Restore The GOP

Organizing for Ted Cruz for President San Diego County

Ted Cruz for President Meetup groups are popping up all over San Diego County.  I host one in Carlsbad and encourage people to come and visit their neighbors, to find Ted Cruz supporters.  Here is what I discuss:

I run through the scenario that Donald Trump is unlikely to win the required 1237 delegates prior to the RNC convention Cleveland.  What that means is that, for Trump to win the nomination before the convention, he will have to win 35 of the 53 CA congressional districts.  We aim to stop him from doing that.

We think it is more likely for Ted Cruz to win at a contested RNC convention than Donald Trump.  No, the GOP "Establishment" can't "steal" the nomination and throw Mitt Romney, Paul Ryan, or Jeb Bush's name into nomination--this isn't a West Wing episode.  The RNC has four important rules:

1- A candidate must earn a majority of the delegates (1237) to win the nomination.
2- A candidate must have one 8 state nomination contests to be nominated.
3- Only candidates, nominated for the opening ballot, can continue on to subsequent ballots.
4- Any rules changes must be approved by a majority (1237) of the delegates.

Can the RNC Rules Committee 'change the rules"?  Sure but look at #4; those changes must be approved by a majority of the delegates.  With Trump and Cruz controlling 80% of the delegates, it is unfathomable to imagine why either campaign would want to change the existing rules--this thing it going to be a Cruz v. Trump convention...IF....

We win at least 25 Congressional Districts for Ted Cruz in California.  Is that possible?  Absolutely.  Is that probably?  You betcha but it's going to require a much better volunteer effort and that is why we are here--to win our neighborhoods for Ted Cruz.

How can each one of us win our neighborhood for Ted Cruz?  That's simple--make sure the Cruz supporters actually make it to the polls on June 7th.  We don't need to "sell" or "persuade" our Republican neighbors but rather identify who the Cruz supporters are in our neighborhood and get them to the polls.  Here is how the San Diego County #CruzCrew is going to do that:

1- Claim and register your neighborhood at OneManCan.org The Cruz campaign will probably show up with data but, for now, we will use this free voter database.  You may have to enter a credit card but the site founder assured me that San Diego County residents are free.  Instruct volunteers to claim their neighborhood here. 

2- Once the volunteer has secured his neighborhood, he/she should go to the "Intelligence" section, and choose "Precinct Voters" on the drop down menu.

3- Run a report with the filter for "Republican" voters and..VOILA!  There are all of the registered Republicans in the volunteer's neighborhood.

4- The volunteer should personally introduce himself to each neighbor and stick to this script:

"Hi, my name is Brian and I am a local Republican volunteer.  I wanted to say hello and see if you have any questions about the June primary.  As I get information on the ballot initiatives coming up, I'll pass it along to you.  Do you have any questions I can answer right now?"

This is a very non-confrontational approach. We identify ourselves as Republican because we are speaking with fellow Republicans.  After we've had a generic conversation about the primary election, try to find out whom they support by asking,

"Oh, by the way, have you formed an opinion about any of the Presidential candidates?"

Then shut up and let your neighbor talk.  If they are a strong Trump supporter, be polite and make note of it--you dont have to visit them later.  If they are undecided or a Kasich supporter, make note of that.  If they are a strong Cruz supporter, ask them if they wouldn't mind helping you by speaking only to the neighbors on their street. This could allow you to leverage your time and effort in your neighborhood.  

More importantly, find out if they are a mail or poll voter.  If they are a "mail voter", you should visit them on or around May 15th (the ballots go out on May 11.  If they are a "poll voter ", you need to visit them Memorial Day weekend and make sure they get to the poll on June 7th to vote for Cruz.

If they say "I hate all the candidates", be polite, get out of there, and visit them as the election gets closer. 

That's it.  No selling or persuading.  Just gathering intelligence on your neighborhood.  If we know who Cruz voters are, and get them to the polls by election day, we win.  Let me repeat that:

If we know who Cruz voters are, and get them to the polls by election day, we win.

It's that simple.  That's what we talk about at the volunteer meetings.
 

 

 

Voter Guide for the November 2014 Election

Election Day is November 4, 2014 unless you are a died-in-the-wool, progressive Democrat.  I'd encourage progressive Democrats to be certain that you show up to the polls early on November 5th.

All kidding aside, here are my recommendations for the upcoming elections I care about.  The Republican Party of San Diego County (RPSDC) Voter Guide is here and my recommendations are mostly in line with RPSDC (with a few small exceptions).   Allan Bartlett posted his voter guide here-he and I are almost always in agreement (he has great picks for Orange County)

Number of + signs shows my enthusiasm for the candidate (scale of 1-5)

STATE OFFICES:

Lt. Governor:  Ron Nehring  ++++
Attorney General:  Ron Gold +++
Secretary of State:  Pete Peterson ++
Treasurer:  Greg Conlan +
Insurance Commissioner:  Ted Gaines ++
Superintendant of Public Instruction:  Marshall Tuck ++++
Board of Equalization:  Diane Harkey ++++
State Senate (38th):  Joel Anderson +++++
Assembly (71st):  Brian Jones +++++
Assembly (78th):  Barbara Decker ++++
Assembly (2nd):  Matt Heath +++++

FEDERAL OFFICES: 

52nd Congressional District:  Carl DeMaio +++
53rd Congressional District:  Larry Wilske  +++++


STATEWIDE PROPOSITIONS:

1:     NO-absolutely not
2-    YES-  why not?
45:  NO-- why vest that much power in one person?
46:   YES--let market forces dictate how physicians practice medicine
47:   YES--the war on drugs is an abject failure
48:  YES--respect property rights and let the Indians develop property they own or buy

Statewide Judicial Offices  (read this explanation and recommendations)

LOCAL OFFICES:

San Diego City Council, District 6:  Chris Cate  +++++
Encinitas Mayor:  Kristin Gaspar +++
Encinitas Council:  Alan Lerchbacker +++
El Cajon Mayor:  Bill Wells +++
Escondido Council District 2-John Masson ++
Poway Mayor:  Steve Vaus +++++
Vista Council:  John Franklin +++++
San Diego Community College:  Donna Woodrum ++++
Miracosta Community College:  Dran Reese +++++
Miracosta Community College:  Elliot Adler ++
San Dieguito HS District:  Maureen "Mo" Muir ++
Encinitas Union  SD:  Jennifer Hamler +++++
Carlsbad Unified SD:  Sage Naumann ++++
Lakeside Water District:  Frank Hilliker ++++
Otay Water District, Division # 1== Alex Galicia +++++

I omitted offices I have little or no interest in.  I deliberately chose to not recommend candidates for Governor, Controller, Attorney General, and Escondido and Vista Mayors--read into that if you choose to.

Statewide Judicial Offices (forwarded to me)

This was forwarded to me by a source I trust:

I was surprised when I received my "sample" voter pamphlet...and found out many critical positions were to be voted on:  Ca. Supreme Court and Ca. Appellate Courts.

I began my "research" on who was involved.  The first thing I found out was Jerry Brown is one person away from reconstituting his "Rose Bird" court, that he created his first time as Gov. in the 70's.

The Supreme Court before the "Bird Court" stated in a published opinion..."it is not the job of this court to legislate from the bench".  The "Rose Bird" court did just that...legislate from the bench.
Overturning long standing legal doctrine, with outrageous decisions that undermine the functions of "lower courts". Anything to throw out a "death sentence"...including striking down "enhancements",  that made the case a death penalty case.   { Not only death penaly cases...but in rape cases as well }

"Transferred intent" was one of those "enhancements".  EXAMPLE:

An off duty LA Sheriff's Deputy, walked into a bank robbery.Bad guys and Deputy exchange gunfire.  Deputy's 3 year old daughter is killed...they shot at the Deputy, missed him, killing her.
That's called "transferred intent"...they meant to kill the Deputy, but killed the daughter...murder in the firsts degree, during the commission of an armed robbery...death penalty is justified.
The "Transferred intent rule" had been the law for about 120 years, when they threw it out, saying we now had to "prove" they meant to kill the 3 year old girl.  That became the law for all such killings.


Brown left office, and " Duke" Deukmejain was elected Gov.

The "Bird Court" became so bad, that Judges began rebelling against the cases "Rosie and the Supremes" activist majority were reversing.  One Judge, after "Rosie" and her cohorts appeared able to "read the minds" of the Police Officers involved in the case, wrote in his decision that he sent back to them, if "they could read the minds of the officers, and knew what they were thinking, so could he"...and he "read" their minds, justifying their actions, and sent the case back up to the Supreme Court, without changing his original finding.

But what he wrote at the end became the "Battle Cry" of other Judges, District Attorneys, Police Command Staff Officers, Attorneys in private practice, conservative groups and individuals, throughout the State.  He wrote..." I refuse to go Lemming like, into the sea.  I reserve my right to kick and scream, all the way down".

A translation..."We are mad as hell...and we aren't going to take it anymore".

It took two years of work by us, but Rose Bird, and 2 of her "activist court" cohorts, were voted out of office...the first Supreme Court Justices to be voted out of office, in our States history.

Deukmejain replaced them with experienced Justices, with practical and Constitutional law experience.  Once in place...the "Deukmejain Court" began to "revisit" cases from the Rose Bird Court.

The very first case they "revisited" was the "transferred intent" case, and they "reversed" that court decision, and reinstated the death penalty against those robbers who had shot and killed the Deputy's 3 year old daughter.  And that meant that anyone who shoots at someone, and misses, but kills an innocent bystander, was also once again tried under the "transferred intent" law.

Today...Brown is getting his "second bite at the apple"...his new "Rose Bird Court"...a court that will "legislate from the bench", which has already started, and without a doubt, a court that will "rubber stamp" laws passed by the democrats controlling Sacramento.

At the end of this year, a "conservative Justice" will retire--Brown nominated his replacement.
The democrats "rubber stamped" the nomination.

Goodwin Liu.

Law Professor from Berkley.
{ Need I say more?..."we will take the law and shove it down the courts throat, until it chokes"...the Radical Lawyers Guild, Berkley Chapter, 1960 }

Liu was given a position in the obama administration.
obama's people nominated him for an appointment to the U.S. 9th Circuit Court Of Appeals...the most radical, and the most overturned court, in the history of our country's Federal Court system.
The Republican's in the Senate said no...and threw down the gauntlet...and it turned into a bitter fight.  Finally, Liu withdrew his name.

So now...Brown appoints him to our Supreme Court...and it's Rose Bird time all over again.

So...for what it's worth.

Supreme Court

Goodwin Liu...no.

Mariano Florintino Cuellar...no
{Another Brown appointee }

Kathryn Mickle Werdegar...yes
{ Pete Wilson }

For State Courts Of Appeals

Appeals Court Div 1
Terry B. O'Rourke...yes
{ "Duke" }

Appeals Court Div 1
Gilbert Nares...yes
{ "Duke" }

Appeals Court Div 1
Alex C. McDonald...yes
{ Pete Wilson }

Appeals Court Div. 1
James A. McIntyre...yes
{ Wilson }

Appeals Court Div. 2
Thomas E. Hollenhorst...yes
{ Duke }

Appeals Court Div. 3
Kathleen E. O'Leary...yes
{ Duke }
San Diego and Imperial County are in this jurisdiction

Appeals Court Div. 3
William F. Rylaarsdan...yes
{ Duke }

William M. Aronson...no
{ Appointed by Gray Davis...who I call "Jerry Brown Jr". }

Appeals Court Div 3
David A Thompson...no
{ Jerry Brown }

Appeals Court Div. 3
Richard D. Fybel...no
{ Gray Davis }

Pass this on to anyone you want.

AB 2299: What Were The the Republicans in the California Assembly Thinking?

Originally posted on SDRostra:

On May 17, 2012, the California Assembly passed AB 2299 ,which exempts public safety officials from recording real estate transactions. 

Why would the Assembly unanimously pass such legislation?  It contributes to  a two-tiered class system in California:  the men with guns and you.  On it's face, it sounds noble but, like all unnecessary legislation, the unintended consequences can be catastrophic.

The Blaze exposed Brett Kimberlin, the convicted drug dealer and stalker who is making life hell for LA County's Assistant District Attorney Patrick Frey, aka "Patterico".  That expose is an interesting tale of a disturbed Leftist who terrorizes those who don't think like him.  Kimberlin is savvy enough to have used public records for his terrorizing activities againt his opponents.  In another example, SEIU used public records, to infamously protest in front of a bank executive's home, to "protest" the bank's collection policies (SEIU conveniently owes that bank an eight-figure sum).

The visions of angry union protesters and Soros-backed Occupiers, scaring thier kids while they were in session in Sacramento, probably scared all of the Republican Assembly members into voting for this bill.  The ability to tell public safety union employees that they are 'protected them from snooping citizens' was probably too enticing for any Democrat Assembly member to ignore.

The Sacramento Bee sees two problems with this:  (1) The bad guys usually don't use property records; they mostly follow the good guys home from work.  (2) Opacity in public records provides the very cover a corrupt public official needs to conceal graft.

We learned this with the Duke Cunnigham scandal.  Cunningham would have gotten away with his corruption had his scheme not been exposed through irregular real estate transactions. Public records have been at the center of most corruption exposes but our Assembly members have unanimously said that they want government employees to operate behind a golden curtain.

Read the whole article

 

 

 

 

What is "Conservatism" and How Did We Lose Our Way?

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