A few years ago, when I voted for the majority vote budget idea, because I thought it would be better for Republicans if Democrats owned the budget, I was told I was hurting Republicans, because “a two thirds vote was the only way for Republicans to have a voice in the budget.” (we never had one, anyway).

Later, when I opposed the formation of the “Citizens” Redistricting Commission, I was told I was hurting Republicans because the Commission was the only way Republicans could get a majority in the Legislature.

In the midst of those efforts, I proposed the “Adopt a District” program, in which sitting Republican elected officials would go into neighboring Democrat districts and develop Republican election infrastructure well in advance of an election.  Too much work, I was told, we will be saved by the “Citizens” Redistricting Commission (oops, we were wrong on that).

I proposed changing the rule on how the California Republican Party chose its delegates for President in the Republican National Convention.  It would hurt our influence in the Presidential primary, I was told (as if we had any).

We are constantly told we “shouldn’t fight” on this issue or that issue, because most of this state is “Democrat” and the only way to win elections is to find this candidate, or that candidate, who agrees with the Democrats on the issue.  It is the only way to win, we are told. (that Republican candidate usually loses).

Time after time, when changes to how California’s Republican Party does things are proposed, there is a cacophony of voices counseling the loser course.  If we do that, the losers cry, the Democrats will raise tons of union money, get millions of illegals to vote, and swamp the California Republicans in the Legislature and Congress (as if they are not doing that already).

That is the loser mentality of California’s Republicans, and it has infiltrated every part of California’s Republican Party, conservative, moderate, or otherwise.

Republicans lose in California because they think they are going to lose.  They whine “we want Reagan back,” “Democrats lie, cheat, and steal to win elections,” “people just don’t agree with us, we need to change our positions.” Every time they are faced with the prospect of having to work to persuade a majority of the voters to vote for their ideas, they run for the hills, complaining that turning and fighting will only help Democrats.

Get over it.  Reagan is not coming back (stop living in the past).  Democrats will always lie, cheat and steal to win elections.  Our positions are the right ones, they don’t need to be changed.

We need to change.  We are not going to win by trying to outsmart the Democrats, or outraise them money-wise.  We are only going to win if we work harder than them.  We are only going to win if we convince voters that our ideas and our positions are better for them and their lives than the positions held by Democrats.  Little legislative tricks and techno-solutions are not going to change peoples minds.  We will win only when we get out into the neighborhoods, and persuade people, voter by voter, that Republican ideas are better for them over the long run.

The purpose of the political process is to persuade people to entrust us with political power.  We will only win when we persuade a majority of people to vote for Republicans because of our ideas.

Whining about the past, or about Democrats cheating, or “too many illegals are in this state” or “too many people rely on government subsidies”or even “the media is on their side” is not going to change things.  It is time to turn and fight.  No more Chamberlin-esque capitulations in Congress.  No more retreats, through silence, in the Legislature.  Work harder.  Fight the fight.  Don’t turn and run every time something might require us to work harder to win.

It is time to actually declare war.  We should no longer tolerate leaders who counsel for or against actions because it will cause Democrats to cheat more, or because Republicans might have to work harder to win.  We should work harder to win.  We should be forced to go into California, neighborhood by neighborhood, to fight for every single vote in every single home in America.  We should not turn from a fight.  We should engage now, engage often, and engage everywhere.  This is the time to fight.  Our neighbors deserve it, our state deserves it, our country deserves it, and our children deserve it.  It is our duty.

We must abandon the loser mentality that invades so much of the decision making within our party and among our elected officials.  We will win, but only if we engage, and no longer shirk the duty that voters and history has thrust upon us.

Fight.

This entry was posted on Thursday, June 30th, 2011 at 9:03 am and is filed under Blog Posts.