I remember about two hours after the big speech, getting an email to my blackberry. I had received a couple dozen already, from very frustrated GOPers. But this one was pretty succinct: “Jon, is there going to be a Republican response to the Governor’s address?”
If you think about it, here is a Republican volunteer who walked dozens of precincts, has probably made thousands of GOTV phone calls, and has volunteered at countless GOP conventions.
This person heard the speech, and felt Republicans should have a response. The Governor can’t be mad at these volunteers though. The Governor is moving to the center (at least rhetorically – Dan Schnur argues he’s been there on policy since day one) and those who worked to elect the “fiscal conservative” Arnold — not the “prolific borrowing/spend it-build it/regulate business Arnold — that seems to have emerged from the Christmas holiday.
To the volunteer who wrote that note, and the many others similarly concerned – be vocal and make your feelings known to your GOP elected leaders, your legislators and to your Governor. Be respectful but firm. Infrastructure investment needs to include substantial real money as principal, from taxes paid today, not a line of credit for everything the bank will loan us with our taxes going to make interest payments – and forcing private employers to raise their wages is socialism.