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California Republican Party Bailed Out of Campaign Debt
Two donor associates of California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Paul Folino and Larry Dodge have stepped up and bailed out the California Republican Party.Think this will ease the budget stand-off with GOP State Senators?
NOPE
But, at least the Governor will be able to speak at his parties upcoming state convention.
Technorati Tags: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Paul Folino, Larry Dodge, California Republican Party
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California Republican Party Call Out For Bloggers and New Media
Flap gets an e-mail today from the California GOP as a call out to bloggers for their bi-annual convention:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Shira Rawlinson
August 17, 2007 (916) 448-9496
California Republican Party 2008 Fall Convention
Convention Information
(SACRAMENTO) – The California Republican Party Fall Convention is scheduled for September 7-9, 2007. The convention will be held at The Renaissance Esmeralda Resort and Spa in Indian Wells, CA. The hotel is located at 44-400 Indian Wells Lane, Indian Wells. Please call 800-446-9875 or 877-804-4070 by August 17th to receive a hotel room at the discounted price and mention the California Republican Party.
Elected officials planning to attend include Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Congresswoman Mary Bono, Congressman Kevin McCarthy, Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner, Board of Equalization member Michelle Steel, State Senators Dick Ackerman, Jim Battin, George Runner and Assemblymembers Anthony Adams, John Benoit, Chuck DeVore, Bonnie Garcia, Martin Garrick, Bob Huff, Alan Nakanishi, Sharon Runner, Cameron Smyth, Van Tran and Mimi Walters.
Bloggers planning to attend the convention should fill out a new media/blogger credential application at: http://www.cagop.org/forms/newmedia_credential/. Hard copies of the application can be obtained by contacting Shira Rawlinson at Shira@cagop.org or phone: (916) 448-9496.
Below is an agenda for Friday and Saturday dinner banquets and Saturday luncheon.
Friday Dinner Banquet 7:30pm
Featuring Governors Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rick Perry (TX) & Charlie Crist (FL)
Saturday Luncheon 12:30pm
Featuring United States Senator and Republican Candidate for President John McCain
Saturday Dinner Banquet 7:30pm
Featuring Republican Governors Tim Pawlenty (MN) & Jon Huntsman, Jr. (UT)
Sunday General Session 9:00am
Featuring Senator Tom McClintock, Assemblyman Bob Huff &
Congresswoman Mary Bono
###
Flap doesn’t know if he will attend to see John McCain and the Governator. But, I may run down there for Saturday at least.
But, California bloggers if you are interested in attending be sure to apply for your credentials early here.
Technorati Tags: California Republican Party, Arnold Schwarzenegger, John McCain
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California, California Election 2008, California Republican Party, Electoral Reform California Initiative
Electoral Reform California Initiative Could Split California Presidential Votes Part III – Opposition Forms
Opposition to the California Electoral Reform Initiative is forming.The Electoral Reform California Website is here.
Flap receives this e-mail today:
Hi all—
FYI, we’re working on the campaign to oppose the likely Republican-funded initiative scheme that would radically change the way California awards electoral votes, moving away from the “winner-take-all” approach (that currently means 55 electoral votes for the Democratic nominee) and towards an allocation based on Congressional district (which could throw as many as 20 electoral votes to the Republican nominee) — potentially throwing the entire presidential election to the Republicans.
Our placeholder site just launched today. Any support you can provide for this effort would really be appreciated:
http://www.FairElectionReform.com
The Republicans are beginning to raise money to try to qualify the initiative for the June ballot. If it passes, it would go into effect for 2008. We’ve got quite a bit of work to do to fight back against what many voters, at first blush, may think is a “fair” solution — because this concept taps into a lot of disenchantment that people feel about the electoral college as a whole.
We can’t let the Republicans get away with this pure, partisan power grab – and instead, we need to be reforming the system nationwide in a fair, comprehensive way (like moving to a national popular vote), rather than this kind of piecemeal approach that disproportionately swings electoral votes to one party or another.
Senator Boxer blogged about this at Huffington Post today:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sen-barbara-boxer/stop-the-gop-electoral-co_b_60728.html
Rick Jacobs, Todd Beeton, and the folks at the Courage Campaign are going to be doing a ton of online advocacy around this, so be sure to check them out too:
http://www.couragecampaign.org
Thanks for your help on this.
Flap wonders how much each party will contribute to this initiative? Or their surrogates?
Flap receives this e-mail about the California lefty blogosphere actively opposing the initiative:
Many folks have already been writing and blogging about this, including Steven Maviglio over at the California Majority Report, Dave Dayen at Calitics, Bill Cavala at California Progress Report, and plenty of others. Links to their great pieces here:
http://camajorityreport.com/index.php?module=articles&func=display&aid=2179&ptid=9
http://camajorityreport.com/index.php?module=articles&func=display&aid=2128&ptid=9
http://www.calitics.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=3482
http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/2007/07/changing_the_ru.html
I’m sure I’ve missed others, and apologies in advance for that. Thanks all!
The fight for California’s Electoral College votes in Presidential Race 2008 has just begun.
The initiative is here.
Stay tuned……….Graphic Courtesy of California Majority Report
Previous:
Electoral Reform California Initiative Could Split California Presidential Votes Part II
Electoral Reform California Initiative Could Split California Presidential Votes
North Carolina Ready to Change Electoral College Presidential Selection Rules for 2008
Technorati Tags: Electoral Reform California, Electoral College, GOP, Democrats
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California, California Election 2008, California Republican Party, Electoral Reform California Initiative
Electoral Reform California Initiative Could Split California Presidential Votes Part II
Little noticed except among election 2008 compulsives, the California Electoral Reform Initiative is making a big splash in the Christian Science Monitor today.
Soren has more on the North Carolina change in delegate selection process that Flap mentioned here.
Should this initiative qualify, it may well determine whether Hillary or Rudy is the next President.
Anyone want to bet the Democrats drop the effort in North Carolina?
Well, NO, they won’t.
The California Initiative will pass.
In California, the measure’s passage would probably be determined by voter turnout, and that could favor Republicans, experts say.
“The state will have just voted in February, and there is no US Senate race so June turnout will likely be low, which works against the Democrats,” says Quinn. Democrats, who usually argue for more fairness in elections and the end of the electoral college system, are in a quandary over how to fight this, he says.
“The Democrats are being hoisted on their own petards,” says Quinn. “They say, ‘Let’s make elections fairer,’ and Republicans are saying, ‘Okay, let’s do it this way,’ and Democrats are beside themselves because they know what it will likely do.”
But, watch California Attorney General, Jerry Brown and other California pols use the courts to derail the initiative and try to keep it off the June 2008 ballot.
Previous:
Electoral Reform California Initiative Could Split California Presidential Votes
North Carolina Ready to Change Electoral College Presidential Selection Rules for 2008
Technorati Tags: Electoral Reform California, Electoral College, GOP, Democrats
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Electoral Reform California Initiative Could Split California Presidential Votes
California’s Congressional Districts
A few days ago, Flap wrote that North Carolina appears to be changing their electoral college Presidential selection system just in time for the 2008 election.
And, Flap, wondered about a change in California’s system.
Dave G over at race42008 posts a piece that clarifies the issue in California.
The Electoral Reform California Initiative is already circulating to change California’s apportionment of Presidential electors to the Electoral College.
Here is the California Secretary of States summary and details of the initiative.
Requirements for Presidential Electors. Statute.
Summary Date: 7/2/07 Circulation Deadline: 11/29/07 Signatures Required: 433,971
Proponent: Anthony F. Andrade Jr. (916) 230-2123
Requires political parties to nominate a presidential elector from each congressional district and two additional statewide electors. Requires presidential electors to pledge that they will cast their ballots for the presidential and vice-presidential candidates who receive the plurality of votes in their congressional districts or, in the case of the statewide electors, for the candidates who receive the plurality of votes in the state. Eliminates compensation and reimbursement for travel expenses for presidential electors. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local government: Reduced state expenses of less than $10,000 every four years. (Initiative 07-0016.)The full text of the initiative is here.
So, will this affect the 2008 race for the Presidency in California?
A Republican-backed ballot proposal could split left-leaning California between the Democratic and GOP nominees, tilting the 2008 presidential election in favor of the Republicans.
California awards its cache of 55 electoral votes to the statewide winner in presidential elections _ the largest single prize in the nation. But a prominent Republican lawyer wants to put a proposal on the ballot that would award the statewide winner only two electoral votes.
The rest would be distributed to the winning candidate in each of the state’s congressional districts. In effect, that would create 53 races, each with one electoral vote up for grabs.
California has voted Democratic in the last four presidential elections. But the change _ if it qualifies for one of two primary ballots next year and is approved by voters _ would mean that a Republican would be positioned the following November to snatch 20 or more electoral votes in GOP-leaning districts.
That’s a number equal to winning Ohio.
California Democrats will mightily fight this initiative, should it qualify. The result would be at least 20 electoral votes for whomever is the GOP candidate for President. The lock the Democrats have had on California Electoral votes would be broken and broken forever.
Only Maine and Nebraska allocate electoral votes by congressional district. But, California has a REAL chance to change their system.
The arguments to pass the initiative would be the same arguments GOP Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger used to justify the change of California’s Presidential Primary election from June to February 5, 2008 – increasing California’s national political clout and giving Presidential candidates an incentive to campaign in California. Californians might just accept the initiative.
From a partisan perspective, at the very least, the campaign to defeat the initiative by the Democrats would be a costly election year drain on their resources. At the most, the change could elect a Republican President.
Flap says watch this initiative. It may very well determine who is the next President of the United States.
Previous:
North Carolina Ready to Change Electoral College Presidential Selection Rules for 2008
Technorati Tags: Electoral Reform California, Electoral College, GOP, Democrats
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The Sad State of the California GOP
Globe Trotting California GOP Chairman Ron Nehring
And California conservatives thought the Governator was bad for the party. At least Arnold pays the bills.
Looks like the California Republican Party needs a good housecleaning.
Technorati Tags: Ron Nehring, California GOP, Jon Fleishman
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Arnold Schwarzenegger Watch: Is Arnold a Republican?
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, left, speaks as Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, right, looks on at the 75th Annual Meeting of the US Conference of Mayors in Los Angeles, Saturday, June 23, 2007.
Is Schwarzenegger really a Republican? Less so than the young immigrant who rose from body builder to movie star.
Less so than the unexpected candidate who replaced Democratic Gov. Gray Davis in the 2003 recall election. Less so than the compelling orator who addressed the 2004 Republican National Convention.
Less so than he probably would be now if he had been born in Alabama instead of Austria and could run for the GOP presidential nomination next year.
While he is embraced by business interests as incomparably better than Davis or any Democrat, he is a crushing disappointment to hard-pressed Republican activists.
As titular head of the California GOP, Arnold has done little to elect GOP candidates. And his appointments to the state courts have been mixed with many GOP lawyers waiting to be appointed to the bench while their Democrat colleagues are.
Since the California Special Election of 2005 (where the Governor took a drubbing of his reform measures), Schwarzenegger has withdrawn as a Republican and embraced a populist approach that assured him re-election last year and a boost in the polls. Arnold governs as a Democrat.
The California GOP is in disarray. The party needs a “leader.”
Arnold Schwarzenegger is NOT the one.
Previous:
Arnold Schwarzenegger Watch: Bridging the Political Divide
Arnold Schwarzenegger Watch: Governor Endorses Peripheral Canal
Giuliani Notes: Rudy, Arnold and Illegal Immigration
Technorati Tags: Arnold Schwarzenegger
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Arnold Schwarzenegger Watch: Bridging the Political Divide
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, center, with L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, left, and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, right, after they spoke at a USC conference.
Schwarzenegger urges Washington to resist partisan fights
What political divide?
These three
politicosSTOOGES are big tax and spend SOCIALISTS who are into themselves and could care less about the Congress or public service.But, the left wing MSM love them for selling out to the LEFT.
Previous:
Arnold Schwarzenegger Watch: Governor Endorses Peripheral Canal
Giuliani Notes: Rudy, Arnold and Illegal Immigration
Technorati Tags: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Michael Bloomberg, Antonio Villaraigosa
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Condoleezza Rice Watch: Condi for California Governor?
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice shake hands with students at the Peninsula Boys and Girls Club in Menlo Park, Calif., Thursday, May 24, 2007. Rice visited with students at the Center for a New Generation, an after school program, which she help start.
Flap says she is IN……..
Technorati Tags: Condoleezza Rice
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Rudy Giuliani Watch: California GOP Convention Post Mortem
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani gestures during his address at the California Republican Party convention in Sacramento, Calif., Saturday, Feb. 10, 2007. Giuliani’s remarks touched topics from health care, to crime, to terrorism to Iraq, in a speech laden with references to a possible bid for president.
New West Notes: Republican Delegates Stay Right But Accept Center
An interesting weekend for California Republicans gathered in convention in Sacramento. They gave a tepid reception to moderate Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and a rousing reception to moderate presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani. Then turned around and elected a very conservative party leadership.
Former New York Mayor Giuliani turned in an impressive performance in his luncheon keynote address Saturday. There in the ballroom of the Hyatt Regency at Capitol Park, Schwarzenegger’s state capital residence, as it happens, Giuliani received a much more rousing response than did Schwarzenegger Friday night at the convention’s opening banquet. Giuliani’s roughly 45-minute address was interrupted several times by standing ovations.
Giuliani did not formally declare his candidacy for president, a prevalent rumor beforehand, but made it obvious that he has every intention of running, joking after that perhaps he had actually announced, but would wait for the standard routine of announcing “in five places.†In fact, he is on a campaign swing though the Golden State that began last night with a fundraiser and private meetings and continues through Tuesday.
Bill Bradley gives a great round-up of the weekend events – so read it all. Flap met Bill for the first time on Saturday and he put in a good word for blogs, and the new media with Patrick Dorinson, the Communications Director of the California GOP.
Bradley was writing for Pajamas Media – heh!
Bear Flag League member, Kevin Korenthal at SoCalPundit also has a convention wrap-up.
Allen Hoffenblum talks to a reporter in the CRP Press Room
The Speech:
But while many Republicans in attendance, like veteran consultant-turned-California Target Book publisher Allen Hoffenblum, who called Giuliani’s performance “masterful, the work of the best Republican candidate available, one who can win,†not all were enthralled. New West friend Karen Hanretty, the frequent Fox News commentator and former California Republican communications director, acknowledged the 9/11 figure’s appeal to Republicans hungry for some hope at the national level but on her blog was not a huge fan.
Karen Hanretty of Fox News talks to Robert Salladay of the Los Angeles Times and the Political Muscle blog.
Karen Hanretty: America’s Mayor “Wishes” You’d Vote for Him for President
This afternoon, at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Sacramento, I watched former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani give a really long, rather rambling speech to about 700 mostly conservative Republicans at the state party’s semi-annual convention…
While the media and generic polling put America’s Mayor as the lead candidate for the Republican Party nomination, I think he has a long way to go before he convinces a majority of conservative voters – because that’s who turns out to vote in primary elections – that he is the man to lead the nation and the party for the next four to eight years.
Yes, he showed extraordinary leadership in the horrifying aftermath of the World Trade Center bombings. But so did President George W. Bush. It was, in fact, Bush’s finest hour – the point at which he was most confident, articulate and reassuring to a nation in need of a leader. However, more than three years later is he one of the most unpopular U.S. Presidents in our nation’s history with little chance of recovering before he boards Air Force One for one last trip to his ranch in Crawford, Texas.
Therefore, there must be more to Rudy Giuliani as a candidate for President of the United States than 9/11.
And there is more. A great deal more. The theme of “accountability” comes to mind.
His speech today, however, did not embrace all that he has to offer. It was disconnected and at times uncomfortable. He does not speak of what it means to be a Republican with any sense of natural ease.
Giuliani’s speech writers and coach should read all of Karen’s piece. She is spot-on.
Rudy’s speech was rambling, too long and diid not embrace in detail why he wants to be America’s President. There were glimpses but as more than one delegate told Flap, Rudy did not deliver the knock out blow.
Make no mistake about it, it is early and Giuliani is a natural speaker. His stump speech has to be more on specifics. 9/11 can be a component and invokes pathos but Rudy cannot ride 9/11 to victory. He must address other issues:
Hint: Private vs Universal government financed and run health care (Private vs Hillary/Obama Care).
Hint: Securing the Mexican Border and enforcing employment laws with regards to illegal aliens
Hint: Pledging to fully fund our Armed Services, National Missile Defense and growing the military with an all-volunteer Army.
Hint: Reform and fund Social Security
Hint: The growing threat of “Radical Islam” and Islamofascists
Hint: The immediate threat of a “NUCLEAR” Iran.
The GOP Opposition:
That is it folks.
No literature, and a few pins for Mitt. Nada……..
And finally…….
Previous:
Rudy Giuliani Watch: The California GOP News Conference
Rudy Giuliani Watch: Rudy – That is the Kind of President I Want to Be
Rudy Giuliani Watch: Rudy Announces for President
California Republican Convention Watch: Sacramento and Raining
Rudy Giuliani Watch: Rudy vs. Hillary in 2008?Rudy Giuliani Watch: Trashing Rudy on Speaking Fees and Consulting
Rudy Giuliani Watch: Distorting Rudy’s Position on Justice Ginsburg
Rudy Giuliani Watch: America’s Mayor Announces for President on Hannity and Colmes
Rudy Giuliani Watch: Rudy Video – Down South in South Carolina
Rudy Giuliani Watch: Rudy Down South in South Carolina
Rudy Giuliani Watch: A Real Good Chance
Rudy Giuliani Watch: Dean Says Rudy is Sunk in GOP
Rudy Giuliani Watch: Gallup Poll Part II
Rudy Giuliani Watch: Gallup Poll Part I
The Rudy Giuliani Files
Technorati Tags: RudyGiuliani, CaliforniaGOP