How did Arnold get the votes that he did?

[VermontDem2004]

Almost everyone I know laughed at the thought of Arnold becomming governor. They remember him from his action movies and unfunny comedies, all of the late show hosts would always make cracks at Arnold long before this election. How did this guy become a serious candidate and ended up winning the election? The not so serious candidates were more qualified then Arnold imo.

[el_gato]

1. media media media

media media media

oh, and did I mention the media?

[meisje]

5. and how did the media do this?

Since it was a record turnout, the argument that the media discouraged people from voting will not work. How do you explain the % of dems that voted for him?

[meisje]

2. backlash against dems late mud sling

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. as the connies calculated

the dems stayed home

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=108&topic_id=56419

[ACK]

4. Don't forget the car tax

I heard that people got their new bill a day before the elections or something.

[bushisanidiot]

6. 2 million "absentee" ballots

and closed voter precincts. The pukes can't win without cheating. It's the only thing they know besides murder and lying.

Also, the Diebold Voting Machines were up and running weren't they? This was probably Rove's "test run" for next year. There's no way THAT many people switched the other way at the last second.

[jeter]

7. It wasn't the media, turnout or any other excuse

Look we were defending Richard Nixon at his most unpopular. Davis has a 26% approval rating. How can anyone win an election with a 26% approval rating?

I suggested we should dump Davis from the get go and start fresh. But no, it couldn't (or wouldn't) be done. I suggested we run a strong Democratic candidate. But no, that would undermine Davis. I suggested we offer A FUCKING PLAN that would unite the state. But no, Davis wanted to run the campaign as a referendum on the recall itself.

As a result. He lost.

[qb]

8. The Dems showed all the indecisiveness of Gore in 2000

We're united behing Gray. If you want a Dem for Gov, you have to vote No on the recall.

No, actually, just in case, vote no, but then vote for Bustamante.

Jeez, Arnie's really picking up steam. Lay low, Cruz. Let's get behind Gray again.

Okay, this is looking scary. Bring on the tabloids.

[dolstein]

9. Well, for one thing, he's not a wuss

One of the problems with both Davis and Bustamente is that they're both big-time wusses.

The Democrats have had a wuss problem for a long time. John Wayne was a Republican. Woody Allen's a Democrat. See the difference? Most people do. Assuming you aren't an ideologue, who would you rather have as your governor -- somebody who's a wuss, or somebody who isn't?

[nannygoat]

13. But that is just smoke and mirrors. Ahnold is a fictional hero.

Ahnold was AWOL from the Austrian army. Davis was actually a Vietnam combat veteran who earned a medal.

[dolstein]

16. Funny you have to look back 35 years

to find something brave that Davis has done.

Arnold may be an actor, but his muscles are real. His political trophy wife is real. His personal fortune is real. His confidence is real.

When people looked at Arnold, they saw someone who was successful, brash and strong. When people looked at Davis, they saw someone who was beleagured, bland and timid. You may argue about whether these perceptions reflect objective reality, but you can't deny that perceptions matter an awful lot in politics.

[slaveplanet]

18. not only AWOL

but he was never disiplined. How does an average Joe get away with that.....his whole history is PR bs.

this is a Twilight Zone nighmare for people who really know whats up

[Moochy]

15. I like the guy on the TV

Please give me a food pellet, I did good right? I voted for the face that I recognized. Me no like big energy bill, me no like Davis. So when can I hold the whip? I want a slice of the action. Those wussy Democrats and their wussy talk about "human rights" etc. We all would rather have the big loud-talking boob-grabbing ubermensch.

And that's why colliephponia deserves what colliephponia has voted for.

However, San Francisco county was 4-1 against the recall, and the bay area in general was 2-1 against it.
Guess we are all deluded liberals up here, out of touch with the rest
of the state...

Best argument I've seen for splitting the state. =\

[forgethell]

17. Makes sense

to me. Question is: why are the Dem candidates wusses & what can be done about it.

[tjdee]

10. Republicans know how to hold their nose and pull the lever.

As usual, Republicans get the big picture.

And then there were the sheepy sheepsters who thought it would be cool to have a movie star governor.

Then there were the people who liked the "We're Not Gonna Take It" of it all, the "change" and "difference" that Arnold promised (but never enunciated).

And the media played them the Arnold lullaby from the day he announced.

That's how he won. Plus, Davis and Bustamante weren't exactly the kings of charisma ("tough love"? yeah, Cruz, that's a winner) or awe-inspiring. Gray wasn't that popular, and Cruz running against him was a MAJOR vote of nonconfidence.

[VermontDem2004]

11. I remember last night

MSNBC(I think) was gushing about how a guy with a funny accent and a funny name came to america with just the clothes on his back etc. You get the idea?

[tjdee]

12. People love a great story.

I'm going to keep saying this, LOL.

People vote on the PERSON, the issues, eh, maybe.

What makes for a better story? Poor immigrant comes to this country becomes a big star and governor, or hey, that guy who was the governor, and...is still the governor, even though nobody really likes him?


Things like this make me glad I'm supporting the son of a mill worker who won a state that neither Clinton nor Gore won, and did it with no political experience at all. ;)

[Iverson]

14. about a quarter of Democrats

That's what they said on NPR about 20 minutes ago. About a quarter of Democrats and about a quarter of self-described liberals voted for Schwarzenneger.

We can only conclude that they had no choice, and that the Greens are to blame.

[slackmaster]

19. Right on!

We can only conclude that they had no choice, and that the Greens are to blame.

:toast:

[slaveplanet]

20. Here's your answer

Go to http://wfmu.org/playlists/DX Listen to FTR 420, 421, & 422
Dave Emory lays it all out

[Xithras]

21. Repeat after me: Moderate!

Davis is widely seen as a spineless sellout who will cater to any group in order to secure his position and gain campaign money. People simply didn't trust him anymore.

Bustamante was portrayed as a racist Mecha member who supported Reconquista and who wanted to encourage a flood of new Mexican immigrants (polls consistently show that the vast majority of Democrats, and virtually all Republicans, oppose unbridled immigration).

McClintock was rightfully seen as the right-wing extremist that he really is.

Enter into the fray, Arnold: He was spun as a pro-choice, pro-gun control, pro-business, pro-diversity, immigrant centrist and was the only major candidate who "wasn't part of the system", and therefore was "unbiased" on the issues.

He was just in the right place, with the right spin, at the right moment, with three lousy opponents.