Republicans Lacking Farm Team

Katy Grimes: The dismal results California Republicans experienced in this last election are indisputable. But who is to blame? The California Secretary of State website has the election results listed on one depressing page each for the Assembly, and Senate.

It’s too easy to blame the opposition and evil labor unions in the state. When a loss of this magnitude takes place, the party leadership must accept the blame, look inward for answers, and probably hand the baton to the next team. It’s the manly thing to do.

But, who is the on next team? And does the California Republican Party even have a farm team?

In a recent blog post on the CRP website, it appears that the CRP is not looking inward. Instead, one party blogger wrote, “The CRP launched an impressive Networks program mid-election cycle but the outreach efforts should be more sustainable and more immense.”

And the blogger followed up with, “So, my fellow Republicans, trust that the lesson has been learned. We need to get back to the basics, back to our Reagan principles, and accept what I call “diversity of the same opinion.” Believe me, I know this isn’t easy, and it will take a monumental effort to make the changes that I have suggested. But rest assured that the CRP is already putting the plans together to be a stronger, more diverse, and more effective party in 2012.”

Adding insult to injury, the CRP still has posted a photo of the statewide candidates, all holding hands at a rally – Meg Whitman, Carly Fiorina, Tony Strickland, Mimi Walters, Abel Maldonado, Damon Dunn and Steve Cooley – on a page called “Taking Back California.”

Party Chairman Ron Nerhing wrote, “While the Democrats are stuck with a slate of political relics with failed ideas, the California Republican Party has nominated the most dynamic and diverse statewide ticket in our history — a team ready to create new jobs, cut wasteful spending, strengthen our economy and improve our schools. They’re the party of yesterday, we’re the party of tomorrow.”

Oops. Not one of the Republican statewide candidates won. The state of California no longer has any checks and balances losing all of the statewide offices to an entirely Democratic slate of candidates, as well as party leadership. “Concentrated power has always been the enemy of liberty,” said Ronald Reagan.

California can be saved from completely turning on its citizens. Republicans need to develop a strong, young farm team, and perhaps retire the party machine leaders who have been promoting moderates and big government Republicans instead of supporting and growing reform candidates. They talk of Reagan principles, but the CRP has not practiced what they preach, starting with “The idea that an individual was and should always be the master of his or her own destiny.”

And the four pillars of Reagan’s economic policy wouldn’t hurt either:

1. Reduce government spending,
2. Reduce income and capital gains marginal tax rates,
3. Reduce government regulation,
4. Control the money supply to reduce inflation.

The CRP states, “Candidates and campaign teams that are well trained in organizing and communicating outperform those that lack these skills.  Our mission is to maximize the number of Republican leaders out in the field who have all the skills necessary to develop and convey their messages with maximum strength and effectiveness in a highly competitive political climate.” The CRP Academy states that it promotes strong candidates.

Where are they?

NOV. 27, 2010