Posted on 02/09/2007 10:31:44 AM PST by NormsRevenge
SACRAMENTO — The 2008 presidential campaign will take center stage this weekend at the California Republican Party convention, as one of the leading GOP contenders — former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani — addresses delegates Saturday and seeks to build on an already strong organizational advantage in the Golden State.
Although delegates are also scheduled to hear from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger tonight, the partisans at the convention are already looking ahead.
"This won't be an Arnold convention," said former Assemblyman Tony Strickland of Moorpark. "This will be more of a Giuliani convention."
Giuliani, who this week formed an exploratory committee for a presidential run, is scheduled to remain in California for several days, making stops in Silicon Valley and at an annual agricultural expo in Tulare. He already has formed a strong network of supporters in California, largely with the help of former gubernatorial nominee Bill Simon, a one-time colleague in the U.S. Attorney's Office in New York.
Simon has enlisted many from his 2002 campaign team to help his old boss' efforts in California, including Simi Valley conservative strategist Steve Frank.
Frank, who has been known to stir up controversy at past state conventions, said Thursday he is "heavily involved" with the Giuliani campaign and promised to be on "my best behavior" at this convention.
The attention given to the presidential campaign and a hotly contested race to select the state party's new vice president is probably good news for Schwarzenegger, because those two issues will deflect potential protests from the conservative wing of the party.
Schwarzenegger has drawn the ire of some conservatives since his re-election by declaring an era of "post-partisanship" and by proposing a universal healthcare plan that includes billions in what he describes as "fees" on businesses, doctors and hospitals.
Conservative critics describe those fees as taxes — and contend that, by proposing them, Schwarzenegger has broken his pledge not to seek a tax increase.
Among his sharpest critics has been Ventura County Sen. Tom McClintock, who as the party's nominee for lieutenant governor in the fall, had been described by many as the governor's "running mate." This week, in comments to a news reporter, McClintock offered this pointed criticism of Schwarzenegger's recent performance: "I'd say he was governing as a Democrat, but that would be an insult to Democrats."
Ventura County Republican Central Committee Chairman Mike Osborn of Ventura, who will lead a contingent of perhaps three dozen county delegates at the convention, said he expects Schwarzenegger will receive a polite reception.
"There's been a lot of smoke, but I haven't seen anything happening," he said of GOP dissatisfaction with the governor.
Asked about Schwarzenegger's theme of "post-partisanship," Osborn acknowledged: "I would like to hear him mention the word ‘Republican' a few more times."
When asked earlier this year whether he was considering becoming an independent, Schwarzenegger said he entertained no such thoughts and proclaimed himself "a proud Republican."
Although Giuliani will be the only presidential candidate to attend the convention, advocates for other candidates are expected to work the partisan crowd — including Strickland, who is backing former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. Those two, along with Arizona Sen. John McCain, are considered the early front-runners for the party's 2008 nomination.
"He already has formed a strong network of supporters in California, largely with the help of former gubernatorial nominee Bill Simon"
Wasn't Bill Simon a conservative darling nominee who lost to Gray Davis? Will conservatives follow his lead now or declare him a non-conservative?
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Bill is entitled to his opinion and I see no benefit of bonking him to satisfy folks like yourself by doing so.. as a side note, I met and shook his hand at a San Jose rally during that run for the Gub slot.
He also embraced aRnie and we see how successful that has turned out for all of us. We may disagree on results but the effects are clear.
We have come to even further slide down the slippery slope and deeper into the abyss of socialism.
I don't see how that is supportive of conservatism and why it should be heralded as success, do you?
"A vote for a third party candidate is a vote for a third party candidate and nothing more.
Nominate an acceptable candidate and you'll not have to worry about that in the first place."
The "acceptable candidate" is the candidate that is nominated at the convention. Whether you or I like him or not.
A vote for a third party candidate IS a vote for Hillary whether you want to admit it or not.
Remember Ross Perot? That bird faced, idiotic scumbag is the reason Slick Willie was elected.
If you can't see or understand that you are either blind or stupid.
Does it make you feeel good hurling invective like that on the threads?
Thanks for contributing to the debate in your most illustrative manner.
Then why did you bring it up and suggest that the NE and NW liberals had to move toward your position? Is the only acceptable compromise when they adopt your position? With such "my way or the highway" thinking, why do you even bother with the Republican Party? Why not join the Constitution Party and not be bothered by the ideologically unpure?
Unfortunately, such black and white thinking doesn't work in politics. Politics is about building coalitions. Sometimes you have to associate with people that you don't agree with for the greater good.
Why was Ronald Reagan such a successful politician? Was it his conservative views? Only partly. President Reagan (the father of the "Big Tent" Republican Party) was a political realist who would accept half a loaf rather than gamble on getting the whole loaf and losing. Such pragmatism is lost on many in the conservative movement.
"We have come to even further slide down the slippery slope and deeper into the abyss of socialism. "
As opposed to what would happen if Hillary became president?
Who says she'll even be the nominee?
Which Democrat presidential nominee do you consider preferable to Giuliani: Edwards, Obama, Gore....?
lol. are you bored or what?
would it surprise you to see all the candidates that don't get the nomination running as independents? Heck, at the rate the factionalization in both parties is going these days, ya never know.
Conservatives built the Republican party and not the other way around. These NE and NW liberals vote a majority time with the rats anyway so why don't they caucus with them and not our party. These Republican liberals haven't compromised one single iota to even a moderate position so why bother with them anymore considering being in the minority by 1 in the Senate is no different than being down by 6. I'm all for compromise but when compromise always leaves one with the short end of the stick then compromising becomes symbolic.
Not to be antagonistic but do you have some proof for this assertion? I have seen studies which show (somewhat convincingly) that Nader cost Gore Florida (and thus, the election in 2000) and that Perot cost Bush the Elder votes in enough key states to cost him the 1992 election.
"Does it make you feeel good hurling invective like that on the threads?"
No, the same way it doesn't feel good getting called names.
I will not stand idly by while "conservatives" call me liberal just because I intend to vote for the nominee of the party no matter who it is.
I would have thought that the so called "conservatives" here would be a little more concerned about Hillary becoming President instead of whining about the possibility of Rudy taking their guns away. Which by the way is something he wouldn't do.
I would have thought that these so called "conservatives" would have more concern about our troops and winning the war on Islamic Fascism than Rudy's opinion on gay marriage when he already has come out against it.
I would have thought that the so called "conservative base" would already have a candidate that is at least at the 10% level in national polls.
I would have thought that the so called "conservatives" would understand that this election is probably the most important in our nations history and if we don't get it right, we will be fighting Islamic scum in our streets instead of in their back yard.
I will however continue to call a spade a spade and IMHO, any conservative who would vote for a third party candidate should be considered a friend of liberals and Hillary.
Any friend of Hillary and left wing radicals is an enemy of mine.
You need a better IFF system and a thicker skin, perhaps. jmo.
I see a lot of good folks get slammed for nothing more than posting anything that is in any way questioning the records of those who are seeking higher office. When one talks about the 1st and 2nd amendment and abortion and homosexuality, it can be expected to elicit any number of responses on both sides of the issues, and some with good cause.
It's the nature of this place, and I too, am not terribly thrilled when I bear the brunt of such "assaults" when I choose to delve into the "battle" aka discussions..
I understand your sentiments that you have expressed, and surprise, I am pretty much in agreement with them, for the most part..
and calling a spade a spade is OK, just drop the f'n part as it diminishes the argument a wee bit, imo. my 2 centavos.
I would have thought that the so called "conservative base" would already have a candidate that is at least at the 10% level in national polls.
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Making statements like that is a slap in the face of every true conservative on this forum and all those whom hold elected office today.
They not only battle the MSM and the dems, they also battle all the TWirPs amidst the Republican party today.
"and calling a spade a spade is OK, just drop the f'n part as it diminishes the argument a wee bit, imo. my 2 centavos."
Thank You for your criticsm.
I shouldn't have been so abrasive and I know that it adds nothing to a debate.
I guess I am just concerned and frustrated that in order to prove a point, some people will risk everything. Our troops, the war and our security.
I will vote for whoever gets the nomination. I hope we can be united, but I fear some people will lose sight of the big picture.
Please accept my apologies if I offended you.
No problem, It takes a lot more than words to offend me, but Thanks!
and you're not alone in the frustration thing, trust me. I know NJ is not immune in making one wonder what the hell are some folks thinking when they vote these days.. ;-)
California is my home now, and a hellhole like it is what lies ahead for the rest of the nation if the socialists aren't stopped before they ruin us all and consign us to the "debtor prisons" that are all too full already out here.. add to it that the Jihadis that would wage war here already have their sympathizers all over the place.
That's part of why some protest as vehemently as they do against any further restraints on the 2nd amendment and those who might seek to go down that path.
Norm,
Semper Fi.
Thank you for your service to our country.
A MARINE is a GREAT AMERICAN.
Arnold is a RINO.....
So, a bunch of RINOS from the left coast got together to throw their political weight around, and we're supposed to care?
Sorry guys, we already knew that the GOP would try to lock it up with Rudy or McCain, because they fit into the global agenda. It's not going to work this time.
I will not vote for another RINO! I'm a Christian and if I can't even stand for what I believe in, then I'm a sorry excuse for a Christian. IF we're going down, I'll go down with my honor, and dignity! NO compromise, NO lesser of two evils. I don't care what they think about me and I don't care what any of you think about me. I do, however; care what God thinks about me.
..wow Don
That's a unusual way to lure voters over to the Rockefeller/Rudy wing of the GOP...
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