Welcome to politics. Nothing new here. My Father was a member the California State Central Committee, appointed by Congressman Ketchum. When Ketchum died unexpectedly, his former primary rival,Bill Thomas, was appointed to the congressional seat and immediately kicked my Father out of the Central Committee and put his own people in. Bill Thomas hand picked Kevin McCarthy for the State Assembly and is grooming him to eventually take over Thomas' seat in Congress. Heaven help any Repuplican who challenges Kevin McCarthy.
politics is certainly personal and cliquish. However, parties are supposed to be more than patronage machines.