I’m deeply saddened when I write a post like this. I grew up in the Republican Party. Fortunately, I grew up in a Republican Party that worked hard and became successful (obviously in another state).
Today, MDGOP chair Audrey Scott begins a weeklong tour around the state. It kicks off at noon in Annapolis and moves to Salisbury for a 6:30 PM meeting in the DaNang Room of the Civic Center. I don’t know what Scott will be saying, but I’m sure she’ll be telling us that the MDGOP is on an upswing and that we’ll win big in November.
GOP candidates will probably win big in November. GOP candidates will probably even win a few in the Once Free State. Unfortunately, those winning candidates won’t be winning because of the Republican National Committee OR the MDGOP.
However, any political party that deliberately spurns the people that are needed to win simply can’t win more than the odd race. Ever wonder why the Maryland Democrat Party works so hard to stay on the good side of groups like the MSEA (teachers), MCEA (state government workers) or various African-American groups? They turn out their vote.
Why then should grassroots conservatives support a party that isn’t particularly interested in them and more interested in being a bunch of big fishes in a little pond rather than actually winning elections? Turn out for tonight’s meeting. Maybe we’ll find out.
8 comments:
Voting "straight ticket", no matter which party, is ALWAYS a bad idea. Hold these guys accountable for their individual voting records and stances on the issues. Don't give support simply because some guy shows up with the "R" by his name.
Still crying that the decent, mainline Republicans view your motley collection of incoherent, gibbering tea partiers and delusional libertarians with a jaundiced eye?
Cry me a river Harrison, your collection of braying cranks will never be handed the reins of power in the Republican party. As a registered Republican I am seeing to that personally.
Form your own third party and get busy recruiting. You are parasites on the Republican party that bring the ignorant, crazy mobs we really don't need at this point. We need coherent conservative leaders with vision, not the spew of frightened, anti-intellectual boobs.
RINO 1155 -
I remember people just like you back in 1976 when Reagan ran against Ford. You just don't get it. The people that you are calling "incoherent, gibbering tea partiers and delusional libertarians" are the same people that supported Goldwater in 1964 and Reagan in '76 and '80. They are the same people that made 1994 possible and left the party this century because of the profligate ways of the GOP.
You actually made one correct statement:
"We need coherent conservative leaders with vision, not the spew of frightened, anti-intellectual boobs."
There's just one problem. It is people like you that are the frightened, anti-intellectual boobs. The tea partiers have ideas. I will grant you that some lack an adequate political foundation; but that will come because they seem eager to learn about issues. You, on the other hand, have NO political foundation. Where are your ideas.
We're not going to form a third party. We're going take OUR party back.
BTW -
People who cast stones should at least have the courage to sign their own name.
That's right Mr. Harrison -- the people of Baltimore City and PG and Montgomery County have been clamoring for more conservative candidates. I am glad that you found the missing ingredient for the lack of GOP success in statewide races or in controlling either chamber of the General Assembly.
Please define " Good Canidates" we've been a little confused for quite awhile.
Preach it 11:55! The ignorant, angry mobs of tea partiers and frightened old people carrying signs that have nonsense like "keep your goverment hands off my medicare" are a far more serious problem than the democrats. If the Republican party begins appealing to the lowest common denominator who are running around like frightened chickens it will be the ruination of us.
I've had conversations with several self proclaimed tea partiers. You would be hard pressed to find a more ignorant bunch of rubes. The bizarre thing is that many of them are on Social Security or are suckling off some local or federal government pension teat. Some are even ex-military and have the VA paying for their medical!
These minimally educated drones think they are real conservatives, but they are just frightened simpletons.
The Republican party needs to get back to it's roots. We used to be the smart party. The party of ideas. Now all we have is pack of huffing windbags, desperately courting anyone willing to throw a vote their way. It's disgusting.
Arnie -
your point is valid, on the surface. First of all, I would suggest that look at the demographics of the state AND a few election returns (detailed returns, not gross numbers).
Republicans aren't going to be elected in PG or Baltimore City. That's just the way of the world. MoCo is tougher than the rest of the state, but not insurmountable.
Can you elect an Alex Mooney to the legislature from MoCo? I doubt it, but I wouldn't put anything by Alex. However, you can elect solid center/right or right of center candidates in the other counties of central Maryland (which is where the population is).
To do that, you need either TONS of money or a sizable grassroots operation (or the right combination of the two). Where do you get those grassroots activists? In the case of the GOP, those folks are usually movement conservative types. Voters, as well as a candidate's grassroots supporters, respond to principled approaches to issues. The issues that appeal so much to so many Tea Party folk are the same issues that appeal to many working class Democrats (remember the term "Reagan Democrats?). You seem to think that running "MODERATES" is the answer. History has taught that you are wrong.
My primary argument is with the MDGOP and a structure that discourages the grassroots activism that is necessary for the GOP to elect candidates. You may not want to believe it, but IF you have a group of people willing to work hard for you, you could be pretty conservative and get elected in most moderate or even slightly left of center districts. It's just been my experience that moderates aren't real big on working hard to elect a candidate.
Anon 1403 -
Excellent question. For me, a good candidate is, first and foremost, a principled candidate. Ultimately, a good candidate is one that you are willing to go out and knock on doors for. To some, a good candidate may merely be one where they don't have to hold their nose while pulling the lever.
Contrary to what some believe, I'm not a person who will only support my views on every (or almost every issue). I'm pro-life, but have no problem supporting a pro-choice candidate for many offices (because that office has no impact on that issue). I've even supported pro-choice candidates because I agreed with them on most everything else and thought that the pro-life candidate wasn't cut out for elective office.
Ultimately, a "good candidate" is defined by your views of their principles and what office they are running for. Other things can come into play (attractiveness, rhetorical skill, etc.) but unless they are a near zero in these areas, those deficiencies can be corrected or made up for. What you can't make up for is a lack of principle and innate honesty.
Anon 1509 -
Another critic who hasn't the stones to sign his name. I wonder why?
What are your ideas? These "rubes" you despise so much are concerned about ideas like limited government and fiscal restraint. Admittedly, I don't always agree with the views of some of my brethern as to best impliment those ideas, but I do know that they are trying to affect positive solutions to real problems. They are trying to educate themselves about the issues. They are standing up for what they believe is right.
What are you doing Mr. Anon 1509?
Other than wondering how you can spell so poorly, and molest the English language Harrison, not much.
This is 2010. Unless my fellow Republicans wake up to the fact that we aren't going to win trying to scare old people, and poorly educated people who simply don't know better into a stampede, we're going to be marginalized.
We are one of the most advanced, industrialized nations on Earth and Republicans are trying to govern like it's 1980. We are the slow child among advanced nations bringing up the rear on universal health care. We pay absurdly high amounts for the care we do receive, but buy into the insane notion that we're getting a good deal.
UHC is a baseline requirement for advanced societies. We need to focus on how we can deliver this as efficiently s possible. All we look like right now is bunch of incompetent whiners. Fighting UHC is absurdly stupid. As practical Republicans we should be embracing it as a far more efficient model than the inefficient, scattershot paradigm we currently have.
Being a Republican used to mean being a practical adult vs the Democrats wild eyed, pie in the sky notions. Now we’re the party of “no way” losers, incoherent malcontents, and scared old people. We’re pandering to stupidity and fear in the hope it will give us a political leg up. This is no way to run a party.
Post a Comment