The Schwarze-fication of the GOP
Photoshop credit: Oblogatory Anecdotes
First, the Beltway Republicans dress up like Barack Obama and start peddling “the change we deserve.”
Now, Arnold Schwarzenegger wants to “rebrand” the GOP and push it further to the left:
McCain comes to the Golden State this week on a campaign and fundraising swing, including a rally Thursday in Stockton being publicized with an invitation graced by a picture of a McCain hug – not with President Bush but with Schwarzenegger.
And the governor, in an interview with The Chronicle last week, had some candid advice and observations, not only about the GOP brand – but on McCain’s efforts to expand his appeal to independents and disillusioned Democrats.
“The Republican idea is a great idea, but we can’t go and get stuck with just the right wing,” Schwarzenegger said. “Let’s let the party come all the way to the center. Let those people be heard as much as the right. Let it be the big tent we’ve talked about.
“Let’s invade and let’s cross over that (political) center,” he said. “The issues that they’re talking about? Let them be our issues, and let the party be known for that.”
President Bush moved to the “center” (LEFT) on illegal immigration (shamnesty), education (No Child Left Behind expansion), health care (Medicare prescription drug benefit expansion), and campaign finance–alienating the Republican base and doing little to assuage his opponents in the Democrat party or bolster his historically rock-bottom approval rating.
As for who’s getting heard, perhaps Schwarzenegger should be reminded of the 2004 GOP convention line-up.
The problem with the GOP isn’t the packaging. It’s the product.
The problem isn’t about public relations. It’s about principle.
Schwarzenegger wants to castrate the elephant.
The question is whether the party will have any conservative balls left when Schwarzenegger and company are through?
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Categories: Arnold Schwarzenegger, GOP
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With all due respect, I think it’s about both.
The “Big tent” approach is important in achieving a victory, and, NO, no one accepts “selling your soul” as the price.
I’ve got no problem with the “big tent” approach, as long as those in the tent have a moral compass, fiscal responsibility and respect for the law.
I refuse to sleep in a tent with 12 (30?) million criminals, ie, illegal aliens.
“…castrate the elephant”???
HAHAHAHA
Succinctly put and right on target, as always Michelle!
I have no problem with their issues being our issues. I do have a big problem when we adopt their solutions, however.
It the issue is economic stimulus, our solution should be lower taxes and eased regulation, not government control and artificial stimulus.
If the issue is medical care, our solution should be individual control and medical savings accounts, not a mandated government-run policy
If the issue is security, our solution should be strength and resolution, not weakness and negotiation
If the issue is civil rights, our solution should be equal treatment under law, not the endless process of grievance mongering and identity bean-counting
We share the same issues, but we need to advance our own solutions instead of adopting half-measures of their solutions. After all, why would people want to vote for half-Democrats when they can just as well go out and vote for the real thing?
Here is what RINOs are doing to the party. Note the sunset in the photo.
The GOP, like Coke, will realize the error too late. A massive chunk of “market share” will be lost. And it will be nearly impossible to regain positive momentum and win back that which was lost.
I don’t understand all this talk of inclusion and moving to the center. There are right solutions to problems and there are wrong solutions to problems. Typically, the left is wrong. There is space between right and wrong, so how can we talk about left, right, and center? In my mind, if you’re on the left (of any party) you’re probably wrong. If you’re in the center, you’re probably wrong. If you’re on the right, you’re probably right.
Reaching across the aisle does not mean moving your seat closer so you can hold hands with the left.
We do not have infinite resources, even in CA. Trying to do everything for everybody is not possible, nor is it even commendable. Schwarzenegger and the Democratic Party dominated legislature in Sacramento have to establish priorities. Republicans will regain support with the grassroots as they present viable alternatives to what the spend-crazy pols in the capitol are pushing.
Trying to stay on the fence just means you will have to lean whichever way it does. Trying to stay in the middle, only means you will be a viable target for both sides. If we cannot make a stand on our own side, so be it. However, when we are making our stand and our leaders sell us out … that is just unacceptable.
Even when I was in the military there was a caveat about obeying LAWFUL orders. Our political props apparently suffer from no such restrictions.
gridlock (#5) is right on the money. Unfortunately, we tend to get the government we deserve, and as our country loses its moral compass spiritually and culturally, we lose our freedom politically. If we, the people, believe we have the right through the ballot box to take away from some members of society in order to give to others, what have we become? I’m hoping for the creation of a new political party based on the principles of the GOP, which I see as being just too damaged to make a recovery.
It’s all about principles.
I’m really starting to hate the Terminator line, “I’ll be back…”. It seems like this is much of our problem right now. Arnie KEEPS coming back. He sickens me. McCain being involved with him is a very bad sign as if we hadn’t had enough with his good pal Juan Hernandez. Egads!!!
3rd Party Time? The Whigs came and went. Time for the Repubs to go.
“For the first time in my life I’m disappointed in the
AmericaGOP”If the Republican Party abandons it’s core principles of:
. Less government intrusion
. Fiscal responsibility (already lost)
. A Pro-Life stance
. A strong defense
. The traditional definition of marriage
. Securing our borders and “no amenesty” for illegals
. Less (rather than more) gun control
. and so on…
Then all they’ve become are Democrats — meaning that the conservative base hasn’t foregone their principles but that the Republican Party has left it’s conservative base.
Arnold is the ultimate RINO. I don’t know of any conservative (ever) who would support gay marriage. Even Bush is against that. It’s a good thing that he doesn’t qualify to be President. That’s one less RINO we have to worry about.
Gravitating
Off
Positions
Exactly. Well said.
The Republican Party is DOOMED. The RINOs have seized control of the party apparatus and have shut out the conservative wing of the Party. They then proceed to blame and will continue to blame their losses on the very people they have shut out. It is time to drive the stake through the heart of the Elephant. The Washington Elite will never allow the party to be controlled again by it’s majority conservative base.
The Republican Party needs to Cease to exist after this election and The Conservative Party needs to rise from its ashes.
Arnolito Earth Now Shwartzengomez, is a girlie man.
With Republicans like him, who needs liberals?
Fence sitting is like walking down the center of a busy street. You may be close to both sides but out of phase with both and very likely to get squashed.
I’d say the GOP needs to discern and display their ideals but my fear is they have, and they’re no longer conservative ideals.
If you wanted to know why Dennis Prager isn’t a politician, his endorsement of Herr Dumkopf should give you a hint. One of Prager’s rationales what that people who had not previously voted for a Republican would feel comfortable doing so after voting for H.D.
No comment.
It’s interesting to note that as the GOP keeps moving to the left they keep losing seats in the house and senate.
If an Independent(former Repub) like me can see it how come they can’t?
The GOP is doomed.
I’ve felt this way about the GOP’s fiscal sense for the last ten to twelve years. Arnold is just trying to treat the schizophrenia that is hurting all of these politicians. The sooner they accept their left-leaning ways, the sooner fiscal conservatives (and those other types of conservatives) can form a new party.
I would give it a different name, TheCityTroll (#20). The term conservative packs way too much baggage for general consumption. You can thank the GOP for that one, too.
I am not sure who this “no one -selling soul” group is, but Senator McCain and the governator are certainly telling us to sell our souls. Ronald Reagan opened the GOP tent to people who wanted and believed in his Conservative views. As Senator McCain, the governator and the other RINOs move ever leftward they abandon us, not we them.
If the GOP is doomed I do not know. But four years of President Carter knocked the socks off the GOP establishment. They were convinced they could force the Party to accept another Silk Stocking, Country Club Rockefeller wimp as nominee. Surprise;1980 was a good year. Half measures avail us nothing. Ronald Reagan was not an anomaly but it did take guts and hard work. Yes, we may well get our head handed to us this cycle. So get ready for 2010 congressional cycle and just say no to RINOs and wimps.
Indeed.
Stealing voters from the other party.
Clinton preempted the Republicans with welfare reform and a degree of fiscal conservatism, while Bush preempted the Democrats with compassionate conservatism and big government.
The result is two parties that are indistinguishable. Why bother to vote?
Unfortunately it sounds like the Terminator has been listening to Skeletor
Yes, yes, let’s do that. The R’s can become advocates for abortion and gay marriage, amnesty and surrender, gun control and removing God from the public place and crippling taxes. Then there would TRULY be no difference between a democrat and a republican.
Take off, Arnold, you’re what was.
It may have in the form of the Constitution Party.
Yea, I’m not into circus metaphors. If the Republicans move to the center, who’s going to take up the open flank?
So how exactly does one go about starting a new political party?? Seems it’s about time for the real conservatives to do so and hand the RINOs over to the democrats… they’ll feel more at home with them, anyway.
The problem (I don’t think it is a problem really, just lazy politicians) with conservatism is that it requires a leader. When Reagan left office, we allowed ourselves to be pigeon holed with Bush, naively assuming that because he was the VP, he must think like Reagan and he obviously didn’t. It has been a struggle since then. We had the chance in 1994 and beyond, but unfortunately the use of conservatism at this time was merely a farce to get elected. No, not a total farce because I believe a lot of people involved were true to their principles, but the leadership was not.
We should thank Arnie many times, because he is an unabashed RINO and not like McCain and others who hide behind a cloak of conservatism. Arnie, to his credit, meagerly tried at first and said, this sucks and is now just “who he is.”
For all of you still in the McCain camp because, “he is better than the alternative” or because “he is the lesser of two evils” this ought to be a huge wake up call. The GOP and DNC are merging before our very eyes and we still want to fight over who is better. Wake up! Compaq IS HP people! Two seperate names, same company.
We have six months to oust the devils and we will only do it with a new party from the outside and it can’t be “independent”, that means nothing.
Revolution, don’t let it pass us by!
Arnold was ‘hired’ by the people of Cal to do one job, balance the budget. He has completely failed at this job as he has a limited set core principals. Arnold is an actor and not a politician or leader. He has reduced himself to simply pandering to all as he tries to leave his office as something less than a total failure.
Rather than accept that he is a failure as a leader, he is now trying to shift the focus to something other than himself.
He has also surrounded himself with incompetant people that do not even understand the laws of the state of California. This was most recently illustrated by his ignorant suggestion of an illegally worded state proposition last week.
What the Republican party needs is a leader to promote a central set of core values. Unfortunatly, there does not seem to be such a voice at this time. Until there is, they will suffer from a lack of identity at the polls.
Arnie alleged his hero was Reagan to get elected. Reagan wouldn’t go green or gay. Nuff said.
Of all of the Contract With America principles, the one I really wish had come to fruition was term limits. The reason why we have RINOs, spendaholics, and other shenanigans is because these guys are doing whatever it takes to stay in power. Principles, schminciples. At least the Demoncrats don’t pretend to be something they are not. They’ll come right out and tell you they’re all for open borders, high taxes, putting the chokehold on the free market, free-for-all abortion, government largesse out the wazoo, a neutered military, and subverting our sovereignty to the U.N.. RINOs just try to blow smoke up our rear ends.
Empty Vessels
If that happens then nobody will be heard. Nobody is listening to the right anymore. Every politician wants bigger government, more spending, higher taxes, more regulation.
I’d agree to let them be heard as much as the right. . . but he needs to understand that the right is not being heard. . . so I wish they wouldn’t be either.
Obviously if he’s talking about it, he’s listening to them much more than he ever listened to the right.
The problem with this is that Lucy keeps moving the football. Every time the GOP moves toward the center, the Democrats move the center further left and the GOP falls on its butt.
Schwarzenegger has to move to the left if he wants to stay in bed with the Kennedy’s. The rest of the GOP does not have to follow. If McCain-Kennedy is an example of the horrible offspring that can result from getting in bed with the left, then it should be clear that we need to stay as far right as possible.
Arnold, years of steriod abuse have rotted your mind, and Maria keeps your ‘Nads in a jar in Cape Cod.
Will liberals vote for conservative principles if Republicans move even further left?
Will the left move right to meet in the middle?
No. They never have and why should they if conservatives aren’t willing to drag them kicking and screaming to the right?
If conservatives don’t believe in their own message, we shouldn’t expect anybody too.
Schwarzenagger to GOP, “Yes, be like me. Glub, glub, blub.”
Arnold to Barney Frank and Nancy P: “Save me, I’m $17Billion in the hole and want to give Mexico free health care.”
Addendum: The seas close over the Left Coast leaving only the stench of PC. Smug is done for good.
Soon to come: Movies about the poor innocents burned at the Alter of HELOC.
Ahnold – you’re married to a Dem. Please use ear plugs in bed.
See why the ARNOLD was the LAST
LESSER OF TWO EVILS
for whom I will vote?!!!!???????
signed:
CA Lover of this Great Country.
PS # 10 Wartip..
You brought to mind what I have been observing :
Our Military has more honor than our elected officials.
DUTY> HONOR>COUNTRY
A cadet my niether LIE- STEAL-nor CHEAT-nor tolerate those who do.
HMMMM-trying to think of any in office who adhere to the above.
Please-anyone?
….neither….
In the immortal words of Wm F Buckley:
STOP!
OK, the Republicans think they can walk away from Conservatives? No problem. Let’s help them out. In November, vote to DumpTheIncumbent.com.
F’ the bloody lot of ‘em.
Remember the lesson of “Demolition Man” – The Scharznagger Library?
It can happen if we keep allowing the GOP to veer so hard to the left.
I like his movies…he was great in The Villian, but as a conservative, he misses the mark by a longshot!
misterbee241 may have it right, i’ve looked at the Constitution Party and like it for the most part…hell of a lot better than moderate Republican Party that dumped us.
Only some time ago the Great Governor had declared the entire California Lagislatue “a girley men”.
The way he his caving in on issue after issue, the label fits him perfectly.
Makes me wonder, “Who is the head of household, him or Maria?”
If depriving the GOP of needed funds and votes does not change the RINOs mind-then leaving the party certainly after 2008 will be incumbent.
We’ve been assimilated
We should not listen to Arnold. Let him kill his movie antagonists. That is easy. But let him stay out of the Conservative movement. He is nothing more than a liberal sleeping with a liberal. He does not believe in Conservatism.