As a recovering Republican and now a full fledged “big L” Libertarian in the Libertarian Party of California (LPC), I have met many like minded folks in the GOP who believe they can reform a Republican party that is both insolent and unwelcoming toward their efforts. Here in Ventura County, a Ron Paul Republican won a central committee seat with the GOP only to have the party bosses strong arm a few key votes so that their “chosen one” was the winner. The problem? The voting had been closed and the winners announced when the votes were changed. Election fraud is not unique to Democrats or their ACORN buddies. I mention this particular vote because it is emblematic of the GOP at-large, where those in power within the GOP are threatened by those who wish to have the Republican party actually be conservative. The party bosses are fighting tooth and nail to keep the status quo while painting a Potemkin picture of change.
But even if you could reform the GOP here in California, their brand is so tarnished and reputation so derided, that whether or not the party actually does manage to reform into something more Libertarian, will it make a difference in the minds of the public -especially the young? Have you been to a GOP meeting lately? Just look around. Moreover, in a year in which Republicans were sweeping into office across other parts of the nation, it was only here in California that the GOP actually suffered even more losses, having not won a single statewide-race at all and losing ground in the legislature! This is a symptom of how anemic the party has become in the Golden State.
It’s so hard for Republicans to raise funds for major races here if California that it seems only mega-wealthy, self-financed candidates ever stand a chance at winning a governor’s race. Just think Arnold Schwarzenegger and Meg Whitman; each worth approximately $300 million and 1 billion, respectively. But, not even Whitman’s eye-popping campaign spending, at $178.5 million, was enough to push her over the edge. Now that’s a wasted vote. And as if these weren’t enough indications of a lost cause for the GOP in California, their voter registration numbers in the state are dwindling while “big L” Libertarian numbers are rising. The number of registered Independent and Decline-To-State voters is up, too. “Anywhere but the GOP” is what these figures should tell you. Libertarian Party of California numbers would be rising exponentially were it not for the LPC’s historic reticence to fundraise to the same degree the other parties do. That’s changing swiftly though…
So why fight a party machine that doesn’t want you and that the public doesn’t want either? Given the mood Californians are in, Libertarians are finding people to join the party with ease. The LPC is rapidly evolving into an effective party, it sells easily with the public, and isn’t a watered-down version of Liberty. I encourage everyone to visit http://ca.lp.org/ and discover an alternative that actually stands a chance in California’s future.
-Flavio Fiumerodo
Vice Chair – LPVC
Flavio Fiumerodo
ffiumerodo
Kevin Takenaga
venturalibertarians
Keith
LibertyLady
Lauren
Susan Aquino
Rhonda Lee
gpipes
Great opinion piece!
I’m, with you in spirit, Flavio, but am also aware of the electoral results. How many votes did you say the LP Gubernatorial candidate got in November? How about Congressional candidates? County Supervisors? City Council? Dogcatchers? I thought so.
Until we see a viable plan for winning elections, it would be counterproductive not to try to reform the GOP.
At this point, I see the LP more as a leader in influencing political thought and building a “farm team,” via local offices. I think it can also serve a useful function in the intermediate future, as it gains more support, in being a
“power broker” in coalition-building. For example, I can envision the LP and AIP combining forces with Conservative elements within GOP to get behind optimal candidates and push RINO’s to the sidelines. Of course, that is driven by the primary rules and party registrations of the voters. There are quite a few Libertarians at heart registered as GOP or DTS.
In the meantime, we are living in the bluest of the blue states. Demographic changes, unfavorable court decsions and failure to enforce electoral laws are only making our plight worse. There is a very large Liberal base in the state which continues to support Progressive ideals, entitlement nanny state policies , etc.. This will continue to lose us elections. Perhaps it will take a total crash of the state to get their attention.
Hi George, while I largely agree with your anylsis, I wanted to add my Two cents. First on the office holders. The Lp Governor candidate [unendorsed] received around half a million votes [The Lt Gov candidate got close to a million] which was weak. We have one County Supervisor, Two city councilmen, one town councilman and multiple board members [although I don't remember a dog catcher]. The Two house races that Flavio and I worked on set Third party records but both were losses. The LPC truly needs allot more work to win statewide majority’s. But looking at the GOP, they also lost all the statewide offices and this is part of a long term trend, not a bad election cycle. With culture and demographic shifts this trend promises too accelerate not reverse. The major hurtle for the GOP is that the youth, Latino’s and DTS voters HATE their brand. The question I had to ask myself was what was the best vehicle to restore limited government and prosperity to California. In my judgement having a third party without the baggage of the GOP will best be able to build a brand that can capture a significant portion of these disaffected groups. This new group will have a better shot at establishing a mandate to roll back insane government growth and it’s intrusion into our lives. But I’m a free market advocate. I think competition is good for innovation.
Flavio, you make some excellent points, but bottom line is that the GOP is the only thing standing between you and the Commisssars, er Czars, right now, as bad as they are. I’m at least trying to pout some qulaity into teh candidates. Until such time as you guys can build an organization that can win, I’m not prepared to allow the Progresives to overrun us unopposed. That being said, thare are progressives to be purged from the GOP.
By the way, I thought Gov. candidate Chelene Nightingale of AIP, who had no prior experience running for office, little education and almost no money, drew the most third party votes and the most in history for any 3rd party women gov. candidate, anywhere, anytime, anyhow.
As far as brand maintenance, Ron and Rand Paul are doing wonders for GOP brand maintenance, even though really truly Libertarians, although they also have lots of GOP oposition, especially Ron.
Did you see this?
http://venturacountyteaparty.ning.com/video/30911-sen-rand-paul-on
and this?
http://venturacountyteaparty.ning.com/video/sen-rand-paul-on-consumer
The Dem’s will screw up te state so badly, that they may lose it again. Of course, the demographic changes are huge and the Dem.organization, especially with the media in the tank, is formidable.