Maureen Cavanaugh : It was only a few years ago that California Republicans were riding high. In 2003, the GOP managed to unseat Democrat Grey Davis with rising Republican superstar Arnold Schwarzenegger. There was a popular Republican president in the White House and the mood of the country seemed to be moving right of center. In fact, there were folks who were even talking about a permanent Republican majority in the US Congress.
Oh, how times have changed. And now the Republican party in California is suffering such a major identity crisis that even potential GOP gubernatorial candidates are talking about it. Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner was recently 34ed saying the state Republican party is pretty aimless.
Guests
- Leo McElroy , independent Sacramento political consultant and contributor to KPBS's Morning Edition.
- Thad Kousser , associate professor of political science at UCSD, and co-editor of "The New Political Geography of California."
