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by Linda Moore
The August Elections have come and gone; I am happy and also disappointed. November is on the way. There is division in the Republican ranks from the National level to the state and local levels; this may hurt us on the federal level. I can't seem to find my place in all of this. Where am I in the furor? I did go to the local Republican Party meeting this past month. There was a guest speaker from Chattanooga. There were party loyals and there were folks there that are discontented with the local Republican party. I'd like to gossip about this local Republican meeting.
I think the discontent is trickle-down discontent. Examples would be NAFTA and CAFTA votes from D.C. that took American jobs. Factor in the Bush ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION PLAN, which the vast majority of all Americans view as BLANKET AMNESTY. Then there are the little nagging chiggers of our state level such as the Tennessee Waltz fallout. It didn't hurt that we had involvement in Tennessee Waltz from our own local area
Most folks were already discontent before the primaries and elections that just past us by in August. But let's add our own LOCAL happenings to the discontent foray. I'll start with the guest speaker from Chattanooga. I listened to every word with rapt attention. I heard about what a horrible person that Harold Ford is. I heard about how profound and great Bob Corker is. Of course it was a partisan meeting and the speaker was trying to arm Republicans for battle. However, I viewed the speech as being rather blase. It could be argued that Harold Ford is just as conservative as Bob Corker on many levels. I would have preferred the REASONS WHY I SHOULD VOTE FOR CORKER as opposed to how horrible Ford is. I need better ammo.
- Dear Guest Speaker, I talked to Bob Corker and I called the Ford camp headquarters. When I vote the first thing up for consideration is defense of America. I will be voting against Ford. Corker's answers pertaining to the MidEast and North Korea were more along my lines of thought for defense. I'm afraid that if you keep arming folks with nasty partisan rhetoric that you're going to cost us some votes. Please be more positive and less rhetorical. When you go off on tangents like you did the other night, you are part of the problem and not part of the solution that the Republican party is now victim of. We need reasons to vote for Corker and not just reasons to vote against Ford. We also need the ability to say that Corker is going to debate often. You realize that Ford is on Fox news all the time? You also realize that Bradley County lost the 10th? Now is not the time for rhetoric. Give the people reasons to vote for Corker and not merely a reason to vote against Ford. Sincerely, Linda -
With that out of my system........ it seems that on the local level there is discontent because leadership endorsed candidates in the primary, (remember that the local level is also victim of trickle down discontent). There are several different thoughts involved in this. First of all it is the right of anyone to endorse the candidate of their choice. That is freedom. But when the someone's that are endorsing are in leadership positions it gets a mite sticky. The cries of "disenfranchised" begin. My personal opinion is that it is unethical to endorse if one is in a leadership position. Yes, it is a personal right. But is it smart and is it fair to endorse in a primary? I'm speaking specifically of our local Republican party. My personal opinion is that anyone in a leadership position should remain neutral in the public venue of who they are voting for. It's the only way to keep it fair. Then after the primary endorse the winner with full gusto. MAYBE I AM WRONG!
I also think that many of us who are discontent have been inactive in the party; we have allowed these things to happen via personal apathy. Yeah, sure, our votes, yard signs, bumper stickers, etc. count. But we've been inactive on the local level. The Republican meeting was maxed this past month with discontented souls. It was a lot of fun and very interesting after we worked our way past the rhetoric of the guest speaker. After the proverbials things got real. I have a few suggestions. 1. Rewrite the by-laws to be more inclusive. 2. Cease and desist endorsements if you're in a leadership or elected position during the primaries. 3. PLEASE, FOR THE LOVE OF PETE, NO MORE RHETORIC, really, folks see right through rhetoric and it just makes them more discontent.
My last suggestion is for everyone reading that might have conservative tendencies. Go to the next Republican meeting. Make your voice heard as well as your vote. Then maybe we can starting voting for folks instead of voting against others. Important issues are on the table, American Trade, Illegal Immigration, Defense of America and always, TAXES. The republican leadership that we are throwing stones at is the same Republican leadership that has done most of the work in attempting to put some sort of conservatives in office. Now is a really good time to unite and form a good solid traditional and conservative base for our area. The next Republican meeting will be September, 26, at 7:00pm at the Courthouse. I cordially invite you to come and bring a friend. I'll be in the back row with the mints.
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