OK – the headline should have read:
RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman, speaking at the RGA Meeting in San Diego County, criticizes anti-war Dems.
It would be nice if Chairman Mehlman would explain why the RNC raised so much money out of California but made no transfers of cash (that I know of) to the Caliornia GOP to assist with GOTV efforts in our statewide election. The RNC shares a portion of the responsibilty for that defeat. But I guess that will be a different speech on a different trip. He will give that one flanked by the only nine Republicans in California who opposed redistricting reform (coincidentally, all Members of Congress!).
Ok…ok… Back to Mehlman and the Republican Governor’s Association meeting. The GOP Governors are meeting at the posh La Costa Resort and Spa near Carlsbad for a few days of strategizing, and the inevitable ‘cashectomy’ on their largest donors.
Mehlman attacked Democrats in a speech today for "trying to exploit the Iraq war for political gain at home" – we’ve all read about the growing partisan attacks against the President relative to the war in Iraq.
There is no doubt this is what the Democrats, led by Senator Harry Reid and our very own California, Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, are up to.
It’s no wonder the Democrats have seized on this issue, though. There is a growing sense among REPUBLICANS that this far-way war is costing too much, and that there may not be an adequated defined (or if defined, then not cojently explained) exit plan. I get plenty of e-mails on about "Bush’s war" and they are coming from Republicans. It is a quiet concern out of deference to the troops, but not one to be ignored… Hopefully Congress and the RNC are taking note of this sea-change…
[The war in Iraq, NOT California news. Mehlman visiting the Golden State, DEFINATELY California news.]
The RGA media release for the event is attached below. Highlight of the event – the passing of the
torch. Governor Kenny Guinn of Nevada, a likable guy but rather unremarkable, will pass the gavel along to the dynamic Mitt Romney of Massachussetts. Good timing for Romney who can use this position as a bully pulpit to cross the country in his early explorations at a bid for the Presidency (which he will not ‘officially’ confirm until after he is re-elected next year — same with Senator George Allen…).