California: Lopsided Senate race: Boxer in front in fund raising and the polls

Sacramento Bee ^ | October 17, 2004 | Alexa H. Bluth

[Ironclad]

The CA Republican party is stuck in the 1940s and 1950s. In the view of its leadership it's "supposed" to be the party of wealth and privilege. CA conservatives are allowed to stand outside of the Republic Party palace and stare at it, but don't expect to be invited in any place other than the servants' entrance, and only stay long enough to cast your vote. Then leave immediately. A revolution in CA Republican Party politics is absolutely necessary, but who's going to start it?

[dr_who_2]

Grassroots, people, grassroots. I keep seeing posts saying that people who don't live in the Bay area aren't all Democrats. Would Grey Davis have been kicked out if the Democrats owned the minds of everyone over there? I don't think there is universal contentment in any state with one-party rule. In the case of California, a massive correction could be in the works, provided that the right people are in the arena when it happens. For now, you Californians may have a prima donna governor and an arrogant Democrat majority that runs almost everything behind the scenes, but they can only shut up their opposition if their opposition is divided or hiding. Conservatives can't be barred from office completely. The future belongs to someone who racks up enough wins to be taken seriously.

[stboz]

There must be something in the water there these Communists just keep coming from fruit and nut land.

It's called having it too good for too long. The people of California are brain-dead. I hope to leave for somewhere else that values good sense.

[zetapsi]

Thank you for your efforts out there, if its that close, then you have done a great job. I knew the 20 points I listed was an exaggeration, but its certainly not a battleground. I'm definetely worried about Nevada. Nevada and Ohio are red states that need to stay red if we're gonna win again.

[Amish with an attitude]

Unfortunately Boxer will win, Kalifornia loves its socialists.

As a former resident, I feel for the remnant of clear thinking conservatives who still call the place home.

[Cinnamon Girl]

There is no strategic sense, and no intelligent campaign foundation in place. Arnold had to do all his own legwork and polling and he put together a broad based team. While many of us urged him to run during the re-election campaign of Gumby, the party offered us Dick Riordan and Simon. Both inevitable losers. But where was the party for Simon? He didn't have good liasons for the various communities, he couldn't compete financially, he was defined by Gumby and the LA Times, and even though he was saying long before the election that Gumby had us in the hole $20 million, no one but us faithful heard the message.

And why didn't McClintock step aside when Arnold was running? Because too many people in our party are purist fools who'd rather have nothing if they can't have it all.

Where was the party for Marin? Where was the party when Soboroff ran for Mayor of LA?

[Redcloak]

We have a Senate candidate? Really??

[Cinnamon Girl]

And by the way, I listen to the radio all day and I have not here even ONE ad for Jones. What is this guy doing?

[Ironclad]

The CA Republic Party would actively work against a conservative grass roots campaign - and it will be hard enough just fighting the 'rats. I think the CA state party has got to be taken away from the nincompoops, defeatists, philosophical hermaphrodites, or whatever they are, first.

[A CA Guy]

Not even close. I think the party leadership is full of small men who won't give up their power when they had limited talent to begin with.

The current powers need to step down and let those that can lead do so.

[sanjacjake]

Boxer is related to Clinton..through daughter marrying
Hillary's brother or something like that...anyhow, she is
a female Schumer...and always seems to get an easy opponent.
Feinstein is no bargain but 20 times better than this
grovelling Daschle worshipper.....Jake

[A CA Guy]

When you find pary hacks working against the common good of conservatism, OUT THEM and work to remove them. As long as your actions don't get any Democrats elected.

[zetapsi]

I understand that just writing it off is not productive, I was mainly referring to this election cycle. Reform usually takes someone out of the majority party to happen in state politics. Giuliani in NY, Reagan in Cally, etc.. have been the ones who bring great political change. I like McClintock out there, but he'll never win state office. I wasn't trying to be defeatist, I just thought self-depricating humor was appropriate.

[luckystarmom]

I voted for him in the primaries, and I wish I hadn't.

I thought he was going to fight, but I was wrong.

[luckystarmom]

I heard her on one of the talk radio shows, and she was horrible.

She didn't have a position on some questions like stem cell research.

I think when you are running for the Senate then you better have your positions clear before you start your campaign.

I was not impressed.

[dr_who_2]

Remember what Bush has been doing in the international arena. He makes friends whenever possible, but he treats them according to their worth. If your allies are actively working against you, that means they're not allies at all. The press, the Democrats, and other rivals may bewail Americas supposed diminished standing in the world, but I think Bush is more interested in the future than in the present. If Europe faced a serious crisis (beyond the usual socialism-induced stagnation and decay), we all know who they would turn to.

[dljordan]

Well, maybe Cali will secede from the Union and we can set up an underground railroad to rescue the few remaining patriots from their Marxist/Aztlan clutches. Hello, this is the voice of Free America transmitting to our brothers in the occupied zones from the Rockies, the chair is against the wall, John has a long mustache.

[Cinnamon Girl]

From what I heard of her on the radio, she was fine. And the fact that she supports President Bush and he supports her was reason enough to vote her into the senate and get BOXER away from all the important committees she louses up.

[Ironclad]

The problem with the party here is that, like "Chinatown," you never know what's really going on. Duf and Mario are fronts; you've got to look at where the money they're raising is coming from. I live in Ventura County; I know an enormously wealthy fellow who throws Republican Party fundraisers. Those are the guys who influence choices of candidates, not the Party water carriers or our mostly piteous elected Republican officials.

Duf's not a "small man," he's as elite as they get. Stanford, Northwestern, lawyer. Hooked into every fat donor in Northern California through the Lincoln Club. All he cares about is raising money, and I suspect his philosophy is not recognizably "conservative." The rot started at the top has spread throughout the party.

[dr_who_2]

If I was Bush and was at this point in the election, I'd write California off as well and suggest that the California GOP focus on getting their act together and getting some decent candidates in state and national offices some two years from now.

Reform usually takes someone out of the majority party to happen in state politics. Giuliani in NY, Reagan in Cally, etc..

Just how much of an impact has Giuliani had in NY? Was Reagan the only conservative in Ca at the time? Perhaps you may have Republican friends who are obsessed with political figures who can walk on water, but that doesn't mean that you should as well if you catch my drift. Look at McCain. Is he a part of a "Conservative" political movement, or is he a self absorbed demagogue? If it wasn't for McCain, we wouldn't have campaign finance reform. Some might call that an achievement of his, but I don't.

I like McClintock out there, but he'll never win state office. I wasn't trying to be defeatist, I just thought self-depricating humor was appropriate.

If he ran for an office again and didn't engage in as much self-deprecation next time, would you vote for him, or would you mark him off as damaged goods and vote for another "fresh face"? The trouble with a lot of these Democrat candidates is that sooner or later, they get elected because they keep running. They may not all end up like Ted Kennedy (although that tends to be their common aspiration), but enough of them can collaborate and do some serious damage to the country as a result.