An old white guy takes on a rookie woman

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 6/10/10 | Debra J. Saunders

[SmithL]

So much for the undeserved stereotype of California Republicans voting lemming-like for the most conservative, unelectable contenders. Tuesday, GOP voters rejected the most conservative candidates in favor of moderate hopefuls generally deemed to be more likely to win in November.

Former eBay CEO Meg Whitman trounced Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner. Former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina beat two skilled opponents.

Like Whitman, most candidates endorsed by former Gov. Pete Wilson won big. Most endorsed by conservative demigod Tom McClintock tanked. It wasn't even close.

Down ticket, Lt. Gov. Abel Maldonado, a GOP moderate, fended off more conservative competition. In the attorney general's race, Los Angeles District Attorney Steve Cooley won despite charges that he was not sufficiently tough on crime.

My fave: After Politico.com flogged the story that birther Orly Taitz could win the nod for secretary of state, Orange County real estate developer Damon Dunn won 74 percent of the vote. Ha, ha.

The Democratic Party, on the other hand, eschewed the center and trended far left in contested primaries by nominating San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom for lieutenant governor and S.F. District Attorney Kamala Harris for attorney general.

So help me: Who are the ideologues here?

I continue to harbor doubts about the electability of Whitman and Fiorina, given their spotty voting records and lack of political experience. As Democratic gubernatorial nominee, state Attorney General Jerry Brown, said Tuesday night, "It's not enough for someone rich and restless to look in the mirror one morning and decide 'Hey, it's time to be governor of California.' "

[pissant]

The absolutely worst reason for supporting Whitman is the feminist card.

[luvbach1]

Attorney General Jerry Brown, said Tuesday night, "It's not enough for someone rich and restless to look in the mirror one morning and decide 'Hey, it's time to be governor of California.

So what did ex Gov. Moonbeam say to himself? "I was governor before. Maybe a second time I'll be above average."?

[RexBeach]

How about this: “A Meathead Takes On A Woman Who Can Count.”

[bray]

Kinda like waking up and saying, my dad was Goveror so I think I will? These two women have potential.

Pray for America

[TankerKC]

An old white guy takes on a rookie woman

Rookie=Billionaire former CEO. Lefties only value time in government.

So much for the undeserved stereotype of California Republicans voting lemming-like for the most conservative, unelectable contenders.

When was that ever a stereotype?

My fave: After Politico.com flogged the story that birther Orly Taitz could win the nod for secretary of state, Orange County real estate developer Damon Dunn won 74 percent of the vote. Ha, ha.

I never saw any polls that suggested it would be anything but a drubbing for Taitz.

[BenKenobi]

ORLY?

[Jo Nuvark]

I thought it was demiGOGUE, not demiGOD.

In a perfect world the GOP would be running
stealth rabbid conservatives that look
like moderates. It’s not a perfect world.

[marron]

the undeserved stereotype of California Republicans voting lemming-like for the most conservative, unelectable contenders.

This is California. There aren't that many people out here with a clue. If a conservative can't win out here, its not the fault of the conservative. The fact that there is a crying shortage of conservatives here is a big reason the state has turned itself into a shipwreck.

So help me: Who are the ideologues here?

I get her point, but just to quibble a bit, being "not an ideologue" is not much of a recommendation. We've got lots of people in office, including Repubs, who don't know what they believe, and consequently get dragged into every bipartisan mistake you can imagine. How do you think we got here in the first place?

Most [candidates] endorsed by conservative demigod Tom McClintock tanked. It wasn't even close.

This is not something to boast about. This is a crying shame, and its (again) the reason California is the disaster it is. We've got to do the spade work to revitalize conservative ideas, which is to say "ideas that work" in this state. Its a circular problem. People who have a clue can't get elected because the electorate doesn't have a clue. In a state where the best you can do is Swartzenegger, you are headed right for the coral reef.

Is Whitman better than Brown? Sure, probably. Swartzenegger was better than Gray Davis. It isn't enough to be better than a socialist fool. Bragging that you aren't an ideologue is like bragging you've thrown the road map out the window. You may get there, but we'll no doubt run down some of the same roads again and again along the way.

[TypicalWhiteAdolescent]

This is what conservatives need to do and keep doing! We need to stop electing candidates that no liberals can vote for. I think these two candidates will do a good job especially as they’ve not been involved in politics and government before. We need more incorruptible people from the private sector that understand how to make money!

[wardaddy]

everyone plays it though unfortunately

[freekitty]

What a shame. The red flags were all there.

[Always Independent]

This Traffic Jam Brought To You
-—Courtesy of Jerry Brown-—

[<1/1,000,000th%]

I continue to harbor doubts about the electability of Whitman and Fiorina, given their spotty voting records and lack of political experience.

Didn't seem to hurt Obama much.

Although I still believe if someone other than McCain had run against him, Obama would have lost.

[SoldierDad]

I continue to harbor doubts about the electability of Whitman and Fiorina, given their spotty voting records and lack of political experience. As Democratic gubernatorial nominee, state Attorney General Jerry Brown, said Tuesday night, "It's not enough for someone rich and restless to look in the mirror one morning and decide 'Hey, it's time to be governor of California.' "

Um, Arnold Schwarzenegger?????

[Kickass Conservative]

If Fiorina and Whitman win, it will be a great day for Kaliforny. Unfortunately, as long as the Libtards control Sacramento, things will only get worse.

With a Republican Governor, even a flaming RINO, the Democrats have someone to focus the blame on to hide their failures.

The Governor is almost powerless. The Legislature is the key and I don't see things changing there for the better.

Should we lose the November Election, I have already written a Letter to the Editor. It simply reads, You can't fix stupid.

[walford]

In a perfect world the GOP would be running stealth rabbid conservatives that look like moderates. It’s not a perfect world.

Actually, the pattern is quite consistent. Democrats run from the center and, once sworn in, govern from the left. GOP "moderates" also run from the center and govern from the left. GOP conservatives...well there is no such animal. Hence the Tea Party.

[walford]

This is California. There aren't that many people out here with a clue. If a conservative can't win out here, its not the fault of the conservative. The fact that there is a crying shortage of conservatives here is a big reason the state has turned itself into a shipwreck.

Republicans in states like New York and California increasingly resemble members of European Conservative parties. They run on being able to manage the social welfare state more efficiently. Schwarzenegger is a case in point; that's about the best you're going to get I'm afraid.