Posted on 02/20/2006 6:31:17 PM PST by NormsRevenge
Patrick Dorinson, a former fundraiser in Bill Clinton's presidential campaign and former member of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's administration, has been selected as the new communications director of the California Republican Party.
There was no official confirmation from the party, which will hold its statewide convention this weekend in San Jose. Capitol sources said the decision to tap Dorinson, a Republican who served as the chief spokesman of the state's electricity grid during California's energy crisis, was reached several days ago. The party's official announcement was expected as early as Tuesday, but Dorinson confirmed his hiring today.
Dorinson, 54, currently a vice president with the Hill and Knowlton marketing and communications company, replaces Karen Hanretty, who recently left to open her own political strategy and public relations firm in Sacramento.
Dorinson's hiring comes at a turbulent time for state Republicans, who are divided over recent policies and appointments of the Republican governor. Schwarzenegger's decision to hire Susan Kennedy, a Democrat who served as a top figure in former Gov. Gray Davis' administration, and his proposal to borrow tens of billions of dollars to pay for an array of state capital improvements, are among a number of actions that have roiled Republicans.
Apparently, Dorinson's hiring was not vetted by the White House or Gov. Schwarzenegger.
"Yes, 2006 is a pivotal election for California, but I want to look beyond that to build a solid Republican foundation, to build toward a Republican majority in the Legislature," Dorinson told Capitol Weekly.
Dorinson at Capitol Weekly's request also provided a commentary for this week's print edition of Capitol Weekly, in which he described his political odyssey from Democrat to Republican. A version of the commentary was posted online today on Capitol Weekly's web site, www.capitolweekly.net.
A Democrat until 1997, Dorinson bolted the party after a series of personal and philosophical disagreements. "What I observed in Washington was a Congressional Democratic Party that had ossified into an oligarchy of powerful committee chairmen who, after 40 years in power, ran the Congress as their own private domain," he wrote.
"For someone who as a 12 year old in 1964 had a Barry Goldwater bumper sticker on his school binder, it feels like I have come home," Dorinson added.
A Democrat until 1997, Dorinson bolted the party after a series of personal and philosophical disagreements.
Coincidentally, Karen Hanretty is on H&C as I type this with Susan 'Estrus' as her "opposing" view proponent.
California has a Republican Party?
Another good reason to continue to boycot the Calfornia GOP.
They've got to choose Democrats. There aren't any Republicans in California.
California is gone. Prey for the 10.0 pointer that lays waste to that bastion of freaks.
We have people who call themselves a republican party. Their main reason for being is to raise funds so they can have meetings in Hawaii and Vegas. Their greatest fear is that they might win an election and have to govern. Do not feed the beast.
Maybe global warming can cause California to be swallowed by the sea.
Since the majority here in Calif are Dems and next are Republicans, yes by all means boycott the GOP. When you
put in more Dems don't bitch.
Though I am a native of this state, most are from other states and bring their own views. Calif can be bashed but
only bashing out of state people living here.
Not to long before Reagan was elected Gov. of Calif. he was
a Democrat.
I'm in California. So are a great number of FReepers. Should we be offended or is your comment only rhetorical?
Frankly, I get tired of reading this sh*t, especially on Free Republic. California is home to over 10% of the US population and guess what? We're not all freaks, hippies, homos, pederasts or whatever socially undesirable classification you'd like to jam us into because you're too intellectually lazy to think about it.
California conservatives are trying to hold the line against a rising tide of socialist schemers who are slowly ruining our state.
Consider: The California economy is the 5th or 6th largest in the world. What do you think the national ramifications would be should we founder?
Thanks for your support...
Calif, home of JR and Freerepublic
2004 election results
California
Bush 44%
Kerry 54%
There are a lot of us here holding back the loony liberals
Whoops, rhetorical, sarcasm, etc. I was born in CA and also have family there.
Quite holding and start pushing.
I'm watching the H&C replay too.
Why are you on a web site that is from the land of the "bastion of freaks"?
Yeah, right. /sarc
Was hoping that a quake from CA would wipe out Pudget Sound...LOL
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