Did I say there was a chasm in the Republican Party between moderates and the hard right on another string on this blog? I did. There is.

Funny Tom Hudson would mention the Southern California CRP officers in particular in his post given this is all about the Placer County Republican Party's endorsement of lifetime Southern California politician Tom McClintock.

What was that about John McCain again, John Stoos? How he is pro-gun, anti-abortion and anti-gay marriage? How you absolutely believe his amazing turns to the right in his attitude to the Christian right, on taxes and--gulp--even on immigration despite the fact that the guy is, oh, 71 years old and not prone to changing his mind everyday on matters of substance?

Now I know as well as anyone else here that once the primary is over and no matter who wins all of you will get onboard to dis the Democrat. All will be forgotten in a few short weeks when the prospect of losing the district entirely is staring you in the face. It sure is fun watching the sparks fly now, though.

Bob,

You must have trouble sorting through long posts so let me make it simple: John McCain has a near perfect ProLife voting record, he believes that marriage is between and man and a woman, does not support gun bans like either Democrat, wants to reduce taxes and secure the border. And did I mention that he wants to win in Iraq.

Sounds pretty conservative to me!

John

I am wondering where Kirk's comments are to this? Kirk?

John,

The larger point in my post is that there is a breakdown in the Republican Party between moderates and full-fledged conservatives (if you will). At the presidential level conservatives appear somewhat satisfied with McCain but I think that comfort required either taking a leap of faith given his past or is probably more about the discipline Republicans have which alliows them to swallow their differences and align behind their candidate in the end. But still--will conservative Republicans really turn out in large numbers to vote for McCain in November?

There are huge internal differences in this congressional primary, also, which are showing up clearly on this blog. I wonder how or whether these differences will be put aside in favor of supporting the eventual nominee in the general election.

If Ose wins will you fight for him against Brown, John? Or stay home? I believe Jeff has said he would fight for McClintock if McClintock wins.

Bob

Hi Aaron,

Thanks for the invitation to comment. I hadn’t because I don’t really have much to add.

But since you asked…

Over the years, how many of the activities of the “autonomous” central committee have been made possible by bounty checks from the CA Party (bounties which, I might add, I had a sizable hand in earning by registering hundreds of high school students as Republicans)?

In the 2006 General Election, hundreds of volunteers, including myself, busily scurried in and out of the Placer County Republican Party headquarters trying to elect Republicans like Tom McClintock (in his fourth run for statewide office). The Placer County Republican Party was only too happy to let the CA Party pay the rent for that headquarters.

Here is the true test of the Placer County Republican Parties independence – how long would the PCRP continue to exist if the purse strings were cut?

Sorry, that should read "Party's" not "Parties". Spell check doesn't catch the inappropriate use of the plural in place of the singular possessive.

Kirk,

I think that you missed the funding point: It would be great if funding for BOTH state and federal races could continue as they have in the past, especially since this is a presidential year: Violating the legal separation when it comes to federal races would seriously disrupt the flow of qualified federal dollars.

Tom can explain all the details if you need more.

John

John,

No, I didn’t miss the point about the separation of funding, and I completely agree with you on the point.

My point in my post was simply to say that if the PCRCC wants to express its independence from the CRP, then it should be willing to do without the CRP’s funding. As I was growing up and starting to stretch my own wings, my dad was fond of saying, “When you pay your own way, you can make your own rules.” I think that applies here.

Kirk,

You wrote that last post before ten, so you cannot use my "it was too late" excuse...

If YOU agree with the point you make in the first line, then there is no need for the local committee to "express its independence" as you state in the 2nd paragraph since it IS independent when it comes to federal races, otherwise you would be wrong to agree with me in the first paragraph.

That was wise advise that your Dad gave you [unlike the position he has taken in this race :)] and I commend Tom Hudson for following it: He IS paying for all the work they are doing on behalf of the McClintock campaign! If he did not and went hat-in-hand to the state party for help, he would be disagreeing with BOTH of us as you stated in the first paragraph and not following your fathers wise advise.

After saying all of that I am confused about what you think applies here so maybe you can try that post again in the morning!

John

John,

Forgive me for not being as “nuanced” as you.

When I said I agree with you, what I meant was that I agree that it is silly that we have these separations between finance committees. I agree that McCain-Feingold is wrong and that Doug’s vote in favor of it was a bad vote. It may surprise you to learn that Doug also agrees that it was a mistake.

Which leads to one of the differences between you and me: I don’t believe that Doug is infallible – you think that Tom is.

And it leads to an important difference between our candidates: Doug is willing to admit that in his six years in Congress he cast a vote or two that he wishes he hadn’t, while after over twenty years in office, Tom can’t think of one mistake he has made.

But I digress…

Yes, it is silly that there has to be a separation of funds. But the point of my post is still valid regardless of how campaign finance law regulates committee involvement – if the PCRCC is willing to stick its finger in the CRP’s eye on the “independent” federal campaign, then they better to be willing to do without CRP funding in all other areas.

Kirk - If Ose really thought CFR was a mistake - he voted a whole bunch of times - specifically

To ban issue ads 60 days before a general election
Banning "Soft Money" and did so multiple times over a couple years.

Ose also bought a life membership in the NRA - I guess he is realizing his stellar D+/F are mistakes, too?

Ose said on the air that every abortion is a tragedy - yet I have at least 50 votes or more for taxpayer funded abortion, removing prohibitions to abortion and the like...

The point here is that Ose is trying to reinvent himself and has not had long enough to be believable.

If Ose becomes an active CRA participant and starts helping Conservatives get elected (raising money, endorsing / campaigning for them) - I'd be impressed.

Right now - I have a mainstreet partnership letter that talks about keeping the Moderate Voice Strong in the GOP.

Right Now - the Eagle Forum, the Club for Growth, Gun Owners of America, the CRA, the National Taxpayer's Union and the like have all endorsed McClintock.

Aaron,

You forgot the National Rifle Association!

John

John,

If I were Ken, I would accuse you of hiding behind Aaron’s skirt.

John and Aaron,

Nice job by each of you avoiding the point.

I thought the point was that I could not understand your point??

John

John,

I knew there was a reason why I liked you!