Sunday, August 06, 2006
THE WEEK IN REVIEW: FRIDAY FUNNIES AND FOLLIES
THE WEEK IN REVIEW: FRIDAY FUNNIES AND FOLLIES
This week offered a veritable smorgasbord of Republican follies, we’re here to collect them for your enjoyment:
1. THE FIELD POLL
Monday’s Field Poll showed that almost every down ticket Republican is trailing their Democratic opponent by double digits. The Republican Party went radio silent, apparently observing the funeral procession election with solemnity. The candidates were forced into a desperate tizzy:
• Tom “Two-Time Loser” McClintock – This two-time loser for statewide office is down 10 points, and his main campaign strategy is to attack the Governor from the right – way to go, Tom!
• Chuck “In the Pooch House” Poochigian – This “bright star” for Republicans is trailing former Governor Jerry Brown by a demoralizing 21%. Pooch led the way in Republican vitriol in his response as he jumped up and down begging someone to pay attention to him, smearing the Field Poll’s methodology. Too bad he’s also trailing Brown in fundraising by over almost $2 million – way to go, Chuck! Maybe another internet video can cover those 21 points.
• Tony “My Wife Pays All the Bills” Strickland – He’s down by 11 points, but he wins the prize for most bizarre post-poll response. Strickland tried to brag about his cash on hand edge over his opponent, BOE Member John Chiang, which amounts to a $44,262 COH edge. Enjoy the extra lawn signs, Tony!
• Steve “Call Me Poison” Poizner – He’s only a 4 point loser, and he’s nothing short of exuberant. After throwing away $6 million of his personal piggy bank to lose a Bay Area Assembly race in 2004, Poizner went on to chair the disastrous Yes on 77 (redistricting) campaign. That campaign lost 59.5 – 40.5%. No wonder Steve-O is excited to be a 4 point loser!
• Claude “Who?” Perish – Who’s this guy again? Oh yeah, right – he’s losing by 25 points, and his campaign didn’t bother to respond to the numbers.
An unconfirmed report indicates that the California Republican Party is using Arnold’s Hollywood connections to broker a deal for a season on The Surreal Life for the whole Republican ticket. Season premier November 9th.
2. COOK REPORT
The Cook Political Report came out Tuesday with more bad news for Republicans everywhere:
“… the political climate will be extremely hostile to Republican candidates. Second, while Republicans benefited from turnout in 2002 and 2004, this time voter turnout will benefit Democratic candidates. And third, the advantages that the GOP usually has in national party spending will be significantly less than normal. … All of the traditional diagnostic indicators in major national polls taken in the past 10 days show numbers consistent with an electoral rout.”
That means Arnold’s base is already demoralized and unlikely to turn out in November. Add to that the fact that Arnold continues to sell them down the river in order to appeal to moderate voters (who have already seen his act and aren’t buying it), and it starts sounding like a deafening silence for Republicans this November.
3. ARNOLD ATTACKED FROM THE RIGHT – BY MCCLINTOCK … AGAIN!
After watching Arnold zig and zag away from his right-wing principles, even California conservatives are realizing that Schwarzenegger will say and do anything to get reelected.
After he backtracked on immigrant issues and his support for Prop. 187, Arnold left his campaign manager to deal with the blowback:
“The next day, Schwarzenegger's campaign manager Steve Schmidt tried to clean up the mess, but faced an onslaught from Ziegler and some callers, who accused Schwarzenegger of running ‘way, way, way to the left’ by trying to ‘pander’ to the much-needed Latino vote.” (Contra Costa Times, July 30, 2006)
But one prominent conservative wasn’t buying Arnold’s tap-dancing act – it was his own running mate, Tom McClintock: “The governor said something he didn't mean and I'd like to see him come forward and say so” (San Diego Union Tribune, July 29, 2006).
Apparently, the McClintock-Schwarzenegger marriage of convenience has hit the skids … next stop, Jerry Springer. Oh no he did-n’t!
Well, that’s a wrap for this week’s Funnies and Follies. Stay tuned – there’s sure to be ample material next week, too.
This week offered a veritable smorgasbord of Republican follies, we’re here to collect them for your enjoyment:
1. THE FIELD POLL
Monday’s Field Poll showed that almost every down ticket Republican is trailing their Democratic opponent by double digits. The Republican Party went radio silent, apparently observing the funeral procession election with solemnity. The candidates were forced into a desperate tizzy:
• Tom “Two-Time Loser” McClintock – This two-time loser for statewide office is down 10 points, and his main campaign strategy is to attack the Governor from the right – way to go, Tom!
• Chuck “In the Pooch House” Poochigian – This “bright star” for Republicans is trailing former Governor Jerry Brown by a demoralizing 21%. Pooch led the way in Republican vitriol in his response as he jumped up and down begging someone to pay attention to him, smearing the Field Poll’s methodology. Too bad he’s also trailing Brown in fundraising by over almost $2 million – way to go, Chuck! Maybe another internet video can cover those 21 points.
• Tony “My Wife Pays All the Bills” Strickland – He’s down by 11 points, but he wins the prize for most bizarre post-poll response. Strickland tried to brag about his cash on hand edge over his opponent, BOE Member John Chiang, which amounts to a $44,262 COH edge. Enjoy the extra lawn signs, Tony!
• Steve “Call Me Poison” Poizner – He’s only a 4 point loser, and he’s nothing short of exuberant. After throwing away $6 million of his personal piggy bank to lose a Bay Area Assembly race in 2004, Poizner went on to chair the disastrous Yes on 77 (redistricting) campaign. That campaign lost 59.5 – 40.5%. No wonder Steve-O is excited to be a 4 point loser!
• Claude “Who?” Perish – Who’s this guy again? Oh yeah, right – he’s losing by 25 points, and his campaign didn’t bother to respond to the numbers.
An unconfirmed report indicates that the California Republican Party is using Arnold’s Hollywood connections to broker a deal for a season on The Surreal Life for the whole Republican ticket. Season premier November 9th.
2. COOK REPORT
The Cook Political Report came out Tuesday with more bad news for Republicans everywhere:
“… the political climate will be extremely hostile to Republican candidates. Second, while Republicans benefited from turnout in 2002 and 2004, this time voter turnout will benefit Democratic candidates. And third, the advantages that the GOP usually has in national party spending will be significantly less than normal. … All of the traditional diagnostic indicators in major national polls taken in the past 10 days show numbers consistent with an electoral rout.”
That means Arnold’s base is already demoralized and unlikely to turn out in November. Add to that the fact that Arnold continues to sell them down the river in order to appeal to moderate voters (who have already seen his act and aren’t buying it), and it starts sounding like a deafening silence for Republicans this November.
3. ARNOLD ATTACKED FROM THE RIGHT – BY MCCLINTOCK … AGAIN!
After watching Arnold zig and zag away from his right-wing principles, even California conservatives are realizing that Schwarzenegger will say and do anything to get reelected.
After he backtracked on immigrant issues and his support for Prop. 187, Arnold left his campaign manager to deal with the blowback:
“The next day, Schwarzenegger's campaign manager Steve Schmidt tried to clean up the mess, but faced an onslaught from Ziegler and some callers, who accused Schwarzenegger of running ‘way, way, way to the left’ by trying to ‘pander’ to the much-needed Latino vote.” (Contra Costa Times, July 30, 2006)
But one prominent conservative wasn’t buying Arnold’s tap-dancing act – it was his own running mate, Tom McClintock: “The governor said something he didn't mean and I'd like to see him come forward and say so” (San Diego Union Tribune, July 29, 2006).
Apparently, the McClintock-Schwarzenegger marriage of convenience has hit the skids … next stop, Jerry Springer. Oh no he did-n’t!
Well, that’s a wrap for this week’s Funnies and Follies. Stay tuned – there’s sure to be ample material next week, too.
Comments:
<< Home
No posted comments. Maybe people don't find your column funny. How about telling us what is good about our guys?
Post a Comment
<< Home
