Center for Arizona Policy Action, Aftermath of Election 2022

 

Pity Party Over   More than a week after the election and there is no question that the results brought significant disappointments to our pro-life, pro-family community. It’s not an easy time and it’s a rough road ahead. I usually give myself a day to bemoan a political loss, then it is time to look ahead. The pity party is over.   Let me assure you that CAP and CAP Action will march forward determined to stand for our values. We’ll thoroughly analyze what happened and chart a path ahead. We’ll put up a vigorous defense against any anti-life and anti-family proposals by a presumed Governor-elect Katie Hobbs.   We’ll work with our slim majority in the state Legislature to do right by Arizona families. We covet your prayers and support.   The election is not our demise nor our salvation. We do not despair because we will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. As always, we will trust in our Lord.   Overview - General Election Results:   The Good Arizona Congressional delegation flipped from four Republicans and five Democrats to six Republicans and three Democrats. The two new Republicans helped flip the U.S. House to the bare Republican majority. Our delegation now will have a strong conservative majority. Eli Crane, a former Navy Seal, defeated incumbent Tom O’Halleran. Juan Ciscomani defeated former state senator Kirsten Engel. Arizona Statewide saw Kimberly Yee retained as Arizona State Treasurer. Republicans Kevin Thompson and Nick Myers won their races for Corporation Commission. Arizona Senate and House retained a bare pro-life, conservative majority. The Senate again will have 16 Republicans to 14 Democrats. The House again will have 31 Republicans to 29 Democrats. However, both chambers have more solidly conservative members than the last two years. They will be needed to counter a presumed Governor-elect Hobbs.  Arizona School Boards in several districts elected parent activists who will make a difference. CAP Action-endorsed candidates won seats in six school districts, including one in Paradise Valley, one in Peoria, and two in Scottsdale. Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell defeated radical leftist Julie Gunnigle.   The Bad S. Senate Sen. Mark Kelly defeated Blake Masters. Arizona Statewide Offices - For the next four years Katie Hobbs apparently will be Arizona Governor and Adrian Fontes will be Secretary of State. Hobbs has vowed to do all she can to allow abortion up until birth. Fontes has not been supportive of measures to ensure election integrity. State Senate/State House bare majority. Redistricting of state legislative districts did not seem to produce a stronger conservative majority. Our pro-life champion Sen. Nancy Barto lost a very close race to Sen. Christine Marsh. Nancy, a woman of faith, courage, and integrity, left everything on the field. Her district is more of a swing district following redistricting. Other swing districts elected only one Republican to the House rather than two.   Still Counting - As of Thursday afternoon, both races for Attorney General and Superintendent of Public Instruction appear headed to a recount. On Thursday afternoon, for Attorney General, Democrat Kris Mayes led Republican Abe Hamadeh by a few hundred votes. For Superintendent, Republican Tom Horne has a .4% lead over Democrat Kathy Hoffman. Should those margins hold, both will be in for a recount. While the votes aren’t final in the governor’s race, the margin is slightly outside the margin required for a recount.   Ballot Propositions had mixed results. Arizonans voted in favor of establishing a Lt. Governor office, requiring a 60% vote for any ballot measure that increases taxes, and granting in-state tuition to any undocumented individual who has lived in the state for two years. The measure to implement voter identification appears to have lost by about 20,000 votes. Arizonans did vote to require groups like CAP Action to disclose donors in certain types of campaigns but that one will be subject to several court challenges on constitutional grounds.   CAP Action Record CAP Action Endorsed Candidates Overall, 77% of CAP Action endorsed candidates won their races (will be 79% should Abe Hamadeh win the Attorney General’s race). Won Six of eight federal races Four of seven statewide 16 of 18 state senate 31 of 39 state house Maricopa County Attorney Seven of twelve school districts   General thoughts   Several factors contributed to Arizona not seeing a red wave. At times, elections represent a perfect storm, and you can pick which factor or factors you think made a difference. While it will take a while to unpack and verify the reasons for these results, here’s what I see at this point in time: Redistricting helped in the congressional races but may not have helped in state legislative races. Republicans lost in the swing state legislative districts. Changing demographics as our state’s growth may be affecting voting. Lower Republican voter turnout in more conservative counties. Democrat money and strategy. Trump effect The Republican primary resulted in wins for the more conservative and Trump-endorsed candidates. That may have been off-putting to Independents and some Republicans. Even voters who support President Trump’s policies are weary of him primarily because of his verbal attacks and behavior. Several candidates, including State Treasurer Kimberly Yee and Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell, were not identified closely with President Trump and won their races handily. Party dynamics on the Republican side Lack of permissible coordinated efforts between state party and candidates. Lack of party unity. Lack of field staff to counter the Democrat’s efforts.   Finally, a word on whether abortion made a difference: I’m not ready to buy that argument. It’s one being shouted loudly by the pro-abortion crowd and others who wish the life issue would go away.   That’s not going to happen on our watch.   Our polling showed more voters were horrified by the Left’s support for abortion up until birth than they were by our support for life from its very beginning. Polls consistently showed and I continue to believe voters were more concerned about other factors. Pro-life candidates did not lose their races because of their pro-life positions.   ICYMI Read or listen here about the profoundly deceptive “Respect for Marriage Act” that federal lawmakers are poised to pass. Read here about the national call for a pro-life GOP presidential candidate in 2024. Read here how proclaiming “God created Adam and Eve” got one prominent sports figure a jail sentence in Greece. Read here about an important religious freedom case being heard at the U.S. Supreme Court next month.

Kari Lake for the Win: The Problem is the Whole System

Arthur,   What is it with the establishment elites HIDING from the people?   Joe Biden's been in the basement for months.    He pops out - delivers a massively unpopular plan for student loan forgiveness - and goes back to avoiding the public.    That peek-a-boo act must be written into the official Democrat playbook because my opponent, Katie Hobbs, is doing the exact same thing!    She refuses to debate. She refuses to show her face to the people of Arizona. If she's not making a plea to the radical left for more Soros money to fund her campaign, no one hears from her at all.   This unaccountable, ridiculous behavior is so typical of a political establishment that does not value the voice of the people. FIGHT BACK >>    Now, it should be clear by now...    I'm not hiding. That's because I'M NOT AFRAID.   I speak with the people every day because I believe that WE THE PEOPLE deserve to hear from both sides and get a fair idea of who will stand for you and who won't.   The silence is deafening.    While conservative leaders like me on the NEW RIGHT are open books...   The failing establishment elites are closed doors.  It's time for us to say OUT WITH THE OLD, and in with the NEW (RIGHT) so we can SAVE AMERICA from these out-of-touch narcissists. Are you with me?

SUPPORT KARI LAKE NOW >>

I'm telling you right now that I am a strong conservative who can get things done. I'm the transformative leadership we need. But you don't need to just take my word for it.    I'm endorsed by: President Donald Trump Governor Ron DeSantis Rudy Giuliani Marjorie Taylor Green Sheriff Joe Arpaio Richard Grenell  General Michael Flynn, and more...

JOIN PRESIDENT TRUMP: SUPPORT KARI LAKE >>

Together, we're going to unite to solve the problems America is facing right now. And trust me... there's a lot to do.  But I know I can make it happen because I've always been able to do anything I set my mind to. And that's not going to stop now!

I grew up in Iowa. There's not a lot to do there, but that's where I honed my work ethic.    I worked hard. I learned to fight. I gained that fighting spirit the old establishment GOP never had - that's what makes me a part of the NEW RIGHT.    I developed that backbone of steel - that "BDE" that President Trump and Governor Ron DeSantis have. And frankly, that we want all of our elected leaders to have.   Someone even recently told me "Kari, you're going to be the DeSantis of the West."    Other than being called "Trump in a Dress - which is my favorite compliment of all - that is the greatest compliment you could pay me.   To me, that means that you know when you elect me, you're going to get someone who fights for you every single day.    We are going to be so effective in Arizona.

SUPPORT KARI LAKE >>

Arthur, I promise you this, as the governor of Arizona, I will be the biggest pain in the ass Joe Biden's ever experienced.    I will unite with conservatives across the country to protect Arizona from this out-of-control federal government. We will save our states and return the power to WE, THE PEOPLE, where it belongs.   This is our moment to make it happen.

Arthur, let's not forget that the race for Governor of Arizona is one of the most important fights in the entire country.   It's our chance to prove to corporate media that we are stronger than the lies.    It's our chance to prove to the establishment elite that the NEW RIGHT is here to stay.   And it's our chance to SECURE OUR BORDER, defend our small businesses, defeat inflation, end leftist indoctrination and get our nation back on track.   Though the results took longer than they should have, Arizonans who have been forgotten by the establishment already delivered a POLITICAL EARTHQUAKE in the GOP primary. We won every single county in Arizona!   Now, all eyes are on us.    It's game time.   And I need you on my side.   Will you support our momentum?

Now, I don't care if you're with the Democrat Party, the Independent Party, the Republican Party, the Pizza Party, or the Pool Party - our policies are going to help every American.   We have to stand together and defeat the left so we can save America.    I hope that you will chip in now to support my campaign for Governor of Arizona.

SAVE AMERICA: SUPPORT KARI LAKE >>

Sincerely,

Kari Lake Candidate for Arizona Governor

Brian Dahle for Congress (?)

Brian Dahle

Let's face some hard facts:

California State Senate Minority Brian Dahle is not going to be the next governor of California. The voters turned down a recall effort against incumbent Governor Gavin Newoms last year by 2-to-1. It was just so discouraging. Newsom has the backing of very major political interest, and the woke cult has such a stronghold on so many voters in the state.

So, why is Dahle running for Governor?

He is propping up his bid for higher office, i.e. Congress, when CA-01 House Rep. Doug LaMalfa resigns, retires, etc., or Dahle will go after a seat on the Board of Equalization once Ted Gaines terms out.

That's what swampy Republicans in the California State Legislature do. They are not interested in saving the state. Most of them do not speak up to stop bad legislation during the legislative session, even. They make no efforts to improve the well-being and quality of life for California residents. They don't care because they don't have to. They show up, cast their votes, collect their paycheck, then prep for higher office or local office or set up their consulting firms once they term out.

They are looking to hold onto whatever political power is available to them or make whatever money they can, including running for whatever higher office may be available to them in the near future.

How has the Dahle for Governor campaign spent its money?

Campaign Consultant Josh Cook  $115,000  (Cook is also the Senator Dahle Chief of Staff)

The consultant gets 10% of campaign take. Wow!

Slate cards    $256,000

Where does he plan on sending the slates? Orange County?

Other consultants:

Matt Shupe (Contra Costa GOP Chair)  $7500

Call to Action Consulting (a Redding firm)  $10,000

Fortune Masters Group—also from Redding    $10,000

Farah Farr Consulting   $7421

Janessa Zimmerman   $5500

You have five other consultants listed. FIVE! What's this all about?

It's all about feathering the nests of the permanent minority of failure that runs the CAGOP.

Notice again how consultants have taken over as chairmen for key committees throughout the state. The activists and the grassroots voters do not run things in the California GOP. It's all run by a receding number of well-connected political technicians and wonks who just want to cash a check. They don't care about California. They don't care about the voters. They only care about their nest-egg and their next real estate investment (or the next campaign gig, or they next bid for higher office, etc.)

Julie Haff—LAGOP Treasurer/Executive Director   $4500

Lo and behold, even the Los Angeles County GOP is moving in on the money, too! Now we know how they are managing to keep the lights on for the otherwise abandoned LAGOP Central Committee.

I have looked at Republican State Party programs, platforms, and apparatus in the other states, and it just excites me and depresses me all at once. Florida, Iowa, even Rhode Island and Maine, have active state parties that are looking forward to taking back territory and winning seats in the state legislature or Congress!

And what about California? It's just a sad decline of excuses and corporate payoffs. A handful of people get rich, and the rest of the state suffers. It's almost as though the Democrats have fully infiltrating the California Republican Party to ensure nothing but controlled opposition comes out of them.

Brian Dahle is running for Congress or the Board of Equalization down the line, and in the meantime he is propping up a host of consultants and campaign vendors to keep them happy, so that he can take advantage of them for his next political push. What a let-down.

Marriage Still Matters for GOP Voters: Wisconsin Governor's Race

Election 2022 Wisconsin Gubernatorial Election
Tony Evers v. Tim Michels

The Wisconsin Governor's race is a prime opportunity for Republicans to take back a key state trifecta, ensure strong election integrity reforms, and restore a state back to the GOP column.

The governor's race seemed like a basic fight between the GOP establishment and the MAGA set.

But there was so much more to this fight than conservatives may realize.

The two man competitors for the GOP nomination were previous Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch and business owner Tim Michels.

One key issue that separated the two candidates? The issue on false marriage.

Rebecca Kleefisch, who was endorsed by former Governor Scott Walker, Mike Pence, and Ted Cruz, announced that she had caved on the issue of family and natural marriage.

Consider this report:

Kleefischsupports upholding access to birth control, gay marriage as some fear rollbackof civil liberties

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Republican candidate for governor Rebecca Kleefisch will uphold freedoms to access birth control and same-sex marriage if elected as some fear those rights could be at risk if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade.

"Freedom" to birth-control is not freedom, but rather license. The same for false marriage, incorrectly termed "same-sex marriage."

In an interview with CBS 58, Kleefisch said she would not seek to prohibit access to birth control, IUDs and emergency contraception such as Plan B.

"No, birth control will not be illegal when I'm governor of the state of Wisconsin," Kleefisch said.

There is no state law which forbids the use of those items, anyway. Such questions are just ridiculous.

Views on Gay Marriage

Kleefisch, the former lt. governor, said she supports gay marriage and added her views have changed over the years on the issue. In 2010, Kleefisch said gay marriage could lead to people marrying dogs or inanimate objects, remarks she later apologized for.

Her views have "changed." Really? No, her cowardly push for political expediency pressed her to give up on this singular cultural issue.

"This is in the past and I think it needs to be left there," she said. "I am in the same place that I would say as a vast majority of Wisconsinites and Americans are. My opinion has changed…gay marriage will be legal when I am governor of Wisconsin."

No, the vast majority of Americans do not share her view on false marriage. And even if they did, the truth does not change and we need leaders at the state and federal level with the courage of their convictions to fight for faith and family, not just freedom.

Kleefisch's position is in contrast to her GOP primary opponent, Tim Michels, who believes marriage should be between a man and woman.

Yes!

Wisconsin's 2006 ban on same-sex marriage would go back into effect if the Supreme Court were to reverse its ruling that legalized gay marriage in the U.S.

That's an outcome which many pro-family forces should be striving for!

So, what about Mr. Michels, specially? How did the media attempt to spin and shame his noble stance on natural marriage and the family?

Tim Michels Opposes Marriage Equality

Republican nominee for Governor Tim Michels is standing by his 2004 opposition to same sex marriage in his bid to lead the state in 2022.

That's the kind of leadership conservatives want to see, and what voters need to see across the country.

At the time of his failed 2004 run for the United States Senate, Michels supported a constitutional amendment defining marriage as between one man and one woman, which would have prevented marriage equality from becoming law in 2015.

"Marriage equality" is another misleading statement. Marriage is about submission and honor, not a chronic demand for fifty-fifty equity. Imagine what a terrible relationship that would be if a man and woman insisted on balancing out how much they gave and took from each other!

To be fair, Michels was not alone in his opposition to marriage equality in 2004. But public opinion about, and support for, marriage equality has blossomed in the last 18 years as millions of Americans changed their mind.

"Blossomed"? More like "mushroomed" or "metastasized."

Not Michels. In an interview with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Michels responded to a question about whether or not he would seek to ban same-sex marriage by stating that he believed marriage belongs to opposite sex couples.

Good.

That extreme belief puts Michels at odds with the overwhelming majority of Wisconsinites, more than 70% of whom support marriage equality.

No, this is not extreme. I sincerely doubt the current statistics, and much of the confusion amounts to the fact that the pro-family movement has not done an effective job (so far) of showing the short-term and long-term consequences to homosexual conduct, false marriage, and fake adoptions on individuals, families, and society as a whole.

It also sets up a clear divide on a fundamental civil rights question of our time. Democratic Governor Tony Evers was the first Wisconsin governor to raise the pride flag over the State Capitol during Pride Month and supports marriage equality.

That clear divide made things all too clear for GOP primary voters, and they lined up behind Michels. Good for them

Final Reflection

The fight to restore natural marriage is not over. The corrupt corporate media wants to give off this false impression that the whole country has moved on and all of us just need to roll over and accept that "marriage equality" is the law of land.

First of all, it's never been the law of the land, but rather a legal fiction because of judicial overreach. Thirty-five states (including California), still maintain statutes or constitutional amendments which recognize marriage as an institution between one man and one woman. When Obergefell gets struck down, then the several states which have rightly defined natural marriage will be able to restore that definition and enforcement within their jurisdiction.

We need more gubernatorial candidates like Tim Michels, and voters should expect our leaders to stand up for what is right, change polls, and shape the culture back to the right and righteous norms that Make America Great.

WINNING! CAGOP Delegation Issues "No Endorsement" for Recall Candidate

 This is incredible!

The CAGOP Grassroots are fighting back and WINNING across the state of California.

For the last three months, I have been working with grassroots activists throughout the state of California to stop a Faulconer Jam-Down endorsement from the California Republican Party establishment.

The Consultant Class that runs the leadership in the CAGOP was committed at all costs to getting a Faulconer endorsement. Lots of rich donors were going to put big money behind the Democrat in RINO clothing Kevin Faulconer.

It would be yet another powerplay to sell what is left of the CAGOP down river and further turn the state of California into an unsalvageable third-world one-party dystopia.

Thankfully, I got busy with my delegates, as did others throughout the state and we pushed back. In every committee, in every meeting, we lambasted the leadership demanding that there be no move, no vote on any endorsement for any one candidate.

AND WE DID IT!

Here's Queen Jessica's press release on the Endorsement convention today:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 7, 2021 213/804-0818 Contact: press@cagop.org CAGOP Statement on Virtual Endorsement Meeting Results   SACRAMENTO – Today, California Republican Party Chairwoman Jessica Millan Patterson released the following statement on the CAGOP delegates’ decision not to endorse a candidate in the recall election of Gavin Newsom:   “Today’s overwhelming decision by our delegates to offer no endorsement speaks to the strength of our field of candidates and the outstanding position our party is in going into the recall election. We are squarely focused on putting California back on track by recalling the worst governor in California history. Gavin Newsom is arrogant, incompetent and a desperate politician who has failed Californians in every way possible. The state is burning, crime is spiking, homelessness is rampant, students have fallen behind, and taxes are suffocating working people. On September 14th, voters will end the Newsom nightmare once and for all and finally restore good governing to California.” The CAGOP delegates’ decision occurred at a virtual endorsement meeting this morning. The four candidates who had qualified to be considered for the CAGOP’s endorsement were: Larry Elder, Kevin Faulconer, Kevin Kiley and Doug Ose. At the meeting, RNC National Committeewoman Harmeet Dhillon and RNC National Committeeman Shawn Steel put forward a motion to table the agenda item to vote on an endorsement so no endorsement would be issued in the recall race. The delegates passed this motion with nearly 90 percent support. The meeting was then adjourned.

Finally, the Rebel Alliance of grassroots conservatives fought back and won against the Empire! I can't wait to see what happens next! 

VOTE YES on Recall -- September 14, 2021!

Asm. Kevin Kiley Announces Exploratory Committee for Governor

I want to thank everyone who has encouraged me to run in the Recall election. I can’t tell you how humbled and appreciative I am.

I got involved with the Recall in a supporting role: to help support the countless Californians who worked tirelessly, heroically, to build the greatest citizens movement in our history. I didn’t do so with any intention of being a candidate.

As I’ve traveled the state, I’ve had the chance to meet many of you in person. I’ve listened to your input, and have learned so much. I’ve thought about what it will take to get our movement across the finish line. And I’m ready to play whatever role gives us the greatest chance to make that happen.

To that end, Orrin Heatlie, the Lead Proponent of the Recall, has offered to organize a committee of Recall leaders to explore that question: whether my candidacy would best serve the goals of removing Newsom and bringing the fundamental change California needs.

At this point, much about the race remains unsettled. That includes the election date, which is looking like September but could be November. The field is also still taking shape. For instance, former acting Director of National Intelligence Ric Grenell is still considering a bid, and he’d be an immediate frontrunner.

So before taking any formal steps, I’m going to trust in the citizens who built this movement. Orrin’s group will account for all dynamics in advising on the best path forward. And I’d love to hear from you directly – just reply to this email!

Running for Governor is never something undertaken lightly, and that’s especially true at this moment. Any candidate must approach the task with the greatest measure of humility and the highest sense of responsibility.

But also, with a sense of possibility: an earnest excitement for what we can achieve together, as we endeavor not just to fire America’s worst governor but to save America’s greatest state.

We’ve already made history. Now comes the fight for California’s future.

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No, Jenner, No!

My name is Arthur Schaper, and I am a male. It doesn’t matter how I feel about it, or what you may think about it.  My name is Arthur Schaper, and I am a life-long resident of the state of California. I voted in the 2003 recall to get rid of lame Governor Gray Davis. Fast forward 18 years, and I have collected signatures to recall sham Governor Gavin Newsom. My name is Arthur Schaper. Who I am is not going to change just because I feel differently from day to day. This repetition of names and identities may seem trite and degrading, but it’s important to the larger point that I wish to make.

Identity matters, and reality matters even more, especially now in a time in which corporate, legacy media outlets routinely lie to our faces, in which corporate interests, and even “American First” rabblerousers and politicos seem interested in putting themselves first, ignoring the foundational principles of our great constitutional republic.

Identity means very little without recognizing what is real. Just because I feel like a nut does not mean I am one. Just because I want to be President of the United States, or at least just because I wish President Donald Trump were still in the White House does not mean that either I or he is currently serving as President. Reality bites, even if it does not reflect moral truth. But you have to bite in order to eat. The pangs of reality help deal with worse pangs down the road. Reality matters. Conservatism can’t conserve anything, let alone fight to gain anything, if we conservatives refuse to tell the truth about issues. Wasn’t it a Soviet dissident who told people “Live Not By Lies” as the first step to fighting tyranny?

Tyranny is based on lies, based on forcing people to go along with lies, and that has been the modus operandi for California politics for the last ten years. We hear about California as the 5^th largest economy in the world, and yet half of the population leaves their homes, only to find homeless sprawled all over the sidewalks, with waste, filth, and trash strewn about. We are told that California is a progressive utopia, when the irony of the word is lost on them (utopia means “nowhere” in Greek). There is no such thing as a progressive utopia. When the government declares war on small businesses; kowtows to teachers unions who do not want to teach students but still get a paycheck every month; enforces ridiculous lockdowns with mask mandates which have nothing to do with science or expertise, all while childing us to follow the science and listen to the experts, you have tyranny, not utopia.

California needs principled governance to govern us out of this mess. California is a mess, so messed up, it’s like a professional athlete who won gold medals running arduous decathlons, only to wake up thirty years later, declare to the world that he is actually a she, and that everyone should celebrate this strange transition of events. Of course, the mess that is California is aligned all to well with the mess that is Bruce “Caitlyn” Jenner. For biological fact and empirical reality, I will refer to Caitlyn as a he. It is scientifically, surgically, and psychologically impossible for a man to become a woman, and a woman to become a man. I just finished celebrating Mothers’ Day with other members of my local church, and it’s clear to me that not only men and women are fundamentally different, but that being a mother—and becoming a mother—is something that men cannot do.

We need new leadership in California.

That new leadership is not Caitlyn Jenner.

I am sickened that there are staunch, realistic, constitutionalist conservatives who are willing to jump on the Bruce Jenner bender. Trump voters are getting all giggly about this guy in drag. Even Sean Hannity gave Cait a softball interview, when he (Cait, that is) actually said “I support illegal immigration.” Following that slip of the tongue or a slip of the mind, Hannity slipped in to correct the recently declared gubernatorial candidate. “Thanks for having my back, Sean.”

Really. Really? Is this some kind of joke? Is this what California has been reduced to?!

California needs not just one recall, but a Total Recall (and not the Schwarzenegger kind). We need to recall what America is all about, what California used to be all about. But at the very least, we need to recall the fundamental basics, i.e. that there is male, there is female, and never the two shall transition.

“Cait for Gov” is madness. Why would anyone want to elect someone who is mentally ill to govern an entire state? Politicians are sick in head by and large, but a man who wears a slip with a few plastic bags shoved in his chest—that is just plain nuts!

My name is Arthur Schaper, and I am not voting for Bruce, Caitlyn, former Olympic Gold Medalist, whatever you want to call him (yes, HIM). This identity politicking, left-lean pandering among conservatives, even in liberal bastions like California, must stop.

Conservatives have been caving on the cultural issues for too long. Reagan WON two national elections by fighting for life, against abortion, for God, against secularism. Trump fought and won a number of cultural fights, too. One would think that the conservative movement would have learned the lesson by now that we need to fight, not flee, from contentious cultural issues. Want to win black, Hispanic, Asian votes? You don’t win those cohorts with social liberalism. How about some constitutional back-to-basics instead? How about fighting for faith, family, and freedom? Whatever happened to destroying the twin relics of barbarism, slavery and polygamy, which the founding GOP targeted in 1854?

Yes, California needs to Recall Newsom, but Californians must recall some sanity to California’s culture, and that starts with saying the ever so obvious: “No, Jenner, No!”

Torrance City Council: No Mask Mandate!

Dear Torrance City Council:

The proposed mask mandate with enforcement by fines is unreasonable, unnecessary, and unconstitutional.

It's unreasonable because the Torrance Police Department is already stretched thin as it is. They have to struggle to enforce other quality of life, property, and public safety crimes and issues as it is. The city police department does not need another code enforcement program to burden local law enforcement officers.

I am aware that the city of Manhattan Beach implemented a citation process for individuals not wearing masks in their city. However, in order to accomplish this unrealistic goal, the Manhattan Beach City Council had to hire a third-party company to issue the citations. Not only that, but within days of passing the ordinance, the city council had to begin implementing exceptions and limitations to the enforcement of this mandate. The poor thinking and reasoning behind the mandate made it inevitable that such mistakes would follow. The mandate should have never been imposed in that city or anywhere else. By the way, the city of Torrance is already facing a $26 million budget deficit because of declining revenues due to the COVID-19 lockdown. There is no money to consider contracting out a third-party outfit to issue citations. This is simply not an appropriate measure to pursue in the city of Torrance. Bear in mind also that some individuals go outside for one walk a day, and often just around their homes. There is no serious reason to impose a mask mandate on those individuals.

This mask mandate is unnecessary. The COVID-19 infection numbers are starting to stabilize. The rising number of deaths has been attributed to the COVID-19 outbreaks in nursing homes and among senior citizens in similar facilities. The solution to stopping the spread of this sickness is not to quarantine or impose limits on the healthy, but rather the sick. Furthermore, I heard one argument in favor of so-called mask mandates based on the fact that Taiwan handled the outbreak of COVID-19 so effectively, that a grand total of 400 people were infected. This drastic reduction in outbreaks had nothing to do with wearing masks in public. The Republic of China (Taiwan) has had frosty relations with Mainland China for decades. When news first broke out in late November 2019 about the outbreak of the Wuhan virus, Taiwan closed its borders with China, and stopped all major trade and travel. Any other citizens from Taiwan or other countries who visited the island nation following that period were immediately quarantined for 14 days. I received a full report of this process from a friend of mine who is studying at Quemoy University in Kinmen Island. It was not the imposition of masks, but the other quarantine efforts which significantly slowed the spread of COVID-19.

The United States struggles with a flu season every year. The mortality rates for the common flu are three times that of the COVID-19 illness. The draconian measures sought by Governor Newsom, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, and certain members of the Torrance City Council to combat COVID-19 are simply not justified. As Manhattan Beach city councilwoman Suzanne Hadley shared: "It is not the government's job to protect us from death."

The mask mandate is unconstitutional. The Governor of California has issued one arbitrary and capricious edict after another with no proper authority. Executive decrees based on emergency orders must be clearly defined and time-limited. The latest statewide mask order does not fit under such criteria.

The Torrance city council should reject any further spending or discussion on mandates, promotions, directions, and recommendations regarding the wearing of masks in public.

Sincerely,

Arthur Schaper

Election 2018: New York Governor's Race a Possibility for GOP?

Republicans are looking at a big map of opportunities for US senate races. They could scoop up anywhere from six to even ten seats. President Trump's agenda is popular with working people, and Trump's endorsements have been very effective for some of these races although special elections have been a bit of a toss-up.

The Governor's Map, however, is formidable in a different way. The 2010 Red Wave swept in Republican governor's into otherwise Democratic states. Maine and New Mexico, for example, had Republicans with a strong penchant for conservative reforms across the board. Today, there are Republican governors in at least 34 states.

What will happen going into 2018, however?

Illinois is a lost cause. Even though GOP incumbent Bruce Rauner unseated a terrible incumbent, Pat Quinn, who had replaced the corrupted and disgraced Rod Balgojevich, Rauner squandered what political capital he had earned and built upon. He signed off on terrible legislation, from taxpayer funded abortions to tax increases. His only saving grace has been to stand up to the public sector unions and issue executive orders to free non-union public employees from paying fees.

Rauner also signed off on transgender bathrooms and sanctuary state laws. He faced a conservative primary challenge who had much less money than Rauner the hedge-fund manager. The incumbent squeaked out of the primary by 52% against a relatively unknown state legislator.

This is bad, really bad for Illinois. The state is hemhorraging taxpayers like crazy. The infrastructure is collapsing, and the unsustainable pension debt is so bad, that there is now way for the legislature or any kind of creative or hard budgeting that will get the state on firm footing. Illinois is going bankrupt, and both parties contributed to this epic, unprecedented failure.

Rauner will lose to a union-bought Democrat, and then the state will collapse under its corrupt, wasteful largesse.

New Mexico and Maine are looking like they may tilt Democratic, too, although Congressman Steve Pearce has a degree of popularity which may help him overcome his slowly but steadily compromised Democratic challenger. Maine is another problem due to its newly-implemented rank choice voting program, which the current governor still has refused to certify.

Other historically blue states will have incumbent Republicans more likely than not win re-election: Vermont and New Hampshire. Phil Scott has find the right equilibrium on center-left cultural issues, while signing off on fiscally prudent budgets to help Vermonters save money. The state is steadily losing population as more young people struggle to find work and succeed at building any kind of lasting life for themselves.

Now, one blue state looks like a promise pick-up for Republicans: New York State.

The Republican is a the chief executive for Duchess County, Macus Molinaro.  He served in the State Assembly years back. He voted against same-sex marriage and gun control. However, he did not vote for Donald Trump. This year, though, the President might not hold this lack of loyalty against statewide candidates.

The more Republicans that Trump can work with in statehouses, the better. Besides, Trump already endorsed John Cox for governor of California, and Cox admitted that he had voted for Gary Johnson in 2016.

As for Molinaro, does he have a chance?  Incumbent Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo won re-election in 2014 by 54% during a very low Democratic turnout year.

This year, Cuomo is facing hefty, partisan, ideological primary challenges. Actress Cynthia Nixon has earned a socialist worker's party endorsement, for example, and she insists that she will stay in the race all the way to general election day.

Another candidate, former Syracuse mayor Stephanie Miner, is launching a bid as a liberal-leaning Independent. Progressives pushed her to run, and she already has a demonstrable political record as the chief executive for the fifth-largest city in the state.

She will give Cuomo another run for his money.

President Trump does not have high approval ratings in his home state, which is understandable since the state is pretty liberal, and the New York State GOP have worked has hard distancing themselves from Trump as they have looking for strong statewide candidates.

Also, because the previous state attorney general resigned because of sexual misconduct, the current appointed attorney general will face a real challenge this year. One Townhall.com article suggested that a Republican might be able to top this appointed official and ensure at least one Republican in statewide office in New York State.

Anything can happen, that's for sure, and with so many left-leaning gubernatorial candidates, Cuomo may find that his bid for a third term as governor will end his career.