Michael Reagan's Appeal to the CA GOP

According to state columnists Thomas Elias, the Republican Party is at risk of becoming a distant and marginalized third party, in large part because of the growing number of independents and "decline to state" voters.

Radio talk show host Michael Reagan is now labeling California a "one-party state", akin to repressive regimes like North Korea and Cuba. The economic damage devastating our business class and eroding tax receipts has spelled out the obvious: state-sponsored liberalism is a morally and philosophically bereft ideology, one which needs some healthy opposition if the Golden State wishes to retain any of its luster.

According to the adopted son of native favorite Ronald Reagan, there are currently too few Republicans in the legislature to stop the assembly-line nut house of perverse and inconsequential laws cluttering up our state books and littering our peace officers and public watchdogs with frivolous regulations.

What so few Democrats? The GOP has failed in selling its brand to growing number if Hispanic voters, who have been conned into viewing the Republican Party as a bastion of Ku Klux Klansmen who want to chase every Latino voter out of the state. "No leadership. No heroes. Little money. No clear message." Such is the string of indictments volleyed at the California GOP. In my opinion, the jungle primary may be the start of a Republican renaissance in California, offering moderate politicians the opportunity to challenge some elements of primary ideology without compromising the message of fiscal restraint.

In the 1960's, Governor Reagan did not make a fuss about abortion, and he even raised taxes at one point. Like Governor Christie in New Jersey today, Reagan made compromises where needed. He also commanded a greater deal of respect from the Hispanic community in the state. To this day, his Simi Valley Library showcases some of the Spanish-speaking poster from his first gubernatorial campaign.

Some party operative ought to invest time and planning into how the GOP then was able to corral the support of Hispanic voters, in the same manner that Barry Goldwater invigorated a tiny following called "Negroes for Goldwater" in 1964.

Minority voters on the whole are conservative, although they do not think of themselves as Republican because of the liberal stigma attached to the term.