Second of all, CA is on high alert, especially LA -- with the serious, credible threat to LAX
You're right. I'm from California, and I know that it's not nearly as liberal as it is painted by the rest of the country. I also know that most Californians are very self absorbed and a bit dim on their understanding other states, much less the outside world. (Except for Vegas, of course.)
I think that a major terrorist attack would affect the psyche of Los Angeles (or San Francisco) far more than it did the psyche of New York. That's just my assessment of the local cultures and mood. People who are reflexively emotional and self centered would react very powerfully to a 9/11 type attack.