After Bitter 12-year Feud, Young Republicans To Bury Hatchet

The New York Sun ^ | December 27, 2002 | BENJAMIN SMITH

[PARodrig]

Forget Gangs of New York. For more than a decade, a bitter battle has raged between two competing groups. There were document grabs and threats of lawsuits. During the darkest years, the chief of one group was brought up on federal charges of attempting to have his rival killed — only to have the murder plot turn out to be a frame-up.

No, it’s not the Dead Rabbits versus the Plug Uglies. It’s the New York Young Republican Club versus the New York Young Republican Club, a conflict between two groups of button-down, not-all-that-young men and women who share a club name, right-of-center politics, and a history of bad blood.

[PARodrig]

Anyone want to make a wager as to whether these clubs will actually merge or not?

[PARodrig]

ping

[JohnnyZ]

That's hilarious. I think they will merge.

Shoot, my YR group is half libertarian, bless their hearts . . .

[PARodrig]

Are you in Weingarten's or Hornak's. I'm in Hornak's. I'm the Executive VP of the club. There's been so much mistrust and bad blood for so long that I'm afraid the merged entity may be worse than the the two separate ones. :-)

[Rodney King]

One of my fraternity brothers was with Stevens when he was arrested, my friend was an officer of some sort in the group.

[Cacique]

What is the point of a merger? Do we really want to be lackeys for the state organization or an independent organization capable of doing things independently of the sellouts and backstabbing that the state GOP engages in. I don't think so.

I for one would be opposed to any merger of such a nature. We need groups independent of party organization, otherwise we will see the state organization demanding payback for favors they are bound to make.

This merger simply doesn't sound good to me. For whatever reason the split, we should remain independent just for the sake of independence. That gives us manouvering room that an "official" organization simply does not have.

[JohnnyZ]

Ha ha, no, I'm in North Carolina, not NYC. I plan to visit some time though . . . does that count?

BTW, Gangs of NY sux, for starters b/c of Leonardo Dicaprio.

[NYC GOP Chick]

I agree with you, Cacique. But I think that the reasons for the proposed merger are to consolidate and have more "power" as a group and so that we don't look like a big farce to the rest of the city, what with all the in-fighting that has gone on in the past.

[NYC GOP Chick]

Thanks for the warning! I live pretty close to where it all took place and was considering going to the movie, but now you've convinced me to avoid it. :)

[firebrand]

Nah. Go see it. The funniest get-out-the-vote scenes are only part of it. Two fire departments fighting each other, while the house burns down? One police department bribed, but the other one neglected, so the bad guys get arrested anyway?

But be sure to find out what's historically accurate and what isn't. It's a mishmash of fact and Hollywood fantasy.

[firebrand]

They will merge, and we will be sorry. That's my prediction, anyway.

[firebrand]

I agree. The new YR club will never have conservative speakers like the ones we have had in the past few years.

[Cacique]

Power? Power has nothing to do with numbers or meetings or how many people show up to partake of wine and food. Power has to do with how many a number no matter how small are willing to work and do combat. In the end our influence will be determined by how much we are willing to do for our ideas. Once the state organization gets in there they will try to manouver to get their lackeys and party hacks to control things.

Mergers don't work in business and they never work in politics either. Either we stand for something, or we don't.

This seems to me like trying to imitate the state GOP in it's vain attempt to merge with the democratic party. because that's what the RINO's running things would like to do. They believe that the way to get elected in New York state is to run as a more liberal democrat than the democrats.

[Clemenza]

All I know is that the "other" Young Republican Club included someone who "ran" (so to speak) the Fordham College Republiicans. Whether or not there is a reunion is unimportant, as we all know who the REAL club is!

[Clemenza]

Disagree, Gangs of New York was GREAT, Leonardo Dicaprio notwithstanding. Worth the price of admission if only because of Daniel Day Lewis, the 1863 Draft Riots and exposition of Democratic ballot fraud.