Posted on 11/21/2006 7:14:54 AM PST by CommCtr
NC GOP Chief Of Staff, Strategist Resigns
RALEIGH, N.C. -- Bill Peaslee, the state Republican Party's chief of staff and top political strategist since April 2001, resigned Monday, two weeks after the GOP's poor showing on Election Day both nationally and in North Carolina.
It's the second departure within the party leadership this month. Chairman Ferrell Blount confirmed his resignation before the polls closed election night, saying he needed to step down to consider a run for statewide office in 2008.
(Excerpt) Read more at wral.com ...
Republicans fared poorly in the legislative elections this month _ losing as many as seven seats total _ and lost their majority in the congressional delegation with the defeat of Rep. Charles Taylor, R-N.C.
The job can be a difficult one, with decisions that can generate bad feelings among party activists, Peaslee said.
"There's somebody that has to say no to requests," Peaslee said. "Those people can garner some ill will, and for the party to move on it's best that I stand down."
Peaslee was chief of staff as the Elizabeth Dole won a U.S. Senate seat in 2002 and Richard Burr won the other seat in 2004. But at the same time conservative and moderate Republicans fought in the state House over the party's direction.
Linda Daves, interim party chairman, said in a news release announcing the resignation: "Bill has faithfully served the Republican Party beginning as a college student and working in all levels of grassroots. On behalf of the North Carolina Republican Party I thank Bill for his distinguished service and extend our best wishes for success in his future endeavors."
There was no immediate word on a replacement for Peaslee. Efforts to reach Daves or a GOP spokeswoman were unsuccessful Monday evening.
The state GOP's executive committee is slated to meet Dec. 2 to choose the next chairman.
Well, that comes as welcome news. Clean up the entire mess.
Good riddance Bill Peaslee and don't let the door hit you on the way out!
Maybe now NCGOP will change its priorities? Maybe beating up on Democrats will become more important than beating up on other Republicans?
I was surprised there were no animating referendum issues such as banning (private development's) overuse of eminent doimain, denying benefits to illegals, defining marriage, or affirming the Castle Doctraine. Instead in Wake we had a Billion follar school bond issue that animated the leftward voters.
EXCELLENT news!
Good riddance.
Good Luck!
Wish we would be so lucky in Oklahoma! Our Chairman acted like he won the lottery and all of our statewide candidates but one lost. We lost the Lt Governor's seat for the first time in many years. Our strategy on GOTV door hangar -- scare people with if they don't vote Republican we get a liberal US Senate, but we didn't have a Senate race. Or how about 'Howard Dean willl make abortions more common' if we don't vote for Republicans. These went out in close races statewide and guess what? We lost those races and ones we won didn't have the margin we should have had.
I always suspected Peaslee of being a Democrat plant. I've never heard him say anything good about someone who isn't a RINO. I've personally been on the receiving end of more than one of his dirty tricks.
As everyone else says, good riddance to bad rubbish.
Peaslee, like many RINOs and other assorted "republicans" are republicans on one issue and only republicans because of that issue. Abortion.
Bill was a student of mine many years ago in Southern Pines, where I used to teach. I haven't kept up with him, so I can't say what he currently stands for, but he was very conservative back in his high school days, which was something of a rarity. I do wish him well.
I never fully trusted him.
I could have been totally wrong, but it was the impression that I, my wife, and others had of him.
I don't wish Bill Peaslee ill-will. I am just glad he is going away. Hopefully whatever line of business he gets into next will not involve any interaction with people. PR is just not his forte'.
I am hopeful that NCGOP will change its direction. This whole business of labeling everyone one disagrees with as a RINO is self-defeating (as if that isn't obvious this year). The Bill Cobey/Bill Peaslee/Bill Carraway/Ferrell Blount mentality of RINO hunting has got to be put out to pasture if the Republican and Conservative cause is going to take root in North Carolina.
Remember what I've said: Linda and Carson Daves rule the NCGOP with an iron fist, and will stoop to anything to stay in control (behind their hand-chosen puppet leaders).
If Peaslee's being pushed out, you can guarantee he resisted the Daves in some way.
He's a scheister, i mean attorney.
I also always got the feeling that he was bitter over his not being some big gun, high dollar attorney and instead was doing real estate closings.
NC info. News? Or expected? Or needed?
That seems to be the ruler by which the media measures "conservatives" these days as well. If they mouth the right words to some hot-button social issue, they are immediately dubbed conservative and everyone to the right of center is brow-beaten to adopt them without question.
Are we really as stupid as the political and media classes think we are?
Who might possibly be elected by the Executive Committee other than Daves?
There are two other announced candidates. Andrew Brock and Marcus Kindley. Kindley is cut from the same cloth as Vernon Robinson. Brock seems to have a fresh approach and isn't a part of the "establishment".
Ultimately, I fear you are correct though. Many of the regulars on the State Executive Committee are staunchly loyal to Blount, Cobey, and their ilk. Daves will likely get the appointment with very little to no discussion about other candidates. Even in their day, corrupt leaders like Blount, Peaslee, and Cobey had to be propped up and supported by someone. The State Central Committee probably needs to be purged as well.
I think some young bomb throwers should be brought in.
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