The “grumpy Republican” problem; Update: E-mail from a Texas GOP convention attendee
Scroll down for updates…e-mail from Texas GOP convention attendee…
The Texas GOP convened its party convention this week. It’s finding the same problem plaguing the party in other states and at the national level: Disgruntled grass-roots.
The Houston Chronicle quotes GOP officials calling disatisfied conservatives “grumpy” and “grouchy.” These leaders seem to believe the grass-roots have left them. Reality check: It’s the other way around. From the piece:
After a decade of political dominance, the Texas GOP is opening its party convention in Houston this week with a troubling prospect: Grumpy Republicans may not turn out to vote this fall.
Many of the grass-roots Texas Republicans see presumptive presidential nominee John McCain as not conservative enough. Others still support presidential candidate Ron Paul. Some are unhappy over immigration, high federal spending, a sagging national economy and rising gasoline prices.
“A lot of them, and rightly so in many cases, are mad. They’re concerned,” said Roger Williams, chairman of the Texas GOP’s voter turnout efforts this year. “What we’ve got to do is alleviate those concerns and get them to vote.”
…Republican pollster Mike Baselice said half the Republican voters in Texas say the state and nation are on the “wrong track.” He calls them “grumpy Republicans” who cannot be counted on to turn out to vote against presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama.
“I’m concerned about the wrong-track Republicans opting not to vote,” Baselice said.
Baselice said Republicans in 2002 had a 6 percentage point advantage in Dallas County voting and an 8 percentage point advantage in Harris County. He said neither party now has an advantage in Dallas, and the GOP holds an advantage of about 1.5 percentage points in Harris County.
He said that partisan shift could give Democrats a great boost if a large percentage of Republicans don’t vote.
Baselice said Republicans who vote can be counted on to vote up and down the ballot, but he said the GOP stands to lose ground if the “grumpy” Republicans stay home.
Former Republican Chairman Tom Pauken said politicians and party leaders need to reassure the Republican grass-roots workers that their efforts matter for conservative causes.
“The grass roots has withered up and died,” Pauken said.
Au contraire. From what I saw at the Pennsylvania Leadership Conference of grass-roots conservatives recently and from what I see in my e-mailbox every day, the Right’s grass roots are alive and well. It’s principled conservative leadership in Washington that has withered up, died, and been replaced by invasive weeds.
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Related note to the White House: Signing lame-duck executive orders on immigration enforcement doesn’t count as principled conservative leadership.
***
Update: Just received an informative e-mail from a Texas GOP convention attendee…
Michelle,
I’m a Republican in Texas, and will be attending the state convention this week as an alternate. This is my third state convention serving the party in some capacity, and I have to say, this year I’m expecting very little good to come out of it.
My reasoning is that the “Ron Paul” crowd, which represents about 1/3 of the delegates attending the convention this week, have caused a great amount of trouble and stress for doing nothing more than standing up for their beliefs. Meanwhile, conservatives who supported Thompson, Hunter, or another candidate have the same issues with the party. We’re worried, and I believe rightfully so, that we will be tarred with the same brush as those whose goals are to disrupt and wreak havoc. It’s a huge mess; while most conservatives have no wish to be affiliated with the “liberaltarians” who have infiltrated our party, there are other Ron Paul Republicans who ARE conservative and that means that all conservative efforts to change things will be stomped upon.
What we’re disgruntled about in our state is an utter lack of leadership at the state party level; we have a governor who has publicly disregarded the voice of the grassroots and the platform, a state chairman who issues press releases on issues contrary to our platform, and massive electoral issues that trickle down from the highest levels.
Thank you so much for posting on what is happening down here. We are sure that there are other conservative Republicans across the country who see similar problems. The question is, do we make tentative alliances with anti-war, pro-choice factions in order to gain any kind of success?
Michele Samuelson
National Committeewoman, Texas Republican Assembly
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- The Other McCain: What failed leadership looks like
- noxious « fierybones
- Daily Pundit » Let’s Start Over
- Michelle Malkin » Live from the Texas GOP convention
- Election Spectator — I’ll be voting but I’m not happy with the choices. « Because No One Asked
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Well, LOL!
When you can tell me you’re voting for something other than a ‘worthless sack of crap like McCain’ maybe I’ll take YOU out of the TROLL box.
That comment lost you all your McPoints! *giggle*
Ahhhh, reason #267 to vote Martin in, see! He is truly the Wise Man isn’t he?
All in all, I think (because you all care)that no matter who we all really do vote for, we ought to promise to do at least one thing and that is to take this polls on politics that everyone sends and respond to them. But don’t put “independent” or undecided, but instead put “republican” and then write in a candidate.
The way these people all study these dumb polls, they need to know that we are not undecided, but instead resolute to vote a person, but not them. I don’t care about McCain, but the GOP has a lot at stake in the Congress and they need to know we are still out here, but not voting for party over principle.
Just my humble thought.
Can we shoot all three and have do over?
Bill Richardson vs. Romney or Thompson would be worthwhile.
BTW… I was watching a documentary RFK Must Die. Even his speeches spoke of America’s greatness.
I know the Dems now run with “The America Sucks” theme. And the drones cheer.
1) I don’t get it
2) When did this happen?
Used to be everyone was proud to be an American — Repubs, Dems, media
While the grass roots stay home,
Their party left strongly roams;
Looking back support too late,
It’s oBORGama in 08.
RE: Post #285
Wise_Man said:
So I am to vote GOP no matter who and what they believe in? Would you invest your hard-earned money if someone tried to sell the investment to you the way you have sold your points of view today about voting or not voting about McCain? I doubt it.
I voted for Perot in 1992 for the fact the BushI claimed to be a conservative when he ran against Dukakis in 1988 (do you remember Wise_Man)?, but then reached across the aisle in the “Spirit of Bi-Partisanship” on taxes, budget, guns etc. after he was elected…So we ended up with higher taxes and an unbalanced budget and such because he “wanted to reach out across the aisle.” by 1992.
By your rationale we will hear from you in 2012 (if McCain gets in in 2008),
saying something to the effect that we must re-elect John McCAin no matter what he has done.
Yes we had to put up with Clinton for 2 years until the congress went conservative GOP-but that is life.
If Bush I had just been re-elected by what incentive would he change course and actually go back to what he had promised?…none!.
I think even you have to admit that.
Sorry Wise_Man your ratioanle just doesn’t wash for me.
By the way I voted for Ronald Reagan in 1984 (and would have gladly voted for him in 1980-if 16 year olds could have voted then), and Bush-I in 1988, and Bush-II(2000 and 2004).
I am not unhappy with my decision in 1992. I agree with Martin.Musculus:
If we as voters don’t demand quality we won’t get any. My decision then and now is based on a realistic understanding of what will or will not convice a politician to commit to a certain action that I favor.
The choice to vote for or not to vote for McCain will be a personal one no doubt…only time and history will say which perspective was right.
You do what you think is best for you.
The kool-aid is strong in wise man, good luck getting an answer other than he has an (R) by his name so he must better than Obama. He and his ilk are the reason we have so many RINO’S in the republican party. They’re willing to vote for anybody as long as he/she doesn’t have a (D) in front of it.
When you vote for the lesser of two evils you still get evil.
“Wise Man” said it himself.
What a sales pitch!
I really don’t know what is wrong with you people. I don’t like McCain. I didn’t vote for McCain in the primary. Obama is worse. Much worse. I am speaking truth to you people and you are treating this election as a game, or a contest to punish the GOP because your candidate got less votes in the republican primary that the candidate you supported.
F you. No, really, F you. I have had it with you goddamned trolls. F you you idiots. What do you think you are going to accomplish with your actions? By not voting for the lesser evil you are guaranteed to get the greater evil. Is this better?
You people are worse than liberals. At least I know why liberals have their heads up their asses. But with you people?
F you. For doing this to my country, and helping to make sure that Obama is the next president because of your short-sightedness.
You are full of crap.
I look at the Amnesty RINO and want to blow chunks but then look and listen to Obama the Socialist and the Amnesty RINO looks like that “Woman in a Bar” after midnight & a 12-pack. In the morning you shake your head and move on with life.
I have long wondered why Democrats continue to vote Dem when their party has turned from slightly Socialist to Socialist to Marxist… they slowly accepted abortion, then gay rights, PC speech… etc. And now Obama.
It’s because Dems who think like Wise Man will just keep voting Dem to keep the R out. And we’re being told to keep voting R to keep the D out. When is enough enough??
At some point the madness must stop! At some point in time you have to say NO MORE. The time for me is now.
Stop. Lying about me.
Stop putting words in my mouth
stop using your strawman arguments against me.
.
Backatcha Wise Man…
.
Newts Wallysaid:
Damn that is funny!
I am speaking the truth to you.
Unless that woman has an STD, possibly AIDS…
See, to me voting for McCain is like voting for death by hanging instead of death by lethal injection. Dead is dead.
Hey Joy - You are like the majority of America - We Just Refuse to Believe that These Two Clowns Are the Best America Has to Offer.
At Least the Bush-Clinton Fiefdom of 20 years has Been Discontinued … or so we think - unless Ears Obama Continues to Screw-up Off the Teleprompter.
Evil is evil. Go ahead and sell your soul to Mcamnesty and see what it gets you.
You offer no argument, Solo. No one is selling their soul to McCain.
This election is coming down to two people. McCain and Obama. Do you understand this concept?
Joy, “STD … AIDS” ??? … aughhh you are injecting reason into the political/night-out senario. Release Yourself from Bondage and fly free - start laughing about two clowns running for President.
Its laugh or cry time (neither wanting to “Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less” but support higher Environmental Green Taxation and Restrictions on the U.S. Economy). I prefer to laugh AT these fools in Washington for Their Folly.
Wise Man - YES, we understand this concept already! Man you are a troll!
Go ahead and vote for your “worthless sack of crap like McCain”, no one is trying to stop you.
I’ll be posting a link shortly that should bring at least a chuckle Newts. I was just making a point.
If you are a conservative, Joy - then why are you happy to see a worst - real liberal, real democrat candidate win. You know what he is going to do. You know the type of people Obama will name to his cabinet. You know what he and the democrats in congress want to do - and you have no problem with this man and his ‘for the first time in my adult like I am proud of my country’ wife to head the most powerful country in the world? And you’ll do nothing to stop it?
Explain to me again how it works out that a great conservative wants to see this happen in her own country?
Joy
What can I say…today you are on a roll!
Did you just call me “Newts”. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA … *cough* …. *cough* ….. hack …. hack …. Water … I Need Water.
Speaking of Water - Anybody from Northern Indiana?
Indiana’s Excessive Rain Was Meant for Southern California where its needed but Environmentalist there “Outlawed” Rain for it Threatened the “Endangered Illegal” from crossing the border.
“Now that thar is funny - I don’t care who you are - if you don’t think that’s funny - then get the he ll out of here.” -Larry the Cable Guy
BTW - Washington is Broke - Vote ALL the BUMS Out. (Is that possible?)
If you cry in your beer does it make the lady look any better in the morning?
Wise_Man said:
Since we have gone over the fact that McCain himself is someone you wouldn’t pick….then it is time to admit that our two camps on McCain are locked in an infinite loop of reasoning and calculation (I am borrowing the term “infinite loop” from computer science loosely) that will at this time of history go nowhere. the argument is based on the factual reality on virtually all points (and yes Obama has been waffling rightward on Iraq) there is little difference in hard policy that these two are willing to advocate between themselves.
The question becomes, given this premise, what is best for conservatism since we have a GOP leadership that is at best shaky in its conservative principles:
Do we reward a man with the WhiteHouse, John McCain, who hasn’t found a conservative principle or leader that he hasn’t crapped on yet? How will that make him more not less receptive to his opponents within the GOP?
Or do we take a chance on letting Obama-who hasn’t selected a VP yet-the keys to the White House?.
Both prospects are hellishly scary.
The only difference here is Obama and the Dems are a known enemy, we have a better idea what they are capable of doing and not doing, unlike John McCain-no one really knows just how far reaching across the aisle will entail-will that mean for example, John has one of his temper-tantrums and just says “I’ll quit the GOP and go Independent”-what strings/motivations will conservatives have on McCain then-if he is in the WhiteHouse?
I’m speaking for myself…Joy can speak her mind without my help.
That POS comment is going to cost Wise Man some McCain buddy points. Man, and to think you were that close getting the ticket to La Raza with McCain. You want to take shots at me, then be ready for the retort, troglodyte.
Senator Ansell, Not sure about the looks of the lady with tear filled beer however, diluting the beer with tears gives the male more “staying-power” for the game …. if ‘ya know what I mean. I digress.
“If in Chicago - Vote Early - Vote Often. Thank You. Where’s My Flag Pin?” -Obamanation
LOL Newts Wally. The flag pin wasn’t helping Michelle Obama’s kids so Obama had to lose it. Either that or McCain stole it from him and sold it to Juan Hernandez.
Have you heard of some of the New McCain Campaign Slogans?
1.) McCain ‘08 - Because Its His Turn!
2.) McCain ‘08 - Because You’ll Know Where Grandpa is At Night.
3.) McCain ‘08 - Because the Other Guy is a Socialist with a Muslim Name.
4.) McCain ‘08 - Because Grandpa McCain is Dating Obama’s Grandma.
5.) McCain ‘08 - He Can Point to Iraq on a Globe.
6.) McCain ‘08 - Grandpa Loves ANWR More Than the Socialist - And Can Also Point to It on a Globe.
Juan Hernandez thought the “Flag Pin” should have more of the color “green” in it. He was P.O. at Grandpa.
Sorry Newts WALLY! My bad!
Click HERE to see Wise Troll
And HERE to see the Difference between McCain and B. Hussein.
McCain ‘08- Because at 3 A.M. Grandpa is waking to make his breakfast.
LOL Joy, those were funny. THe second was was only half true?
Don’t forget McCain is going to appoint DEMS to his cabinet!!
John… LOL Yes, only half true… I stand corrected.
Just stopping before bed…
Notice: wise_man is “FU”-ing people again! And he says we twist his comments when we point it out. ;-P
Also notice he didn’t answer, or even acknowledge any of my points of fact — simply accused us of emotionalism. Oh well. His anger and confusion genuinely saddens me.
Joy, we’ve locked horns on occasion, but your dry wit usually — even when I’m the object — brings a smile to this sour-puss. Thanks!
John Ansell: Another point in your argument against McCain is the “Head of Party” factor.
As head of the GOP, the Rs in congress would find it at least as hard to defy JMcCain as they did going against GWB — if not more so. GWB isn’t generally known for a difficult to control temper or as a particularly vicious and vindictive man. McCain is known as both.
A.lso, CFR plays in to this in that it makes congressen more deendent on the Party for funds than had ever previously been the case.
Buck Pres.McCain, lose your campaign funding. Would you?
Well, off to bed. And so
Good Blogging to All… and To All A Good Night!
– martin.musculus
Okay corrected version HERE
Well this time wise_guy really did resort to dropping f bombs. Where was that moderator again?
Martin - Excellent points… Good posts!
We’ve locked horns? Really? I don’t remember.
Theoretical question for our newest resident troll wise_guy. Even knowing what happened in Germany leading up to and after WWII… If you had been a German of voting age in 1932 and your “two choices” of possible winners that didn’t include writing in someone or picking a third party candidate with no chance to win would you have picked:
1.Paul von Hindenburg
2. Adolf Hitler
If you remember your history, President Hindenburg wanted to retire in 1932 due to his excessive age (born in 1847) and setting in of senility. He was persuaded to run anyhow as the only candidate seen capable of defeating Adolf Hitler.
So, would you have gone for the 85 year old WWI Prussian war hero who was senile and ailing or with the young and widely admired for his speeches and flair Adolf Hitler?
A lesser of two evils, heh.
Good Night, Martin. Hope your bird wakes on the right side of the cage tomorrow.
I’m on the wrong track? Screw you, pal!
You’re already screwing us.
Ditto for Nevada.
The important thing here is NOT to let another Democrat fill that seat. McCain Sucks.. Yes. We know this. He will try another Amnesty end run - we know this. We (the folks that actually have to live in this mess) blocked the Bush end run (It’s not Amnesty - I promise) via honest, good old fashioned political activism (and not the “sit in/don’t wash your feet” kind the DemoCommies espouse.
But anything, anything MUST be better than another lying, cheating Communist administration backed by willing abbetors in the Capitol.
When I vote, I will look in the Democrat column and stifle my urge to giggle while I vote a straight Republican ticket. Not because I think the GOP is great. To the contrary, I think they are a bunch of weak kneed idiots who need to learn how to fight.
I will vote for the GOP only because they don’t seem to hate the USA.
RNC, learn how to fight harder than the Dems. THAT is how you win. You find your opponent’s weaknesses and you exploit them. You come on TV and you tell people all of those things that make your opponent a poor choice for the job. Crimeny, with this Jackass on the Demo side, it should be easy.
McCain needs to get lessons on how not to sound so shady. His speech patterns are terrible. Also needs to stop sounding like Juan Hernandez with “my friends” thrown in every other sentence.My friends = ya know. Most of the time he sounds like the keeper of some private joke that none of us are privy to. It really puts me off to hear him speak.
Bravo martin. Excellent post. Articulately states how most of us feel.
I love this comment: ““What we’ve got to do is alleviate those concerns and get them to vote.”