Posted on 06/18/2004 3:59:50 PM PDT by RonDog
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www.sfgate.com Return to regular view
GOP has star-power dilemma
How will party use Schwarzenegger?
- Carla Marinucci, Chronicle Political Writer
Friday, June 18, 2004With less than three months to go before the Republican National Convention in New York City, a prime-time cliffhanger is in the works over whether the Bush camp will use it or lose it -- the megawatt influence and star power of California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Among the most sensitive issues is whether Schwarzenegger, a GOP marquee name, will be given a prized prime-time speaking spot at the party's presidential convention August 30-Sept. 2 at Madison Square Garden.
On the pro side: As the party's star actor, Schwarzenegger would get worldwide attention, and -- to the delight of networks -- draw millions of potential viewers to the now scripted-for-television political convention.
On the con side: The White House worries about lavishing too much attention on one Republican elected official who has shown an uncanny ability to upstage the party's star, Bush himself. A prominent role for Schwarzenegger also could anger the Republican right wing, which opposes his social views on such issues as abortion and same-sex marriage.
Ken Mehlman, campaign manager for Bush-Cheney '04, in an interview with The Chronicle, made no commitment on the specific role the Bush team expects the California governor to play, saying only that Schwarzenegger "is one of the great leaders of our party.''
Asked about talk that the White House is worried Schwarzenegger might outshine Bush at the convention, Mehlman downplayed the matter, suggesting that Schwarzenegger is one of many stars in the GOP...
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
I assume you dont live in California....... You have NO IDEA what we are suffering here in California as conservatives here. Arnold is nothing less then a miracle. Its all relative I guess. Living under Davis, Boxer, Fienstein, Pelosi, Ninth Circus court is NO picnic. If we can win this state for Bush and dump Boxer because of Arnold, Ill take it! We need him now.
I would respectfully suggest that it doesn't matter that Ah-Nold has no influence over conservative Republicans. I diubt very seriesly that conservative Republicans will do anything other than strongly support Bush-Cheney and defeat Kerry and the 'Rats.
What DOES matter is that Ah-Nold can help bring in voters for Bush-Cheney that aren't conservative Republicans.
It is critical to win, but we need to give Dubya a mandate and also add more Senators. Ah-Nold will cause many people to watch the convention and will be able to make it easier for many fence-sitters to vote R instead of D. I also very strongly believe that he will "pump up" the convention and the delegates.
He should be Keynote Speaker.
The domestic battleground in the next four years will center on the Courts, especially SCOTUS. Dubya must win, or we're screwed. We also need more Senators, or we can't break the filibusters. Ah-Nold, McCain, Giuliani, Zell Miller, Ed Koch, even Joe Lieberman -- I want to try and get everyone we can to back Dubya and win in November. We can't afford to have Kerry losing the War on Terror and nominating kangaroos to SCOTUS. WE MUST WIN!!
OUR
GOVERNOR
CAN
BEAT UP
YOUR WIMPY
CANDIDATE!
You assume right. I live in Colorado. But I completely understand the suffering of Californians under Boy Davis. Every conservative and every Republican throughout the US wanted Davis out. But conservative Republicans didn't think Arnold was the best choice. If you support Arnold's politics, you're no political conservative. Maybe a political moderate or centrist at best.
I'm with you. Arnold has been a breath of fresh air in this dank and dark State. Plus, he energized the conservative base. Which is why I believe Bush will win Collyfornia.
Well, that'll certainly convert people to your cause. So much for the "Big Tent", huh?
At least for Republicans!Americans!
That is the wrong move and would lose Bush-Cheney more votes then they'd gain. Gov Rino's appeal is to liberals, centrists and some moderates. But he doesn't advance the conservative agenda one iota. The conservative agenda is at the core of the GOP party platform.
But I completely understand the suffering of Californians under Boy Davis. Every conservative and every Republican throughout the US wanted Davis out.The choice in California last year was not beween STEAK and HAMBURGER...
But conservative Republicans didn't think Arnold was the best choice...
...it was between HAMBURGER and RAT POISON.I am enough of a pragmatist to believe that we must not "let the PERFECT be the enemy of the GOOD."
I'm not the one telling people they're not righteous or worthy enough to enter the tent. The fact is, if someone is unhappy with the direction of the Republican party then there is nothing stopping them from getting out of the way.
Feel free to show me where Reagan Man has said Arnold isn't "righteous or worthy". Arnold is, by his own words, a social liberal. In many respects, a convention is a referendum on where the party's headed; if the GOP chooses to give one of its most liberal members a primetime slot it'll be making a profound statement on the direction of the party.
I would submit the party would do better to showcase a conservative star in primetime.
You are totally full of $hit, and you ought to just shut up since you don't live in California. Arnold has already saved the state from certain financial disaster. He has cut spending and he will not raise taxes.
California doesn't need a preacher, it needs a governor.
And he'll shine at the convention, too.
Only the sourest of so-called "purists" think that's a bad thing!
Guiliani is more "liberal" than Arnold, and I'm sure he'll have an even more prime spot. Maybe he should be barred from attending instead?
They're both pretty liberal, although I'm not sure who's most liberal. Not that it's mundane to the current topic, but Giuliani is obviously in a different position given his former role and the convention's location.
Maybe he should be barred from attending instead?
Attributing a position to me that I haven't taken, and then attacking it?
You'll have to do better than logical fallacies.
An old saying applies here: Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.
I imagine Arnold will be given a prime-time speaking slot, whether it is the keynote or not. And I dare say he will do more for the party than Pat Buchanan did when HE was given a prime-time spot.
I agree--The best thing is he will attract a great many Democrats--who will tune him in because he's a star and hear him speak the truth of Republicanism. I think he can change alot of minds--moderates, right-thinking Democrats etc.... Remember another actor who did this a few years back? The Reagan Democrats. He doesn't need to fire up the Republicans--they will walk ten miles in the snow to cast there votes for Bush---Its the other people we need to convince and Arnolds the man for the job.
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