[FairOpinion]

A "must read" ping -- thoughtful discussion by Haynes about Schwarzenegger, McClintock and the recall.

[CheneyChick]

Excellent, historical perspective. Too many joined the fray in the last few weeks and have no idea of the background of the recall.

[onyx]

BTTT --- I will read it tonight.

[deport]

Thanks for the ping...... Here's another endorsement by another Assembly Republican today......... Dave Cox

September 29, 2003

Republican Leader Dave Cox: Yes on Arnold Schwarzenegger, Yes on the Recall

SACRAMENTO - Assembly Republican Leader Dave Cox (R-Fair Oaks) today announced that he has endorsed Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger for Governor in the Recall Election on November 7th. Following is Cox's statement:

Dave Cox

[South40]

Sorry FO, but I generally lose interest in an article on or around the 20,000th word.

[Victoria Delsoul]

Comparing all of this with Davis and Bustamante, the question of who to support answers itself. At worst, Schwarzenegger will be benign on the issues we hold dear, and at best, he will be helpful. I think there is sufficient evidence that he will be helpful that I am willing to put my personal reputation on the line in his support. If I am wrong, I will apologize, and do my political penance. I do not think I am wrong here.

Woohoo, excellent!

[nopardons]

This most assuredly IS a must read for EVERYONE !

[LisaAnne]

Thank you for the ping, FO.
This is a must read for everyone.

[Tamzee]

Thank you very much for the ping... this was remarkably helpful in understanding why things have proceeeded in the manner we've seen.

And poor Ray Haynes, it must have hurt him terribly to feel he had to write this letter :-(

[A CA Guy]

Read it, thanks.

[MeekOneGOP]

Thanks for the post and ping, folks !
Great read, fyi ...

Ray Haynes Endorses the Recall

Excerpt:

Which brings me to Schwarzenegger. I did not need to get involved in this race, and the easiest, and most political, thing for me to do would be to endorse Tom. Everyone would have expected it, and I would get no heat for the decision. But I believe the essence of leadership is letting your friends know when they are doing something wrong. It is easy to tell folks who have never supported you that they are wrong, there is no political cost to that. Looking your supporters that they are wrong is hard, because no one likes to hear that. There is a significant political cost that attaches to that. If I had said or done nothing, or endorsed Tom, I could have skated through this entire event without cost to me. But, if Cruz wins because Tom split the vote, the cost to the conservative movement in California will be immeasurable. We started the recall, we need to finish it with a victory. If we lose now, and there is a better than average chance we will if things stay the same, we will rightly bear the criticism that we handed this state over to the Democrats for the next 7 years. Our shortsightedness could cost us the entire war in this state. That is a risk I will not take. I have worked too hard, fought too much for the things we believe in to sacrifice them for my political career, for someone else's ego, or for the shortsightedness of those who are my allies. If I believe we are doing wrong, I am going to do what is right first, and let the politics fall as they may. If that means I must bear the criticism of my friends, then so be it. I know if Cruz wins, conservatism is California will be discredited for a long time.

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