Schwarzenegger's race helps GOP (immigrant persona deemed a plus)

THE WASHINGTON TIMES ^ | 8/10/03 | Donald Lambro

[Liz]

Arnold Schwarzenegger's bid to recapture the California governorship for the Republicans could dramatically change the face of their party in a major electoral state that is one of the Democrats' biggest political strongholds.

"If Schwarzenegger is able to win this and able to successfully govern California, he plants an inclusive Republican flag in a state that Democrats have taken for granted in the last several presidential election cycles," said an unidentified Republican Party official.

[Jay D. Dyson]

Yup...just what the GOP needed: Davis Lite.

Sure thing...you betcha.

-Jay

[Bigg Red]

Immigrant persona -- good.
Ignorant persona -- not good.

I am just baffled over why so many people can think that being rich and famous qualifies this RINO to be the CEO for a large state.

[Liz]

Under ordinary circumstances RINO's would be persona non grata. However, in the Cali free-for-all, the goals are quite different. This is not about just an election but about getting a Republican embedded in Cali's state house.

[Burkeman1]

Yeah- I would tend to agree. Baby steps. Heck- I had to vote for Mitt Romney.

[Dave S]

I am just baffled over why so many people can think that being rich and famous qualifies this RINO to be the CEO for a large state.

How about being focused, highly intelligent, charismatic, persuasive, energetic, and having high levels of self control. The pros have been doing a poor job, what makes you think an intelligent outsider wouldnt do much better?

[IpaqMan]

Agree with the main point of the article.

After Prop 187 killed the Republican Party in CA by labeling it anti-hispanic, the party needs to move forward in a way that wins them back. Electing a conservative anti-immigrant politician is not going gain points with the fastest growing large voting block in the US.

[weikel]

Whats wrong with Mitt( I liked Weld too Cellucci and esp Swift were worthless)?

[BlackElk]

Hey, if Aaaaaaahnold doesn't make it, you can always run Maxine Waters or Barbara Boxer as a GOP nominee next time. They are each about as Republican as Aaaaaaaahnold.

[ambrose]

[ambrose]

You think the Republican Party will win elections by opening up the borders and allowing illegal aliens to overrun the state in order to collect welfare? You really believe this?

[Burkeman1]

Weld? You mean Bulger's (brother of a serial murderer) best buddy? The same guy who poo pooed the impeachment of Clinton and then tried to even work for that administration- trying to angle himself an ambassadorship to Mexico?

But Mitt ain't that bad I gotta admit.

[Burkeman1]

It is California. Arnold is certainly not as bad as Maxine Waters or Boxer. Reality has to taken into consideration.

[Salman]

Yup...just what the GOP needed: Davis Lite.

Arnold's a RINO, but Davis lite? Not a fair criticism at all. Arnold is a successful businessman and not a thief.

[weikel]

Weld? You mean Bulger's (brother of a serial murderer) best buddy? The same guy who poo pooed the impeachment of Clinton and then tried to even work for that administration- trying to angle himself an ambassadorship to Mexico?

All I know is he privatized a lot and cut taxes a lot.

[Liz]

Hey, Ah-nold, whatcha smoking?

[Burkeman1]

I don't think he did much of either. I think he tore down a Mass Pike toll booth in Newton before an election and then let Billy "the corrupt midget" Bulger tell him what to do the rest of the time. Besides- the governorship of Massachusetts is one of the weakest in the country. It makes for good political drama in the media every election cycle but the real power is and always has been in the hands of the Senate President.

[IpaqMan]

The Republicans in CA are doing such a great job now! They lost an easily winnable election. Maybe it's time to stop banging our heads into a wall.

Mark Steyn's quote about "the death-before-electability crowd who dominate GOP primaries in California" reminds me of the Greens and the far left. For the sake of "principle", they slip and slide away from power.

As I recall, the national Republicans did not want Prop 187. They saw the writing on the wall and it has come true in spades. However, in Texas, Bush appealed to hispanics and now the state is solidly Republican and growing more so every year.

[ambrose]

Pete Wilson won '94 because he supported 187. Then the Republican streak of 16 straight years of controlling the governorship ended in '98.

You guys just love your RINOs, don't you? It makes no difference to be if someone has an "R" next to his name, but supports policies I abhor. Do you even know who that scumbag George Ryan is?

[rolling_stone]

http://www.cato.org/pubs/journal/cj16n3-6.html