Why did Rove and Co. select Arnold as the Repub to beat?

[Skwmom]

Considering all the dirt that will be exposed, why have Rove and Co. selected Arnold to run in the recall? (I use the word "selected" because they seem to be discouraging other repub canidates from entering the race).

1. Distraction: while everyone is focusing on Arnold and all the scandals, attention is taken off of Bush & Co., Iraq, the primaries, etc.

2. To continue the systematic trashing of the Kennedy legend and liberals/democrats in general as immoral persons. While not a Kennedy per se, Arnold is still tied to the Kennedy family. In addition, I think someone posted that old Limbaugh is already painting Arnold as a “liberal?”

3. To make infidelity a major issue in the upcoming 2004 election. Even though the scandal surrounding Arnold goes way beyond marital infidelity (sexual harassment of women, etc.), the corporate media will ignore that and defend their digging up dirt on the Dem presidential candidates as justified based on the Arnold mud slinging fest. I hope whoever wins the primary has a squeaky clean past.

[glarius]

1. Because when he speaks he makes Bush's garbled English look good!LOL

:hi:

[radwriter0555]

2. What makes you think this is a rove play?

Seriously?

[realFedUp]

5. The memo

Just one little piece...

Memo casts recall as windfall for Bush
Grassroots appeal to 'women against Davis'

Carla Marinucci, Chronicle Political Writer
Wednesday, August 6, 2003
©2003 San Francisco Chronicle | Feedback

URL: http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2003/08/06/MN114924.DTL

While White House and national GOP officials insist they won't get involved in the California recall, a memo obtained by The Chronicle outlines a Republican strategy to oust Gov. Gray Davis and help President Bush before the 2004 presidential election.

The memo by California GOP organizer Julie Leitzell, who heads a political action committee called CommonSense Direction, says the Oct. 7 recall election presents an opportunity to target disaffected voters -- particularly women.

"We will work outside of the campaigns and outside of the party," the memo to Republican activists says. "None of the candidates will be attending, as we want to make sure the media are steered toward the 'common sense women against Davis' angle."

Leitzell's memo clearly suggests the imprimatur of the White House.

-continued-

[flpoljunkie]

18. You might enjoy this re Issa from Josh Marshall of talkingpointsmemo.com

According to press reports, Issa had to fight back tears when making his announcement today. Now at first I figured Issa was tearing up because he'd spent such a big chunk of change on what's turning out to be someone else's party. But then I realized that wasn't it at all. He was just thinking how much more money he's going to have to spend to replace that sheet set and mattress and that fancy duvet because of the mess from that decapitated horse head he found in his bed this morning.

I mean, where do you think the call that got Issa outta this race came from? Yeah, me too ...

-- Josh Marshall

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com

[KamaAina]

6. Issa suddenly dropping out, in tears, no less

Sounded like he'd just gotten The Phone Call from 1-800-4-KKKARL. Y'know, kind of like on The Prisoner, when another Number 2 would blow it and get The Phone Call from Number One: the phone would grow to be six feet high and the now-ex-Number Two would shrink to doll size...

[ilpostino]

3. Rove/Oz?

One in the same? I don't think so. I agree--he had to little to nothing to do with this (not ust Arnold, but the hole CA mess). Furthermore, I think he's given far too much credit on this board. I mean he's a dirty little street fighter, but will someone some day please give me a list of his accomplishments that's any more impressive than, say, Carvilles. Talk about falling for media hype. People here should know better.

[Skwmom]

8. Know better?

The Repubs are extremely well organized and are long term strategists. I don't think it helps the Democrats to underestimate their opponents.

[Skittles]

4. the same reaon they picked GWB

name recognition

[KAZ]

7. Because Riordan was viable, and * went with Simon during..

..last year's primary. They want a puke they can "work with", not one that's carrying a grudge.

Edit: To be fair, Riordan seems a lot less pukie than most pukes.

[demgrrrll]

9. What about those who argue that the rnc/wh isn't behind this because

they wanted to use the California population's dislike of
Davis against the Democratic party in 2004. I read an article that mentioned that if the dislike of Davis is "spent" that will work against Bush...so it boils down to what will help the best in 2004,
having a compliant pug in the guv's mansion or Davis as a punching bag. If this is in fact Rove's idea it may not be one of his best.

[KAZ]

15. Excellent points! Rove has been slipping lately...

..but I'm guessing they weighed the +s amd -s and took the safest route. Besides, he can make even * sound articulate.

[DinahMoeHum]

10. Because the Repukes are arrogant enough to believe they're untouchable

and bulletproof.


:evilfrown:

[Randi_Listener]

11. Hype

The amount of votes he gets will be small. It's all hype because this idiot is running for office.

[PATRICK]

12. they work with what they have

Which is absurdly radical or incompetent, but that lends a surreal attraction to a populace geared for fantasy and distant from even the concept of participatory civil government. The Dems have so much to choose from they spend more time knocking each other down and worrying to death about competence and governing issues that they ignore basic political skills.

Making the other side look focussed and ingenious by default. I think I was one of the first to use the word "default" to describe the choice vacuum created even by our own party. Anyway it fits. Most people would lazily go to the safe default choice, but that is NOT politics in America! Especially is a sexy custom choice is made for them by the media.

[Randi_Listener]

13. Every Repuke's response to the Ahnuuld annoucement....

[Clete]

14. To back any Governor, who would be unable to aspire to the presidency

and run for it. Arnold and Arianna are perfect because they can't. I wish California had that law in place so Arnold couldn't run for governor either.

[FoxNewsIsTheDevil]

16. Because he can win CA and put the state in play for '04

[Starpass]

17. Don't think Arnold was Rove's choice at all--things just backfired a bit

Yes...they have been meddling to get Davis recalled to snatch up CA and make it another Florida. BUT, I did read in Time magazine before Arnold announced that Arnold makes them nervous and he is not the one they want. They wanted one of their pet hogs in there. Arnold isn't one of "them" and they are concerned that they have no control over him and, thus, CA. Their recall backfired and they are somewhat back to square one.