Is Arnold ready to drop out and give the race to McClintock?

[kentuck]

There can be little doubt that many Republicans see the writing on the wall and are talking to Arnold's representatives, David Drier and Pete Wilson. These last revelations about his "OUI" interview, in which he details his group sex exploits and other sordid affairs, are too much to overcome, they must have decided by now.

Will Arnold drop out next week? The sooner the better, they will tell him. It will give McClintock more time to catch up in the race. The longer he stays in, the more difficult it will be for McClintock. A little bird tells me they are discussing this at this very instant. :)

[blm]

1. I think Ueberroth.

.

[kentuck]

2. Ueberroth will drop out after Arnold...

..and then there was one.

[SodoffBush]

18. That the GOP didn't go w/Ueberroth to begin with tells you something

The GOP has no respect for voters. Trotting out an arrogant narcisist, who treats his objects way better than he treats women, and propping him up as a candidate to lead a state w/the GNP the size of France is cynical beyond belief.

They could have gone w/Ueberroth, who, although another millionaire, at least worked for a living, starting with his own travel agency and then showing monetary discipline by making profit and a decent reputation for LA from the Olympics.

But no. The GOP had to pub-crawl its way to Stud Puppy, whose qualifications are gang-banging "chicks" and strip Karaoke.

[IndianaGreen]

3. That Davis will be recalled is not in dispute

the only question is who will replace Davis. As long as the Republicans are running more than one candidate, we stand an excellent chance of getting Cruz Bustamante in the Governor's mansion.

If the GOP unites behind one candidate, all bets are off!

I want as many Republicans running, and splitting the vote, as possible.

[Bandit]

6. I would say it is indeed in dispute

I will be surprised if California sets this sort of trend.

[blm]

25. I don't think the recall will be successful.

It just feels like it has lost its drive and made the GOP look opportunistic and AntiAmerican.

[mitchtv]

7. it is in dispute. What makes you so sure?

it's looking more and more like a no on recall every day

[DeaconBlues]

10. I don't think that

the Republicans would have a chance of winning, even if they had only one candidate, if that candidate was a hard-core conservative like McClintock. I think that if the dumb Austrian is finished, then the Republicans chances in California are finished (whether the recall goes through or not)

[BrotherBuzz]

28. I feel the recall will be closer then most think...

I am not basing my feeling on any scientfic method, but just my observations. Weeks ago, all you heard 24/7 was Gray Davis must go, blah, blah, blah...Davis is at fault, blah, blah, blah...Davis this, Davis that, blah, blah, blah...The talk I hear lately seems to be reversed and appears to favor Davis. 'I will vote no, but' blah, blah, blah. 'I don't like Davis but I will vote no', blah, blah, blah. 'I didn't vote for him, but I will vote no'. I have a strong feeling that the recall effort has lost most of it's steam, and if Davis does get recalled, it may be by a very slim margin. Just my observations.

[mitchtv]

4. as much as i hate arnold

I think the OUI interview is not a problem with most reasonable people.conservative RW church ladies on the other hand might hold their noses, but they want to win so bad, they give him a pass, along with the media.

[AP]

11. What woman Dem or Republican isn't going to be bothered by this, Mitch?

I just think many women's stomachs are probably turning at the thought of a Governor Arnold.

[maggrwaggr]

5. I think the OUI article kills Arnold

100%

[mitchtv]

8. are you a Californian?

I guess no

[robbedvoter]

12. Do you presume to speak for all Californians?

Because the ones Arnie is courting don't think orgies are cool.
Bay Buchanan said something on Maher that will probably resonate: "It's what he said about it that is objectionable: "I wasn't running for governor then" He needs to distance himself from his deeds"
See, people like Bay need an apology, and when people like you or your friends hear it, it'll turn you off.
There was a reason the Cannes reporters had to sign a binding agreement not to ask about the Oui stuff!

  http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=03/08/29/1417241

[maggrwaggr]

16. well you guessed wrong buddy

Santa Monica CA

Go figure!

[mitchtv]

23. gad to hear that..

"people like me" think nothing about arnold is cool, but I am in puke country, and hear them all day long forgetting how shocked they were by Al Gore's "kiss" and Bill Clinton's morals. "oh it was almost 30 yrs ago", and the like. "He's a real man". These people treat morality like a blouse, they try it on when they feel it suits them. Sorry if you guys think that pukes have any real morals or beliefs. They will flock to vote for arnold. There is not , however enough of them.

[caledesi]

9. I think anyone who has read it would agree. It's pretty disgusting.

[HalfManHalfBiscuit]

27. Not a chance

It came out too early. The public has already digested it for the most part. As they say on the street, it is already priced into the stock.

It is rfeally not a big deal and Americans are forgiving people.

[ewagner]

13. My original impression

was that Arnold would be the stalking horse for Simon. Arnold would be discredited and reluctantly drop out in favor of Simon. I was shocked when Simon dropped out.

The same strategy could be occurring with McClintock but there is a dynamic going on here that I'm having trouble factoring in to the race.

Arnold double-crossed damned near everyone to get into this race. He seems impervious to any criticism of his past and, worse yet, he seems to be getting a pass on his previous life of sex, drugs and (uummm, not rock 'n roll) body building. In short, his ego is so deep into this that I cannot imagine him pulling out but neither can I imagine the repubs allowing him to split the vote.

Also, if Arnold is in this race for an ego trip, Rove and gang are going to play hell trying to control him not to mention that if they embrace him, they also embrace his past which won't play too well with the party base (not just in CA but everywhere.)

The long and short of it is....this is F**king confusing.

[madrchsod]

14. dam i`ve got that issue!

got almost the whole collection from issue one till playboy sold them off. alot of really good articles and all the girls were real...

[maggrwaggr]

17. dude, put it on E-bay!

strike while the iron is hot!

[ButterflyBlood]

15. If Arnold drops out, just as many will go to Bustamante as McClintock

Arnold's the only one who can beat Bustamante.

[maggrwaggr]

19. what's so damn funny about that article if you think about it

How much you wanna bet Arnold gave that interview back then to dispel some notion that he was gay?

Talk about your blowback.

[jiacinto]

20. How do you figure?:

McClintock couldn't win any of the statewide races he has run in. What makes this election any different?

[robbedvoter]

21. The fact that it's not a real election - a small percentage may do

if Davis gets less than 49%. That's why everybody and their brother think they have a shot.

[JackSwift]

22. Arnold is a RINO

(Republican In Name Only for the newbies). And thank God he isn't a Democrat, because he is disgusting as a candidate. Not only his past orgies and drug usage, but his attitude about not having to explain his policy proposals and methods. Arnold's campaign reminds me of Bill Simon's, its that bad. Davis couldn't have picked a better opponent.

[SodoffBush]

24. Voting for Arnie for governor is like

considering hitch-hiking as a means of transport.

[twilight]

26. I hope the terminator/governator stays in the race

Nothing better than a split vote. He will not win. The sex stories are a bit much, even for me and I was at a nice age in 1977 and I remember the times well. :evilgrin:

That article cooked the terminator's goose ... let this piglican stay in the race and lose the rest of his money along with his inflated ego!

:dem:

[rocktivity]

29. Maybe that was the plan all along

Use Arnie's name for drawing power, then have McClintock coast on it. I saw him on a cable new show earlier today. Maybe he's getting ready to come to make his debut.


rocknation

[arwalden]

31. Even If He Drops Out, The Ballots STILL Have His Name...

... how confusing will THAT BE???

-- Allen

[realFedUp]

30. I think you are right.

but how much more amusing it will be if he
stays in and actually his name can't be
taken off the ballot now.

I guess this gives him an idea of what
a real election race would be like...