Nearly one hundred years ago California voters, sick of government corruption and ineptitude at all levels, enacted a series of reforms intended to make government more responsive and less corrupt. These included provisions for intiative, referenda, and recall, as well as nonpartisan election of judicial, school, county, and municipal offices, a provision still in the California Elections Code .
But that doesn’t matter to powers that be in the local GOP. Monday night, August 18, the Orange County Republican Central Committee voted on their first round of endorsements for local races in the county.
They endorsed all Republican incumbents seeking re-election, something they have done pretty routinely in the past. Hey, weren’t the Republicans the ones who were so hot on term limits a few years back?
But that was different. That was to get rid of Democrat Willie Brown. No sauce for the gander here.
“Early endorsements” were also bestowed on a few anointed non-incumbent candidates: Gary Monahan and Jim Righeimer in Costa Mesa, Don Hansen protégée Devin Dwyer in Huntington Beach, and John Campbell staffer Lou Penrose nee Luigi Rossetti, Jr. in Dana Point.
This was outside the normal vetting process, basically rubber stamping the directive of county chair Scott Baugh and the big boys with the big bucks via the endorsing committee. Presumably qualifications include close alliances developed with Mr. Baugh over drinks and cigars at Gulfstream.
Look for the Orange County party and Lincoln Club to pony up for the Chosen Ones. Be aware that funds you may contribute to the GOP at large may or may not go to electing a Republican president, governor, or senator, but may be spent right in your own back yard on a candidate you may or may not support. If you like the candidates that’s fine; if not, give directly to the candidates of your choice.
7 comments:
Will Luigi be giving the citizens of Dana Point a free calzoni once a month? It's an italiano earmarka-a.
But can Luigi get Dana Point citizens an earmark for free calzoni every week? Skosh gives out free appetizers.
Does everyone REALLY have an Aunt Fanny? May be too rhetorical.
In any case, as our local GOP (as many local political parties do) considers local political involvement as an audition for higher level partisan offices, I am not entirely sure endorsing one candidate over another makes any real sense. After all, if the candidates in question can't get elected Dog Catcher on their own, why would the party want to consider them for State Assembly? I think their logic is a bit flawed on this one.
If, on the other hand, they consider local office as a bone to throw someone to get them to stand down and not attack an existing incumbent or otherwise anointed candidate, than what does that say about the candidate they are endorsing for Dog Catcher? Something like "He may be a good candidate but not quite good enough for us to endorse for higher office." Do we really want to vote for candidates that their own party considers also rans?
Good points. Under either scenario the citizens become the real losers.
Do you find it interesting that Bever was not in the endorsement list?
Did he just not apply? Did they not want to endorse him? Is he not a 'Good' Republican?
Inquiring minds want to know!
I believe Bever would have been covered by the broad brush incumbent endorsement.
Considering your previous post, as to why they endorse, i.e. farm team for the future or consolation prize for someone wanting a different office. It occurs to me there may be a third reason.
The endorsements appear to be designed to guarantee that the various offices, especially any with any real power, go to yes men--or yes women, though as you may notice, none of the early, non-incumbent endorsements have two X chromosomes, at least not that we know.
The endorsements for local office may be also be about stopping the candidacy of independent thinkers, even those whose core beliefs are Republican and conservative. These independent thinkers may highlight the hypocrisy of many of the so-called "good Republicans". What if someone who thinks for him or her self builds a base for higher office?
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