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The problem w/the RNC and the Senatorial Committee is that they will not read, record or pay any attention to us when we explain our donations or our lack of them. They will cash the check, send more solicitations and use the money against conservatives, or at least to support moderates they think can win, just as they have done to date.

After months of explaining my lack of response in writing and in detail to the phone solicitors, I got another one just last week. I told him we were conservatives and he just laughed. I asked if this was a solicitation for donations or a poll. He said it was a *special* fundraiser. I told him that we donated to individuals directly and that they needed to stand up to the Democrats, do something substantial about illegal immigration and support Republicans who will vote for more oil and gas drilling and refineries before asking me for any more money. Silence, then I thanked him and hung up.

I have no doubt I will get yet more mail and calls soon.

I used to roll my eyes over the FReepers making constant comments on GOP lack of spine. Now, I am simply wary of them. I have seen them sandbag candidates I support right in the middle of a campaign, allowing Finegold's supporters to give huge, public sighs of relief and be able to concentrate on their candidates lower on the ticket (which we defeated due to individual donations and support).

I just do not trust the institutionalized portion of the GOP. I will vote and work and I agree the donks need to be crushed. I just doubt the RNC, et al are the ones who will actually do it. I do not think we can use operant conditioning on them. Until they get out in the real world and send out real organizers who will speak face-to-face with the grass roots base, I will be thankful when they manage to do something right, but I will not support them until they can understand the connection between an action and support.

I worked hard in the last campaign and had some phone time w/some of the career political operatives working for BCO4. These are arrogant careerists who use our time and effort and really think they have better things to do with their time than even be polite or listen to volunteers and donors. We have decided that we will not be complicit in our own abuse and it will take more than anger at donks to change our decision.

But I will not be part of a publically divided base, either, as that just gives aid and comfort to the enemy. We need to work and support individuals who will then at least be aware of who elected them, not give ammo to the donks and not reflexively give the careerists more money with which to be arrogant and neglectful of the people who do the real work in politics.

"They will cash the check, send more solicitations...... After months of explaining my lack of response in writing and in detail to the phone solicitors, I got another one just last week. I told him we were conservatives and he just laughed. I asked if this was a solicitation for donations or a poll. He said it was a *special* fundraiser. I told him that we donated to individuals directly and that they needed to stand up to the Democrats, do something substantial about illegal immigration and support Republicans who will vote for more oil and gas drilling and refineries before asking me for any more money. Silence, then I thanked him and hung up."

I take the same approach. I got one the other night who hung up on me after I respectfully and patiently explained things just as you do. I do take some solace in the post paid envelopes they include with their mail solicitations because I can write the immigration, energy, and spending message on the slip in red before I return it without the check. Perhaps if everyone did that they'd start to get the message.

Speaking of arrogant careerist RNC people, I never had much use for them for the past 20 years but last year's (about 25 years old I think) was the absolute worst. He was the "organizer" for this region of the state but chose not to work with the Republican committee in town in contacting such people as the college students. Then later when I wondered why we could never get any Bush campaign signs I was told that since our county didn't "go for" Bush in 2000 we were written off (but any COMPETENT campign person knows that getting from 22% GOP registration to 45% GOP vote helps overall just as much as anyone else's vote.) I ended up PHOTOCOPYING hundreds of 11" x 17" Bush campaign signs and had volunteers color in the red stripes on the flag.