The Fallout
By Greg L | 8 April 2009 | RPV | 28 Comments
H/T: Spank That Donkey
Like a number of others in the political blogosphere, I have deep concerns about the ongoing viability of the Republican Party of Virginia as an entity meaningful to the electoral process in Virginia. As an organization, it has done everything possible to alienate itself from the people most crucial to the success of Republican candidates over the past several years — the folks that help candidates win. The backlash brewing from Republican activists across Virginia in blog posts and private emails and conversations is tremendous, and holds perhaps a last opportunity for RPV to regain some semblance of relevance in state politics, as more than ever it it clear that activists are refusing to sit down and shut up in deference to their appointed would-be masters.
Leaders like Jeff Frederick and Bob Marshall have been loathed by party insiders, and adored by party activists hungry for someone to have the courage to stand up for the convictions they hold dear. They may have the abrasive characteristics typical of revolutionaries seeking to restore our liberty and prosperity, but that in-your-face patriotism is precisely what endears them to those who will sacrifice their time, resources and energy for a cause. We’ve had far too many “leaders” who will give a reassuring stump speech to us but then turn around and vote for more spending, more government control, and less freedom for us. Those “political realists” subject our republic to a death by a thousand cuts, none of which are too terribly painful when suffered individually, but which collectively are bleeding us to death. Many are tired of this. I tire of this. It is time to seize back our country and our Commonwealth.
The removal of Frederick was a railroading. It’s clear now that reforming the chairmanship as was done last summer isn’t nearly enough. If RPV is going to retain any degree of relevance, the reform has to reach down to the State Central Committee, and to Congressional District Chairmen such as 10th District Chairman Jim Rich who consistetly uses his position as an opportunity to maintain absolute control rather than do anything beneficial to the party. With many activists boiling in anger about the removal of the leadership they elected by State Central, there’s an opportunity to complete this reform effort, return Frederick or a similar candidate to the Chairmanship, and fight back. It could well happen. It must happen.
As troubling as turmoil within the Republlican Party of Virginia may be, it’s patently clear that the only way to fix the problem is to complete this fight and win, even if it takes time. The current state of affairs will not lead to victory for the Republican cause, it hasn’t and it cannot no more than nominating a “political realist” like John McCain to be a presidential candidate could have turned the tide against the popular socialist Maximum Leader Obama. That strategy simply doesn’t work. Sacrificing principles in order to gain popularity is an absolute loser of a strategy, a strategy that the political elite seem utterly devoted to. They need to go.
On May 2nd, State Central will appoint a Chairman and about three weeks later the Convention will be asked to endorse that selection. I pray they will not. State Central needs a real shot across the bow that they don’t own our party, but they are supposed to represent those that do. They need to shape up rather quickly, or get out of the way, because they’re next on the list.
The opinions expressed here are solely the views of the author, and not representative of the position of any organization, political party, doughnut shop, knitting guild, or waste recycling facility, but may be correctly attributed to the Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy. If anything in the above article has offended you, please click here to receive an immediate apology.
You can follow the discussion through the Comments feed. You can also pingback or trackback from your own site.
28 Comments
Views: 1000
Loading ...
Normally I agree with you, especially on the immigration issue but on the Frederick affair you dont have the facts. There were many people on state central that supported Jeff in June but voted to remove him on Saturday. Filing a false report to the SBE is a crime. There is no way you can “forget” to file 17k in inkind contributions. How come it took Jeff several months to file the amended report. Also on his delegate report he failed to report about 32k in contributions. He blames that on a former staff member but it is still his responsibility to make sure the report is accurate. It is rediculus to think that SCC is made up of 57 “moderates” any only 18 “conservatives”.
As for Bob Marshall, I like him personally and he deserves some credit for some pro life legislation BUT he is way out of line when it comes to Bob McDonnell. In 1995, after 18 years of having parental notification killed in the Ed and Health committee, Mark Earley and Bob McDonnell drafted a bill that would bi pass Ed and Health and go to the Senate Courts committee. Mark and Bob drafted the bill so the Democrat clerk of the senate Susan Scharr would take a cursory look at the bill and assign it to Courts and not Ed and Health. Without Bob and Mark I doubt we would have parental notice today. So all you pro life folks that support Bob Marshall’s my way or the highway approach, think about the number of unborn children that will not be born if Terry M is Gov and the Ds take the HOD. Do you really care about the unborn children or do you just want to win an argument?
Great video. This is the new face of blogging. As for Frederick - this wasn’t about him. It was about maintaining the status quo of Richmond - centric politics in the RPV. Maybe I don’t get the timing but isn’t there a state Republican convention in May? Couldn’t this whole affair wait until the convention in May? That’s only about 6 weeks away. Well, of course not. The Richmond insiders wanted the outsider long gone by the time of the convention. Hell, Frederick could have been rallying support for almost anything in NoVA, Tidewater, outside Charlottesville. And that support would have probebly been contradictory to allowing the Richmond confederacy of dunces keeping control.
The Democrats lost their Richmond-centric power structure with Mark Warner. They fibrillated over that too. But then they moved past their dark legacy of the Byrd Machine, Howell, etc. They are a vastly stronger party now that they are no longer controlled by the Richmond cabal. You guys need to go to the convention in May (where is it? let me guess - Richmond?) and kick some Country Club of Virginia ass. Send the Descendants of Pocohontas back to their gin and tonics and quiet talk of “the good old days” when the western rednecks and the fake Virginians in NoVa and all the non-whites knew their place - kneeling at the altar of Richmond. And you need to put Bob NcDonnell on the spot - is he a Patrick Henry who really wants change within the party of a Benedict Arnold who pretends to be an ally but is secretly working for the enemies of freedom.
Mr. Jackson, I’m delighted that you have given us the facts. Some how I had thought we had the facts in “all” the documentations, emails, comments from SCC members and from Jeff. What happened this past Saturday was the worst kind of politics. Last year at the convention for the first time in 16 yrs., we delegates got to vote for the RPV State Chairman. That was exciting! But everyday since this election, those that did not get their person elected, have made Jeff’s life a nightmare. I don’t believe that Jeff was the first State Chairman to ever have misspoken or errored in someway. This attitude for control and power is what’s killing the RPV and GOP. Getting power seems to be more important than listening to the grassroots people wearing out their shoe leather and financially for these candidates. I also find it truly interesting that you jump from this topic to right-to-life. What does this have to do with this? I for one, since you brought up this topic, feel it is no ones business but the woman, her faith and her doctor when trying to make this decision. Politics has no place interfering. If parents cannot have a close enough relationship with their children to discuss this openly and explain the consiquences instead of relying on the government, schools and churches to convence these children to obstain, then God help you. What about the child that has been sexually abused or raped, what about the woman that was raped? You support stopping them from aborting a baby that was conceived out of violence and lust? You support a woman that is forced to have this child and is reminded everyday when she looks this child in the eyes how it was conceived? Oh, I forgot they can put them up for adoption. Until males can “naturally” give birth, I would tell you to get out of my life! Back to the State Chairman, since the SCC has called a meeting for May 2nd to chose a new Chairman that will be asked to be endorsed and elected at the State Convention, I look forward to attending. This should be a really interesting convention.
Great video… you forgot to give credit to Richmond’s Style Weekly and their hardworking reporter, Jason Roop, for such great coverage.
Now is not the time to hash this out. Republicans have an election to win in November. The stakes are too high for this pettiness. Redistricting will have such a major, lasting effect at all levels of government, that this is a “do or die” scenario for Republicans in Virginia.
I like Jeff. I like his cocky, confident attitude. However, cute only gets you so far. Jeff did some stupid things. The snarky comments about Obama. The appearance of impropriety when processing online RPV donations through his EFT processing system at his business, he gave his political enemies (and they are Legion) all the rope they needed, and he voluntarily placed his head in the noose.
IS it a travesty that RPV insiders managed a coup to overturn the Frederick Revolution? Sure. However, politics is a contact sport. Jeff should have been more contrite when he made mistakes, and less flippant in his dealings with the “old guard”.
This dust-up is a distraction that RPV, the GOP, and Republicans in general cannot afford right now. I hope Jeff really thinks long and hard about his next move. Were I advising him, I would advise him to hold a press conference, announce he is placing the “good of the party” first, publicly endorse McDonnell, Bolling, AND Cuccinelli (not being a party chair, he can pick a candidate for AG nomination). I would advise him to visibly work for these candidates. Then I would advise him to plan his next move, based on the outcome of the election. He’s smart. He’s young. He’ll get another chance. If he causes a public fight at the convention, he will share the blame if Republicans lose the HOD, and or fail to reclaim the Governors mansion. With Virginia the only competitive Governor’s race in play nationally, all eyes will be on Virginia as a harbinger of what the future holds for the GOP in 2010.
If there is a Frederick inspired dust-up at the convention, it will be the last convention that I, a committed conservative, will ever attend, and I certainly won’t support Jeff in this effort.
The Jeff Frederick episode just verifies that old saying of Socrates or Confucious, or Ho Chi Minh, or somebody: Everybody likes a little a$$. Nobody like a smart a$$.
NLH - The right to murder at any time, no matter the circumstance. You’re forgetting that the woman is killing half of herself as well. God help you lady.
It’s rather disingenuous to insist that ALL 57 members of the State Central Committee who voted to remove Jeff Frederick as Chairman of the RPV are “old guard” and “party insiders” when 100% OF THE COLLEGE AND REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVES on the SCC (6 votes) voted for his removal. Further, as you can hear from this interview with Gary Byler, one of the 18 who had supported Frederick and voted against his removal, will not support him if he refuses to move on:
http://bearingdrift.com/2009/04/06/audio-highlight-gary-byler-interview/
I would venture to guess that there are, even now, more of them who feel that way, given that the vote involving the flawed proxy only had 13 supporters for its acceptance. I have noticed that actual facts are not high up on the list for those who continue to support Jeff Frederick’s narcissistic, ego-centric determination to perpetuate this divisiveness in the Republican Party at the very time we can least afford it. It’s little wonder that the Democrats are cheering them on.
Correction: “YOUNG” REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVES
Maybe the college and young reps are wannabe Old Guards and party insiders. Ever think of that, AW? Do you think, AW? Or do you just follow the party line?
What’s “the party line” DB? I haven’t seen one in a very long time.
John Galt already has it right, specifically:
I like Jeff. I like his cocky, confident attitude. However, cute only gets you so far. Jeff did some stupid things. The snarky comments about Obama. The appearance of impropriety when processing online RPV donations through his EFT processing system at his business, he gave his political enemies (and they are Legion) all the rope they needed, and he voluntarily placed his head in the noose.
However, trying to be cute with now President Obama’s name was a thoughtless comment that made the RPV look dumb and bigoted, and by the way inflamed the opposition and brought them out to the polls. I recently saw a good analysis of the 1980 election; if it were held today — given the current demographics of the country — Reagan would have lost, because there are less of the groups who supported him. I worked with many,many African Americans who held the values the Republicans once espoused: work hard, play by the rules, and try to get ahead. One of my black co-workers started work at 4:30AM, never missed a day, and did not own an alarm clock. Unfortunately, the party totally ignored her and those like her, and they were finally attracted by the Democratic candidate.
So we’d all better start figuring how to reach out to all those who THINK like we do, because if we’re going to limit the RPV only to the smaller group of those who think like we do AND who also look like we do, then the party is already doomed to extinction….a well deserved extinction. We have a choice, and all choices have consequences.
Groveton: I share some of your views. Don’t you think your objectives could be accomplished without going so low as to advance someone like Frederick? Competence has to count for something. NoVA isn’t solely composed of empty intellects and overblown egos. There are some very competent people north of the line of the Rappahannock. Why not someone from NoVA who knows what he (she) is doing?
Greg, I’m very disappointed in your take on this. I’d expect you to see through frederick’s “it’s all about me” BS. When has he ever taken ANY personal responsibility for any of his errors (and there have been many)? he is a charlatan conservative - talks the talk but doesn’t walk the walk. It’s time to find a real conservative to take over RPV.
Tom Jackson:
You don’t have the facts about anything. Just on the SBE issue: Jeff provided RPV with the info in September. It was the treasurer (Rick Neel) or the staff that did not report things correctly. Poke around. Look at the 24-hour reporting for early September, and you’ll find that the in-kind was reported. Yet, it was not reported on the regular report. Jeff does not file those, authorize them, or sign them. Rick Neel does. Seek the truth.
Also, good piece in NRO:
http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=ZDRkNWQwM2UyNmFlYTYxYWI2NDRjZDc4NzU4NTE2YTg=
All I care about is whether or not a Republican actually upholds true conservative principles or not. The current majority lean more left these days (that is why the repubs lost major ground). Example: McCain probably would have won had he not pandered to special interest groups and subscribed to enforcing immigration laws.
Anyone ever define true conservative principles and all conservatives agree?
That’s not possible, APWCR…that’s why Reagan invented the 80% rule.
Most of the time, many conservatives (due to ego problems) spread themselves thin by arguing petty things vice coming together on major items.
Let us start with this very simple list that we conservatives can come together on:
1. NO Amnesty or pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens…ever!
2. Benefits must be given to only legal ADULT citizens of the U.S. (one cannot use a child to acquire benefits). This would plug the hole that illegal immigrants use…they use their anchors to acquire benefits.
3. Eliminate citizenship status for children of illegal aliens. If a child is born in the U.S., the parents need to provide proof of citizenship.
5. Implement the melting pot and make English the official language. This creates unity regardless of where someone is from.
This list is simple enough.
Patriot: I’ve been a politically active conservative since the early 1960s. I’ve got to say that not one of your 4 (make a note - “4″ comes after “3″. Your approach to sequential numbering will cause a lot of confusion, particularly when you balance your checkbook) points has ever been close to the top (or even on) the list of things that define conservatism for me or any of the strong conservatives (including Goldwater and Reagan) that I have had the honor to work for. Whether one agrees with your positions or not, they have little to do with conservatism.
Oh…the high and mighty NoVA points out a minor typo! WOW….I am incredibly impressed! Actually NoVA…my points play into liberty….which is very much conservative. The opposite of my list promotes soft tyranny. I will let you research the difference since you are a self-proclaimed “intellect” (and I do emphasize…self-proclaimed).
Anon 5:57 once again points out a Frederick truthism - it’s NEVER his fault. He never accpets any personal responsibility for anything that has gone wrong on his watch. It’s always the fault of a staffer or some grand conspiracy against him. He’s more like Bill Clinton than Ronald Reagan.
Goodnight. Another Faisal Gill debacle at the State level. The RPV has no one to blame but itself.
Do NOT confuse the “message” with the “messenger.”
The fight over removal of the RPV Chair has been the most jumbled, mixed-up debate I’ve ever seen. It was moderate vs. conservative, insider vs. grassroots. pro-life vs. pro-choice, cool-aid drinking purists vs. smear the line big tenters.
Give me a breeeeeeak!!!!! Enough!!!!
There was nothing wrong with Jeff Frederick’s “message”. That is what made me look past all his personality flaws and attracted me to his candidacy. The problem was simply the “messenger.” He deceived and stabbed in the back those that were closest to him during his campaign for Chairman, while fumbling, bumbling through EVERY single move he made.
So knock it off everyone!!! It was him…Jeff Frederick….nothing more.
The debate as it’s raging now is just tearing the party apart and will make it impossible for those laudable goals that were part of Jeff Frederick’s platform to ever be implemented when we DO find a competent leader for RPV.
NoVA Scout:
I think the Republicans could certainly find a good leader outside of the Richmond Cabal. In fact, they really need to do that. Personally, I’d guess that Jeff Frederick would have gotten a lot more leeway from the RPV if he was a 55 year old Richmond insider. And that’s the problem. The RPV is still a club. Middle aged white guys in smoky rooms around Richmond deciding the future of the state and all its residents. But I guess the club house doesn’t have windows because any kind of window out of Richmond would force the club members to see that they are getting smoked in the real world. I don’t care if the RPV re-installs Jeff Frederick or finds somebody else. I just care that RPV evolve from its back room club mentality. The Democrats in Virginia have made the evolution. If the Republicans don’t figure this out soon Virginia is going to become a one party state. It’s already well on the way. And I have never seen a one party state that’s successful. Not Mass, not IL, not Virginia under the corrupt and racist Byrd Machine.
The RPV’s problems go a lot deeper than Jeff Frederick.
You are not offering a balanced viewpoint here, Groveton. I thought you could see beyond the stereotyping and rhetoric bred by the single-issue folks who have seen themselves as the leadership of the Republican Party in Virginia for a very long time…and they are NOT the “old guard”…they are the “New Right.” And, by the way, most of the people you seem to have such a huge problem with are dead…and I’m one of the few of those “geriatrics” (as someone called them/us on the previous thread) who still smokes.
If you want to get some real information on the history of Virginia politics, look up a fellow by the name of Frank Atkinson (happens to be an old acquaintance of mine) at the library and look up some of his books. He’s written some excellent ones on the history of the Republican Party in Virginia. You may have a problem with him, I don’t know…he’s not a newcomer (or, in the Southern vernacular, Carpetbagger), but is a Virginia native.
Re-elect Jeff in May, make him Chairman for Life.