Bustamante Leads Schwarznegger in Recall Race [McClintock gettng 21% of GOP Votes]

LA Times (Registration Required) ^ | August 24, 2003 | staff writer

[prarie earth]

Much of (Arnolds) strategy is based on cross over appeal to non-Republican voters given his comparitvely moderate views on issues such as gun control, abortion and gay rights.

But less than two weeks into his first run for elected office, Schwarznegger has already become a politically polarizing figure.

Roughly seven in ten Democratic voters have an unfavorable impression of the action-movie star, while the same number of likely Republican voters expressed a favorable view.

The actor won the support of 39% of likely Republican voters, 20% of Independents, and 7% of Democrats polled.

McClintock recieved 21% of the Republican vote, Simon recieved 12% and Uberroth 10%.

[Creekblood]

I'm sorry but, no, Arnold will not recieve all conservative votes if McClintock bows out. Some of us will not vote at all, others will vote to recall Davis and give our votes to a sure loser. The consensus is that most true blue conservatives will not vote at all. Why should we compromise our beliefs for the misdirected belief that a conservative cannot win in California, when Tom McClintock, himself recieved 30 to 40% of his votes in the November 2002 election from Democrats? McClintock is the man for the job, he has not only said what the problems are but the solutions as well. Arnold has skirted the issues at every chance. Why would I vote for an untested, unsure candidate who has thrown himself in with Democrats when I can vote for a very qualified, tested conservative who has been in the trenches fighting for conservatism for twenty years? I will not be bought by Arnold's millions and one liners. He has not shown me any reason, not one, to gain my confidence nor my vote. If we split the vote and Bustamonte wins, so be it. Maybe over the next few years under Democrat guidance, California voters will wise up to the fact that Democrat policies do not work and we will elect a real Republican such as McClintock to govern what once was the Golden State. Until we have a real leader with sound fiscal policies, we will have nothing but the same old, same old. As for those of you making fun of State Senator Tom McClintock, you are proving exactly why we cannot gain decent leadership. If Republicans would stand together, with confidence in a true conservative Republican, we could sway many voters and we would win. I have been in the trenches collecting recall signatures and registering new voters, overwhelmingly people are registering as Republicans. If all we have to offer these new Republicans is someone very similar to a Democrat then they will not stay around long. Moderation causes ambivalence. We need to stand up for our conservative values not shy away from them with the false idea that a conservative cannot win in California. Why compromise our principles?

[SunStar]

Why doesn't McClintock get out of the way now, and run against Boxer in '06?

That election will clearly be Darryl Issa's chance to run.

[ElkGroveDan]

then McClintock's future in politics is dead in the water forever.

Do you know anything about Tom McClintock? Or his history as a legislator? Tom was the youngest person ever elected to the California Assembly in 1982, he was 26 then.

He has served in California in various positions since then. He is well known for his maverick style and devotion to principle, he answers to no one. His campaign funds copme from mostly small, individual donors. It would be close to impossible for this imaginary powers-that-be force that everyone keeps invoking, to hold any sway over the man.

If you want to see "left-wing bankrupt anarchist hell," destroy the Republican party in California by electing someone from the other side as its head.

With the "Arnold Party" we will learn just how many, devoted profamily, progun, prolife voters there are by their absence when they start failing to show up to vote for the new breed of (R)mocrats you are wishing upon our state.

[SunStar]

They'd rather have Cruz Bustamonte than Arnold. That IS the choice.

Yes, the media and the two parties seem to have been successful at turning a 134-person race into Bustamante vs. Schwarzenegger. That is what they do... limit our choices.

[SunStar]

Arnolds track record is setting his sights on a goal and actually accomplishing it.

Is that an opinion or a fact? He's made some good movies.

[SunStar]

Arnold has a lot of garbage and Rush is Right, you'll all rue the day, Arnold comes to Sacramento.

It's funny how many "conservatives" are ready to abandon principles to "win". It's also funny how these same "conservatives" will sweep aside Rush Limbaugh's warnings on such an abandonment. By the way, has Rush EVER been wrong?

[Let's Roll]

"On a cold day in hell, that's when I would vote for Arnold."

Then you better get used to saying, "Governor Bustamante". The LA Times and others are tweaking, if not wholly inventing, their poll results to encourage McClintock and his supporters to keep him in the race. How they must be laughing at you ... Ross Perot.

[SunStar]

You mean there are more people in the GOP who would support the supposed "RINO" at 39% than there are who would the true conservative?!?

Unfortunately, yes. A majority of our party is ready to cave on most conservative principles just to "win".

[SunStar]

McClintock is responsible for the very real possibility that Bustamante will be governor. Does he care? No!!!

Liar. If Bustamante wins, it will be because the voters are stupid, voting for a Democrat or a Democrat-lite candidate like Arnie.

[Spiff]

Please expand on the Pete Wilson/Planned Parenthood connection.

[Texas_Dawg]

Watching this from afar is great. This couldn't happen to a more deserving state than California. California "conservatives" and the GOP there are wholly, utterly, completely politically inept. They are like the Democratic Party at the national level, but much, much worse.

Enjoy Cruz, folks.

[Hoverbug]

Very astute.

I’m hoping that the following isn’t the real scenario, but am afraid it might be:

The RATs know that the only time they could lose to a conservative is if the State is in a dismal situation (which it is now). After all, when is a conservative more likely to win, when the RATs are doing well, or when the RATs are on the ropes after having driven the State into the ground (which they are now)?

The RATs realize their only credible threat is McClintock. Great record, no dirt to throw at him. The only way to neutralize him is to get him out of the way before the election. They do this by having the "useful idiot" Republicans, or RAT operatives posing as Republicans, repeat over and over again, "McClintock can’t win" and "a vote for McClintock is a vote for Bustamove" with absolutely nothing concrete to back it up.

They succeed is removing McClintock from the race before the election. At the last moment, the attacks on Arnie commence, using dirt that is real, not manufactured, and make him unelectable among his own supporters (read that people with standards and morals). On election day, republican voters given the choice between Bustamove and Arnie, have no one they can vote for and stay home in droves.

The office of Governor still has (D) behind it, and the Republicans blame each other, not the RATs.

The absolute biggest lie being told in all of this is, "A conservative can’t win in California." All I have to say is "Ronald Reagan." Every time a RINO has been elected, it has INSURED continued control of the State by RATs.

I’m tired of hearing that all I have to do to win is become more like Clinton.

Instead of trying to make Republicans more like RATs, give Republicans someone thay can vote FOR, and watch the VOTER TURNOUT (not the stats on numbers registered i.e RAT dead people, their dogs and cats, homeless people) put in a Republican.

Hb

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

The question is how much will his ego trip cost Arnold?

Are you a psychiatrist? Why would you characterize McClintock's campaign and sacrifice as an "ego trip"? Have you ever listened to him state his case? Seems to me Tom is ready, willing, and able to sacrifice his time and effort to helping straighten out the mess that has been created by the dims. "Ego trip". What a moronic statement.

[prarie earth]

Im with Ann Coulter on this one, who basically said she is supporting Arnold because Arnolds conservative views are still coming around and being brought to the fore.

If both Ann Coulter and Rush are endorsing Arnold.. that is good enough for me!

[Cinnamon Girl]

Good luck voting from Illinois, BlackElk.

[Spiff]

Im with Ann Coulter on this one, who basically said she is supporting Arnold because Arnolds conservative views are still coming around and being brought to the fore. If both Ann Coulter and Rush are endorsing Arnold.. that is good enough for me!

Coulter's column offering a tepid description of Arnold's only redeeming quality in this race - that "he isn't Gray Davis" is hardly an "endorsement".

Same goes for Limbaugh's comments. Neither has "endorsed" anyone yet as far as I've seen.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

This couldn't happen to a more deserving state than California. California "conservatives" and the GOP there are wholly, utterly, completely politically inept

Hey Dawg, have they found your senators yet? And BTW, how's your redistricting plan going these days. With a Republican majority, should be a slam dunk, eh?

[Cinnamon Girl]

Actually, that Arnold isn't Joe Davis is exactly the point. The recall is about getting Davis out of the way before he not only derails the train but blows up the tracks. I think a lot of people outside of CA secretly rejoice at the thought of complete disaster for our state.

[Treebeard]

Fun, ain't it? Watching California implode? Best free entertainment the media age can offer. I've had to buy more popcorn just for the FR threads alone, not to mention munchies for Oct. 7th. As another amused FReeper pointed out, that night will lend itself more to chips, salsa, and cerveza instead of American food.

California HAS no savior, it's too broken to fix. I really do think the FReepers who believe otherwise are in the denial phase of the grieving process for their "late state." Y'all are good folks, really, but it's time to call in a "no code" on CA.

[Texas_Dawg]

Hey Dawg, have they found your senators yet? And BTW, how's your redistricting plan going these days. With a Republican majority, should be a slam dunk, eh?

Republicans absolutely dominate politics across the board in Texas, and the trend is only more that way. The situation with the Democrats fleeing to New Mexico is a last ditch effort from a dying breed. I'm not worried about it whatsoever. Texas is the best state in the world for pro-gun, pro-business, pro-capitalist, conservatives, and only getting better. I actually like what's happening in California because it just keeps sending people and businesses our way. In other words, I wish you'd elect a Republican to help re-elect Bush next year, but I'm not losing any sleep over it. (The major metropolitan areas in Texas have continued to boom right on through this cyclical economic downturn.)

And, as always... enjoy Cruz.