The Jones Juggernaut - Kaloogian is Jones' Greatest Threat

Sacramento Bee ^ | 01-15-2004 | Daniel Weintraub

[Impeach98]

Schwarzenegger's endorsement of Bill Jones today for the US Senate appears to be a simple case of payback for Jones' relatively early backing of Schwarzenegger in the recall race last year. It could also be a consolation prize for Jones not getting a slot in Schwarzenegger's cabinet, which he had sought. But it's not exactly new politics. Staying out of the race, or endorsing either of the moderate women running for the seat (Rosario Marin and Toni Casey), would have been the more eyebrow-raising thing for Schwarzenegger to do. On the other hand, at this point, neither one is showing much strength, and Jones' biggest threat at the moment is coming from the right, in the person of former Assemblyman Howard Kaloogian. Kaloogian is to Jones as McClintock was to Schwarzenegger. So the governor probably has some empathy there.

[Impeach98]

In the race to replace U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer in California there are two leading candidates: Three term State Assemblyman and Recall Gray Davis leader, Howard Kaloogian - and - former Secretary of State Bill Jones.

Kaloogian is a solid conservative with endorsements from all of the conservative leaders and groups in the state. Jones is a moderate-conservative who is dropping in the polls (35% to 24% to now 17%) who is in trouble because he was the architect of the biggest tax increase of any state in history in 1991, opposed the recall effort when it first started and has been silent on the Bush "Amnesty On the Installment Plan."

Jones today is receiving the endorsement of Arnold Schwarzenegger and the buzz in California is: "Can Bill Jones turn around his sinking campaign? Are Republicans going to vote their principles/conscience or are they going to vote for a Republican that is more liberal in the hopes that they can beat Boxer" (forgetting Matt Fong lost to Boxer by a larger margin than conservative Bruce Herschensohn.)

[Impeach98]

P.S. I am actively supporting Howard Kaloogian's campaign if you haven't figured that out yet [/bias revealed].

www.HowardForSenate.com

[My2Cents]

Whomever gets the GOP nomination gets my vote against Barbara Boxer. Let's not turn the primary into another "Arnoldbots vs. the Tomikazis" bloodletting.

[Impeach98]

That's a nice way of looking at it!

[Impeach98]

Remember, the benefit of these 'bloodbaths' is that they keep people engaged. For all of the warnings from everyone that if either Arnold or McClintock did not drop out, we'd "lose" to Cruz... Arnold + McClintock's share of the vote was what, 68%???!!

I think an energized debate is good - especially since I have no doubts that Jones will endorse Kaloogian if/when he loses and Kaloogian will endorse Jones if/when he loses.

[evilsmoker]

There's nothing wrong with debating DURING the primary. But once we head into the General, I agree, it's all about Boxer. Unfortunately, many of our liberal GOP friends don't seem to follow that principle. If their guy loses, the day after the Primary they start on the "he's too conservative to win" mantra. Just ask Bill Simon.

[My2Cents]

Same could be said of the "true believers." I wish I had a dime for every Freeper I saw who suggested they'd rather see Bustamante win the replacement election than to see Arnold get in.

[Poohbah]

It's mirror-imaged from the conservative side.

And some of these "conservatives" seem to be working in the Democrats' best interests: take down the more conservative of the two candidates (i.e., the Republican) and elect a Democrat if the Republican isn't in 100% agreement with every jot and tittle of their platform.

[CounterCounterCulture]

With 73 percent undecided, it's anyone's race.

GO HOWARD GO

[kingu]

Bill Jones has name recognition, Kaloogian doesn't. But this is a primary, not a general ballot, so I'll be going with Kaloogian. Mostly because I think he has better ideas and is a much better debater.

But then again, I think that a trained monkey would be better than Barbara Boxer.

Besides, the pragmatic side of me says that RATs will show up in March in droves to vote in their 'love fest', and mostly only hard core Republicans will show up on our side and Bill Jones hasn't a chance.

[TheDon]

Never heard of him. Hard to imagine with a name like that!

[Impeach98]

I can't wait for the debates! It will be a great forum for Howard to demonstrate his familiarity with the issues, his ability to hold his own in a debate and his ability to convey his beliefs without apologizing for them.

[onedoug]

Waiting. Watching. Weighing.

[Impeach98]

As we speak Howard's doing an hour on Joe Benson's show on KPRL News-Talk in Paso Robles. He's been on over a dozen talk radio shows this past week alone.

Poor Jones' campaign listed that he would be on KSFO - but they kept calling it KFSO. It demonstrates a lack of familiarity with talk radio - a key difference in the personalities of Kaloogian and Jones.

Jones is a very nice person - human being. But he seems uncomfortable interacting with the base-grassroots conservatives who are the ones who drive the passion of the party and do all the volunteer work, phone calls, FReeping, emailing and all the other things we do to 'make a difference.'

Howard is able to interact with the press well, with the political class and with the grassroots.

When (*fingers crossed*) he beats Boxer in November he has the potential to emerge as a Republican leader down the line... someone who can be a rebuttal to John McCain when McCain is attacking the party.

[Impeach98]

Fair enough - that's what any good voter should do. Enjoy the exchange of ideas!!

[DougLorenz]

I'd like to see debates, but last I heard, Jones was refusing to allow any debates... Something should be done about that...

[onyx]

FWIW --- I'm voting for Howard in the primary, but I'll support whomever wins our primary. Boxer must be defeated.

To those of you who think "Kaloogian" is a difficult name, let me remind you of "Schwarzenegger."

Call him "Howard." Not to be confused with Howard Dean.

[zbigreddogz]

I agree, and I'll play nice, but I still say the dems have their Howard and we have ours. Neither of them are electable.