Inside McClintock’s Head - What Could Have Been

National Review ^ | September 29, 2003 | Arnold Steinberg

[skeeter]

So Arnold is an 'awful candidate' beating 4 opponents singlehandedly right now

He's a successful action-hero who can afford to be an awful candidate.

[CheneyChick]

What kind of job will Tom have now that he's leaving politics?

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

Actually Arnold is beating 167 candidates. Not too bad for a ne'er-do-well.

[Vets_Husband_and_Wife]

Let the DEM's TRY to SLIME. They could throw ANYTHING at Mr. Schwarznegger. People will be so turned off by it, they will come out in droves to vote against Davis and MEChABustamante. Already they have underestimated the will of Californians in the recall alone.. so bring it on!!

As to Tom McClintock, he has slapped his own party in the face with his remarks about the county GOP chairs being "cocktail sipping country club elitists" (not an exact quote, but you know which one I'm talking about)..and now in his last attempt of desperation slamming Mr. Schwarzenegger. Arnold has had nothing but good things to say about McClintock.

I guess we all know by now who is above the fray and who isn't. IMO, we have made the right choice for Governor.

McClintocks future in the GOP is over unless he unites behind the leading candidate. He is a poor loser. People are shocked at his ego in this. It is pathological.

[Nonstatist]

For reasons that only he knows, Tom McClintock did not engage Arnold Schwarzenegger.

He's conceding without conceding. He wants to be on the ballot in case a miracle happens, but he wants to be able to pick up the pieces later in case Shwartznegger wins. And if Bustamante wins, he's hoping the fact that he wasnt too "devisive", will allow him to keep his cushy job in State Government. ..Pretty complicated.

[SupplySider]

I wish Steve Forbes had adopted the same stance towards Pres. Bush in the primaries. He might be Treasury secretary today instead of persona non grata at the White House.

[onyx]

A fabulous and well stated post.

[hotpotato]

Tom needs to stay in and be ready to pick up the frontrunner spot as the slime on Arnold gets released this week.

With the increased anger of California voters after the three judges had the audacity to stall the election against state constitution (support for recall increased), and because the population is so familiar with Davis' tactics which are so much a part of the furry of the voters with regard to Davis, I think late slime is going to backfire big time. I believe it will motivate voters to vote in support of the recall and could likely get AS the sympahty vote. It would certainly encourage me that way. And I'm a CA voter.

[hotpotato]

Let the DEM's TRY to SLIME. They could throw ANYTHING at Mr. Schwarznegger. People will be so turned off by it, they will come out in droves to vote against Davis and MEChABustamante. Already they have underestimated the will of Californians in the recall alone.. so bring it on!!

I think you are right. The recall was losing momentum until the three federal judges attempted to interfere with the proces and ignore state constitution by ruling in favor of delaying the recall. They actually encouraged more support for the recall with this tactic. People of this state are angry and fed up. Even a good percentage of democrats are fed up with their own party. I really do agree if they attempt to drop a last-minute bomb on AS, it will have the same reaction (maybe more so) that the three judges had on the population with regard to the recall. btw, anyone notice how Clinton stomping for Gray did not seem to bring more support against the recall. Don't know whether it was the debate last week, the three judges, or Clinton that did the most damage to Gray.

[Vets_Husband_and_Wife]

Let's just hope, when we count the absentee votes that the McClintock votes didn't lose us the State. It really "could" be that close.

It never serves us well to "bad mouth" a fellow Republican who is a front runner like he has done Mr. Schwarzenegger lately.

I called Mr. McClintocks campaign office Friday and "respectfully" asked that he "please step down for the sake of California, that he set aside his own ego, and step aside". "I BEGGED him to do so" and stated again .. "That I did so WITH ALL DUE RESPECT".

We must always be that way. I truly believe that. But I honestly believe this is political suicide that McClintock is committing.. right before our eyes, unless he puts the State and his party before himself. I honestly don't feel you will see the GOP backing him for ANY office if he doesn't do the right thing..and soon! Californians sure won't!!

FRegards

[Robert_Paulson2]

all absolutely correct...
expect to be accused of slandering St. Tom.

[Robert_Paulson2]

we have one vote for weiner dogs counter person
one for maytag repair man, or accountant.
I vote for him working at kinney's shoe store for children... where his supporters feel more comfortable.

[Robert_Paulson2]

no kidding...
spot on.

[Redleg Duke]

Maybe you should get the hell out of the kitchen if you can't take the heat! You McClinton zealots have been spewing your hate-filled rhetoric for months. If you want to dish it out, you'd better be able to take it also.

[hotpotato]

I have mixed feelings about McClintock stepping down. If he does step down and AS wins (which I believe would happen), TM supporters will never be satisfied and Gray's supporters will always refer to AS inability to win blah blah blah.

It would be nice for AS to win with near 50% of the vote but I'd rather him win with TM in the race. I think he can. TM has pretty much lost my support by showing a side of him I didn't know existed and frankly, worries me. CA doesn't need another administration that can't get anything done because people can't or won't "follow the leader." TM doesn't seem to understand that it takes cooperation to get the job done.

[EveningStar]

Tom's going down with the ship.

More like he's trying to torpedo it.

[Consort]

Tom/Cruz may have to take up teepee living.

[BunnySlippers]

I vote for elevator operator.

[christynsoldier]

why thank you, always nice to hear from another of Arnie's Dale Carnegie grads! and be sure and have a nice day...

;^)

[Vets_Husband_and_Wife]

What would be sickening is if TM caused us to lose by exactly the amount of absentee ballots or percentage of votes in the upcoming election that he drew away from Arnold Schwarzenegger.

If that happened I wouldn't want to be McClintock. He would probably want to consider moving. JMHO

Oh, and Maria Sanchez (D) on Hannity and Colmes tonight gave Tom McClintock a rave review. She said he is the best Conservative candidate out there, and that Conservative voters should be voting for him!! UNBELIEVABLE!!

I can't believe McClintock can't see how the Democrats are using him to DEFEAT a Republican win. God willing it won't work. But why can't McClintock see this? Why can everyone else..and not him?