Posted on 01/30/2006 9:39:15 AM PST by NormsRevenge
Last week in my newsletter I noted and congratulated Senator Tom McClintock for always standing up for principled, regardless of the political costs. That is one reason why I support him in his run for Lt. Governor.
Now that he is running for Lt. Governor, Tom is in a difficult position. He wants to help Governor Schwarzenegger and he wants his help. But Tom's principled stands make that difficult. Indeed, Tom has been all over radio telling folks why Arnold is wrong about creating a deficit budget, $68 billion in more debt and destroying jobs with an increase in minimum wages.
That is proof once more that Tom doesn't do things for political gain. Tom is willing to tell the truth, even if it hurts him politically.
The Governor, though, is in trouble with the base of the GOP. Why? In part, because we have been listening to Senator McClintock''s principles so long. It is easy therefore to know that the Schwarzenegger current policies are wrong, wrong for the GOP and very wrong for California.
Even GOP Assembly leader Kevin McCarthy, always to be counted on to support the governor no matter what, announced his Caucus opposed the Guv's $68 billion in General Obligation bonds. They came out with a new plan that would add no new debt to the backs of the California families and businesses.
Given the above, it is hard to understand why members of the California Republican Party are now receiving letters from Senator McClintock, paid for by donations to his Lt. Governor run.
In his letter, he basically tells the activists not to challenge the Governor on policy by passing resolutions against those policies and/or his endorsement. To summarize this very carefully worded document he states:
1. "Our party has endorsed the governor for re-election. While I am not in favor of pre-primary endorsements for any partisan race, once endorsement is given, it must not be rescinded. Let's leave this issue alone."
2. "Put aside the plans that would cause strife and division among our party and instead focus on those things that unite our party and divide the Democrats."
3. "Focus every minute of every hour at this convention on planning to recruit , train and deploy a vast grass roots army that will successfully impact our election results in November."
I agree with many parts of his letter - as long as he is talking to Arnold. The GOP did not provide a large Democrat staff for a Republican administration. The GOP did not appoint a majority of non-GOP'ers to the bench. It wasn't the Assembly or Senate Caucus that provided a deficit budget, regulations to kill jobs, more debt to an all ready over burdened State.
Moreover, we know that Tom and most of the Republicans in the legislature will vote against the Governor's minimum wage proposal, deficit spending budget and $68 billion in debt. Is that divisive and non productive?
If not, then why can't the official body of the Republicans in California also go on record on those issues? Shouldn't the governor have complete support among legislators? Why are they allowed to oppose the policies of the governor and the Base is not?
Beyond those questions, should we just allow Arnold to turn the GOP in to the Party seeking power for the sake of power rather than power for the sake of principles.
Many of us think not and will continue to voice our concern which comes down to this:
The base is now and always has been motivated by ideas. That is why the Base loves McClintock...he reminds them why they are Republicans, that there are principles over power and politics. Volunteers need that motivation.
The problem is that the army is being decimated by policies and personnel they question. Right now they have precious little motivation to work in the Fall.
Letters like this may be the best thing the Democrats have going for them, i.e, a leading GOP'er saying don't say anything about the actions and policies of Arnold.
Tom says he wants a productive convention and I could not agree with him more. However, by not allowing debate and discussion on the governors policies, by not allowing the CRP to take a stand (just as GOP Assembly caucus took a stand), it would be more divisive and create a pent up anger against the Governor and those that are afraid of open debate.
The real question is, do we want to win as many seats as possible in November? If so, you have to give the Base and the volunteers a reason. Instead, we are seeing some of the best among us have chosen expediency over principle.
One last thing. Regardless of the debate and outcome of the February CRP convention, we all know what type of campaign the Democrats will run in the Fall. They will do ads that show McClintock challenging the Governors' policies and the GOP legislator's refusal to vote for them. The Democrats will say, "if the GOP is so divided, why not vote for a united Party, the Democrats, we have a unified set of principles." Then the Democrats will do independent expenditures geared toward Republicans. They will show how McClintock is 180 degrees from the Governor, that Arnold's policies are similar to Gray Davis, so why re-elect Arnold.
This is not going to be pretty. We need to say something now to save November. If we put muzzles on, we lose in November, for there would be no reason for the Base to believe the GOP candidates stand for anything but winning just for the sake of winning.
I end this with a statement from Bill Bradley in his blog, talking about the PPIC poll from last week, http://www.newwestnotes.com/
"* The sleeper factoid in the poll, partisan identification. 42% say they are registered Democrats, 34% registered Republicans. But when asked which party they feel closer to, the numbers change. Badly for Republicans. 43% say they identify with Democrats; only 26% say Republicans. A sense of demoralization and dissatisfaction seems to have set in among nearly a quarter of Republican Party members. That can't be good at the start of an election year."
It is not too late for the Governor to build a GOP agenda for the future of California. That would gain our energized support for his re-election.
Ca conservatives are used to getting kicked in the head by the leadership of the Republican establishment in this state. If we lose, fine, but at least we have operated on a fair and even playing field and not one controlled by a few with deep pockets and an inclusive agenda and an attitude of "Just Win Baby! Don't sweat the details!".
You can not unring the bell ; ie, but all his appointments of gays and greens, his massive borrowing, his obvious liberal leaning stances on any number of issues should not be rewarded either, imo.
But, Yes, let's have the debate, let's look at the platform that many now actively working under the auspices of the New Majority pay lip service to or avoid all together any discussion of.
If Tom's gonna go on the radio an talk one way, he can't have it both ways, EITHER!!!
When faced with a choice between A.S. and T.M. I'm always gonna vote T.M. But I'm not faced with such a choice in this scenario. I'm also grounded in the firm conviction of never falling in love with ANY politician, just exactly because of twisted political pressures and strange orchestrated circumstances they can find themselves all tangled up in!!!
I do NOT support Tom McClintock in this phony position whatsoever and I'm embarrassed for him that he's taking such an awkward position and trying to ask us to go out and actually WORK for such a stupid position!!!
As for me and my house... We're NOT going to do it!!!
The Wilsonegger gang and their money folks are one of the most corrupt orginazations to infest state politics since Southern Pacific was evicted by Johnson.
I urge every registered Republican to actively work to defeat the gang membership in November. From Schwarzenegger to Ackerman to McCarthy to Sundheim this corruption must not be allowed to stand.
Only an honest opponent can defeat the liberal, Democrat Party monster that Wilson motivated and empowered when he enticed the CRP to abandon its principles.
Its time to clean house in Orange County.
Again, Tom McClintock gets it right.
Again, Tom McClintock gets it right.
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Moreover, we know that Tom and most of the Republicans in the legislature will vote against the Governor's minimum wage proposal, deficit spending budget and $68 billion in debt. Is that divisive and non productive?
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On this piece as well? :)
Ya can't have it both ways, DL.
I'd say he did well considering the torque applied to his privates by the Wilsonegger gang's financiers. I would have expected boot licking.
It too bad that they couldn't have used that $325M to finance an honest campaign rather than purchase an ambassadorship.
Tom won me over by his classy defeat.
He's a true leader, in the style of Lincoln.
He knows who the real enemy is... he looks them in the face every day of his life.
I've never taken major issue with Tom either, those who seek the conservative path know many pitfalls and snares are laid along side it and in it.
His "endorsement" of a prop or two I didn't agree with hasn't turned me off on him. I know he was in a position where he was damned if he did and if he didn't. That's politics, after all.
As noted by others, I do wonder when the boot will drop on him by the same party he has sacrificed so much for in trying to futher conservative principles and not those of the New Majority which not only tries to move the party to the center, but also leaps to the left side of the spectrumm on some issues.
I say that because if one honestly evaluates what they are doing and saying when they use words like inclusive and Big Tent as their main selling point to "grow" the party, it then begs the question as to who they are really growing it for or, in fact, are they seeking to neuter it or use it for their own end which have little to do with conservatism, imo. We may differ on who or why that might be, but you did elude to the 'real enemy".
The genius of his leadership is wisdom over ego.
Yes.
The aim of the New Majority is two fold:
1) To unshackle heavily regulated businesses like lending and development and to broaden their market share for energy related enterprises like transportation and solar/hydrogen production.
2) To expand the necessity for their products through government policy and to legitimize and empower a huge, untapped consumer class.
While the embarrassment of his capitulation to partisanship is soothed by the knowledge that he has no choice but to temporarily prostitute his principles if he is to remain a voice for conservatism inside a party mechanism that is increasingly turning to the dark side for salvation.
Did you ever see the movie "Cast Away"?
If a Tom Hanks movie 
, yes, but the point is lost on my failing memory.
Research indicates a FedEx executive who must transform himself physically and emotionally to survive a crash landing on a deserted island.
Is the point that a principled politician must transform himself both ideologically and emotionally to survive in a crashed party at the edge of the continent?
No, I'm referring to to the outhouse "sail" that washed up on the beach.
If he had discarded it because he thought it stank, he never could've used it to get off that island.
His principles had nothing to do with using that sail.
In fact, his principles, his wisdom, kept him from suicide and he used that rope to save himself.
The sail served to launch him out to sea, but the storm eventually blew it away.
And he kept breathing. 'Inspire' means 'to breathe in'.
The point is well taken however.
Even strident ideologues have a treshold for compromise. I'm mindful of Reagan's 75% suggestion.
The point forces a muse of the consequences of campaign finance reform. Without it, politicians like McClintock could mount well financed, single source campaigns without the financial support of their party and it's consequent strings. Parties and wealthy candidates were the true winners of this corrupted bit of progressivism, not incumbents.
divide the Democrats.
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It's kind of funny you highlight that as this is exactly what some here accused Tom of doing in his own way to the GOP, ie: dividing the republicans.
was that wisdom or ego as well .. or something else, perhaps?
What may hurt us most is that no debate may be or is allowed without being accused of being a dem supporter.
It seems that goes way beyond things like ego or wisdom to me.
The "Cast Away" dialog was superb, especially his short speech at the end where he told his friend that when his suicide attempt failed, he knew he had control over absolutely nothing, but he knew he had to "keep breathing". Or in this case, live to inspire others, like Tom is attempting.
Re: campaign finance reform, Rush was just speaking this morning about how Alito's position on the Supreme Court may likely lead to the defeat of McCain/Feingold.
If Tom himself can get past the recall, I'll take my cue from him.
If Tom sees Republican division as destructive distraction, again I'll take my cue from him.
That's what leaders are for.
It's like a ship that can barely move, loaded with barnacles, trying to make its way to fresh water where the barnacles can't survive.
A switch was flicked, cameras clicked, and Santa Ana became the latest way station on California's "hydrogen highway."The city opened its first hydrogen refueling station Thursday, one of five in Southern California that will service fleets of city vehicles that run on compressed hydrogen gas.
The cars emit almost no pollution – only a tiny amount of nitrogen oxides – and the five-city program, sponsored by the South Coast Air Quality Management District, is meant to encourage the development of a hydrogen-powered economy.
Enough with your equivocating already,, it's a little late to hear it, even from you, jmo. :)
You're in no position to say what or why Tom is doing what he is at this time.
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