Note To Candidates: Don’t Forget California!
By Isaiah Z. Sterrett (09/17/04)
ACCORDING TO JOHN KERRY, Barbara Boxer was part of the small group of legislators who was unable to think for forty minutes after terrorists slammed jetliners into the World Trade Center. Heretofore unmentioned by the press is that this offered very little transition for her.
Save a miracle, Sen. Boxer—Babs, I like to call her—will be reelected in November. California is not as solidly liberal as the media pretend, but Bill Jones, her apparently shy opponent, is a snooze. He once had a shot, and he may still, but his current strategy of Not Campaigning is failing.
Boxer’s hopping around the Golden State portraying herself as the candidate who will represent family values, the environment, and a “woman’s right to choose.” Jones is keeping quiet, saying nothing of interest to anyone. He should have been given a bigger, better spot at the GOP Convention, but maybe planners of the event decided that he wasn’t worth it. If he won’t even speak up in his home state, why should he be expected to open his mouth in New York? Maybe a measly two minutes was all he deserved.
Jones was supposed to be a very attractive candidate. His experience was supposed to be a virtue. We were told that he would woo moderates to his side, and that President Bush and Gov. Schwarzenegger would surely rally behind him. None of it was true.
I advised Californians to support Rosario Marin in the primaries, but they unwisely disobeyed. Now we’re stuck will Bill Jones, a good man who’s running a terrible campaign.
Boxer was in the windy town of Hollister in late August, blathering about “a U.S. Senate that is reflective of our country.” (Leave it to a liberal to say that pro-abortion, anti-war feminists are “reflective of our country.”)
She spoke about “burden sharing” in Iraq, and the evil “far right of this country” who will “say anything to win an election.”
Maybe some people will “say anything to win an election,” but it’s sure not Bill Jones! Would someone please find a quote from Jones in which he talks about the “far left of this country”? Or, barring that, would someone please find a quote from Bill Jones?
“My name may be Boxer,” she said, “but I’m no punching bag.” (A gasbag, yes, but certainly no punching bag.)
Meanwhile, in a related story…Bill Jones said nothing.
Another Republican who should consider winning in California is George W. Bush. He’s doing a much better job than Jones—which is quite a feat given that he has 49 other states to think about, plus the pressing matter of running the country—but he seems to be ignoring this state, even though we’re the richest in electoral treasure.
He probably understands his dismal prospects in California and has thus decided to focus on so-called battleground states. And while it’s certainly wise to spend more time in Pennsylvania and Ohio than California, a few visits would be appreciated. He needn’t come to Santa Cruz—half the population would be too stoned to notice, and the other half would try to stone him to death—but residents of Fresno, Santa Barbara, San Diego, and Orange County would be happy to see him.
He won’t win San Francisco or LA, but if Democrats are as unenergetic on November 2 as they are today, and if Republicans are as excited as we are today, Bush could win California. This would bury Kerry, and candlelight vigils would surely ensue.
One of the best reasons for supporting Arnold Schwarzenegger in the recall election was that he has an amazing charisma that Republicans knew could help Bush. (We also liked the idea of tossing out an experienced politician and replacing him with a bodybuilding Austrian.) We knew that Arnold’s massive arm around Bush’s shoulders would be a lovely picture for voters. Bush-Schwarzenegger rallies, we predicted, could propel Bush ahead of any Democrat—especially flip-flopping mental cases like John Kerry. (Or Dean, Sharpton, Kucinich, Gephardt, and Graham, all of whom can be similarly classified.)
Bush should be taking full advantage of Arnold, standing with him in Sacramento, or joking with him in Davis. Together, they could win California for the GOP.
In the meantime, perhaps Bill Jones could plan a campaign event.
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