Rather than opine directly, please read the following Sacramento Bee article in today's (February 10th) paper below. It contains an interview with me where I greet the Governor and his minions with even more honesty than usual. The last paragraph is my personal favorite...Gloves Off.

From The Capitol
Mark

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California Republican Convention: Governor speaks to GOP
He tells meeting of party faithful he wants to build more dams and prisons.
By Kevin Yamamura - Bee Capitol Bureau
Published 12:00 am PST Saturday, February 10, 2007
Story appeared in MAIN NEWS section, Page A3

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Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger told a Republican gathering that "we may not always agree on every single issue, but I always will have your best interests in my heart." Sacramento Bee/Randall Benton


After celebrating "post-partisanship" in his inaugural address, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger played to a decidedly partisan GOP convention crowd Friday by emphasizing his anti-crime credentials and calling for more dams and government accountability.

The Republican governor was received politely by the estimated 650 dinner attendees at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Sacramento, though his appearance drew skepticism from some conservative delegates who suggested he gave up his GOP values through deals with Democrats dating back to last year.

Aware of the criticism, Schwarzenegger acknowledged early in his 17-minute speech that "we may not always agree on every single issue, but I always will have your best interests in my heart as I govern this state."

Republicans this year have focused their criticism on Schwarzenegger's $12 billion health care plan because it includes a 4 percent payroll charge on businesses with at least 10 employees that do not provide health insurance. The plan also asks doctors and hospitals to pay into a state health fund.

Many Republicans have called the proposal a tax, whereas the governor calls it a fee. Schwarzenegger sold his plan Friday as a way to help businesses avoid rapid increases in health-care expenses, suggesting that 6.5 million uninsured Californians are to blame for $14.7 billion in added costs each year.

"We have to make sure that everyone has insurance so that hospitals and doctors don't get left with billions and billions of dollars of unpaid bills, and eventually that gets passed on to the rest of us that are insured," Schwar- zenegger said.

Two resolution proposals submitted Friday by party conservatives target the governor's health care plan. One "opposes all legislative health care proposals containing new taxes, 'fees,' and involuntary governmental charges known by any other name." The other opposes all tax increases, implying that the governor's plan is a "disingenuous" one that relies on semantics to avoid the tax label.

Mark Zappa, 48, a Gilroy businessman and conservative Republican, called the health plan "absolutely outrageous."

"When he first ran for election, he knew we had to make California a more business-friendly environment," Zappa said. "He did so at first, and companies did stop leaving and some even came back. Now he's proposing something that certainly will chase companies out of state."

Schwarzenegger discussed his health care plan only after delivering a barrage of red-meat lines defending his proposal to send 5,000 to 7,000 prisoners out of state to ease California's overcrowding problems.

The governor said critics have suggested the state should seek prisoners' consent before transferring them. He then rattled off a list of crimes, from rape to murder, for which he said prisoners never sought consent from their victims. The lines drew the biggest applause of the night.

Schwarzenegger promised to build new prisons to solve an overcrowding crisis "without allowing dangerous criminals to go free." He has proposed a $10.9 billion plan to build 78,000 new beds in addition to changing the state's parole and sentencing structure.

The governor, in his inaugural address last month, minimized partisan loyalties by calling for an era of "post-partisanship" in which lawmakers and the governor ignore political concerns. That came after a year in which Schwarzenegger struck deals with Democrats to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase the minimum wage and borrow money to pay for schools, roads and housing.

Zappa, wearing a button with the acronym "RINO" (Republican In Name Only) crossed out, said the governor has acquiesced too much on environmental and business issues.

"My philosophy is this: If you have to cave in on all of your principles to get elected, then what's the point?" asked Zappa. "If he wants to act like a Democrat, then he should be a Democrat."

Schwarzenegger, however, declared himself a "proud Republican." He invoked the words of President Reagan, who also acknowledged divisions within the Republican Party "tent" at a state convention four decades ago.

About the writer:
The Bee's Kevin Yamamura can be reached at (916) 326-5548 or kyamamura@sacbee.com.

Services will be held for CRA Historian Louise Leigh who passed away Dec. 6.

Service Wednesday, December 13th, 11 a.m., Skyrose Chapel
Reception following at Rose Hills reception area at 1:00 p.m.

She was always a class act and one who selflessly helped others and the American cause.

Below is some information about her provided by Peggy Mew.


Louise E. Leigh, born May 24, 1914 in Gloversville, NY, passed away on December 6, 2006 in Pomona, CA. She moved to the Los Angeles area at an early age and has lived in El Monte for the past 30 years.

Louise held interesting positions throughout her years including an annual participant as a model in the Laguna Beach Pageant of the Masters. Traveling the world, her adventurous spirit led her to almost every continent. Those experiences enhanced her appreciation for culture and art throughout her life. Later she worked and retired from the field of clinical technology.

She began her constitutional activism as an outreach director for the California Bicentennial Commission in 1987. In 1997 she founded Constitution Day, Inc to organize Constitution Day celebrations with school children, overseas military and Governor’s or their representatives from each state reciting the Preamble to the Constitution simultaneously on September 17 throughout the nation. Last year, Louise was instrumental in getting Public Law 108-447 signed into law by President George Bush designation September 17th as Constitution Day.

She has received numerous recognitions: the George Washington Gold Medal Award from the Freedom Foundation at Valley Forge; International Award from the National Center for Constitutional Studies; Medal of Honor from the Daughters of the American Revolution; Outreach Director both Silver and Gold Key and Volunteer of the Year Award from the CA Republican Party; and two time recipient of the Nellie Mae Howard Award.

Louise served on the California State Commissioner, Respiratory Care Board; LA County member Consumer Affairs Board; National Selective Service Board; Constitutional Advocate to both LA county and Southern Division Federated Republican Women; CA Republican Assembly Historian since 1969 establishing an archive of memorabilia at USC. Delegate to two National Republican Conventions and appointed Presidential Elector in 1993.
Louise taught English to immigrants and tutored children after school at the New Revelation Baptist Church in Pasadena. She was an accomplished needlepoint artist and loved to garden, travel and spend time with the people she loved. She built many loyal friendships over the years and considered them her family.. She was an amazing person and will be greatly missed.

The CRP needs to change. Many have asked my opinion on what needs to change and how. You can read about it here.

Well, the Republicans got soundly shellacked in Tuesdays election. Hugo Chavez, North Korea, Al Qaida and Iran are in complete agreement. They are glad the GOP got beaten. I am glad also, but for completely different reasons. When I was first elected to the Republican Central Committee, my mentor, Ben Gilmore, who has worked the street in politics since Barry Goldwater, asked me, "What is your job?" I replied, "To help Republicans get elected." Ben replied with another question, "To what end?" Duh, I don't know, was my confused response. Ben then explained that if a Republican politician does not pass muster with our core beliefs, then they are no better than a Democrat. In 1994, the Republicans under the leadership of Newt Gingrich swept the Democrats, to the tune of 54 seats, out of Congress. The "Contract with America" was a bold move to rid the government of tax and spend liberal Democrats who had trashed the economy and expanded the government to horrendous proportions. America spoke; both Democrats and Republicans alike trusted our conservative approach to governance.

Fast forward. Unfortunately, the last eight years has seen more and more RINO's, (Republicans In Name Only), taking over the party, believing that they had to be more like Democrats to get elected. Ronald Reagan proved that to be false. Had the Republican members of the House and Senate stuck to Constitutional principles of limited government, lower taxes, free enterprise, strong national defense and secure borders, the Republicans would be the ones celebrating right now. Unlike the Democrats and RINO's who are clueless as to why the results of last Tuesday were what they were, conservatives are clear. Our principles don't change on a whim like the latest fad in Hollywood. We don't care that our party is out of step with the liberal elites and media moguls. No, we are steady and principled. We believe in LIFE and that includes every man, woman or child irrespective of race or religion. That includes the unborn. We believe in LIBERTY which means your freedom. We believe in PROPERTY which means that individual can purchase and own real property on which the government cannot infringe. The founders viewed private property as of equal importance to liberty. We believe in strong BORDERS. This means that in this nation of immigrants, all must go through proper channels, not tunnels, over fences or in container ships, no matter how much of a demand there is for workers. What part of illegal don't you understand?

It was the conservative Republicans and Democrats (yes, they exist!) that swept out the big spending, social wishy washy RINO's out of office. Unfortunately, some very good Republicans were washed out in the bloodletting. Now, only time will tell who will be in power. Frankly, I don't care as long as they value the Constitution over there own egos.

I dream of a resurgence of the real Republican Party which will adhere to the principles of the Constitution and our founder, Abraham Lincoln.


Mark A. Zappa-Gilroy
Vice-President at Large
California Republican Assembly
www.californiarepublicanassembly.com

Jonah Goldbeg has an opinion piece in the Los Angeles Times. A must read. See it here.

Michael Der Manouel, Jr. is the President of the Fresno Lincoln Club. He penned a piece in the FlashReport entitled "The straight-forward Case For Opposing All Five Bond Measures". A must read. See it here.

CRA member Bill Saracino has peened an opinion piece for the Sacramento Bee outlining the problem with Proposition 1D. Read it here. And Vote No!