Posted on 04/24/2005 9:41:55 AM PDT by AVNevis
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (AP) - State Sen. Tom McClintock, the rock-ribbed conservative who made headlines two years ago when he ignored his fellow Republicans' pleas to drop out of the race to replace Gov. Gray Davis and leave the field open for Arnold Schwarzenegger, is getting an early start in the 2006 race for lieutenant governor.
Campaigning in Orange County on Saturday, McClintock told members of the group Principles Over Politics that the job appeals to him because the lieutenant governor presides over the state Senate and is California's chief executive whenever the governor is out of state.
"It places the office in the position of being a great generator of reforms," McClintock said. He also defended Schwarzenegger against complaints that in recent weeks he has backed off efforts to overhaul the state's pension system and institute tighter budget controls after his proposals came under sharp criticism.
"We have to bear in mind that political battles aren't tidy affairs," he said.
McClintock and Schwarzenegger were at odds for a time in 2003 when the legislator became the only major Republican to refuse to drop out of the race to replace Davis if he was recalled after Schwarzenegger became the front-runner to replace him. The two put those differences aside last year when Schwarzenegger campaigned for McClintock's re-election to the state Senate.
McClintock is making his fourth campaign for statewide office, having lost the gubernatorial race in 2003 and two previous bids for state controller. First elected to the state Assembly in 1982 at age 26, he served there until 1992 and again from 1996 to 2000. First elected to the state Senate in 2000, term limits will prevent him from seeking another term there in 2008.
He is the first Republican to announce his candidacy lieutenant governor in 2006.
(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...
Just hired?
The facts belie you. Had the CAGOP leadership given him even reasonable support, OR had they NOT sabotaged Bill Simon's campaign, McClintock would be controller today.
| Candidate | Votes | Pct. | Spent ($MM) |
| Steve Westly | Moderate Democrat | 45.4 | $10.6 |
| Tom McClintock | Conservative Republican | 45.1 | $2.0 |
| Result? The conservative got no support from the GOP, was outspent 5:1 by a moderate Democrat, and nearly won anyway. |
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| Candidate | Votes | Vote Pct. | Spent ($MM) |
| Cruz M. Bustamante | Leftist Democrat | 49.5 | $4.6 |
| Bruce Mc Pherson | Moderate Republican | 41.8 | $2.8 |
| Result? The “moderate” Republican darling of the GOP got lots of support, was outspent only 1.6:1 by an extreme leftist with no credibility, the "electable" GOP "moderate" LOST by a margin NINE TIMES larger than the unsupported conservative in the same election. So much for "moderates are more electable in California." |
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>>Some of the more logical voters went for Arnold.
And what did that get you? A bunch of leftists appointed to high positions, communistic conservancies, more debt, higher spending, unaffordable stem cell research. And just wait for the additional borrowing in his "spending reform", taxpayer funded solar energy mandates, increased toll roads, etc.
I voted for a conservative. You voted for a Trojan Horse.
If these folks had a single conservative bone in their body, the would be supporting him for Lt. Governor. It looks like they want Garamendi in office.
I'm sick and tired of the old canard that conservatives can't win.
The "moderates" (Republican socialists) said the same thing about Reagan, both when he ran for Governor of California and when he ran for President.
Good post by the way. The only problem with it, was that Bustamante I think was the incumbent, which counts for a lot in down ballot races.
Indeed, the only substantive barrier he faces is sabotage from the liberal wing of his own Party, such as we have seen here.
Well I thought I had the monopoly on "liberal" Republicanism around here. I don't think that is it. I am not sure what it is. Maybe it is the cult of the Arnold personality or something.
With the 'rookie' bendover performance of the Gub so far, you'd have to ask who has screwed the CA GOP worse than anyone, but let's not sweat the details, let's just hurl invective , especially at the conservative base of the GOP.. real nice touch, CBG.
And you couldn't resist slandering someone just for its sake alone.
Running for Lt. Governor is wacky?
Some people never learn.
And others just pimp unelectables so Dems continue to rule California.
That's exactly what Norm and his posse do. The Red Sox finally won a world series - that's all his crew needs to keep going.
It's the candidate and his supporters that are wacky.
Go Cubs Go
"And others just pimp unelectables so Dems continue to rule California."
See post 102.
There's a difference: You are a "liberal" for honest ideological reasons (with which I differ but can at least understand). You are at least willing to consider other perspectives. The people to which I refer are "liberal" to be easing the greasing on both sides of the aisle, for purely practical reasons. They call themselves "moderates" because they want access to whomever is in power, they want government to be able to deliver on political favors, but they call themselves "conservatives" because they don't want to pay taxes either. Methinks you know the type.
Horseshoes and Handgrenades come to mind.
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