Posted on 04/21/2004 8:37:46 PM PDT by GOPcapitalist
TCR has been wondering if whether this year principled conservatives will get to run the Texas Republican Party or will the establishment/big business types run it through willing surrogates?
First, TCR urges all delegates to the state convention in San Antonio to actually show up and have an open mind about party leadership. Just because someone holds office, doesn't mean they should continue to. Look at what he or she has actually accomplished - like the financial state of the party, what the party is doing to advance conservative principles, what vision do the candidates have about the future and do they have a plan to get us there? Go and make up your own decision. Don't be part of the flock of sheep who do as they are told, be independent. Your party, and ultimately your state, and country are at stake.
It is critical that our delegates elect true leaders of the conservative grassroots, not the ones selected by the establishment for the RPT.
TCR ran across an article that was put out a few years ago by Kirk Overbey (former SREC member from Austin) lamenting the grassroots loss of an open process due to conservatives who carry the establishments water. Here are the excerpts:
Legal Fiat vs. The Grassroots
"Many of us came into the Republican Party as grassroots activists. We were motivated by our desire to promote important conservative issues. We were in essence pro-life, pro-family and anti-tax. We confronted a political party that was primarily being run by large financial contributors, who appeared to have little interest in our key issues."
"We spent more than a decade organizing the grassroots to bring about reform in the Party organization. Most of the reform came through amendment of the Party Rules, so that the voice of the grassroots would not only be expressed in the Platform but openly advocated by Party officials and delegates who were freely elected from among the grassroots."
"Since 1998, a new type of subjection against the grassroots has appeared that circumvents the rules reform and effectively blocks an open, deliberative, grassroots process. For want of a better term, I refer to it as "Legal Fiat." Basically, it involves stifling the deliberative process within the State Convention Committees, where the important work of the State Convention takes place."
Examples of Legal Fiat In State Convention Committees
1998 Platform Committee
"The Chairman of the Platform Committee this year (that) was also serving as General Counsel for the Republican Party of Texas (appointed by then Chairman Susan Weddington). The Temporary Platform Committee placed the "Lambert Resolution" in its report by unanimous vote. Before the Permanent Committee met, an RPT staffer warned a Committee member that "an attorney might be sitting in on your meeting tomorrow." During the Permanent Committee meeting, no attorney attended, however, the Committee Chairman suddenly took on that role. The Chairman claimed that the Lambert Resolution should not be placed in the state platform because it was not enforceable. A Platform Committee member asked for a legal opinion and the Committee Chairman stated "I am the legal opinion for this committee." The Permanent Committee voted with the Committee Chairman and removed the Lambert Resolution."
2002 Rules Committee
"The Chairman of the Rules Committee (interim RPT Chair) Tina Benkiser was aided by two attorneys and the hired convention parliamentarian. This was the first time that the new 2000 edition of Robert's Rules of Order was in use. A change had been made in the blocking provision used by the junta. The 2000 edition now states: "Motions that conflict with the corporate charter, constitution or bylaws of a society, or with procedural rules prescribed by national, state, or local laws, are out of order." (10th edition, p. 332) Concerned about the heavy-handed behavior of past Rules Committees, several Committee members confronted the parliamentarian privately to make sure he understood that procedural laws were only "concerned with the process by which a deliberative assembly arrives at a decision" and not with the legality of a proposal (10th edition, p. xxi). If a blocking technique was to be used, a new method for doing so would have to devised. With remarkable creativity, the junta devised the following: 1) the Committee Chairman asked the attorney's opinion; 2) the attorney advised that the proposal was illegal; 3) the parliamentarian opined that the Republican Party of Texas is a creature of the Texas Election Code, the Texas Election Code serves as the charter for the Republican Party of Texas, and no other rules can be in violation of the charter; 4) the Committee Chairman ruled the proposal out of order based on the junta's interpretation of the law. This action was so outrageous that the ruling was appealed. (I believe this was the first time that a ruling by a Committee Chairman had been appealed since the 1988 Credentials Committee). The junta's legal maneuvering did not stop there. The Chairman ruled the appeal out of order on the grounds that it was dilatory. Under Robert's Rules of Order, this can be done only if "there cannot possibly be two reasonable opinions" on the question. Since the Committee had debated the question for over three hours, the junta was basically saying that in three hours of debate and testimony, only one reasonable opinion was expressed. Thus, another new precedent was established which effectively cemented the total authority of the Committee Chairman - the right to block an appeal."
TCR's Comment - This year when you make your choices, a major factor ought to be these past occurrences. Our Party needs independent, principled, conservative leadership who possess a vision of how to advance our common sense philosophy and elect officials who will help achieve those goals. We don't need conservatives who carry the water for the insiders.
With Governor Hate Crimes running the show, yes. But that's all the more reason to give the current leadership including the Weddington holdovers and David "Voodoo Kettle" Barton the boot.
I'm new to Texas but have been a long time activist in the GOP in NC, with solid conservative credentials, and a ton of grassroots experience
I can't say that my first experience with party establishment has been positive.
How does a new conservative become active in this state?
Feel free to reply publicly or by FReepmail.
CC
The problem with the state GOP, and I suspect most state parties, is the fact that they actually believe they are doing something useful. They spent a large amount of time trying to out maneuver each other on the 3 or 4 points they disagree about and then spend two years bragging about what they did.
I seldom see members of the "elite" leaders of any group, be it the CC, social conservatives, fiscal conservatives, RINO's, or the ever hated "moderates" doing much when election time comes around. Oh they will attend a party, and don't get between them and a camera, but don't call them when you need block walkers.
This problem Polland points out, and I would take it to heart far more if YOU had written it, is not new and we in the far right have been just as guilty as those nasty RINO's.
I assume you are too young to remember when Gary Brunner was Ex Director of the Texas Republican Party? As far right as one can be, and a back stabbing pr&*k going back to his day's at UT-Austin.
A POX on all of them I say!Was that dramatic enough? I have far more respect for the opinions of people like you than I do any in the "leadership." Go to the convention, meet people, get some ideas, vote for what you know is right, but PLEASE don't be overly influenced by any of them ...... oh except me ... always listen to me! ;-)
Second what part of the state are you in.
Third coming from NC have you noted that WE fly our flag right side up unlike that odd group in NC that puts the red stripe on top?
They should be holding our elected official's feet to the fire and lobbying for our platform's enactment. Instead we get ambassadors for the political elite. Also - if you aren't a delegate you may want to attend the convention anyway. There are several roles you could help with - volunteer for one of the good party office candidates, work the FR booth, pass out stickers etc. Let me know if you'd like some contacts on this.
I was a member of a conservative grassroots movement that took over the Texas Republican Party in the 70's.
We changed the party rules (instituted a presidential primary despite state law) and overpowered the Bush crowd to give Reagan all the Texas delegates and the nomination in 80.
But political party organizations are irrelevant in today's electoral politics. Money is all that counts. With money you can buy the talented advisers and "grassroots" workers. Without money you won't even make it to the starting gate.
I'm looking for a way to become active and to advance the conservative cause. I offered to volunteer at the GOP and wasn't even asked for my phone number. I was willing to answer phones or do whatever was necessary, but I guess I'm not needed. I had previously provided my resume to the GOP. I'm a former County Chairman, a former District Chairman, a former candidate, a former Regional Coordinator for a US Senator, a former radio talk show host, and a two time delegate to the National Convention. I thought somebody could use my experience, even though I admittedly don't know Texas politics. Please feel free to pass on your contacts. I'd appreciate it. TIA. CC
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