A Conservative's Stubborn Stand Worries GOP (McClintock)

[kskiska]

McClintock Stays in Calif. Recall Fight Despite Fears He'll Be Spoiler for Schwarzenegger

(snip)

McClintock is polling in the double-digits, not enough to win but enough to act as the potential spoiler for Republicans by denying actor Arnold Schwarzenegger the votes he needs to defeat the most prominent Democrat in the race, Lt. Gov. Cruz M. Bustamante.

This does not bother McClintock, who reiterated his vow this week to stay in the recall race "until the finish line." He is only too happy to deconstruct Schwarzenegger, whom he describes as a mushy Republican who has surrounded himself with Democrats such as billionaire investor Warren E. Buffett and environmentalist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. "That's not good company to keep," McClintock said.

"I keep reading about how the pressure on me is growing, so I must be gaining," McClintock said in an interview at his Senate offices in the Capitol. "I'm not going anywhere."

This is torturing many Republicans here.

(snip)

The nonpartisan California Field Poll showed Bustamante with 30 percent, Schwarzenegger with 25 percent and McClintock with 13 percent. With McClintock out, the poll had Schwarzenegger narrowly leading Bustamante, 33 percent to 31 percent, a statistical dead heat.

more…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A62458-2003Sep11.html

[Cha]

1. "Not good company to keep"...he sounds like a rude dude...

but I like that he's hangin' in there. Yeah, spoiler for the terminator.

[lcordero]

2. Something just occurred to me

Is Arnold taking a page out of the DLCs playbook?

[Nottingham]

3. I heard the Big Issue is the Abortion Issue

Arnold is Pro Choice and that is really killing Republicans

:bounce:

[AP]

19. California must have one of the lowest % of Republicans.

Why do people keep talking about Arnold being hurt with Republicas? They don't matter. He's trying to get confused, dumb democrats to vote for him and McClintock is the way they're going to do it. Why can't you people see it. McClintock is freeper level right wing. I coudln't beleive the things he was sayin in that debate. Why does he do that? Because it's supposed to make Arnold look like a moderate. Without McClintock, Arnold would have to stand for the entire range of righ of center political thinking. Then the decision would be Dem or Rep, and all those Dems thinking about arnold would forget him, and go back to the Dem party. Right now there's this illusion that Arnold is the middle ground.

[not systems]

21. McClintock is the leader

of the rightwing block in the state house.

Arnold is a hollywood pervert to him and his.

McClintock is the real thing "freeper" level like
you say but is not playing a roll in this play.

He am what he am.

Or at least that is how he comes off to me.

[rocktivity]

4. "With McClintock out,

the poll had Schwarzenegger narrowly leading Bustamante, 33 percent to 31 percent, a statistical dead heat."
And the poll results with Schwarzenegger out are...?


rocknation

[FubarFly]

6. Good point.

How well will McClintock do if Arnie bailed? Right now he is getting a lot of name recognition.

[hang a left]

10. This is just grandstanding and BS

they have a plan. We just won't know what it is until right before the election. Nothing in politics happens on accident.

[Sagan]

5. so the GOP has to run on Democratic issues to beat a Democrat?

that's basically what they're doing with Arnold. If a rock-ribbed Repug like McClintock can't beat Bustamante, then why elect a Republican at all?

[rocktivity]

9. Hypocrisy above and beyond the call of duty, LOL

The GOP wants to win so badly that they're willing to position Arnold as a "fake" Democrat. Yet they can't understand why McClintock, who is as "real" a Repub as they could hope for, refuses to take a back seat to him!


rocknation

[disgruntella]

7. this is just funnier than all get-out

Honestly... it's funnier than Arnold running!

<"It's the great conservative dilemma," said Shawn Steel, a former chairman of the state GOP. "Do we go with our hearts or our heads?">

The California recall: SPONSORED by conservative Republicans; FOILED by conservative Republicans!

[PurityOfEssence]

16. Baffled by facing a man of principles...

...(bad principles, to be sure, but principles nonetheless) the usurpers know not what to do...

What's more important, the real conservative agenda or winning? Ask those state's rights purists on the SCrOTUS...

[FauxNewsBlues]

8. Ah-Nold is really driving them batty

Honestly, can somebody with a straight face say that Arnold is more conservative than Joe Lieberman?

These guys are purists. McClintock is so far right that I think he may be a little disturbing to the nitwits at Faux News. Guy is anti gay, anti abortion, anti gun laws, anti social programs, anti taxes, you name it. Hardcore rightwinger.

My best case scenario for California is the recall rejected. Second best scenario would be for McClintock to stay in, and for Bustamonte to get say 45%, Arnold 40%, and McClintock 10%. The entire state GOP would collapse. It would actually be worse if Bustamonte got more votes than both of them combined. If the country clubbers believe that McClintock cost them the election, and the paleos believe that McClintock was abused by the moderate republicans, they most surely will implode.

The democratic nominee for President will not have to spend $1 in California then. Any money earmarked there could be spent in Florida, Missouri, etc.

[not systems]

18. Joe is further right.

Except for the enviroment and civil rights.

Arnold is more liberal on "social" issues than Joe.

They are the same on war. They both love to
kill arabs the more the better.

But Arnold is in the wrong party and has the
wrong views for this state on english only.

McClintock will never drop out for Arnold he
has principles. The ones in the back of
the court house in Alabama.

No recall Yes Bustamante No 54

[AP]

20. Hello. This is all about money. Why do you think the AOL-GE-Disney

is pulling so hard for Arnold. They're huge profit earners and they own a tone of land. ARnold will be lowering their tax burden.

He is the perfect Republican...handouts for the rich, that's what he stands for. Hell, he thinks accountants are going to save CA. Aren't we still mad at accountants for the security fraud they enabled?

[not systems]

22. agreed

He is promoted non stop on "entertainment" show.

He is the real republican party no principle except
the might dollar.

McClintock is a fundie through and through and give
less than rats ass about money.

[hedda_foil]

11. Robert F Kennedy Jr?????????

The Kennedy family....

From Fascism (Old Joe)

To World-Class Liberalism (JFK and RFK)

And Back to Facism (Supporting cousin Ahhnull)

That didn't take long, did it? And yes, I know it's probably not every member of the family. I'm pretty sure Caroline is okay.

[Johnyawl]

27. It's family...

...that matters above all.(especially with rich people)

When Bush I was President, and Arnold was his physical fitness cheerleader, I saw an interview with Arnold. He was talking about being a republican while married into the Kennedy clan. The interviewer asked at one point if he would consider campaigning for a republican running against Ted. Arnold was shocked at the suggestion, and adament in his answer: "Never!" He would never go against family, for politics. I think that's what we're seeing here with Eunice, and RFK,Jr. I haven't seen Uncle Teddy (or Caroline) endorsing him, but I'm pretty sure you're not going to see them coming out publically against the recall, or for Davis or Bustamente.

And Grandpa Joe was not a fascist. He was an unprincipled opportunist.

[Mz Pip]

12. I'm guessing here

but I think the Repugs want this so bad that someway, somehow McClintock will be forced out.

I just hope Californians come to their senses and see what a bad idea this recall is and that maybe Davis isn't so bad afterall.

MzPip
:dem:

[WhereIsMyFreedom]

13. The numbers add up in an interesting way

It looks like 1 percent of the voters prefer McClintock, but if he drops out they will support Bustamante instead of the Terminator. Another 4 percent aren't sure what to do. I wonder if a significant number of those people will switch their votes to 'NO' on recall if McClintock drops out. It would be pretty funny if he does drop out and gives Ahnuld the most votes but simultaneously tips the balance to a NO on the recall.

[Nottingham]

14. I just want a Conservative Republican to HAVE to VOTE for Arnie!

That will be the Ultimate Revenge! :bounce: It will be something to say to them you voted for a Pro Choice candidate so why not vote for the Democrat ....I can't wait to see this!

[PurityOfEssence]

15. Hmm...small plane? Nah, used that too many times. Rat shot? Passe...

Underaged boy hooker dead in his bed? That's a thought. Anthrax? Nah, savin' that one. Perhaps the Salmon Mousse...

[MarinCoUSA]

17. Dead horse head in McClintock's bed w/ Karl Rove's fingerprints all over.

I suspect w/in 10 days.

[xchrom]

23. mcclintock will drop out at the 11th hour

boosting ahnolds chances and giving mcclintock the forward exposure he needs for a run at the senate.
i suspect this is all planned.

[David__77]

24. Nope.

First of all, the "moderates" will try to destroy McClintock regardless of what he does now. Pete Wilson hated him and still does. They're FURIOUS that he won't allow a smooth coronation of the Chamber of Commerce-style liberal, Arnie.

Second, it is possible for McClintock to get Arnie out of the race, I believe. If he can manage some endorsements and pull together his social conservative supporters (right-to-life, anti-gay, etc.), people like Ted Costa who supports him, he can gain serious traction. The problem for him is that to force Arnie out, he would have to sharply criticize Arnie. I think Arnie would collapse, and may pull out to spare himself the ordeal. I don't think that's a big deal when you have no principles like Arnie...

[tom_paine]

25. McLintock better stay away from small planes

Although, as I said, it may be that the Bushevisk don't wish to be so obvious and use up their steadily gaining "capital" of not assassinating anyone prominent (or providing their iteniterary for the folks who are going to "get their hands dirty") by wasting a small plane crash on McClintock, who isn't critical, IMHO.

Still, if I was him and knowing theBushveik penchant for murdering patsies, I'd be careful.

Although Uncle Karl might decide to aim the formidibale organ pipes of the Mighty Wurlitzer at them.

Hard to say what will happen here, but McClintock better be careful if he wants to avoid character or physical assassination.

[LynneSin]

26. How many people who support Arnold are real republicans...

...as oppose to registered voters who think aren't very politically minded but think it would be cool to have 'The Terminator' as their governor.

It's odd that together McClintock and Arnold have 38% of the support and yet if McClintock drops out Arnold would only gain 8% more.

I have a feeling some of the Arnold supporters are like the old Perot supporters. If Perot didn't win, many of his supporters probably wouldn't have voted in the election.

[DrBB]

28. Arnold needn't worry, as long as he's within

...oh, about 7-10 points on election night, Karl will see to the rest. With a little help from Diebold of course.