Posted on 09/10/2008 1:41:12 PM PDT by taxcontrol
I was just exposed to the ugly internal politics of my local GOP fiefdom (party). I attempted to volunteer to work on election day as a judge/poll worker etc for the party and was treated very badly.
I was basically told that in HER party / fiefdom, people had to work their way up inside the party and pay their dues before they would be allowed to work as poll workers or as an election judge. This woman did not want to listen to me or answer my questions. She had her agenda and if you did not measure up, then you were not qualified. Even after I told her that I worked for a global company and traveled extensively but would be willing to use my vacation time to support the party the day before, day of, and day after the elections she still did not even consider me useful except to answer phones, sign drives etc.
I have done this work before, I did so during 2004 and even made calls on behalf of the party, so I don't have a problem with it. But to treat someone who is trying to help like they owe HER before she will bequeath to them some "priviledge" is a sure fire way to drive away people.
I will still vote for Palin / McCain this November, I will even put a sign out on my lawn ... but they can F'en forget about me working for the party. And I'm just pissed enough to seriously consider changing my voter registration.
If the GOP party wonks want to increase the party, they need to learn better communication skills and treat people who are trying to get involved MUCH better
[end rant]
Colorado is important. I am also in a place where the local politicos are a bunch of complete a-hole RINOS.
I am certainly not going to help them, in fact, have 2 years to work on replacements for these a-holes. I suggest you do the same.
When I turned 18 I registered as an independent and have remained one to this day.
Screw the party. Like McCain says “country first”
I’m registered “un-enrolled” not because I’d ever vote for a marxist, but because I vote for conservatives who will attempt to preserve this country and its constitution.
In NOV. I’m voting for Palin, not the Republican Party. As far as I’m concerned, they sold the whole lot of us down the river.
judges/poll workers are NOT volunteers and are NOT recruited through the party offices.
Go to the Board of Election Commissioners — they’re the ones who train and assign the poll workers, and while you’re at it, hit the local McCain Campaign office. They’re begging for help.
By-pass the Queen and smile at her sweetly when she runs into you at the polls. Say nothing, just heap those coals on her head and get out and watch over this election. (We have a rather arrogant fellow as a committeeman. Our committeewoman, however, is grateful for any thing you offer to do.) Believe me, the Republican Party needs help in manning the polls.
Gee that’s funny, because according to Colorado Sec of State, a person who wants to work as an election judge / poll worker should go through their party. This has to do with the election law that tries to keep the number of judges BALANCED between the parties on election day. Yes they are paid a small token sum of money but is so small as to be volunteer work.
I did go to my local McCain / Victory party headquarters.
Time to unseat the people that stop and hinder a positive ground game. You are not the only one that has been held back by this person, time to expose her hinderance and fight for change!
If nothing else do it in support of Sarah's unseating the corrupt in Alaska! :-D Let her lesson be your guide. I would anyway. I hate bureaucrats!!! Get the lady out and the the blood flowing again in your local GOP if you can.
Even if nothing comes of it but the complaints it will be out there what this lady is doing.
http://www.amazon.com/Independents-Day-Awakening-American-Spirit/dp/0670018368
The donks blow & the GOP suckles. Go independent conservative!
Had did that go?
Sounds like they need some new blood.
Get in there and start making a difference.
That’s what I’m doing.
If you are asking how did it go at the Victory office .. that is the incident I related.
Gee that's funny, because the SoS website says to go to the county elections official ...
"Contact your county elections official for more information."
So this incident happened at the McCain/Palin Victory office and not your local GOP office?
Q: How do I become an election judge?
A: If you are an Adams County registered voter, you may become an election judge by contacting your local political party ........
So that is what I did. What is so funny to me, well more ironic, is that the State / County makes available to the parties the chance to place their people in election judge positions .... and here is a PARTY wonk telling me I'm not good enough until I pass some rite of passage. I constantly hear that the party needs help that they need people to work on elections ... yet when a member of the party for over 10 years in the state comes to volunteer ... despite what the stat law and county says ... I'm not good enough.
We’re talking two different jobs here. The election worker is hired and paid (a nominal sum) by the govermental unit to process the people voting at the precinct level and others (depending on the voting system) will be at the municipal office verifying the ballot box count and voter book from the precinct. Political parties assign observers to precincts and City Hall to see if an individual voter should be challenged or to protest how the election procedures were followed by the precinct and HQ election workers. Our original poster was talking about a party observer (unpaid) job.
With all respect, that is basically the same as going in to your local church for the first time and saying you’d like to do the collection plate or do the homily next Sunday.
You’ve got to earn your stripes in either place. I had a similar experience trying to just get a Bush Quayle yard sign 20 years ago until I explained I had worked on Mike Fox’s congressional campaign.
That’s why I don’t do much church or volunteer in politics. I freelance on both.
No he wasn't. Read the first part of his post and his response to me.
I would think it would be easier for a campaign to move this lady to another role that will not involve interacting with people than to alter the leadership and roles in a GOP office which is more long term.
Regarding the role you want others have mentioned maybe you do not need to go through the office but possible take another route to do what you are interested in.
I understand your frustration and anger. However it looks as though there it may be a good opportunity to get this complaint out to hirer ups to do as they will with this offensive wall of a woman. Do not give up, it is time we started not tolerating abuse from our own party, but get rid of the whack jobs that are a hinderance to freedom, democracy, equality, fiscal responsibility, liberty, and border sanity and security.
In Ohio you call the board of elections to volunteer to be a poll judge. Then if there is an opening then the county or a city council member will call you about doing it. It has nothing to do with the parties here other than each poll has to have 2 D’s and 2 R’s to open for elections.
League of Women Voters (really, they talk to women AND men) and find the national campaign worker (don’t talk to the kids, they’re lucky they can find the bathroom). If you don’t have a national campaign worker, mail a private post to me and I’ll put you in touch with one. Believe me, I will help you get on board.
I guess I am of the mind that if I want to assist someone I show up and ask how can I be of service? I go where they need me, not where I decide to go. However what they ask me to do I filter through my other obligations and then decide if i can do what they have asked me to do.
I see being of service as being there to assist where I am needed, whatever that may be.
This woman is clearly a poor and offensive communicator and would best serve elsewhere though. They need someone else there in her role that is a positive and encouraging communicator that also knows how to set limits.
McCain/Palin headquarters, ask for the national campaign worker assigned. If you can’t find one, let me know. We’ll get you in touch with someone from the national campaign.
Nows, the time. They are begging for Poll Watchers. Here locally, the attorneys will train you. All you do is observe and don’t let yourself be distracted by the friendly Democrat Poll Watcher. Have a cell phone and the number to call if things start to run amok.
Sarah Palin didn’t cry about such people. She defeated them!
No, it isn’t a coveted job, as when the precinct is heavily democratic, they often appoint two democrats as there are no republicans. Our advice last night was to get on board now, and they will apply for a waiver in the precincts where there are no republican volunteers. They need time to train you and apply for the waiver. It can be done.
Thanks so much Constitutions Grandchild! Helpful information across the board as well as your info. for the original poster. Hope the poster is able to contribute as he/she set out to do.
“First, I was told that I would have to come in and basically be interviewed.”
too much trouble, eh, Sparky? Tough row to hoe? Glad you didn’t make the cut, wussy.
Sadly, the local party operations tend to be fiefdoms for the type of people who used to run for student council in high school. We all know the type.
In 2004, I bypassed the whole mess and had a friend of mine get me assigned to help keep an eye on the counting of absentee ballots in Nevada. Turned out to be essentially a 3-day vacation, as the poll numbers in Nevada came in so heavily GOP that the absentee ballots weren’t that important.
I was a poll watcher in 2004 {and carried my snubby 38}, a cell phone, camera and digital recorder.
They sent us into indian territory, and the brothers were not happy.
We kept most of the double voting from happening, as the voting rate was down to about 200 {compared to 409 [100%]} in 2000.
GWB got 4 votes.
It was scary, not coveted.
Exactly! Where the polls need watching is not a place for your elderly grandmother, wife or 18-year-old daughter or son. These are rough precincts, but that’s where it goes on.
Call again. Don’t give up. Contact RNC, do it for them from home.
Just because a few people were jerks doesn’t mean the whole party is that way.
And my point behind all of this is that IF the GOP is truly interested in adding party workers, they need to have a program to bring new people into the fold. Had I been politely told ...”Gee, we are already filled up on judges / poll workers, but could really use some help with ....”.
I would have come away with a much better impression.
Thank you ... I think I will do that, I just don’t know where to begin. My primary reason for wanting to work was to assure the validity of the elections. As Colorado is a tight battle ground state, I fear the temptation for someone to cheat will be too great to withstand.
Thank you for reinforcing my point that if the GOP is going to increase it’s workers it needs to change it’s attitude.
Let me know if you need a contact. That goes for anyone on FR. I’ll try to connect you with the right people. This IS a participatory democracy, folks, and that means us.
I do understand what you ran up against. The Party is full of self-important jackasses. I've brought hundreds, probably thousands into the party over the years. I keep a list of the best and maintain personal contact, even if it's just a Christmas card. When they have problems, they come to me.
Party structures are there to go around.
Thank you so much for your story. It is good to hear a first hand account. I am learning . . . :-). I do not trust these Obamabots at all, nor the Dems. They are desperate.
Good luck on changing them and human nature!!!!
I’ve lived and worked for the party in two States and both used volunteers for poll workers, I’m pretty sure it goes by County, not State. I don’t know if judges are paid or not, but they are party people and it is a prized position. Here in my County in Ga., I had a 6 hour poll worker training session.
You are right papa. Good counties will have good training. Would not expect that in big northern cities. This whole rant / blog has a problem - the first writer did not clearly state in which exact office he was and what county & state.
The laws are different in every state. Have been doing this for more than 10 years. But I agree that every organization has a “queen”; he should find out when she is up for re-election.
Also agree that on your first day in church you don’t get the collection plate - funny
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