Threat of spoiler's role doesn't faze McClintock

Times-Herald ^ | 9-29-03 | AP

[ConservativeStandUP]

Questions/Observations for McClintock and Co.

1. He hates the 'country club republicans.' Tom, what's with the class envy? Don't give me the core principles crap, he keeps specifically attacking country club republicans, how's he gonna get elected without them?

2. Cruz Bustamante hasn't attacked him. That tells me that Cruz' internal polls show this guy is a joke candidate, ie. not a threat. Reminiscent of when Bush DIDNT attack NADER in 2000, Bush's people knew he was hurting Gore more than Bush.

3. Arianna hasn't attacked him. Arianna is a paid shill for Gray Davis, in exchange for the California Franchise Tax Board NOT investigating her tax evasion. Conclusion, he's not a threat to even Arianna.

4. Tom is popular in other states! HELLO!How many votes does that mean for him?

5. Tom has become a 'conservative icon.' COME ON Already, he's been a factor for a month. This is the kind of thinking that says The White Stripes or the Strokes (two ridiculously trendy rock bands) are the new Rolling Stones.

6.It's gonna be funny watching the implosion, if I lived in Arizona or Nevada, I'd get ready for a surge in home prices, sell and immediately depart from the new state of EAST California!

[Tempest]

What racist gym comment would you be speaking of?

[L.N. Smithee]

If only we had a Communist country we could all vote for the winner, the only choice on the ballot!

Worked for Saddam, too. Remember how he got 100% of the vote in Iraqi elections?

[Tempest]

"1. He hates the 'country club republicans.' Tom, what's with the class envy? Don't give me the core principles crap, he keeps specifically attacking country club republicans, how's he gonna get elected without them?"

All sizzle, no steak. Tommy has been in Colorado over the weekend gather donations from several of the elite country club conservatives that he as a career politician has been rallying against. Funny isn't it?

[Ronin]

There were a couple of black body builders that claimed that Arnold used the "N" word in their presence back during his iron pumping days.

It didn't make much of a splash, because (I think) the Democrats could not afford to use it. Bustamante's gaff was much more serious and in front of impeccable witnesses.

[tkathy]

It's quite obvious that McC sees a future as a talking head on TV and probably a book in the offing while portraying victimhood of the vast moderate conspiracy.

[tkathy]

Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice. Moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.
-- Barry Goldwater

Goldwater didn't do very well for the Republican Party.

[L.N. Smithee]

1. He hates the 'country club republicans.' Tom, what's with the class envy? Don't give me the core principles crap, he keeps specifically attacking country club republicans, how's he gonna get elected without them?

From S.F. Chronicle columnist Debra Saunders, the paper's token conservative, October 28, 2002:

---

Tom McClintock is nobody's handmaiden. In fact, there are Republican suits who, if they were candid, might admit that they'd prefer to see no Republican win statewide office than see McClintock elected controller. They don't want someone so independent and so clearly his own man in the party's top spot.

McClintock led the charge against state Insurance Commissioner Chuck Quackenbush, a Republican who resigned in disgrace in 2000. Before that, McClintock so irritated GOP Govs. Pete Wilson and George Deukmejian that they endorsed his opponent, Dean Andal, in the primary.

---

Much has been made of McClintock's supposed disloyalty. When Tom defeated Andal by nearly 10%, the GOP establishment stood by as dot-com tycoon Steve Westly spent $4.6 million on his own campaign (Tom spent none of his own).

After garnering 948,000-odd votes in his primary run, McClintock received 3,273,028 in the general election -- over a million more votes than were cast for GOP candidates in the primary. He came within 17,000 votes of defeating Westly, which is notable considering that 480,000 ballots were returned without a choice for controller being made.

In short: outspent by at least 15-to-1, McClintock lost to a moneybags Demo by 0.3% when 6.2% didn't vote for anyone for controller. Think just a little financial help would have made a diff?

And as you probably already know, McClintock received more votes than any Republican running last year -- even Bill Simon.

"How's he gonna get elected without them?" you ask. IMHO, Tom would have gotten elected WITH them, but they weren't interested. So if there is any hatred of the "Country club" Republicans coming from McClintock, he is simply hating them back.

[Amelia]

I hope this doesn't end up being the debacle for the CA GOP that it looks like it could be.

I surely will be glad when it's over, though. Those of us on the East Coast are getting real tired of the news being California recall, 24/7.

[grania]

It seems to me that a lot of people at this website should never again complain about RINO's and weak GOP leadership in Congress that can't get a vote on judges when they have the majority. I can now understand how we got those chaps in Congress now.

Arnold does not sound like a person who would support even one of the conservative values these "can win" posters claim they support.

We've lost our democracy when we, as a nation, lost our principles and voted out of fear of the other candidate and for "who can win".

And you know what? People on the national level who are supporting who they think is the worst, most likely to lose Dem candidate are a huge part of the problem. It just helps created bad choices.

Either these people who will take anything as long as its a "Republican" they think can win start losing, and voters become principled again, or the country is lost. (This isn't hyperbole, I really feel this way)

[AmericaUnited]

Tom has shown he is not leadership material. He would make an excellent point man, policy wonk (for a leader), etc, BUT HE IS NOT LEADERSHIP MATERIAL. Unless you're a supreme dictator, the stubborn "It's my way or the highway" method does get you or your agenda very far.

[Drango]

He has just passed Huffington...

WOW!

[AmericaUnited]

We've lost our democracy when we, as a nation, lost our principles and voted out of fear of the other candidate and for "who can win".

Oh really?! That's the reality of the political process and the way it's been since the birth of our republic.

[grania]

Oh really?! That's the reality of the political process and the way it's been since the birth of our republic.

Two word response: Ronald Reagan

[tkathy]

The days of Ronald Reagan are over. The post 9/11 country is not the same.

[autoresponder]

I can drink my Corona when I wish to

You can elect an illegal alien!

The one word response:

AZTLAN

[BlackElk]

Actually, the future of the world is a lot more likely to depend on voting against those who would kill babies to seize political power. The future disposition of one's soul certainly does.

Certainly in Maine, in New York or anywhere else, there is no respectability or morality attaching to anyone who votes pro-abort, regardless of the alternatives.

[BlackElk]

Oh, hide the children it's the boogeyman or the ATZLAN!!!! or whatever. Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!