THANK YOU!!
Below you will find my picks for Winners and Loser from last weekend’s GOP convention — but before I get into that, I wanted to take a quick moment to express my appreciation to the many legislators, volunteer leaders, and CRP delegates who endorsed my candidacy for Vice Chairman, South of the California Republican Party (read more here). The election will not be held until February, but time invested into the campaign last weekend was well worth the time!
I would like especially thank the four Statewide Republican Volunteer Organizations that have voted to give me an early endorsement in this race…
THE CALIFORNIA REPUBLICAN ASSEMBLY
THE YOUNG REPUBLICAN FEDERATION OF CALIFORNIA
THE CALIFORNIA REPUBLICAN LAWYERS ASSOCIATION
THE CALIFORNIA COLLEGE REPUBLICANS
I am proud to have the support of these organizations! As time permits, I will give you further updates on the campaign, but it could not be going better. I am very excited about it, and the future of the California GOP!
Now, onto the main event…
WINNERS AND LOSERS OF THE
CALIFORNIA REPUBLICAN PARTY – SUMMER 2006 CONVENTION
Let me start out by saying that this particular convention was clearly absent much of the drama that usually makes it much easier for me to lay out some convention losers. This go around though, we have many more winners than losers.
So, with out further remarks, here they are:
WINNER: ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER*
The Governor was the big winner of the convention. He was greeted by an enthusiastic crowd of GOPers, excited by the Governator’s energy and his big lead in the polls (* – see note below).
WINNER: THE CALIFORNIA REPUBLICAN ASSEMBLY
Presidential contender Mitt Romney, the Governor of Massachusetts, the Saturday evening banquet speaker, singled out only one Republican Chartered Volunteer Organization to come and speak to — the CRA. He gave a great speech. Senator George Allen was in "The OC" on Friday night, but did not swing by the convention…
LOSER: PHIL ANGELIDES
Yes, Phil was a loser of the GOP convention. Phil…a.k.a. "The Accountant" held his own presser a few blocks from the convention, and got no press. New West Notes’ Bill Bradley went over there, but was more enamored with his Bill Carrick video interview than he was with anything Angelides had to say.
WINNER: STATE SENATOR ABEL MALDONADO
Maldonado’s introduction of his former opponent, Tony Strickland, on Friday night was the talk of the weekend. It was no secret how hard Maldonado took his primary defeat, and the rhetoric between the two campaigns had really heated up in the final weeks. Maldonado stepped up and really praised Strickland, and pledged his support. A real winner!
ASSEMBLYMAN BOB HUFF
ANTHONY ADAMS, THE GOP NOMINEE IN THE 59TH A.D.
These two stepped up on behalf of grassroots conservatives and made the case against the party endorsing the massive and irresponsible bond measures on the November ballot. Standing tall counts for a lot.
LOSER: MEL GIBSON
The ersatz Governor/Jew-hater was nowhere to be seen at the convention. "Mad Max" missed his chance to make an appearance at the Republican Jewish Coalition event.
WINNER: TOM MCCLINTOCK
State Senator Tom McClintock, as always, was the most popular figure at the convention. His campaign unveiled a fantastic new video (click on the McClintock for Lieutenant Governor banner ad on the right to go straight to the video).
WINNERS: JOSH GINSBERG, MARCO NUNEZ AND KATHY TAVOULARIS
These are the folks who did the real back-room lifting to make "Operation Sleeping Giant" a success at the convention. This was the effort that engaged conventioneers into volunteer phone banks, resulting in thousands of calls being made on behalf of the Governor at the Republican ticket. A shout out to Generation Next who donated funds for the effort. An honorable mention to Jessica Millan, for this video appearance.
WINNERS: PRO-FAMILY REPUBLICANS
A large rally was held outside of the Hyatt Century Plaza in support of family values. The enthusiasm was high and the attendance great. The Capitol Resource Institute was the primary organizer.
WINNER: BEN LOPEZ
My good friend Ben Lopez, who had been on staff with the State Party’s Victory program doing focused community outreach is a winner — because he partied hard, not realizing that he would get the axe at the end of the weekend. I’m still not sure what happened, but the least I can do is make Ben a convention winner!
WINNER: THE MAI TAIS AT THE LOG-CABIN REPUBLICANS SUITE
FR friend Jimmy Camp and I schmoozed our way into the gay Republicans ‘tropical’ themed suite, where I had an outstanding fruity drink. A real winner for sure!
WINNER: THE MYSTERY THROWER
Whoever it was who managed to toss the bamboo plant into the chandelier in the lobby bar. That involved quite a bit of dexterity.
LOSER: CLAUDE PARRISH
This odd Board of Equalization Member turned GOP nominee for Treasurer was spotted ‘creeping’ around the convention. Socially awkward might be an understatement for Bill Lockyer’s ideal opponent. California’s don’t need a liberal like Lockyer, but Parrish needs to step it up if he is going to be a contender.
WINNER: THE CALIFORNIA COLLEGE REPUBLICANS
Once again, the party they held was the loudest, coolest and most fun place to be on Saturday night (except for Club V). I was so hoarse from talking at this loud party that I couldn’t talk on Sunday morning – making it a real winner for everyone who didn’t have to hear me!
WINNERS: THE NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK
GOP "sure win" nominees Paul Cook, Anthony Adams, Martin Garrick, and Ted Gaines made a splash at the convention. Others may have been there, but these are the ones I saw mixing it up.
LOSER: RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Yes, every single one! A number of resolutions were brought up at this convention that would reemphasize the GOP’s positions against guest-worker programs for illegal aliens, and more. Not one member of the committee would defer so the author could even speak to them. None of them passed.
WINNER: ASSEMBLYWOMAN MIMI WALTERS
Proposition 90, the Save our Homes Measure, was easily endorsed by the GOP. Walters is the State Chairman of this ballot measure. I will disclose a conflict – she did buy me lunch at the convention, but that did not influence my decision! ;-)
WINNERS: LORELEI KINDER AND DON WILLET
Logistically, the convention went off without a hitch. Lorelei and Don have worked hard to perfect the smooth-running convention. It helped that this event was pretty much drama-free.
* – Note on the Governor
The Governor gave a red-meat speech at the conventional calling for less government controls — and then within one week he agreed to hike the minimum wage mandate on employers, sign off on government price-fixing of prescription drugs, and is poised to make California less business-friendly with a greenhouse gas deal with the Dems. He was a convention winner, but only because he waited to announce all of these big-government programs until after the weekend.
Of course, have I missed an obvious winner or loser? Send me an e-mail.
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