The Other McCain

"One should either write ruthlessly what one believes to be the truth, or else shut up." — Arthur Koestler

Republicans? In California?

Posted on | September 17, 2011 | 11 Comments

For several weeks now, I’ve been hearing rumors that there was something in California called a “Republican Party” with elected officials and stuff.

But I dismissed all those rumors as crazy talk, because it has been years and years since any actual Republican has won any important election in California. Somebody told me that Maria Shriver’s ex-husband once claimed to be a Republican, but I never believed a word that guy said (and as it turned out, Maria shouldn’t have believed him either).

Imagine my surprise, then, when my buddy Joe Fein in L.A. wrote a blog post saying that not only is there a “Republican Party” in California, but they’re having what they call a “state convention.” I figured this meant that three or four guys were getting together in the corner booth at a diner on Wilshire Boulevard or something, but Joe has some pictures and at least one of them shows what appear to be at least half a dozen people in what looks like a hotel lobby.

Joe also has pictures of what he calls the “media department” of this alleged California GOP — I dunno, to me it looks like a dude with a laptop — and also a photo of a chick in front  of a “Rick Perry for President” sign. Rick Perry probably heard the rumors, too, and figured what the heck, if they say they’re having a convention, might as well send a chick with a sign.

Anyway, Joe promises that this “California Republican” stuff is for real, and says he’ll be posting some more pictures as proof that they’re really having a “convention.” So go check Joe Fein’s Valley of the Shadow blog this weekend because it might be true.

Maybe their so-called “media department” will send out a press release.

Crazier things have happened.

Category: California, Republicans, Valley of the Shadow

Comments

11 Responses to “Republicans? In California?”

  1. Dianna Deeley
    September 17th, 2011 @ 4:51 am

    I have long joked that, were an earthquake to strike during a meeting of my workplace’s board, San Francisco would no longer have a GOP. But there have been successful Tea Party rallies in the City, so maybe things are actually looking up for the Bay Area?

  2. Rose
    September 17th, 2011 @ 5:18 am

    LOL – there are a few of us here.

  3. Joseph Fein
    September 17th, 2011 @ 7:44 am

    Here is a story for you and your readers to keep an eye on….

    A Democratic fundraiser stole monies from many candidates, many more seats (including Feinstein’s who we never thought could happen) are in play….

    http://articles.latimes.com/2011/sep/13/local/la-me-campaign-fraud-20110913

    And yours truly is building an LA GOP Goth Group. 

    More news later in the Blog.  Please hit my Tip Jar when you’re there!

  4. Matt Lewis
    September 17th, 2011 @ 12:23 pm

    They totally exist, though population-wise, mostly in the south.  Of course, they’re also the biggest part of the great migration out of the state (I left about 10 years ago).

    I was visiting family there a few months ago, and I heard several Rick Perry ads.  Actually, the ads were from a particular city pushing back against Texas poaching California businesses.

  5. Daily Pundit » California GOP: No Principles, Only Power
    September 17th, 2011 @ 1:09 pm

    […] Republicans? In California? : The Other McCain For several weeks now, I’ve been hearing rumors that there was something in California called a “Republican Party” with elected officials and stuff. […]

  6. Mark Goluskin
    September 17th, 2011 @ 6:04 pm

    And don’t forget the Central Valley. Places like Bakersfield and Fresno. Kern County is becoming more Republican than Orange County.

  7. Mark Goluskin
    September 17th, 2011 @ 6:06 pm

    We can only hope that this is the case. And, Feinstein’s numbers are in the suck range. Interesting that the SF Chronicle is reporting that Michael Reagan is thinking about running for the senate. Now that would be great news. A star-power who actually is a principled conservative. Not like Gov. Benedict Arnold.

  8. Janet C
    September 17th, 2011 @ 6:27 pm

    Republicans do exist in California. You have to cross east over the coastal range to the Central Valley and there they are. The coast, which is more densely populated, is mostly Democratic.

    I’ve lived here my entire life and have decided that the motto of the CA Republican party is “Letting the perfect be the enemy of the good since…”.

    We used to have Republican governors. Pete Wilson, George Deukmejian, and Ronald Reagan to name a few. This was also the era when the state budget was actually balanced each year.

    Many/Most of the seats of the state senate and assembly have being drawn over the years to be safe, which means the nutters of both parties keep getting elected. This is true of the seats for the House (feds) as well. California has recently changed the way seats are apportioned (first state, then feds) so hopefully in a few years there will actually be more competition and better representation.

  9. Adjoran
    September 17th, 2011 @ 6:52 pm

    Well, that’s why the environmentalists are determined to starve the Central Valley of water to save rats and the fish equivalent of cockroaches.

    However, the chicks selling the souvenirs make me want to stand up and salute.

  10. The Wondering Jew
    September 17th, 2011 @ 11:44 pm

    Let me assure you, as a California Republican, that I don’t exist, and probably won’t exist again until the Dem supermajority so fantastically screws up the state that voters finally wise up and start looking for alternatives.

  11. Joseph Fein
    September 18th, 2011 @ 12:04 am

    And here are some people to meet and interview who are working the hustings in the City of Angels!

    http://valley-of-the-shadow.blogspot.com/2011/09/vnn-rising-stars-of-los-angeles.html

    And here’s a song to go along with it:

    http://youtu.be/nPYiLXItQLM