Posted on 10/08/2003 1:27:37 AM PDT by kattracks
The California recall election is a political earthquake. It is already shaping the political future not only in California but nationwide. The big losers in this election were California liberals, feminists, the politics of personal destruction, the myth that the press is not in bed with the Democrats and the image of Republicans as mean-spirited morality police. The Republican Party has suddenly become the big tent it has aspired to be but never quite achieved until now. According to exit polls 55 percent of independents and 18 percent of Democrats voted for Schwarzenegger – despite the fact that the Democratic Party threw all its big guns into the state including all its presidential candidates, Bill Clinton, Al Gore and Jesse Jackson. Thirty-nine percent of union households voted for the Republican and thirty percent of Hispanics – despite the fact the Democrat Bustamante would have been the first Hispanic governor in history if he had won. Moreover, the turnout of Republicans themselves was also obviously large with the overwhelming majority of conservatives and an even larger majority of moderate Republicans coming out to vote for him.
In short, the new governor inspires passion in the Republican base and yet hope among those who are often put off by that base. In California, Arnold has created a new Republican coalition that has raised the Republican Party from the dead and produced an electoral landslide in the process. In a state which Republicans lost by a million votes in the last presidential election (without the Democrats having to spend a penny in the state) the combined Republican vote may have exceeded 60 percent -- an electoral landslide. This is what is meant by a political earthquake.
This earthquake is far more important than the Jesse Ventura miracle in Minnesota five years ago, and only partly because California is a state many times the size and importance of Minnesota. Ventura accomplished his feat as an independent, running against the major parties. Arnold’s victory is a victory of the Republican Party with enormous potential for affecting Republican fortunes everywhere. The fact that in a special election he drew numbers of Republicans rivaling the presidential turnout is a marker for the Republican future. A charismatic Republican candidate who embodies the big tent aspirations of the Republican center but resonates with its conservative base can point the way to a Republican governing majority for the foreseeable American future. And that’s something to think about.
David Horowitz is the author of numerous books including an autobiography, Radical Son, which has been described as “the first great autobiography of his generation,” and which chronicles his odyssey from radical activism to the current positions he holds. Among his other books are The Politics of Bad Faith and The Art of Political War. The Art of Political War was described by White House political strategist Karl Rove as “the perfect guide to winning on the political battlefield.” Horowitz’s latest book, Uncivil Wars, was published in January this year, and chronicles his crusade against intolerance and racial McCarthyism on college campuses last spring. Click here to read more about David
I demand control of myself to lose control of myself?
I wanna bunch of people like that on the freeway with me! Sure!
Phew!
I'd phrase it "If you vote for me, I'll rob them at gunpoint and give you some of the loot" but I agree with the meaning of what you said.
The other thing is now that Ahnold is gov. let's look for conservative things getting done, like cutting the bloated state budget, ending the pandering to illegal immigrants, rolling back anti-business and anti-freedom legislation. My prediction is that they won't get done, and it will be tax and spend as usual, but I hope I'm wrong on this.
Schwarzenegger had some unique characteristics which helped him overcome things.
There is only one Terminator.
"The big losers in this election were California liberals..."
Yes, this is the most important significance of the earthquake--a repudiation of the irresponsible, destructive, self-serving policies of the Democrat politicians and their supporters. The Democrat Party has become the party of socialism, and, if California voters have had an epiphany, it is the realization that socialism requires a powerful, oppressive, tyrranical government and inevitably undermines the economy and leads to economic disaster.
"...the politics of personal destruction..."
Yes, it was so blatant that only those in hard-core denial could possibly not see it (but: "Never underestimate the power of denial." ~American Beauty).
"...the myth that the press is not in bed with the Democrats..."
Ditto.
...and the image of Republicans as mean-spirited morality police."
Right. The Republican Party has a strong libertarian current. The Republican Party is the party of individual freedom.
"thirty percent of Hispanics...voted for the Republican"
Hispanics tend to be good citizens. They are welcome in the U.S. The problem is not Hispanics. The problem is that we should either enforce immigration laws or change them. In fact, this can be said of all laws.
It's hard, maybe impossible, to find anyone in office today who is actively trying to remove the government from our personal lives. On the contrary most "conservatives" want to have the government dictate every phase of your personal life. Slight variations from the socialists/democrats.
A Rudy Giuliani presidential run in '08?
I mean isn't one of the main staples of conservatism to remove goverment out of our personal lives?!
I think you're confusing conservative with libertarian (and I speak as someone who generally agrees with the libertarian position.)
IMO the vast majority of conservatives are against taking bedrooms into public -- and do not advocate putting the public into bedrooms.
For example, teaching "tolerance of alternate life styles" to children is opposed. Advocating gay this and gay that is very, very old. We have laws for ordinary citizens -- must we kowtow and give special privileges to one tiny group?
I am happy to see Dufus gone and the 2,700 arrogant leftist puke hangers-on who will be filing for unemployment soon are also a welcomed sight.
What I don't want to see is fat drunk Ted "I can kill and you can't, I am a" Kennedy here in Sacramento advising Gov. Schwarzenegger. What I do want to see immediately is eliminating the car tax -- it's done its duty of helping get rid of Dufus now get rid of it.
IMO, this election shoots down the idea that Republicans here must be liberal to win. BS, true that McClintock did not win against Schwarzenegger, few could, but look at the turn out. There were enough people turned on to come out and overcome the big city voters. It was clearly a Republican v. Democrat race. Normally when it's Twiddle Dee v. Twiddle Dum much of the real California stays home.
Oh, and thanks LA Times! You opended the eyes of much of the real California!
I draw a distinction between Federal GoV't and State gov't where the latter should be allowed to fashion laws regarding these things and the Federal Gov't shall not.
Well said, except you will find that many here simply believe that if the guy is charasmatic and persuasive enough he can sway the majority single handed by running 15 sec TV spots and having enough yard signs.
"Yes" . Here's one dilusional dude.
1) The Democrat Party has been steadily imploding. The withering on the vine of the Democrat Party can be traced to the Congressional elections of 1994 - no wonder that hated Newt Gingrich.
2) Republicans got about 3 out of every 5 votes in a very liberal California and the tax and spend Democrat Davis was booted from office by a massive turnout of voters.
3) Take a look at the Democrat Presidential candidates, could there be a weaker field? I don't think so.
4) HOPEFULLY the GOP Senate will see this obvious trend and get tough on the foolish Democrats and their silly obstructionist tactics. Republicans should now be emboldened and they should govern like conservative Republicans.
5) President Bush is doing a fine job, he'll handily win re-election, he can be comfortable in pushing his conservative programs and he should definately fight hard to put conservative judges on the Supreme Court to fill any upcoming vacancies.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.