Posted on 09/26/2003 2:54:23 PM PDT by 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".
At times I feel I'm paying too much attention! : )
Perhaps, I took this as being a rationalization of (R)nold's future betrayals.
Yes, it's possible people will be stupid enough to expect him to fix Grey's economic messes overnight, and get very angry when in real life he can't. In fact, they will do exactly the same thing to McClintock because HE cannot fix the mess overnight.
Using the word "stupid" was the trigger. Perhaps you didn't mean to say (R)nold gets a year to do whatever he wants, perhaps not. I guess only you know.
The main way to get these two to come together is for Arnold to move to the right and endorse some key McClintock positions. That is neither likely, nor necessarily compelling. But it really is the only way. Schwarzeneger's problem with McClintock and his supporters isn't about power or personalities. It's about staking out his political agenda too far to the left to attract all the conservative base.
That has worked really well so far. Bear that is a real knee slapper.
Aww shucks. I was snippy with you on a tech thread yesterday, and here you go making me agree with you on a political thread today. I hereby recind yesterday's snippiness. You're absolutely correct on this one.
No wonder "political cynicism" is a prevailing factor in elections anymore! l
I know how you feel. I've been paying so much attention to the recall that I totally forgot about the Ten Little Idiots' "debate". In fact, I've been spending all day, every day the past week concentrating on the recall, which I should not be doing. Before that, I manged to spend a few hours a day on other things, but it's been getting progressively worse.
By October 9th or 10th, we're all gonna be suffereng from an extreme case of post election let down.
I was thinking about the public in general after there has been a year of "maybe we were better off with Davis" hype to make them forget why so many millions from both sides of the aisle are recalling him to begin with.
I MEANT that no policy, no matter how sound, will have immediate results, and the media will crucify whichever Republican is in office BECAUSE it didn't get immediate results. Sure it's stupid, but look at the media successes of the past 13 years.
To any of the left, all Republicans are the enemy and must be destroyed, because the public MUST be assimilated into the collective.
It'll happen, if EITHER Arnold or Tom win, trust me.
If it is so important to you that a Republican win this recall, then why don't you give on your principles and vote for Tom?
eh????
It is totally irrelevant if 100% of the GOP vote goes to Schwarzenegger or if 100% of the GOP vote goes to McClintock unless they also get a significant percentage of non-GOP vote. Without that non-GOP vote, both of the GOP candidates would lose in today's California.
Schwarzenegger has the ability to woo that non-GOP vote. McClintock does not. Therefore, the political facts of life are that Schwarzenegger has a good chance of winning and McClintock has zero chance.
The question you should be asking yourself is, "Who can do the most damage to those principles that I hold dear? Schwarzenegger or Bustamante?"
If the answer Schwarzenegger, then your present position makes sence.
If the answer is Bustamante, you might want to re-think the consequences of your position.
McClintock has been short in the diplomacy department. However, he can improve. I seriously dooubt he wants to retire at a young age, and he has much to offer...it's getting support for the offers he's selling he has trouble with, especially in todays political climate in CA. In FACT, he IS showing some improvement. His numbers appear to have jumped (good job, a little stilted at times, but excellent job getting the message out) since the debate, and he DIDN'T even have to attack his fellow GOP member. Hope he learns from that.
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