The Moribund California Republican Party

Above, Ronald Reagan addressing a rally at the 1979 California Republican Party
 convention at the Town & Country Hotel in San Diego. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Back in the 1970s and 1980s, I regularly attended the annual conventions of the California Republican Party (also known as the Republican State Central Committee of California). 

These days, state party has become a moribund shell of its former self. During the days of Ronald Reagan, George Deukmejian and even Pete Wilson, the party had fairly decent leadership. I remember the days when the party mobilized its troops and won many special elections, even during the Watergate period.

Since Arnold Schwarzenegger's disastrous terms as governor, including his wacko Proposition 14, California has become essentially a one-party state. Small wonder it is called Commiefornia.

The party held its first 2024 convention in Burlingame last month. I just read one person's report on how the convention went and it is not too encouraging. 

The report, by William Del Pilar, begins with:

I am back from the California Republican Party (CAGOP) convention. My first in a few years, and many familiar faces are no longer around. While old leadership remains, I did see more younger faces than ever before. That gives me hope.

It was also great to see the San Diego Young Republicans out as a visible group. I met the future:

• A young female mayor with chutzpah, Indian farmers who’ve had enough.
• Latinos are fed up with Democrats hiding transitioning children from them.
• More blacks and Latinos are tired of CAGOP RINOs and are entering political races.

Sadly, none of that matters to an extent because leadership continues to be led by a token Latina who was elected not once, twice, but three times to serve her masters and not the people. For the bigots who want to call me racist, WRONG! I’m a conservative Latino, and I don’t need to be Latino to figure out why this person was selected to lead the CAGOP. She works for those above her who pay her, not the people!

To read the full report, go here. 

Happy Labor Day

Today is Labor Day. I plan on spending the day at home and driving either the Jeep or the mini-bike.

After being around nearly 70 years, past Labor Days are all a blur to me. Except one.

That would be Labor Day of 1984 when friend Paul Evans and I went to Mile Square Park in Fountain Valley, California for the kick-off rally of President Ronald Reagan's general election re-election campaign. 

Above, President Reagan addresses the rally in Fountain Valley. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

There were a lot a people at the campaign rally (50,000 and 15,000 more who couldn't get in) and joining the Reagans on the platform included Charlton Heston, Johnny Grant, Gov. George Deukmejian, Sen. Pete Wilson, Campaign Director Ed Rollins, Rep. Robert K. Dornan, Maureen Reagan and her husband Dennis Revell.

Here's a video of Reagan's speech:

Happy Labor Day!

Gov. George Deukmejian Dies At 89

Above, Gov. George Deukmejian at the H. L. Hunt estate in Dallas, Texas in 1984. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Sad news has come from California.

Former Governor George Deukmejian, the last really decent governor of California, has died of age 89. (I was not a fan of Pete Wilson, who succeeded Deukmejian.)

According to the Los Angeles Times:

George Deukmejian, a perennially popular two-term Republican governor of California who built his career on fighting crime, hardening the state's criminal justice stance and shoring up its leaky finances, died on Tuesday. He was 89 years old. 

Deukmejian, who was elected governor in 1982 and 1986, died at his home in Long Beach, according to a statement from his family. 

During his many years of public service, including 16 years as a state legislator and four as state attorney general, Deukmejian sponsored the successful "use a gun, go to prison" bill, oversaw development of a workfare program for welfare recipients and negotiated with the Democrat-controlled Legislature to create an $18.5-billion, 10-year transportation plan.

During the 1984 Republican National Convention, the California Delegation (of which I was a part of) was hosted at a party at the H. L. Hunt estate in Dallas, Texas. Governor Deukmejian was presented with a cowboy hat and a pair of cowboy boots.

To read more, go here.