McClintock Does Conservatives No Favor

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | Oct. 6, 2003 | Jennifer Nelson

[FairOpinion]

Tom McClintock believes he is helping the conservative cause in California by staying in the governor's race. The state senator from Thousand Oaks couldn't be more wrong.

Attempting to recall Gov. Gray Davis is a risky business. Many people, including U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa, who helped finance the effort, have considered voting against the recall just to avoid the chance of electing Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante to the state's top job. Davis has failed as governor, but he has steered a moderately liberal course so he could continue to raise money from big business. Bustamante, however, has made no effort to disguise his disdain for business owners and will move state policy sharply to the left on all fronts.

[Muleteam1]

>>Many of our worst leaders are micro managers, who are unable to see the big picture.<<

If you look back in history a bit, you will find that typically Democratic leaders have been very resistant to delegating authority while Republicans have greatly used this management style. Although I could offer some snide reasons for why I believe there is this difference in working pyschologies, I really do not understand it. However, an example of what I am saying can be seen in the way the two Parties perceive States' rights; one believing that power and authority should be centralized at the top, while the other is willing to diffuse and share authority.

Muleteam1

[Brian Allen]

<< McClintock is the brand of [MACHINE POLITICIAN] ... who would rather be right than win, no matter what the cost. >>

Next thing we know this single-digit-poling ponce is gunna be married to Arianna Huffington's ex.

[NittanyLion]

If you look back in history a bit, you will find that typically Democratic leaders have been very resistant to delegating authority while Republicans have greatly used this management style. Although I could offer some snide reasons for why I believe there is this difference in working pyschologies, I really do not understand it.

I think it's a question of trust. Conservatives believe that, left to their own devices, people will generally do the right thing (or at least enough will that the outcome will be favorable). Liberals believe just the opposite, and feel that a few powerful decision makers will influence a more favorable outcome than the aggregate choices of all individuals.

I think there's a third group of political types that span the political spectrum and don't really care which of my aforementioned theories are right. Their decisions are motivated only by the potential impact of events upon their power. While I don't think Arnold is that way, his handlers certainly are.

[Willie Green]

Arnolds words are so scripted and generalized that Miss America makes him look sophomoric.

If he wins, he'll merely spend all his time on the talk-show circuit, just like Jesse Ventura.
Did Jesse ever actually DO anything in Minnesota???

[Teacher317]

And what "favors" does the election of Schwarzenegger do for conservatives, other than tell the GOP that we are happy to keep packing in more RINO's?

[isthisnickcool]

[BibChr]

Wow, what a great essay. Thanks for the ping. Would just HAVE to connect with a still-openable mind.

Dan

[Hildy]

If we lose this thing because of a few percentage points, I wouldn't just be worried about his future in politics, I'd be worried about his future.

[NittanyLion]

If we lose this thing because of a few percentage points, I wouldn't just be worried about his future in politics, I'd be worried about his future.

And why is that?

[plain talk]

Good article. Thanks for posting. It's sad. No good choices in this election. None of these candidates are really qualified to be governor. Its about picking the lesser of evils.

[Hildy]

Figure it out.

[Saundra Duffy]

More B.S. from Schwarznkennedy's camp.

[NittanyLion]

Figure it out.

The only thing I could figure is that you're threatening Tom McClintock (or projecting your desires onto other people). But I'm sure that can't be right...

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Spot on.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Wow. Reading the replies by the McC supporters ere and elsewhere on FR convinces me that these one issue guys are crazy. Birds of a feather...

[Muleteam1]

I am not really qualified to comment on political pyschologies but I can tell you it breaks my heart to see conservative and moderate Republicans going at each other's throats to the delight of our political enemies. California's recall is indeed a different political scenario than what anyone has seen in the past. I suppose tomorrow we shall see whether or not McClintock's presence assists the recall of Davis or assists in the election of Bustamante. My own belief is that California is in for some tough times. However, if the national economy is indeed improving as I think it is, even Bustamante cannot damage California beyond repair.

Muleteam1

[massadvj]

I'm surprised you admit that, considering the fact that polls have been your sole rationale for supporting Arnold.

Excellent point.

[william clark]

I guess it's never too late for a hit piece on McClintock, even when the numbers show he's no threat to Arnold.

But here's a scenario for the anti-McClintock camp to consider, because it looks like it's shaping up:

Arnold wins. Then, the Democrat attorney general of California launches an all-out investigation of Arnold's misdeeds with women, culminating in an indictment. Arnold is tried before a carefully cultivated jury, and convicted of one or more "assaults." This then forces his removal from office. Guess who steps in to take over?

So the cowards, hypocrites, and fools who have so vehemently lambasted McClintock for staying in the race, and vilified his supporters for not jumping on the Arnold bandwagon as soon as he got into the race, may find a very uncomfortable bed for them to lie in when the dust settles.

[Onelifetogive]

With Tom and Arnold splitting the GOP vote plus some Democrat vote fraud, Bustamente could be a shoe-in.

How about:

Arnold and Busty splitting the "social liberal" vote and McClintock winning with the "Conservative vote."

[Kay Soze]

"Is this a quality we can admire? Absolutely. Is this a quality that makes a successful governor? No. "

Why wasnt everyone, people that don't even live in Caifornia I might add, for Keyes and against Bush when it effected their lives?