[exit82]

For California Republicans to recover in 2016 or 2020, they will need either a terrifically popular nominee with a strong reform message, or to be rescued by history in the form of a debacle that happens on the Democrats’ watch. Or maybe both.

Or an earthquake.

Seriously, this is an excellent article. All I know is, it took only 25 years to turn California from heaven to a hellhole politically. While Dems are in power, they are bankrupting the state, with nationwide implications.The massive block of 55 electoral votes, when combined with the electoral votes of the liberal Northeast and Midwest, create a formidable challenge to any GOP Presidential candidate.

Perhaps we may see the break-up of CA into a few smaller states.

His greatest political master-stroke was in understanding that the Democrats were now weakest where they had once been strongest — the blue collar workers.

Reagan's master stroke may still be viable, though, in 2016. There are many blue collar Dems who are on the losing side of the Obama economy right now, and they need to be cultivated by the GOP.

[freedomfiter2]

You’re right. The GOP needs to adopt a right of center populist position.

[Wallace T.]

The Republican Party, in both its GOP-e and conservative wings, has written off California. An understandable position, but consider that the GOP picked up three Congressional seats in equally deep blue New York and regained control of the state senate. The Golden State may well be lost in terms of Presidential elections indefinitely, but a concerted effort could accomplish what was done in the Empire State: break the Democrat stranglehold on all levels of power.