Report: Schwarzenegger almost left the GOP
posted at 5:21 pm on February 23, 2009 by Allahpundit
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He’s a centrist from a western state who seems more comfortable with Democrats than his own party and reportedly considered leaving the GOP altogether. There’s only one thing to do with him, obviously:
Offer him the Republican presidential nomination.
A few months ago, Arnold Schwarzenegger and a few close associates discussed whether he should leave the Republican Party, according to two people familiar with the conversation. His friend Mike Bloomberg, the New York mayor, had become an independent. Maybe Schwarzenegger should, too. But the governor and his people quickly concluded that Californians already saw him as independent of the Republican Party. So what would be the point of a switch? (A spokesman for the governor declined comment.)…
How did the marriage between Schwarzenegger and his party go bad? The truth is that it was never much of a marriage. Schwarzenegger’s criticism of Republicans pre-dates his entry into political life. At first, however, many Republicans loved the actor’s image so much that they didn’t pay attention to his words. “Arnold is a very seductive individual,” said Stephen Moore, then president of the conservative Club for Growth, in 2004…
Schwarzenegger himself is responsible for many of his problems. The governor did not devote much time to building deep personal relationships with Republican lawmakers. At a rare meeting last year with the governor, some of these lawmakers wore name tags. After a marriage to a Kennedy and a long career in Hollywood, Schwarzenegger seems more personally comfortable with Democratic leaders. Worse still, Schwarzenegger in private could talk insultingly about Republican lawmakers. They were “foreheads,” “the wild bunch,” or “out there.” Such comments spread quickly in the gossipy Capitol.
Yeah, what would be the point of a switch? He can’t run for governor again in California; conceivably he might run for Senate, but he stands a better chance against Boxer or Feinstein in a general election as a nominal Republican with some party support than as an independent or a Democratic challenger in a primary. Besides, if he drops the GOP, he eliminates any chance of a presidential run in the unlikely event that the natural-born provision of the Constitution is repealed. Exit question: Admit it. Despite all your teeth-gnashing about moderates, you’ll still avidly, full-throatedly support him against any Democrat — and he knows it. See, e.g., the 2008 presidential election for comparison. Second look at RINOs?
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I didn’t vote for him, even with Palin on the ticket. I’d rather see Obama in for 3 terms, the GOP destroyed, than give John McCain anything other than a ticket to Democrat National HQ. Running someone like McCain, as awful of a candidate as he was, and as bad as his history was, we deserved to lose. Doesn’t look like we’re learning either; so maybe the whole party needs to burn down before we get our collective s**t together. So be it.
austinnelly on February 23, 2009 at 6:25 PM
To answer the exit question ,the only people I would consider supporting for the Presidency as of right now are Ron Paul, Peter Schiff, or Pat Buchanan.
No RINOs. We should hunt the RINOs, shoot them, and scalp them (all figuratively, of course).
The Dean on February 23, 2009 at 6:27 PM
Although I voted for McCain b/c the alternative was far worse, I wold take a pass on Ahnold even if it meant not voting for anyone. What’s another liberal Senator anyway?
Hilts on February 23, 2009 at 6:31 PM
he’s become a pencil-neck geek.
right4life on February 23, 2009 at 6:32 PM
McCain is what, 90% similar to Obama on economics? Who’s kidding who?
The Dean on February 23, 2009 at 6:33 PM
Pat Buchanan (anti Semite, isolationist, Falangist, “World War II should not have been fought”, MSNBC staple) and Ron Paul (loon) are beyond the pale. Who is Peter Schiff?
Hilts on February 23, 2009 at 6:34 PM
The late “Classy” Freddie Blassie wouldn’t have said it better.
The Dean on February 23, 2009 at 6:34 PM
He’s as clueless as the big O. Go away, Arnie.
on fire on February 23, 2009 at 6:34 PM
Ahhh…….the point would be that he’d be finally telling the truth.
JeffVader on February 23, 2009 at 6:35 PM
Nope, not again.
Ever since Reagan, we’ve only been offered RINOs as the Republican Presidential candidate (Bush, Dole, Bush, McCain). Until this election, I could say I hadn’t voted for any of them. This time I held my nose and voted for McCain.
Afterwards I felt slimey and hopeless as a result of it.
If we can manage to nominate a reasonable conservative, then they’ll get my vote.
I took a second look at RINOs last year. Won’t do it again…
Ace ODale on February 23, 2009 at 6:35 PM
Search Schiff on HotAir for some clips. Very smart guy. I hope he runs against Dodd, then the Presidency. Maybe with Ron Paul as Vice-President.
The Dean on February 23, 2009 at 6:36 PM
Let’s play – What’s the diff?
Arnold republican – Arnold Independent – Arnold Liberal
I do not see any, do you?
OneConservative on February 23, 2009 at 6:39 PM
Either one of these South Carolinian’s – Jim DeMint (Senator) or Mark Sanford (Governor) would be fine for me. You can take Miss Lindsey Graham (the RINO Junior Senator from S.C.) and toss him into the Atlantic for all I care along with his boyfriend John McCain.
Hilts on February 23, 2009 at 6:42 PM
Eeehhhh……NO!
I voted for Tom McClintock, and members of my family voted for the Ahnold. I told them he was an empty suit, now they wished they’d never voted for the chump.
In answer to your question, Allah, if he was a real moderate, then, yes, I would vote for him over a Dem. But, honestly now, how is he a moderate? He ran on the record of a fiscal conservative and a social liberal. Today, he is neither fiscally conservative, or even moderately conservative. He is a liberal across the board, so how would he be any different than a democrat?
Nope, if he ran against Boxer, I vote third party, or a write in. No more “holding the nose” crap, they either support a least some of my beliefs, or they get nothing from me.
Joe Pyne on February 23, 2009 at 6:43 PM
As for the Socialist Obama and the RINO McCain all I can do is quote Henry Kssinger (on the 1980 Iran-Iraq War) “Too bad they both could not lose”.
Hilts on February 23, 2009 at 6:44 PM
I thought they already did that for Barry Soetoro … er .. uh .. Barack Obama.
garry on February 23, 2009 at 6:45 PM
Arnold has had some great movies.
After what he has done for California, he should stick to acting.
JellyToast on February 23, 2009 at 6:45 PM
Hahahahahaha. I see he’s gotten better at comedy since “Kindergarten Cop”. What an effing joke!
mossberg500 on February 23, 2009 at 6:48 PM
How many other statewide Republican electees are there?
Answer: none.
California is now the Public Employee State, and the only GOP opponents are in a rapidly shrinking number of safe districts.
He has a lot of faults, but Arnold had nothing to gain from associating with the California GOP establishment – moderates or conservatives.
He was, and is, an anomaly. The Democrats could win the 2010 gubernatorial election running Sean Penn or Lenin’s corpse.
Mike Antonucci on February 23, 2009 at 6:48 PM
I took a second look at RINOs last year. Won’t do it again…
Ace ODale on February 23, 2009 at 6:35 PM
How true your words are.
Alex Martinez on February 23, 2009 at 6:48 PM
Actually I might support anyone against Feinsteinn the absolutely dumbest Senator in D.C. (Miss Lindsey Graham is number 2 (in ore ways then one if you get the scatalogical humor) )
Hilts on February 23, 2009 at 6:49 PM
Oh. Hell. No.
He’s about as moderate as Obama is centrist.
I might “hold my nose” and vote for the lesser of two evils – but Arnold could never be the lesser.
uncivilized on February 23, 2009 at 6:50 PM
If he won’t leave the Repubes the Repubes should leave him.
But they won’t.
Have Specter, Snowe, and Collins been ex-communicated? Never mind.
ex-Democrat on February 23, 2009 at 6:50 PM
“Despite all your teeth-gnashing about moderates, you’ll still avidly, full-throatedly support him against any Democrat…”
Want to lay some money on that? Arnold can fry in hell. I wouldn’t vote for him if he was running for dog catcher. As far as most conservatives I know here in Kaleefornia, he can kiss our asses goodbye if he tries to run for the senate.
GarandFan on February 23, 2009 at 6:51 PM
Ditto. I know more and more people who feel that way. If the real powers that be have already decided we are going socialist/communist, then we may as well go full throttle. But one thing is for sure, I won’t be a party to it.
PrincipledPilgrim on February 23, 2009 at 6:52 PM
That’s okay is his book. The Dean is an Anti-Semite too. Ask him if he thinks Israel has the right to exist as a state.
hawkdriver on February 23, 2009 at 7:00 PM
Okay. SO Arnold wanted to leave…well…what is stopping him from doing so now!!!…. Better yet!, Lets terminate all the Rino’s ..
Another one that is crossed off my hollywood list of things to watch…ASTA LA VISTA BABY!!!! (sp)
hawkman on February 23, 2009 at 7:04 PM
Arnold… pack up your moobs and move over to the Democratic Party where they and you might be more welcome.
D2Boston on February 23, 2009 at 7:04 PM
In his minde, Arnold is gone from the Republican side.
He has been secretly lobbying Obama for a cabinet or special administration position.
And he has been using his back door channel to effect it – his Kennedy wife.
albill on February 23, 2009 at 7:07 PM
Well my real stance is that the U.S. government shouldn’t be funding genocide, if that’s what you infer.
The Dean on February 23, 2009 at 7:09 PM
Arnold’s record as governor of California has been dismal. He is a perfect fit for the dimocrats. Don’t let the door hit you in the butt on your way out.
volsense on February 23, 2009 at 7:11 PM
bye
argos on February 23, 2009 at 7:12 PM
The ignorant empty suit was always a Democrat in disguise
HAGGS99 on February 23, 2009 at 7:17 PM
Arnie tried once to do some good things and got skunked.
He gave up for sure after that and is no better than a “moderate Democrat”.
Were he a really honest man, he would have left GOP. But he is an actor, living in a “let’s pretend” state.
And, no matter what your politics, the company of Karen Bass and Darryl Steinberg, the main Dem hot shits, is an awful prospect…the state Reps ARE (marginally) less obnoxious.
God, I miss Texas. Born in CA and like it about 6 days of the year.
Harry Schell on February 23, 2009 at 7:28 PM
Missed it by that much.
- Maxwell Smart (holding up thumb and forefinger)
MB4 on February 23, 2009 at 7:31 PM
What Arnie has not realized yet is his political career is over in California. He is one of the worst gov’s in memory. Even Grey Davis looks good in comparison. Think about that!
patrick neid on February 23, 2009 at 7:33 PM
Jeez. Why is Israel the only nation in the world whose very existence needs to be debated and justified?
Hilts on February 23, 2009 at 7:36 PM
ummmmm…Arnold…. You left the GOP many moons ago.
congma on February 23, 2009 at 7:37 PM
I agree, the US Government should cut off all aid to the Palestinian Authority of which Hamas is a part.
Hilts on February 23, 2009 at 7:38 PM
Support Arnold! OHH**NO!! I’d write in Alan Keyes
Driefromseattle on February 23, 2009 at 7:50 PM
Schwarzenegger is responsible for the economic disaster in California. Of course, the Dems will say it was his Republican policies that decimated the state. The real truth is that Arnold was never a conservative, and never really a Republican.
I think this country would be far better off if we just asked California to leave and become its own county. We would then have the pleasure of losing the likes of Nancy Pelosi , San Fran politics , and a state with too much debt.
I blame California’s problems on their large illegal immigrant population and the likes of Arnold and Nancy. What other reason could there be?
jerseyjoe99982002 on February 23, 2009 at 8:00 PM
So, is the campaign slogan, “RINO, the other white meat”? Damn RINOs aren’t worth anything else. Perhaps they are marketable as a novelty food item in the Third World.
Dilbertnomore on February 23, 2009 at 8:02 PM
One in five Los Angeles county residents receive some form of welfare.
That is around 2.2 million residents.
Calif. is in breach of the 1996 federal law to get them off welfare after a period of time, which they don’t respect.
The program to pay the welfare is called CaliWorks, to fake our heads with believing that it’s some sort of highway construction program.
Once an anchor baby is dropped, the entire family gets to be on this program.
This was never as obvious as now, when the paying citizens are loosing their jobs, moving out and the downturn in the economy is forcing people to pay more attention.
Entelechy on February 23, 2009 at 8:09 PM
What’s most important, ultimately, is that you believe that.
Kent18 on February 23, 2009 at 8:17 PM
I knew we never should have built Skynet.
Jim Treacher on February 23, 2009 at 8:43 PM
Hasta La Vista Baby!
Mercy4Me on February 23, 2009 at 9:00 PM
Chilling.
Aronne on February 23, 2009 at 9:19 PM
Birther though he appears to be, I would instantly choose someone who dabbles in a low-grade conspiracy theory yet is a die-hard conservative over some washed-up actor who took a suffering California and made it into a destitute California.
MadisonConservative on February 24, 2009 at 12:21 AM
If he were to leave, I wouldn’t miss him.
Ryan Gandy on February 24, 2009 at 12:36 AM
Correction, The Girly-man left the Republican Party long ago.
RJL on February 24, 2009 at 12:49 AM
Almost, left? He left the party years ago.
Kjeil on February 24, 2009 at 1:00 AM
Arnold still not wanting to cut off funds to Illegal Aliens and their Bingo Babies here in California. That’s why he wants the other governor’s money!!!
RealDemocrat on February 24, 2009 at 1:44 AM
http://vdare.com/guzzardi/090220_california.htm
RealDemocrat on February 24, 2009 at 1:47 AM
Arnie is not a strong Republican at all. But, I’ve voted for Bush I/Bush II, Dole, and McCain and would still take any of them over their Dem rivals any day of any week over the last 20-odd years.
A lot of people have trouble with McCain, I do as well, but he would be handling the auto bailouts, stimulus package, federal spending, and his forays into foreign policy rather differently from Barry. Not to mention, his stands on the 2nd Amendment and potential Supreme nominations would be far brighter to a person like me even if not perfect…….
JoeinTX on February 24, 2009 at 3:52 AM
Good Riddance!
nazo311 on February 24, 2009 at 4:15 AM
I’d fight harder to prevent the Constitutional provisions being repealed, any of them, for any reason, than I’d ever fight for anything else. Once one is repealed, that’s just the precedent the Dems would need to tack on a bazillion other provisions they’d like to repeal. We’d end up with a parliamentary system, which, in their eyes, gives them a better shot at keeping power forever.
No thanks, and no thanks to Arnie. I don’t ever want to see another Kennedy in the White House, even as a First Lady.
We have four years, and there are some damned good true Republicans out there flying under the radar right now, as it were. They need these next two to four years to build their cred and gravitas, and gain maturity as leaders.
Let’s let the Dems, and specifically Obama, spin their wheels for the next two years at least, with their perpetual campaigning. The American voters will have had their fill in a hurry of the campaign rhetoric being force fed to them by the Dems and Obama, and especially the MSM. It won’t be long before they’ll begin to wonder if the Dems are more interested in campaigning than in seriously governing this country. The signs are there that it’s already happening in the smaller but important circles and enclaves.
KendraWilder on February 24, 2009 at 4:50 AM
….Report: Schwarzenegger almost left the GOP….
‘Almost’ isn’t good enough I expect results :)
.
philly_nj on February 24, 2009 at 8:00 AM
The GOP is so screwed! By the time we get to the mid-term elections there will be Constitutional Amendment banning any GOP candidate from the ballot. They’ll cite racism for being the reason. Hell, I heard Gloria Borger Blowhard on CNN. She actually had the audacity to say that the GOP looked like the confederacy. Excuse me, Gloria but the Democratic Party today came from the roots of that very same confederacy you speak of. I love the way the MSM tries to spin tales of deceit. Before you know it Prompterbama will say Lincoln was actually a Democrat. Don’t let facts get in the way of a good story!
Atlanta Media Guy on February 24, 2009 at 9:14 AM
Actually I might support anyone against Feinsteinn the absolutely dumbest Senator in D.C. (Miss Lindsey Graham is number 2 (in ore ways then one if you get the scatalogical humor) )
You’ve obviously never heard of Claire McCaskill.
I R A Darth Aggie on February 24, 2009 at 9:46 AM
Hey Schwartzie! Please do us a favor and leave!
hopefloats on February 24, 2009 at 10:34 AM
How will we be able to tell if he has left? Is there someone in charge of changing R to D? Maria is telling him what to say and do.
Herb on February 24, 2009 at 11:24 AM
Why bother waiting? The Obama suits proved that no one actually has standing to enforce it anyways. (FWIW, I think Obama is qualified under the constitution, but I think it is chilling that no one has standing to make him prove it.)
phelps on February 24, 2009 at 1:31 PM
I suspect that if Arnold didn’t get crushed in those ballot initiatives, things would be quite a bit different.
h0mi on February 25, 2009 at 2:41 AM
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