White House support of Riordan will be a measure of president's political coattails

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | March 3, 2002 | Carla Marinucci

[sarcasm]

The White House never wanted its fingerprints on the California governor's race -- but Richard Riordan and his supporters put out the message that he was encouraged, cajoled and backed by President Bush and his advisers.

Now, with polls showing Riordan falling behind, the Bush administration faces the possibility of an embarrassing comeuppance: Republican Party voters appear poised to reject the moderate Riordan and are leaning toward conservative businessman Bill Simon, a political neophyte once dismissed as a lightweight by White House insiders.

[1 FELLOW FREEPER]

I am convinced that Bush's domestic advisors are brain dead. Back a liberal Republican and call a very intelligent Simon a LIGHTWEIGHT!! Braindead for sure.

[BluesDuke]

I am convinced that Bush's domestic advisors are brain dead. Back a liberal Republican and call a very intelligent Simon a LIGHTWEIGHT!! Braindead for sure.

The thing of it is, the Chronicle story had at least one thing dead right on: Richard Rearend did have a genius for putting his foot in his mouth when he wasn't talking out of all five sides of it, long before he ever contemplated making a gubernatorial run. This wasn't exactly a piece of knowledge unavailable to the White House and its political braintrust, and Davis's incompetence was the worst kept secret in California even before the energy situation confirmed that secret in glaring view.

[B. A. Conservative]

Sounds California Republicans are smarter than the Whitehouse.

[Jen]

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[1 FELLOW FREEPER]

"Rearend"...lol It must cause great stress to be a left wing liberal concomitant with being a right wing conservative......all in one afternoon!!

[GOPyouth]

Some friend abandoning who you supported. Wonder if the shrub is going to abandon conservatives. Never mind he did that already, bail outs, failed education reform, more money for this and that, curbing personal liberties. The shrub is just a chip of the bush.

I think some people on here would complain about anything President Bush does. It drives some people up the wall that this man is successful at what he does. He was a great governor of my awesome state, and he's doing a pretty fine job as president. Seems that almost 80% of Americans feel the same way.

[BluesDuke]

It must cause great stress to be a left wing liberal concomitant with being a right wing conservative......all in one afternoon!!

Indeed. I'd be afraid to see what his bill for Excedrin Migraine is...

[1 FELLOW FREEPER]

""Seems that almost 80% of Americans feel the same way.""

1)90% of Americans approved of his dad after the Gulf war, then his dad lost the election.

2)America elected a pathological liar and charlatan not once, but TWICE!

3)Mark Twain" The public is a jackass".

[EternalVigilance]

There are other conservative victories I want to see in this year's primaries. Here's a couple:

Conservative Bill Salier's defeat of RINO Congressman Greg Ganske in the Iowa U.S. Senate primary for the right to take on Commie Tommy Harkin.

State Senator Steve King's victory in the primary for Iowa's new 5th District Congressional seat. Steve has been THE leader of the conservatives in the Iowa legislature since he was elected in '96...he's a legislative genius, and will be a huge asset for our movement in the House.

New Hampshire's David Corbin in the gubernatorial race to succeed Hillary clone Jeanne Shaheen. David is a conservative champion who one way or another is going to lead the conservatives in NH for many years to come.

Incumbent U.S. Senator Bob Smith needs to hold off the primary challenge from Congressman John Sununu Jr...Bob has his problems, but has been in the front lines for a long long time, and deserves our support.

Of course there are many more, but these are some of the races I find most compelling.

[america-rules]

Don't you think the fact that Davis has spent 8 Mil pounding Riordan matters a little bit?

The sad fact is Davis will now get re-elected. If you think Simon will win you need to stop smoking crack. This is playing right in to the rats hand perfectly. I'd love for Simon to win but they don't call it the left coast for nothing !

BTW: Your "Shrub" remark on every post you make makes you look like a stupid idiot or a Rat - I'd suggest if you want real debate (If you really are a conservative and not a rat) you might want to drop the shrub remark on all your posts ! You've been using it for many months now and it looks like you might be drunk when you make your posts or just wacked out way more then we can imagine?

[goldstategop]

Yes its not called the Left Coast for nothing. Gray Davis has a lot of money to spend and he now has his match. We'll see liberalism and conservatism go head to head. Let's see if Davis calls himself a proud liberal. I'd like to see if he has the guts to do it in a state as heavily liberal and Rat as California is and still get reelected. What you won't see is Bill Simon apologize for being a conservative Republican despite counsels you'll be hearing ad nauseum from the liberal media and RINOs he needs to start being "more inclusive" and "tolerant" to get elected. In other words, Simon's adversaries are hoping he'll morph into a RINO after the primary so he'll be easy road kill for Davis. We'll see after Tuesday if Simon will be committed to the hard right over the easy win, for it will take nothing less for him to win in November. Now let's roll!!!

[Leclair10]

I just hope Simon isn't another Brett Shundler; Independents and Democrats veer to the very left out there this just doesn't have a good feeling to it, when the Democratic Governor is laughing at the perspective Republican challenger, if its a repudiation of Bush then I say just cut off California that 20 million he spent out there was such a waste to begin with and work on Michigan and Pennsylvania states that would win him a second term reguardless. Davis spent 8 mill attacking Riordan he hasn't spent one dollar attacking Simon yet.

[Leclair10]

GOP your pretty sharp you understand alot of people on here are very very smart politically and understand that the rep party has a better chance of getting off the ground even if it means electing moderates to at least get the party up and running in California again and lets face it the GOP in Cal has been dead for 10 years, some on here are very very very conservative to the point where any raise in spending anywhere is deemed liberal we call them libertarians they cost us the US senate, they rag on George Bush not because of him but because of his father, this guy was setting out to be the most conservative president ever when Jumpin Jim decided to take away the senate just think we'd have more jobs from oil exploration, a sound energy policy, a stimulus package with tax cuts for small business and extended couple of weeks for the umemployeed, guys like Charles Pickering confirmed to the bench, a sound election reform where you need ID to vote, no campaign finance debate etc... all because jumpin jim left the party. Now they decide to bitch about Bush not doing enough for conservatives well maybe if some of these goofy libertarians would have voted for slade gordon or against harry reid in nevada we wouldn't have had this problem but what can ya do.

[Clemenza]

Personally, I expected bloated montrosities like the education bill, as "moderates" rate this as a high priority. I am more PISSED OFF about Campaign Finance Reform, which Dubya may sign.