Brulte
By David Siders and Torey Van Oot
dsiders@sacbee.com
Published: Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012 – 12:00 am | Page 1A
Last Modified: Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012 – 8:23 am
Following a catastrophic election for the California Republican Party, influential members of the party have recruited a prominent former legislator, Jim Brulte, to lead a comeback.
The former Senate Republican leader has been discussing his interest in the party chairmanship with members of the party since the election a month ago. Brulte is a giant in GOP circles, having helped Republicans in the 1990s win a majority in the state Assembly for the first time in nearly 25 years.
The situation for the California GOP appears far more critical now. They hold no statewide offices, suffered a net loss of four House seats (they hold 15 of 53 in California) and allowed Democrats to achieve a two-thirds majority in the state Legislature for the first time since the 1880s.
Republican voter registration has fallen below 30 percent statewide, and the party is essentially broke.
Brulte, 56, has not discussed the chairmanship publicly. Activists and party leaders with whom he has spoken expect him to be a candidate during the organization’s spring elections. He is widely expected to win.
“His political judgment is superb,” Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Elk Grove, said Wednesday. “I found out about his interest from (House Majority Whip) Kevin McCarthy and told him to sign me up immediately.”
Mike Spence, president of the Conservative Republicans of California, said Brulte told him he talked with fellow partners at his public affairs company, California Strategies LLC, about becoming party chairman.
“I think having someone like Jim Brulte as chair shows we’re not dead in California,” Spence said. “He has a lot of credibility with donors and grass-roots activists and other people. I think it would be a morale boost for the party.”
Jason Kinney, a spokesman for California Strategies, said in an email, “The Republicans here support it and the Democrats oppose it – because the one thing we all agree on is that, if Jim decides to do it, he’ll be extremely effective.”
If he is elected, Brulte will be expected to resurrect the party’s sunken fundraising apparatus and make voter registration gains, if only incrementally.
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If Mr. Brulte gets this position, he should come up with a new agenda for the Republican party. He needs to go to the middle instead of to the fringe. A moderate Republican voice in this state would be welcome, if not overdue. But more of the same will get the Republicans only more rejection.
I think the only hope that the Republican party has in this state is to adopt a fiscally conservative and socially libertarian stance. I think most people can see that spending is out of control in Sacramento but Democrats and the left leaning mainstream media has done an incredible job of painting Republicans as redneck racist homophobes and therefore California Democrats and independents don’t vote for them. Come out and tell people that government shouldn’t be telling people what they can and can not do in their lives (as far as social issues go) and you might find a few more of the left leaning electorate jumping on board. I’m not saying abandon your personal beliefs. Just try not to make them as much of an issue.
@Josiah: In other words, dump the Evagelicals. I am all for that
I don’t know about dumping them… it would be nice to include them as well but they seem to get irritated wtih politicians who aren’t socially conservative.
Ramos star witness Adam Aleman under oath stated the Jeff Burum gave Brulte a million dollars in cash to get the colonies settlement. I believe Aleman lied, but I don’t understand the double standard here? Can someone help me?
However, I think Jim would be a great choice.
Cash? A million? Come on Adam…and DA Ramos smugly patted Adam on the head and said “good boy, now don’t forget, CASH, that way you don’t get mixed up or tripped when crossed examined.” WE ARE TIRED OF BOTH, LET’S JUST MOVE FORWARD.
Good Luck Jim.
Ramos and Brulte should both be thrown-out of the SBCo. GOP because of the calamity they’ve caused with the Colonies Settlement conspiracy and prosecution/ County indemnity litigation against Upland/ SanBAG/ CalTrans (State of CA).
Hey FBI/ IRS where’s the RICO… a million dollar pay-off is quite the enterprise for being a lame-ass political consultant advising everyone how to break the law via Brown Act violation, while the DA continues his selected prostitution of his authority and the public resources at his disposal visa vie legal services fraud.
Tain’t SBCo. politics grand?
If the party isn’t over for GOP sell-outs DA Mikey and political con-man Jimbo Brulte, it’ll end-up being the GDP: the Grand Dead Party.
Brulte as a savior? Let’s not forget that 1994 was an accident. Republicans got carried by three waves, one the Republican National Sweep, two, the John and Ken Show 5 month crusade supporting public safety bill that tanked nearly a dozen Dems in the Los Angeles County, and three Prop 187 (which certain moderate Republicans now blame for the party’s current situation–falsely)..
Brulte managed to blow the legislative majority in 1996. It’s been downhill ever since.
The Republican party will never recover in this state as long as they keep corrupt individuals in positions of leadership and maintain an ancient mind set that prevents the unifying of all nationalities present in this country as Americans. Enjoy your long exile.
Come on…..Good points! The whole mindset of the early 90s was different. Wilson had the prison guards supporting him and all Republicans had the momentum of prop 187 and the three strikes law. As a party in 2012 they have no footing and are trying to resurrect individuals that have plenty of skeletons in their closet.
I think it’s an excellent idea. Break out the old dinosaur throw on a fresh coat of lip stick, tell him what to say instead of letting him speak his believes. It’s an great way to show the citizens of California what the Republicans are all about.
Red states:
“As a party in 2012 they have no footing and are trying to resurrect individuals that have plenty of skeletons in their closet.”
I will not interfere in this battle, it’s not mine, it is “they” that must show us it is not merely “a fresh coat of lip stick”…but to Repairman I ask:
Did we not learn anything from Mr. Bob Ybarra from Big Bear this past June?
(“Red” nice to see your lively and healthy red velvet color again, also “Repairman” RE PAIR MAN…glad you’re also back to remind us; even if we disagree most of the time)
Anonymous #12:
O.K. you got me what did you learn from Mr. Bob Ybarra from Big Bear this past June?. And well your at it whats with the “RE PAIR MAN”
I’m sure it’s supposta be witty, but I just don’t get it.
Repairman,
I’m not sure if it was June or not, but I’ll let you sleep on it.
I don’t have time to shift through “ancient emails” “at the moment”(although I know you know).
Anonymous #14
So basically Mr. Bob Ybarra from Big Bear, did absolutely nothing this past June or July or whatever.
Repairman I gotta say I agree with you on your #11 comment. Can’t believe I just said that.
Even if they use a NEW tube of lipstick, it’s an old relic none the less.
notice how Benghazi is no longer in the news?
What about GROW A PAIR MAN?
Wow little Blunder, your really witty.
LSW stay off the weed.
The only thing that holds brulte together,is the glue of corruption!….like so many in the mix.
Lets see,mike ramos,jim calvert,gary ovitt,bob dutton,rod hoops,and on and on and on….until san bernadino co. and its citys rethinks these captains(corrupt chumps) of our commuinties,the good people will continue to suffer.
Truthseeker…you forgot to mention Burum, Erwin and Kirk