Conservative Splinter Group

If you look at the polls, Schwarzenegger does reasonably well with his own party. About 15% to 20% of Republicans polled say they won't vote for him. But as Schwarzenegger cozies up to Democrats this month, conservatives are getting angry.

Mike Spence, president of the California Republican Assembly, has a new outreach program for the GOP that is conspicuous because it fails to mention one prominent candidate, Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Spence, blogging on a conservative website, said he has received complaints from the Schwarzenegger campaign about the program, but he doesn't care. "We have to be honest about this. The governor's campaign while emphasizing no new taxes is built around billions of bond debt and signing bills that appeal to tree huggers, cross-dressers and the nanny staters."

In an interview, Spence said he's "not sure there is a real Arnold at this point." He said the governor has shunned conservative candidates such as Dick Mountjoy for U.S. Senate and Tom McClintock for lieutenant governor. And he isn't forcefully supporting Proposition 85, which would require parental notification for minors seeking abortions.

Spence risks alienating his base. "Everyone compares Arnold's campaign to the Clinton triangulation. You have to remember, Clinton lost the majority in the Senate and the House during the time he was triangulating."

Even the smallest slight from Schwarzenegger seems to get under conservatives' skin. They didn't like it that Maria Shriver invited Jerry Brown to the Capitol for an event. Jennifer Nelson, a Republican activist and PR agent, said Schwarzenegger also apparently failed to introduce Brown's opponent in the attorney general's race, Republican Chuck Poochigian, at a fundraiser.

But let's face it. Schwarzenegger needs moderate Democrats and independents far more than he needs people like Mike Spence. And any evidence that conservatives are angry with the governor is bound to help him in the long run.

Comments

[Bill Brasky]

Bob -- congrats on the blog.

Arnold's own success provides fertile ground for the CRA types to try and grow a right-wing uprising against Arnold. If Phil had a chance in Hell, this wouldn't be happening.

Two problems -- 1) Arnold is going to win this election without the CRA's help, and he won't owe them anything. 2) The CRP has been very good at giving these attack dogs just enought leash when Arnold is riding high and then pulling the choke-chain tight whenever Arnold starts to get into trouble.

We won't see how deep these fissures are until GAS needs budget votes next summer.

Cheers.

[Jack Brookner]

President Bush could learn something about politics from Arnold. They have exactly opposite political styles, and they should each try to use some moderation.
Bush won't change course until it's too late, won't even give lip service to changing direction, even for the extremely popular purpose of simply doing a better job at winning the war, which all his supporters want him to improve upon.
Arnold can't wait to appear to accomodate his opposition and compromise for the greater good; all well and good, as they say, but very annoying to the base. We are left with the consoling belief that he really doesn't believe it and does it only to survive politically in this blue state. Right on, right on, right on. One only wishes that the leaders in D.C. could have learned some of that lesson so they could have survived this week...
I actually like Don Rumsfeld (and Harry Browne too) but we needed to do something to turn the war around, and Rummy was the symbol of staying the course, a perfectly horrible, trite slogan.
Now we shall have our revenge: Pres. Talibani of Iraq tells us the dirty little secret of the year: the Dems don't want to pull out of Iraq. They want to help us win the war. I can't stop laughing. This is going to be so sweet.
Why Not Victory?? In your heart, you know he's right!!

[GEORGE VREELAND HILL]

Congats to Arnold for his victory!
I hope he does a better job this time.
The people of California deserve it.
This has been a great week for the people of America, though!
We the voters wanted a new direction, and better leadership.
The Republicans have messed up so many things for far too long.
We said NO MORE!
It is sad to know that Bush had to borrow money from China.
Think about that.
Bill Clinton left us a LOT of money, and Bush spent it.
Now we owe money to China.
A nation that is friends with North Korea.
Where did all that money go?
The war in Iraq? Bad.
Katrina? If so, why are there still so many people hurting?
You just can't spend that much money and get so little in return, but that is what Bush did!
Bush is a complete idiot.
So are his fellow Republicans.
I can't wait for the next election so more Republicans get the boot.
Until that time, I will savor this week.
I am,
George Vreeland Hill
georgevreelandhill@msn.com