Arnie's Choice (Discussion for Undecideds)

My Febrile Mind | 8/20/2003 | Daniel J. Phillips

[BibChr]

I probably represent many Californians who are not yet on any candidate's bandwagon. My intent is to start and fuel a friendly discussion among us, hopefully relatively free from flamethrowers and those on the pay of any particular campaign.

I suggest I'm representative in these ways:

1. I am myself very conservative, politically and otherwise. Yet...
2. I understand we're electing a politician, not a pastor. And...
3. I understand that, judged from God's absolute standard, EVERY vote since Eden is a vote for the lesser of two evils.
4. I also understand that it is difficult to accomplish anything politically without winning. And...
5. I understand that it is usually better to move the ball successfully one yard towards the goal, than to fail gloriously in going for an impossible touchdown.

Having said that:

1. I think that, among GOP candidates, Schwarzenegger has the best odds of winning the election.
2. Though he is not my ideal candidate by ANY means, I am willing to be convinced that I should support him.
3. At present, his ONLY stated and specific positions
   • Were all staked out BEFORE the campaign; but still...
   • Are all either left-moderate or far-left.
4. For me to support him, he is going to have to stake out at least one specific, you-can-hold-me-to-this, major conservative position. Show me in some way that he has something identifiably Republican about him aside from his registration.

I am in a hurry, so I conclude this opening sally by saying that I take it as also a "given" that Simon should be pluperfect. That is, he should be described as in "he had run." He has no place in this election. Davis is governor in large measure because Simon failed Political Leadership 101: Winning the Election. He can redeem himself by time and accomplishments, and I am aware of neither since the last election, in which I voted for him, and which he gift-wrapped for Governor Davis.

Arnold is in a position to win it today, I think. Davis tried to be Clinton and failed — he's the same cup of hemlock without that minty aftertaste! Bustamonte says "I love you so much I'm going to raise your taxes!" Arnold can run away with it. If Schwarzenegger comes out with some conservative specifics, I think a lot of us are willing to "break" for him. If he doesn't... ay yi yi. We may be forced to McClintock, who I think is probably a good man, and who I think is far less likely to be able to win.

[BibChr]

I look forward to some intelligent give and take among my betters.

(c8

[Seeking the truth]

For me to support him, he is going to have to stake out at least one specific, you-can-hold-me-to-this, major conservative position. Show me in some way that he has something identifiably Republican about him aside from his registration

Cheer up!

It is guaranteed that he will toss you a conservative bone!

Maybe today! Isn't it today that he was supposed to make some great big policy speech or something?

[BibChr]

Submitted for your perusal.

[BibChr]

Kinda the point for my timing.

(c8

[carton253]

principles versus pragmatism...

Wow! I don't live in California, so I can't vote, but I if did, I would work like mad for McClintock, but if he can't make up the numbers, on election day, I would vote for Arnold...

Today should be a tell tale day. I believe that Arnold will be laying out his economic plan today.

[So Cal Rocket]

What a beautiful campaign slogan Arnold has:

Vote For Arnold
The Lessor of Two Evils

[J. L. Chamberlain]

He's a celebrity and a lib. Vote for him if you want to but don't delude yourself about that (R) behind his name. I'm not a Californian so I don't have a dog in this fight but here in MN we endured four years of Governor WrestleMania. It was painful and I don't recommend it to y'all.

J

[So Cal Rocket]

The ONLY way Arnold gets my vote is if he takes a stand against raising taxes of any sort. Otherwise, McClintock gets it.

[KellyAdmirer]

Arnold clearly is aiming for the center of the electorate imho. Unfortunately, the center in California is not very conservative. If he tries to sound like McClintock, imho he is a sure loser. Hopefully, he will put forth moderate positions on taxes and spending and that will be enough for folks such as yourself to support. It certainly won't be enough for the real activists here and they no doubt will beat up Arnold no matter what he says, but then, they have been losing elections in California with great regularity and will never support a California moderate like Arnold who has any chance of winning.

[steplock]

Apologies to the original poster of this article yesterday - I had a copy & can't remember who posted it - so.....

I was wondering what Arnold Schwarzenegger (a not too liberal democrat running as a republican) had in common with Warren Buffet, a democrat party liberal money-launderer for the Elite of the Left-wing???

Interestingly enough --- Almost ONE YEAR AGO, in jolly ole england, we have this little news item .....


Reuters, Sept. 24, 2002: WADDESDON MANOR, England (Reuters) - The world's second-richest man dropped into the English countryside with the Terminator at his side on Monday, a day after warning the UK's corporate big game his elephant gun was loaded.

Billionaire Warren Buffett and mean machine Arnold Schwarzenegger touched down by helicopter on the immaculate lawns of Waddesdon manor, a Renaissance-style chateau in the undulating hills of Buckinghamshire.

Buffett, 72, is guest of honor at a closed two-day meeting of some of the world's most powerful businessmen and financiers -- the ultimate networking opportunity.

The get-together in the ancestral home of the Rothschild banking family will discuss economic and political issues Among those invited to Waddesdon Manor were the likes of James Wolfensohn, president of the World Bank, Jorma Ollila, chief executive of Nokia and De Beers chairman Nicky Oppenheimer.

A group of photographers captured the moment when Buffett and Schwarzenegger, resplendent in steel-tipped cowboy boots, stepped onto Waddesdon's freshly cut lawn to be greeted by Lord Jacob Rothschild. . .

THESE people are Bill Clinton's Puppet Masters. No wonder, "Der Schlickmeister" is in California for the recall election

[mrs tiggywinkle]

Thank you for your well thought out reasoning, BibChr.

My first choice would be McClintock but in this current political season, he won't win the election. Schwarzenegger is electable. He has two terrific economic advisers in his court and hopefully his economic plan will be do-able and reasonable, with regard to the $$ mess Davis has created.

Well...I'll check back in on Saturday. I'm off to take my daughter to Surf Camp. :o)

Freepmail coming shortly.

[So Cal Rocket]

Oooooo...surf camp!!! Can i come too????

[BibChr]

It would have been kind of you to have read and thought about the essay before spurting.

Dan

[TheBigB]

I gave some thoughts on this last night. Unfortunately, it was immmediately yanked and placed in chat. While other opinion pieces stay here. There are apparently no guidelines that I can discern. Anyway, here's mine, just for discussion:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/966970/posts

[Roscoe]

Schwarzenegger has the best odds of winning the election.

Trailing Cruz and falling fast.

[mrs tiggywinkle]

your source?

[hchutch]

The only reason the recall is going on is because Gray Davis hid the extent of California's finacial problems from the people of that state. The extent of the mandate for this recall is to fix the problem.

Arnold's pretty solid on Prop 13, and he is a very smart operator. And he has the ability win veto fights when they occur (they WILL occur).

I will admit that I had some sentimental support for Simon, who rightfully feels that he was robbed because the facts were hidden. But the fact is, he messed up the campaign.

[Roscoe]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/965038/posts

[nina0113]

kinda like how I voted for Bush though I really wanted Keyes.

I'm wondering if it might not actually be GOOD for Arnold for the far-right (for California - y'all are mainstream down South) to be aligning behind McClintock. I don't think any Democrats will cross over to vote for McClintock anyway, but if they can vote for Arnold without allying themselves with those homophobic drughating woman-oppressing anti-choicers (did I leave anyone out?) they will.

It's not a first down, but it's a yard more than you've got now.

[BibChr]

You bring up a good point I'd missed. That IS one conservative position on which Schw has been specific and firm: he's for Proposition 13. One in that column.

Thanks; that's what I meant by "discussion." Not the snipes and slogans we're already having.

Thanks.

Dan