Restore The GOP

SDGOP Meeting November 11, 2013: Endorsement for CA 52nd Congressional District

The Republican Party of San Diego County (RPSDC) met last night to endorse a candidate in California's 52nd Congressional District (CD52).  The 52nd Congressional District includes the cities of Poway, Coronado, most of the City of San Diego communities north of Interstate 8, and most of the City of San Diego communities west of Interstate 5.  Please check the District map to see if you are registered in this District.

I am not registered in CD52 but, in my capacity as a regional chairman for RPSDC, I had an important interest in this race.  My "region" includes many of the City of San Diego communites and the City of Coronado.  As such, I spent a great deal of time intereviewing the candidates over the past six months.

The Executive Committee of RPSDC, of which I am a member, unanimously voted to recommend candidates for endorsement:  former San Diego City Councilman Carl DeMaio, Marine veteran and businessman Kirk Jorgensen, and trauma surgeon and businessman Fred Simon.  The recommendations to endorse were consistent with the endorsement rules and procedures passed by the Committee in January, 2013; a two-thirds vote from the full committee would be required for endorsement.

A motion from the floor was made to suspend the endorsement in this race. That motion was defeated.   I voted against this motion for the following reasons: 

1-Scott Peters, an independently wealthy trial lawyer, currently holds this seat.  A significant financial investment, from the RNCC, independent donors, and Republican voters, will be required to defeat his campaign for re-election,

2- Peters' record, for his short term in Congress, is abysmal.  He voted for Obamacare and increased and damaging regulations to the financial services sector.  He has no significant legislative accomplishments and votes the Pelosi/Reid agenda. 

3- The RPSDC endorsement will be necessary to co-ordinate the resources required to defeat him.

The Committee interviewed and deliberated about the three candidates:  DeMaio, Jorgensen, and Simon.  The Committee voted to endorse Carl DeMaio with a 2/3 majority.  I voted to endorse Carl DeMaio for the following reasons:

DeMaio has a proven record of government reform.  While he was defeated in the City of San Diego Mayor's race, he outperformed his opponent in an overwhlemingly high number of San Diego communities which are in CD52.  DeMaio's fundraising effort is off to a great start and he has secured endorsements from Congressman Issa House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy, and most significantly, Congressman Tom McClintock. 

SDGOP Meeting: September 9, 2013--Endorsements

The Republican Party of San Diego County met last night, to deliberate and vote on the endorsement for the Special Election for San Diego Mayor.  One candidate, Councilman Kevin Faulconer requested the party's endorsement.

I voted to endorse Kevin Faulconer for the Mayor of San Diego.  The committee unanimously voted to endorse Mr Faulconer.

The Republican Party of San Diego County Central Committee met last night to deliberate and vote on endorsements for the 2014 election cycle. - See more at: http://delmar.typepad.com/restore_the_gop/#sthash.zpxTQuhl.dpuf

The Republican Party of San Diego County Central Committee met last night to deliberate and vote on endorsements for the 2014 election cycle. - See more at: http://delmar.typepad.com/restore_the_gop/#sthash.zpxTQuhl.dpuf

The Republican Party of San Diego County Central Committee met last night to deliberate and vote on endorsements for the 2014 election cycle. - See more at: http://delmar.typepad.com/restore_the_gop/#sthash.zpxTQuhl.dpuf

Brian Brady about Ron Paul Visit in the U-T

Presidential candidate Ron Paul visited UCSD this past Friday night (which is in the 78th Assembly District).  The rally attracted about 5,000 people including Dan Hughes, candidate for US Senate and Monica Gaither, Mia Freymiller, Maureen Guffanti, Eric Andersen, Mat Huff, and Josh Silverman, all of whom are candidates for the San Diego County Republican Central Committee.

I was quoted in the article, written in the San Diego Union-Tribune, about his visit:

His message of limited government, sound money, a noninterventionist foreign policy and fidelity to the Constitution resonates with 15-20 percent of the Republican base but is accepted by more than half of those under 30, said Brady, a member of the Republican Liberty Caucus of San Diego.

Many youths previously captivated with President Barack Obama’s rhetoric have come to realize that liberty made this country great and are flocking to the consistent critic of the state. However, that message has been dampened by the media bias against Paul, Brady said.

It's no secret that I admire Congressman Paul for advancing the cause of Liberty.  His policies about monetary policy, fiscal policy, the failed war on drugs, and free market economics resonate with me.  While I sometimes disgree with the rhetoric he chooses, his message of not using our military to nation build or police the world, is consistent with the Founders and worthy of pursuit.

I was invited to volunteer at a luncheon that day by the campaign.  I spent about ten minutes with Congressman Paul before we started.  We spoke about how a debased currency contributes to moral decay in society.  The conversation was initiated by me and he listened intently while I repeated to him what he has been saying for 35 years.   Naturally, he urged me to continue to talk about this issue after November.  Dr, Paul is bright, humble, polite, and the epitome of a gentleman.

Engaging With OccupySD in Downtown San Diego

Last November, I accompanied Rhonda Deniston, to a Press Conference at the Occupy San Diego encampment.  Rhonda was denouncing the violence directed at her by the fringe element of the Occupy movement (see video here--NSFW).    Rhonda called a press conference and asked me to attend.  What I didn't expect was a full-blown news conference with 10-12 different media outets. 

The San Diego Union Tribune covered the press conference:

Surrounded by a group of Occupy San Diego protesters Tuesday, Brian Brady, another Oceanside Tea Party member, urged people in the two movements to focus on what they have in common, such as anger over bank bailouts, and denounce violence, such as that which was displayed against Deniston "by some of your fringe element."

"My suggestion to you is please police your movement ... like the Tea Party had to," Brady said.

Rhonda asked me to address the crowd (see video here--I come in about 4:20).  I tried to find common ground with the protesters about the bank bailouts (and did).  I spent approximately 40 minutes after the press conference engaging with the protesters.  I learned two things from that experience:

1. there are a lot of nice, idealistic, young people there who are despondent.
2. unions and the institutional left are organizing the movement.

All in all, it was a scary but good experience.  I was thankful the San Diego Police Department were near by, thankful that Jim Miller, Jr (candidiate for Superior Court Judge) was there, and VERY thanksful that I had a retired Marine at my flank, the whole time I was speaking.  There were absolutely no Republicans in this crowd but it was instructive to understand that the organized Left is exploiting well-intentioned people.  A few of the smart young people were asking lots of questions about the Federal Reserve Bank and how (and why) TARP was enacted.

Photo from OB Rag,  Photo credit Annie Lane