The Arnold Faux-Pas
Posted by: Jubal | 06/16/2008 3:49 PM
I missed the annual Republican Party of Orange County Flag Day Dinner, but read -- here and here -- about the negative crowd reaction to keynote speaker Gov. Charlie Crist's effusive praise for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
This is the second time in a year that a major GOP figure with national political aspirations has made the same gaffe in front of an OC Republican audience.
During his much-anticipated speech last year to the Lincoln Club of Orange County, Fred Thompson -- then an unannounced presidential candidate -- singled out Schwarzenegger for praise. Obviously intended as an applause line, the silence was audible.
In both cases, it represent both a) bad advance work and b) a true lack of appreciation, outside of California, of just how badly the Governor's philosophical zig-zagging has alienated the GOP base in California.
This is the second time in a year that a major GOP figure with national political aspirations has made the same gaffe in front of an OC Republican audience.
During his much-anticipated speech last year to the Lincoln Club of Orange County, Fred Thompson -- then an unannounced presidential candidate -- singled out Schwarzenegger for praise. Obviously intended as an applause line, the silence was audible.
In both cases, it represent both a) bad advance work and b) a true lack of appreciation, outside of California, of just how badly the Governor's philosophical zig-zagging has alienated the GOP base in California.
Mr. Ayer registered as a Republican to be electable in an interim election with no incumbents. He did...
Unfortunately, the state GOP is nearly as tone deaf as the national GOP, as evidenced by their plan to use the budget deal to throw taxpayers under the bus in trade for loose change and Monopoly money (deals on global warming and lunch hours that can be rolled back all too easily because they do not require a 2/3 majority).