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I'm Voting for Schwarzenegger
Sierra Times ^ | 10.07.03 | By H. Millard

Posted on 10/07/2003 2:14:48 PM PDT by RedBloodedAmerican

McClintock has become a Judas Goat and is leading some dumb "conservatives" to slaughter - by H. Millard

CALIFORNIA --I've talked to a lot of conservatives and rightists over the past week. Many say they're against abortion, gun control, open borders, homosexual marriage, and many other hot button issues that seem to be the badges of many conservatives these days. Most also say that they're going to vote for Arnold Schwarzenegger on October 7.

What? Don't they know that Arnold is squishy on some of the things they're for, or is even against them? Yup. They know that. Don't they know that Tom McClintock isn't squishy and is pretty much, as far as anyone can tell, in favor of many of the things that they're for? Yup. They know that. So, why are they voting for Schwarzenegger? The answer is simple. They're realists. They know this isn't McClintock's time. They also know that creepy, former MEChA member Cruz Bustamante can win if the vote is split between McClintock and Schwarzenegger, and that McClintock is a potential spoiler in this race. They are aware that if it were just Bustamante against McClintock, McClintock would lose. They figure that Schwarzenegger may not be the second coming of Ronald Reagan (May God Ever Smile Upon Him), but he's a lot better than Bustamante.

Most conservatives think Schwarzenegger is pragmatic, has an open mind, and has the internal qualities to make him a great governor who can truly fix what's wrong with California. And, he can win and McClintock can't. Smart people who would prefer steak, would rather eat hamburger than starve. In other words, in this election, smart conservatives will take a guy who will do some of what they want and who can win over a guy who may do all of what they want. but who can't win.

Call it real politics or guerilla politics or incremental politics or pragmatic politics. Call it what you want, but most conservatives can live with Schwarzenegger and they know they can't live with Bustamante--that's because most of these conservatives are the wrong ethnicity for that guy. And, that's really the choice--Bustamante or Schwarzenegger--no matter how many dumb talk-show-calling-conservatives (TSCCs) call into conservative talk shows and make it appear that all conservatives or rightists are for McClintock. They're wrong. Most smart conservatives are for Schwarzenegger. McClintock is this year's version of all the losing conservative Republicans who the TSCCs got behind in years past.

California didn't get screwed up overnight. It took time. It took many elections where dumb TSCCs voted for their principles and lost. Now they want to do it again by voting for McClintock and by knocking off Arnold. Count me out and count me with the people on the right who are voting for Schwarzenegger. I'm voting for a winner not a whiner. I'll take half a loaf instead of no loaf, thank you very much. It's time to be clever and it's time to vote smart. California's political graveyards are full of principled (but bloodless) conservatives who thought they could win partly because the TSCCs in the choir pumped them up.

I think Schwarzenegger has that spark inside him that Ronald Reagan (May God Ever Smile Upon Him) had. I know, many of the TSCCs say that Arnold isn't Ronald (MGESUH), but I think there's more in common about these two than the fact that they both have sissy names. I think the TSCCs are missing the fact that Reagan (MGESUH) was Reagan (MGESUH) because of what he had inside, and I think Arnold has the same "something" inside. I'm not sure we have a good word for what this something is in the English language. It has aspects of guts, nerve, life force, spark, gonads, leadership, electricity, will, sparkle, charisma, boldness, political star quality. Most politicians don't have this quality, and have the souls of bookkeepers (no offense to bookkeepers). These politicians get elected to some offices but they are never shining leaders. They may do a good job, but there's something missing. You shake hands with them and you feel like you just held a wet fish in your hand.

As far as Arnold's lack of experience goes; it doesn't bother me. If he does have the right stuff inside, everything will fall into place. He doesn't have to know everything about government, because he can hire those who do. In fact, once the election dust settles down and Arnold wins this thing, Tom McClintock can become one of those who stand behind the throne and help advise Arnold on some issues where he is a little sketchy.

Political campaigns are a little like military campaigns. For some reason, many TSCCs seem to have the mentality of the old Red Coat British Army and think the way to win is to stand there and be shot rather than fighting smart. That's not the way to win. It doesn't demonstrate courage or principles. It's the way to lose. It also demonstrates stupidity.

Let the epitaphs of the TSCCs read, "Here lie the bodies of principled conservatives. They were too stupid to know how to win. Their enemies, who were smarter, are now dancing on their graves and having their way with the world."

I've been around the block a few times and I understand how these things work. There is a very outspoken core group of TSCCs who constantly talk to each other and who hold poorly attended meetings where they all get shrill and mouth off about this or that, and who pump themselves up on various hot button issues and who seem to forget that very few of the actual voters in the state are wonks who know all the ins and outs of every little nuance of every issue. Some of these TSCCs remind me of the Comic Book guy on The Simpsons, cartoon TV show.

I remember looking at certain non-scientific internet polls when Alan Keyes was running for president. To read the polls you would have thought that Keyes was going to be president by a wide margin. Of course, it was utter nonsense, yet the TSCCs pumped up the polls and called into the radio talk shows and that's all you would hear on the right side of the radio dial. I even wrote to one of the internet polls--one that was being run by a big name political pundit, who's on TV all the time--that showed Keyes way out in front of everyone else. I told the pollsters that they were losing credibility and were providing a real world demonstration of how easy it is to screw up such polls in order to try to give a particular candidate the appearance that he can win. The TSCCs are doing the same thing with McClintock. That's why one poll has him at 18%. It's nonsense.

Again, I'm voting for Schwarzenegger because I think he can win and I think he fix broken California. I'm not buying that "Hey kids let's all put on a play in my uncle's barn," level of crap that says that if conservatives get behind McClintock, he can win. He can't. The math doesn't work right now in California. Schwarzenegger will, once he wins, and even if he doesn't intend to, start making the math work better for those on the right in the future if they play their cards right and start acting as if they have any brains.

Some of the TSCCs are saying that if Schwarzenegger were out of the race, McClintock would win. This is nonsense. McClintock doesn't have the horsepower. He'd lose to Bustamante by many points. Anyone with any genuine political instincts, who is honest, knows that.

In the past, I've voted for those who took strong conservative or rightist positions--Buchanan, notably. But those were different situations. They were national campaigns and I knew Buchanan wouldn't win, but I wanted him to get as many votes as possible and hopefully give impetus to a third party movement so that we could reform our political system. That's not what's happening in California now. The recall election is a state election, and McClintock isn't an outsider. He's not trying to build a third party movement as an alternative to the two party scam. He's a dyed in the wool professional politician who is appearing more and more like a spoiled brat who would rather have fellow political insider Bustamante win, than a political outsider like Schwarzenegger. One imagines that McClintock may be angry because after all the years he's been in the Republican trenches most Republicans aren't backing him. He's reminding me more and more of a guy who's been with a business for many years and suddenly learns that a new employee is being made his boss, and who then sabotages the business because of his pique.

No mater where you live, keep your eyes on California on October 7. Something big and historic is going to happen that may change politics all across this country for many years to come. Here's a preview: Governor Gray Davis will be recalled. Arnold Schwarzenegger will be the new governor. You can take that to the bank.

The success of this recall and of Arnold may help bring other recalls and eventually something of a parliamentary system of government into being in the U.S. In my view this is a good thing because as things now stand, politicians can put on the dog and get elected and then immediately go against what got them elected and prove to be total incompetents, and citizens can't do much about it until the next election. Recalls (and a parliamentary form of government) keep the power in the hands of the people.


TOPICS: Front Page News; Politics/Elections; US: California
KEYWORDS: arnold; endorsement; mcclintock; schwarzenegger; winoneforthegroper
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To: inquest
Well, on that we agree, or at least share the same hope. It's not a bad rhetorical notion: to start beating into the public consciousness the TOTAL SCHWARZ. + MCCLINTOCK VOTE, which obviously won't change no matter which of the two our friend ends up voting for. That %age may be almost 60% ... and we'll need to repeat that kind of % on the almost inevitable referenda needed to override the Legislature.

I can't disagree with you about the conservatives in the Legislature, but they really have almost no power except at budget time, unfortunately ... which is why one of my big initiative priorities is an state constitutional amendment to bar gerrymandering. But that is for another day ...
41 posted on 10/07/2003 3:17:40 PM PDT by pogo101
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To: nickcarraway
I too would like to know how you figure that statement. A vote for Arnold, and low vote count for McClintock, will among other things show Bush that he can easily renew the assault weapons ban without fear of political repercussions.
42 posted on 10/07/2003 3:25:25 PM PDT by inquest ("Where else do gun owners have to go?" - Lee Atwater)
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To: RedBloodedAmerican
I worked as a Lab tech in the early Eighties in a major NJ Hospital. I knew almost the whole staff at the Hospital after a few years. I will never forget a Nurse on a certain floor that told a story to me about the abortions on this unit. She told me that many times they would leave a baby in an empty room until it didn't move anymore.

I use to work that hospital at all hours and I would never walk down that way at night because it would give me the creeps. I never forgot that situation. True story. I also heard the real deal about the procedure from the people who performed it. I did work on young women that just were wheeled into the recovery room. They almost always were in tears.

To think that anyone would vote for Arnold and give his pal Warren Buffett a seat right there in California is beyond me. The Jubilation for this Pro-Abortionist is too much to handle. Killing the un-born is the greatest sin in the History of mankind. Yet some say a Newspaper smear job is greater... I do not agree.

There was a choice in this election , but he got smeared also.

43 posted on 10/07/2003 3:28:13 PM PDT by Afronaut (Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil.)
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To: MeeknMing
Here's an even eerier "Separated at Birth"...J. D. Hayworth and Mike 'Dikka'

44 posted on 10/07/2003 3:37:05 PM PDT by ErnBatavia (Why do the Flag postage stamps peel off upside down..infiltrators?)
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To: RedBloodedAmerican
I'm halfway through the article and this line is the BEST:

They figure that Schwarzenegger may not be the second coming of Ronald Reagan (May God Ever Smile Upon Him), but he's a lot better than Bustamante.

May God Ever Smile Upon Him! I LOVE it!!
45 posted on 10/07/2003 3:40:13 PM PDT by California74
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To: ErnBatavia
Yep ! And I must say I like those two ! :O)

And, actually, Mr. Spacely isn't such a bad character I guess, lol ! ...


46 posted on 10/07/2003 3:44:05 PM PDT by MeekOneGOP (Check out the Texas Chicken D 'RATS!: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/keyword/Redistricting)
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To: nmh
"It will be a happy day for the RHINO's when oink, oink, Arnold the pig wins."

Yes, and an even happier day when the sour grapes supporters of "Tom the LOSER" get a life.

47 posted on 10/07/2003 3:53:48 PM PDT by FastCoyote
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To: inquest
The polling for McClintock looks good because he is not the leader. If McClintock were in the lead in this liberal state the dems would be attacking him as a right winger and also bring up his inability to deal well with the legislature in this state.

Tom would lose just as Simon lost in the last election. If fact the recall itself could lose in that scenario.

Tom doesn't have it. He's a policy wonk, not a leader.
48 posted on 10/07/2003 4:25:03 PM PDT by Not gonna take it anymore
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To: EggsAckley; RedBloodedAmerican
Thanks for the ping and the post!

A superb article -- right on the money.

I am starting to be encouraged, since exist polls seem to show the recall and Arnold both winning with comfortable margins -- I just hope the real vote tallies will come out the same way and they won't count votes of 2 million dead people.
49 posted on 10/07/2003 5:11:06 PM PDT by FairOpinion
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To: nickcarraway
"A vote for Schwarzenegger is a vote against Bush in 2004. "


---

I normally withold the kind of comments I am about to make, but your statement HAS to be the dumbest one made in the entire recall.
50 posted on 10/07/2003 5:15:11 PM PDT by FairOpinion
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To: RedBloodedAmerican
I just returned from the voting booth.....I voted for Arnold....and I feel good about it.
51 posted on 10/07/2003 5:17:18 PM PDT by Feiny (We Will Never Forget!)
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To: inquest
Wait. I think you are agreeing with me.
52 posted on 10/07/2003 5:40:46 PM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: FastCoyote
"Yes, and an even happier day when the sour grapes supporters of "Tom the LOSER" get a life."

I do have a "life" and it is a conservtive one. "Sour grapes" isn't the word for me. Rather thoroughly disgusted that when a legitimate conservative candidate comes along, Tom McClintock, Republicans are ever so quick to back a RHINO like Arnold the pig. There is NOTHING conservative about him. Next these same supporters wll eventually wake up and see, golly he's another social liberal pushing the gay agenda etc.. and get all bent out of shape. Well when Arnold the pig does this, don't be surprised. THIS IS what yo voted for.

53 posted on 10/07/2003 5:41:11 PM PDT by nmh
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To: pogo101
"Thank you for your cogent, mature analysis."

No problem. I adjust my language to the audiance. Arnold the pig supporters should find that flattering since he's another social liberal pig.

54 posted on 10/07/2003 5:42:51 PM PDT by nmh
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To: inquest
Face it, Swartie supporters: You were used by liberals, once again.

BULL the forces of the left have thrown everything they've got at Schwartzenegger and keeps on comming like.. well a terminator.In the mean time they have had nothing but praise for Mclintock for OBVIOUS reasons.
55 posted on 10/07/2003 6:05:50 PM PDT by edchambers (Where are we going and why am I in this handbasket?)
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To: feinswinesuksass
"I voted for Arnold....and I feel good about it. "

===

Applause! Welcome to the New California. :)
56 posted on 10/07/2003 6:13:14 PM PDT by FairOpinion
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To: malcorta2002
A newbie!!!
57 posted on 10/07/2003 6:57:20 PM PDT by Vets_Husband_and_Wife (Our troops get it! We Thank God they do!! Remember ALWAYS 9-11)
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To: Not gonna take it anymore
The polling for McClintock looks good because he is not the leader. If McClintock were in the lead in this liberal state the dems would be attacking him as a right winger and also bring up his inability to deal well with the legislature in this state.

McClintock ran for state comptroller in 2002 and lost by only half a percentage point, despite being heavily outspent (picture Pat Buchanan doing that!). He's electable, without question. If he had the party engine solidly behind him, he definitely could have trounced Bustamante.

58 posted on 10/07/2003 7:49:37 PM PDT by inquest ("Where else do gun owners have to go?" - Lee Atwater)
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To: nickcarraway
I think you are agreeing with me.

Sort of. Except that I really don't think this is going to be a liability for Bush. It will embolden him, knowing that he won't have to deal with any pesky 3rd-party opposition sapping "his" voters away from him.

59 posted on 10/07/2003 7:51:38 PM PDT by inquest ("Where else do gun owners have to go?" - Lee Atwater)
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To: edchambers
BULL the forces of the left have thrown everything they've got at Schwartzenegger and keeps on comming like.. well a terminator.

Oh yes, they've "attacked" him by bringing up (drumroll, please) Sex Scandals! Yeah, now there's a proven method for character-assassinating a politician -- NOT! They know perfectly well that talking about a candidate's sex life, if anything, is going to turn people off from such controversy (especially in California!). Focusing on sex worked well for Clinton by covering up his more serious crimes (Chinagate, Filegate, etc.) and it worked great for Arnold too.

If they really wanted to torpedo his candidacy they would have focused their attention on the fact that he's surrounded himself with liberals despite claiming to be a conservative.

60 posted on 10/07/2003 7:58:36 PM PDT by inquest ("Where else do gun owners have to go?" - Lee Atwater)
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