Without a President in Power to lead our party, we must go elsewhere to seek the guidance we need to present a united front against pretty overwhelming odds. That united front must be set up at the top. It should be united organizationally as well as the core message we represent. Following the party organizational set up, the leadership by default falls to the head of the Republican National Committee. Currently Mike Duncan. Is he the man for the job, should the RNC elect another? Should it be one of their own or an outsider.
Roger Simon at Politico wrote an insightful piece about that and sketched out an in-depth short article about what he could find out as to what the RNC might do. He also points out the structure of the RNC favors (as in most organizations) one of their own. This was an excellent article for the lay person such as myself.
-----link-----
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1108/15563_Page2.html
---------------
I was sorry to read his pessimism as to Newt’s chances backed up with Newt’s near refusal to run. As my readers already know I think Newt Gingrich would make the ideal choice to run and rebuild the party. His essence seems to be as an organizer. My main reason is his experience in doing just that. He also has about the best web presence/experiance not to mention his TV presence/experience. That being said, he may be too visable whereas a Michael Steele would be less so and he does have experience in winning elections using a conservative message.
If Newt isn’t chosen, whoever is would do well to try to get Newt on board to run the web effort of the RNC, give him complete control whatever it takes. A little cooperation at the leadership level would be refreshing for all of us lowly types to see. Especially if it was aimed at benefiting us at the local level. “Facilitate” us, give us the tools to do our job. BTW Newt if you look at his website,
-----link-----
http://newt.org/
---------------
And spend some time there you will learn what he means by a Tri-partisan solution as Simon at Politico quoted.
-----quote-----
. “However, my job as an American first is to develop a tri-partisan approach to developing solutions for the challenges we face. I use the word tri-partisan to designate the concept of attracting Democrats, Republicans, and independents to solutions that unify most Americans
---------------
Republican always claim to champion Free Enterprise, getting the top leadership (government) out of the way to let the volunteers (small free business’ ) try anything they want and let the success bubble up to the top. In other words get out of the way and only help (facilitate) the upward flow of on the ground fire tested good ideas coming from the volunteers up through the County and State.
I’m from Michigan and I cannot back the idea of Saul Anuiz as National Chair. I worked this election out of a smaller tier town that 4 years ago was a victory center, this time it wasn’t. I manned the County HQ the whole time. I went to all the County meetings, I saw no help coming from the state party other than a call center with one director and a staffer which wasn‘t even located in our HQ. It was located in a back room of a candidates office. It was as close to secret in appearance as you could get. That could have been a great visual aid in recruiting the hundreds of people walking into our headquarters. But alas. Other than constant emails I saw no other real effort to enlarge the base or make any significant efforts to gain volunteers and give them a network in which to flourish in. { On Saul’s behalf, he may well have been in the same boat at the state level as I was at the county level. Ie lack of the level above facilitating the lower level. I don’t know the facts, but I didn’t hear anything or complaints for a need to change so I fall back to my idea of if it ain’t broke don’t fix it. I didn’t get any outreach. Well the results in the last two election cycles seem to indicate that something is broke and a change is needed.
If we truly want Real Change, we need someone from outside the organization (RNC) with a track record of building a winning organization. There are plenty of candidates. The Governors convention recently highlighted a swarm of eager bright experienced young governors. The House and Senate has it’s share. These are people that have proven conservative records of making real commonsense solutions work in their states. These people are the future leaders of our party. We need now to pick an RNC leader who can talk their language. Someone who can fire up the base with our conservative message alone, to build the infrastructure for these up and comers to add their style and charisma so we can start to take back some of what we lost at the state level in 2010 then recapture it all in 2012.
We do this by gearing up an internet structure to organize on a National State County and Township and precinct level, so all are invested in the same goals, motivated by common principles.
This should be viewed as a war. As in any war troops on the ground are vital. I would of thought that the Surge proved that to us. The internet is there as a tool to help facilitate the gathering of volunteers. A means to get them on board in the first place. Secondly to show them how to meet locally with others, and thirdly how to make a difference in their community. We all need to cultivate that “fire in the belly” that is mandatory to any type of change from the status quo. That “fire in the belly” in an off election year comes best and most convincingly from our belief in our core beliefs as conservatives, that has already bubbled up and we need it to be proudly proclaimed at the top and I might add believed in at the top.
I think that can only be done by someone outside of the status quo, outside of the RNC, someone with a proven track record of winning elections.
Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative
Friday, November 14, 2008
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Dick Morris, Sorry I missed seeing you in Muskegon Mi.
Dick Morris wrote a good article talking about the analysis of the election.
-----link-----
http://www.newsmax.com/morris/election_analysis/2008/11/13/150847.html
---------------
He points out that the youth vote didn’t materialize as expected and ,if I may put my take on his article; most of the excess of voter turnout was from the voter registration efforts of Acorn and the like. The higher African American turnout which was a couple points higher turned the tide.
Another interesting point Morris made was what we all knew, which was that 2.? % more Dems turned out and 2.?% Repubs stayed home.
His conclusion I will let speak for itself.
-----quote-----
The message for conservatives is clear: The focus of Democrats on grass-roots activism, begun in 1998 by MoveOn.org, was crucial to the Obama election.
Instead of relying on the Republican Party to carry the message to the electorate, conservatives must organize their own grassr-oots movements — like GOPtrust.com — and boost turnout and enthusiasm among those who share their worldview. The backbreaking tasks of registering voters and getting out the vote are key to winning elections in the post-media era.
----------------
My own conclusion is that we need to let into the party the other groups such as he mentioned; GOPtrust.com and any others that are willing to do the “backbreaking tasks of registering voters and getting out the vote…..” We must at least get out of their way and at best the regular party apparatus should “facilitate” those efforts as much as possible. Is cooperation too big a concept to handle?
He concludes that the following.
-----quote-----
Today, new groups must move to the fore to fill the void. And they better do it fast!
-----------------
I for one as un-humble and ego driven as it sounds am going to try to do just that. I hope my party doesn’t fight me every inch of the way. I would love to see “some facilitating going on”.
Below is the link to The National Republican Trust. Or GOPtrust.com.
-----link-----
http://nationalrepublicantrust.com/letter_america.html
---------------
Indeed their job isn’t done. If we help them their work is just beginning. I quote them now. “We must start rebuilding the Republican Party today.” The old tried and true ways have failed in 2006 and 2008. A little tweaking we don’t need. A major reshaping we do.
Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative.
-----link-----
http://www.newsmax.com/morris/election_analysis/2008/11/13/150847.html
---------------
He points out that the youth vote didn’t materialize as expected and ,if I may put my take on his article; most of the excess of voter turnout was from the voter registration efforts of Acorn and the like. The higher African American turnout which was a couple points higher turned the tide.
Another interesting point Morris made was what we all knew, which was that 2.? % more Dems turned out and 2.?% Repubs stayed home.
His conclusion I will let speak for itself.
-----quote-----
The message for conservatives is clear: The focus of Democrats on grass-roots activism, begun in 1998 by MoveOn.org, was crucial to the Obama election.
Instead of relying on the Republican Party to carry the message to the electorate, conservatives must organize their own grassr-oots movements — like GOPtrust.com — and boost turnout and enthusiasm among those who share their worldview. The backbreaking tasks of registering voters and getting out the vote are key to winning elections in the post-media era.
----------------
My own conclusion is that we need to let into the party the other groups such as he mentioned; GOPtrust.com and any others that are willing to do the “backbreaking tasks of registering voters and getting out the vote…..” We must at least get out of their way and at best the regular party apparatus should “facilitate” those efforts as much as possible. Is cooperation too big a concept to handle?
He concludes that the following.
-----quote-----
Today, new groups must move to the fore to fill the void. And they better do it fast!
-----------------
I for one as un-humble and ego driven as it sounds am going to try to do just that. I hope my party doesn’t fight me every inch of the way. I would love to see “some facilitating going on”.
Below is the link to The National Republican Trust. Or GOPtrust.com.
-----link-----
http://nationalrepublicantrust.com/letter_america.html
---------------
Indeed their job isn’t done. If we help them their work is just beginning. I quote them now. “We must start rebuilding the Republican Party today.” The old tried and true ways have failed in 2006 and 2008. A little tweaking we don’t need. A major reshaping we do.
Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Peace of Mind and Common Sense With a Sense of Humor
As I’ve said in the past, I’m a political nut. I love the interplay between people with different ideas. I love that I can make some difference in the outcome by DOING something on the local level. Seems like the usage vs. the talking of that freedom encourages me more and reminds others of that freedom which they too have. More importantly by using that freedom always reminds me that to keep it I have to use it.
I just read an article by Bill Murchison
-----link-----
http://townhall.com/columnists/BillMurchison/2008/11/12/so_heres_what_we_do,_gang
---------------
I put his book on my wish list. The article has a lot of points I agree with. I too agree that we lost and we need to quickly move on. While we have to look at the reasons why, we need not get lost or bogged down in the details and the blame game. The “vinegar Joe” quote was great.
We need also I think to look at what worked. Look to counties that prevailed and what they did, and more importantly why they succeeded. Right Michigan highlighted one such case in Livingston County. Below is Right Michigan’s link then a link to the “Suburban Voice”
-----link-----
http://www.rightmichigan.com/
-----link-----
http://suburbanvoice.com/2008/11/11/livingston-county--the-life-raft-for-republicans.aspx
---------------
If you think the Dems haven’t made inroads in Mi. the maps on their site put it bluntly. I conclude that the Livingston County group managed to get their base out to vote through some protracted and extensive volunteer efforts. I will contact them and see if I can figure out specifically how they did it. As the Murchison article implied we can and should learn from our mistakes.
I quote the last part of Muchison.
------Quote-----
First come the things of the heart, and the conscience.
7. Laugh anyway. A sense of joy in the face of the worst is the conservative secret weapon. Leave anger to liberals, who rarely get a joke not directed at Bush. They'll go nuts. And you'll laugh even more.
------------------
I think that we need to work on our message and hence on ourselves. Once we are sure of our message then we have the inner peace to be able to face the pogo stick efforts of the Dems with a smile, as Murchison implies. Then we can continue to put forth commonsense conservative solutions that work on the lowest level: the precinct level, the level at which all politics resonates, the personal level.
Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative
I just read an article by Bill Murchison
-----link-----
http://townhall.com/columnists/BillMurchison/2008/11/12/so_heres_what_we_do,_gang
---------------
I put his book on my wish list. The article has a lot of points I agree with. I too agree that we lost and we need to quickly move on. While we have to look at the reasons why, we need not get lost or bogged down in the details and the blame game. The “vinegar Joe” quote was great.
We need also I think to look at what worked. Look to counties that prevailed and what they did, and more importantly why they succeeded. Right Michigan highlighted one such case in Livingston County. Below is Right Michigan’s link then a link to the “Suburban Voice”
-----link-----
http://www.rightmichigan.com/
-----link-----
http://suburbanvoice.com/2008/11/11/livingston-county--the-life-raft-for-republicans.aspx
---------------
If you think the Dems haven’t made inroads in Mi. the maps on their site put it bluntly. I conclude that the Livingston County group managed to get their base out to vote through some protracted and extensive volunteer efforts. I will contact them and see if I can figure out specifically how they did it. As the Murchison article implied we can and should learn from our mistakes.
I quote the last part of Muchison.
------Quote-----
First come the things of the heart, and the conscience.
7. Laugh anyway. A sense of joy in the face of the worst is the conservative secret weapon. Leave anger to liberals, who rarely get a joke not directed at Bush. They'll go nuts. And you'll laugh even more.
------------------
I think that we need to work on our message and hence on ourselves. Once we are sure of our message then we have the inner peace to be able to face the pogo stick efforts of the Dems with a smile, as Murchison implies. Then we can continue to put forth commonsense conservative solutions that work on the lowest level: the precinct level, the level at which all politics resonates, the personal level.
Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Gingrich vs Steele ???
Gingrich vs. Steele.
If this was a primary for who should run as President, I would pick Steele. This is not an us vs. them type of thing however. It is for leadership of our party. As a Conservative I see it as a no brainer. I would choose Newt in a heartbeat.
Newt has previously set up the mechanism of GOPAC and led it. He took that and drove the GOP to a governing majority. He failed when he caved into the compromise of the other leadership of his party.
I believe he has learned from his mistake. His wisdom on how to push the Conservative Core ideas is by far and away heads above any other public figure. Go to you tube and look at all his speeches. They are coherent and honest and on track. Above all you can not only understand clearly his points but you believe them. Below is a link that if you listen to the last 4 minutes you will see how he would attack the position, the passion he brings and inspires at least in me.
-----link-----
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfvl6vWZ9FA&feature=user
---------------
He will not just send out continuous thinly veiled pleas for money. He knows as well as any Republican around how to create web active excitement and especially involvement. Go to his site
-----link-----
http://newt.org/
--------------
In that site which he has had up for a long time and has constantly improved it, you will find the “Platform for America” which he polled for and created to try to help the GOP win the election. It wasn’t seriously followed. Look to the bottom of the web site and click “American Solutions” and you will get to see the interactive inclusive, core-principled site that it is. Also why I favor him.
Remember the 1.5 million signatures he got on line for his “Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less” campaign. Think also of how he gave the Republicans some back bone in the Congress and how Boehner remembered how to and became a leader again because of Newt and his energy campaign and how for the first time Pelosi's, Reed's and Obama’s feet were held to the fire forceing them at least temporarily to agree to do some drilling. He wasn’t in the House or Senate when he did that he was just a private citizen albeit an influential one who nearly stopped the government.
For those who may worry about his “Baggage”, Look at the John Dean who Republicans think of as a joke for a Presidential Candidate, but look what he has done to the Democrat Party. Compare the brain pans and imagine what Newt could do. BTW his "Real Change" is a blueprint for what he wants to happen. Read it.
My last point is that without any striking national figure out there on the horizon that will energize the party NOW, so we can start to recoup our losses come 2010, we need to fire up the base and bring new fresh thinking minds to the mix. Just plain expand the base driven by the excitement of our ideas and solutions. By concrete examples of our programs on a local level. Newt is a pro at taking our principles and finding solutions that work because of them and then knowing how to popularize those solutions.
He has been ever stead fast in his principles, yet ever changing in his approach according to the changing landscape. He is constantly learning and willing to always look at all ideas. He also admits when he is wrong.
I for one would feel really energized if Newt became leader of our party. I live in Mi. and another Core Conservative is running for State Republican Party Chair. Jack Hoogendyk.
-----link-----
http://www.jackformichigan.org/core/--------------
This could be the silver lining in the cloud of the recent humiliating defeat at the polls especially in Mi. I’m almost giddy to think that I might start to get help in my local efforts at the precinct level from above instead of computer generated memos and lists, and nice sounding clichéd pleas for money. I’m not talking about getting money help, but idea and inspiration help to keep me working hard at it.
In my words, “I need some Facilitating going on here”
I pray that this will come to pass
Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative.
PS
Newt You Tube Channel. 69 clips.
http://www.youtube.com/user/ngingrich
If this was a primary for who should run as President, I would pick Steele. This is not an us vs. them type of thing however. It is for leadership of our party. As a Conservative I see it as a no brainer. I would choose Newt in a heartbeat.
Newt has previously set up the mechanism of GOPAC and led it. He took that and drove the GOP to a governing majority. He failed when he caved into the compromise of the other leadership of his party.
I believe he has learned from his mistake. His wisdom on how to push the Conservative Core ideas is by far and away heads above any other public figure. Go to you tube and look at all his speeches. They are coherent and honest and on track. Above all you can not only understand clearly his points but you believe them. Below is a link that if you listen to the last 4 minutes you will see how he would attack the position, the passion he brings and inspires at least in me.
-----link-----
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfvl6vWZ9FA&feature=user
---------------
He will not just send out continuous thinly veiled pleas for money. He knows as well as any Republican around how to create web active excitement and especially involvement. Go to his site
-----link-----
http://newt.org/
--------------
In that site which he has had up for a long time and has constantly improved it, you will find the “Platform for America” which he polled for and created to try to help the GOP win the election. It wasn’t seriously followed. Look to the bottom of the web site and click “American Solutions” and you will get to see the interactive inclusive, core-principled site that it is. Also why I favor him.
Remember the 1.5 million signatures he got on line for his “Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less” campaign. Think also of how he gave the Republicans some back bone in the Congress and how Boehner remembered how to and became a leader again because of Newt and his energy campaign and how for the first time Pelosi's, Reed's and Obama’s feet were held to the fire forceing them at least temporarily to agree to do some drilling. He wasn’t in the House or Senate when he did that he was just a private citizen albeit an influential one who nearly stopped the government.
For those who may worry about his “Baggage”, Look at the John Dean who Republicans think of as a joke for a Presidential Candidate, but look what he has done to the Democrat Party. Compare the brain pans and imagine what Newt could do. BTW his "Real Change" is a blueprint for what he wants to happen. Read it.
My last point is that without any striking national figure out there on the horizon that will energize the party NOW, so we can start to recoup our losses come 2010, we need to fire up the base and bring new fresh thinking minds to the mix. Just plain expand the base driven by the excitement of our ideas and solutions. By concrete examples of our programs on a local level. Newt is a pro at taking our principles and finding solutions that work because of them and then knowing how to popularize those solutions.
He has been ever stead fast in his principles, yet ever changing in his approach according to the changing landscape. He is constantly learning and willing to always look at all ideas. He also admits when he is wrong.
I for one would feel really energized if Newt became leader of our party. I live in Mi. and another Core Conservative is running for State Republican Party Chair. Jack Hoogendyk.
-----link-----
http://www.jackformichigan.org/core/--------------
This could be the silver lining in the cloud of the recent humiliating defeat at the polls especially in Mi. I’m almost giddy to think that I might start to get help in my local efforts at the precinct level from above instead of computer generated memos and lists, and nice sounding clichéd pleas for money. I’m not talking about getting money help, but idea and inspiration help to keep me working hard at it.
In my words, “I need some Facilitating going on here”
I pray that this will come to pass
Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative.
PS
Newt You Tube Channel. 69 clips.
http://www.youtube.com/user/ngingrich
Monday, November 10, 2008
No "Shame on Me"
Well all things aren’t bad. From the following link it looks like the Dems will not get the magic 60 vote majority to shut of filibusters.
-----link-----
http://www.newsmax.com/headlines/chambliss_obama_georgia/2008/11/09/149440.html?s=al&promo_code=70D7-1
---------------
As the article implies, that magic 60 is reachable with some Republicans changing their vote but it will be that much harder to do if Chambliss can win.
Now that the election is over Sarah Palin is still in the spotlight. We may have a chance to see a national leader in the making. Now that she should be free of the restraints of running 2nd fiddle. Free of the “Handlers” everyone blames all wrongs on. Now is her chance to prove to our conservative leaders such as Peggy Noonan whom I do admire and respect that she (Sarah) is not a flash in the pan and up to the task of being a hardnosed conservative and not just a one line spoutterer of vulgarities.
-----link-----
http://www.peggynoonan.com/article.php?article=438
---------------
Or to quote the article
-----quote-----
In the end the Palin candidacy is a symptom and expression of a new vulgarization in American politics. It’s no good, not for conservatism and not for the country. And yes, it is a mark against John McCain, against his judgment and idealism.
----------------
I still will give Sarah Palin the benefit of the doubt. As someone thrust upon the stage as a VP candidate, her vulgarisms I can overlook as part of the stage setting and a learning process. Perhaps an instinctual self defense mechanism that has served her well. But it will be what she does from here on out which will tell the tale whether she can mature into the limelight or fade from it.
Another of the good things I see is that as someone who has been knocked down, the Republican party seems to be picking itself up and learning from the expensive lesson it has had.
The new media Right Roots of this age are gearing up for change, are coming up with ideas galore, and best yet proposing some concrete actions using the new found technology they were born into. Below is one example of what I mean.
-----link-----
http://www.rebuildtheparty.com/index.php?signup=yes
----------------
This sounds good, it is up to each and everyone of us to ask ourselves what can we do to help turn this thing of our around. Not in philosophical terms, but in concrete terms.
Time of course will tell if we can come up with a new image that enough of us can really get behind and bury some of our ever present squabbles over rhetoric and get into the actual work of winning some elections.
On the national level we see leadership change in the making. Same at the state level. I see some babies being thrown out with the bath water. That is just the cost of being the leader. The buck stops here and during loss, that buck ruts around a lot before it moves on.
What I see as good is that there is a chance to remake our party into a more conservative party. I for one am backing Jack Hoogendyk for State Party Chair. Below is an email he sent out to all. I got it off his web site.
-----Jack-----
http://www.jackformichigan.org/core/2008/11/10/jack-for-state-party-chairman.html
----------------
Well, I used one tissue to dry my eyes, and after this humiliating defeat, I have vowed I won’t be fooled again. They have had their “trick me once” election, I’ll be damned if I’ll say “shame on me” the next time.
Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative
-----link-----
http://www.newsmax.com/headlines/chambliss_obama_georgia/2008/11/09/149440.html?s=al&promo_code=70D7-1
---------------
As the article implies, that magic 60 is reachable with some Republicans changing their vote but it will be that much harder to do if Chambliss can win.
Now that the election is over Sarah Palin is still in the spotlight. We may have a chance to see a national leader in the making. Now that she should be free of the restraints of running 2nd fiddle. Free of the “Handlers” everyone blames all wrongs on. Now is her chance to prove to our conservative leaders such as Peggy Noonan whom I do admire and respect that she (Sarah) is not a flash in the pan and up to the task of being a hardnosed conservative and not just a one line spoutterer of vulgarities.
-----link-----
http://www.peggynoonan.com/article.php?article=438
---------------
Or to quote the article
-----quote-----
In the end the Palin candidacy is a symptom and expression of a new vulgarization in American politics. It’s no good, not for conservatism and not for the country. And yes, it is a mark against John McCain, against his judgment and idealism.
----------------
I still will give Sarah Palin the benefit of the doubt. As someone thrust upon the stage as a VP candidate, her vulgarisms I can overlook as part of the stage setting and a learning process. Perhaps an instinctual self defense mechanism that has served her well. But it will be what she does from here on out which will tell the tale whether she can mature into the limelight or fade from it.
Another of the good things I see is that as someone who has been knocked down, the Republican party seems to be picking itself up and learning from the expensive lesson it has had.
The new media Right Roots of this age are gearing up for change, are coming up with ideas galore, and best yet proposing some concrete actions using the new found technology they were born into. Below is one example of what I mean.
-----link-----
http://www.rebuildtheparty.com/index.php?signup=yes
----------------
This sounds good, it is up to each and everyone of us to ask ourselves what can we do to help turn this thing of our around. Not in philosophical terms, but in concrete terms.
Time of course will tell if we can come up with a new image that enough of us can really get behind and bury some of our ever present squabbles over rhetoric and get into the actual work of winning some elections.
On the national level we see leadership change in the making. Same at the state level. I see some babies being thrown out with the bath water. That is just the cost of being the leader. The buck stops here and during loss, that buck ruts around a lot before it moves on.
What I see as good is that there is a chance to remake our party into a more conservative party. I for one am backing Jack Hoogendyk for State Party Chair. Below is an email he sent out to all. I got it off his web site.
-----Jack-----
http://www.jackformichigan.org/core/2008/11/10/jack-for-state-party-chairman.html
----------------
Well, I used one tissue to dry my eyes, and after this humiliating defeat, I have vowed I won’t be fooled again. They have had their “trick me once” election, I’ll be damned if I’ll say “shame on me” the next time.
Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative
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