by Jack Lee
The nationwide trend was to dump incumbents which was in effect a referendum on democrat policies in general and President Obama in particular. . . except in California where we tend to do things a little differently.
Given a 9% approval rating and the fact they brought down one of the world’s greatest economies why would CA voters reelect the democrats? If there was ever a case to be made to dump incumbents you would think it would be right here. Amazingly voters did just the opposite of smart, they rewarded the same old gang by reelecting most of them and to compound it they passed a proposition that requires only a simple majority vote to pass the state’s budget. This was the last hole card for the republicans and without it they have just been made irrelevant. California has one party in charge of everything and they can do pretty much whatever they wish, with one exception. The voters also passed the proposition that requires a 2/3rds vote to raise taxes and thus the voters have giveth and taketh.
Many republicans are wringing their hands and scratching their heads wondering where do we go from here, because both Whitman and Fiorina were rejected by about the same huge margins, far greater margins than the polls indicated. And this would be referendum against past republican transgressions that caused nearly all of the swing voters, those disaffected independents, to go to Brown and Boxer. This was 20% of the total CA vote and republicans blew it by fielding at least one of the two candidates that many within the party and the independent sector could not support.
Going into the battle to dump Boxer the republicans had the advantage of the anti-incumbency backlash and the same could be said for Jerry Brown who served two previous terms as governor. Both Boxer and Brown (Gov. Moonbeam) are tired old political hacks that have failed repeated to deliver while in the same office they were just reelected too. The only way this can happen is if the Republican Party, its leaders and followers failed bring forth good candidates that could win the independent vote. When traditional supporters of conservatives like the L.A. Times said they couldn’t endorse Whitman because she was a RINO you know republicans blew it.
Beyond our borders where republicans fielded solid conservatives with a history voters could trust they won and that is the lesson for the CRP. If there is an upside in this election it’s that democrats have nowhere to hide nor anyone else to blame. They clearly run this state from top to bottom, and if our schools run short of cash or police and fire get laid off, it’s all on them. The dems are responsible for the budget because republicans have nothing left to leverage Based on their past performance it would seem that California is heading for an even great economic disaster beyond the disaster that dems have already created. Given this, wouldn’t you rather have Gov. Moonbeam at the helm when this ship sinks?
Jack it would seem that doing the same thing over and over is the California pattern. Are Californians slow learners or just truly insane?
Between the CA GW laws and the falling dollar the price we could pay for fuel in the near future could be astronomical. That alone will punish severely and effect so many that are already hurting. Shaking my head…you’re right that it’s all on Democrats but as you and I both know it really has been for some time. (And look at the state of this state!)
Whitman and Fiorina were very different candidates. Fiorina actually did stand strong on our party’s conservative values, and she had a genuine personality to her. It was sad to see her not make it and for CA to give another term to one of the most useless senators in the country. I guess now Boxer can go back to ignoring her constituents for six more years.
I think it’s also not fully accurate to say that CRP put up bad candidates. Our top candidates were chosen by the voters in the primary, for better or worse. In the case of the governor’s race we ended up with a candidate that offered very little difference from what we had with Governor Schwarzenegger. At least now Republicans won’t have that albatross around our necks anymore.
The acceptance speech from Jerry Brown was pathetic. Obama at least sounded good on the podium when he started. Brown can’t even give a victory speech. I fear California is in for some rough days as Brown and the democrats in the legislature will pass every left-wing seizure of our freedom and money that they possibly can. Without even winning an honest Republican Attorney General there will be no one to rout out the blatant corruption of our democrat state government. We are about to make Chicago look saintly.
Anyone who works for state or local government, or who receives public assistance, should start looking at other states very soon. Jerry Brown is now captain of the Titanic.
My condolences to California. It’s my home state, and I love it, but I am glad I moved to Arizona.
Steve, I think it’s at least partially accurate to say the CRP has not done a very good job at bringing us good candidates and I would also indict the republican voters for their vote in the primary, they didn’t vote smart. Whitman was a RINO plain and simple and we could have found a better candidate to run. This RINO part cost her the election IMHO, too many people just could not support a liberal republican candidate, it just does us no good.
However, to be fair, I never accused Fiorina of being a RINO and like you say she was a different caliber of candidate, but this was an uphill race. Say what you will about Boxer, but she is connected and has a huge support. This was a tough race and I think Fiorina lost due to large part to that swing vote from independent voters. That is to some degree the fault of her campaign, the CRP and in part because too many of those swing voters were still irrationally trying to punish the CRP for their past errors.
I agree with you about the albatross part…so true and I also believe California is headed for some rough times.
Are there any good deals on houses in your neighborhood?
Good question for soaps, Jack. Thinking seriously of leaving? We threaten from time to time…
I wonder how many more of the wealth producers will leave this state now.
Not only are we outnumbered but I also heard we had poor Republican turnout in CA…does anyone know whether or not that’s true? If so it’s even more depressing to live here. If Dems do what they have threatened there’s a very good chance out doors will close.
Not just the wealth producers Tina. A friend of mine from high school left CA for Texas. He was a democrat-voting union laborer who now votes Republican. I’m afraid as the jobs dry up there will be more like him.
Jack I agree CRP could do more. Traditionally in the primaries the CRP and central committees stay out of it and let the voters decide. I have argued that in cases where you have a clear conservative against a RINO, the party had better get the guts to step in and say something, lest the party become completely irrelevant. That said, it can be VERY difficult to rout a well-funded RINO with a lot of party ties. In CA we are still fighting a battle with our moderate wing.
Ok, Im going to put my two cents worth in here and if I step on some toes, so be it. The following is based on my experience of being involved with this election since last year.
The GOP, CRA and CRP need to get there act together and start working as a team instead of individual organizations.
I went as a delegate to the CRA Candidate Endorsement Conference last March in LA, where every candidate for a state office was nominated and voted upon. Neither Whitman and Fiorina received the CRA endorsement. Poizner and DeVore did by a very large majority. I witnessed the Whitman machine use every political trick they could to get her the endorsement, but she failed.
The reason I believe Poizner and DeVore didnt win the primary in June is because the republican voters never knew they were the endorsed candidates. Instead, the people voted for the candidateswho had the most money to spend on TV adds, over those more reflective of a true conservative republican. If this was the first time this had happened I’d say we have a small problem, but since this is a repeat of how Arny ended up being our governor instead of McClintock I think we have a big problem.You know what they say about doing the same thing over and over expecting a different outcome.
So, for the sake of all of CA would you all please work together and get the word out about who the endorsed candidates are? Spending money for TV add, newspapers, mailers and the internet with FaceBook, etc. would reach thousands more over the emails sent to the limited membership of CRA.
Getting some money from the GOP to use prior to the primary seems like a better use of funds instead of being used the week before the general election.
I didnt want Whitman and Fiorina for the same reason I didnt want McCain. And with yesterdays results I believe many more feel the same way. When endorsed candidates win their endorsements by the large margin as was evident at the conference last March we owe it to the voters to let them know who they are.
Hopefully, those with the power to implement change will take what Ive said and put a plan in to consideration before the next election. Its not that hard to work together. Especially when all involved have a common goal.
I’m wondering if the Tea Party would even exist today if the republican party had just listened to what their very own people were saying?
Ok, I’m done. You got a nickles worth.
I feel compelled to point out that Republicans held a legislative majority during Reagan, Bush I and Bush II.
Now, tell us all why you think government will shrink during Obama I.
Fools.
Who said we expect anything Libby? We are highly cautious and suspicious!
What we want and what we get are sometimes two very different things. The Republicans have said they learned from their past mistakes and have heard the voice of the American people. It’s our job to make sure they keep remembering that!
Republicans still have a better record on taxes and spending in general than Democrats. The philosophy of the Democrat Party give them no other option! They admit this is their goal and aim…to spend out money! They want as much of it as they can get their hands on for all of their special programs and the confiscation game is easier than taking a risk and funding these ideas themselves. Democrats want to be in control of how we live and who gets what! I’m beginning to think it’s part of their DNA.
Republicans have been “in power” for only a few terms in the last sixty to seventy years and have never had a super majority. ALL of the high price tag spending programs were designed and pushed through by Democrats. Every year the budget must include money to fund them. Attempts to reform or eliminate programs have been successfully blocked by, guess who, the Democrats!
(The one Republican spending exception is the military which is called for in the Constitution. Reagan had to spend on the military because Carter and the Democrats had gutted the military to the bpoint of putting national defense in jeopardy)
Sticks and stones doen’t change the truth one bit!
I would gladly vote for Libby for any political position in CA. I just don’t think CA will recover until it hits rock bottom, so Libby would probably be the best thing for the State long term.
Does Quentin owe anyone a beer for his tea party predictions?
VA just turned very republican…our Senators just got a picture of how things will play our for them next time around.
Great night for limited government conservatives. And I think we are set up pretty well for 2012.
Good point Nick – I would sooner have Libby in there too.
Peggy,
Please get in touch with me, I’d like to discuss your ideas here a little further.
stevegop@comcast.net