Why all the focus on Arnold Swartzenegger?

[Iluvleiberman]

I hope you California DUers realize there are more fundamentalist candidates out there. Like Tom McClintock. And Billy Simon.

Obviously rw fundies signed the recall to oust Davis. They will be told in droves by Hedgecock, Limbaugh, Boortz, et al to vote for the most rw candiate available. That isn't Arnold by any stretch of the imagination.

The media may be obsessed by Arnold but we shouldn't be. Too much is at stake for a Simon to win.

[Clete]

1. This is just a distraction.

The entire White House inner circle is bunkered in Crawford right now plotting things away from any prying and questioning eyes in Washington. The California recall thing was a godsend to them as a distraction. Arnold is a good foil for that. I now think that they know Davis will survive or Bustamante will prevail and the legislature is Democratic anyway. But the cover it provides for their secretive meetings is what counts.

[Muddleoftheroad]

2. I disagree

I think they are going to walk away with Arnie in the governor's mansion fairly easily.

[Clete]

9. I hope enough of my fellow Californians aren't that stupid.

I don't think Conan will win in a fair election. This one is promising though to be a disorganized one.

[Wonk]

3. Polling data

http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/08/10/calif.recall/

(snip)

This poll questioned respondents on about a dozen of the best known candidates.

Schwarzenegger, however, has a commanding lead among the small group.

Democratic Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante, is second with 22 percent of respondents saying there is a good chance they would vote for him. Republican Bill Simon is third with 13 percent.

[Perky]

12. Way to early for polls to be taken seriously

[stevebreeze]

4. twp things pop into mind

Arnold is an actor who can't act a lick. His most famous role is that of an unfeeling robot. Most right wing movie stars lack the empathy that is necessary for good acting. (ever watch John Wayne in a role were he had to act?)

Two the GOP is thrilled to have someone less articulate then Bush running.

[geomon666]

13. Tis True

By the way. Where are all the repuke asswipes that were laughing at the democrats because actors were coming out against the war? I'm looking at you Bill O'Scumbag.

[Judson39]

5. Arnold will win because he is believable

All of the rest are just politicial people who will perform just as Davis has shown himself to be ... a great promiser who cannot deliver the goods.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

6. Believable??!! As WHAT?

A barbarian? Cause he ain't believable as a friggin' gubernatorial candidate.

[Wonk]

7. True Lies.

[spanone]

16. The American Dream. Yuk

[buff2]

8. Hahahahahahahahahahaha.............

Like when Matt Lauer asked him when he would turn over his tax returns he claimed he couldn't hear the question? He is a repukeliKKKan liar just like all the rest. Nuff said

[Perky]

11. Arnold will max out at 25%

I agree that the fundies won't support him.
but look at the math.

RW Fundies for simon 20%%
Those voting against the recall say 40% will cast 75% to Bustamante
That is 30% right there.
Those voting for the recall but for Cruz is probably good for another 10% (Disaffected Dems/ Latinos wanting Cruz to be Gov even at Davis's expense)

RW not supporting simon 20% (McClintock/Uebberoth)

That totals 80% of the votes cast befor you factor in Huffington, Camejoe etc.


So Arnold can only get about 20% maybe 25%. Whereas Cruz has 30% locked already.

There ar just to many candidates to have more than one get 30% and that is Bustamante

[Dagaz]

10. That's a risky nick

Although I'm more toward your end of this board. Arnold can win but the rest are rw fundies that have already shown they can't win. This is great stuff - a mega Hollywood star who is Republican but hated by the Limbaugh/fundie crowd who would rather put Simon back up. It's a script I couldn't write.

[Perky]

14. Simon will have to Rip Arnold

and thus scaring the RWs into voting but alienating him from centrist Repukes in the process who will turn to McClintock and Uebberoth

Gray Davis will not attack anyone in all likelihood and wait for the Union to deliever and Crus just has to get out the Latino vote....\


The trhee way split amontg repukes is a delight.....They will self-detruct. Simon's only chance is is McClintock bows out.

[spanone]

15. Arnold is politically "sexy'

Everything the media loves. Glamour, Hollywood, heroism, no thought processes, the usual BS.

[Clete]

17. Well, I am a heterosexual woman and

he doesn't appeal to me. He never has. So pray tell whom is he sexy to? As far as the media attention, maybe we should be counting our blessings otherwise it would be Kobe, Kobe, Kobe all the time.

[moderateindependent]

18. We fear because it sounds like Bush pt. 2

They are saying Arnold is unbeatable - like they did with Bush - ignoring his downside - lack of intelligence, experience, moral code - and pretty much the press is installing him - which, after experiencing that once already with W, we see now means he will be the one made to win, whether by abuse of absentee ballots, electronic voting, or other means.

This is about Bush, not Arnold or Davis. They want Arnold in so he can "deliver" CA to Bush the way Jeb delivered Florida. The Repubs say privately Bush CAN NOT WIN if he doesn't win Cali. Electorally, that is realistic - Bush won't with New Hampshire this time. So, the war of 2004 is Cali, and the Repubs have started already, and are going to install Arnold - that is why he is the focus.

By the way, check out photos of arnold catching him in the act of womanizing 6 years after he started dating Maria at www.moderateindependent.com