Tag: GOP (page 3)

One of the hardest working activists in Michigan, Gamrat has worked to educate voters, run phone conferences, built coalitions of conservatives, hosted high profile debates, and has kept grassroots interested in the process throughout the good and bad news over the last election cycle. The best thing that could happen for Michigan Republicans is to have her on the executive team.

Gamrat opines in a release:

There is a battle raging in our nation between progressive ideologies and our conservative founding principles. I believe that Todd Courser, candidate for Michigan Republican Party (MRP) Chair, is the man who will meet this battle head on, and I am honored to be his running mate as Co-Chair. Todd is dedicated to leading the MRP with a passionate team, a strategic plan, and a compelling conservative vision. Utilizing my background in sales and marketing, I will work together with Todd to develop our new strategic vision for that will strengthen the party's base and expand its reach.

...

In order to be effective, the MRP needs to be a statewide collaborative effort, representing those in the party from all around the state. I have lived in nearly every region of Michigan; growing up in Macomb County, spending four years in Ann Arbor earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree at the University of Michigan, living up north in Cheboygan where my husband Joe and I began our family of three children, to currently settling on the west side of the state in Plainwell, a small town between Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids. I know this state well, it is precious to me and I am committed to doing everything I can to honor the various regions around the state.

I truly believe that Michigan can and must step forward to lead the way in restoring our founding conservative principles of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Through sharing this compelling vision, implementing a broad strategic plan, and growing a team of passionate grassroots, volunteers, and party faithful; Todd Courser and I will endeavor to help develop a foundation on which the Michigan Republican Party will be victorious in 2014 and years to come.

Current power brokers in the GOP are clinging to the idea that they will be able to control their grassroots, and in doing so, they are killing the party.

It was not enough, I suppose, to orchestrate the primary timetable for their preferred candidate, influence State party committees through congressional aides, threaten grassroots with ostracism for going against their preferred candidate, use falsehoods to smear the opposing teams, change rulings in State committees to favor their preferred candidate, change the rules at convention to lock in top-down rule, lose, and then blame the power-stripped grassroots.

History will demonstrate that its hard to do so, without a near guarantee at some point that we eat crow.  Some folks make mistakes, and we might even be associated with those mistakes when, and if, that time comes.  In fact, associations are often a good indication of a candidate's character, or at the very least, his or her ability to discern the good from the bad.  An occasional judgment lapse doesn't define a person, and as well, a minor success or effort does not either. However, we must embrace those who bring the whole package in a productive manner.

We must look at the big picture.

Today, we start with the recognition that our young voters have not only been misled by current political events, but their indoctrination in our failing public education system completes the corrosive understanding of government and politics.  Folks, we recognize the need to concentrate first and foremost on that big picture by stepping up our outreach to our younger voters and activists. We need to embrace them.  Not only to rebuild their trust in traditional conservative values as espoused in our Republican platforms, but get them involved as it is THEIR future we are fighting for.

To reach them, RightMichigan.Com endorses the selection of Blake Edmonds for the Michigan Republican Party Youth Chair.

Blake has been fortunate enough to have had a solid family values background, a sense of self reliance, work ethic, and skills that have allowed him to develop a college Republican organization that has kept the interest of his peers for more than a single meeting.  He is willing to expand upon those skills statewide with a realistic strategy of growth by inclusion and involvement. This last point cannot be over-emphasized. Without a sense of belonging, its hard to rally the effort needed to win elections and spread a constitutional Republican message. A history of his efforts point to a likelihood of success as youth Chair.

We note the clearly conservative voices in support of Blake as well with Jen Gratz (HERO of Michigan's MCRI effort) Sarah Ledford, (incumbent youth chair) Jeff Sakwa, (2012 candidate, MSU trustee) and Dave Agema, who has demonstrated that there is room in the Republican party for ethical conservative leadership. On Blake's site one can find some quite favorable commentary.   Association with these conservative stalwarts, along with a well considered plan of action, complemented by results already achieved by bringing a conservative Republican message to our youth, seals the deal.

A last word needs to be said however.  for Blake, and others whom we may endorse in the next few days, it is important that he is allowed to accomplish what needs to be done.  That requires a commitment to a party environment that fosters inclusion.  Clearly, it would be helpful to consider a change at the top of our state party, so that such talent is not held back by a repressive central control.

On December 8th, 2012 while attending the Michigan Republican Party State Committee Meeting, I came across a pile of fliers. "Bobby Schostak for Chair - Overwhelming Grassroots Support!"

It was a list consisting of State Committee Members, District Chairs, County Chairs, Tea Party Leaders, and Grassroots Activists. Going through the list, my endorsement appeared, Oscoda County Chairman - Doug Davis.

I was immediately upset and offended that my statement of not endorsing ANYONE until January was not taken seriously, even after stating it THREE TIMES, especially being the newly elected Oscoda County Chair for the Michigan Republican Party!

To make matters worse, an email of the list was sent out on December 7th, 2012 to the entire state Republican Party, which I didn't receive until the day after the State Committee Meeting.

The debate over the O'Brien vs. Markey race for the third GOP Supreme Court nomination has, for the most part, been respectful.  Oh sure, there are the usual hysterics because 20 years ago someone bought a ticket to a colleague's fundraiser, but these are minor and safely ignored.  I like to think of the pro-Markey crowd as best represented by Kevin Rex Heine, who at least does his homework.  [Someday, I'd like to meet Kevin and shake his hand.]  That doesn't mean I agree with him, however.  In fact, the more I study Markey's decisions, the more uncomfortable I am with the thought of her on the high court.

When he said:

"....that's freedom, and I'll take it any day over the supervision and sanctimony of the central planners"

He touched on a point that is relevant no matter whom the leadership might be.  The interference and 'concern' over the affairs of our lives is too often conflicting with the independence we claim as our birthright.  Some folks forget that we have to be able to fail. That risk and reward is a part of the American dream.  That sometimes, our decisions make us healthy, and sometimes not.

Its NOT government's place to provide a boost for a business.  Its NOT government's place to control the healthcare choices through exchanges or limitations on where one buys insurance or the care itself.  Its NOT the government's place to provide housing. Nor is it government's place to control the terms of employment, and compensation that business provides.

Ryan is correct.  

Republicans in Michigan and elsewhere ought to take note of the future VP's comments and internalize them.