This last weekend’s California Republican Party Biennial Organizational Convention in Sacramento was a busy one, and so it will take me a few blog posts to really talk about all of the aspects of it, and ultimately provide a comprehensive recap. As conventions go, it was a tremendously successful one. It was a extremely well attended by delegates and guests (this is especially notable due to the absence of hotly contested races for statewide party office) and the lineup of speakers was top notch.

Speakers at the convention included South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford, Chairman of the National Republican Governors Association, former United National Ambassador John Bolton, gubernatorial hopefuls Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner and Meg Whitman, Lieutenant Governor candidate State Senator Jeff Denham and talked about potential candidate Bill Simon, U.S. Senate candidate Assemblyman Chuck DeVore and rumored potential candidates Carly Fiorina and Larry Elder, Congressmen Darrell Issa and Tom McClintock and also national conservative leader Bill Bennett. As I pen… Read More

I was in attendance at the CRP Convention this weekend and, going in,I wasn’t sure what to expect…in terms of turnout or in the moodof the membership. Despite the November election results, the hundreds of billions being frittered away in DC, and the great frustration overCalifonia’s deplorable budget disaster, Republican energy was way up and ready to engage the next battle.

Most all agreed that the battle starts with the soul of what the party is to be about, that there isn’t anything wrong with the "Republican Brand" or its platform, but instead with the vision to adhere to it by those we elect.

The elections for the party posts went smoothly and infighting amongst Republicans seems to be at a minimum on a party level…again the anger is aimed "primarily"at the elected officials at all levels, withvery stinging repeated rebukes by many of the speakers toward those that voted for new taxes or spending in Sacramento and DC.

2010 is in very clear focus for party activists as well as the 2009 Special Election that will soon be spelled out as the public comesto understand the issues on… Read More

I have heard from way too many readers complaining that there isn’t a lot of blog coverage from the State GOP convention. So I wanted to first assure readers that we’ll to a comprehensive post-convention write up, but also wanted to remind you that I was running for re-election as Vice Chairman, South of the party (I was reelected, yeah!). But my focus has been on MY convention experience at the expense of YOURS. My apologies, and frankly almost all of the time my priorities are flipped (to your benefit). Not an excuse, but an explanation…… Read More

From yesterday’s Wall Street Journal Political Diary…

Not So Golden

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Not everyone is aware of the fact that FR blogger and now infamous Assemblyman Anthony Adams is not only a member of the California State Assembly, but less than two months ago had been elected Chairman of the San Bernardino County GOP. This becomes significant in light of Adams’ decision a few days ago to bust his "no new taxes pledge" and vote for the largest single state-level tax increase in the history of America. As an Assemblyman, Anthony will largely have to answer to his constituents for that action as he seeks re-election. But as a Republican Party Chairman, he will have to justify maintaining his role at his party’s leader to the membership of the San Bernardino County Republican Party.

One of the members of that Central Committee, a rather high-profile one, has called for Adams to resign from his Chairmanship post — his legislative colleague, State Senator Bob Dutton.… Read More

Not everyone is aware of the fact that FR blogger and now infamous Assemblyman Anthony Adams is not only a member of the California State Assembly, but less than two months ago had been elected Chairman of the San Bernardino County GOP. This becomes significant in light of Adams’ decision a few days ago to bust his "no new taxes pledge" and vote for the largest single state-level tax increase in the history of America. As an Assemblyman, Anthony will largely have to answer to his constituents for that action as he seeks re-election. But as a Republican Party Chairman, he will have to justify maintaining his role at his party’s leader to the membership of the San Bernardino County Republican Party.

One of the members of that Central Committee, a rather high-profile one, has called for Adams to resign from his Chairmanship post — his… Read More

Yesterday, wedged squarely in between the legislature passing a tragic State budget package and the start of the California Republican Party’s bi-ennial organizational convention, came two loud-and-clear calls-to-action, in the form of emails, from two clearly differing interests.

The first, from the head of the State Party, with these headlines:

CRP Chairman Ron Nehring Blasts So-Called Open Primary Plan – Urges state party delegates to oppose measure that would polarize, regionalize political parties

The second message, from Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, with the headline:

The Budget Is Done, Now It’s Time For Reform The content of the missives, you can read below. But, it’s the headlines that are so striking,or at least one of them.

The timing of Nehring’s clarion call clearly and rightfully means to fuel the collective energy of reeling and angry Republicans, just sold down the road by a few of their own, as they head into Sacramento for the convention weekend.

Whether the… Read More

[Cross-posted from OC Blog]

Gubernatorial candidate Steve Poizner rightly labeled the tax hike/budget package a "raw deal." Even better than words is some action: Poizner will not go ahead with a scheduled March 5 event he was headlining to raise money for Assemblyman Anthony Adams re-election.

Adams, as readers know, is one of the Quisling Six Republicans without whose votes the rest of us wouldn’t be getting hit with a huge tax increase.

Kudos for Steve Poizner for putting some walk into the talk.

Now maybe those Assembly Republicans who have endorsed Adams’ re-election will yank there endorsements and maybe recruit a challenger.… Read More