From Moscow to his hometown, world marvels at Schwarzenegger's victory

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | Oct. 7, 2003 | VANESSA GERA,

[FairOpinion]

From Moscow to his hometown, Arnold Schwarzenegger's victory in California was cheered Wednesday as a uniquely American political triumph with more drama and suspense than a Hollywood script.

After partying the night away, Austrian dignitaries and admirers in Schwarzenegger's home region celebrated his win by claiming him anew as one of their own.

[DoughtyOne]

Bingo

[EternalVigilance]

I'll continue to pray for your state.

Congratulations on your landslide victory.

[DoughtyOne]

I don't believe anyone insulted you on this thread until you started lipping off. Why not give it a rest.

[nathanbedford]

When my german neighbors express shock, dismay or bemusement over the circus in California, I
expect them to talk about the allegations of groping, orgies, inexperience, alleged anti-semitism, or Hitler worship. But, to a man, they simply cannot believe that we would elect an Austrian.

Go figger.

[DoughtyOne]

Thanks for the congratulations. Good night.

[EternalVigilance]

'On this thread'---those are the key words.

The actions of many Schwarzenegger supporters on FR overnight was disgraceful.

At least I'm sticking to the facts.

[EternalVigilance]

Seriously, I wish your state well, and truly pray that Arnold far exceeds my expectations.

[DoughtyOne]

And they should too. I was on the forum quit a bit earlier and didn't see much McClintock bashing at all.

Honestly though, his concession speach really grated me. The guy got 10% of the vote and it sounded as if he was explaining why he won the election and what the significance of that was.

I know a McClintock supporter wouldn't see it that way, but it truly did grate me.

Have a good one, and thanks again for the wish for good luck. Whenever a new person takes on a public office, you truly never know what you will get. This guy could turn out to be one terrific governor. We shall see.

[EternalVigilance]

Good night.

[The Other Harry]

As it is, Arnold is a generous winner and is holding out an olive branch. What is interesting, is that Davis appears to be willing to take it, but I am not sure of the fellow Republicans, which is a sad commentary of the McClintock supporters -- it appears a personal cult is what is important, not the wellbeing of California or the nation.

The main difference between Schwazenegger and McClintock is that McClintock already knows what he is doing and what he what he wants to do. Arnold wants to conduct an audit.

Arnold may turn out to be okay. We now get to see. If nothing else, he can't be worse than Davis.

[WaterDragon]

"Many people in the world -- and in America -- now know where Styria is."

Styria?

[Prodigal Son]

Los Angeles is Arnold's hometown; Graz is his birthplace...

Ach. Picky picky. If Arnie had told me "My hometown is Graz" I would've assumed he meant that's where he was born not that he lives there currently.

[ambrose]

There you go again. Still bitter and nasty, even in victory.

McClintock has pledged his support, but you still spit your venom, even as these results show what a lie your "a vote for McClintock is a vote for Bustamante" mantra has been...

[ambrose]

The guy got 10% of the vote

13.3% .. and he probably would have gotten more than that if it weren't for all those bogus polls showing a tight race, and due to the last minute LA Times smear.

[ambrose]

For all the screeching on here about McClintock, he has been nothing more than a pro forma candidate since the debate. I know you guys wanted him to kiss Arnold's ring, but he made a promise. McClintock's last several emails to his supporters simply urged a "yes on recall" vote and basically said vote however you want on the replacement ballot.

Many of Tom's strongest supporters fiercely defended Arnold after the Hitler/groping garbage came down. Yet, all night long, the same group of vicious trolls did nothing but attack Tom and his supporters, and even taunted us about his low percentage. I thought you guys were originally freaking out over him taking more votes? Now that he didn't, you ridicule him and his supporters. It was an absolutely disgusting display of "sore winner" behavior.

[ambrose]

I don't believe anyone insulted you on this thread until you started lipping off

I didn't say a word on this thread, but was attacked by FairOpinion's vicious attack on McClintock's supporters. I have seen similar behavior on other threads. This seems to be the Free Republic's version of Puke Politics.

This should be a day that we all unite in celebration of the ouster of Gray Davis - yet many on here insist on fighting yesterday's war.

[driftless]

It's a country next to Istrael.

[WaterDragon]

It's a country next to Istrael.

Ah! Thanks!

[general_re]

"Many people in the world -- and in America -- now know where Styria is."

No, actually, we don't.

Well, we can fix that - a map of Austria. Styria is the state with Graz in it, "Steinmark", or number 8 on the map key. Just in case you find yourself needing this information for Final Jeopardy sometime ;)

[AntiGuv]

Calling Graz his hometown makes him sound like a foreigner, and to my eyes diminishes the most intrinsic principle of the American Dream which Arnie emobodies. He is not an Austrian, he is an American and his hometown is Los Angeles, California. I know I'm being a bit prickly.. ;^)