GOP May Get Push to Center

[Judi Lynn]

October 13, 2003


CALIFORNIA
GOP May Get Push to Center
Schwarzenegger could reposition a state party dominated by its right wing, analysts say.


By Michael Finnegan, Times Staff Writer


With his triumph in the recall race, Arnold Schwarzenegger restored the California Republican Party to power 11 months after its worst electoral defeat in 120 years.

Now, as standard-bearer of a suddenly revitalized GOP, the moderate governor-elect could choose to draw on his vast reservoir of political capital to broaden his party's appeal beyond its conservative base, strategists say.

Most immediately, he has an opportunity to influence the party's battle to unseat U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer in November 2004. More important for his own political future, Schwarzenegger has a chance to reshape the Legislature's Republican minority, now dominated by conservatives, and perhaps expand it.

The depth of Schwarzenegger's interest in remaking the state party in his own ideological image remains to be seen. With less than five weeks to prepare his takeover of a state that's a fiscal shambles, he has focused initially on building his administration, putting off decisions on how to wield his extraordinary political clout. (snip/...)


http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-gop13oct13000430,1,2820114.story?coll=la-headlines-california-manual

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[displacedtexan]

1. duh! it's an election year!

they always move to the center, lie to the public, get elected, and take off their masks once they're safe again.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. However

if Ahnold botches the economy by either keeping the car tax or cutting education, the right-wingers in CA will say "I told you so!" Personally, I think this is very likely to happen.

[izzie]

3. Well yar. Bush will say the same things he did before.

Every one will put on what he talks about the meaning they want. He will drag the blacks up and the whole show once more. That he likes people.

[Democat]

4. A "state that's a fiscal shambles" - what about the fucking U.S.?

When is the last time you heard the media say that Bush put the U.S. in "fiscal shambles"?

The media needs to be stopped.

[dusty64]

5. This consists of sappy slogans

and lies. Watch what they do not what they say. There will be NO move to the center, there never is. I'm surprised anyone can still be taken in my this.

[LeftHander]

6. Yeah Bush ran from the center....look what we got...

They lie. Say one thing to get elected then pander to the far right.