IS IT TIME FOR AN "ARNOLD-TOM WIN/WIN DEAL" (?) OK. THEN HERE'S HOW....

Free Republic site ^ | 27 September 2003 | AmericanInTokyo

[AmericanInTokyo]

[Opinion. Open for Discussion.]

The vitriol and passion are reaching unparalleled heights.

Arnold Schwarzenegger feels he is close to an October 7th victory and that a knockout punch of both Gray Davis and Cruz Bustamante is within tantalizing reach.

Were it all not for one jagged pebble in his hiking boot. State Senator Tom McClintock.

Both sides are polarized, even here and especially here, on Free Republic. And for damned good reason.

One side, comprised of so-called "RINOs", (moderate-centrists), later joined by pragmatic conservatives who see the paramount need to dethrone the irresponsible and dangerous Socialist Democrat regime in Sacramento, have dug in their heels in for a pitched battle against their new nemesis: the ranks of conservatives of principle who strongly support the continuation of their choice, Senator Tom McClintock, in order to prevent a sellout of the state of California to centrist or moderate political policies down the road.

OK. "Let's Make a Deal".

[GOP_1900AD]

McClintock has the advantage of having worked the talk radio circuit in the Bay Area, LA, SD and Sacto for years. He is well known to the Conservative grass roots base. Many have compared this to the Reagan - Christopher situation and rightfully so. Although it's a recall, it is really for all intents and purposes a pre-primary for the Cal GOP vis a vis the next scheduled standard election. It makes sense to take a risk now, when even if Bastagutty wins, it will only be for a limited amount of time. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Imagine, however, if McClintock wins; the first hard core Conservative governor elected in any state for quite some time. This could have a major positive impact on the '04 election and dash to pieces the accomodationist factions of the GOP. The McClintock Revolution - I like the sound of that!

[SteveH]

Man, you certainly sound like some of my fellow Californians that I came of age with in the 70s, but sometime around our senior year in college we dramatically cut back on our intake, of ahem, mind altering drugs.

It's called poetic license. Or logrolling. Or pragmatism. Or avoiding a stupid unenforceable law against private deal-making. I dressed the hypothetical scenario up for dramatic reasons. Don't get your panties all in a wad, dude. ;-)

[MichaelDammit]

I ageee....the 2nd Amendment is the deciding issue....Arnold has to cede to McClintock on this. Period.

[glennaro]

I did as you suggested and checked the L.A. Times exit polls following the last election. A neutral reading produces conclusions I think are more complex than you may think.

Results for those who identified themselves as "moderates" based on political ideology: Davis-52%, Simon-37%

Results for those who identified themselves as "moderate independents" based on ideology and party: Davis-50%, Simon-27%.

Surprisingly, for those who identified themselves as "moderate Republicans" Simon lost 25% of those votes.

This recent history doesn't give me a warm feeling about McClintock's chances with these critical voter blocs. That's why I think he would not pick up enough of Arnold's moderate votes to win (if Arnold did as you suggest and dropped out of the race).

[Bobibutu]

"The solution may be this. " ...

I always enjoy your posts.

I am truly torn:

McC - Has the right ideas.

Arnold - has the potential to bypass the media and go to the people taking the legislative bodies to task. (al-la Reagan)

The primary problem is not the govenor - it is the legislature and entrenched, protected bureaucrats.

My mind says McC - my heart and logic says Arnold.

I would vote for McC for Senate if some kind of face saving deal could be worked out for him now.

Someone suggested thet Arnold appointing McC to head a commission to audit the State - I like that. And with Arnolds "star" power to support and drive it may be just what we need. Then he runs for Senate.

There is a historic opportunity here -I am but one vote - and the Internet is the great equalizer. (Colt .45 for those who are young and vague on history)

I live in Alameda County - one of 3 liberal counties of the 9 in the Bay Area - I like your thinking AIT - I wish I hadn't smoked all my "Cubans" (trip to the Bahamas a few years ago - and no they wern't counterfits) I would have gladely donated them to the "cigar session".

These guys need to talk - soon.

Flame proof underware on - let 'er rip.

[usadave]

But McClintock said he would not drop out. How could you expect him to break his word?

To save face, McClintock could stay in the race until October 7th, but a few days before election day, McClintock could throw his support to Arnold and encourage Californians to vote for Arnold.

[cake_crumb]

CA Republican Assembly running pro-Tom ads with money paid for by Native American tribes. This is apparently not illegal, because the money went to the CA Republican Assembly rather than McClintock's campaign directly.

Hugh Hewitt show.

This doesn't sound good, especially considering the amount of money they gave Busty.

[GOP_1900AD]

Palp and his buddies Texas Dawg, Grand Poofdah, and other weasley Leftists only care about the government - media - big corporation complex, at the end of the day. Arnie would be kind to their agenda. This cabal is part of the the faction of faux conservatives who haunt this forum; I sometimes wonder what their real motives are. You can count on them to be in favor of big business and economic anarchy but little else. They hate borders, language and culture and at the end of the day really dig on all the 3rd Way BS..... sorry to go negative here, but it's needed and badly!

[GOP_1900AD]

I am going to burn down the big tent.

[HAL9000]

The rest of the maneuver would be a Clintonesque dodging of the truth.

Huh? The last time the maneuver was used was during the 2000 GOP primaries in order to avoid damaging the party during the convention - and to keep Al Gore from getting elected.

[glennaro]

I appreciate your sarcasm. Of course the reason for the recall is fiscal, and a Republican must receive sufficient votes to win the election. I admit to a cost-benefit analysis of my conservative vote

Costs - Compromise, to a tolerable extent, my principles and accept a candidate with less direct experience.

Benefits - A Republican governor and a de-railing, to some extent, of the radical Democrat/liberal agenda.

[GOP_1900AD]

"The Right is a fiction, everyone is on the Left." J.R. Nyquist.

[GOP_1900AD]

We HAVE been infiltrated. Some of them are dupes, some of them are economic anarchists (e.g. pro business but overall anti conservative) and some are truely from the other side.

[John Valentine]

AIT, I endorse your idea, and actually I expect that Arnold has already launched such an effort. It will be up to Tom whether he wants to come along or be left behind.

EGD, you must be a pilot, because I think I hear the booze talking.

The fact is that Schwarzenegger is within striking distance of winning this WITHOUT Tom McClintock. Frankly, I think that would be the worst possible outcome for the McClintock conservatives. California conservatives would be marginalized for years.

EGD, that is exactly what you and like-thinkers are accomplishing. Your fabled "principles" mean little in the political world of elections won or lost. And that is where you guys are headed: another lost election followed by that all too familiar whine whine whine and carp carp carp.

AIT, I submit to you that it is not the Schwarzenegger faction that has the most to gain, it is the McClintock faction that has the most to lose.

Still it could be a win-win if not for dedicated losers like EGD.

[GOP_1900AD]

RINOs are themselves completely of the Left. They are either duped via the gov - media complex, or, are pro business anti conservative economic anarchists, or, are truly Leftists, on a mission to destroy the Right from within.

[NordP]

What ever happened to a plain and simple BEAT BUSTAMENCHA FOR THE GOOD OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA???

This is a peak into the world of Tom McClintock supporters...and perhaps, the man himself.

So this is why Tom isn't doing the right thing...because it never WAS about doing the right thing. --Like Issa, Like Simon, Like Uberoth (sp?) it was about Tom.

Thank you for making it clear to me. I always thought of Tom as a good guy - but thanks to your post, I'm changing my mind.

[Chancellor Palpatine]

Palp and his buddies Texas Dawg, Grand Poofdah, and other weasley Leftists....

Hey assbag, its customary to ping people when you post about them. In your zeal to "burn the big tent" and to find yourself perpetually out of power, it should help your sense of fulfillment and worth to at least know you were up front with your insults.

Thanks for your cooperation.

[RDangerfield]

Ahnold's backers have insisted for the last month that Ahnold's pro-choice beliefs do not matter because the California governor has no control over abortion. But Dana Rohrbacher in a Human Events magazine interview admitted today that that claim is a lie:

Q: On his website, Arnold says, "I support the state's current family planning programs, and as governor would make no changes to this policy." The state of California currently pays for abortions with tax dollars.
ROHRABACHER: Right.
Q: You don't agree with that, do you?
ROHRABACHER: I don't, no.
Q: I mean, isn't that an egregious thing?
ROHRABACHER: I don't agree with having abortions, period.
Q: But isn't it egregious for a Republican candidate for governor to say, "I'm a fiscal conservative, but I'm going to tax people to pay for other people's abortions?"
ROHRABACHER: I would vote that way [against funding abortions] in a heartbeat. That makes Arnold different on this issue than I am, but he's better on this issue than Gray Davis and Bustamante.

How can Ahonold be better when he agrees with them on the issue? Why would true conservatives want McClintock to step aside for someone whose campaign tells such basic lies?
--Raoul

[JOE6PAK]

BURN BABY, BURN!

[projectile]

It is clear that Arnold is going to win whether McClintock stays in or not.

Thanks for letting me know that, now I don't have to waste me time voting.