This man KILLED the California GOP: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pete_Wilson him and Bush (41).
California is already lost to the GOP.
Might as well use California to experiment with a 3rd party / Tea Party. Perhaps they can gain some traction, as well as learn lessons for other states or national elections.
Simple Answer... Initiatives
Create some, simple to understand initiatives. Like Prop 13...
Examples:
1. Flat income tax at 7% to replace existing Corporate and Personal Income taxes and perhaps property taxes, sales taxes, and most other taxes as well.
2. Electoral College delegates selected at the Congressional District level. The argument is very simple, count every vote.
3. Restructure educational funding to eliminate non-teaching positions and put more money into classrooms. No more money, just more money into classrooms.
If the GOP sponsored half a dozen initiatives like this, with simple messages to Low Information Voters, they could get around the D’s and the unions and begin making changes. These changes won’t fully fix California, but it would begin putting us on a better path. We need to make public office much less interesting for politicians but limiting their power.
Back in the ‘60s and early ‘70swhen I grew up there, CA was staunch GOP territory... I remember the 8th grade trip to the capitol in Sacramento... the State Assembly in 1971 was largely made up of Repubs. Things are ... well.. different now.
The CA GOP is looking for ideas...
Then I read, “The Saturday luncheon featured Karl Rove.”
I'm not from California, but I'm trying to start a list for each state that includes a FReeper with a state ping list for that state if that state doesn't have one already.
If I see a story about California, I want to let you know. This is not expected to be a high volume ping list.
Do any of you have a state ping list for California? Do any of you want to volunteer and take my California list with the intent to grow it? Let me know via FReepmail. Then I can work on other states.
As Rush says, the democrats have been wildly successful in convincing the current generation that gay marriage is the most important issue and the cover news story is that BJ Clinton thinks that gays should be able to cheat on their partners in the whitehouse just like straights do.
But human nature is that money is more important than other issues. The GOP needs to divorce itself from the Big Business image and start convincing young people that democrats already are and will continue to steal their money.
Take a page out of Rand Paul’s play book. A dramatic filibuster on the floor of the state senate.
Take a crack at the education of cal high school students, then take a crack at stupid laws that keep people from work, like the spotted owl. Has putting forests off limits increased the owl population or just killed jobs?
Just quibbling a bit here. Looking for ideas that resonate with people is the problem. That turns you into GOP-E.
Identify your principles and preach them and keep preaching them whether people get it or not, and keep doing it until people begin to get it. Aside from a very few, I don't hear Repubs who capably explain and defend the freedom principles. Instead I hear Repubs who blab on about tax cuts.
"Tax cuts" are short-hand for the freedom principles used by people who don't understand them and are afraid to articulate them. Its not about taxes, its freedom. The other side sells Utopia. We sell muddling through as free men and women. Its a tougher sell so you have to believe in it.
Maybe a deal could be made - we leave - and Dems there agree that all illegals in the US can be deported to California. In ten years the State will be a 3rd world hellhole and we can give it to Mexico... it's a win win win for everyone...
The thing to do is to run for local elections, by preference in a place where things stink.
Then put in conservative policies, and demonstrate how they make things better.
Gun rights: Local authorities can issue CCW permits, and watch crime decrease.
Illegals: Local police fingerprint suspects and hand them over to border patrol. Repeat offenders are not handed over to border patrol, rather are denied bail. Watch crime go down.
Schools: Local school board issues vouchers. Test scores increase.
Lower taxes: Offer tax payback for businesses that locate in your area. Watch economy grow.
Health Insurance: Start local fund whereby anyone who wants to pay for another’s health care can contribute. If the fund is empty, then noone wants insurance. If the fund is full, then health care is paid. Doctors would prefer to be paid, rather than be forced to provide pro bono services, and would be more likely to move to your area.
After success, then your corps of successful miracle workers move to another level. If you lose, then you have at least done some good.
“What’s an irrelevant party to do?”
Start by attending your local village council or schoolboard meeting. You might discover that they’re infested with leftists.
McCoy: “The California GOP is dead, Jim.”