Republicans: Think "Jack Kemp" not "Pete Wilson"

Along with all card-board copies of George W, Bush, California Republican Party leaders must get rid of every connection to Pete Wilson.

This man led the line of attack on illegal immigrants, thus alienating the Hispanic communities in California forever against the GOP.

Jack Kemp warned that Republicans would have to further inroads with minorities. Yet the party leadership continued to play out the Southern Strategy, much as the CA GOP relied on the Inland Empire-San Diego "Fish hook" for so many years.

Those days are over.

Pete Wilson did hold state-wide office in 1994.

So did George Dukmeijian. He needs to come back into the spotlight. He can rouse the GOP brand better than ever.

I would submit, however, that the Republican Party needs to adopt an adaptable tolerance on homosexual conduct. Tolerance does not mean "acceptance", and libertarian positions on social issues like drug use would be more in line with the conservative principles of limited government, less spending, local control.

Republicans, think "Jack Kemp", not "Pete Wilson". Urban areas deserve honor for the life that they bring to our country. Even in the midst of this anemic recovery from the Great Recession, Los Angeles has gentrified into something alive and thriving. Even Venice is losing its bohemian allure into something cosmopolitan and family-oriented.

Governor Christie, with this working class roots and government background, can perhaps take the lead on turning urban blight into a light which shines in the Republican Party once again.