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December,
2013
An independent monthly chronicle of 11th Congressional District Republican Party news and events
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An independent monthly chronicle of 11th Congressional District Republican Party news and events
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'The Elephant In The Room' is a monthly newsletter, reporting items of interest to active Republicans in the 11th District - primarily present and future Precinct Delegates, but also other interested Republican party participants. Occasional bulletins may also be sent if an important item comes up that can't be delayed. If you know others who would have in interest in reading this, but do not currently receive it, they can be added to our mailing list. Just send an e-mail from the address at which they wish to receive the newsletter to EITR@Juno.com, with the word 'Subscribe' in the header. If you do not want to receive any further issues, simply reply to this address with the word 'Cancel'.
And The Voice Of The Turtle Is Heard In Our Land
At the Nov. 26 meeting of the
11th District Republican Committee (11th CDRC), 19 members were
present. No vote was held on approving the new secret bylaws;
apparently any discussion and voting had taken place some time
previously, in between the public meetings.
A number of political
candidates were seen attending for the first time this year, and
wanted the committee to endorse them (this would be months before the
Republican candidate is chosen in the August primary). Chairman Mike
Mitchell deferred any call for a vote, instead referring the question
of endorsing any candidates to the bylaws committee in order to find
out what the rules required. It was announced that any votes on
endorsement would take place at the January meeting, since the 11th
will not have any public meetings in December.
David Staudt spoke up
vociferously in favor of endorsing "All our Republican
candidates", and a number of other committee members eagerly
agreed. He mentioned Kowall, Heise, and several others. Since there
are multiple Republican candidates running in the primary, any
endorsements would necessarily favor certain selected favorites. What
Mr. Staudt meant by "Our Republican candidates" is not
clear, although the leading names mentioned all have a record
of joining the Democrats in voting for Obamacare's Medicaid expansion
(link-Kowall(Mrs.)
) (link-Kowall(Mr.)
) (link-Heise
).
The
criteria could not have been incumbency, since the highest
office-holder specific to the 11th District was notably absent from
Mr. Staudt's list (Congressman Bentivolio). This is really not
surprising, since Staudt, along with a number of other well off
country club Republicans, is a supporter of David Trott. (Mr. Trott
is using his considerable wealth in an attempt to primary Congressman
Bentivolio in the August election.)
Committee members have been
heard in the past saying that there is no rule in their bylaws
prohibiting them from endorsing candidates before the August primary,
as if that's all that matters. (Precinct delegates, of course, would
have to take their word for this, because the CDRC rules are .........
secret.) It doesn't seem to occur to Mr. Staudt that there's anything
wrong with using his party office to advance the interests of one
favored candidate above the others. It seems to come very naturally
to Staudt et al. that the Republican party structure exists solely
for the purpose of the Establishment old-boy-club crony-capitalists
cooperating to advance each others career, influence, and financial
prospects.
(In
the same vein, other state-level Republican party power brokers are
busy behind the scenes influencing traditional Republican donors to
cut off any financial support to candidates they don't like. Rob
Steele's Senate bid, and Kerry Bentivolio's campaign, are two of
those that were blacklisted. There are also reports of major MIGOP
leaders raising over $1,000,000 to organize the election defeat of
conservative precinct delegates in the primary; specifics on that will come in a
future issue of EITR, when the names can be confirmed.)
Many Precinct Delegates have
been expressing disgust and cynicism over this kind of thing,
believing that there is nothing they can do but sit back and watch
until at least the beginning of 2015, when a new 11th CDRC committee
will be elected. Actually, P.D.s and other 11th district Republicans
have a lot of choice. For the next year, there are going to be a
blizzard of fund raising appeals and event notices raining down,
right up to November. An informed body of Precinct Delegates can vote
with their wallets there, getting information out to potential donors
about everything that is really going on. Experienced political
observers always advise donating directly to a candidate, that the
donor knows has a record of committed principle, instead of to a
political party. That prevents the sort of influence-peddled
selective support which can be observed imminent here. The 11th CDRC
exists primarily to raise money for Republican candidates - if that
capacity goes elsewhere, so will the importance of its endorsements.
Judging by the forceful
exhortations of Mr. Staudt & Co., it seems as if the
Establishment presumption of Endorsement-By-Divine-Right should be on
full display at the 11th CDRC meeting in January. Bring your popcorn.
"Will you walk a little
faster?" said a whiting to a snail,
"There's a porpoise close behind us, and he's treading on my tail.
See how eagerly the lobsters and the turtles all advance!
They are waiting on the shingle – will you come and join the dance?
Will you, won't you, will you, won't you, will you join the dance?
(Lewis Carrol, v.1 from "Lobster Quadrille")
"There's a porpoise close behind us, and he's treading on my tail.
See how eagerly the lobsters and the turtles all advance!
They are waiting on the shingle – will you come and join the dance?
Will you, won't you, will you, won't you, will you join the dance?
(Lewis Carrol, v.1 from "Lobster Quadrille")
A Philosophical Question
Tony Lollio
The Tea Party challenge to Michigan Lt. Governor Brian Calley is stirring disagreement in the state's conservative caucus. The latest high profile conservative to openly question the tactic is Scott Hagerstrom, head of the Michigan chapter of Americans For Prosperity.
In a recent article on mlive.com, Hagerstrom called the Tea Party campaign to oust Calley a "waste of time and a waste of energy."
When it comes to grassroots conservatism, few have worked harder for the cause than Scott Hagerstrom. He deserves the profound respect of every conservative activist. His opinion on this issue reflects that of many Republicans, that now is not the time to be diverting party resources to defend an unthreatened, and relatively unimportant seat. Republicans will, after all, be battling in 2014 to maintain their majorities in the legislature.
Do these tactical disagreements spell the end of cooperation between Michigan Republicans and the Tea Party? Probably not, but perhaps tactical squabbles should be had over coffee, and not in local media outlets.
The Tea Party campaign for Lt. Governor is not just about sending a message to Lansing, it's also a finger to the pulse of the Michigan GOP. Delegates at next year's state convention will be asked a philosophical question: Will the party stand firm on its traditional conservative platform, or play whatever political strategy is necessary to stay in control?
There are those Republicans who believe that the Tea Party has outlived its usefulness. Tea Partiers are unwieldy and unreliable, refusing to take orders from Republican strategists. The liability they pose to the party is also their greatest quality: an unwillingness to compromise their principles in order to win elections, or to support Republican incumbents who don't pass the conservative sniff test.
I have grown to embrace the Tea Party disdain for tactical politics. Standing firm on principles lends credibility to our political process, and makes it seem less dirty and manipulative. Besides, if playing the game gives us Republicans who support tax hikes and the expansion of social welfare programs, what the heck is the point.
The governor's office has long been on a collision course with the conservative base that gave it power. The Tea Party has chosen the state convention as the appropriate venue to send their message. The alternative could have been a primary challenge.
The truth is that without the Tea Party caucus, the Republican Party would be dead in the water. It was conservative fervor, not political gamesmanship, that handed Republicans their majorities in the legislature. Ignoring the Tea Party is the biggest tactical mistake of all.
Reminder - Precinct Delegate filing law changes
As discussed in last month's issue of EITR, changes in Michigan law are now in effect (MCL 168.624 (Link)). A new deadline for filing Affidavits-Of-Identity (to be on the ballot as a precinct delegate in the August 2014 election) is separate from that of other candidates. Also new is the fact that P.D.s can file right now, instead of waiting until January 1, at either their county clerk's office or local city/township clerk. After January, the filing can only be submitted to the county clerk. For Wayne County residents, this would require driving downtown to the City-County building, finding and paying for a place to park, going through metal detectors at the entrance (no-CPL zone), etc.. Most people find it much more convenient to file locally, before the end of the year.
A Challenge to OCRP Membership
David Lonier
What is the Proper Role of Government?
As with many organizations, especially political organizations, changes that occur over time will usually begin with maximum control in the hands of the creators, but slowly devolve into a takeover by the few who the creators have put in charge. This is known as the regression from freedom to tyranny.
Our founding fathers warned: “In order to maintain our freedom, we will need a new revolution every generation.” And, upon ratification of the Constitution, Ben Franklin was asked: “What have you given us Doctor Franklin?” to which he replied “A Republic, if you can keep it”.
The responsibility for maintaining a form of government by which one can preserve and protect one’s freedom, demands constant vigilance on the part of its creators. The moment the creators depend upon their “elected” agents to protect their freedom is the moment the integrity of the organization and individual freedom begin to deteriorate.
The original intent was that “we the people” had “unalienable” rights that were endowed to us by our Creator and that government’s only function was to secure those rights. By twisting the meaning of words and replacing one word with another, most Americans now believe they have “civil” rights and that those rights are granted to them by government. This, in effect has inverted the power structure of our entire society and rather that government being accountable to the people, the people have now become subject to the whim of government.
Whether drafting a Constitution for a government or By Laws for a subdivision of a political party, it is imperative that these directing documents, at least in word, if not in deed, maximize control by those in whose interest the organization was created, thus assuring the membership’s unrestrained ability to control their organization. Although the elected representatives have duties to perform, they have no authority whatsoever to undermine the principles upon which the organization owes its existence.
If we wish to avoid falling deeper into a state of tyranny, we need look no further than our nation’s Founding Documents to see how far we have strayed from our original ideals. Just as today’s government at all levels ignores our “inconvenient” Constitution, we need to take a good hard look at the “Principles of the Republican Party” and decide if it’s wise to ignore that which has inspired many who look to the Republican Party for political morality. We must make the decision…do we sacrifice our principles for political expediency, or do we pledge our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor to preserve our Republican heritage?
See “History and Principles of the Republican Party here: http://www.migop.org/index.php/about/principles/
Surveying the Field
Something Precinct Delegates are often seeing, recently:"We are conducting a survey, and your response would be appreciated."
If Precinct Delegates receive an e-mail poll or survey, be aware of who is gathering the information. What group is likely to have the money to be paying for surveys to P.D.s, and the motivation to find out if they are likely to vote for Calley or Nakagiri? It's probably not your local TEA party. Phone "polls" have already started too. There is Big Money funding a 2014 plan to make sure conservative P.D.s are replaced in the August election, or otherwise prevented from going to the state convention, and they need to find out who is or isn't. Keep that in mind when you consider responding to any of these polls.
(If there are any idealists that have any doubt about paid manipulation being something that nobody believes happens in Michigan, it's not new: (Link) )
Event calendar:
Dec. 9, 7pm- Rattle With Us Tea Party meeting (Link)
Jan. 14, 7pm- Troy Area Tea Party meeting (Link)
Jan. 9, 7pm- Wayne 11th CDRC Meeting (Link)
Dec. 15, 6:30pm- Lakes Area Tea Party meeting (Link)
Jan. 28, 7pm- 11th CDRC meeting (Link)
Letters
Making a List and Checking it Twice? Hello Precinct Delegates, Got a phone call today from Ionia from a Republican Party volunteer asking if I was planning on running for Precinct Delegate again in 2014. They also wanted to know if I was a supporter of Brian Calley. Let me just say that wouldn't it be strange if all of a sudden my spot in my sleepy township is aggressively challenged? Don't give these folks information on who you support because it is going to be used against you. I was caught off guard and I regret it! Take care, Maribeth Schmidt |
Thought for the day:
"If you believe that the end justifies the means, then you don't believe in constitutional government."
Thomas Sowell
E.I.T.R. Policies and Principles
If you have an article, event, or other news that you think the readership should know about, we welcome your contributions. Editorial judgement will be applied to consider what interest readers will have in the submission, so keep articles or letters to a reasonable length. Articles should be factual - you must be able to provide corroboration of your information. Articles can be published under an alias, but you must be prepared to be able to stand up in court, raise your right hand, and testify to what you personally witnessed (because it may come to that). Unsubstantiated allegations just won't fly here, and rumors will be not be treated seriously unless they have some special reason to have plausible and substantive news value. We will be happy to follow up on tips which cannot yet be proven, but we can't publish them as fact without confirmation.
Letters expressing an opinion are fine, and will be published as such, if they would be of interest to the 11th District readership. Keep it local; there are other venues for national articles and issues. We want to focus this chronicle on items affecting Republican district affairs, including the activities of the office holders elected from this district.
Notices of events, planning, organization, etc. are welcome. If you want to get word out to like minded people in this district, send in your notice or idea. Keep it succinct, factual, and don't bore the reader - nobody wants to plow through long diatribes. The 11th CDRC party leaders have no control over this publication, and cannot censor any notices or opinions.
Responses to E.I.T.R. articles will be considered on their merits, and published if they are informative and a reasonable length. Our intention is to send each issue out at or around the beginning of the month, so sending items in at least a week before that is a good idea. That will allow time for two-way communication regarding any questions that may come up.
Denis Curran, Editor -
E.I.T.R.
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