How lame is the California GOP? They embrace Trump on the same day he’s indicted | Opinion

How lame is California’s Republican party? They announced Donald Trump as the keynote speaker at their September statewide convention on the same day Trump is indicted in a Justice Department investigation on multiple counts of conspiracy and obstruction.

“We are thrilled to welcome President Trump back to the CAGOP convention stage for the first time since our 2016 convention,” said CAGOP Chairwoman Jessica Millan Patterson, just hours before Trump was charged with trying to subvert the results of the 2020 presidential election.

Opinion

One could ask why Millan Patterson was still employed but then again, the deeper obscenity is that Trump remains the GOP front-runner for the 2024 election and may even benefit from Tuesday’s news that Special Counsel Jack Smith will prosecute Trump. It’s all fruit from the same poisoned tree, a moment in time when American citizens fully embraced a corrupt man over the principles of democracy.

“As California Republicans prepare to play a major role in deciding who our Party’s 2024 presidential nominee will be, I look forward to President Trump speaking with our delegates about his plans to move our country forward. We look forward to a great event and lunch keynote address from President Trump,” Millan Patterson said in a press release which could be satire if Trump hadn’t killed satire long ago.

If you only care about whatever Trump says or does, he’ll be at the Anaheim Marriott - 700 West Convention Way - on Friday, September 29. Go with God, if that’s the case because you are beyond earthly help at this point.

If you care about what the California Republican Party used to be, it’s past time to give up the charade and make other plans.

If you care about democracy over party - America over Trump - then Smith’s indictment is a dark day for our country. As the New York Times wrote: “The charges signify an extraordinary moment in United States history: a former president, in the midst of a campaign to return to the White House, being charged over attempts to use the levers of government power to subvert democracy and remain in office against the will of voters.”

The substance of Smith’s indictment is stunning. “It accuses Mr. Trump of three conspiracies: one to defraud the United States, a second to obstruct an official government proceeding and a third to deprive people of civil rights provided by federal law or the Constitution,” the Times wrote.

What’s equally stunning is how a California Republican Party could still be kissing Trump’s backside when he is poison in California. No Republican candidate has won statewide office in decades. The party could not be more irrelevant and yet, like Trump, sinks lower every time you think that’s not possible.

The state party had to know this indictment was coming and yet recently changed the rules to give Trump a better chance to win the California primary next year.

“The state’s GOP executive committee changed the rules over the weekend so that any candidate getting a simple majority — 50% plus one — wins all of the state’s 169 delegates,” The Bee reported.

“The previous California system awarded delegates according to who won each of the state’s 52 congressional districts. There were also 13 at-large delegates allocated according to the statewide vote total.”

David Gilliard, one of the top GOP consultants in California, told The Bee why this was so stupid.

“The rule is also a self-inflicted wound, as candidates now have no incentive to organize and spend money at the district level. Very disappointing.”

The Bee editorial board endorsed several Republican candidates in the last election who were elected to the state Legislature and government bodies around the region. These are serious lawmakers trying to make a difference in our state.

What do they do now? What does the country do now?

It’s easy: We choose country over party, America over Trump. And we watch as every Trump enabler does a slow march toward infamy.

I’m looking at you Jessica Millan Patterson and your sad sack CAGOP.