In California Political Review Online, Bill Saracino (an author always worth reading) looks at two hotly contested GOP primaries, posting an outstanding piece, "The Goldwater dictum," and asks the questions that only June 6 will answer….

Saracino reminds us of Senator Barry Goldwater, withdrawing his name from nomination at the 1960 Republican National Convention:  “Let’s grow up conservatives. We want to take this Party back, and I think someday we can. Let’s get to work."

Saracino continues:

Conservative political acumen will be tested in two Assembly Primaries June 6: those in the 59th and 77th A.D.s. Do conservatives have their act together? Or will they continue to allow internecine warfare to elect liberals in solidly conservative districts? These elections will tell.

I’ll let someone else weigh in on the 59th, if Saracino’s piece doesn’t tell you enough about that situation.  In the 77th, however, Bill’s questions are exactly what many have been asking for well over a year.  Some excerpts:

A similar story is evolving in the suburban San Diego County 77th A.D….(Debbie) Beyer, endorsed by outgoing incumbent Jay La Suer, local Rep. Duncan Hunter, and Assemblyman Tim Leslie, had, at last report, $85,000 cash on hand. (Joel) Anderson, who had about $150,000 on hand, is supported by state Senators Tom McClintock and Bill Morrow, Assemblymen Mark Wyland and Ray Haynes; the CRA, the Jarvis Taxpayers Association, and the lion’s share of local conservative activists.

They are opposed on the ballot by two markedly less conservative candidates…a conservative would easily win a straight conservative vs. moderate Primary, but Beyer is a potential spoiler. She is a valuable conservative worker, spreading the Charter School success story and educational-choice gospel, but … between the two, Joel Anderson is of a higher order of magnitude. He seems to have been present in every noteworthy conservative cause or campaign in San Diego during at least the last 15 years. He is a tested, proven fighter who won’t wilt under pressure.

Liberals cannot beat either Anthony Adams or Joel Anderson. Only conservatives can do that. Have conservatives heeded Barry Goldwater’s words? The returns primary night will tell.

Read the entire piece here.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 17th, 2006 at 12:00 am and is filed under Blog Posts.