Restore The GOP

Visiting the Coronado RWF: Meeting Col. Rick Powell

I enjoyed my first visit with the Coronado Republican Women Federated club Tuesday night.   About 40 people showed up, at the Coronado Public library, to feast on home-made delicacies, network with other center-right activists, and listen to three speakers:  Superior Court Justice candidiates Garland Peed and David Berry and retired Colonel Rick Powell.

Powell's accomplishments are astonishing but not unlike many of the fine veterans who choose San Diego as their home.  COL Powell served in Vietnam and Operation Iraqui Freedom, is a retired federal agent, and was the GOP nominee for CA Assembly.  Today, he educates groups about the illegal immigration/national security link and host Amato Talk Radio on Friday nights.

COL Powell is a constitutionalist with a burning passion for this great land.  Coronado is one of the most beautiful cities in this country and home to the US Naval Special Warfare Center and Coronado Naval Base and NAS.  I was filled with pride, being in the western seaboard's southermost defense city, listening to a real American hero.

 

"I don't know but it's been told, Romney's gonna win the Gold"

Why am I running for SDGOP Central Committee?  Let me tell you a story to answer that question.

Today, my daughter's girl scout troop was walking from one place in town to another.  My wife was driving by them and honked her horn.  My wife was driving my car which has a Ron Paul For President bumper sticker on it.

My daughter saw the bumper sticker and screamed "Yay Ron Paul!".  She's ten years old.  She's sweet.  She's idealistic. She's optimistic.  She's fiercely loyal.  She's...ten.

The other girls in her troop started razzing her as only 10-year girls might do.  They all started chanting:

"I don't know but it's been told, Romney's gonna win the Gold"

Ten-year old girls are clubby in nature.  They use chants to ostracize.  I remember liking counrty music when I was ten and the kids in my class liked The Beatles,  I was on the receiving end of uncomfortable chants, aimed at me for liking country music. 

"I don't know but it's been told, Romney's gonna win the Gold"

Ten year olds aren't mean by nature but they do prefer conformity to the social pecking order.  The cool kids set the tone and all the other kids better step in line or risk the collective taunts from the mob.  It's a microcosm of society in general.  Government, the culture, television, society, and music all set forth an agenda and the mob is supposed to conform.  Non-conformists are gently ostracized.

"I don't know but it's been told, Romney's gonna win the Gold"

Let me digress before I get back to my daughter.  Cultural forces have promoted statism, cloaked in the more palatable moniker "Progressivism" since the turn of the 20th century.  We've turned our back the American ideal of constitutional protection of individual rights and statism has slowly and progressively eaten away at that distinctly American ideal.  I dare say that those forces are disintegrating that which made America the greatest social experiment since Mankind started interacting with each other.   Forget that I like Ron Paul; I like the ideas he promotes.

"I don't know but it's been told, Romney's gonna win the Gold"

This is the chant the mob chose to use to taunt my daughter.  Again, it bears repeating that they aren't mean kids, just kids.  They follow that which is repeated to them on television, in their kitchens, and in conversations.  Mitt Romney is a good man who will probably with the nomination of our party.  In many respects, he represents the establishment which so many Americans are starting to distrust.  He is safe. He'll change things a bit, hopefully in the right direction from the course Barack Obama has us on.  Romney isn't Ron Paul but I don't really care too much.  Ron Paul has already won because he has us talking about the ideas of constitutional fidelity.  These ideas will make it down to the next generation...eventually.

"I don't know but it's been told, Romney's gonna win the Gold"

I am a conservative meaning that I wish to conserve our natural rights (Life, Liberty, Pursuit of Happiniess)  which God has given us.  I'm better described, when comparing myself the the modern conservative school of thought as a ...constitutionalist.

Like my forebears, I am out-of-the mainstream today.  Progressive thought has deteriorated those ideals, which Americans proudly learned in the fifth grade,  which are our heritage.  I am trying to teach Americanism to my daughter so that she properly inherits those ideals.  I'm running for SDGOP Central Committee because I think the only way to save this great American experiment is to hand that heritage to our children.  I intend to bring that constitutionalist mindset to an already great organization (The San Diego Republican Party) so that we ALL pass that down to the next generation.

"I don't know but it's been told, Romney's gonna win the Gold"

My daughter told me about this incident today and my heart wept with grief for the consequences of the brushfire I set in her young mind.  My idealism caused my darling little girl to be on the receiving end of the taunts to conform.  As she relayed this to me, I could hear those taunts pierce her sweet, little heart like daggers. 

"I don't know but it's been told, Romney's gonna win the Gold"

I asked her how she handled it,  She said she chanted extemporaneously, right back at the mob:

"I don't know but it's been said, Ron Paul's gonna end the Fed."

Stunned,  I asked her what happened next.  She told me they all asked her "What's the Fed?"

I don't care who we nominate for President.  Game over.  We win.

The Constitutionalist Restoration is About American Exceptionalism

There is a movement towards constitutional fidelity growing in the Republican Party.   Some of it is rooted in the T.E.A. party movement and much of it is inspired by Ron Paul's Presidential campaign. 

Yesterday, the limited government wing of the Republican Party scored the biggest win in local politics by winning 2/3 or the Executive Board seats for the Clark County (Las Vegas) GOP. Disregard the inflammatory headline and read the comments made by this activist:

"This is the grass roots taking a stand to change the direction of the party from the county level," said Carl Bunce, Nevada chairman of Paul's campaign and a delegate. "This is bigger than just Ron Paul. This is about liberty and openness and fairness and changing the party."

Bunce said Paul supporters share the same goal as the other Republican candidates: to defeat President Barack Obama in the fall no matter who becomes the GOP nominee.

Bunce's comments articulate what so many of us feel.  Firstly, we know Barack Obama is the most dangerous threat to our future as an exceptional nation and we will work hard to elect whomever runs against him this November.  More importantly, and what we continually remind those who would try to dehumanize us with terms like "Paul-bots", is that we are not the equivalent of the Obama worshippers.  The Ron Paul Presidential campaign has nothing to do with the man and everything to do with the message.

The message is to return to the principle of fidelity to the U.S. Constitution whether it favors or restricts your particular cause du jour for government.  This is not some radical idea.  We don't think government is "evil" but we do recognize that people in government are fallible.  As Lord Acton warned, "Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely". 

Again, this shouldn't be some sort of radical idea for Republicans.  Republican President Calvin Coolidge affirmed the finality of First Principles in Philadelphia, to celebrate the Sequicentennial of the Declaration of Independence:

In his speech Coolidge said the purpose of our "national celebration" was not to "proclaim new theories and principles," but rather to affirm the permanence of our founding. There was a "finality" to the Declaration that Coolidge found "exceedingly restful."

Instead of spurning Jefferson's "conclusions for something more modern," the president urged his listeners to return to the truth of what Jefferson penned: "If all men are created equal, that is final. If they are endowed with inalienable rights, that is final. If governments derive their powers from the consent of the governed, that is final. No advance, no progress can be made beyond these propositions."

Of course, there was idealism in America's founding. And of course Coolidge was right to point to it, even if that founding was also sullied by slavery. But Coolidge was also right about something else: "Governments do not make ideals; ideals make governments."

To be sure, "government can help sustain ideals, but by their very nature their source is in the people [who] have to bear their own responsibilities. There is no method by which that burden can be shifted to the government."

Keep in mind that Coolidge proceeded the New Deal,  The Great Society, Compassionate Conservatism, The PATRIOT Act, and Obama's fascistic takeover of the banking and heath care industries.  Republicans weren't always so indifferent to First Principles. In Barry Goldwater's Conscience of a Conservative, he explained this idea:

"I have little interest in streamlining government or in making it more efficient for I mean to reduce its size. I do not undertake to promote welfare, for I propose to extend freedom. My aim is not to pass laws, but to repeal them. It is not to inaugurate new programs, but to cancel old ones that do violence to the Constitution, or that have failed in their purpose, or that impose on the people an unwanted financial burden. . . . And if I should later be attacked for neglecting my constituents' "interests," I shall reply that I was informed that their main interest is liberty and in that cause I am doing the very best I can."

Goldwater understood the temptations of power and the danger of centralized power.  Constitutional conservatives understand this and seek to ask the question "Should the government be in the business of collecting trash?" first--THEN, if it is decided that trash collection is a legitimate function of government, we seek to push it to the most local authority that we can. 

Constitutionalists understand Americanism to be:

• Our rights come from God (not the State)
  Government's job is to safeguard those God-given rights
• Our government should be constrained by the limits placed upon it by the US Constitution
• We should have commerce with all nations and entanglements with none.

Americanism isn't some radical idea.  It's an acknowledgement that America is an exceptional nation BECAUSE we recognize one simple thing; Our Creator grants us these "natural" rights.  No king nor Politburo, nor bureaucracy can decide to take our Life or Liberty (without due process under the Law) nor should it interfere with our Pursuit of Happiness (as we define it) as long as we harm no others in that pursuit.

In the past, constitutionalists have long trusted Conservatives to "conserve" those First Principles and have found no reasons to mistrust their intentions.  A methodic and persistent attack on First Principles has been underway, within the GOP, for the past 30 years.  Neo-conservatives infiltrated Reagan's Administration, gained power under George HW Bush, and hijacked George W Bush's administration after 9/11.  The result?  Profligate spending on social programs, a misguided foreign policy, and more and more government.

Constitutionalists simply want to follow the document which puts checks on liberals and big government Republicans.  If you elect us to serve on the San Diego County Republican Central Committee, we'll be the guys and gals who say "NO" when it's time to endorse candidiates who betray First Principles.  If others "attack" us for "betraying the party's interests, we shall reply that we are "attending to Liberty" and we are doing the very best that we can.

Volunteer Activists Comprise the SDGOP Central Commitee

Why is it important to elect strong volunteers to the San Diego Republican Party Central Committee?

ANSWER:  We reject top-down governance in Washington and Sacramento.  Why would we stand for it in the San Diego Republican Party?  The Central Committee is comprised of volunteer activists, who represent the registered Republican voters in each Assembly District.  The job of the Committee is to:

• register more Republican voters in San Diego County
• raise money for issues and candidiates
• recruit good candidiates for public office
• endorse and promote those endorsed candidiates

That's a pretty straightforward mission statement.  Sometimes, elected officials try to keep the volunteer activists from performing their duty.  Today, on SDRostra.com, I requested that three of them stop intervening: 

Yesterday, an email was sent from “The Coalition to Retire Filner”, signed by State Senators Joel Anderson and Mark Wyland, and Assemblyman Brian Jones.  It dreams the dream Erica Holloway had about two Republican mayoral candidates in a runoff.  The “Coalition” makes an impassioned plea to the volunteer Republican Central Committee members:

“In order to establish and maintain that focus, we have come together to urge the Republican Party of San Diego County to refrain from forcing an endorsement in this race that will divide many of our most loyal and dedicated supporters, but instead to unify and focus on defeating Democrat Bob Filner in the primary.”

Why would three guys, who don’t even live in the City of San Diego, ask the volunteers to cancel an endorsement vote?  To answer that question, first ask “Cui Bono? ”

Read the whole article over on SDRostra.  Should you vote for me, in the 78th Assembly District, I'll continue to remind the politicians that the SDGOP is a bottom-up, grass roots organaization. 

 

Why "Restore The GOP"?

A few people have asked my why I chose "Restore the GOP" as the title of this website. Let me offer you a long-winded answer:

The San Diego Republican Party is a great organization.  I admired Ron Nehring's work as County Chairman when he constructed the most effective precinct GOTV operations I've seen in 29 years.  Tony Krvaric and I have been friends since 2004.  His work as County Chairman is impressive and his ability to hold the SDGOP together, after the Obama win, is nothing short of remarkable.  Tony had the good sense to listen to the tea party movement, by attending rallies and not trying to co-opt the movement.  When the Liberty movement started organizing for the Ron Paul 2012 campaign, Tony appointed me as the "SDGOP liason".  He asked that I make the campaign (and local organizers) aware that the SDGOP resources were available to them.  Tony's "big tent" philosophy is EXACTLY the type of approach I want to use by making it easy for people to register Republican and vote for Republican candidates.  I want to help to RESTORE the SDGOP as the dominant political party locally.  This is why I'm seeking the Central Committee position.

The California Republican Party is the perpetual minority party; that is unacceptable to me.  California used to be a Republican stronghold.  Since Governor Moonbeam was elected (the first time), California began its slow and painful descent into the Euro-Socialist nightmare that it is today.  It is only fitting that the effects of this "progressive" mess, come to a head, under the now Governor Moonbeam's second trip to the Governor's mansion.  I want to help to RESTORE California GOP to he majority party in the Legislature and Governor's mansion.  They may sound like a tall order but I believe Californians want responsible government.  I created the Promise to California Taxpayers to make that easy to understand.

Finally, America has lost her way.  Our Founders gave us a "manual for good self-government", also known as The Constitution.  That brilliant document guarantees individual, God-given rights.  Both parties have strayed from First Principles, finding it easier to promise the electorate stuff rather than to follow the constraints placed upon government in Article One, Section Eight.  Not since Reagan and Goldwater have we heard those principles effectively articulated.  Today, only Congressman Ron Paul communicates the Founders' vision on a national stage.  I want to help to RESTORE the GOP to the platform of constitutionally constrained government, promotion of free enterprise, and protection of individual liberties.

I sometimes say that I am the only libertarian in a roomful of conservatives and the only conservative in a roomful of libertarians.  My freinds in the anarcho-capitalist community think I'm nuts to try to "fix" government.  My friends in the libertarian community dont think Republicans act in accordance with our stated principles.  I think the GOP offers the best opportunity, to restore America to her founding principles, restore California to its center-right posture, and restore San Diego to the limited government reputation.

I hope you'll give me your vote of confidence this June.

 

Down Ballot Races Matter.

It's no secret that I admired President Reagan for his "big tent strategy".  He believed in an inclusive GOP with unwavering principles.  Today, in California, we practice the opposite with our closed, Republican Presidential primary.

Former CRP Chairman Ron Nehring says it best, in his criticism of George Will's advice to ignore the Presidential race and concentrate on controlling Congress:

Most importantly, Will ignores the powerful impact which the performance of a Presidential candidate has on downticket candidates for Congress and state legislatures.  A weak Republican Presidential campaign would dramatically reduce Republican voter turnout across the board, embolden Democrats and labor unions, and lead to a massive shift in the political dynamic against Republicans.

I agree with Ron completely on this issue.  Encouraging every voter to vote for a Republican Presidential candidate can positively influence the down ballot races (not limited to but including my GOP Central Comiittee race).

I want to encourage as many Californians to vote for Republican candidiates as possible.  With so many voters registering as independents or "decline to state" we have to get them comfortable voting for Republican candidiates and issues.   This Presidential election, which has aligned so many moderate Democrats and independents, in their opposition to a radical leftist in the White House, can broaden the Republican base for decades, as the Reagan Revolution did.

I said as much today on my initial post at SDRostra.com, the center-right local politics new site.  Here's an excerpt from my essay there:

It’s no secret that political parties are losing voters.  Fortunately, more are fleeing the opposition than disassociate with us but leave us they do….in droves.  The fastest growing segment in California politics are the “Decline To State” a party; the closed Presidential primary policy deepens the divide.

Rick Santorum is reaching out to blue collar Democrats with socially conservative views.  At the California Republican Party convention, that strategy is called Hispanic Outreach.  Ron Paul appeals to disaffected Obama voters and independents.  At the CRP convention, that strategy is called Youth Outreach. The CRP can have as many “town halls” as it wants, in an attempt to shrink the communication deficit, but if the Election Day sign says “closed early,” the communication deficit will grow wider.

Read the complete article at SDROSTRA

Brian Brady Running for SDGOP Central Committee

Brian J Brady, husband, father, tea party activist, and small business owner announced his candidacy for the San Diego County Republican Central Committee, on February 15, 2012.  The Central Committee is the governing body of the San Diego County Republican Party and is tasked with recruiting and endorsing candidates, raising money for local races, registering voters, and working to keep Republicans as the majority party.

His right wing activism began soon after he registered to vote in his hometown of Cherry Hill, NJ. On his 18th birthday, Brady registered with the Selective Service Board then went to Township Hall to register to vote.  Maria Greenwald, mayor of Cherry Hill, was horrified when Mr. Brady registered Republican in the mostly Democratic township. 

"Oh no!  Your grandfater is probably rolling over in his grave" said the late Mrs Greenwald.  "Don't you know that the Democrats are the party of Irish-Catholics? "

At that point, Brady realized the Democrats were the party of special interests.  Racism and bigotry are the byproducts of collectivism.  Mrs. Greenwald, instead of seeing a bright, ambitious young man, simply saw another "Irish-Catholic" voter.  The politics of race and ethnicity were abhorrent to the young man so Brady smiled, told Greenwald that he was going to get President Reagan re-elected, and walked out of the Township Hall.

He was immediately approached by a bystander who invited him to the Camden County Republican Party meeting that month.  At the meeting, Brady committed to become a County committeeman.  He launched his campaign in his District, won at age 18 and 3 months, and the journey began.

As a young adult, Brian Brady was active in the Camelback Young Republlican Club in Maricopa County, AZ.  There, he was fortunate to meet his ideological mentor, the late Senator Barry Goldwater.  Brady read Goldwater's book, "Conscience of a Conservative", in college and the idea of limited government, constrained by the Constitution, spoke to him.  In Arizona, Brady worked to elect Senator Jon Kyl and Congressman Matt Salmon.

The Brady family moved to Solana Beach in 2003.  That year, Brady met Tony Krvaric, current Chairman of the SDGOP.  Krvaric encouraged Brady to become a Precinct Captain and supporter.  Brady walked precincts each election cycle to ensure that Solana Beach Republicans make it to the polls.  He also joined the SDGOP donor clubs and is currently a member of the Chairman's Circle.  Brady addressed the SDGOP twice: as a proxy for Presidential candidate Ron Paul and to promote the Promise to California Tax Payers.

Brian Brady attended his first tea party on Tax Day, 2009.  Soon thereafter, he volunteered to help Stop Taxing Us, the tax payer advocacy and tea party group,  to "Restore the GOP" to its conservative, limited government principles.  Stop Taxing Us hosts the Oceanside Tax Day tea party which was arguably the largest tax day demonstration in the country in 2011.  Brady developed the highly effective Taxpayer Promise at the end of last year.   A liberal columnist promptly called him a bully while over two dozen candidiates for elected office signed the Promise, to halt tax increases and taxpayers' contributions to public employee retirement plans.

Brady was a founding member of the San Diego Republican Liberty Caucus,  He is a supporter of Americans for Prosperity, the Reason Foundation, and Freedomworks. He is married with one daughter and lives in Solana Beach.  He is currently gathering signatures for his nomination petition and would be honored to have you sign it.  Contact Mr. Brady at 858-777-9751