For GOP,glow of victory may hide rifts only briefly; Conservatives seek reward

BAYAREA ^ | 10/09/03 | Jim Puzzanghera and Dawn C. Chmielewski

[Pikamax]

For GOP, glow of victory may hide rifts only briefly RIVAL WINGS: AFTER BACKING MODERATE, CONSERVATIVES SEEK REWARD: By Jim Puzzanghera and Dawn C. Chmielewski Mercury News

LOS ANGELES - In the wake of Arnold Schwarzenegger's victory, some Republican leaders say the state party's feuding moderate and conservative wings have learned to put aside their differences. But with the governor-elect already under pressure from conservatives who want to be rewarded for their support, it's not clear how long the GOP honeymoon will last.

After a string of recent electoral setbacks that left California's GOP in a shambles, Republican leaders and many conservative rank-and-file members put ideology aside and backed the socially moderate Schwarzenegger. They embraced the popular action star, a supporter of abortion rights and gay rights, declaring his fiscal conservatism good enough for them -- at least for now.

Moderates see Schwarzenegger pulling a fragmented party together, where it finally found victory again with the recall of Democratic Gov. Gray Davis on Tuesday.

``You have a party that understands that ideals are the bedrock of any party, but there are other considerations,'' said state Republican chair George ``Duf'' Sundheim. ``What we've shown by this election is somebody who doesn't measure up 100 percent on the litmus test not only can win an election but can be accepted by the party.''

An ongoing struggle

Brooks Firestone, a leading moderate and former assemblyman, had another interpretation. ``I think the people of California got ahead of the Republican Party as Republicans,'' he said. ``The people of California showed the Republican Party how to be Republicans. It's about governance. It's not about sermons.''

[strela]

Yup - I had to edit it a bit.

[LPM1888]

Thanks, Do you mind if I use it?

[Chancellor Palpatine]

We Social Conservatives wish that you centrists would be more civil. I guess that's too much to ask.

I guess the social conservatives should have thought about that before hurling epithets of "RINO", "not a true conservative", "socialist", "gropinator" at the 85% that comprise the mainstream of the party. They also kind of gave up that notion of entitlement to courtesy when their boy was hurling accusations at the GOP frontrunner the weekend before the recall vote.

[Chancellor Palpatine]

I almost forgot the ever popular standbys - "country clubbers", "wealthy elites", "RINOcrats", etc.

[strela]

I stole it myself, so I'm not sure I'm the one you should be asking ;)

(I say use it in good health).

[LPM1888]

Thanks, I don't think Chanc will mind.

[LPM1888]

Chanc, Do you have any objections to my plagarizing Strela's new tag line. (I have her approval but I wanted to check with you since it was borrowed from you to begin with)

[Chancellor Palpatine]

Feel free - Brooks Firestone is the original author anyway....

[LPM1888]

Thanks. Keep up the great work!

[FairOpinion]

``The people of California showed the Republican Party how to be Republicans. It's about governance. It's not about sermons.''

===

BINGO!

And note how Arnold defanged the Democrats on day 1, by bringing some of them onto his team, yet is not wavering one iota from his plan to "open the books" and hired Jeb Bush's finance person to do it.

To paraphrase it, "it's the leadership, stupid".

[CWOJackson]

A sad day for the scorched earth conservatives.

[hobbes1]

We Social Conservatives wish that you centrists

Thats my point.

Your starting from a faulty premise.

Socially I am barely to the left of Genghis Khan....(PBJ teritory...Alan Keyes is my guy)....The operative word you seem to be not comprehending is PRAGMATIC.

You cannot wield power you cannot attain.

[Tamzee]

SUCKERS: Short-sighted Uncompromising Conservative Kool-Aid-drinking Elitist Republicans


Oh, my... that sums it up perfectly :-)

[EllaMinnow]

Can I have your old tagline?

[Tamzee]

I'd like to compliment you on that new tag you are wearing... it's a great look ;-)

[rdb3]

(SUCKERS: Short-sighted Uncompromising Conservative Kool-Aid-drinking Elitist Republicans)

Ouch! So true. Things such as this keep me from joining the GOP.

[LPM1888]

Feel Free

[Kevin OMalley]

It was not a faulty premise. The power WAS attainable. McC had 56% versus Bustamonte's 37% in the latest poll if Rnuld were to drop out, which became a distinct possibility with all kinds of sexual misconduct allegations coming forth.

[hobbes1]

Your Faulty Premise was ASSUMING i am a centrist.....