For Conservatives who seriously want to kick some RINO butt...

Warning – this is a long and ‘windy’ post – not recommended for the semi-conservative or casual reader.

Lately I’ve ran across many a post and comment on FR that made me decide to again post about politics - for the sake of many of the newer Freepers – and for this nations sake. This post by Jim Robinson is corollary to what follows. Read it – Jim defines what I call a complete conservative.

Now, the first item of business - the definition of the 'Republican Party,' a.k.a., the GOP. A few members of Congress, a couple of state governors and a few past candidates for high office generally prompt the greatest amount of disparagement of the GOP on this website. Their voting screw-ups and lackluster comments are often used to denigrate 'the GOP' in general and often followed by statements such as, "Screw the GOP, I’ll never vote Republican again." That insults many, and proves that writers know little to nothing about party maintenance, or have any clue as their own responsibility for it. Yet, it is literally the voting public at large that determines what a political party becomes – it’s strengths and it’s weaknesses are a direct result of the level of public oversight and involvement in all aspects of party function and activity at the local level. Ignore that, and you get ever-poorer performance at the top – on par with the poorer performance of the citizenry in general at the bottom (local level.)

First - what the GOP is not. It is not defined by, nor do sitting members of Congress solely constitute ‘the GOP’ – yet that is the most common perception. Nor is the RNC, with a mere 165 members 'the GOP.' (All of them count in the national total, yet they are a distinct minority, very much outnumbered and at the eventual certain mercy of the total. Oh, sure – they are a powerful minority – but ultimately irrelevant in the face of the majority.)

"The party," - all political parties are made up solely of elected and appointed members within each State of the Union, along with a few chartered party club members which are by charter are allowed to join the party, pay dues, and allowed to vote in state and local party business. In California, the most populous state, there are only about 3,000 dues-paying party members qualified to vote in party business meetings and in State Party Conventions. The huge majority of GOP members in every state are elected district party representatives in local district 'central committees' – aka, 'wards' in eastern states. Of course, any elected state GOP officeholder is a member, as are any alternates or those they are allowed to appoint as members of the state party. In smaller States, the number is much less. An average per state would be perhaps 1,000 party members in the more numerous smaller states.

There is no published figure of what the 'total GOP party members nationally' is, nor is there such a figure for the 'Democratic' Party. The entirety of the GOP is not more than 62,000 members nationally.

So, lump all the RINO’s you can think of that currently serve in state and national government together, and add up the figure. Lets say you know a lot of RINO’s in Congress, and in State legislatures – and you can come up with as many as 100 of them. That would be .19% of total GOP membership – hardly representative of the huge majority at the local level, most of them quite conservative.

The second item of business here is wrapped up in what it means to be 'conservative.' You’ll not find a better definition of it than what Jim Robinson had to say in that link above. But I would go quite a bit further than Jim did – particularly in using that word 'aggressively.'

If you are under attack and faltering, and the GOP is – and if you really want to aggressively alter the makeup of the GOP – you become part of it. I did, and I have made a big difference (admittedly in the somewhat past) – by being a key force in routing RINO’s from State party leadership positions in droves. If you are really conservative, you join the war – where it counts. Either true conservatives help keep the party conservative – or you fail the final test of conservatism itself. That failure became ever greater after Ronald Reagan was elected – to the point that today less than .01 percent of GOP affiliated voters ever darken the doors of GOP meetings in their own neighborhood – and many that do are not conservative. That low number is a measure of the knowledge of the pubic in general, and of Conservatism wisdom in particular. Yet that door is THE most critical place where conservatives can help ensure the level of conservatism within the party. It seemed that once Reagan was in office, conservatives felt that their presence in the system was no longer needed. Also distressing has been the steep decline in the number of the 'faithful' – which should understand being 'watchmen on the wall' far better than those without wisdom. Sadly, today the level of Church involvement has declined to its lowest point in US history – yet, in stark comparison, during the Founding Era ministers were literally among those at the forefront of political activity.

Third - one thing needs to be understood clearly. Conservatives are extremely unlikely to ever prosper outside of the Republican Party. They must either fight to keep it pure (that is, socialism / socialist free) at the local level – or haul up the white flag of surrender. Third parties have done nothing to prosper conservatism, throughout this nation’s history. In fact, the few that have claimed conservatism (and largely aren’t) have repeatedly succeeded in doing nothing more than electing Democrats in the districts where third party candidates drew 1 to 2% of the vote – the margin by which the Democrat won. When any do gain office, they generally prove far less than conservative.

In fact the largest 'third party' vote ever recorded in US history was that of the 'Progressive Party' under Theodore Roosevelt, which drew 27.4% of the vote. But, note well - in the early 1900’s Democrats were the conservatives, while Republicans were the first to drift off into ‘progressive’ socialist politics. Unfortunately for us today, early 1900’s 'progressive' Republicans radically altered our political process, by co-opting political power to the top of the political ladder from the local level where it had resided for over 130 years. That single action helped send the party into the wilderness for near 50 years, and while it was there Democrats turned socialist and the Republican Party slowly became conservative.

Ultimately the degree of conservative success rests with conservatives themselves. And, if you’re like me – you’re a working stiff with a job somewhere or you’re working your buns off keeping a home together, caring for your family. You don’t have a lot of time – or a lot of money to sink into political activities, so if you’re going to do anything – you need to know how to be most effective with what little time you have. And believe me, you can be very effective, if you know what to do – and that is, walk into the real political arena nearest to you – at the local level, and figuratively, put on your political brass knuckles.

It is probably less than twenty minutes away from the front door of most Freepers. And, quite likely, you can gain a voting seat (without election) – simply by showing up – once or twice a month. (That is, if the local district committee is a few people shy of their allotted number of seats filled.) But, even if all the seats are filled, they all need alternates to sit in for them when they cannot attend for some reason. So take a friend or family member with you. It is worth noting here that quite often only one or two people will actually go to the trouble of getting the few signatures that it takes to get on the ballot for the Central Committee in a California district. When that happens, they are ‘elected’ by default. The position and their names don’t even appear on the ballot! Then, THEY get to appoint the remaining people to bring the district committee to its allotted number. That is a stark difference from public oversight – or 'conservative' attention to what makes up the party they choose to affiliate with. It is such apathy and indifference that has produced the squishy nature of the GOP in the largest and most populous states, and has led to ever greater pollution in even the most conservative states.

For over two decades, I voted many times per month – at the local district level, and at the county level. And, as a dues paying elected or appointed member of the state GOP, I voted often at all state conventions. I worked hard to purge liberals from any power in the state party, and I became highly effective at it. Ask RINO Pete Wilson how effective I have been. Ask Arianna Huffington, and her millionaire switch-hitting ex-husband Michael (with a very obvious case of aids) who both came lurking around the CA GOP, claiming that they were staunch Republicans. (Luckily, I knew about Arianna’s deranged past long before she came in the door – thanks to early use of the then brand new Internet.) Neither one got far, and both eventually left the GOP after being exposed for what they both were.

Bottom line, if Freepers really hope to see a GOP that harks back to conservative principles, and want to aggressively pursue such a goal - the only process that is effective begins at the most numerous level of the elected party – a few minutes away from your home. If we cannot be guardians at these most important gates to the political arena – forget about it at the state and national level. It is within this arena that conservatives can effectively block RINO’s from moving higher up the political ladder – by identifying them through personal contact, listening to their conversation, finding out what they believe and would like to see come to pass in future legislation. It is in this arena that you can identify the best – and help promote them toward higher office – and easily stop the worst of the worst.

The Reagan Revolution was initially energized by thousands of conservatives that had begun with Barry Goldwater a few years prior. In those days, back-yard political gatherings attracted literally thousands of local teens and college youth – and their parents – all of whom provided an energy level beyond any seen prior or since.

Conservatives could easily make that all happen once again – if enough of them decide they really want to become aggressive at making a political difference. Absent such an effort – conservatives will have only themselves, and their personal lack of effort to blame. Samuel Landon, one of our Founding Fathers, said it best. "On the people, therefore, of these United-States it depends whether wise men, or fools, good or bad men, shall govern them; whether they shall have righteous laws, a faithful administration of government, and permanent good order, peace, and liberty; or, on the contrary, feel insupportable burdens, and see all their affairs run to confusion and ruin."

Samuel Langdon is also quite famous for the following quote, from the same sermon. (spelling here is as in the original.)

"From year to year be careful in the choice of your representatives, and all the higher powers of government. Fix your eyes upon men of good understanding, and known honesty; men of knowledge, improved by experience; men who fear God, and hate covetousness; who love truth and righteousness, and sincerely wish the public welfare. Beware of such as are cunning rather than wise; who prefer their own interest to every thing; whose judgment is partial, or fickle; and whom you would not willingly trust with your own private interests. When meetings are called for the choice of your rulers, do not carelessly neglect them, or give your votes with indifference, just as any party may persuade, or a sordid treat tempt you; but act with serious deliberation and judgment, as in a most important matter, and let the faithful of the land serve you. Let not men openly irreligious and immoral become your legislators; for how can you expect good laws to be made by men who have no fear of God before their eyes, and who boldly trample on the authority of his commands? And will not the example of their impiety and immorality defeat the efficacy of the best laws which can be made in favour of religion and virtue? If the legislative body are corrupt, you will soon have bad men for counsellors, corrupt judges, unqualified justices, and officers in every department who will dishonor their stations; the consequence of which will be murmurs and complaints from every quarter."

Sorry my rant is so long - but, unfortunately in some ways it is not nearly long enough. For those that have never really entered the political arena, there is a world of things you should know, and will have to learn on your own, and from others that have gone before you. I can not say it more bluntly than this - if you do not go, learn, and fight - then who will?

Bill,

I enjoyed your comments. Precinct work is tiring and frustrating at times. But, the real battle is in who is running the operation - who populates the district party committee. Are they competent, or is the organization a mess ideologically - which usually means the organization isn’t being effective at its precinct responsibilities.

"... who has their hands firmly in control of the wheel."

Again - you speak of the national level - and ignore who is in control of the wheel at the local level. We do that at our own peril. If you control the local / state levels, you will soon control the wheel at the national level.

Whining about the current national does nothing. Working hard at the local level CAN change that.

"Your party is an open association. You have no say over who is in your party, intrinsically."

Completely wrong. ALL political parties operate under the same rules, federal and state. All have a similar party structure, and anyone can move to occupy that party structure. They can be supported by others, or opposed by others. Been there done that. Third parties are a losers route.

"It is a sign of severe dysfunction when a group savages its own members for heresy instead of turning its attention toward its true enemy."

BS. In politics, every group savages its own members at times - but, at the same time, they always have their eye on their major enemies. They like 'purity' in their group.

Been there done that.

Obviously you haven't "been there." And you obviously haven't given more than a passing thought to the meaning of the words "free political association."

ALL political parties operate under the same rules, federal and state. All have a similar party structure, and anyone can move to occupy that party structure.

Even the Supreme Court has recognized that political parties have a right to whatever process they choose. I am the chairman of what is already the third-largest political party in America, a party whose process puts the lie completely to your claim. Are you saying that the First Amendment right to free political association is now gone? Because it would have to be for your (unthinking) claim to be valid.

For the record, I think you’re a good guy, with good motives. I think you simply haven’t thought things through.

Get back on a uncompromisingly principled political basis, and then perhaps you will be more fit to offer practical advice concerning which way we should go.

Because, unfortunately, the throughly corrupted Republican Party has reached the point where even your best efforts to gather up and motivate decent people in your little corner of it can only in the end be used by unprincipled people to forward an agenda that you profess to hate.

"Any local power now in your party is merely illusory."

Sorry - you know not about what you speak. You've not 'been there, done that' and I have. It is local power that drives what happens in a state - whether the state is liberal or conservative.

It is local power that determines the makeup, and numbers at the county level. It is county strength that decides state party leadership. OF COURSE... if the local districts are defunct, the state is defunct - and therein lies the problem of disinterest and lack of knowledge that this post speaks to.

Even in lefty states like CA and NY, they still send delegates to national conventions. I am proud to say that in CA we have one of the most conservative members in the RNC - national committee woman Barbara Alby. I've known her for decades, and worked hard with her in the state party structure.

She is up against far less conservative members from supposedly conservative states - states where conservative activism is typically much lower than it should be, at the local level. In spite of that, she continues to fight for the conservative cause - as fools at the local level ignore the political implications of their complete lack of interest in participating in the process.

'EternalVigilance'?? I think not. Tell me when you have gone to your first local party meeting - and after you have finally voted there.

I know what you are saying, but many of us refuse to support anyone for control of the committee or organization unless that person is willing to help and has a history of doing the real work. The guy who thinks he can step into running the operation when he’s never worked the operation gets no support from me.

Sorry - you know not about what you speak. You've not 'been there, done that' and I have.

Baloney. I've served at every level of the Republican Party structure up to and including my state central committee, and have worked on countless campaigns from the most local up to the presidential level in every region of the country. I've helped rebuild local and state party structures in many states. The gains we made were extremely short-lived though, unfortunately, because of the ongoing corruption of the national party and the ever-increasing compromise of the party's leaders. We did the work, and they either pissed it away or handed the accrued power over to the other side, one way or another.

"...the throughly corrupted Republican Party.." ???

Again - you have your eyes only on what you see on the boob-tube regarding the national level. As if that less than one percent at the national is representative of the whole of the GOP.

The tens of thousands of conservatives in the party across this nation are not thoroughly corrupted. Yes a few at the top are - but that in no way represents the huge majority which you choose to ignore.

I agree that the question is not "either/or" in terms of competence versus principles, but often we must seek a balance because no one is perfect in both ways. Furthermore, each of us would define "perfect" differently, even within the conservative movement. One of the most important aspects of becoming involved in the local party is doing the hard work of getting people elected. I've helped candidates who I considered to be flawed, but I knew that they would have been better than the Democrats running against them.

I'll refuse to vote for or support certain Republicans. Those who've done something that would hurt me personally will never get my support. However, I try to forgive as much as possible to keep the Democrats from gaining power.

"My opponent in that minor party election is now a sitting Congressman."

OK... The ax you grind is personal.

That's fine with me - but that in no way is reason for others to walk away from their own duty to the process. Eternal vigilance begins at the bottom of the political ladder, and just because the system fails at times in not reason for anyone to relax that vigilance.

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