California: Fast-fading Bustamante has conservatives re-thinking Schwarzenegger support

California Public Policy Foundation Capitol Watch email | October 3, 2003

[John Jorsett]

Some conservative Republicans who say they believe state Sen. Tom McClintock would be a better governor than Arnold Schwarzenegger but who planned to vote for Schwarzenegger as their best hope of electing a Republican are switching to McClintock in light of recent polls indicating both GOP candidates will likely finish ahead of Cruz Bustamante. "If it is down to a two-man race," a GOP activist said, "my vote is for Tom. Schwarzenegger seemed to be the lesser of two evils compared to Bustamante, but that rationale disappears when Bustamante turns out to be the candidate that can't win."

McClintock, who has run ahead of Schwarzenegger among Independent voters, enjoys statewide favorable/unfavorable ratings much better than any other major candidate. GOP political observers say this factor, if it combines with a large-scale movement among Republicans who feel free now to "vote their consciences," could significantly increase McClin- tock's support by Tuesday.

[DoughtyOne]

I appreciate that, but I'm not convinced that folks who care enough to take the time to go to the pools to vote no, are going to take a pass on picking a replacement. Democrats are as pashionate about their concerns as we are. They're not going to faciliate republicans gaining office.

[JCEccles]

Are you willing to answer my questions? Should I repost them?

[grania]

Your tagline is futile. You are being fooled again!

I'm a social conservative first, a Republican if the party actually supports the values in its platform. And, no, I won't be fooled again into voting for people just because they say their Republicans.

Does Arnold support the PBA ban?

[11th Earl of Mar]

I really believe that McClintock could better represent California. So does the LA Times. Yesterday it ran a story -- Page 1!!! -- about what an upstanding, talented, competent man McClintock is. And they say the LA Times is biased.

Hmmmm. I wonder why the liberals are trying to prop-up McClintock's sagging campaign.

Maybe because their Number One guy and Number Two guy are both losing?

[JCEccles]

You criticized McClintock for doing nothing to unify the party.

In this same vein my questions are: there is evidence from Schwarzenegger's own lips that Schwarzenegger despises social conservatives and the issues that matter most to them. Why should social conservatives ignore this and embrace him? Is calling them right wing crazies an acceptable way for him to pursue party unity?

[Republic Rocker]

In my opinion this thread is prime example of why we as Repubs have problems with getting elected in this liberal state.........Divisions that are not necessary.

Life is about comprimise....Really.

[slimer]

Yes I would. Athough McClintock's ideals are closer to mine than Arnold's are, I am a realist. Arnold can get a foothold for the Republican Party in California. McClintock is too conservative for Californians. Arnold could help to bring a balance to the mostly Democratic Legislature.

I understand that some people won't compromise their valued principles and will vote based upon their principles no matter what. For myself, I have learned to be flexible and that sometimes compromise is necessary to win the larger battle - which is to defeat the Democrats.

[slimer]

He could not defeat Bustamante if he were too conservative for Californians.

I disagree. Bustamante is not liked by even some Democrats but the Independent voters are the key to this race. McClintock supporters are mostly Conservative Republicans. If this race were between Davis and McClintock, the recall would fail.

[christynsoldier]

Much better??? based on his policies being closer than Tom's to the CA Rep platform? or based on his environmental policies being written by a Kennedy and a Green activist? because he's supporting amnesty for
illegal aliens?

interesting take on what CA might look like post-Arnie...

[christynsoldier]

who have nothing on the obscene, venom-filled, insulting
commentary of the self satisfied supporters of the Steroid infused Groping One.

the main complaint Bubbanegger troopers had early on was that Tom looked cross-eyed to them... a truly deep philosophical barrier, I don't think.

[johnb838]

the only guy who looks to be unscathed going into this is the same one that the CA GOP and GOP moderates have been stabbing in the back for weeks

Ann Coulter has talked in her columns about how there are often two Republican candidates in these things. There is the Republican that the LEFT prefers, and the Republican who is the conservative. The best example is McInsane against Bush in 2000.

I would recommend to all and sundry that you think long and hard before you vote for the leftist republican. It's scary that the best argument people are coming up with for Schwarzenegger today is that "maybe he'll try hard and not be as bad as it looks like he might be".

That's pretty sad.

[christynsoldier]

that's really low comment from D1, but not a surprise these days...

please post for us to see D1, the three or four items or policies that SchwartenKennedy modified and offered as new things from Tom's agenda that he could support in an effort to attract Tom's following... instead he opposes a moderate like Connerly and Prop 54 and suggests yeas are right wing crazies. Have you got any facts to dispute the argument that the DC Rinos told the grassroots to go to hell? you've got it backwards and people do get defined by the company they hire for policy matters. Is it not legitimate to consider Pumpanegger's favorite Repub, Riordan a Rino, when he funds DEMs and runs left of Davis in his primary

sure a lot of scales to fall from some eyes...

[DoughtyOne]

If you don't have the answers to those questions by now, my answering them isn't going to help. Check out any of literally hundreds of threads on this forum where those questions have been beaten to death. I just not going to debate them any longer.

[ServesURight]

POST7WAAAH

LOL!

[DoughtyOne]

Here we are discussing another issue that has been discusses literally hundreds of times here.

McClintock is at 15-18%. Schwarzenegger is at 35-40%. You avoid the issue of just about everyone in a public leadership position back Schwarzenegger and asking Tom to please think of the party.

Why should Tom comply? Because Tom cannot win this election and Cruz Bustamante still can.

[DoughtyOne]

The subject as raised, was that McClintock was essentially starting his own party. That's what I stated. I stated it becuase he has rejected the pleas of the CRP leadership, the pleas of nearly every Republican state public official, the pleas of radio personalities and others. He has ignored the pleas of national Republican figures.

Tom is out there leading the McClintock party into oblivion at the cost of the party regulars. Okay, that's Tom's choice. If he doesn't want to be a part of the party, that is his choice. His people think the party is filled with nothing but RINOs. Okay, then by definition they don't want to be a part of it.

Please don't ask me why he should pull for unity. Those issues have been discussed, weighed by everyone concerned, and the majority of people see it differently than Tom. They know what the issues and arguements are. I'm not going to rehash them with you.

Tom has decided to go against nearly everyone. Okay, he hasn't pulled out of the party yet, but he's done in the party. Tom won't get the time of day from this point on. He knows it. And that's why I say he's made his decision to answer only the McClintock party. He has loyalists. Good luck to you guys.

[gubamyster]

Arnold would be a MUCH better Governor than Tom.

Thanks! Perhaps some of these McClintock shills aren't stupid Republicans, just nefarious Democrats.

Grand Old Partisan from his website: Michael Zak, a native of Chicago and resident of Washington, DC.

You forgot to add "self-proclaimed guru of politics for states other than those in which I live."

[gubamyster]

It's not McClintock that has turned off so many on Free Republic to McClintock.

It's his rabid, foul-mouthed, venom-spitting followers.

Your whining lacks credibility and your rants against McClintock supporters ring hollow when there are posts like this from Arnold supporters:

Many McClintock supporters are dumber than donkeys, yet they claim their hero has the smarts to govern California.

[christynsoldier]

with all due respect D1, it's too bad you can't point to
a single agenda item that the Wilsonegger crowd has used
to reach out to any McC supporters... I guess I would point to sticking a finger in the wind and then finally
getting on board with the car tax repeal, parroting Tom's
axing it the first day in office... but then the Team makes sure they don't give Tom any credit for his efforts.

The GOP platform defines Tom's values, and they don't reflect Arnie's... so maybe you need to form the Arnie
center/left ROADKILL PARTY and go your own way. The platform is the work and vote of the CA Republican grassroots and voters, and if the leaders won't support
it and its RATIFIED planks , then they need to be replaced
for the good of rules and organizational order.

Why don't you believe in that instead of a coronation?
Arnie couldn't get a convention vote for endorsement, so
17 backroom cowards take the against the rules action anyway! Part of the new "just win, baby" code, no doubt.

[fqued]

one problem. . . WHAT polls?
I have seen no poll anywhere that has Tom ahead or even close to Cruz.

It might be nice, but where is the evidence?

I'm sorry, but I'd like a little real evidence.