I’ve enjoyed sharing my thoughts on the situation with the Republican base and its "energy" for the past two weeks. As I stated initially, I think the free fall has subsided, and our mood has stabilized for the time being. While we are only one policy disaster away from despair, I still sense that the GOP has bottomed out and has a chance to turn it up a notch this summer and fall. How we handle illegal immigration and spending issues in Washington and Sacramento remain the greatest concerns of conservatives everywhere.
Last week I detailed three issues which would serve to energize the Republican base: balancing the State budget (evidently now not going to happen); protect us from crazy liberals; and define the public employee unions before they define you. It appears that of these three, the Governor is only willing to protect us from the worst of what the legislature has to offer. His recent overtures to the CCPOA and CTA might dull that attacks against him this summer, we will soon find out, but those moves don’t energize the base.
If the Governor is going to have to quit making bad judicial appointments. There should be a litmus test – minimally pro – death penalty, pro – property rights and pro second Amendment, regardless of the Party affiliation of the judge. The pattern I have observed is both frustrating and unpredictable, devoid of a consistent objective. Appointing conservative judges doesn’t drive Democrats away from the Governor – they are already voting against him in droves. Conservative energy is sapped away rapidly when we see activist liberal judicial appointments. Energize the base! Change course and, as you say in your ads: Protect the California Dream by appointing conservatives to the bench.
The pro – Arnold base is also badly in need of seeing rapid response to Democrat attacks. I am encouraged by the daily email I receive refuting campaign statements made by Angelides. I am quite certain that Democrat attacks will escalate as soon as a budget is signed, and rapid response will be more important than ever. Seeing the response by the Governor’s campaign is a great indicator that he will fight for himself – something he didn’t do well enough in the special election. To view Arnold’s rapid response program, go here.
Last, but not least, is the issue of the veto pen. This is the very mechanism that "protects" California from the idiotic ideas of the loony left. And we need to know what the Governor will veto in a second term. Right now. Minimally, this list should include driver licenses for illegals, repeal of Workers’ Compensation reform, any tax increases, any "job killer" legislation, single payer heath insurance, gay and lesbian oriented school curriculum, and anti – 2nd Amendment legislation. This is the real "protection" the Governor has to offer the people of California. And I truly believe without these commitments, conservatives will not turn out in high enough numbers to re-elect him.
Whether the base is ready to be energized is an open, unresolved question. Last week’s flirting with health insurance for illegal immigrant children certainly keeps us in limbo. Of the six items I mention, it appears that the Governor is prepared to implement 3-4. We will see if he goes the extra mile to get us excited about his election.
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