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".

[jospehm20]

Tom wouldn't win if Arnold dropped out today.

[randog]

hehe!

[AmericanInTokyo]

face it, though. don't you crave and salivate victory?? you can taste it in your mouth.

Tom McClintock's support is your solution, even if you have to hold your nose.

[EGPWS]

Finally, if Arnold really cared about the Republican party he would step aside and let the guy who supports the party conservative values and has for 20 years win. He'd let the guys who supports the paltform win.

Arnold's cares lay elsewhere apparently.

[ElkGroveDan]

i think this kind of talk between the 2 camps may well be taking place anyways over the next 48 to 72 hours.

I think you are delirious and you haven't been listening to Tom for the past 6-8 weeks. He's in it to stay. That's the nice thing about Tom and why we all love him so. He means what he says.

[dinok]

The Republican Party decided some time ago to move away from its conservative roots and choose people to the left of Texas democrats to run under its banner.
This is dangerous. It is splitting our party at a time that we need to unite for next year's election. No party wins an election by disrespecting its base. And I feel disrespected.
The choise of Arnold - and lets not play games, its quite apparent that he is the party boy - has been an insult to all of us conservatives who have been in the trenches for the party all along. I saw no moderates on the streets during the Florida Court dispute three years ago. As a matter of fact, I never heard the party say thank you; nor am I holding my breath.
The GOP attitude toward conservatives is: where else are they going to go? And now the final insult: conservatives are about to be blamed if Arnold their new found golden boy looses the election. All one has to do is listen to the party mouthpiece Shawn "I used to have principles" Hanity. Its an endless Arnold love fest.

But...
If the Party is willing to make up with the conservative base, it is THEY that must reach out to McClintock. If Arnold does it, he looks weak. The Republican Party has to eat their ego and kiss up. Tgey created this mess, let them clean it up.

[ElkGroveDan]

Schwarzenegger will not drop out.

McClintock will not drop out either. So you are wasting bandwidth with this discussion.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Add conservative-patriot-pro 2nd Ammend. faction control of any Cal. state agency (with senior gubernatorial appointments) that deals on the California state level with gun control, then. if that is your sole issue.

[rftc]

This is how it would have happened in the old days, in a cigar filled Chauteau Marmont hotel room..(it is California)

[Dog]

Thank you AIT.....the two camps need to come together now. Bustamante must not become governor.

[DiamondDon1]

Hello American In Tokyo:

Arrangement 2

Here is a case for Tom not getting out of the race. It has been suggested and is VERY POSSIBLE or even PROBABLE that if Tom gets out of the race now, Arnold's numbers will rise to the point of crushing Cruz (about 1/2 to 2/3 of Tom's people will go for Arnold to make sure Cruz does not win...).

Sounds good to all the Arnold supporters. Their guy will be way back up in the polls and he will beat Cruz as Arnold supporters have pre-ordained.

But "Houston, we have a problem."

If Tom gets out, it will be Cruz that is the spoiler for Davis. It has been rumored that one reason that many Democrats still support the RECALL is that they think that Cruz can advance their leftist agenda better than Davis. So when the polls indicate Cruz is a goner, and CRUZ gets back to NO on RECALL (because he has no chance), the Democrats come home and Davis wins.

So in a wierd twist of fate...

PRESSURE TOM TO GET OUT AND KEEP DAVIS

Lastly, everyone from Hugh Hewitt to the most inane troll at DU understands that at the last minute, something awful will be brought up about Arnold.

There are two possible scenarios here (if Tom gets out):

1. Arnold's numbers get rid of Cruz and with the scandel, say "Hasta la Vista Arnold" and Hello Davis.

2. Arnold's numbers don't rise greatly, Cruz stays in and with the scandel, say "Hasta la Vista Arnold" and "Hola Cruz".

Is it smart to have Tom get out? Me thinks NOT.

DD

Previously posted but pertinent to the discussion

[Chancellor Palpatine]

Buyer's market. Arnie doesn't need him anymore, and the price is going down with each passing day.

When the PTBs of the GOP sit down, put together the math and realize "we can do it without the hardcore right anymore", the previous influence wielded will diminish drastically for certain politicians, voting blocs, organizations and pundits.

And all of them can point to McQuixote and say "thanks a lot, pal".

[reagandemocrat]

McClintock is making a name for himself nationwide. His September 24 debate was great. Arnold needs to move more to the right and needs McClintock's help in so doing. McC has a tremendous opportunity to change the Reublican Party in California for the better, and he can do it by being the "bigger" man. McClintock for Senator!

RD

[AmericanInTokyo]

Then if there are no intra-factional discussions and no concessions along the lines i have just painstakingly outlined, as i said in the closing comments, the option to still stand and vote for McClintock stands now, doesn't it?

Don't flame (even though you haven't yet).

[GraniteStateConservative]

Tom should take Director of Finance for himself and go away. I'm sure Arnold would be happy with that arrangement and so should Tom.

CA would elect a conservative for Governor a million years before choosing one to vote on SCOTUS nominees. I'd support Bill Simon for the senatorial nomination, though, because he can further water down his views like he did last year to get to a point where he'd beat Boxer. Don't count out Rosario Marin, either. After this recall is over, more attention will be paid to the Boxer race and maybe Marin will show herself to be a great candidate.

[Kay Soze]

Ahold being the RINO/Democrat lite that he is means that if he withdraws the votes will then go to a true conservative?

I would think alot of his votes will go to the rats.

[My dog Sam]

It is evident that you still do not see the importance of Tom becoming governor instead of Arnold.

The Governor is the one who can stop all of the idiotic gun legislating coming out of Sacramento with his veto power.

Besides, if you ain't the lead dog the view never changes.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Let's just watch and see, then.

I know what you want. I am telling you that you may not get it.

Therefore, I re-pose the question: (If, theoretically speaking, this approach were to come to fruition though, would you endorse such a scenario?) Yes or No. Up or Down? Thanks.

[GraniteStateConservative]

I'd also add that Bush's approval ratings today in CA aren't great at all so it's really a leap to even be talking about a competitive race with Boxer-- her past lame margins of victory notwithstanding.

We need a high Bush approval in states we hope to knock off incumbents in.

[ElkGroveDan]

When the PTBs of the GOP sit down, put together the math and realize "we can do it without the hardcore right anymore", the previous influence wielded will diminish drastically for certain politicians, voting blocs, organizations and pundits.

You are forgetting about the conservative voters. We are the ones who built this party and own it. It's the reason Pete Wilson NEVER adressed the full Assembly of the California Republican Party in his 8 as Governor (16 chances he skipped out on). He would have been booed off state. He simply spoke at the overpriced rubber-chicken dinners and had his staff each buy up a handful of tickets.

Even if you win this fluke election comrade, the conservative grassroots will be back in the next primary, including many confused conservatives here who will be apalled by Arnold and what he says and does.

Liberal republicans are an enigma and they always will be.