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11/2/2009
Wow. Are Conservatives taking over the GOP?
Wow. Dede Scozzafava withdraws from the race for the congressional seat in New York’s 23rd District. Even more surprising: Scozzafava yesterday endorsed the Democratic candidate, Bill Owens!
The Washington Examiner reports (citing a Watertown Daily News report) the liberal Republican was lobbied to endorse Owens by Rahm Emanuel and Sen. Charles Schumer. Wow.
Chris Stirewalt, Political Editor at the Examiner, explains the genesis of the problem:
[Conservative Party candidate Doug] Hoffman, a successful accountant from White Plains, N.Y., sought the GOP nomination to run for the seat left vacant when Obama tapped eight-term Republican John McHugh to be secretary of the Army. But because it was a short-notice special election, the nomination was made by the solons of the dying Republican Party of the 11 counties in the district.
…. Soon conservatives across the country were pouring money into Hoffman’s race and scorn onto Scozzafava. Newt Gingrich and others who are Republicans before they are conservatives tried to prop her up, warning that the party must be respected and that liberal Republicans were still better than Democrats.
Complaining about the pressure from conservatives, James Ellis, one of the party chairmen who picked Scozzafava, told the New York Times, “It’s a detriment to democracy.” Since when did democracy consist of 11 party hacks meeting at Sergi’s Italian Restaurant in Potsdam?
Ok, so what’s the right way for conservatives (yes, “Tea-Partyers”) to take back the GOP in planning for future elections? I wrote about it a couple of months ago.
Erick Erickson, Managing Editor of RedState.com, issued a challenge to those Tea Party-ers committed to staying completely absolutely uncommitted to the Republican Party.
We got to the tea parties.
[Now] We have to stick together.
What do you do after the Tea Parties? Let me suggest something….
We need a coup.
I’m not talking about government….
We need a coup of the political parties.
How many of you who went to a tea party then showed up and became a precinct captain at your local political parties?
The inference is… not many. So Erickson talks about his local Republican party, where 2/3 of the precincts are without the critical precinct captain.
…. If 2/3 of [the precincts] are filled up by people who have gone to tea parties then all of a sudden, who runs the local Republican party? The Tea Party activists.
And once Tea Party-ers take over their local party, then they’ll be posed to take back the state parties, and then the national party!
So, until (Republicans) start cleaning up their own act, it’s not going to do us any good. We’re going to be back where we were.
So you must now get involved. Stop going to Tea Parties and start going to political parties and blow ‘em up! Get involved. Take ‘em back. Become the voice you want to become.
Become the local political party.
Become the national political party.
….And once you take them over, then we take back Washington - and we keep it.
Is it a new way to look at the Republican Party? Tea Party-ers, will you get on board?
Listen to the whole thing on C-Span. Mr. Erickson’s 5-minute speech starts at about 26:00.
Jo Egelhoff, FoxPolitics.net
COMMENTS
I'm not so sure that "coming home" to the Republican Party is the best plan. While the plan may be to go in and take over, any true conservative will find themselves fighting the same battle that caused us to look elsewhere just a couple of short years ago.
The party hasn't changed - and apparently isn't all that interested in doing so. Just look at the amount of political 'heavy weight' backing went to the Republicrat candidate in N.Y. And no, that's not a fat reference.
Until the high-visibility members of the GOP (the Gingrichs and Steeles) are prepared to denounce and shun RINO candidates, I don't see why someone who wants this nation to pull out their pocket constitutions, actually read it, and then MEAN IT when they swear to uphold and defend it, would want to fuss around with folks who just want to cover their own political power base at the cost of future generations and our nations well being.
No, I think I'd prefer to see those Tea-party attending committed citizens take another route. A route that would allow us to remain laser-focused on what's important, not what's expedient.
It's about the Constitution, NOT about the party.
Jeff Riedl (Mon Nov 02 08:18:08 2009)
We should do both - continue to go to the street (tea party) and become involved in each party as concerned independents. Each party should embrace the constitution, honesty and responsible government.
Bob Keller (Mon Nov 02 08:41:50 2009)
In reading some of the blogs this morning I found it interesting that the upsurge of conservatives in the Republican Party is being seen by some as a takeover by the "Tea Party."
I'm not sure I like that moniker better than "Bull Moose Party." It does seem a bit effeminate. But hey..., "a rose by any other name...."
Duke (Mon Nov 02 08:59:39 2009)
Jo:
Actually, the Outagamie Republican Party is doing something that you suggested. We are reaching out to Republicans and Independents to refomulate the Republican Party here to be more responsive to what our constituents want. We have had a Strategic Planning session and have some excellent input on what the party should be going forward.
One of the suggestions from the group is that we align ourselves to the principles and values that are coming out of the Tea Party movement. I think they have struck a sensitive nerve but it is now up to us to do something with it.
This will probably be the most important election in our lives and will set the direction of the country for decades. Now is the time to get involved with candidates and parties that you feel represent you.
On a different note, I think what you are seeing in the NY 23rd is a revolt against the old ways of doing things in the both Political Parties and by that I mean the old way of the National Party telling us at the local level who should be the candidates and that we should just salute and follow orders.
Your seeing Democrats and Republicans saying "Wait a minute, don't I have a say in who should be the candidate?"
Whether you liked Barbara Lawton or not, I know there must be some Democrats who are bitter that she did not have the chance to compete and it looks like she was shut out by the DNC and the White House.
This is what needs to change in Politics that they are not controlled by a select few. So get involved with whatever Party and Candidate espouses those Prinicples and Values that you want to represent you and don't sit on the sidelines this time. You may not have another chance in our lifetime.
Mike Thomas (Mon Nov 02 09:59:24 2009)
Bob,
You're probably right that it would be good to become a 'voice' within each party. In an ideal world.
Remember, limited resources (time, volunteer hours, MONEY), so making the most of what is available should be a high priority. Staying focused on sending people of good conscience to represent us is job #1.
History has proven that political parties (much like labor unions) are primarily focused on self-preservation. The people's business is an afterthought, and campaign promises (think "Read my lips, no new taxes" or "The most transparent administration in the history of the nation" just a couple of examples off the top of my head) ... well those get thrown over the bow of the ship within the first 100 days (along with the nation's future).
Nope, I'm not wasting my time on 'change from within' ... too many distractions from the true mission. If either of the parties figures out what's going on as a result of their focus groups, they're welcome to join US.
Jeff Riedl (Mon Nov 02 19:45:33 2009)
I'd like to remind everyone that the Tea Parties were founded, originally, by Ron Paul supporters leading up to the last presidential election. Republicans hijacked the idea later on and stripped out the libertarian values and ideals to re-brand the Tea Parties as something much different than when they bubbled up from the grassroots as a libertarian movement.
Don (Tue Nov 03 06:05:18 2009)
Jo,
Fool me once, shame on you - fool me twice, shame on me. I'm not up for a THIRD time around. Being lied to about what the party represents twice was plenty thanks - and again, I don't have time for the political 'therapy' that the GOP so desperately needs.
The Republicans are exactly right about what the Democrats represent - big government, higher taxes, socialist world-view, secular humanism. Sadly however, the Democrats are also correct about what the GOP represents. Taking care of the inner circle at the expense of the little guy.
There is no doubt I'm a little guy. I don't make enough money to benefit from being well connected or 'protected' when things go wrong for me. If I go broke - tough stuff. If one of Hank Paulsen's buds starts seeing hard times, they're "too big to fail".
That's wrong no matter which side of the aisle is picking the winners and losers.
Besides, I'm not about "what's in it for me" - I'm about the fiscal sustainability of our nation. Spending like we saw under the GOP run house, senate, and White House was obscene at best. They lied about being responsible, they DID NOT CUT the pork, they just redirected SOME of it. The portion that wouldn't hurt them too badly. I'm not going to accept the same thing again.
With limited time, limited resources, and the typical short attention span of American society, I don't believe the Tea Party participants should put forth the necessary effort to be the GOP's "Dr. Phil". They should identify the individuals who will faithfully represent the will of their constituents and uphold / defend the Constitution ... REALLY, not just an oath which is forgotten by the end of their cocktail reception.
Once identified, we should get those individuals elected and support them whole-heartedly when the going gets tough (which it WILL when they have to choose those roads not traditionally viewed as 'politically expedient').
Change from within the GOP would be extremely difficult. Not that going it 'outside the party' will be easy, but going it alone means having a little more control of your own destiny.
I have to believe that the GOP is "dolling themselves up" to allure conservatives back. Once we're in the fold, they'll wipe off the lipstick and again we'll see what's underneath.
Jeff Riedl (Tue Nov 03 11:09:16 2009)
Well Don, count me as one who has not been distracted. And I encourage anyone else who has concern about the direction we're headed to "stay the course", don't let anyone from the two major parties tell you "we've learned our lesson, you can join us now", because they need to PROVE their trustworthiness just as they PROVED their inability to deliver over the past 8 years.
If either of the two parties thinks that they can swoop in and herd those of us who are interested in real, substantive, change to their corral ... they're wrong. Don't even bother trying to get us join your party. If they would like to be a part of this movement, party leaders need to learn what the movement is really about - then be a part of it within OUR framework!
Jeff Riedl (Tue Nov 03 07:24:03 2009)
Hey Jeff, why no interest in changing the GOP from within, only (to start) at your very local level?
Jo (Tue Nov 03 08:02:15 2009)
Our local GOP is led by "party first" fuddy-duddies. There is NO WAY I'll join the Republican party!
Just as ONE example, Jo Leibham would make a very credible opponent for either Feingold or Kohl, but no, he has to "wait and work his way up the ladder" according to the party! They allow for no independent thinking at all. I'll never forget their absolutely STUPID backing of Russ Darrow, instead of Michels. If they'd backed Michels from the start, he could easily be senator now!
emily matthews (Tue Nov 03 15:18:47 2009)
Taking back the GOP to founding Father mentality is the wise way. Why build a new barn when all you have to do is clean the one you have? Also, take down the tent. We have plenty of room for all the majority known as conservatives in our Barn, the GOP.
Stay active and keep up the vigil and do not let any Republican get away with being a RINO, Republican In Name Only. It is principle or die, to acquiesce our principle is to fail anyway. Look how far we have fallen in the past 66 years. And by the Way God is not dead, he is Alive~
RGeorgeDunn (Tue Nov 03 15:41:49 2009)
Yes. You stated it well, R. George Dunn. I agree.
Jo (Tue Nov 03 16:15:23 2009)
I'm a conservstive from NYC and it's about time we take over the GOP.
The Republicans seem to do nothing more than the country into a financial bind, and the Democrates seem to dig the whole deeper. You can see it cleary just what is going on with Obama and is Administration which are nothing but Socialist PIGS (COMMUNIST).
The Liberals are not more than freedom fighters who everyone has rights even the terrorist who attack us, and look to bring to great country of ours to it's knees have right also according to Liberals.
As for the Conservatives we seem to be the only Politcal Party fighting the hardest to protect this country, to give what the people want, and need. Our views are not just religious either. As for me I have no religious views at all for I don't believe in the Church getting involved in State, and vice versa.Conservatives taking over the GOP will be the best thing at this time for the country.
Denise (Sun Nov 22 08:42:27 2009)
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