It would seem that here in Virginia is not the only place where a takeover is under way. In fact it’s happening everywhere and has been for some time GREAT! Enter the “Tea-Publican”
If you’d like to work to takeover your local GOP Unit here in Virginia READ THIS
latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-tea-party15-2010feb15,0,1928212.story
latimes.com
‘Tea party’ activists filter into GOP at ground level
The conservative movement is urging its members to seek positions as Republican precinct representatives. Their goal is to remake the party – and U.S. politics – from within.
By Kathleen Hennessey
February 15, 2010
Reporting from Washington
First there was the “tea party” protester. Now meet the Tea-publican.
Conservative activists who once protested the political establishment are now flooding the lowest level of the Republican Party apparatus hoping to take over the party they once scorned — one precinct at a time.
Across the country, tea party groups that had focused on planning rallies are educating members on how to run for GOP precinct representative positions. The representatives help elect county party leaders, who write the platform and, in some places, determine endorsements.
“That’s where it all starts. That’s where the process of picking candidates begins. It’s not from [GOP leader] Michael Steele’s office down. It’s from the ground up,” said Philip Glass, whose National Precinct Alliance is among the groups advocating the strategy. “The party is over for the old guard.”
In Arizona and Ohio, Republican Party officials report an increase in candidates running for precinct positions, which often sit open because of a lack of interest.
In South Carolina, a coalition of tea party groups has made a formal agreement with the state GOP to urge its members to get engaged at the precinct level.
In Nevada, a group of “constitutional conservatives” working under the tea party banner has already taken control of the Republican Party in the Las Vegas area, gaining enough strength to elect six of the seven members of the county executive committee.
Glass’ group and others say their work is nonpartisan; their hope is that people will reshape both major political parties. But for most of the small-government conservatives of the tea party movement, the Republican Party is a more natural fit.
The shift to local party politics is a notable turn for the group, which emerged in opposition to national financial bailouts supported by both parties.
But protesting has its limits, said Darla Dawald, national director for a conservative social networking site, ResistNet.com, that is directing people to local party contacts. The protests were a way to “catapult people off their couches. But then we needed to give them something to do, a way to get engaged.”
Dawald took a look at her own precincts in Arizona’s Pinal County. She said only 40% of precinct committee positions were filled. In Maricopa County, home to Phoenix, only 30% of the positions were occupied, she said. Dawald, who owned a gift shop that had closed in the recession, said it looked to her like no one was minding the store.
“It’s not like we’re going in and replacing people. We’re going into positions that are open, things nobody is doing,” she said. “It was clear that a small group of people within the party were making decisions for everyone.”
After several months of organizing, Maricopa County now has 50%, or about 3,000, of its precinct committee positions filled.
In Nevada’s Clark County, the number of occupied precinct slots has swelled from roughly 200 to nearly 1,000, party officials said. Party meetings that were once held in conference rooms have been moved to casino ballrooms.
Many Republican Party leaders have welcomed the activity, particularly because they worried that the energy driving the tea party movement might create a third party that would split the conservative vote.
That scenario played out in New York’s 23rd Congressional District in a special election last year, a cautionary tale in Republican circles because it led to a Democrat capturing a longtime GOP House seat. The precinct strategy is a sign that tea party activists are finding a home — or in many cases are willing to return to a home — in the GOP.
“We believe we have a whole lot more in common than not,” said Patrick Haddon, the Republican Party chairman in Greenville, S.C. “We believe we can help each other. They know what they believe, they’re passionate about it, they can organize. And we have a lot of experience in how elections are run and how campaigns are run.”
The South Carolina GOP announced at a news conference last week that it had reached an agreement to work more closely with the Upcountry Coalition of Conservative Organizations, a collection of tea party groups in the state. Under the deal, the coalition will help the party rebuild at the precinct level. The party agreed to support fiscally conservative candidates. Haddon will act as a liaison between the groups.
But some reaction to the agreement shows how many in the tea party are still skittish about associating with the GOP — or worse, being viewed as a party appendage.
After state party Chairwoman Karen Floyd described the agreement on television, activists cried foul, saying she had left the impression that the party and the tea parties had merged. Coalition spokesman Harry Kibler said he felt “betrayed” and “used.”
Another news conference was called to clarify the terms.
“We are independent. We will remain independent. And we will vote for the most conservative candidates regardless of party,” Kibler said Friday.
as much as most Republican units welcome the TEA partiers (our unit is full of very fiscal conservative members), please remember that those of us that have been regular Republicans for a long time have experience in fundraising, organizing petition drives, precinct coverage, campaigning. We also may have ties to current elected Republicans that benefit everyone.
don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater.
Kelley,
What makes you think the TEA Party folks can’t do the same thing? We don’t want to throw the baby out with the bathwater. However, there sure are lot’s of GOP folks that think they OWN the units. They seem NOT to want TEA Party people involved. The old guard seems to think it is their private club in some units. I know that from firsthand experience. When I have offered suggestions about how to get the TEA Party crowd involved, I have been very nicely told to just sit down and shut up, we will let you know if we think we need your help. Yes, some of the TEA Party people are new to politics. I would like to invite you to a Lynchburg TEA Party meeting, and you can meet all the lawyers, business owners, veterans, and other high caliber individuals, most disgruntled republicans, and you decide if you think they would be assests. This is the problem. If the good repubs would offer an invitation we would work with you. But, since you don’t you may get tossed.
Kelly, If the people in your Unit are “very fiscal conservative members”, are they like you? We all know you support Tax Hike Hurt. Are they your brand of conservative? If so you’ve illustrated the point of this movement to oust the leadership. As to throwing the “baby out” That is not the goal. We don’t want to oust all members of the unit. Just the Rino supporting, back room dealing, fiefdom maintaining, leaders. We also want to send a message to the GOP that WE THE PEOPLE are back in control of the GOP, not the good ole boys.
I support Hurt because he can beat Perriello. and that is my goal.
but you would oust me & all members of any committee that supported Hurt. or McCain. or Eric Cantor. or Randy Forbes. or John Warner. or George Allen.
think about it. we. are. not. the. enemy. Perriello is.
No I would oust pragmatism. If we are at the edge of the abyss as many of us believe and we are AT the point of no return NOT approaching it then we MUST get real solid conservatives in congress. Putting a moderate forward in a conservative district is stupid. John McCain lost because he didn’t give us a reason to vote for him. Instead people were voting against Obama. The same is true in this race. We need someone we can vote FOR not someone that is “better than the oter guy”.
This talk of taking over the RPV is absolutely silly and childish. The RPV exists as a service organization to work for candidates to raise funds, create campaign tools (databases, advertising, etc.). Why don’t you folks here realize that or at least understand the mechanics of the political process. Its about one thing find your candidates and show up and support them. RPV does not and cannot dictate policy to any candidate. It’s also the same at the national level with the RNC. If you want your views represented then be part of the process don’t whine like children and beat on your chests like cavemen who’ve had their bone stolen from them. The audit the fed, truther, birther, and all you other conspiracy theorists out there need to take your meds and start acting like adults. Also stop this crazy 3rd party talk too… geez America is a two party country and guess what. You a lot in common with Republican’s and NOTHING in common with Democrats. So instead of plotting party take overs and all kind of grade school election crap, lets build something positive together working to prevent the liberals and their agenda from ruining this country. Grown folks change the system from the inside folks.
The movement to replace the current leadership of the party is because they ARE influencing candidates locally and nationally to move more to the middle which is LEFT! It is not about replacing the current leadership with Libertarians though that wouldn’t be a bad thing to get some people that understand the Constitution on our side. It is about getting leadership in the party that will return it to it’s conservative constitutional roots. We do understand that America is a 2 party nation and that is why we are working to take over the party and guess what? IT’S WORKING!
How exactly constitutional do you want the party to be. Which amendments do you not want? What legal interpretations do you find objectionable?
Well that’s just incomprehensible Lee. Demanding that conservatives obey the constitution is no different that demanding that liberals do the same. It says what it says. Shall not be infringed…means just that. This is not a debate over amendments we don’t like. Though if you must know the 16th and the 22nd would be nice to see gone.
In regards to specific policy. It would be great if Republicans were fiscally responsible and supporting Audit the Fed would be a good start. Or how about having sound money based on Gold or Silver? Or here is a crazy idea. If we want to go to war how about we DECLARE WAR as is required under the U.S. Constitution. That hasn’t been done for far too long.
little good happened under GW Bush and it’s because we moved the party to the “middle” aka: The LEFT!
So you want a unlimited Presidency do ya… Funny you should say that considering the only President to serve more than 2 terms consecutively is one of the biggest socialists in the History of this country. Roosevelt was a excellent war time President but still a horrible socialist and the prime mover to drive the Democrat party to socialism in the 20th century.
As for the 16th admendment you need to read up on that one. If you stop drinking that tea party kool-aide for a minute you would understand that it has been ruled that its not the basis to allow the Government to tax incomes but that they don’t have to apportion that tax according to the population of the state. Say what you want about the tax system but if its managed effectively it is the stick to the carrot of economic success in American Business today.
Now as for that crazy Gold standard stuff. Its foolish to use hard currency standards in this day and age. Markets are based on perception of success and our money’s value is based on the perceived success of America as a nation. Far stronger than any tangible item based currency. When you talk about this the tea party sounds like farmers sabotaging industrial machines at the beginning of the Industrial Age.
Now as for the declaring war stuff. See here is the problem in declaring war then we would have had the world crawling even more up are backsides on how we treated those terrorists we’ve captured and / or killed. Those terrorists only deserve to die at the most heinous means possible, Period! I am a firm believer in a Imperial America much like Teddy Roosevelt. I’m American and its all about us winning against these thugs. At the end of the day George W Bush freed over 50 million people from terrorists and dictators. We are down to 1 country who is a official state sponsor of terrorism (Iran) and if they keep getting out of hand our good friends in Israel will handle that problem post haste! Thats the job George W Bush did.
Oh great a neo-conservative aka:liberal, do what we want because we say so, We’re fighting them over there so we don’t have to fight them over here, you have to give up a little liberty for security, IDIOT has found this blog. Knowing that I’m not at all sorry it rubs you the wrong way that we will replace the existing leadership of the party.
In regards to the 22nd i screwed that one up. I meant the
17th Amendment
Amendment XVII
The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each state, elected by the people thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote. The electors in each state shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the state legislatures.
…
This effectively removed the republic and replaced it with a raw democracy where slow of mind like you are able to contribute to the mob mentality that effects every democracy that has ever been.
regarding your statement on the 16th:
“As for the 16th admendment you need to read up on that one. If you stop drinking that tea party kool-aide for a minute you would understand that it has been ruled that its not the basis to allow the Government to tax incomes but that they don’t have to apportion that tax according to the population of the state.”
1. Insulting the tea party, it will be so good to see guys like you gone.
What’s the matter your little fiefdom threatened? Can’t bully people into doing whatever you want anymore now that people are pissed off?
2. That just shows how little you understand the application of our laws in America and just how off kilter they are. The 16th is used as a rubber stamp by judges and the IRS to impose WHATEVER they want.
go back to sleep. baaaaahaaahhaaaah <– That would be a sheep just in case you couldn’t figure that out.
Hmmm interesting thoughts on the 17th admendment. It’s intent was meant to move the voting process to a democracy. Perhaps too it was thought at the time it was a measure to prevent the permanent incumbency of our elected officials we see today. Though tell me
who else other than me do you refer to as “Slow of Mind” who else in your opinion shouldn’t have the right to vote? By what process should people be able to vote in your eyes?
Um a little paranoid aren’t you. The IRS like all government agencies has been guilty of excessive use of their power but to be so virulent. What’s your opinion of that criminal who flew his plane into the IRS office in Texas?
Oh Im glad you explained to me that you were making a sheep sound cause I bet you are quite the expert in sheep husbandry out there in BFE where you live!
I think everyone should be allowed to vote even the slow of mind. The only process should be that they are U.S. Citizens.
However, The Senate was meant to be a further check on federal power and Senators were supposed to represent the states. The Senators were not meant to have to deal directly with the people but instead were to deal with the state legislators about what the people wanted. That way I could go to my representatives, in my case Newman/Byron and tell them my thoughts. If they didn’t push enough for my issue I had the option of running them out of office. Good luck getting the Senators out now.
If the intent of the 17th was to keep Senators from becoming entrenched then I’d say the amendment backfired.
It’s not paranoia. The IRS is a mafia thug organization that uses force and intimidation to gets its will. It’s courts are its own. It’s law is it’s own. only they get to interpret the law and say what it means in contridiction to it’s definitions within the law. In regards the the guy in Texas, he was a nut. What a waste of a perfectly good airplane. I do think though that his action illustrate how angry and helpless the IRS makes people when you make a guy mad enough to go postal with his plane.