Posted on 02/18/2005 4:19:14 AM PST by calcowgirl
A group of wealthy, moderate Orange County Republicans, formed five years ago to supplant the party's powerful cadre of social conservatives, has a new target: overwhelmingly Democratic and liberal Los Angeles County.
The New Majority — whose members include Donald Bren and Paul Folino, the chief executives of the Irvine Co. and Emulex Corp., respectively — has used its influence and ample wealth since 2000 to reduce the power of conservatives who had come to define Republican politics in Orange County and Sacramento. The group backed moves that ousted conservatives from party leadership positions.
The group also sealed its clout by becoming the state's largest donor to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who counts its members among his earliest political mentors.
(snip)
It's one thing to tackle internal GOP politics, and quite another to make a dent in the power structure of Los Angeles County. Most of the county's legislative seats are as entrenched for Democrats as Orange County's are for Republicans.
With that in mind, the group has endorsed Schwarzenegger's proposal to take the redrawing of legislative district boundaries out of the legislators' hands, which would make some Assembly, state Senate and congressional races more competitive. The governor has pledged to qualify an initiative for a fall special election, along with other changes, if the Legislature doesn't put a measure on the ballot by March.
This month, New Majority members met in Newport Beach with Schwarzenegger, who asked them to help raise $50 million for the special election. The governor wants $12 million collected by the end of this month.
(snip)
Schwarzenegger's proposal would not necessarily lead to the election of more Republicans. But the plan's supporters argue that making districts more competitive would result in the election of more middle-of-the-road candidates who could attract voters from both major parties.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
Denny Crane: "There are two places to find the truth. First God and then Fox News."
The choice is clear. Big tent or no tent.
Just win, Baby! ;o(
If it believes in a "big tent" why does the "moderate" GOP leadership sabotage or starve conservative nominees?
Where's the Barf Alert?
Thanks for posting. I'm slippin'. :-}
Get a load of this...
Well, now, there is a truly excellent question. I'll be anxiously awaiting an answer.
Sorry about that. I meant to give it a 'New Majority Ping', as well. I'm slippin'! :-)
Ping to Article.
How about '19th Hole Elitists' instead...
I was wondering how long it would take for the New Majority folks to run RINOs for the L.A. County GOP central committee and legislative seats.
Well, they will have quite a battle here!
BRING IT ON!!!!!
If they try that they WILL have a fight on their hands. But, I wouldn't mind having a little bit of money coming in to get some strategically placed permanent headquarters funded, get more timely voter ID information to republican candidates in local races etc. And, you would need a whole lot of money to submarine the Boyds, Spence et. al.
That said, The LA times LOVES to sow dissent in the Republican camp, and this piece seems designed to do that.
The whole thing is rather pathetic. Even Lincoln Chaffee would find the Dems in power in California kooks. Thus the distinction between moderate and conservative Pubbies in California in the present environment is essentially moot.
Exactly. These so-called "Republicans" are hell-bent into making us as effective as the Whig Party in modern day politics. And they've done a good job of that so far. Makes ya wonder who's really bankrolling them.
LOL
Excellent point...
How are you doing? still fighting the good fight, i see :o)
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