Courage of Conviction

Interesting developments here in Cumberland County - A group residents, including a former Couty GOP Chair formed a committee entitled “Keep the Team” to support Commissioners Barclay and Eichelberger.  The current leadership of the County Committee must be beside themselves - in fact, you can read their rant for yourself here.  It seems obvious that Chairman Stabile isn’t happy, based on his comments. 

And here I thought people were free to form committees and support candidates that they liked.  In fact, that’s why I thought we had primaries.  I guess the inner circle will tolerate primaries if they already know the outcome.  But God forbid some people get themselves organized to challenge the establishment.  Of course all this could have been avoided if the committee had simply not made an endorsement.  But what fun would there be in politics right?

It’s my understanding that Jack Ritter, Mayor of Mechanicsburg, is hosting a reception for candidate Gunnison at the Mechanicsburg Club this evening. 

Here’s what I find amuzing.  Anyone who knows the history of the Mechanicsburg Club knows that until few years ago, this was called the Mechanicsburg Men’s club.  Isn’t it ironic that the Gunnison camp is having a reception at a facility that she couldn’t even be a member of? 

Oh, and still no Gunnison signs to be seen.  I saw two “endorsed” team signs in Camp Hill.  I’d love to hear your reaction to these signs.  Don’t blink though, you may miss them.  In all my years of politics, I can honestly say that these signs are the crappiest signs I have ever seen.  I hope more pop up so people can see what I mean. 

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. 

US House Democrats are “leading” the way on “fixing” the Alternative Minimum Tax - here’s one story on it.  I think Bush and the Republicans should get behind this 100%.  The GOP has been pushing for a reform of this tax for a few years now.  The goal has been to reduce the effect of this unfair tax.  I don’t think the GOP loses any credibility on taxes is they get behind the bill, I think people will actually start to have some respect for the GOP again actaully.  Yeah, the Dems will get a short term win on this, but the GOP can always argue that it has always been the party that fought for lower taxes and has delivered many times in the past.  Either way conservatives should be happy, regardless of who gets credit - it goes along way in reducing a very unfair tax. 

Plus, let’s have a little history lesson.  The AMT was proposed in 1969.  Let’s see, who was in charge of Congress at that time - Democrats.  And who was President - Lyndon Johnson, another Democrat.  So, let’s get this straight.  Democrats were the ones who create the problem of the AMT and now Democrats are proposing to undo, or atleast somewhat fix the problem they created.  I think that is fitting.  Here’s a good piece on some history of the tax. 

You can hear the grasshoppers chirp here in Cumberland County when it comes to politics.  People have been talking about Easter and Holy Week instead of politics - that’s a good thing in my personal opinion.  Too many times those of us in the political realm get so wrapped up in politics.  We forget that there are more important things in life than politics.  In fact there are lot of things that are more important than politics.  That’s probably why the “average” non-political person only thinks about politics for seven minutes per week.  I can’t blame them frankly.  Too much of politics has become way to negative - one party manuvering here or there on an issue.  One party trying to criminalize the other just so the first party can gain power.  One group demonizing another.  People so power hungry they will sell their soul and principles.  People who play politics when all they care about is the money. 

Let’s put all that aside this Holy weekend.  Have a great Easter!

Here’s a great story on Thompson: 

Is Fred Thompson about ready to lay down the Law and Order?

By CHUCK RAASCH

WASHINGTON - Fred Thompson’s surprising third-place showing in the latest USA Today-Gallup Poll is certainly a reflection of rank-and-file Republicans’ unease about the declared GOP candidates. But it also provides insight into the show-biz requirements of a successful modern candidate. Thompson, who has oscillated between the political and entertainment culture for 35 years, personifies that cross-cultural appeal more than any Republican now in the field. Simply put, Americans like a little rock star in their presidential candidates. (See Barack Obama).   The question is whether a few polls and some Internet buzz is enough to entice a 64-year-old man with two children younger than 4 and a successful career on NBC’s “Law and Order” series to jump into an 18-month meat grinder toward the presidency.

 

Read the rest of the story here.

To my readers:

There are a variety of readers that visit my site on a daily basis.  You typically come to see what crazy things I have to say about politics, in what ways I can bash the establishment, and what ways I promote reform within our state government and the Republican Party.

Well, as of today, April 1, I’ve decided that enough is enough.  From now on I am no longer going to be fighting the establishment.  In fact, I’ll be changing the name of the blog to www.courageoftheestablishment.com.  If you can’t beat them, then join them, that’s what I say. My first act of penance back into the Republican establishment fold will be to sign up to be a team captain for the Arlen Specter re-election campaign.  I am personally very excited about this opportunity since it will be a real opportunity to test how well I have re-educated myself into being a “good” Republican. 

I’ll have more, just stay tuned.