Posted on 02/19/2006 9:52:28 AM PST by NormsRevenge
SACRAMENTO -- He may be assured of his party's nomination for re-election, but Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will find out next weekend how much he really has to do to win back the hearts and minds of the party's faithful.
The California Republican Party's convention in San Jose presents a key opportunity for Schwarzenegger to quell a simmering revolt from angry conservatives who feel he has drifted too far to the middle since his special-election defeat in November.
Conservatives are frustrated by several recent moves, including the hiring of Democrat Susan Kennedy as his chief of staff, his support for a minimum-wage hike and his proposal for a massive bond to finance $222 billion in infrastructure improvements.
"The governor needs to articulate the principles that were behind what got him elected in the first place during the recall _ lower taxes, smaller government and illegal immigration," said Mike Spence, president of the California Republican Assembly, a conservative activist group.
The CRA considered asking the Republican Party to pull its endorsement of the governor, but backed off that plan after receiving promises that conservatives would get a chance to air their grievances at the convention.
Two former party chairmen also drafted a resolution calling for the GOP to withdraw its endorsement, but that is also expected to be put aside.
With the governor facing no serious primary challenger, the resolution had been seen as a symbolic gesture. Nonetheless, it foreshadows the difficulty that Schwarzenegger will face in energizing the party's hard-core volunteers during the fall campaign.
"I think some of this is blown out of proportion," said Rob Stutzman, spokesman for the governor's re-election effort. "You have a few vocal people who are speaking out and suggesting insanely stupid things to do.
"Then there are some that are a little disgruntled on a few policy fronts but they'll also tell you the governor replaced the illegal car tax, (reformed) workers' compensation, has upheld the death penalty. There's a lot they're very happy about as well."
Conventiongoers will tackle the issues as they also take in a dinner banquet Friday with Schwarzenegger, a luncheon Saturday with state Sen. Tom McClintock, R-Thousand Oaks, and a keynote speech Saturday night by New York Gov. George Pataki.
On Sunday, delegates will meet in general session to consider at least 22 resolutions on everything from pulling the governor's endorsement and opposing a moratorium on the death penalty to limiting the state's eminent domain power and rejecting an increase in the minimum wage.
Several resolutions praise the governor, citing his new infrastructure program, success in helping the economy, strengthening of public safety and efforts on budget reform.
The anti-endorsement resolution, authored by former party chairmen Michael Schroeder and John Herrington, says that Kennedy's placement in such a key position has made it "impossible" for Republicans to work on political strategy with the Governor's Office.
It also says Kennedy's appointment "has damaged Republican morale" and tells party members that the governor does not value the same principles and their years of service to the party.
State party Chairman Duf Sundheim said the debate has been healthy for the party.
"I think the discussion we're having is a very constructive one," Sundheim said. "I think it shows we are a diverse party that is capable of having differences of opinions, but I think you'll see we'll come out of the convention united."
McClintock, widely considered the party's most prominent conservative voice, supported the governor in a letter to convention delegates, and his appeal was part of what convinced the CRA.
McClintock, who is running for lieutenant governor, argued that withdrawing the endorsement now is the wrong move.
The Kennedy hiring, he said, is well within the governor's prerogative, because it is she who is agreeing to abide by his beliefs.
"It's quite appropriate for the party to define its principles and to raise hell when its standard-bearers waver from those principles," McClintock said. "But that is a very different thing from undermining the candidacies of Republicans like Schwarzenegger, who have done so much in concert with our principles."
I respectfully disagree with Tom's statements in the last couple paragraphs re: Susan and principles.
The march to the left continues.
Actually it's not the movement to the middle that's bothering us. It's when he went racing past the middle and dove headlong to the LEFT.
I do support a vigorous debate at the convention re" the resolution and the party's direction in general.
Of what value is it to have a party platform and planks that are not observed, but actually see the opposite is being enacted by those in charge of the party's direction?
Just win Baby! Don't sweat the details.
Said former conservative activist Stutzman as he "spoke out" in an insanely stupid defense of the Gray Davis II Administration.
Without even so much as a parachute, condom or an insurance policy!!!
Pataki is speaking to the California Republicans. Does Pataki seriously think he has a chance to get the Republican nomination?
Looks like Tom McClintock has sold out his conservative principles to support GovSchwarzy and further his liberal agenda for California. Too bad. I thought TM had the will power to stay the conservative course.
I just cannot agree with Tom McClintock on this in any way, shape or form!!!
I know why he's saying it, but it's still dead wrong, all things considered!!!
Not quite sure I understand the problem. Is he or is he not the rightward most candidate who is viable?
If there is a primary challenge, then who emerges as victor must have unqualified support because who emerges is almost guaranteed to be the the rightward most candidate who is viable.
If there is no primary challenge. then Schwarzenegger is going to be the most rightward candidate who is viable.
I don't see how this is a difficult equation to solve. If you think "we can do better", then fund a primary challenge and try to win. If that challenger doesn't win, then you must send your remaining money and volunteer efforts to . . . the rightward most candidate who is viable.
Amen to that Tom. Principles like spending like a drunken sailor in a Sinapore Whorehouse! Like hiring democraps for advisors! And for sinking billions into crap science like preventing Global Warming! Good going Tom! I supported you against Swartz, and it turns out that you would have been just as much of a covert DNC hack as Rinold is!
As I see it, one big problem exists. Gov Schwarzy is a liberal. There is no connection with the phrase "rightward" in his persona or lexicon. The centrist bedwetters in the Cal-GOP may disagree with that remark, but its the truth.
He's running for Lt. Gov. If he wins that position, and establishes himself, then perhaps he can run as a conservative candidate next time.
"If that challenger doesn't win, then you must send your remaining money and volunteer efforts to . . . the rightward most candidate who is viable."
Nope.
Aiding and abetting Schwarzenegger is equivalent to preventing real rightward candidates from running.
The base wags the party, the party does not wag the base.
I hear you and understand TM`s predicament. Just never been someone who sees public capitulation as the mark of a principled leader or conservative politico. Compromise comes after you win.
He needs to clean out the Dept. of Natural Resources. The Board of Forestry, State Water Resources Control Board, Department of Fish and Game and Fish and Game Commission have galloped to the far left. They have destroyed the timber industry, mining industry and are now choking agriculture to death with regulations.
|
THE NEW 2004 CALIFORNIA STATE EMPLOYEE GIRLEY MEN HANDBOOK by ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER
SICK DAYS: We will no longer accept a doctor's statement as proof of sickness. If you are able to go to the doctor, you are able to come to work.
PERSONAL DAYS: Each employee will receive 104 personal days a year. They are called Saturday & Sunday.
LUNCH BREAK: Skinny people get 30 minutes for lunch as they need to eat more, so that they can look healthy. Normal size people get 15 minutes for lunch to get balanced meal to maintain their average figure. Fat people get 5 minutes for lunch, because that's all the time needed to drink a Slim Fast.
DRESS CODE: It is advised that you come to work dressed according to your salary. If we see you wearing $350 Prada sneakers, and carrying a $600 Gucci Bag, we assume you are doing well financially and therefore you do not need a raise. If you dress poorly, you need to learn to manage your money better, so that you may buy nicer clothes, and therefore you do not need a raise. If you dress in-between, you are right where you need to be and therefore you do not need a raise.
BEREAVEMENT LEAVE: This is no excuse for missing work. There is nothing you can do for dead friends, relatives, or co-workers. Every effort should be made to have no employees attend to the arrangements. In rare cases where employee involvement is necessary funerals should be scheduled in the late afternoon. We will be glad to allow you to work through your lunch hour and subsequently leave that much earlier.
RESTROOM USE: Entirely too much time is being spent in the restroom. There is now a strict 3 minute time limit in the stalls. At the end of three minutes, an alarm will sound, the toilet paper roll will retract, the stall door will open and a picture will be taken. After your second offense, your picture will be posted on the company bulletin board under "Chronic Offenders".
Thank you for your loyalty to our great state. We are here to provide a positive employment experience.
THE GOVERNATOR |
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.