Posted on 02/09/2007 9:38:39 AM PST by areafiftyone
} When Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani speak at the California Republican Convention this weekend, some party leaders from Solano County will be there and listening carefully.
Approximately 1,300 delegates from across the state are expected to fill the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Sacramento beginning today through Sunday. Among them will be Mike Gomez, the chair of the Solano County Republican Party Central Committee, and Lynda Rose McMahan, chair of Solano Republican Women's Federated.
A busy itinerary awaits the group in the state capital, including the selection of new party leadership. Gomez said one candidate, Ron Nehring, is running unopposed for chair, while the vice-chairmanship is hotly contested.
"I think it's going to be a good convention," Gomez said. "To me, it is always interesting and exciting when we elect new officers."
Situated between major election cycles, this convention is an opportunity for the party to strategize and organize. Local party leaders said it is chance for California Republicans to regroup after a shift of power in the November 2006 election, as well as prepare for the upcoming battle in 2008.
McMahan said, "I'm hoping a sense of unity comes out of it; that we find out what we did wrong in the last election and go about changing it."
While she is unable to attend, Cathy Ritch, the second vice chair of the Solano Republican Central Committee, said "I think it is going to be an important meeting."
"It's a chance for us to get together and look over what happened in the last election," she said. "We're really at a crossroads."
Giuliani, dubbed "America's mayor" after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, has made headlines recently with his burgeoning presidential aspirations.
"I'd like to hear what his philosophy is and how he would deal with what's going on in Iraq differently than what President Bush is doing," McMahan said.
Republicans will have to produce a turnaround in Iraq, McMahan said, to be successful in 2008.
Gomez said he is also looking forward to the lunch with Giuliani on Saturday. He wants to hear the celebrated mayor's views on national security and the kinds of programs and policies he would implement as president.
"I'm anxious to hear him speak," Gomez said. "At this point in time, he's the one who holds the most interest for me."
Ritch said about Giuliani, "He'd be my favorite candidate if you asked me right now."
As for Schwarzenegger, McMahan said she likes that he is bold and understands the necessity of compromise in politics. However, she and Gomez have concerns about his health-care proposal.
"I do have some questions," McMahan said. While she understands what Schwarzenegger is trying to accomplish, she said, "I'm just not sure that his proposal is the best way to go about it."
Other business awaits the convention's delegates, including a vote on resolutions opposing tax increases and another titled "Voter ID for Honest Elections, which supports a measure requiring would-be voters to provide a valid photo ID.
McMahan said she had not had a chance to peruse the resolutions, but Republicans generally oppose tax increases. Concerning the other issue, she said, "I think everyone should have to show ID when they go to vote."
Additional information about the convention is available on the California Republican Party's Web site, www.cagop.org/.
(((((PING)))))
Cali Repubs (RINO's) support Rudy!!!
Hey, at least he's not Hillary!!
LOL
The folks who support Arnold support Rudy?!
I'm shocked, shocked!!!!!
OK
Liberals, supporting another liberal. Surprise there. Not.
Hopefully they will show it on CSPAN!
California is worth 15 electoral votes.
Do the math. It's a win/win situation.
Are you sure you're not on the ping list? We might as well put you on....
You are right - 55 to be exact.
Apparently you can't.
It (promoting Rudy) is a win/win situation.
For socialists.
We're he to carry CA, he could well afford to lose some smaller states.
Rudy is a gun-grabbing globalist. The difference is a matter of degree.
Yeah, I WISH California had only 15 electoral votes.
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