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More Parsky Watch Parsky Watch - The Magazine Take the Parsky Watch IQ Test Visit the Parsky Watch Store	Back to Parsky Watch archives Repeating 2000 track record for Bush Cheney Parsky Watch #56 February 13, 2004 GERRY PARSKY POISED TO REPEAT DEFEAT What's that they say about those who refuse to learn from history? It looks like our friend Gerry Parsky is poised to repeat his disastrous leadership of the Bush-Cheney California campaign in 2000 - when he convinced the Bush team to plunk $24 million and scarce campaign time into a state he wound up losing by 11 points. Gerry still claims California was “in play” until the TV stations declared for Gore. It's doubtful Karl Rove will get fooled twice. That money and time could have spelled the difference in several razor-close states, and thus avoided the entire Florida recount fiasco. The state campaign leadership team that Parsky has assembled for Bush-Cheney 2004 is basically a carbon copy of the 2000 menagerie. This does little to inspire confidence that the results will be any different in November 2004 than in November 2000. Gerry's team certainly is not conservative, other than a few tokens. He has gathered a number of well meaning - and not so well meaning - folks, but good intentions will not pave the road to victory. His team is almost entirely devoid of Reaganauts and think tankers (except co-chair Eloise Anderson), omits up-and-comers like Shannon Reeves, has only one big city mayor and boast only one Asian member in a state where 12% of the population is Asian. The unfortunate CRP Vice Chair Mario Rodriguez has been lashed to the mast to help captain this shipwreck. Will names likes Padilla and Orefice inspire confidence in our troops and fear in our enemies? They aren't party officers, elected officials or even highly paid consultants. They and many of their team members are nice folks, but none are renowned for their ability to fire up the conservative base and engage them in the campaigns - a must not only for re-electing Bush, but for defeating Barbara Boxer. President's California operation would benefit by more veterans of victory, rather than defeat. Speaking of Boxer, presumably Gerry -- despite a laser-like focus on re-electing the President that justified his opposing the Recall - won't forget the GOP will also have a U.S. Senate nominee on the ballot in November. Parsky diverted valuable RNC funds away from Tom McClintock and otherwise did not raise any money for Simon or the down ticket races in 2000, and with California Republicans in a position to not only defeat Boxer but pick up several legislative races, we hope Parsky has learned a lesson and will keep the fortunes of the entire Republican Party in focus as we hurtle toward November. Judging from the Parsky track record, however, we're not holding our breath.