For the past two decades it has been my privilege to attend the
semi-annual conventions of the California Republican Party (CRP). I
recently returned from the latest one, held in Sacramento. To put
it mildly,
“I’m stoked!!!”
For the past two decades it has been my privilege to attend the semi-annual conventions of the California Republican Party (CRP). I recently returned from the latest one, held in Sacramento. To put it mildly, “I’m stoked!!!”
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger delivered the opening “speech.” It was more like an opening volley. He restated the four “gauntlets” he has thrown down before the state Legislature. “Either clean up these things, or I will call a special election next November and take it directly to the people.”
n Budget reform: Government must live within its means.
n Pension reform: Public Employees should get the same pensions as private sector employees whose taxes pay those pensions.
n Education reform: Our good teachers should be paid more than our lousy ones.
n Redistricting: Politicians should not draw their own districts.
In this speech, the “Governator” made clear that the best solution is to work with the Legislature. Based upon his first year in office, he appeared to doubt the politicians will be willing to do that.
Rather, he said, he expects the reaction to be a virtual storm of distortions, lies, personal attacks and the like, from leftist political groups, unions, politicians and bureaucrats.
He plans to raise $50 million to counter their attacks in the media. The governor said he had it from reliable sources that eastern Democrats plan to spend $200 million against his reform proposals. Imagine my thrill to hear a strong political leader respond with, “Bring it on!”
I believe the only way to deal with opponents dedicated to tearing down your fundamental values is to face them down and defeat them. Any degree of compromise only postpones battles.
I quote from “Sacramento Spectator” (March/April 2005), “Let me clear up any lingering doubt: The governor and his top political advisers are deadly serious about their four main reforms and about going to the ballot. With full knowledge of the stakes, they have pushed all the chips to the center of the table. They realize this is a make or break battle. Either the governor or the Democrats and their clients will be bruised, battered, and irrelevant this time next year.
“We are seeing another advantage of electing a genuine non-(career)-politician: he actually wants to get things done. Arnold Schwarzenegger did not run for governor to build his resume or his personal treasure. And although he can shift maddeningly from ideas of the right to those of the left, he is, essentially, an “ideologue” in the literal meaning of the word: a man interested in ideas and in advancing them through his public service.”
During his first year as governor, I believe unions and politicians snookered him numerous times. Now his ego (no small item) is awakened and working full time to correct that situation.
OK, so that was the first item on the three-day convention agenda. The mid-term elections will be coming up in November 2006. Every Congressman and state Assemblyman and half the state Senate plus our statewide officers will be up for grabs. How will all that fit into the context of the “showdown” Arnold has set for this summer-fall? The major candidates were out in force, staking out their turf.
A win next November with the whole nation and most of the world watching what California voters do, will make some big waves. That momentum will carry forward into the primary election in June 2006, and the general election in November 2006. Don’t forget that the president is doing much the same thing, at the same time, going over Congress and U.S. Senate heads to the people with his agenda.
If the California Republicans lose this fall in November’s likely special election, it will be decades before they recover. If the unions, bureaucracies and politicians lose this fall, it will reconfigure the balance of power and lift high the light of liberty across our nation with shock waves around the world.
There is a “perfect storm” brewing. Let’s roll.
