In a bit of cognitive behavioral therapy - or masochism - leaders of the California Republican Party have invited a Democratic strategist to a retreat this weekend to tell them how bad they are.
Garry South has been highly critical of the Republican Party's failures, including an inability to adapt to California's changing demographics. Republicans hold no statewide office, and party registration is below 30 percent statewide.
"I may have a doctor on hand to issue Prozac prescriptions," he said.
South and new state Republican Party Chairman Jim Brulte are colleagues at the government affairs firm California Strategies, and they've made many joint presentations about California politics.
"For years, I've read and listened to Garry South's diatribes against Republicans," Brulte said in an email. "I thought I would put him to the test and see if he would be willing to say the same things in a room full of Republicans, to their faces."
South said his presentation to board members Saturday in Ontario will include no advice about a potential recovery.
"It's the same presentation I've given to everybody from the dentists to the insurance agents," he said, and chuckled. "I'm wearing my bulletproof vest."
- David Siders
BILL WATCH
State Sen. Leland Yee, D-San Francisco, has introduced Senate Bill 766 to regulate drop-in child care centers. Each facility would have at least one adult worker and one certified in pediatric CPR. The bill requires adult staff members to undergo background checks and caps attendance at no more than
10 children age 6 or younger per caregiver and no more than 15 children age 7 or older per caregiver.
- Bee Capitol Bureau
WORTH REPEATING
"At least in urban areas, and increasingly in the suburbs, we will always lose the 'big government vs. emaciated government' argument."
DUANE DICHIARA, Republican political consultant, arguing on the FlashReport blog that Republicans should change their rhetoric on the issue because "there are things normal people want government, particularly local government and the civil servants who work there, to do and do well"
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