GOP CONVENTION PRIMER
Hello from the Fairmont Hotel in downtown San Jose, California where over a thousand GOP leaders have gathered from all of our state’s 58 counties to participate in the California Republican Party’s Winter Convention.
It is always fun and interesting to come to a GOP convention – I’ve been at virtually all of them since 1988, and except for the two years that I was Executive Director of the State GOP, I have been a voting member.
Yesterday, Friday, is the ‘arrival day’ – so throughout the afternoon and into the evening, old friends are reacquainting, and new friends are meeting for the first time. There is something about coming to a place where everyone is more-or-less on the same play sheet that is reassuring. Perhaps the idea that this is the one place in California (for at least two days) where you can where a "Carlson for Treasurer" sticker and everyone knows that is Keith Carlson of Orange County, and that he is running for Treasurer of the State GOP.
Conventioneers more or less divvy up for a big chunk of Friday nights. Most attend the official State Party sponsored dinner function (which was the case this year, with a sellout crowd that seemed to top 750 people) and others eat locally, or just enjoy cocktails in the bar until they can go "grazing" at the many hospitality suites that appear as soon as the dinner lets out. After dinner, you can wander the hotel and see Congressman, State Senators, County Chairmen, activists, donors, bloggers, reporters, venders, and more mixing and mingling all over the hotel, with most of the die-hards partying up into the wee hours. (That used to be me until I started this website, and realized that I have to get up awfully early! – Still, I was up pretty late.)
THE DINNER – AND THE GOVERNOR’S SPEECH
Republicans, including myself, were really looking forward to last night’s dinner with our Republican Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger. Sometimes, because there is a tendency for differences of opinion to be highlighted more than areas of agreement, there becomes a perception that divisions are bigger than they are. As readers here know, I have my share of differences of opinion with this Governor on a few key public-policy initiatives this year, and a certain personnel decision. That said, I am still a supporter of Arnold Schwarzenegger, feel he has been a good Governor, and am anxious to see him re-elected. It is my desire to see him re-elected that often times ‘animates’ me to be so vocal. The checkers-players out there say, "You aren’t helping the Governor to get re-elected by criticizing him in a public forum" (referring to this website). These folks are only thinking one move ahead. I like to think of myself as more of a chess-player, looking out a few moves ahead. The reason for my ongoing dialogue here is because I think that these policy initiatives are bad politics. I think that an energized base vote, those who made up the fire and drive in the Gray Davis Recall, are essential for this Governor’s re-election, and that these policy initiatives dampen the enthusiasm of those very people. I am not speaking out to hurt the Governor – but rather to help him. His re-election is critical to California’s future, and I am going to do everything I can to see that happen.
Anyways, back to the dinner. The crowd – 750ish. The mood – upbeat but a lot of curious folks, wondering about (in light of all of the controversy lately) what the Governor would say. First of all, for those of us in the audience, this was an after-dinner speech. The Governor had no place at the head table, and did not join us for the Fairmont’s random chicken dish (kudos to whomever torched 750 crème brulees!). But as soon as dinner and dessert were consumed, the Governor came out to deliver what had been told to the press would be a 14 minute speech – it was about that. Of course, gone are the days where a candidate is in his room, struggling with his speed until the last minute, using pencil and eraser to make last minute changes. This speech was written early, to the point where key excerpts were sent out to the media hours before-hand. Those really cool teleprompter gizmos that allow a speaker to read their remarks off of luminescent panels that are clear and see-through from the audience’s perspective but carry the lines of a speech in 800 point font on the other side for the speaker were in place. The Governor, of course, has been memorizing lines in his career, and so was able to deliver his speech with a lot of emphasis and drama. I’m sure he played a key role in reviewing and editing his remarks.
I would characterize the speech as – safe. I have attached the remarks below so you can formulate your own opinion. But the Governor threw out a lot of red-meat to Republicans, emphasizing his position against tax increases, and his veto of legislation that would have granted licenses to drive to undocumented residents. He evoked the names of GOP greats, and thanked the party faithful for their support. He said that the battle for reform that was fought last year was not over. And he talked about the need for the GOP to be forward-looking, and stressed the need for the party to embrace building California. By this, referring to addressing the serious lacking in infrastructure investment in California the last few decades, despite tremendous population growth.
The reason why I characterized the speech as ‘safe’ was that it was very general and not overly specific. Most notably, everyone applauded about his statements on the need for infrastructure investment. However, absent from the speech was any mention of his plan to place $68 billion in general obligation bond funding before the voters. Absent was the fact that all of our Assembly Republicans are united behind Assembly Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy’s pay-as-you-go alternative plan. McCarthy along with Senate GOP Leader Dick Ackerman were seated at the head table tonight – along with party leaders and our presumptive (read: unopposed) nominees – McClintock and McPherson).
Of course, this attendee was looking for the improbably speech, which would have contained a combination of some bold policy announcements on opposition to imminent domain abuses and aggressive steps to deal with the devastating impacts of illegal immigration in California (and he could have axed Rob Reiner for good measure). So, the safe speech gets the Governor through the convention with applause and sign waving (I applauded many times myself). But it left a lot of us wondering if we were going to see a resurgence of the 2003 candidate in the recall, who championed fiscal conservatism (which is was garnered him my support in a tough-call, with Tom McClintock on the ballot).
Well, the Governor is off to Washington, D.C. for a Governors Association meeting and today will be "Tom McClintock Day" at the GOP convention, I am sure!
WHAT HAPPENS TODAY…
Today at the convention is when most networking takes place, the pleasantries and catching-up having already taken place. GOPers from one part of the state can find out what works elsewhere and bring that information home with them. Lots of training takes place, and the party conducts a number of workshops. There are the machinations of party business that happen – various committees of the Party sort out proposed changes in the party rules, resolutions and such. The GOP sponsors two big events – a lunch and a dinner. This year the main speakers at those are two candidates who appear to have cleared their field for their respective nominations – State Senator Tom McClintock will be speaking at the luncheon and appointed Secretary of State Bruce McPherson will be the keynote dinner speaker. Of course, there will be a lot of hospitality suites and the like.
Two important events taking place today are the FlashReport.org Panel on California Politics at 4pm – which will be a great way for delegates to hear some candid talk on the 2006 elections from regular contributors to this site — and the "Congratulations FlashReport" hospitality suite being sponsored by Congressman Darrell Issa and with our special guest John Fund of the Wall Street Journal!
You may have read about various resolutions that have been introduced at this convention, critical of various public policy initiatives sponsored by the Governor. I’m sure I will write more about those tomorrow – be to be honest with you, where those are concerned, it is more like a spectator sport for the FlashReport. I’ve not been involved with the drafting of those, or the various machinations and "deals" that have been going back and forth. I will say this though, which I think is important. A lot of the folks who are championing (or quietly rooting on) these resolutions are folks who, like me, endorsed and support Arnold Schwarzenegger in the recall. In other words, these are "Arnold-friendlies" who are disaffected by his shift away from fiscal conservative principles. Whether resolutions pass or fail, it is important to remember that we have a "weak party system" here in this country, and that a lot of Republicans here are issue-oriented folks, not party-oriented folks (funny to say that at a party convention). But the point is that their motivation is tied to public policy, not to who is wearing that cool little red and blue elephant on their lapel.
Sunday is the big general session, and I will give you a prelude to that tomorrow morning!
Anyways, I am off to enjoy the day – and do my own networking!
Take care,
Jon
Care to read comments, or make your own about today’s Daily Commentary?
Just click here to go to the FR Weblog, where this Commentary has its own blog post, and where you can read and make comments.