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Centrism is highly overrated
Sacramento Bee ^ | November 11, 2006 | Steve Weigand

Posted on 11/12/2006 1:10:32 AM PST by NormsRevenge

There have been a lot of warm and fuzzy self-congratulations since Tuesday's election about how California voters and candidates -- particularly Arnold Schwarzenegger -- have met in the middle of the political spectrum.

The cheery theory is that when the guv and the plucky guys and gals who make up the Legislature return to the front lines in January, they'll all sip cocoa together and make toasts to the wonders of "centrism" and lead the state to new heights.

This theory seems to be based on three things: 1. Schwarzenegger was easily re-elected as governor, even though he's a Reep in a Demo state in a Demo year. 2. He and the Demo-dominated Legislature got some stuff done this year through "bipartisan" cooperation. 3. The aforementioned teamed up to persuade voters to approve a bunch of bonds.

But before we all join hands and sing 10 or 12 verses of "Kumbaya," let's peer a little harder at reality.

Schwarzenegger won big, and he's a Reep. Whoop-de-do. Six of the last 10 California governors have been Republican. ...

Plus, let's face it, Skippy the Wonder Possum could have whupped Phil Angelides.

It's true that through "bipartisan cooperation," the Legislature and governor enacted bills that raise the minimum wage, aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and make some prescription drugs cheaper for Californians without medical insurance.

That is if you define "bipartisan cooperation" as the governor cutting deals with Democratic lawmakers. And if you ignore the fact that of the 138 Republican legislative votes that could have been cast for those three bills, exactly six were.

Instead of a true centrist "bipartisan" core, what we had was a governor willing to bend to get re-elected, and a majority of Democrats willing to help him to further their own agendas. ...

(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Extended News; News/Current Events; Philosophy; Politics/Elections; US: California
KEYWORDS: centrismsucks; deadarmadillos; gopwussyroadkill; middleoftheroadkill; moderates; rinos; yellowstripelosers
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To: dirtboy

Thanks, I knew that one was coming. ;-)


21 posted on 11/12/2006 9:26:25 AM PST by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ...... Cornyn / Kyl in '08)
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To: NormsRevenge

Evil can be more or less understood. It is the 'man in the middle' whose moral depravity few of seem to understand. It is the 'fence-sitter' who ultimately serves to sanction evil by striving to effect compromise between good and evil.

You don't have to look far to see the consequences of 'moderation'.


22 posted on 11/12/2006 9:34:19 AM PST by Noumenon (Liberals: America's domestic enemies. Treat them as such. With extreme predjudice.)
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To: NormsRevenge

Anybody remember that Bible quote about "spitting out that which is neither hot nor cold"?


23 posted on 11/12/2006 9:37:02 AM PST by Lancey Howard
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To: Lancey Howard

I believe they are called 'lukewarms' ..


24 posted on 11/12/2006 10:08:48 AM PST by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ...... Cornyn / Kyl in '08)
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To: NormsRevenge

Centerism is not defined as pandering to leftism.


25 posted on 11/12/2006 11:02:39 AM PST by omega4179 (Stop McCain/Giuliani 08)
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To: bmwcyle
When you deal with Satan, you loose every time.

Who are you implying dealt with Satan? Governor Arnie? In 2010, Senator Arnie? Or is it the ilk who loost? I wouldn't say the ilk lost, after all the demonratz had an overwhelming victory. The ilk certainly are disappointed they didn't get enough people to vote against Arnie in order to get their Philthy ilk scum in office, but they'll continue by trying to thwart the governor as he tries to hold the line against a socialist demonrat legislature,

26 posted on 11/12/2006 11:13:24 AM PST by 68 grunt (3/1 India, 3rd, 68-69, 0311)
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To: EternalVigilance
... '6 will be remembered as the Year Of The Dead GOP Armadillos. ...

RL 6 in SD?

27 posted on 11/12/2006 11:20:33 AM PST by 68 grunt (3/1 India, 3rd, 68-69, 0311)
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To: Lancey Howard
"I know your deeds. I know you are neither hot nor cold. How I wish you were one or the other hot or cold! But because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spew you out of my mouth"" (Rev 3:15-16).
28 posted on 11/12/2006 11:29:35 AM PST by monkeywrench (Deut. 27:17 Cursed be he that removeth his neighbor's landmark)
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To: 68 grunt

Losing RL 6 was a sad day for America, don't you think?

My candidates all bucked the trend and won, btw.


29 posted on 11/12/2006 12:04:54 PM PST by EternalVigilance
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To: EternalVigilance
Yes it was, however that was not my insinuation. What I meant is that is wasn't only the center of the road which was slaughtered.

I'm glad you had some success with your candidates. I had none. 'Cept for Arnie, of course. There all I have left is the hope that without concern for re-election he can move back to the right.

30 posted on 11/12/2006 12:22:20 PM PST by 68 grunt (3/1 India, 3rd, 68-69, 0311)
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To: 68 grunt

Good luck with that.


31 posted on 11/12/2006 12:28:26 PM PST by EternalVigilance
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To: EternalVigilance

Yeah, thanks pal ;)


32 posted on 11/12/2006 12:34:12 PM PST by 68 grunt (3/1 India, 3rd, 68-69, 0311)
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To: monkeywrench

Thank you!


33 posted on 11/12/2006 12:54:11 PM PST by Lancey Howard
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To: EternalVigilance
My candidates all bucked the trend and won, btw.

And who were those candidates, again?

34 posted on 11/12/2006 1:18:28 PM PST by Professor Kill
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To: dirtboy

Skippy could be our first dead swing-voter. Looks like he turned left this time. Suicidal.


35 posted on 11/12/2006 2:55:57 PM PST by kuma (Mark Sanford '08 http://www.petitiononline.com/msan2008/petition.html)
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To: NormsRevenge
That is if you define "bipartisan cooperation" as the governor cutting deals with Democratic lawmakers. And if you ignore the fact that of the 138 Republican legislative votes that could have been cast for those three bills, exactly six were.

Wiegand nails it. We don't have "bipartisanship," we have a Governor who has aligned with democrats. Exactly ZERO Republican legislators voted for his Global Warming bill (AB 32), yet that doesn't stop them from touting it as some kind of Centrist accomplishment. Centrism is a sham, imo.

SF Chronicle, November 9, 2006

But [Assembly Speaker Fabian] Núñez said Wednesday he is convinced that Schwarzenegger has become a true supporter of Democratic goals. "We certainly cannot apologize for the progress that was made, because it was all on our terms," he said. "I think we did a good job in California of turning a Republican governor into a Democratic spokesperson."

36 posted on 11/12/2006 3:34:18 PM PST by calcowgirl ("Liberalism is just Communism sold by the drink." P. J. O'Rourke)
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To: EternalVigilance

really - i wasn't aware of this stunning turn of events in places like Arizona 8 and Utah 3... or was I?


37 posted on 11/14/2006 7:24:36 AM PST by PDR
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To: PDR

Your ignorance causes you to err. I had nothing to do with those races.

My candidates were all in a state in which we won every single major race. We unified the GOP, stuck to our conservative guns, and now, for the first time since the 1920s, hold every statewide and federal office.

The Dems and their water carriers in the Dem Media made a strong bid, as they did practically everywhere across America, but we completely beat them down and beat them back. No matter how hard they lied, we told the truth harder and better.

Don't let your bias' cloud your vision, PDR.


38 posted on 11/14/2006 8:01:40 AM PST by EternalVigilance
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