CA: Recall Debate Live Thread

September 24, 2003

[lainie]

Got popcorn?

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TV:

• Fox News Channel
• KCOP-13 (UPN) (follows the Ricki Lake show, perhaps appropriately, we'll see)
• KCET-28 (PBS)
• KABC-7

LIVE AUDIO STREAMS OF THE DEBATE:

• KABC 790 AM Los Angeles
• KFI 640 AM Los Angeles
• KOGO 600 AM San Diego

[bellevuesbest]

As a non-Californian, my opinion certainly doesn't matter but here it is:

McClintock is clearly the best candidate and was the most specific in what he said. I wish he hadn't said he's pro-life which costs female votes. It would appear that Bustamante will win the recall because McClintock will split the republican vote with Arnold (who was abysmal I thought).

I don't know, maybe the debate didn't matter with so many urbals in LA and the Bay Area.

[BlueNgold]

Arnold just extended Tom the olive branch with a job attached ...

[Roscoe]

Major Garret made an excellent point in that Arnold HAD to beat her back aggressively or risk letting her run awry.

He was more than entitled to respond to her personal attacks, but he couldn't be heard over her shrill voice. Might have been more effective to let her run down.

I'll agree that the mod wasn't exercising the control that he should have.

[AGreatPer]

Arnold just called it a good comedy show. How true.

[YaYa123]

CNN's Jeff Greenfield noted that McClintock didn't take even one swipe at Arnold. Greenfield thought that significant.

FOXNEWS
Fred Barnes..... The moderator is obnoxious, Arnold strong, Arianna a pest. Bustamonte, nice guy, but not impressive.

Michael Barone....Bustamonte Weak. McClintok strong. articulate, which will hurt Arnold.

Mara liasson... not impressed with Arnold.

___________________________________________________

(McClintock's closing statement, absolsutely amazing!!! )

______________________________________________________

Mathews said Arnold did more than he had to, he did great.

These guys are heavy weights, a great panel

Ventura says I' don't know who won. but i know who lost...Gray Davis. Why didnt Gray Davis get equal time?

Jerry Brown...Arnold was ahead, and he didnt' hurt himself tonight. He met the threshold..Arianna had some powerful points...Green guy impressed. They all did their best..but all things given, ARnold didn't hurt himself.

Congressman Dryer..Arnold's campaign suppporter..guess what he said....

Bob Dornan said It was Arnold's to lose, he made no mistakes.

some dame, a democrat strategist says...For Democrats, Bustamontte did just fine....and says Arianna aggravates.

Pat Caddell...This is not a circus...It 's serious

Ventura says Yes, Arnold connected to the people of California. Arnold would do even better if he were running as an Independent.

CNN's Jeff Greenfield..Lot of substance in this debate tonight.. very lively, lot of meat and interesting moments. Arnold clearly stepping out, not in his shell, cited statistics, provided soundbites, Greenfield says Cruz Bustamonte was cool tonight, low key, ( I thought he sounded lame brained).

Greenfield calls McClintock the most interesting guy in the race,,refuses to get out of the race. Arianna came with one goal...go after Arnold! She's the candidate of the aggrieved left, wants to bring him down. He shows Arianna getting booed when she went after President Bush after Arnold made fun of her for doing it.

[novacation]

Cruz is a good speaker and has a good voice.The only problem is nothing comes out that makes any sense.I loved the guy outside with the sign that said "I don't Cruz without Booze." Not sure what he meant, but it sounded good.

[NittanyLion]

I support the Indians, so don't cry to me.

LOL. Fair enough. Let's just agree that, outside of Cubs or Red Sox fans, it's tough to be us.

[ladyinred]

I did tell them what I thought about the format. It would have been okay if Ariana Huffington had been either left out or controlled. The time she took up interrupting and trying to be cute took away from real issues that could have been discussed. Too bad they did such a lousy job controlling that woman, not to mention Cruz . Why the two socialists were there is beyond me.

[SteveH]

If McClintock ends up endorsing Arnold at the 11th Hour, not only will it will push Arnold over the top, but Arnold will have gotten enormous value from Tom's presence in the debates. There's a huge difference between a debate that's 3 against 2, and one that's 2 against 1.

Excellent point.

I also sensed there was some kind of semi-truce between Tom and Arnold. I would like to know how they ended up sitting next to each other. In such a position, one could signal the other for strategizing.

[xrp]

Yep. Liberals want everyone else to make an adjustment for them, conservatives innovate and find a way to adjust themselves without imposing upon others.

[Joe Hadenuf]

I like the debate, and the format was great.....McClintok looked damn good.....

[Stew Padasso]

"No charm.."

That's too bad. IMO this is a lost opportunity to do the right thing. I thought we were sick of charming politicians? But hey, I don't live in Cali.

[ambrose]

Arnold wasted way too much time on Arianna. Especially stupid of him was attacking her hypocrisy on taxes... Arnold WANTS Arianna to well so she can siphon off votes from Cruz.... Still, he did a decent job.

[MattAMiller]

Schwarzenegger came through with the necessary amount of wonkishness. The Fox anaylists are looking at this through the eyes of avid political observers. He only had to show he has a grasp of the issues. He did that. He will win this election.

McClintock won on substance. He cut through the crap several times, most notabley on immigration. But that's only going to comfort the people who are already on board. Hopefully he'll get a spot advising Arnold. Arnold will need that sort of advice.

Camejo represented his little corner of the political spectrum quite well. He might chip off some of Bustamonte's support.

Huffington was obnoxious but sharp. All that talk about Bush was weird. But she was smart and articulate and she'll chip some support off of Bustamonte too.

Bustamonte showed up. The condesending stuff won't win him any votes. I think he was trying to play the front runner, but nobody is going to buy that.

Overall it was a great debate. They really hammered each other over the nitty-gritty details.

[tpaine]

Tom: content 9, presentation 8, total 16


Arnold: content 5, presentation 7, total 12


Cruse: content 5, presentation 6, total 11


Winner: Arnold is a shoo in, as Tom is unelectable, and will do the right thing when Arnie makes him the right political offer.

Bet on it...

[NeoCaveman]

Nothing personal, I just was responding to the last post, as I couldn't listen and keep up with the post!! He did great didn't he?

Heck Tom is the ideal, I think he'd win by a lanslide in Ohio....but this is Callyfoinia.

[DoctorZIn]

California Recall: Who will get your vote?

Posted by DoctorZIn
On News/Activism 09/24/2003 7:45 PM PDT
California Recall Daily Thread: Up To The Minute News ^ ^ | 9.24.2003 | DoctorZin

So you will you vote for, now that you seen them debate?

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/988875/posts

[TheBattman]

How cound anyone, at least from here on FR, not support McClintock after his amazing performance in tonight's debate? He is obviously the only candidate that is 100% on the "right" side of things.

Arnold was a bit pushy and seemed to reliant on canned responses to questions and to petty bickering with Arianna who is not a serious candidate.

Bustamonte - if he were not such a hispanic clone of Davis, would could actually be seen as a serious candidate. He talks a good game and maintained his cool. Too bad he is a liberal RAT.....he comes across and a nice and genuine person (even though most of us are too smart to be fooled).

The Green Party Candidate - in the 70's he ran for POTUS as a SOCIALIST - so I guess it's not too hard to figure out where he is looking to carry the state. He was clear that he wants the wealthy (where does he draw the line?) to pay far higher taxes as well as wanting to raise taxes on corporations (and they think businesses are fleeing California fast NOW....!). Came across as a cooky-commie college professor.

Arianna - ummm...is she for real? OK, she is a somewhat attractive older lady who also has a heavy accent. She is as much of a leftist as Bustamonte. Lots of evidence that she really has no clue how government runs. She may have a brain, but she wasn't really showing it tonight.

McClintock was, in my opinion, the clear winner of tonight's debate. He was able to keep a cool head and explain his views and agenda in a clear and consise manner far different from the mud-slinging dirtbags otherwise represented on stage. It is a crying shame that there are so many idiots in California who are blind to the truth. Every candidate on the stage, regardless of statements made represent higher taxes and more socialist migration in the state government of California. All but McClintock are friends of illegal immigrants. All are for socialized medicine except Arnold and McClintock. All but McClintock were for spend, spend, spend. None offered any proposal to pay for the spending suggested other than the Green Party candidate - the proud socialist.

I fear that the future of California is in grave danger. The only candiate on stage tonight that has the vision, leadership ability, and a real plan to fix California has little chance to win. Too many lefties in Kalifornia.

Might be time for the handful of conservatives to think about moving elsewhere - someplace where they won't be so alone...........

[Kevin Curry]

Uh, oh. I just noticed that I forgot to clear my signature tagline on the last few posts. We're all doing a Rodney King-style "get along" tonight, and I must keep that in mind. My apologies.

[lainie]

Oh, yuck. I would, too. "paid to sign?" please