Hope--Even in the Golden State
Peter Robinson ·
Aug 27, 2010 at 4:33pm
Just got off the phone with the former governor of California (and future Ricochet guest contributor) Pete Wilson. As we discussed the races here in our beloved Golden State, Pete proved in a particularly ebullient mood. I asked why.
"You mean you haven't seen them?" Pete replied.
"Seen what?"
"The numbers. Rasmussen came out with two polls this week. The first showed Carly essentially tied with Boxer. And the second showed Meg ahead of Jerry by eight. Those polls put a spring in my step, I don't mind saying."
If Republicans win here in California, where won't they win?
A spring in your step. What a lovely way to stroll into the weekend.
- Comment (16)
- · Quote
- · UnfollowFollow (2)
Comments :
May '10
Re: Hope--Even in the Golden State
All else being even, I might think that California might be *more* inclined to elect Republican's than some other parts of the country, given that the state has been such a liberal run fiscal basket-case for longer and deeper than the rest of the country.
May '10
Re: Hope--Even in the Golden State
Where? Here in NY. Forgive the me-centric thoughts, but why is NY a quantum less likely than any other state, even MA, to have Center-Right state office holders. Not that there's any former C-R office holder I miss (Rudy G was only a mayor), but what dynamics are at play? By the way, thanks for the podcast mention from here in Brooklyn (I have only shopped in NJ; lived in Paris; the nom de Web is simply amusing caprice...)
May '10
Re: Hope--Even in the Golden State
Now if only we could work on the folks in Pelosi's district. <sigh>
Aug '10
Re: Hope--Even in the Golden State
pedro
muchas gracias, espero que si
you need to save that beautiful state
Jul '10
Re: Hope--Even in the Golden State
I couldn't care less about Republicans being elected in CA.
I'd prefer conservatives or libertarians get elected.
Jul '10
Re: Hope--Even in the Golden State
Whitman, if elected, will prove to be a squish.
And unless the people march on the Legislature with tar and feathers, nothing will change.
Nada
May '10
Re: Hope--Even in the Golden State
Except that "all else" isn't close to being even. California doesn't play by normal rules. There is no place in the country that would elect Jerry Brown once, let alone twice. As bad as things are out here, they could get worse. Let's hope Meg can hold it together and build that lead.
Of course, she could end up just as ineffectual as Arnold if we don't get some action further down the ballot as well. Pete Wilson certainly ought to know. He fought the Sacramento spending machine during his terms, as I remember. The governor can't do it on his (or her) own.
May '10
Re: Hope--Even in the Golden State
Well, I don't think even the bloodsuckers in Sacramento can top this:
"[Norfolk] City officials Friday identified the Community Services Board employee who collected a salary with benefits for 12 years without spending a day at work. City Attorney Bernard Pishko said the employee’s name is Jill McGlone. He wouldn’t divulge her salary."
Jun '10
Re: Hope--Even in the Golden State
As goes Western civilization's lunatic fringe, so goes the nation? Works for me.
Edited on Aug 27, 2010 at 6:55pmMay '10
Re: Hope--Even in the Golden State
Kenneth: Whitman, if elected, will prove to be a squish.
And unless the people march on the Legislature with tar and feathers, nothing will change.
Nada · Aug 27 at 5:33pm
As a Browns fan, I'll pay you thousands to give weekly halftime speeches to the Steelers.
Jul '10
Re: Hope--Even in the Golden State
Scott Reusser
Kenneth: Whitman, if elected, will prove to be a squish.
And unless the people march on the Legislature with tar and feathers, nothing will change.
Nada · Aug 27 at 5:33pm
As a Browns fan, I'll pay you thousands to give weekly halftime speeches to the Steelers. · Aug 27 at 10:46pm
Deal.
"Alright, sissies, listen up!
Listen, half you guys have osteoporosis and the other half are so dumb we have to buy you shoes with velcro closures.
I'm not even interested in giving you advice, because it's just freaking hopeless.
So go out there and do your best to avoid any career-ending injuries.
As if you had a career."
Re: Hope--Even in the Golden State
Kenneth says that if Meg Whitman's elected she'll prove a "squish." Well, Meg is indeed pro-choice and, as far as I can tell, liberal on more or less the entire raft of social issues. I'd much rather she weren't. But she understands the California budget mess--and is a lot more likely to prove tough enough to do something about it than was our current governor, Der Arnold. Do I know that for certain? Nope. I've never so much as met the woman. But I do know a number of the people advising her, including the last truly successful governor of California, Pete Wilson.
As Bill Buckley used to say, it was his rule always to favor "the rightward-most viable candidate." Here and now, in this state and at this moment, that's Meg.
Edited on Aug 28, 2010 at 9:15amRe: Hope--Even in the Golden State
Michael Tee: I couldn't care less about Republicans being elected in CA.
I'd prefer conservatives or libertarians get elected. · Aug 27 at 5:18pm
Well, me too. But, a) as I just argued above, Meg's conservative on fiscal matters, and, b) Carly Fiorina's conservative on all matters. This second point is worth noting, because it bears on Carly's character--and the adherence to principal we can expect from her in the Senate. She's been advised that her pro-life position will cost her at least two points on election day--I know this for certain, because I know one of the people who so advised her. Carly's reply? Tough. Her belief in the sacredness of human life was a matter on which she could not in good conscience compromise--nor for which she intended to prove in any way defensive or apologetic.
Jul '10
Re: Hope--Even in the Golden State
Peter Robinson: Kenneth says that if Meg Whitman's elected she'll prove a "squish." Well, Meg is indeed pro-choice and, as far as I can tell, liberal on more or less the entire raft of social issues. I'd much rather she weren't. But she understands the California budget mess--and is a lot more likely to prove tough enough to do something about it than was our current governor, Der Arnold. Do I know that for certain? Nope. I've never so much as met the woman. But I do know a number of the people advising her, including the last truly successful governor of California, Pete Wilson.
As Bill Buckley used to say, it was his rule always to favor "the rightward-most viable candidate." Here and now, in this state and at this moment, that's Meg. · Aug 28 at 9:14am
Edited on Aug 28 at 09:15 am
Let us not forget that Meg developed a serious case of the vapors for Van Jones on an Alaskan cruise.
And that she contributed $4,000 to Barbara Boxer in 2004.
The woman has squishy instincts.
Meg up against our moonbat Legislature? Good luck.
Jun '10
Re: Hope--Even in the Golden State
Michael Tee: I couldn't care less about Republicans being elected in CA.
I'd prefer conservatives or libertarians get elected. · Aug 27 at 5:18pm
I beg to differ. Didn't the Obamacare debacle teach us that coalitions and party affiliation matter? When push came to shove, enough so-called "conservative" and "pro-life" Democrats voted yes, and even the squishiest moderate Republicans voted no. This November I care deeply how many Republicans we elect, no matter how squishy some may be.
May '10
Re: Hope--Even in the Golden State
If the only people we will ever support are perfect conservatives, anywhere, period, no matter what the political orientation of the environment, we are doomed.
"Squish" is a relative concept, Kenneth. We can nominate perfect hard-right people in Delaware, Massachusetts, Illinois, New York, and Washington DC till global warming makes the seas rise to the top of the Chrysler Building (snicker) and all we will have to show for it is a string of losses.
I wish that Susan Collins was a perpetual re-election lock in Maine, and with the voting record of Jim DeMint. But since that is- read my lips- impossible, I am glad to have her caucusing with our side.
If all Meg Whitman ever does is go to the mat on the California pension programs and actually reform things, she will have done the US a major service- no matter what her sociual views, her foreign policy instincts, or even her position on green jobs.