Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has had enough of the California GOP – and I can’t blame him. “Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger delivered a scathing indictment Friday of his own California Republican Party during an address at its annual fall convention in Indian Wells, suggesting that the state GOP has a defeatist mentality and calling on the party to pursue independent voters in order to regain power,” according to the Sacramento Bee.
“In movie terms, we are dying at the box office,” Schwarzenegger declared, according to prepared text of his remarks. “We are not filling the seats.”
Schwarzenegger also “ticked off statistics showing the “astonishing” decline in Republican registration throughout California. He rebuked Republican leaders for blocking independents from voting in next year’s GOP primaries while Democrats allow those voters to cast ballots in their contests.”
I have written about this before, but allow me to reiterate – it is completely insane for the CA GOP leadership to deny the vote to independent voters in the presidential primary. We won’t have a choice but to vote for a Democratic candidate. Why should we come back to the GOP in the general? The Democrats will end up dominating California’s electoral votes again.
This week, Schwarzenegger also “signed a letter to fellow party members that called on them to do away with their lengthy platform, a multipage document that expresses opposition to “government mandated health plans,” abortion, gay marriage and waiting periods for the purchase of firearms,” according to the L.A. Times.
I could not agree more with our Governor. The CA GOP has brought nothing but ruin upon itself by focusing on ridiculous issues that don’t matter to most Californians. And by continuing to attack immigrants.
Schwarzenegger suggested that the “platform be replaced with a “concise” statement that stresses “core values” of the party, such as lower taxes, limited government and individual freedom.” Amen!
According to Mike Spence, a conservative GOP activist, “The party is struggling because our leadership has separated from the values and principles of the Republican Party.” No Mike, that is quite wrong.
The California Republican Party is dying because of a lack of diversity, both cultural and ideological. It just doesn’t fit today’s California. Like the ancient Mammoths, the CA GOP is stumbling towards extinction, while the party leaders cling to notions that are out of touch with California’s emerging electorate.
Leave it to Bob Mulholland, a consultant to state Democrats, to write the CA GOP’s epitaph, “The only bright spot they [Republicans] can claim is Arnold — who they don’t even like,” he said.
Schwarzenegger ought to dump these troglodytes and file as either an independent or a Democrat. There is no red future in California. At this rate even Orange County will one day succumb to the blue.
Arnold confirmed what we already knew regarding his lack of support for our “house.” As governor he really doesn’t need Republican assistance. And having a Democratic majority in both houses, Arnold can flex his muscles today.
However, should he decide to run for US Senate, Republican’s, often portrayed as elephants, do have long memories like their trademark packiderm.
He fooled us once but it will not happen again. Party faithful and “grass roots” club members will not carry Arnold’s water when he runs against Barbara or Diane.
Larry —
It’s “Pachyderm” and what makes you think Arnold would run as a Republican. And even if he did, he would still drawn huge numbers of voters without the Republican party. And if he does run for Senate, like you guys would vote for Boxer or Feinstein? Your US Senate candidates have been a joke for years. You haven’t had a credability candidate since Michael Huffington.
This was a spot on post Art. Nicely done.
My respect for Arnold – flagging of late – just went up several notches.
Core values of…
… lower taxes
… limited government
… individual freedom
Add “fiscal responsibility” (i.e. don’t spend more than you have) and that makes for an excellent set of “conservative” values.
Too bad the current Republican Party leadership cannot think or express themselves as clearly.
Prediction – if Arnold runs as a Republican for Congress against Barbara Boxer, Arnold will win whether or not the Republican Party of California openly supports him. The party would be wise to hitch their wagon to any such candicacy rather than not getting on board the train.
But Preston, we are the party of Jesus Christ. He even said so in Mark 7:27. Arnold hates Jesus!
Anonymous 10:54 a.m.
Thank you for adding all of your intellect to Art’s post.
I will add you to my prayer list.
I respectfully disagree with you that Arnold hates Jesus. As governor of CA Arnold loves the San Francisco Giants where Jesus once played with his brothers. Perhaps you were not aware of that fact so here it is:
“Part of one of the great baseball families of all-time, Jesus Alou had the unique distinction of being teammates of his brothers Matty Alou and Felipe Alou with the San Francisco Giants in 1963. He is also the uncle of major league outfielder Moises Alou.”
*You people are kind of missing
what Arnold represents, what Dems
represent and what Republicans are
supposed to represent.
There is little doubt that without
Arnold there was every chance that
we would NEVER have another Republican Governor in California.
Arnold was our Mary Carry. He was
sort of a cartoon….but he had
done lots of movie work. He was
a great business man and had those
nasty Kennedy credentials…which
made the Austrian Schitzel…a firm
candidate with money, celebrity and
in fact he was on the Council on
Physical Fitness for George Bush I.
Come on he is likeable…you know it…we know it ….everyone knows
it. He gropes “babes”, smokes Cuban cigars and calls people silly
names. This is a Republican we
can get behind even if everyone
thinks he is Mr. Moderate! Has
he taken away our right to keep
and bear arms? NO! Has he tried
to clone Bob Mullholland and make
him Loretta Sanchez’s Chief of Staff? NO! OK, so..are we going
to support Arnold over Barbara or
Feinstein? Of course we will, and
so will the rest of California.
He will not…we repeat..he will
not ever be a Senator like those
terrible Kuchel and Warren people
we had back in the 60’s! Hey,
Arnold came along when we needed
him and we still owe him…liberal
sell out tactics aside! Now all
we need is Tom Selleck for our
next Governor and the Republicans
will win again! It is written…
and we support his candidacy! NO
Alice, the White Rabbit and the
Tin Man are still Democrats along
with the Queen of Diamonds! So,
those that think we are ready for
an Hispanic Democratic Governor better find a female like Eva Longoria….if they are looking
for a win in 2010!