Sacto Dan reports...

Resolution # 9 came up for debate. Chairman Duff Sundheim recognized three speakers in favor, and three against. Each speaker made their pitch:

• The supporters are saying the resolution represents core Republican values.
• The opponents are saying the resolution is about spanking the Governor and if it passes, the Governor cannot win re-election.

Then the vote:

• The nays have it, the resolution is defeated.
• The Republican party is following Governor Schwarzenegger and Tom McClintock to the left. Is this the end of the Republican party that can't win because it abandoned its principles as red-meat conservatives say, or is this a new Republican party that recognizes the realities of politics in California, and wants to run to win with more mainstream support as the moderates say?

My response...

This is the "new" Republican Party, the one that understands you have to win elections before you can drive, create and lead with legislation.

The best chance for a McClintock Gubernatorial race is for Arnold to win...with Tom...and then McClintock can run as the elected Lt. Governor. Lose Arnold, lose Tom and lose the state, simple as that.

The future for the GOP is "center-right", say it with me: "center-right" is 80% of the core of the GOP. Get 80% and then we can move toward the 90%. I doubt we'll ever see 100% of the conservative ideology in California's future - too far gone, especially when it comes to issues like abortion.

For example, we have a State Constitutional Right for abortion in this state (because of a weak Democrat Gray Davis victory over a very conservative candidate, Bill Simon). Even if the US Supreme's revoke Roe v. Wade (and they should), they will leave it up to the individual state(s). At that, abortion is still legal in California.

Best placed to deal with abortion in California - the church.

Rather than Evangelicals running stupid "Global Warming" ads and agenda, they should be meeting people on life/cultural and eternal issues like abortion, marriage and moral issues.

For the "party", it is "center-right"...for the church is it "conservative core and cultural war for righteousness"...one is a vote, the other a moral righteousness.

I have no faith in politics, just a vote...my faith rests in God and His message and instruction. All of the religious, cultural and ultra-conservative, single issue "knuckle draggers" need to embrace the difference, and the new direction of the party.

They can still have their core, moral believes - as I do - but they need to get on the bus for statewide victories.

Any questions, see State Senator Tom McClintock.