[i are a cowboy]

I am voting for and supporting Arnold for economic principles. This state cannot withstand any more of the Davis ilk. We don't have the luxury of idealogic purity with so much at stake. I am voting for the future of my family not for the sake of any of my personal convictions.

[RichInOC]

1. I care about this state. I was born here. I was raised here. I've lived here all my life.

2. Democrats have been, are, and will for the foreseeable future continue to be, bad for my state.

3. We need to replace Democrats with more conservative candidates whenever possible, as promptly as possible. (Conservatives most definitely preferred, but moderate Republicans, as long as they are more interested in doing battle with the other party than their own, acceptable in this regard.) Incidentally, promptness is particularly vital in the case of a snap special election such as this recall. The candidate not only has to be acceptable, but ready to run a winning campaign now.

From that point, I'd have to get into campaign operations, fundraising ability and other matters beyond the purview of your question, but I think I hit the main points.

[Consort]

A loser with a lot of principles is still a loser. In politics, first you win.

[Roarkdude]

Pro-business, fiscal responsibility, leadership, infectious enthusiasm.

...and he can win!

[Kevin Curry]

The principle: "Winning isn't everything--it's the only thing."

Verbatim, from a Schwarzenegger zealot.

[Yaelle]

At first it was because he was not the worst idea I'd heard and he definitely had the name recognition, and he was at the least in the center of the political spectrum. Davis is a prostitute, and Bustamante is a racist.

Now, I believe he is conservative where it counts, fiscally and also most likely on illegal immigration, though he has not been able to fully express this until after the election, when I believe he will.

This issues where he is liberal do not bother me so much. My best college friend is gay with a terminal illness and I see the need for some partnership benefits; she and her parnter have lived together for many years. (No, she does not have AIDS.) I am anti-abortion but most people in CA are not. We cannot coerce them. Do you realize how many MEDICAL DOCTORS will all but CONVINCE women having amnios (IN THEIR 2ND TRIMESTER) to abort all babies with problems? Most families choose to abort babies with Downs or other genetic problems, and some choose to abort babies with malformations, etc. And the doctors really push it. For a great book on this subject, and a beautiful story anyway, read "Expecting Adam." I do not see how even making first trimester abortions illegal will stop this above-mentioned medical practice.

I think Arnold is a powerful man who can stand up to party intimidation, both our own and the opposing, and also that his ego (if not more of him) received so much stroking in his youth, and he has so much love of his family and friends, that he is not a greedy-ego, needy man who is doing this out of pure self-interest. This latter psychological health is something many people running for office do not have. Arnold is comfortable within his own skin, and sees the benefit of compromise and not dying on each and every hill to achieve your goals.

Arnold became a Republican for the same reason I did: he lived under socialism and saw where it got you. I was once a marvelously healthy young specimen in Europe whose high-paying job was made redundant. All while I was collecting 90% of my previous salary for two long, happy years, I and my like-minded laid off American ex-pats became rabidly conservative. The system does not work. Arnold has lived it. He has done his homework in economics. He knows.

[Friend of thunder]

Just curious,for what principals are you voting for?

Excuse my Presumptiveness – I am from Washington State not California – but I have an opinion: because the only real choice is between Cruz Bustamante and Arnold Schwarzenegger (sorry if this upsets you, but it is true) perhaps, and this is just a guess, they want to win. If you feel there is no difference between Cruz Bustamante and Arnold Schwarzenegger vote for Tom … but it will be on your head.

Assuming, just for a moment, that I am correct; what principals are you voting for?

[strela]

for what principals are you voting for?

I'd vote for my old high school principal Mr. Malthrope for the "Biggest Criminal in State Service" award. They hauled him away in my junior year for stealing coffee from the teacher's lounge. LOTS of coffee. 3 cans a day worth of coffee. He was reselling the stuff at area flea markets.

For the "Worst Combover" award, I'd vote for the principal at my junior high, Mr. Evans. His pate looked like a high wind in a wheatfield.

[dead]

Principal Victoria.

[libertylass]

Thanks for the topic/posts.

I'm coming in late but wanted to say a couple of things. I'm native born and a "right winger". I love McClintock and feel he best represents the idea of conservatism. Arnold stated he will continue to support illegal alien children when he debated the other four candidates. (Supporting the children means supporting their parents too.) Other than that I didn't find anything that he did say as meaningful nor informative. In fact, I came away feeling he was pretty much an idiot. HE'S AN ACTOR FOLKS!! Which leaves me a bit surprised at all the cheering for him as a great leader. He doesn't have a clear idea of how our State Government even works. McClintock certainly does. Tom was thoughtful, kind and respectful of the others and Bust-a-MECHA and Arianna even agreed with several of Tom's statements.

I've been listening to all the talk shows and it's been clear from the start that Arnold was the pick of the litter, but I find him to be completely inexperienced. I'm fearful that he may be a Democrat in disguise and will end up taxing us even after all his promises. I hate DAVID AND BUST-A-MOVE for destroying my native state. I don't consider Ahhhhnold a good choice.....BUT.....

We have no other choice at this time. I LOVE McClintock, however, to take back our state we have to put someone in that is a moderate before we can put someone in that is a true conservative. WE HAVE TO STOP THE ILLEGAL ALIEN EXODUS INTO THIS STATE! IT'S ONE OF OUR MOST GLARINGLY SERIOUS ISSUES. I WILL EXPECT ARNOLD TO DEAL WITH THIS SPEEDILY. HE CANNOT REPEAL DAVIS' SIGNING OF THE D.LICENSE BILL. I BELIEVE IT HAS TO GO THROUGH THE REFERENDUM PROCESS.

I hope to G_D that Arnold follows through on all these promises or I will vote my heart next time. I even seriously entertained the idea of voting for McClintock and have actually vacillated back and forth for weeks, with the idea that California may have to completely hit bottom before a true conservative will bring it back. But....I have thought long and hard and decided that my vote, just like my vote for Bush (who I find will never close the borders), will have to be a self-sacrificing vote for A.S. I don't find him to be experienced, trustworthy, or capable of fighting off the wolves in Legislature without an advisor/handler by his side, and his presence doesn't strike me as "huge." I'm sorry for Tom with conservative folks calling him a spoiler as he's doing just what our process asks for. Giving us a choice....good, bad or indifferent.

Our political process sucks. We vote for the one most likely to beat the liberal/s. Not the best man for the job.

Arnold is who the Republican Party has picked for us to vote for, I'm afraid. And I'm definitely voting YES on 54!!

[Hildy]

The principle that getting a little of what you want is better than getting none. Any questions?

[hillaryisalesbo]

Granted I'm in Virginia, but as a born and raised Californian....I'd vote for Satan himself to defeat Davis and Cruz. Another 3 years of Davis and Cruz and there won't be a businessman left in the state. Take half the loaf with Arnold rather than starving is my advice.

[Tempest]

Do you mean principles or moral righteousness.

Because frankly I don't think that the governor of a state is typically a common rolemodel. The president of the United States surely. But governors usually fly much lower on the radar.

If your talking about politcal agenda. I would have to say that I support Arnold's fiscal agenda. As far as the social agendas go. I think that Tom would be just as apathetic as Arnold when it comes to actual practice. Even though he may give it better lip service.