Comments on: Cumberland County Politics http://www.courageofconviction.org/blog/2007/01/19/cumberland-county-politics/ Unleashing Courage Wed, 19 Nov 2008 16:00:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 by: Matthew Best http://www.courageofconviction.org/blog/2007/01/19/cumberland-county-politics/#comment-996 Sun, 21 Jan 2007 19:22:00 +0000 http://www.courageofconviction.org/blog/2007/01/19/cumberland-county-politics/#comment-996 I can certainly understand what you are saying. It is my belief that they take that loyalty to an extreme. I've believed for a long time that the county committees should not be endorsing candidates in primaries - they should stay out of primaries - the voters are smart enough to decide who why want to represent them in the fall. Their circle the wagon approach also becomes a weakness because they should be scrutinizing the candidates so as not to be embarrassed when a non-endorsed candidate wins - instead of what happens now, where it's a given that the incumbent will automatically get the endorsement. I've seen too many incumbents get the endorsement even though they were poor candidates. But because people were afraid to upset the applecart, they didn't speak up or challenge the endorsement. The herd mentality prevails and people are silenced even though they know they should have done something. I can certainly understand what you are saying. It is my belief that they take that loyalty to an extreme. I’ve believed for a long time that the county committees should not be endorsing candidates in primaries - they should stay out of primaries - the voters are smart enough to decide who why want to represent them in the fall.

Their circle the wagon approach also becomes a weakness because they should be scrutinizing the candidates so as not to be embarrassed when a non-endorsed candidate wins - instead of what happens now, where it’s a given that the incumbent will automatically get the endorsement.

I’ve seen too many incumbents get the endorsement even though they were poor candidates. But because people were afraid to upset the applecart, they didn’t speak up or challenge the endorsement. The herd mentality prevails and people are silenced even though they know they should have done something.

]]> by: Publius http://www.courageofconviction.org/blog/2007/01/19/cumberland-county-politics/#comment-986 Sun, 21 Jan 2007 06:30:32 +0000 http://www.courageofconviction.org/blog/2007/01/19/cumberland-county-politics/#comment-986 That's a valid point about the iron gates of the committee - its almost impossible to be different and get in. From my experience, this is how most county committees (and other level commitees) work however. And from the other angle, if I were an incumbent or even a Republican candidate for that matter, I would feel a great comfort in knowing that, at the very least, my county committee would be behind me to circle the wagons in times of need. It would be unsettling to say the least to know that every 18 months, I would have to undergo microscopic scrutiny by not only the electorate, but also by a select group of peers who are supposed to generally feel the same as me. So, I guess my point is that, while I agree that it would be frustrating as a same-party challenger, I could also defend the strength of the party mentality. After all, don't you think incumbents need that strong vein of support during tough elections? That’s a valid point about the iron gates of the committee - its almost impossible to be different and get in. From my experience, this is how most county committees (and other level commitees) work however. And from the other angle, if I were an incumbent or even a Republican candidate for that matter, I would feel a great comfort in knowing that, at the very least, my county committee would be behind me to circle the wagons in times of need. It would be unsettling to say the least to know that every 18 months, I would have to undergo microscopic scrutiny by not only the electorate, but also by a select group of peers who are supposed to generally feel the same as me.

So, I guess my point is that, while I agree that it would be frustrating as a same-party challenger, I could also defend the strength of the party mentality. After all, don’t you think incumbents need that strong vein of support during tough elections?

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