Sign, Sign, Everywhere a Sign
It’s that time of year again - time for yard signs to start popping up across the fruited plains. Here in Cumberland County, a limited number of signs started appearring - limited in the sense that I’ve seen only one candidate’s signs - Gary Eichelberger. Of course I helped put those signs up, but regardless, there is a distinct lack of Karen Gunnison signs. It’s my understanding that a few Cumberland County Republican Committee paid for signs promoting the “endorsed” team have appeared on the west shore, but I have yet to see a Karen Gunnison sign or an “endorsed” team sign west of Mechanicsburg. I did happen to see a Bruce Barclay sign somewhere in my travels last night.
Frankly I think the Committee is shooting themselves in the foot by promoting the whole endorsed thing. People are decidedly anti-establishment these days. Having the party’s endorsement isn’t a badge honor these days - it’s a liability. The average Republican out there is pissed off at the “leadership” of the party - or lack there of. The party leadership is full of arrogant self-absorbed people who don’t have a clue. This is best represented by the lack of enthusiasm in any of the announced candidates for president. The buzz right now is around Fred Thompson, who hasn’t even said if he is running or not and hasn’t raised a penny and yet still ranks third in some polls ahead of Romney.
Ultimately it all comes back to the idea that the “leadership” of the party has violated our trust - the “leadership” has integrity issues. That’s probably the most serious type of issue to deal with - it cuts to the core of what people care most about - integrity, honesty, and trust. I define honesty as giving your word - as in when Republicans gave their word they would not vote for a tax increase. Integrity is keeping your word. Republicans in the state house violated this when they supported Rendell’s tax increase a couple of years ago. Or you can always use the pay raise as an example. Or the expansion of gambling. Or any number of other issues that the party leadership decided to throw under the bus.
until the party leadership either slowly builds up its trust with the GOP base, or the party gets new leadership (which would be a good start, and be quicker to building up that trust), the GOP will continue to suffer. But the leadership has no one to blame but themselves, from the national party, to the state party, on down to the local party.
April 19th, 2007 at 2:01 pm
This is somewhat a case of glass houses. Firing off about House Republicans who promised not to vote for a tax increase while working for a candidate that blasts HIS opponent for looming tax increases, all after HE voted TWICE for tax increases. How do you reconcile that? Its just something that hasn’t come up as much as I thought.
April 19th, 2007 at 2:40 pm
What’s really interesting is the amount of taxes that will have to be increased if Karen Gunnison gets elected and is able to bring her organization’s porkbarrel express into Cumberland County. How does she plan on paying for that?