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    Who are the NERD fund donors Mr Snyder?

    Raise the curtain.

    Betsy DeVos Sets The Wrong Table


    By JGillman, Section News
    Posted on Sun Jan 19, 2014 at 01:19:59 PM EST
    Tags: Red Meat, Hummus, Feast On Truth, Betsy DeVos, Michigan, Tolerance, Intolerance, Gays, Muslims, Truth, Principle, Agema, Civility, Economics, Social, Liars, Obama, Lennox, Republicans, GOP, Big Tent, Money For Nothing, Power, Influence (all tags)

    Truly a loss to the GOP if Betsy DeVos remains committed to her recent effort of removing Dave Agema from the position of Republican National Committeeman.

    There was a reason he won the position in the first place; as someone who would hold TRUE to conservative Republican principles, and strengthen them in the national platform.  While the establishment Republicans are decrying Democrats as "bad," Committeeman Agema was rebuilding the foundation so Republicans could say why.  Real fiscal restraint, real solutions aimed at preserving families and traditions that have made this country great.

    And the feeble sensibilities of an offended malcontent within the party continuously stirs up sympathy for the other side's (progressive Dems for those of you who remain unsure) point of view?

    "Hey look at me! I am a Republican and I don't like your stand on what I like to do, so you better tolerate my perverse lifestyle or I will forever more divide the party until I get what I want!  You can call it a big tent if you want."
    And like the 'Tasmanian Devil' of the cartoon world, shredding the bonds of good conservatives, and instilling doubt upon the conscience of a party that once at least as a promise, stood for decency and honor.

    When moral restraint is removed in one way, it certainly follows that the caps are off in others too.

    A sin is a sin is a sin, right?

    So lets talk more below the fold.

    What people DO, is what matters.

    Anyone can call themselves 'conservative', or a supporter of tradition, or even Republican.  Why even the most recent incarnation of the prince of lies, Barack Obama, continues to use the language of conservatism to sell unadulterated socialism:

    "I've got a phone that allows me to convene Americans from every walk of life, nonprofits, businesses, the private sector, universities to try to bring more and more Americans together around what I think is a unifying theme: making sure that this is a country where, if you work hard, you can make it," he added."
    And while this goes on, it remains unchallenged by self professed conservatives who would rather speak out for the ideas of the left under the guise of "tolerance," and "big tents."

    Instead of marshaling efforts to demonstrate the sin of repeated prevarication from the presumed leader of the free world, some prefer to lash out at those who have made an effort to reveal the path of sin being made clear all around us. Efforts made to appear enlightened and tolerant however, can be quite opposed to what we stand for.

    Imagine if you will, the point where we ignore the mugging outside the church to go inside and condemn the minister for his 'hateful' message.

    So we can feel the love of the mugger?

    Betsy Devos, like so many others, knows what she believes but has fallen into the trap of faux tolerance; one that has no equilibrium, or room for opposing views.  One that has no room in fact, for what she purportedly believes. And when she defends the 'big tent' as to be blindly accepting of those with opposing vision, she undermines her own supposed efforts to promote such institutions as prosperity, family, education, and TRUE equality.

    In a Nolan Finley Piece, when she says of Agema:

    "He has a right to express his ideas and opinions, but he also has a responsibility to the party. He has damaged his position and his party. He reflects badly on Republicans and on Michigan."
    She contradicts herself.

    Either he does or he doesn't. To limit an elected committeeman who was selected based on his convictions, to expressing a view that is opposite his convictions is ludicrous.

    Agema's statements on homosexuality condemn the dangers inherent to that lifestyle choice.  He shows no disdain for the people themselves, but to the acts which have destructive causality on morality, tradition, and health.  The statistical evidence which is easily available to those who wish to truly entertain enlightenment make his points, no matter how crudely people assume those points are being made.

    Agema's statements with regard to Islam, while lacking subtlety, has in their essence, an objection to the dogma that is Islam itself. This 'religion' in its founding, appears to have more in common with a mafia family business, and continues to this day to be the purveyor of "man caused disasters" with absolutely no competition from any other 'religious' or secular sectors. The people who practice it might well become doctors, scientists, or even fight for our country. However, the ideology behind a daily counter that looks like our debt clock leaves less room for trust, than that offered by the true prince of peace, or nearly any other 'spiritually' inclined religion.

    But Betsy seems motivated however, to shoot her own foot:

    "DeVos is troubled by more than just than a few ignorant statements by a bigot. She is clearly frustrated by the inability or unwillingness of GOP leaders to reclaim the party from those motivated by hate and prejudice.

    She describes herself as "disillusioned and disgusted" that Republicans like Agema have been allowed to help guide the party.

    A good reply would be "Don't over do it dear."  

    If she truly wanted the party to survive, she might control the gag reflex just a little.  What is seen as hate, should be viewed by ANY such self professed conservative as love and consideration for her fellow man.  It should be regarded properly as the concern for health, longevity, and strong traditional families.  As one who cannot read minds, I cannot attest to quantifiable hate in anyone's heart, and I doubt she has those skills either.

    Interestingly, she seems to still have an agenda

    "Leaders have a responsibility to create an inclusive, welcoming party, not to exclude," she says. "What's going on is cause for concern about our future prospects as a party and our ability to bring people around to our point of view and long-term agenda. We are driving people away who might otherwise support what we stand for."
    So lets point out then what WE STAND FOR, OK?

    I am ALWAYS willing to push for an inclusive party!  I stand by an open ended invitation to those who are willing to clear their minds of today's pornographic governance models, limitless welfare promotion, family destroying goals, and intolerable redistributive wishes, to have a seat at a very big table, in a very big tent.  They can leave such ideology at the door, IMO.

    Imagine a grand and glorious party at the DeVos household where anyone in the neighborhood is invited who wants high dollar Hors d'oeuvre, before planting muddy feet upon the oaken long table for a cigar.

    Right.

    Finley's piece includes this as well

    "Although no overt threat was made to withdraw financial support, the risk to the GOP is certainly implicit.

    "The expectation of leaders in a party is to stand up in situations like this," she says. "Failing to do so will have consequences."

    To which I say, what good is a fancy car with no wheels?

    The party certainly did not stand up to Rick Snyder when he pushed for expansion of Medicaid. Already, dozens of those who at one time had solid political careers are being forced to reevaluate the decision to capitulate to such progressive notions.  Notions which run contrary to fiscal responsibility, which DeVos suggests should be of paramount concern:

    "DeVos is urging the party to return to its roots and focus its message on sound economic policy and other efforts to improve the American quality of life. Her passion is ensuring all children have access to a quality education, and that's where she's been devoting her energy.
    And I applaud her for that effort.

    In the meantime, there are other battles being fought that HAVE economic impact that do not need in-fighting and undercutting.  There are very few of us who are willing to be hated by a small number of vocal deviants.  We are fighting the battle for the SOUL of the country, while some fight SOLELY for their personal prosperity.

    Who is truly standing up for personal liberty in this situation?  Someone who rejects destructive lifestyle choice advocacy, regards a violent political ideology as incompatible with democratic principles, or someone who would shut the discussion off as a matter of civility?  

    When power and money acts to quiet a voice, or erases the work of the pen under the guise of 'tolerance,' is it not a hypocritical act?

    I wish to be clear, The DeVos family has made possible a great number of successes in our state and around the world.  I respect that. If it weren't for Dick Devos, and the pressure brought to bear on Snyder for RTW legislation, it may not have happened.  I applaud that.

    But it excuses no notion of undeserved civility and acceptance of destructive premises advanced within a party that should remain loyal to a full set of principles; and not one limited to economics alone. This party already has a quite large tent.  This bigger tent is one of tried ideas, and understanding of cause and consequence.  The bigger tent grows by setting tables within that are bountiful with liberty, promise and propriety.

    But removing the red meat from the menu that 45% of the party enjoys to be replaced with the hummus of the 2%?

    Good luck keeping the chef employed.

    < Ummm, maybe it would have been a good idea to read that fine print? | A Purge of Social Conservatives by the MIGOP, The Real Agenda Behind the Attacks on Dave Agema! >


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    Curious that she has... (none / 0) (#1)
    by KG One on Sun Jan 19, 2014 at 02:24:10 PM EST
    ...spent so much time behind the scenes for so long, to suddenly find it necessary to chime in on the PC-meme.

    I agree whole-heartedly with this point you wrote:


    "Imagine a grand and glorious party at the DeVos household where anyone in the neighborhood is invited who wants high dollar Hors d'oeuvre, before planting muddy feet upon the oaken long table for a cigar."

    I'd be more than happy to arrange a meeting between her and those who live in Detroit, where she can espouse the benefits of free markets and personal freedom.

    Yes, there are still people left with whom this idea does resonate.

    Not many, but enough.

    It will be an eye opener for her.

    Definitely a world in which she isn't used to.

    The bad parts of Grand Rapids don't even rank anywhere near Detroit's. I've driven in both cities so I can say this first-hand.

    But there are potential voters residing there.

    Is she up to the challenge of promoting her "Big Tent" strategy, or just looking for 15-minutes of fame before fading back into the shadows?

    Betsy needs some good boundaries (none / 0) (#2)
    by kingsleyphoenix on Sun Jan 19, 2014 at 07:36:44 PM EST
    Methinks Betsy and her hubby have followed  Gov. Milliken's yellow brick road for too long for one thing.  She currently carries the water and curries the favor for the gay community by treating gayness as if it were a normal variant of human sexuality.
      It's not natural and it is against the Creator's design.  Societies and nations that encourage homosexuality do so at the countries peril and survivability. Does she think they will vote for republicans by her strident scurrilous attack on Dave Agema?  A big tent without standards is like a wide dangerous path without a fence for boundaries.  Having and following trustworthy standards is like the advice in scripture about entering at the strit gate, for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat.  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Wake up Betsy!  Your not in Kansas anymore.

    Inclusive? As in, get on the bus (none / 0) (#3)
    by TiredIronTim on Sun Jan 19, 2014 at 08:34:10 PM EST
    Or get out of the way?

    As a principled Conservative, and to a lesser extent a damned fine TEA Party member, I rarely feel welcome in the Michigan Republican Party, or to the Grand Old Party. Granted, I tend to be a bit prickly at times, but principles do that kinda thing to a man when they get shredded.

    And about that party leadership thing- unwilling to reclaim the party an all. Uh, can't help ya there, Betsy, but the guy sure can raise some cash. You and yours made sure he came back for 2 more, so you get what you paid for. I mean, it's not like we're seeing anything remotely different from the Chairman's office now, are we? After all, it's all about the money, you've got it, they've got it, and that's about ALL the MRP has anymore. You get what you pay for, so don't even give us this buyer's remorse routine, because people with principles just aren't buying it.

    For what my opinion's worth . . . (none / 0) (#4)
    by Kevin Rex Heine on Sun Jan 19, 2014 at 09:04:26 PM EST
    . . . on this matter, I'm going to refer everyone back to a certain survey that was run the week before Labor Day last year, and point out two very specific hypothetical results (Margin of error = ±4.08%):

    In a hypothetical primary matchup between Rick Snyder and Dave Agema, how would you vote?
    • Rick Snyder:  32.39%
    • Dave Agema:  42.34%
    • Undecided:  25.27%

    In a hypothetical primary matchup between Rick Snyder and Betsy DeVos, how would you vote?
    • Rick Snyder:  40.59%
    • Betsy DeVos:  18.41%
    • Undecided:  40.99%

    The best thing that can be said for Mrs. Amway is that she "won" the 12th District (Snyder 19.23% / DeVos 38.46% / Undecided 42.31%) and "won" the Tea Party voting bloc (Snyder 23.28% / DeVos 27.59% / Undecided 49.14%), but that was about it.  Whereas Colonel Agema, on the other hand, won most of the districts (except for the 5th, 8th, 9th, and 13th), and failed to carry only the Liberal and Moderate voting blocs (which should surprise no one).  And keep in mind that this survey specifically polled the party base, the republican opinion leaders in their respective congressional districts.

    There are reasons that the old guard elites in the state party establishment want Agema marginalized (if they can't silence him outright), and those who think like him purged from the precinct delegate network.  However, let's note that, for all of the fuss and bother that seems to be showing up in media opinion pieces, within the MIGOP State Central Committee, this is gaining exactly zero traction.

    In "Let Them Go Their Way" (his address to the 2nd Annual CPAC Convention), Ronald Reagan said:

    "I don 't know about you, but I am impatient with those Republicans who after the last election rushed into print saying, "We must broaden the base of our party" -- when what they meant was to fuzz up and blur even more the differences between ourselves and our opponents.

    It was a feeling that there was not a sufficient difference now between the parties that kept a majority of the voters away from the polls. When have we ever advocated a closed-door policy? Who has ever been barred from participating?"

    The problem, as I see it, with these pretenders to Reagan's legacy is that they want electoral victory on their terms -- without the requirement to be accountable to the party's platform or the party's founding principles.  They want the power and prestige, without the requirement to do right by their party's grassroots base.  And they continue to be clueless as to why they routinely lose major elections.

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