by Jack Lee
Jim Brulte, former GOP Senate Minority Leader in California, recently quipped about the State GOP, “Does the party even have a pulse?” Of course, this is a rhetorical question because Brulte knows the answer. He’s been at the center of the party politics for decades as a legislator, party leader and a campaign manager for other republican candidates.
Just a decade ago the GOP was floundering as the democrats in Sacramento were closing in on a super majority, for the first time 130 years. The GOP voter base had shrunk from a majority to just 35%. But, those look like the good old days compared to now. Because it didn’t stop there and the current voter base is a mere 28% and it’s still falling!
In 2000 Brulte proclaimed, “There’s no place to go but up and we’re on the way back.” Sadly, he couldn’t have been more wrong.
But, Brulte is still in there swinging for the GOP. Today it’s his job to right the republican train, get those rusty wheels back on the track and start a fire in their boiler. But, his mission is being complicated by major dissention within the party ranks. For example the GOP state controller candidate Ashley Swearengin has just refused to endorse Neel Kashkari, the GOP candidate for governor. This prompted another candidate, Ron Nehring, running for Lt. Gov., to complain bitterly that Swearengin was “blowing off others on the statewide ticket.” And this caused the press to go sniffing around looking for a story. Brulte wants the GOP to appear as one big happy family, if only for the media.
Brulte called Swearengin’s decision not to endorse, “felony stupid.” ”This does not help the party! It distracts from the efforts made to convey a positive theme. The coverage is not of a party expanding its reach. It’s about a party that isn’t unified because (its) candidates can’t get it together and get on the same page.” Brulte said.
The GOP has been struggling to break the super majority democrats have in Sacramento because it renders their vote in the assembly and senate meaningless. This lopsided situation has at times been cause for Gov. Jerry Brown to play the role of the opposition as a gesture of contrition, if nothing else. When Jerry Brown has to play republican you know the GOP is in trouble!
Three days ago the Sacramento Bee reported, “In 2000, the GOP could count at least one statewide elected officeholder. Today, no Republican holds statewide office.” However, Brulte is trying to get the party in order, but it may be easier to bring peace to the middle east.
The party is in a huge crisis and it could take a complete overhaul, a complete reinvention, before it’s over. Many voters in CA are saying the GOP stands for the Grey Old Party and those old guys have to go! They say this image must change and it’s pretty obvious what “change” means. It’s going to involve kicking out some of the far-right members, recruiting more pragmatic younger members and reaching out to former republicans now registered as independents or Libertarians. Eventually this will cause a seismic shift from a right-wing party to a more centrist party and a lot of damage will happen in the process. Some would argue the GOP is already in transition. Kashkari, who is strongly anti-gun, and former pro-choice candidate for governor, Meg Whitman, are emblematic of this shift to the left. What will emerge from the political ashes will be the new Republicrat Party of California, open to a little more socialism, bigger government, a little more taxation and regulation, anti-gun and pro-choice.
No surprise here Jack. A blind man could have seen this coming since the CRA convention in Sacramento you and I attended in 2010 I believe. The slide down the slippery slope to liberalism-land was also very evident last year when the CRP convention in Sac. voted in a liberal ACLU attorney for their vice president who was supported by big time liberal Charles Munger.
Conservatives have given up on the Calif. GOP and formed their own group, which has been growing each year. According to this video from their meeting at the spring 2014 convention the CRP is up to its old tricks. Four resolutions they wanted placed on the agenda went down to defeat when the resolution committee didn’t have a quorum. Sound familiar to your resolution?
Calif. Tea Party Caucus:
Speaker: Catherine Engelbrecht, True the Vote
Speaker: Congressman Tom McClintock
http://www.teapartycc.com/crp_spring_2014_convention
It will be interesting to see what the TPC’s membership and attendance was at the CRP convention held last weekend.
“…candidates can’t get it together and get on the same page.”
I’d be happy just to know they had a page!
It would be interesting to know how many republicans just pulled up stakes and left the state in the last 10 to 15 years. I know a lot have switched to Independent but I’m not sure how that benefits, other than personally feeling better.
Democrats are losing membership too, among the young who say they are disgusted with all of the arguing. We are living through turbulent times.
Conservatives need a strong, confident, voice, someone who can communicate our message well and flatten the noise from radical destroyers. But I guess we need the tumult cause they don’t come along often 😉
Interesting. I’d vote for a third party candidate if he/she supported my concerns over a Republican candidate. I’m not going to hold my nose while I vote any more.
Poll: 58 Percent Of Americans Want A Third Political Party:
http://dailycaller.com/2014/09/24/poll-58-percent-of-americans-want-a-third-political-party/