A couple days after the election, I was asked to speak at a forum on the 2006 election. Prior to my chat, a high ranking Republican applauded V’06 as the most effective in CA history and blamed GOP losses in CA on the "Democrat tide" that swept the country.
Although I try not to be contrary – I had to burst the bubble and let them know the Democrat tide was a myth – at least here in California.
Dems did not win Congress — the GOP gave it away. There was a national anti-Republican tide, fueled by the fact that GOPers in Congress had stopped being Republicans a few years ago.
Take San Jose where the Democrat’s chosen one – Cindy Chavez – was the prohibitive favorite for Mayor. But despite almost $1 million from the Labor/Democrat party and personal campaigning from the Demo’s grand Pooh-Bah Bill Clinton, she was soundly trounced by Chuck Reed. Reed was supported by Republicans – a fact the Chavez campaign shared with voters many times. (Disclosure: TABcommunications ran the Chamber of Commerce campaign that folks believe helped defeat Chavez and the labor candidates).
Democrat/Labor candidates in three other San Jose city council seats lost to more conservative candidates supported by Republicans and the Chamber, including rising GOP star Pete Constant.
They all won focusing on traditional GOP message of fiscal discipline and smaller, more accountable government. Messages that the spending addicts in Congress couldn’t use.
Somehow the party of limited government forgot why we want smaller government — because the bigger the government machine gets, the more it takes from all of us. That’s why voters elect Republicans – to keep government from taking too much money or freedom or responsibility.
Democrats in DC will have a hard time governing — the newly elected conservative Dems are unlikely to support the demands of the far-left leadership – and if they do, they’ll have a hard time holding those seats. The other option is for Dems dis their base. Neither is a good formula for holding Congress.
But all that is yesterday’s news — the important thing is where the GOP goes from here.
Republicans need to do more than just talk about those things we are all supposed to agree on — limited government, fiscal responsibility and accountability. We need the Governor to lead this effort.
California Republicans need to push for a fair reapportionment so we can compete for more seats in the Legislature.
And the CRP needs to focus on building an organization that supports all Republican candidates — not just those pundits think should win.
Take a lesson from the "non partisan" wins in San Jose, San Diego, Monterey and San Bernardino — our ideas do win races.