The Great Debate

The March 28, 2010 debate on Fox News Sunday between Florida U.S. Senate candidates Charlie Crist and Marco Rubio was a microcosm of today's GOP. The "old guard" vs. the new.

Charlie Crist was accurately quoted as saying the two men he admired most are John McCain and Lindsey Graham. Wouldn't it be nice if the three of them could jump on the last train for the coast, join up there with Carly Fiorina and then, just like in an old Hollywood western, the four ride off together into the sunset never to be heard from again. Hey. Nice!

In contrast, Marco Rubio spoke as a Conservative to Conservatives, stuck to the issues without dishing dirt, and in general was a proponent of limited government, reduced spending, lower taxes and healthcare untouched by those in Washington who would force government controlled Obamacare on an unwilling American people.

Who endorses Charlie Crist? John McCain, Mitch McConnell and Lamar Alexander.

So, here's a suggestion to the "old guard" in the GOP: cede the Republican party to the new guys on the block, to the Marco Rubios and to those like Chuck DeVore in California, to Sam Rohrer and Steve Johnson in Pennsylvania, to the Tea Partiers, and to you who are reading this and to me.

Wishful thinking? Not if we work together to make it happen

Who to Support?

Are we going to be co-opted, or what?

In the race for governor in Pennsylvania, there is one Conservative candidate and one "old guard" GOP candidate wanting to run against the Democrat candidate. In the 11th congressional race, there is only one GOP candidate seeking the nomination to oppose the Obama/Rendell tax & spend liberal Democrat. The GOP candidate is not a true Conservative, he is more of an "old guard" Republican.

The official position of the Tea Party movement and the 9/12ers is to support only Conservative candidates no matter which political party they belong to, and if there is no Conservative candidate running, to either run a candidate of their own or just sit out the election.

The following paragraph is not directed at anyone or any group in particular. However, I do read all E-mails, notices and other posts, and I would ask you to think about this: to be co-opted means to abandon your principles in order to be accepted by another on their terms.

Too many of us seem to be reverting to the old Republican ways that got us to where we are today: nominating a candidate we think has the best chance of winning, and/or the lesser of two evils.

Please remember this, the Tea Party and the 9/12 movement stands on this: it is not up to us to be accepted by the GOP, it is up to the GOP to be accepted by us.

Recently, CBS released a poll that showed 36% of Republicans consider themselves to be part of the Tea Party movement. Other respected polls put the number of Tea Partiers who are Republican at 72%.

Please don't let the glamour of an "old guard" GOP candidate paying some attention to you compromise your principles. You are more important to the GOP than the GOP is to you. Believe it!

http://www.foundtea.ning.com

Bye, Bye John McCain?

Last night, I had the opportunity to participate in a conference call with J.D. Hayworth, who is running against John McCain for the Republican senate nomination in Arizona.

Since announcing his run for the senate several days ago, Hayworth has been endorsed by Arizona's Sheriff Joe, by Chris Simcox, who dropped out of the senate race to support Hayworth, and by Mark Levin.

In the preliminary discussion before Hayworth joined the meeting:

GOP must be rebuilt from the inside out.
Third party threat will help force GOP to give Tea Partiers a decision-making seat at the table.
Republican Tea Partiers in general say they have been betrayed by elected Republicans.
Tea Party role in Scott Brown victory in Massachusetts.

Questions to ask Hayworth:

Are you a Birther?
How are you going to handle illegal immigration vs. McCain's amnesty?
Has McCain supported you during your career in the House of Representatives?

After his opening "stump" speech to us, Hayworth talked and sounded like a regular guy as he exchanged ideas with us.

On being a Birther: NO.
On illegal immigration: He is going to continue to oppose amnesty and encourage beefed-up border security and the FENCE.
On McCain's support of him during his congressional years: Early on, yes. Then in 1998 McCain started moving to the left, and since then McCain's support of him has been minimal. In 2006, when Hayworth lost his house seat, McCain barely spoke up in his support.

Hayworth is strong on reducing size and scope of government, reducing taxes, Constitutional integrity, and in making sure that he is accessible to the people.

My vote: Yes to endorse Hayworth in his bid to win the Arizona nomination for the U.S. Senate.

www.taxdayteaparty.com

Thanks,

Mike Avery

PAGOP Now & Then

After attending the PAGOP Lincoln Day dinner in Harrisburg on February 12, 2010, the following day I FB messaged someone and asked: "Did you learn what I learned last night about the PAGOP?" The answer was, "I don't know Mike, what did you learn?" Here's my answer to that question:

That the PAGOP is in tune with itself, but not necessarily with the people of Pennsylvania. That the decisions had already been made about the candidates who would get the endorsements of the state committee weeks before the candidates went through the motions last night. That Tom Corbett wins the title of Mr. Warmth. Did you know that no Attorney General has ever won the governorship in Pennsylvania? Tom's demeanor gave us a reason why last night. That Sam Rohrer wins the title of Mr. Sincere. That there really does need to be a revolution in the Republican party so that it begins to represent those who it expects to vote for their candidates. That the room was filled with armed camps that just couldn't bear to applaude for someone who was running against their candidate. That unity in the PAGOP is a long way off. That the PAGOP is being dominated by those who have managed to take our party from control of both U.S. Senate seats, control of the governorship, the Lt. governorship, both state houses and decent representation in the U.S. House of Representatives to what we have today... barely holding onto the state senate, all in the 18 years that Barb and I have lived in Pennsylvania.

Oh, and that the GOP needs more candidates like you... so, are you going to take on Bob Casey for the people's seat in Pennsylvania? You see, I always end on a positive note that is hard to argue with.

Does that answer your question?

Third Party or No Third Party?

The primaries in Pennsylvania this May are going to be one of the most important steps we take to reclaim our government and to participate in the direction of the PAGOP.

Democrats are going to continue to be Democrats no matter what we do, so we must control our destiny by making sure that Republican nominees are the choice of the people, not the PAGOP.

The alternative is third party, which is a poor alternative. But it is an alternative that will happen if the Republican party continues to keep its doors closed to new people with new ideas, fresh energy and youthful enthusiasm.

Mr. Republican, tear down those doors!

This post is just my opinion... like a particular body part, everybody has one.

You & the PAGOP

Here is a message sent directly to the PAGOP state committee as the result of a request from one of its members. These are suggestions that hopefully will play a part in bringing the Pennsylvania GOP back to its roots as a party working for the benefit of the people and not just for themselves. At the end of Part I, and again at the end of Part II, there is an E-mail address where you can send your own suggestions. Hopefully, you will.

PART I

We are facing the most important elections for us in many years.

Problem: The mood of the country. Political machines are being rejected by all Americans, and in the GOP, the "old guard" is looked upon as being the reason why the Republican party is at a low point in the opinion of... get this... Republicans. See Rasmussen link below: 75% of Republicans say GOP is out of touch with... Republicans.

Biggest lesson from Massachusetts:

Scott Brown didn't win because of the Republican party. He won because he has a message easily understood by disgruntled Americans, but mostly because Tea Party oriented Republicans and Independents from throughout the country and in Massachusetts rallied to his support.

Solution: Bring "street-level" Republicans into the party as leaders of the party. To most Republicans, the GOP at the national, state and local levels is viewed as having a "Newcomers Not Wanted" sign above its doors.

In a Rasmussen poll conducted recently in Florida, if an election were held today, 36% of voters would vote for a Democrat, 23% for a Tea Party candidate, and 18% for a Republican. Other polls taken throughout the country since then show that in many areas, a Tea Party candidate will win over both the Democrat and the Republican candidate in a three way race.

On the PAGOP state committee endorsing candidates for nomination: It is suggested that the nomination process is better left to the voters and the candidates without interference from any GOP involvement, especially right now when the Republican party is held in such low esteem by the Republicans who actually do the voting in numbers large enough to nominate someone.

The Teaple have spoken. More later. Rasmussen link is below.

75% of Republicans say GOP is out of touch with... now get this... Republicans!
http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid40501388001?bclid=0&bctid=61628136001

E-mail address for YOUR suggestions to the PAGOP: RGleason@pagop.org

PART II

On bringing the "Teaple" into the GOP. Suggestions:

The first step the GOP must take is to understand that the Tea Party movement is mostly made up of disgruntled Republicans and Independents.

The second step is to accept that there are more Rpublicans in the Tea Party movement who reject the GOP than there are "old guard" Republicans who go along with any candidate the GOP selects. And among all voters, there are more Teaple than Republicans, and the Teaple will not accept any "old guard" candidate from any party.

The third step is to accept that all of the above is true and is supported by virtually all of the major polling organizations.

And the fourth step is for the GOP to reach out to the "street level" Teaple for party leadership, direction and for candidates.

By implenenting all four of the above, the GOP will become representative of all of the American people, not just themselves. And wouldn't that be refreshing.

YOUR suggestions to: RGleason@pagop.org

The Parable of the Pie

Okay, it really isn't a parable, but it sounds good, don't you think?

Why we must always say NO to liberal Democrats, and why we should be proud to be the PARTY OF NO.

Let's start with a nice apple pie, which represents your freedom.

Now, remember what you learned in geometry class in high school. If you walk half-way to a wall, and each time thereafter when you move, you walk half-way to a wall, you will never arrive at the wall. Eventually, the wall will be so close to you that the space between you and the wall will seem not to exist, and the space will be worthless to you.

Now, back to the pie. The Democrats ask for half the pie. Our RINOs say no, you can only have 1/4 of the pie... in other words, they compromise.

A little while later, the Democrats come back to our RINOs and ask for half of what is left of the pie. Again, our RINOs say no. You can only have 1/4 of the pie, the RINOs reach across the aisle and compromise. And again, the same scenario, and then again and again. Eventually, what is left of the pie will become so small as to be worthless. That, my friends, is called incrementalism.

And that is why we must always say NO to liberal Democrats.

Be proud to be part of the PARTY OF NO.