as a spoiler, he better make sure he wins, because otherwise his political career is over. His 15 percent may remain loyal, but the rest of the country will only remember him for his arrogance, for his stubborness, and for the damage he caused. He would be able to support himself as a talk show host, but that's about it.

[truthkeeper]

It is not enought to just veto legislation, the governor has to work with the legislature on coming up with good bills to advance an agenda that is good for the state.

Uh-huh. The legislature we currently have in this state is going to come up with good bills. The SAME legislature that produces bills like granting driver's licenses to illegal aliens, paying for 100% for their community college bills, and triping our car taxes. Right, I believe that one.

The inmates have taken over the asylum here. Spare me ANY of their bills, good or otherwise. I say, "BLOCK 'EM" and pull out all all the stops to push our initiatives and referendums through.

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

Conservatives are to the Republican party as blacks are to the Democrat party. Both groups are a source of votes and the recipients of unkept promises.

That's the truth!!

[Golden Gate]

See Post #24 - Bump!!   - GOP Leadership -

* - Don't worry about trying to budge Tom's supporters;
   You need to try to nudge & persuade Democrat Voters !! - *

[jwalsh07]

While he would veto bad legislation, he may not get far working to advance a conservative agenda

You've been spun amigo. That is currently the Republican suits spin to convince McClintock fellow travelers that he can't be an effective governor even if he does get elected.

It seems he got an F in playing well with the Democrat and Republican Robin Hoodites in Sacramento.

What's funny is that they are convincing some that this is a bad thing. :-}

[SierraWasp]

Fantastic comment!!! Best yet!!! You are so right!!! Bravo!!! Encore!!!

[ambrose]

No, he doesn't.

What people don't seem to understand is that the only way the Democrats in the legislature may lose their seats in an election is if they SUPPORT reform efforts! If they do, the union bosses will be certain to run primary challengers, and will cut off any funding.

People just don't understand this. About all the governor can do with this legislature and veto everything they send up - as George Deukmejian did so well. Everything else will have to be accomplished via initiative.

I hope Arnold has it in him to use that veto pen.

[Coop]

If McClintock stays in as a spoiler, he better make sure he wins, because otherwise his political career is over. His 15 percent may remain loyal, but the rest of the country will only remember him for his arrogance, for his stubborness, and for the damage he caused. He would be able to support himself as a talk show host, but that's about it.

Yeah. How dare him expect to let the voters decide. The GOP elite have spoken!

This post is pure nonsense.

[zbigreddogz]

Do me a favor and look up the word "Primary" in the dictionary.

[zbigreddogz]

No, he'd be a weak governor because he is a carrear politician with an ego the size of his home state, not because he doesn't play nice with the dems.

[Coop]

Do me a favor and look up the word "Primary" in the dictionary.

Okay. Done!

[zbigreddogz]

Now learn from it.

[Coop]

I did! I learned it has absolutely nothing to do with the CA recall. But your help is most appreciated!

[zbigreddogz]

:sigh:

You seem to be having difficulty connecting the dots here, so I'll help:

Your right, the Californa Recall election doesn't have a primary. You are whining about 'letting the voters decide', but if there is several republicans in the race, what exactly are they deciding? That would be like having Bill Owens, George Bush, and Howard Dean running for President next year.

Notice, it would be fairly easy for Howard Dean to win this way, even if he only got 40% of the vote. Heck, there is a chance he could pull it out with 35% of the vote. Why? Because Owens and Bush would be SPLITTING THE VOTE.

Now, under normal circumstances, this wouldn't be a problem, because we would have a primary, which would fix all our problems, there would be only one republican in the race, and people who dislike socialist could rally around him. But, as you pointed out, the California Recall doesn't have a primary, therefore, if we want to have any chance of winning, we need to at the very least rally behind one candidate, especially if one seems too arrogant and self-absorbed to drop out in spite of the fact that his poll numbers arn't looking so hot. If we don't, then we wind up with a racist, socialsit badguy like Bustamove. If the Republicans get a combined 63% of the vote, but the one democrat gets 35%, he could end up being governor if we don't creat some sort of faux primary.

Let me know if I can clarify anything else for you.

[Coop]

Let me know if I can clarify anything else for you.

Sure. Which Republican - Bush or Bill Owens - should be publicly villified by "conservatives" in your scenario?

[skeeter]

Conservatives are to the Republican party as blacks are to the Democrat party. Both groups are a source of votes and the recipients of unkept promises.

The difference being that if the Democrat black voting block ever rejected the party's annointed candidate in favor of one who more accurately reflected their values I imagine the democratic party would actually attempt to retain their vote rather than simply scoff & show them the door.

I guess they don't call the GOP the Stupid Party for nuthin.