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» DellaO - Arnold is no Ronald

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Jewishworldreview

Cal Thomas

Arnold is no Ronald

http://www.NewsAndOpinion.com |

Ronald Reagan was an actor who became governor of California, so why not Arnold Schwarzenegger? Or so the argument goes. Why not actor Gary Coleman, then, or any of the other candidates for whom inexperience, not to mention cluelessness about what's needed to repair the damage done to the state's economy, seems to be their main qualification?

President George Bush has endorsed Schwarzenegger, saying he would make a good governor. Based on what? The president couldn't possibly know what Schwarzenegger stands for, because no one else seems to know, including Arnold.

At least he has his lines down. In rapid-fire TV appearances following his "Tonight" show announcement that he is a candidate should voters recall Gov. Gray Davis, Schwarzenegger lamented the exodus of businesses from the state and said something must be done to get them back. Would he cut taxes and reduce the regulations that caused them to flee? He didn't say. According to the Center for Continuing Study of the California Economy in Palo Alto, between January 2001, and January 2003, California lost 223,900 private-sector jobs, but government jobs rose by 121,700. Can he reverse that trend? He's not saying - yet.

What about social issues such as same-sex "marriage"? "I don't want to get into that right now, "Schwarzenegger told ABC's "Good Morning America." He has advocated reversing the car tax increase - an issue former Virginia Gov. James Gilmore rode to victory in the '90s - but he also wants to spend more on school construction and hire more teachers.

Schwarzenegger seems to think he can take advantage of voter distrust and disgust with Davis by focusing on the embattled governor and not himself. That may work for the first week or two, but Arnold is going to have to come up with a platform that is more substantive than "I'm not Gray Davis." His aides say one will be forthcoming.

Contrast Schwarzenegger with Ronald Reagan. By the time Reagan ran for governor in 1966 (winning by a 1 million-vote margin), his political philosophy had matured. He converted from Democrat to Republican while president of the Screen Actors Guild during debates about the alleged influence of communism in the film industry. He toured the country under the auspices of General Electric, which sponsored his TV show. But Reagan's philosophy began evolving much earlier. In a soon-to-be-published book of his letters compiled by longtime aide and family friend, Martin Anderson, Reagan expresses interest in the world around him as early as age 11.

Reagan's former attorney general and top California aide, Ed Meese, recalls that before Reagan decided to run for governor, he made a series of 10-minute talks around the state, followed by a question-and-answer session that lasted an hour. Meese tells me, "(Reagan) studied briefing books about state government and how it was organized and then he told people what he would do."

Schwarzenegger is part of a political family, but it's the Kennedy family. He is a social liberal and is bound to disappoint conservative Republicans, even if he is the GOP's only hope for getting back in power in Sacramento. Schwarzenegger not only supports abortion on demand, but homosexual adoption and what he has called "sensible gun controls." His political baptism occurred last year when he successfully pushed for a series of before- and after-school programs that will, according to some estimates, cost California taxpayers up to $455 million annually.

After the impeachment of President Bill Clinton, Schwarzenegger seemed to express disgust with the process, saying in a George magazine interview in 1999, "That was another thing I will never forgive the Republican Party for." Another thing? What else is there for which you will not forgive your party, Arnold?

The Schwarzenegger candidacy reminds me of a 50-year-old movie, "A Face in the Crowd," in which some political opportunists take a country hick (played by Andy Griffith) and attempt to turn him into a political powerhouse so he can become president with them pulling his strings.

Schwarzenegger is probably more sophisticated than that film character, but does he have any convictions that differentiate him from Davis and much of the rest of the pack?

To paraphrase the late Desi Arnaz, another actor with a thick accent: Arnold, you've got a lot of 'splainin' to do. You are no Ronald Reagan.

-- posted by DellaO

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» Kirk - Why did you all just vote him back in 9 months ago!?

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To:Robert Schade who wrote (19115)
From: Kirk Tuesday, Aug 12, 2003 10:58 AM

Also why did you all just vote him back in 9 months ago!? Makes me wonder...

#1 he financed the campaign of the anti abortion, right wing candidate, Simon, who didn't have an ice cubes chance in hell of winning in CA. Riordan, a GOP Moderate, could have beaten him but Davis paid for a constant TV bombardment of Riordan in the primary about how he was "pro abortion". Thus, the right wing nominated the candidate that Davis could easily beat. I personally think the Right Wing is more to blame for the nation's problems than the far left as they make it impossible to get moderate Republicans elected leaving us with tax and spenders like Davis.

#2 Davis lied to the electorate about the State of California's budget. We passed all sorts of bond issues thinking our finances were much better. Then days after elected he drops the bomb saying we were "short" over $10B more than anyone thought. When investigated, we find we had a wonderful tax windfall between 1998 and 2002 from the stock market bubble and Davis spent ALL of it and then some. He gets the blame by not vetoing the bills our out of control, democrat majority legislature passes. With a GOP Governor, we at least had some control on the fools over spending.

Kirk

-- posted by Kirk

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» Kirk - Re: Arnold is no Ronald

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In response to message posted by DellaO:

It is WONDERFUL to see our resident right winger posting an article saying Arnold is no Ronald!

Thank Goodness!

Schwarzenegger not only supports abortion on demand, but homosexual adoption and what he has called "sensible gun controls."

I like the politically loaded word "Abortion on Demand." It shows the writer has a biased point of view and is trying to sway opinion rather than present facts. The imagery I get from this term is a woman driving an SUV up to a MacDonalds window, spreading her legs wide and saying "take it!" then getting an order of fries when the deed is done.

I suppose the Right Wingers would rather support Simon and have folks vote for Davis (or someone even worse) again?

I'll tell you. One of my windsurfing buddies who is the type to support left wingers is upset with Davis and told me he after windsurfing yesterday that he will vote for the porn king or the stripper and leans towards the stripper so he can watch her bounce on TV for a full term. Don't laugh, the Italians used to recall their president more often than their underwear a few years ago and they had a hooker in the office for awhile.

Unless the Right Wingers want CA to elect a stripper or another Davis, I'd strongly suggest they support a more moderate candidate.

-- posted by Kirk

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» La_la - Re: Re: Arnold is no Ronald

In response to message posted by Kirk:

The imagery I get from this term is a woman driving an SUV up to a MacDonalds window, spreading her legs wide and saying "take it!" then getting an order of fries when the deed is done.

Kirk, if this was possible, liberals would not only approve, they would demand it was available to all in the form of Federal funding.

-- posted by La_la

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» Kirk - Re: Re: Re: Arnold is no Ronald

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In response to message posted by La_la:

LOL... Yes. I was going to add they would probably demand that illegal immigrants get it for free also. But then it occurred to me this might limit their constituency so they might agree to "legal residents only" limitations.

-- posted by Kirk

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» DellaO - Re: Re: Arnold is no Ronald

In response to message posted by Kirk:

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Yep...I suspect that Arnold is about the most "moderate" candidate available. But I sure wish that he would call himself what he is--a democrat.

So for those who strongly believe that California would be a better place without radical left-wingers ruling us, here it is: WASS!

-- posted by DellaO

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» Fred2000 - Re: Re: Re: Wesley Clark for President

In response to message posted by Lawhawk:

Lawhawk... Thanks for the URL.

-- posted by Fred2000

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» Fred2000 - What if.....

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MEASURE ONE

Shall Abraham Lincoln, the President of the
United States, be recalled from office?
Yes
No

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MEASURE TWO

If Measure One carries the people shall
select a replacement from a list of candidates.
The candidate receiving a plurality
of the votes, shall become president.

Vote for only one candidate:

Gen. George Brinton McClellan
Dilatory commander

Sen. Stephen Arnold Douglas
Lost in the last election; wants a 2nd bite of the apple

Rev. Henry Ward Beecher
Moralist (who got caught with his pants down)

Gen. Joseph Hooker
Fun loving soldier

Rep. Benjamin F. Butler
Uncompromising ideologue

Harriet Beecher Stowe
Polemicist

Brig. Gen. Ambrose Everett Burnside
Fashion statement

Ralph Nader
Hates watermelons

Jefferson Davis
Council of Conservative Citizens

John Wilkes Booth
Popular actor

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John Wilkes Booth is no Alexander Hamilton.

-- posted by Fred2000

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» Thruhiker - Coleman for Guv

I like Gary Coleman. He is a supporter of small government.

-- posted by Thruhiker

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» DellaO - Re: Coleman for Guv

In response to message posted by Thruhiker:

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Me too...he could be in charge of downsizing.

-- posted by DellaO

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