Reply #16: from this, I infer that they expect him to lose in any case... [View All]

[NorthernSpy]

Restive Republicans said they would rally conservatives behind a resolution, to be offered at the state GOP convention in San Jose next month, that may give Schwarzenegger an ultimatum: Dump Kennedy by March 15 or the party will withdraw its backing of his reelection bid.

Of course, no one with any self-respect would dream of caving in to such an ultimatum. The conservatives know that. In fact, they're banking on it.

I suspect that the "revolting conservatives" believe that Ahhnold will probably lose the election, no matter what. When that happens, they will argue that their withdrawal of support was the critical factor that denied him victory. This ultimatum prepares the ground for making that argument.

The reality is that Schwarzenegger is weak because of his connection to a Republican Party that is in a great deal of trouble right now. The ultra-conservatives are aware that they may be fingered as an election-costing risk factor for the GOP, and they very much need to avoid the prospect of this conclusion becoming common wisdom.