OC Blog

Barack Obama In Newport Coast Next Month

According to this press release that went out today from the Democratic Party of Orange County, liberal Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama will be campaigning among the great unwashed masses of Newport Coast:

In this Presidential primary we have several outstanding Democratic candidates. Earlier this year I promised to invite you to join me at events for all of these candidates. The next exciting event is a breakfast with Sen. Obama.

Newsweek Article On Dissatisfied Offspring of GOP Icons

Faithful reader Andy Favor alerted me to this Newsweek article about descendants of Republican icons who are dissatisfied with the state of the party, and whether that presages some moderate exodus from the GOP. It's interesting -- if overstated -- food for thought, and the tone comes across less as "We wonder if this will happens and more as "we hope this happens."

In any case, the weak OC-link is Peggy Goldwater Clay is quoted in the article. And for all the pining for the "good old days" of Eisenhower Republicanism, it should be noted that Ike was elected at the head of a GOP tide in 1952 that put Congress in Republican hands for the first time in 20 years. Six years later, in 1958, the GOP suffered one of the worst shellackings in its history as the Democrats romped to a historic victory in the mid-term elections. So let's put the nostalgic pining for "Eisenhower Republicanism" as some magic elixir for GOP woes into perspective.

Fred Thompson Didn't Announce, But He's Running

I'm sitting here in the ballroom at the Balboa Bay Club as the Lincoln Club of Orange Annual Dinner  attendees filter into the foyer and on to the bar. And I'm blogging. Go figure.

In any case, former Sen. Fred Thompson finished speaking a short time ago. It was, in my estimation, a terrific speech. it wasn't a stump speech larded with statistics and programmatic specifics. Thompson's speech was thematic,presenting the challenges facing the country both at home and abroad, and then pointing to American traditions, principles and strengths as the repository where we can find solutions. It had a strong Reaganesque flavor, in the best meaning of that over-used descriptor.

Readers can see it for themselves on C-SPAN (we'll have our on video online this weekend) and make their own judgments. The reaction from various attendees I spoke with was mixed, ranging from criticism of lack of specifics to gushing over the compelling feeling evoked by the man and his speech.

I think tonight's speech was a market test to gauge reaction -- not just from the audience in the room, but the audience on the other side of the cameras. My guess is the goal was for us to be able to see Fred Thompson as President, and in my estimation he largely succeeded.

UPDATE (5/5/07): Here's some not-so-gre at pictures I took last night:

Romney Names Ackerman To California Leadership Team

This came over the transom this morning:

GOVERNOR MITT ROMNEY NAMES CALIFORNIA LEADERSHIP TEAM

Boston, MA – Governor Mitt Romney today announced the first 15 members of the Romney for President California Leadership Team, a group of leading Californians who will support Governor Romney as he campaigns in the state and across the nation.  California Senate Republican Leader Dick Ackerman and former Assemblyman Tony Strickland will serve as Chairmen of the effort.

"I am honored to have the backing of these dedicated leaders in the Golden State," said Governor Romney.  "Their record of service is proof that President Reagan's legacy is alive and well in California.  We all believe that strong and unflinching leadership is once again needed to restore fiscal sanity in Washington, D.C."

Giuliani "Hates" Abortion, But Would Subsidize It With Tax Dollars

But while Mr. Giuliani is picking up supporters as if they were baseball cards, buyer's remorse is already evident in some cases. At least one GOP Congressman who has endorsed Mr. Giuliani told me last week he was disheartened that the former New York mayor has openly come out in support of public financing of abortions. "He misread the law. Just because the Constitution protects abortion under Roe v. Wade, it doesn't mean the government has to subsidize it," he told me. "If that were true, I could take my Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms and demand the government buy me a gun."

The congressman is also distressed that Mr. Giuliani opposed the NAFTA free-trade agreement when it was voted on by Congress in 1993. "I love Rudy's strength and grit," the congressman told me. "But I just wish he didn't constantly remind people of why it's difficult to support him."

The above is an excerpt from today's Political Diary (which at $3.95 per month is one of the the best deal's for a steady infusion of national political inside info). And I thought the last line encapsulates much of my consternation at the rush to embrace Rudy Giuliani by so many conservatives. The last time I saw something similar was when Arnold Schwarzenegger was ran for Governor in the Gray Davis recall -- and I was part of that exercise in mass self-deception.

What Will Fred Thompson Announce At Lincoln Club Dinner?

Will the Lincoln Club of Orange County once again perform its traditional role as catalyst for presidential ambitions? That may be the case when former Sen. Fred Thompson appears as the guest speaker at the Lincoln Club of Orange County's annual dinner next month.

Politico.com reports:

Fred Thompson Gears Up

By: Mike Allen

April 6, 2007 11:22 AM EST

Fred Thompson, the “Law & Order” actor and former senator from Tennessee, has moved beyond pondering a bid for the White House and begun assembling the nucleus of a campaign should he decide to run, according to people involved in the effort.

Thompson has not yet decided to seek the Republican presidential nomination. But “he is getting more serious every day,” said an adviser familiar with Thompson's plans.

Thompson’s coming-out as a candidate-in-waiting will be a May 4 appearance at the 45th annual dinner of the Lincoln Club of Orange County in the heart of Ronald Reagan country in Southern California. The invitation was widely sought by aspiring Republicans, and his advisers expect considerable media attention around the visit. But there are no plans now for an announcement then.

You can read the rest of the Politico.com story here.

Giuliani Speaking At Royce Event In OC Tomorrow

This just came over the transom from Rep. Ed Royce's campaign:

Rudy Giuliani to Speak to Royce Congressional Club in Orange County

Orange County, CA - - Republican Presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani will be the special guest speaker tomorrow at U.S. Representative Ed Royce’s Congressional Club event in Newport Beach, CA.

The former Mayor of New York, Giuliani is the leading Republican contender for President in 2008. Polls show his candidacy would give Republicans an opportunity to win in California, New York, New Jersey and other states where recent Republican nominees have not fared well.

The Royce event will start at 5:00 PM on Saturday, March 24 at the Island Hotel (formerly Four Seasons) at 690 Newport Center Dr. in Newport Beach.  Members of the media are advised to arrive early, as a large crowd is expected and Mayor Giuliani is expected to be speaking shortly after 5:00 PM.

Romney Announces California Finance Team

I just saw this on Total Buzz:

Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney released the list of his California finance co-chairmen today with, thanks to alphbetical order, OC GOP boss Scott Baugh at the top of the list. OC biz folks named are David Bradford (OWNLI), Mark Chapin Johnson (Chapin Medical), John Clarey (RF Comsites), Hadi Makarechian (Capital Pacific), and Doug Wilson (Next Solutions).

Memo to Romney campaign: if you're really trying to communicate with GOP activists, consider putting Red County on your e-mail distribution list -- given that we have blogs in three the most GOP-voter rich California counties and a fourth on the way. My e-mail is matt@redcounty.com. Just a thought.

McCain In OC

FlashReport proprietor Jon Fleischman has bought himself a video camera and is going hog wild (I know the feeling).

Today he's posted video he took of Sen. John McCain at the Arizonan's Irvine fund raiser last night -- the clips are of the Senator pledging to compete for California (we've heard that before), about the war in Iraq and why the GOP got spanked in 2006.

The Ghost of Campaigns Past Pays A Visit To Giuliani Regarding Abortion

I've endeavored to steer this blog clear of national political issues since starting it in June 2004. That policy will be increasingly modified due to the impending creation of a Feb. 5, 2008 presidential primary for California -- which will spur the presidential contenders to more frequently visit California -- and Orange County -- in search of volunteers and endorsements, not just dollars. Here in Orange County and California, national politics will increasingly become local politics.

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani is the current front-runner for the GOP nomination. His campaign has been working mightily to get conservatives to look past his social liberalism and re-assure social conservatives that while he's not necessarily with them, he's won't be against them -- especially on abortion.

That effort took a big hit today with this 1989 video of Giuliani during his first, unsuccessful mayoral campaign, in which he emphatically calls for taxpayer-funding of abortion:

Now, watch this clip of Rudy appearing on Larry King Live last month:

Giuliani says: "I am also, as you know, always have been, against abortion, paid abortion..."