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November 17, 2006

Rebuilding the RI GOP Part III: The Leadership Speaks

Marc Comtois

Rhode Island GOP Chair Patricia Morgan sat down for an extensive and wide-ranging interview with Dan Yorke yesterday. I believe that the viewpoints of the current GOP Chair are worthy of conclusion in this discussion we are having about rebuilding the RIGOP. Call it serendipity, I guess.

First, here are my quick takes on some of the items that came out of the interview:

The headliner is that Steve Laffey was engaged in some dealmaking with regards to the Senate run and that he asked for either the URI Presidency or an Ambassadorship in lieu of taking on Chafee. He was denied both. Throughout the interview, Morgan repeatedly talked of healing the party, but in the end, Laffey proves to be a constant source of friction, even for her.

It would appear that a lot of the money/resources sent to the RI GOP from the National Party was spent in the primary for the GOTV (Get Out The Vote) effort, which essentially helped Senator Chafee. I understand that it was used to build a GOTV system (computers, lists, etc.) and that it would have been unwise to hold back until after the primary. I even recognize that using the primary as a "dry run" for the general election was a good idea.

However, I also can't help but wonder if too much of those resources were used specifically for the GOTV effort on behalf of the Chafee campaign in the primary. How much of those resources were spent identifying independents and Democrats and then cajoling them to vote for the first--and probably only--time for a Republican? As a caller said, why couldn't the RI GOP just have stayed out of the Senate '06 primary and let the two candidates with the deepest pockets slug it out on their own? Then they could have still built the GOTV effort and focused on the local races, where the money was really needed.

I think that all can agree that the Governor absolutely needs to take charge of the party. I realize he has a state to manage, but if he wants to have a lasting legacy, he had better step up and create an environment whereby individuals with whom he shares a political philosophy can carry the banner in the future.

Finally, we can agree that there are a core set of principles (mostly fiscal/good government) around which the RI GOP needs to build. However, many of the most energized volunteers in both the national and local GOP are those who prioritize social issues over economic. They don't engage in politics for the sake of helping themselves (ie, pocketbook issues), they do it so that their children will have a better future in a world that is a little less crass than it is now. Those resources need to be tapped and the only way to do that is to convince social and religious conservatives that their input is valuable and that their viewpoint will be respected.


In the extended entry (below) is a summarization of that conversation.

I've broken the interview into seven parts and embedded a link to the audio file for each (available on Yorke's web page).

SEGMENT ONE

Dan Yorke's proposition that the RI GOP shut itself down apparently aggravated Chair Patricia Morgan enough that she decided to sit down for an interview with Yorke.

She began by explaining what went wrong. In short, while they had a great slate of candidates that should have won, a the "Perfect Storm" swept them away. It wasn't just Rhode Island, but also nationally. But in addition, RI had some specific factors (the casino, a motivated labor coalition) that contributed to the electoral difficulty for the state GOP's candidates.

Yorke ran through the fact that the GOP made no gains in the Legislature or the Senate, the Governor barely won and Senator Chafee lost and cried about it later (blaming Laffey). Also, there are double agents throughout the RI GOP and the party has no money.

Morgan explained that polls taken the weekend before the election showed Chafee, Carcieri and Sec. State candidate Sue Stenhouse all leading, as well as 6 candidates for the House. But, in the bluest of the blue states, there was an energized union leadership that threw a lot of effort at this election and they were more organized than ever.

She explained that the unions get their money from everyone's paycheck automatically; they don�t have to ask for a check. Rhode Islanders aren't used to voluntarily giving contributions. The Democrats have a constant stream going into their coffers. Because the Governor took on pension reform and angered union leadership, they were out to get him and down ticket candidates suffered.

Additionally, there was Harrah's, which seemed to have an open checkbook. After ten years and millions of dollars, everyone in RI knew how they were going to vote on the casino. They also probably knew about the governor and the senate races, but didn't really know their local candidates. Thus, because it's a Democrat state, they tended to default to the Democrat side; besides which, as they were going into the polls, they were told to vote straight Democrat. Finally, Morgan thinks that the number of ballots that were straight Dem was double that of last election.

Yorke explained that he was "sick of the excuses." Morgan said that it wasn't an excuse, it's an explanation. After some back and forth, Morgan offered that, "I think the people of Rhode Island made a bad call." As an example, she mentioned Spencer McGuire in Bristol. He was a qualified candidate, raised $30,000, walked door to door for months, met everyone in his district and ran a great campaign. He was going against a guy who has a voting record that isn't in the best interest of the people in his district and had a very serious ethics complaint against him. Yet, the people returned him to office. Is it because the RI GOP didn�t have a great candidate? No. It's because the people aren't informed about their local officials.

Morgan attempted to take the heat herself by explaining that the RI GOP keeps trying but they're underfunded and she stated, "Criticize me for that." Yorke would have none of that line of thinking, explaining that it wasn�t about blaming Morgan, it was about the systemic issues of the RI GOP, which is a tiny party, fractured, full of double agents, no cohesive leadership plan and no money to even implement that plan if they had it.

Yorke repeated that they should shut it down. When Morgan defended the current Republicans up on the Hill, Yorke averred that they enjoyed being the minority party and taking what they could get. Morgan offered that Yorke's real question should be why the people of RI continue to vote for the people who don't serve their best interest. Yorke said no, my question is when is the GOP going to get its act together.

Yorke said the Governor should call for a GOP meeting ASAP (not in March, when it is currently scheduled). He should call out the double-agents, tell the factions to leave each other alone, talk about the party's benefits, elect a chairman, find the people to raise money, and then implement this plan. He should lead the effort for 6 months to get it going. If not, kill it. After some back and forth, Morgan eventually agreed that the Governor was the only one who had the star power to lead the effort in rebuilding the RIGOP.

SEGMENT TWO

A Caller offered that the state GOP has tried too hard to �out-left� the Democrats and also took the RI GOP leadership to task for "savaging" Laffey. Morgan disagreed that they had "savaged" Laffey.

Yorke then brought up the $1/2 million sent to the party for party-building that Laffey believed he should have had access to. Morgan explained that it was for party building and, once they got into the general election, that money was available for everyone. [According to National GOP rules, from which this money came, only incumbents can have access to this money in a primary].

SEGMENT THREE

Yorke played a clip of Chafee saying he was glad the GOP lost the House and asked how Morgan felt about it. Morgan said it was unfortunate and that Chafee was vulnerable. He had a bad couple days. Yorke offered that that was a very �chic� think to say (no offense intended).

Yorke then moved on to the fact that you don't get points for trying, and that�s all he was hearing. He also criticized the RI GOP for having nobody to run against Langevin. Morgan said that it just made sense to not run against Langevin. Too often the party puts up sacrificial lambs. They have limited resources and only so many volunteers and they needed to put them where they can make a difference.

A caller (Laffey supporter) said that in the primary, both Laffey and Chafee were well financed and could support their own campaigns. Why did the state party inject itself into that race? The Governor can't even sustain a veto in the house and the party was worried about two guys who have enough money to run both now AND four years from now.

Morgan explained that her concern was building the party infrastructure, getting GOTV expertise and getting help to help all candidates up and down the ticket. She hears the criticism that the RI GOP doesn't get enough volunteers and it is volunteers who do all of the hard work like making phone calls and going door to door, which helps to pull that vote out. According to Morgan, the RI GOP has never done that in RI because they've never had that grass roots infrastructure.

Laffey Supporter then had two follow-ups--He asked how much of that $1/2 million went to Chafee in the primary. Second, he thought it insulting for Morgan to say the people went the wrong way and asked when it was time to shoot the messenger. When do you acknowledge that you or the party isn't being effective?

Morgan explained that, first, none of that money went to Chafee, it was all GOTV. Laffey Supporter then asked how much went to the primary? Morgan restated that the national GOP didn�t give any money to Chafee. Laffey Supporter then stated that Morgan was avoiding the question and asked how much went to the GOTV effort during the primary.

Morgan said that they used the money during the primary and general election. She explained that you don't start building GOTV after the primary because there isn't enough time. There is only 8 weeks until general election. You have to start building it early.

At this point, Yorke jumped in, and said that Laffey, as the challenger, had to know he wouldn�t get that money until, and if, he won the primary. . Laffey Supporter agreed, but wanted to know where the RI GOP was when that decision was made. Morgan explained that the state central committee overwhelmingly approved (75%) using that money for GOTV. . Laffey Supporter responded that, while he understood that, wouldn't it have been better used for the general election and that he suspected most was used in Chafee/Laffey race. Morgan discounted that and said it wasn't, but the GOTV program was constantly built.

For clarificiaton, Yorke asked Morgan (rhetorically) to define what the GOTV and $1/2 million was. Yorke explained that it wasn't really cash, but a program for GOTV. They were assets for investing into a system for identifying voters. The Chafee campaign had access to that system in the primary but Laffey couldn't. He then asked Morgan if she knew how much of that now-famous 72 hour push in the GOP Senate '06 primary was helped by that $1/2 million. Morgan confirmed that that system was used by the Chafee campaign, but that the dollar amount didn't equate to half of the total. She explained that it was hard to quantify it because it was an ongoing thing.

Yorke then changed tack and played cuts of Jackvony comparing Laffey to Saddam Hussein and blaming him for all that is wrong with the RI GOP. Yorke asked Morgan when the RI GOP was going to get those type of people out of the party. Morgan replied that the GOP needed to realize that their opponent was the Democrats, not each other and they needed to get together.

Yorke explained that Jackvony and Holmes were self-serving, double agents who looked out for themselves. He also asked why the local media always goes to them for the GOP POV. He then played the clip of Holmes explaining that he had given advice to Democrat Charlie Fogarty. Morgan was very upset at this and called it "absolutely outrageous" and declared that Holmes' credentials as a Republican should be taken away and that the RI GOP needed to tell the media that Holmes doesn't speak for us and that there are others that are more representative of the party. When asked about Jackvony, Morgan dodged a bit. Finally, Yorke also mentioned that Morgan works 30 hours a week without pay.

SEGMENT FOUR

A Democrat Caller had two points. He disagreed that it's the governors job to build a party. They can lend their name, but it has to come from the party chair and the grassroots. It's a cliche, but it's true. Second, the RI GOP's whole strategy for winning on a local level is flawed because they are too negative. [Yorke and Morgan blew him out of the water on that--he interpreted "going negative" as being critical of your opponent's voting record].

Yorke reiterated that the Governor was the only guy who can resurrect the party and put the chairperson on the playing field. Morgan agreed that she needed his help. To this, Yorke explained that the RI GOP needs more than help, it needs restructuring. That's what the Governor supposed to do as a businessman.

SEGMENT FIVE

Yorke asked Morgan how the Governor could help. Morgan stated that he energizes the troops and helps in raising money, to which Yorke added that, "He needs to knock heads." According to Yorke, John Holmes is only one of a bunch of bad players in the RI GOP. He then asked, "What about Jackvony?" Yorke observed that, while he's got a personal problem with Laffey, Laffey does that to people, but he isn't going away. The RI GOP have to embrace Laffey as a viable part of the party and stop the internecine warfare. Morgan explained that there is a personal history between Laffey and Jackvony, but the GOP needs to take on the Democrats, not each other.

Morgan also said she wanted to still be Chair. She believed in the GOP philosophy and that it could help RI. People complain about taxes and corruption, but vote in the same people again and again. (Then they went back and forth again about the past election problems).

Morgan said that there was a lot of money on the other side floating around the state. Yorke said that that is what happens and when a party has no infrastructure, they get caught flat footed by that type of effort. Morgan explained that's why they got the money from the National GOP for GOTV, to which Yorke said, but it was chump change.

A Republican Caller said he was looking for an email or message from state party about what happened (speaking to communication issues) and said that the prty should embrace Laffey, and he needs to run again.

Yorke then went into a different direction than the party-building conversation and delved into the behind the scenes deal-making between Laffey, Chafee the RI GOP and National GOP. As has been well-documented, many tried to persuade him to run for another office. Morgan said that she believed Laffey wouldn't because he apparently really wanted to be Senator. However, she then explained that Laffey may have considered running for Lt. Governor if the duties of the office were expanded. Governor Carcieri knocked that down.

A Republican Contributor called and opined that, while Morgan said there were no grassroots, "maybe you're fishing in the wrong pond," ie; maybe the RI GOP should turn to its more conservative members. He then asked why does the RI GOP have to be Democrat-lite. According to Republican Contributor, Laffey had three paid staff members and the rest were highly motivated volunteers. "I didn't know him, but his message intrigued me and I thought I'd help." RepCon finally offered that if Chafee hadn't been rescued by the RNC, he would have lost.

Morgan explained that she would take anyone in the GOP. She doesn't restrict philosophy. If they want to work for the RI GOP, she'll take them. She qualified that when she talked about the grassroots, she was talking about the town committees. They need help. The Democrats have a natural constituency. They've been in power for so long, they've distributed patronage and they have the unions. They have people who show up because they're expected to show up. Morgan offered this anecdote: When she showed up for a debate against Speaker Murphy in 2004, the place was full of State House workers. There was a financial, personal reason why they were there. They weren't strict volunteers. On a side note, she also explained that Harrah's "volunteers" were being paid.

Another Caller chimed in and stated that, in other states, parties build their back bench through appointments to commissions by the governor. He said that he had inquired and didn't get any feed back that they had received his letter. He had to show up at the door of a certain member of the Governor's leadership team to confirm that he had heard of him. The RI GOP has to build from the bottom up, but some of these other positions could be used effectively. Morgan reminded him that many of those positions have to be approved by the Senate and there is horse-trading going on and, as a result, it's really Democrats that end up filling those spots. The caller made the final point is that the Governor's office or RI GOP should at least give some feedback when someone offers to help. Communication can help to energize the young party members.

SEGMENT SIX

Yorke then reported that he had received a well-sourced (confidential) email that said that in private meetings, Laffey had indicated he would accept the URI Presidency or a diplomatic position (ambassador) and drop out of the race against Chafee. The Governor shot down the URI Presidency and Ken Mehlman shot down the ambassadorship.

Yorke asked Morgan why she didn�t want to say it and she said because she wasn�t there. Yorke said he had heard this, but had had no sources. In the end, Morgan said it revealed Laffey's personality and that it showed that he was disingenuous. "If you really want to do something, you don't trade it away for something else--he was trying to use it as currency."

An Independent voter called. He was proud of Laffey and the Governor. He said part of the RI GOP's problem is that Morgan said she could care less if someone is liberal or conservative, as long as they're a Republican. Ind. Voter thought that is and example of the problem. He thought many with more traditional views felt that Chafee and many Republicans and Democrats don't share those views and that "we don't know where to go. We're orphans." Thus, maybe the RI GOP needs to articulate a value laden party. Carcieri has the values and views and strength to stand up to the corruption here in Rhode Island. Only a few others, like Dan Yorke and Steve Laffey, have done it, too.

Morgan said that she needed him to come help the party to grow. There are certain things that bind all Republicans together, she explained: smaller, efficient government; people running their own lives and not a government bureaucracy. There are things that we can all agree on and the RI GOP needs like-minded people to help.

Yorke asked the caller about the Laffey horse-trading deal and the Caller revealed that there was a softer side to Laffey, who would visit the caller's sick mother and bring her a Thanksgiving turkey every year. That is the softer side of Laffey that needs to come out. Yorke refocused and tried to get an answer. The Caller said he believed Yorke and Morgan, but didn't know for sure what to make of it. Morgan stated, "It really happened."

Another Caller said he was sick to his stomach listening to this. To be effective, the RI GOP needs an organization which requires money and a message. Two things they don't have. A lot of excuses: democrats, unions, terrorists--everyone but those running the RIGOP. They've failed and when are they going to take responsibility? The party needs new blood.

Yorke asked if he was saying that Morgan should go. The Caller responded,
"Yes." The RI GOP hasn�t won anything. If you fail, you move on. The RI GOP hasn't raised money. How much money did you spend on candidates that wasn't part of the rule 11 money (the $1/2 million). Morgan responded that $165,000 was spent for approximately 58 candidates. The Caller broke it down: they got $3000 each, "How the hell do you win an election doing that." This got Morgan's back up and explained that the RI GOP had a platform and that a booklet was provided to every candidate and that the RI GOP did opposition research for every candidate. Finally, she told the caller that she was surprised that someone such as he--who was supposedly so informed about the RI GOP--wouldn't have known that.

SEGMENT SEVEN

This segment opened with a caller who said he was the Secretary/Treasurer of the North Providence Town Committee and also a state GOP convention delegate. He said he was floored by Morgan's depiction of how the vote for the $1/2million went down. According to him, throughout the convention it was proposed that the money be used for all of the candidates and then, at the end, it was revealed that all of the $� million was for Chafee's campaign. As for grassroots, he said that he had offered several times to help the party with publicity or advertising, in which he had 40 years of experience. He then said he had never heard back from the RI GOP. Morgan confessed that she didn�t know who he was, but if people volunteer, she uses them and that she'd like his phone number.

Another Caller rang in to observe that the party is fractured and that Morgan had made a huge move forward by condemning John Holmes. He continued that a lot of people were disenchanted with Holmes et al and that, unfortunately, he's the face of the GOP party on local media outlets, not Morgan.

Yorke agreed and told Morgan that she needed to do a better job of getting genuine GOP spokespeople. Morgan pointed to Rep's Watson, Gorham and Trillo as some who should be used by the media not Holmes. Yorke commented that Morgan should have gone after ABC 6 for having Holmes on Election night or Lively Experiment for going with Jackvony as the GOP voice. Morgan agreed that there are more current people withing the RI GOP to whom the local media should turn. Yorke stated that, as the RI GOP Chair, Morgan needed to control these issues.

Another Caller said he was disgusted with Laffey, Holmes and Jackvony. Asserted that the RI GOP has good people in the House who can represent the party well. He was shocked by Laffey's actions re: the back room dealing and stated that Laffey shouldn�t be looked to within the party anymore because he put himself first. Yorke asked Morgan if she sanctioned that point of view, that "Laffey should be sent to the back of the bus." Morgan said that the people of the party will have to decide, but it's a window into his personality.

Comments

I am sure that the folks at URI would welcome Steve Laffey as President with open arms.The Gay-Bashing columns he published in his College Newspaper would
not be an issue.

Or was it Bob Jones University that Laffey wanted to Govern?

Posted by: steve a at November 17, 2006 1:12 PM

With all due respect to the outgoing chair, almost everything that was mentioned in that way too long radio interview was old news -- and obviously not meant in any way to help build the party going forward. The whole thing about the alleged deal-making vis-a-vis Laffey, was little more than rumor and innuendo that was spread by the Chafee folks early on to try to undermine Laffey. No one has ever presented even the slimmest bit of proof about it -- it's always been "I heard from so and so...". That stuff was out there even before Laffey officially decided to run last September. I have no idea why it's even being brought up again, especially now, when we need to do some serious rebuilding. He was certainly offered or enticed with such great positions as Lt. Governor and General Treasurer, but other than that, there was never anything else out there that there is any evidence whatsoever to support.

As Marc is not involved directly with the state party, it is very understandable that he (as frankly, a majority of the party still doesn't understand to this day) what the "$500,000.00" was for. It was never real money. It was "in kind" assistance for the use by the Chafee Senate campaign, directly from the RNC (anyone familiar with the text of the RNC Rule 11 Waiver that the state party leadership was required to sign would realize that quickly). The purpose of those resources was to help Chafee make it through the Republican Primary by using so-called "Get Out The Vote" resources to convince non-Republican voters to vote for Chafee in the Republican Primary to counter the effects of the Republican vote in that primary, because as has been stated elsewhere, Chafee would have lost badly otherwise.

That anyone else may have, could have, or indeed did benefit from the RNC's resources was entirely incidental to its purpose. As it turns out, in the end, Chafee himself still didn't benefit -- except by winning the primary -- despite the national party's intervention in what should have been a local matter. A word of advice going forward ... if potential in-state contributors trusted the RI Republican Party to do the right thing with their money, they wouldn't have nearly such a hard time raising it. As it stands right now, you have no guarantee that when you give, you'll get what you paid for.

Posted by: Will at November 17, 2006 3:05 PM

Hi!
Two things:
1.I need to finish the remarks above but I say "Don't Stand Pat! Dump Morgan"!I did not hear Mrs.Morgan yesterday.As an active Republican I want HER OUT as Rhode Island State GOP Chair!She has "zero" credibity with a number of Republicans.She does not respect hard work in my opinion and is very petty.The Governor MUST assume responsibility in her remaining as State GOP Chair as she could have been replaced before now.
2.Tomorrow(Saturday,November 18,2006) the South County Coalition Breakfast will be held at Boucher's Wood River Inn in the Wyoning section of Richmond at 8 AM located on Main Street,Interesection of Route#3 aqnd Route#138 just around the corner when the two routes merge.Take Exit#3 off Interstate#95 and go west.
Hopkinton host this month.
Regards,
Scott Bill Hirst
Member,Hopkinton,R.I., Town Council,1996-2004; and 2006 Town Council Candidate(defeated)

Posted by: Scott Bill Hirst at November 17, 2006 3:20 PM

Will, Thanks for the further elaboration. Perhaps I didn't make it clear, but I understand that it wasn't real money, but "in kind" assistance, specifically for GOTV and related stuff. However, I was (mistakenly?) under the impression that that 1/2 million was for ANY incumbent, not just Sen. Chafee....

FYI, here is the text of the Rule 11 and here is some pretty hard-hitting analysis and reportage that supports Will's explanation (and doesn't put Patricia Morgan in a very good light).

Posted by: Marc Comtois at November 17, 2006 4:14 PM

Here's the applicable part of what Marc is referring to:

The vote to accept the $500K in assistance proceeded, resulting in a 121-46 majority to accept the RNC’s offer. Chairwoman Morgan then pulled a previously unread Rule 11 acceptance letter from her pocket, which Rob Manning signed. The task completed, Chairwoman Morgan read aloud the letter, reversing her earlier assurances regarding equal support for all candidates. The waiver asserted that state leaders "approve any and all pre-primary financial assistance and in-kind aid the RNC may choose to provide in furtherance of the U.S. Senate campaign of Senator Lincoln Chafee." This caused an emotional eruption from conservatives and several moderates, some shouting "you lied", a sense of betrayal filling the room. In the midst of this understandable angst, Chairwoman Morgan referred to the conservatives as "rabble". . . A telling statement indeed.

Posted by: Will at November 17, 2006 5:07 PM

As to the $500,000 from the national committee.

I understood the resources were officially accepted for the incumbant Senate candidate but were to be unofficially made available to all endorsed candidates including specifically local and state candidates; further, that the latter was very much a motive for accepting the resources.

If this happened, frankly, it would be an appropriate and well advised "misuse" of resources from the national committee. As has been pointed out, good candidates for US Congress do not usually spring fully formed out of the Chair's head.

Posted by: SusanD at November 18, 2006 12:12 PM

One of the good things about having a Republican incumbent serving at the federal level was that the national GOP would infuse money into the state. These funds, either directly or indirectly, have helped several candidates over the years. Discussing national transfers is now a moot point. Such transfers are not going to happen again in the near future.

Certain so-called "Republicans" have knowingly moved the party into an irrelevancy never seen in Rhode Island. They sent their intended message and will now, appropriately, live with the consequences of their choices.

Our current situation was caused far more by Steve Laffey than by Patricia Morgan or anyone at the state party. They state party is only as strong as its membership, which isn't strong at all.

So what's next, Scott Bill Hirst for governor?

Posted by: Anthony at November 19, 2006 10:50 PM

"These funds, either directly or indirectly, have helped several candidates over the years." Yes, I believe they were both named Chafee. Anyone else? Why should the RIGOP need welfare? Perhaps if potential contributors believed it would use their money beneficially, instead of squandering it, they would receive more, and there would be no need for handouts.

I don't consider the national GOP getting involved where it doesn't belong in the first place -- choosing a favored candidate for us before a primary -- to be a good thing. Its goal this year was simple: to increase the number of non-Republicans voting in the Republican Primary, so as to dilute the effect of the Republican vote in its own primary. In that respect, they "succeeded."

"Certain so-called "Republicans" have knowingly moved the party into an irrelevancy never seen in Rhode Island." Yes, that would be its leadership. When you not only have no message to run on, but also have a distate for even listening to your grassroots members, then it's an easy way to become irrelevant. No one is going to vote for a pale immitation of the real thing, when they can vote for the real thing. An attractive message that translates into positive improvement in people's daily lives is a lot more important than family legacy.

"The state party is only as strong as its membership, which isn't strong at all." Correct, because at present, their voice is ignored by its leadership, which lacks the desire to promote a coherent or unifying message.

Posted by: Will at November 20, 2006 9:46 AM

Will,
You have a short-lived memory. Trudy Coxe, Ron Machtley, Claudine Schneider, Don Carcieri, Lincoln Almond, Kevin Vigilante--the list goes on--all benefited from national transfers. Kiss 'em goodbye.

The key to having a voice is getting elected. As the leader of the RI GOP, Carcieri has a right to pick whoever he wants to lead the organization. He got elected on his own. He didn't whine about how the party endorsed Bennett. Parties are supposed to support their incumbents.

RI conservatives won't have any sway until they show that can get elected. Thus far, the only thing I've heard is how the state party did a terrible job, how the national party shouldn't have endorsed an incumbent in a primary, how RINO's have screwed up everything. Wow, for all this political insight, you might think that someone expressing making these comment has actually won an election in Rhode Island!

Will, don't you see? You got what you deserved.

Posted by: Anthony at November 20, 2006 1:59 PM

Anthony,

"You have a short-lived memory. Trudy Coxe, Ron Machtley, Claudine Schneider, Don Carcieri, Lincoln Almond, Kevin Vigilante--the list goes on--all benefited from national transfers."

Sir, of this list you've mentioned, only 4 actually served in office at some point, 2 of those 4 were elected more than a decade ago, and the 2 others really didn't have need for it anyway. As I recall in 1994, the "establishment candidate" was Ron Machtley, who lost to Lincoln Almond, and in 2002, the "establishment candidate" was Jim Bennett, who lost to Don Carcieri.

My initial observation stands, I don't believe in rigging primary elections with undeserved handouts.

"As the leader of the RI GOP, Carcieri has a right to pick whoever he wants to lead the organization."

Please show me where in the bylaws of the Rhode Island Republican Party where the right of the RIGOP membership to democratically elect its own leadership was recinded, and replaced with appointment by fiat? I admire the governor, but I elected him as governor, not emperor. If he tries to push someone over the wishes of the grassroots members of the party, he will have a much harder time building it into what it needs to be.

"Parties are supposed to support their incumbents."

Spoken like a true Chafee family acolyte. No, there supposed to support whom their members want them to support -- and especially not when the incumbent loathes everything the party claims to stand for.

"RI conservatives won't have any sway until they show that can get elected."

Short memory indeed ... his name is Don Carcieri, and he's still our governor. Have a nice day.

Posted by: Will at November 21, 2006 12:42 AM

Will,
1. If you re-read your post, you referred to "candidates" not "elected officials" or "incumbents". Your assertion was that only two candidates "both named Chafee" benefited from national transfers. You're wrong.

2. The RI GOP's "grassroots" problem isn't really a grassroots problem. It's really a minority group of individuals who think that the majority should follow them because they are the only ones who believe in a "pure" form of conservatism. Do you recall when Brad Gorham was the choice of the "grassroots" and lost? He later became chair and his tenure was less successful than Morgan's. The "grassroots" didn't exactly rally to help him either.

3. Oh, I'm sorry, I should have said "A succcessful party supports its incumbents".

4. Yes, Caricieri got elected, based mainly on the support of independents. Within days after getting elected, the "grassroots" began to criticize him and challenge his appointments to the RI GOP.

I really hate talking bout "grassroots" and "conservatives" in the same breath, because they're actually two different groups.

There must be a separate word to describe those members of the grassroots who criticize everything, have never been elected to an office but happen to call themselves conservatives.

Will, you got what you wanted. Your message was sent. Now we can all watch as the tax cuts sunset, conservative judicial appointments are borked, Nancy Pelosi drives the national agenda and Reid runs the Senate.

Posted by: Anthony at November 21, 2006 12:23 PM

Anthony

There you go again thinking you know what you are talking about. It was not the conservatives that are the problem it is RINO's like yourself.
The Real Republicans never took shots at the Governor. Get your facts straight.
The only real grassroots in the Republican party are the Ronald Reagan Republicans.

Conservatively yours,

Fred on the Blog
PS I know you already know who i am and not even your friend Pat would take me on, since i never buckled to political pressure.

Posted by: Fred on the Blog at November 21, 2006 7:28 PM

Very well stated, Fred. I'm not going to respond to Anthony's stuff point for point, because I'm tired.

In summary, the conservatives are the grassroots of the Republican Party, even in Rhode Island. I never said that the grassroots are the majority, but rather they are simply the most dedicated members of the party. In most organizations, including political parties, a minority do most of the work. Conservatives are the worker bees. They do the heavy lifting, they get things done; and, they're often taken for granted. People don't go out and work their rears off, and give time and money to people who stand for nothing (unless they're family).

Am I disappointed about losing Congress this year? Yes and no. I like "Republican" leadership as much as anyone else, but simply put, we deserved to lose this year. Perhaps, if we stand by our principles in the future, instead of paying hollow lip service to them, then our absence from power will be short-lived. It was completely avoidable. We lost, because much of the American public believed (and rightly so) that much of what passed for "Republican leadership" could be summarized with the saying "do as I say, not as I do."

As for "Will, you got what you wanted. Your message was sent. Now we can all watch as the tax cuts sunset, conservative judicial appointments are borked, Nancy Pelosi drives the national agenda and Reid runs the Senate."

The tax cuts won't sunset until 2010; Bush isn't going to submit liberal judges, he'll just leave vacancies, if he doesn't have a choice -- I'd think you would have hated Bork anyway; Nancy Pelosi can't do anything that the President doesn't approve of, because he still has a veto pen; and stuff in the Senate can still be filibustered. Am I worried about major damage being done to the country in the next two years? No, not really. Have a nice day.

Posted by: Will at November 22, 2006 1:33 AM

Hi!
I have submitted letters to a number of newspapers around Rhode Island about the need for change in the Rhode Island State Chairmanship.I signed my name and did not hide behind a blog.
Those of you who are Patricia Morgan apologists certainly can defend her IN PUBLIC if you like and then you can sign your real name!
The Rhode Island Republican party needs to get its act together and deserves better!
If by chance you see my letter please let me know scottbillhirst@yahoo.com ,.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Regards,
Scott Bill Hirst
Member,Hopkinton Town Council,1996-2004
Direct descendant of multiple Mayflower Compact Signers including but not limited to Richard Warren and John Alden.
Member,Alden Kindred http://www.alden.org
Member,Warren Cousins
Not a member of The Mayflower Society http://www.mayflower.org

Posted by: Scott Bill Hirst at November 22, 2006 7:37 PM

Scott

Why oh why do you always name drop?
I am pretty sure by now everyone in Rhode Island nows your heritage and that you were a Town Counselman of Hopkington. And of course a RINO.

Have a nice holiday season Scott

Fred

Fred

Posted by: Fred on the Blog at November 23, 2006 10:44 PM