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EDITOR OF REDSTATE

15 Days and We’re Not Meeting the Goal

By: Erick Erickson (Diary)  |  September 16th, 2009 at 11:24 AM  | 

RESIZE: AAA

No sense in being coy about it. We’re not meeting our goal. In fact, the fundraising for these four sucks.

I know cash is tight, but unless conservatives are willing to step up to the plate, we’re not going to get these guys elected and, frankly, the establishment of the Republican Party will keep ignoring us.

Let’s be honest. One of the reasons the left is so head over heels in love with the online left is because of the moonbat ability to turn on the cash. Even Ron Paul’s followers do better than conservatives.

Yes, yes, we can go to the polls in droves, etc., but cash is king in politics. And if we want to be taken seriously, we need to step up to the plate. I know that hacks some of you off. Every time I write stuff like this I get dozens of angry emails from people suffering due to Barack Obama’s economy. I get it. But you need to get it too — you want to change the Republican Party and have a seat at the table, you’ve got to launch a coup against the establishment. And the best way to do that at the present time is support these candidates who are running against the establishment.

Right now, we’ve got 15 days left and we’re no where close to meeting the $250,000.00 goal. If you can’t give, consider at least putting up the widget on your own site or asking other sites to host the widget too.

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COMMENTS

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  • http://moelane.com/ Moe Lane

    Not that I miss meals, but I don’t get steady money for anything that I do either here or over at MoeLane. So a twenty looms in my mind now. Not complaining, just saying.

    I threw in $20 for these guys.

    So go ye, and do the same. :)

  • Aaron Gardner

    but I still managed to get $10 for Williams and Rubio…will do more on Friday.

  • Aaron Gardner

    Cowbell

  • http://online.logcabin.org/about/ suzieQ

    in fundraising behind Deeds. Considering how quickly the VA election is, that is one that could also use some help.

  • RoscoeP

    I don’t give money to any politician . . . now perhaps if they signed a “contract” laying out their specific goals for the next congress . . . I know a perfect foundation for that platform . . . The FairTax.

  • Raven

    More to come for Toomey in weeks to come, but that’s what I have (had) right now.

  • carich

    Chuck may be a great guy and hold all the right positions on the issues but if he can’t raise $ on RedState he’s not got to be competitive against Boxer. Whether you like her, or not, Carly has name ID, deep ties to donors throughout the nation and from what I’ve read and heard is solid on issues important to Conservatives.

  • Aaron Gardner
  • wcgreen

    Yes, these guys are deserving, but the wallet opens on 2 Jan 2010. Until then, please–all of you running for election or reelection–shut up and get some work done.

  • RoscoeP

    So they need to give me a reason to trust them. Is THAT complaining?

  • Aaron Gardner

    Why don’t you step up and give Chuck $10 bucks to prove that isn’t what you are doing and then get back to us.

  • Aaron Gardner

    their records are what we base our trust on right?

  • http://moelane.com/ Moe Lane

    Devore is in a contested primary, Rubio is fighting an uphill battle against Crist’s superior financial position, Toomey will need every dime of his war chest, and Williams Will. Be. Attacked. Constantly. By. The. Left.

    Give or don’t give, but this is an activist site, and unapologetic about it.

  • http://moelane.com/ Moe Lane

    He doesn’t want to contribute, and you won’t convince him. Keep going.

  • wcgreen

    I called Rubio’s campaign and offered to volunteer. No reply.

    You do what you feel you must do. I’ll be generous later; to me, bemoaning the constant campaigning while supporting it is hypocritical.

  • http://moelane.com/ Moe Lane

    You’ve done what you’ve came to do: attempt to depress enthusiasm for this pledge drive. I fail to see what further purpose you’re serving by sticking around on this thread.

  • bs

    Methinks someone needs to IP check some of these posters.

  • http://moelane.com/ Moe Lane

    It’s what I call beautiful and unique snowflake syndrome: not only do they disapprove, but they feel obligated to make sure that the rest of us know it.

  • MrMosis

    I am trying to come up with a reason for this attitude and sentiment…. as well as for the desire to share it, particularly here and now.

    I am annoyed by a lot of things in life, at least when considered from a simplistic perspective. But life isn’t simple, as is not the current situation in pretty much every corner of our government, local to fed.

    Do thinking conservatives have the luxury, or even option, of standing by idly? I didn’t think so.

  • bs

    that they all decided to drop their pants and display their inadequacies at the same time.

  • patriotrx

    I just broke off a $25 donation for Michael Williams. As a recent graduate, staring down ridiculous student debt and a mortgage, I have to imagine that there are some other RedStaters that can step up too.

    $25 bucks is a week’s worth of lunch for me, but I am more than happy to cut back to two meals for the cause.

    Who needs lunch for a week. If we don’t oust the Democrats then none of us will be eating much anyway. That’s the way I see it.

  • penguin2

    My husband said, he used to have more money until I joined RedState.

    But you’re right, we should do what we can. Especially if we want certain results. :-)

  • mom2oneson

    I couldn’t give any of them more than .17 cents right now but just a hint from a mom try peanutbutter and jelly or a baked potato with butter it will stretch your lunch $ a little more! You can even do lower sodium canned soup for about a $1.25 a day if you buy a big pack at Sam’s or Costco. Carrot sticks with ranch are inexpensive too. All of the above are filling..don’t skip a meal! :)

  • Mayhem

    I do plan on giving to these guys, but I have some issues with this widget. One, it doesn’t show the total amount given. Just having that thermometer there is kind of… uninspiring. Also, it would be nice to see how much has been given to each candidate individually. If one is getting exponentially more than another, then I might be more inclined to give to the lesser of the four to help “bring up the rear.” Altogether, it would probably be better to just have the widget be a single donation tool, and then divide up the proceeds among the four. That way, it’s more of a single effort. But, I realize Restate didn’t design it, so I don’t fault you guys.

    One other thing Erick–how about tacking this up to the top so that everyone sees it every time they hit the site? I know that 3Q deadlines are approaching, so more visibility would be helpful for them.

  • Cheryl

    her name came up yesterday at a Republican function I attended and the conversation wasn’t favorable. We need to give Devore a chance and right now more than anything he needs name recognition.

    If my $$ to his campaign will help do that, I’ll gladly give what I can.

  • Mike Gray

    “Even Ron Paul?s followers do better than conservatives.”

    As much as you might hate to admit it, many of us who support Ron Paul ARE conservatives. Instead of alienating Libertarians, Ron Paul supporters, and other groups that share many of the same conservative values, maybe it would help the cause to unify all of us against a common foe instead of trying to degrade those of us who might possibly be on the same page and who have proven that we have the ability to generate a huge amount of political donations.

  • satchman3
  • http://moelane.com/ Moe Lane

    “…because Erickson wrote something that I disapprove of.”

    And oh, look: a .sig file that declares you to be a RiNO-hunter. The irony overwhelms.

  • Mike Gray

    Or did you just feel the need to prove my point for me?

  • http://moelane.com/ Moe Lane

    Whatever. You don’t want to help these four candidates. You don’t want us to succeed in helping these four candidates, either. Your privilege, in either case. So noted.

    Was there anything else?

  • Mike Gray

    It’s not about doing something because Erickson says to do it. It’s about the fact that if he’s trying to inspire people to act, he’s turning people off. What a great way to get people to not be inspired, but instead feel disenfranchised and wonder why they give of themselves for the Republican party when prominent people treat them like garbage when their philosophical differences are probably very, very few.

  • Mike Gray

    What a complete jerk.

    As I said, I never indicated anywhere that I haven’t or won’t help those four candidates. If you don’t need the help of people, then why are you asking for it? Am I supposed to be treated like sh*t and then give merrily to the cause while grabbing my ankles and asking for more? Or is it soooo important that I support these candidates that I should deal with being treated like sh*t because it’s *that* important?

  • Aaron Gardner

    Seems that says more about how you define yourself than anything Erick or Mioe said.

  • http://moelane.com/ Moe Lane

    You guys should do better oppo research before you try to disrupt our sites.

    Ta!

  • Aaron Gardner

    others look for reason not to support those conservatives when given the opportunity. You seem to be doing the latter. And you seem to have encouraged another to support you in it.

    Congrats….I hope you feel good.

  • http://andrightlyso.com/ civil_truth

    How about you indicate what are the common goals you feel you have with RedStaters and see how that flies.

    However, are you willing to support the above conservatives if we are in substantial agreement on philosophy, regardless of what we may think about Ron Paul?

    Or rather is it more important to you that we not criticize Ron Paul such that you’ll take your marbles and home if we do?

    That is, are you an individual willing to coalition with other sufficiently like-minded individuals on the issues? Or is you primary identity tied up with being a supporter of the man Ron Paul?

    The latter approach – loyalty to an individual – is the celebrity/hero worship/messianic fervor that got us into our present predicament with Obama.

    So again, please lay out the philosophial issues that you see we can agree on.

  • http://moelane.com/ Moe Lane

    You have the right to not contribute. You do *not* have the right to make us stop scorning you for not contributing, or to make us take seriously whatever reason that you might have for not contributing.

  • http://andrightlyso.com/ civil_truth

    Another comment I’ll never get an answer to. Oh well…

  • yoyo

    I haven’t eaten three meals a day since my second child (we are well into # three now…) LOL

    I gave $20 to Nikki (THERE is someone who needs name recognition!) last week, and I am not sure I can pull off another so soon.

    BTW, unsolicited advice from a Dad (kinda in conjunction with mom2oneson below), invest in a Sam’s Club or BJ’s or Costco membership and buy in bulk. A membership, combined with a small deep freezer and vacuum sealer ($200 total including membership), will be one of your better (aside from your education) investments. Trust me.

  • The_Gadfly

    about these guys, I’d count that as a ‘Yes.’

    If you don’t already know what their platforms are, it is your own fault, not Erick’s or Aaron’s.

    I heard Michael Williams speak at RedState. I knew the words instantly. The last time I heard them coming from a elected official was over 20 years ago, and when he died even the MSM wanted everybody to believe they had been Reagan’s friend when he was in office.

  • http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens

    Well done.

  • http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens

    You assume good faith that never existed.

  • The_Gadfly

    After Moe’s blam, I looked at his comments. While I haven’t followed Ron Paul at all, I seriously doubt he’s the sort of person who would say nice things about unions, which Mike did in the post at the bottom of his list.

  • mom2oneson

    I should have not said Sam’s I forgot we are boycotting Wal-Mart stores.
    I agree with you, it’s amazing how consistently low the prices are at these stores. I wish we had a BJ’s close by because they accept coupons. I think some of the memberships you can put another person on it so that would reduce the price of membership too if you “split it” with someone. I don’t have one close by to verify this but I think Costco is offering a great coupon booklet with a new membership right now.

  • TS Atomic

    The GOP gave us Bush. Then they gave us McCain. Both wishy-washy, “compassionate” conservatives.Bush was strong on defense, but was otherwise unreliable. McCain was a loon, period! What back-room deal gave him the nod??!!

    Then the GOP failed to really get behind and promote Palin when she was the *only* aspect of the election that fired us up. Oh, and lest I forget, there’s a stinkin’ *DEMOCRAT* (Steele) running the show now…

    Now here are four faces that for all I know are backed by the same, tired, weak-spined, do-nothing GOP machine and are just as beholden to it. Sorry, but anyone associated with the GOP is automatically tainted and not someone I’m going to automatically trust.

    Everyone I know is more than ready to toss the GOP over-board and would *quickly* rally to a new, actually-conservative party. I know six people who would whip out a checkbook in a heartbeat for a new party led by Palin, or someone just like her.

    Unfortunately, all the popular pundits and bloggers think that route holds nothing but doom. and seemingly wants to marginalize the one conservative figure who is kicking butt wherever she goes.

    Well, fine. We may be stupid bumpkins who don’t know what’s good for us, but we are also too pissed-off to pay anymore. I know it’s not much compared to the party fat-cats, but I used to budget $1K per year to candidates. Now? We wouldn’t give a dime to anyone associated to the status-quo GOP if you had a cocked 1911 pointed at our heads.The only candidate I would be willing to contribute to now, is the candidate who stands for conservative principles *AND* works toward building a new party.

    And I don’t want to hear any whining about, “you’re playing right into the dems hands”. I could not dig deep enough to care any less. That is where the GOP has left us. The GOP tried their level best to alienate us. Congratualtions! They succeeded!

  • http://moelane.com/ Moe Lane

    You don’t want to help, and you don’t want us to succeed. So noted.

    Was there anything else?

  • Jim Tomasik

    Give.

  • Tony82

    Another paycheck coming in 14 days. Will be able to give again before the fund raising drive is over.

  • nelsa

    Ercik-I have donated hundreds of dollars to Marco Rubio and the story below will make me dig even deeper in to my pocket.

    From AP:
    LeMieux: Censure Joe ‘You Lie’ Wilson
    AP: “That was embarrassing and shameful,” said LeMieux, who watched the address from the House visitors’ gallery. “Everybody in the chamber just gasped. He should be censured.”

    The story above was emailed to supporters by the Rubio campaign. I support Rubio and blog about his campaign at voterubio2010.com

  • satchman3

    Since Mike got the boot I’d like to respond to your question as a fellow former RP supporter who now gives to C4L. Hope you don’t mind the intrusion.

    To your last question, areas where Redstaters and Ronulans can agree would likely include supporting pro-life, small government, and individual liberty in broad strokes. There are areas where we might generally disagree of course.

    I would be thrilled to give to conservatives who are outspoken on these issues. I haven’t given to the 4 subjects of this thread yet.

    It would be great if you would criticize Ron Paul. Most of the RS criticism seems aimed at the supporters which I don’t like. I have thick skin and don’t get worked up about it but I don’t think it’s productive.

    I suspect that like many RP supporters, I am a political novice and am not thoroughly versed in policy or practice. That’s not likely to change in my case as I’m an engineer and can’t devote much of my time to political pursuits personally. I would be happy to fund candidates who espouse small government and oppose nanny statism.

    Regards, a different Mike

  • nelsa

    I live in Florida and I voted for Crist for Governor due to slack of any other choice.

    I support Marco Rubio and know that he CAN beat Crist in the August 2010 primary for US senate. Crist is a politician first and does not represent conservatives in Florida. He is a pandering politician that will do and say anything to get elected. Advocacy is not his goal. He just wants to be called Senator.

    I will continue to work for and donate time and money to Marco Rubio. Florida has a choice and according to the recent straw pollls in Florida, Crist may be in trouble.

    Check out my Marco Rubio Blog a http://www.voterubio2010.com/

  • http://andrightlyso.com/ civil_truth

    [I'm referring to the tag-team Mike :) ]

    I’m not one of the close observers of Ron Paul; there are others here, particularly those from Texas, who have a much better understanding of his Congressional record. That said, the two major criticisms I’ve heard here at RedState is that 1) He is unable to do the political work necessary to get any of his legislative initiatives passed, which means that he is ineffective as a legislator to build coalitions; and 2) he undercuts his philosophy (and his image as a purist) by his eager participation in pork barrel projects for his district.

    Actually, in think about relating to “Ron Paul supporters” I key problem rests in formulating one’s primary political identification as “Ron Paul supporter” as opposed to libertarian, for instance. The former is a movement with an allegiance focused on an individual, and that I find troubling because the reference point is an indivdiual, not the set of ideas and policies that are being presented. Whereas with libertarian (conservative, etc) the reference point is a set of ideas and derivative policies.

    I don’t really have the time now to develop this further, except to say that if we agree on the priorities (small government, liberty, etc), then I’d expect that the tent can well withstand differences where there is a willingness to agree to disagree on some of the specifics without that causing schism.

  • http://itsonlywords55@wordpress.com paulag1955

    When I saw this post as I was essentially writing the SAME post for It’s Only Words.

    http://itsonlywords55.wordpress.com/2009/09/16/washington-state-conservatives-need-to-step-up-their-game/

  • bs

    That was as big a softball as you’re gonna get tossed around here.

  • bs

    The idiots are flowing in by the dozens.

  • nelsa

    Erick-
    I tried to add the widget code to my blog but it did not work. I tried everything I could to get it to work.

    Anyone else having the same problem?

    When I copy the script and paste in a blog post is does not show up.

    I use blogspot for my blog.

    Nelsa

  • TS Atomic

    Looks like it went “in one ear and out the other”…

    We would *LOVE* to help and would *LOVE* for a party of conservatives to succeeed. However, there’s no-one out there that is not beholden to the status-quo GOP — the same party that has the biggest tin-ear, next to Obama!

    I’m not talking about anything extreme, I’m simply talking about a party of candidates that would openly, boldly and vigorously promnote ideas and policy proposals that are in-line with the basic conservative principals (do I need to go over those?); who aren’t concerned about political correctness; who aren’t afraid to weed-out the bad-guys in the party — you know, someone like Sarah Palin. Now it doesn’t *have* to be Palin, but she does make a handy example.

    We should *NOT* have to compromise and accept a candidate who is %75 (or less) conservative. It is *NOT* too much to ask for a candidate who will not compromise basic conservative principles.. Except the GOP is all about compromise. The GOP supports/supported the likes of Huckabee, Romney, Snowe,Specter, Graham, Collins, Voinovich, Murkowski, Lugar and on and on.

    If the GOP is willing and capable of changing back to supporting conservative principle and not merely paying lip service to those principles, then I might give them another chance. But I’ve seen no indication that the GOP has any intention of doing anything other than winning elections by any means, with any candidate that can fog a mirror, so they can count coup and hold out the donation cup so they can trick us again with yet another Specter.

    I wish I could recall who said, “The problem for Republicans is not that they have tried conservative principles and have failed. The problem is that they have not tried them enough.” I could not agree more. The GOP has demonstrated time and again that they will whole-heartedly support a moderate republican (ie liberal-light) because they can beat a liberal-heavy in a race. That is seemingly their only criteria. The result of that nonsense is that we, the electorate, wind-up covering the bill for a trillion dollar boondoggle.

    Give me someone worth supporting who owes the GOP nothing, who has Palin’s backbone on camera and on the record and I’ll give them a look. But I don’t know that you have anyone like that. Maybe you should try to gain Palin’s endorsement. That would help.

    So please don’t glibly remark that I don’t want to help. I do. We all do. But the Republican party has spit on us far too often. If someone like Palin wants to start a new party, I’ll be all over it unless they give me reasons not to (like the GOP did).

    I notice more and more that my sentiments are spreading. I’ll no longer blindly follow and support anyone. They are going to have make a reasonable effort to earn my support.

    I don’t even know why I’m going on about this. You don’t really care because you know you can’t turn me around. I don’t really care because I know the GOP ain’t going anywhere and they will always give us a compromise candidate like McCain, Huckabee, Romney or some other jackass wannabee, and will marginalize or ignore the Palins. And half the country will vote for them, blindly or otherwise. Just like Obama was elected.

    Man#1: What does your man stand for?
    Man#2: Heck if I know, but he’s got the GOP’s support and the other guy’s a lib!

    I can only imagine that is how the Specters get elected and re-elected because nobody wants to hold the GOP’s feet to the fire and they just take whoever they put up.

    Hell of a way to run a railroad…

    I’ve rambled enough. If your candidates want our support, they would do well to distance themselves from the GOP. We’ll be waiting.

  • http://moelane.com/ Moe Lane

    …with somebody who doesn’t know who Pat Toomey is – let alone Devore, Rubio, and Williams – think again. You don’t want to be involved. Fine. Don’t be. But don’t expect for the rest of us to take you seriously.

    I repeat: was there anything else?

  • TS Atomic

    Why? Because we don’t robotically fall into lock-step with the likes of you and feed the status-quo? Because we with-hold our financial support from a party apparatus that continues to produces RINO’s like Specter? Because we refuse the notion that you are “entitled” to our support? Because we won’t “give a little” on our principles for the sake of “beating those libs?”

    Well, I guess I might be an idiot then, if that’s how the Republican party sees us!

    Wake up! Over half the voters chose Obama. That means the country is heading in the wrong direction. All the GOP seems content to do is get the needle back to the right side of the guage — however slight.

    But I’m an idiot. All I want is for the needle to be *solidly* on the right and I happen to think bold, unapologetic conservatives can get it done.

    Maybe I’m just a nostalgic idiot…

  • JadedByPolitics

    each $25.00 next Wednesday when I get paid. I just started my new job so I get my first pay next week :-) I am glad that it lasts long enough for me to get in there. I have given to both Rubio and Toomey prior but they are damn well worth it. I think alot of people just gave to Wilson so they might be tight this week BUT this is up for 14 more days people so just save the diary like I am!!!

  • bs
  • Leopard1996

    They are the real deal conservative. And from what I have seen on this blog site, we are more into raising money for the more conservative candidate instead of lettting the RNC, NRCC, and NRSC, tell us who they are going to run. It was places like this, that got the money and support behind Toomey that exposed Specter for the POS that he is, and if we continue supporting him, PA will probably be represented with at least on Senator that has the Western PA, Northern PA coal country sensabilities that aren’t being represented now by the douche bag Specter.

    This isn’t about Republican Party, this is about us as a movement saying you can’t ignore us anymore.

  • Aaron Gardner
  • The_Gadfly

    Be glad he is good-natured and that he has the blamstick and not me, because if I did, you would be long gone. Like Becker and Chance it isn’t simply that I don’t tolerate fools gladly, I don’t tolerate fools at all. And your post here is classic fool.

    Now before you go calling me a weak-kneed sycophant go check my exchange with Clowngirl about McCain. I will wait. Got that? Now, go check some of the things I’ve said about Specter. Again, I will wait. You starting to get the picture? I tell my friends there isn’t anybody in the party to the right of me because if you try to go anymore to the right you’ll fall of the edge of sanity.

    So you and I agree that the party has to return to its conservative base. Guess what? These people will help us do that.

    I’m not specifically familiar with Devore, but on him I’m trusting Neil’s judgment about both the voter situation in California and that Devore is going to support the Republican agenda as far as any California senator can. Frankly, the alternative there looks to be Carly, and I wouldn’t back her for dog catcher on the lower east side. You want somebody better, find him and present the case.

    The other three I will vouch for personally. Toomey IS the man who took down Snarlen Arlen (my use of his name above is in fact the only time I have not referred to him that way in at least the last year). I don’t like the fact that my home state has gone purple, but that’s the cold hard reality. So Toomey is going to moderate his tone, but I don’t expect him to moderate his ideas.

    Rubio IS the conservative candidate challenging the NRSC endorsed squish. I didn’t get to hear his full speech at the Red State gathering last month because I was helping Caleb with some computer stuff, but he had the whole room cheering loudly when I got back. And most of the people who were there are hardcore conservatives like me.

    As for Michael Williams, yeah it is true that I wish he weren’t running for the Texas Senate seat. But that’s only because it means he won’t be available to run for President in 2012. In my lifetime I have only ever heard one other man speak with the conservative conviction he has and lift their spirits at the same time. That man’s name was Ronald Reagan. And if I ever get the chance to vote for Michael I am going to do it with the same gusto I did when I was finally old enough to cast my ballot for Reagan.

    Furthermore, those links are to contribute directly to the campaigns, not to the national bodies which have caused us so many problems in the past. Oh, and at least one of them did get the message last time around, and that one would be the NRCC. You’ll find the blog I wrote about it after the Red State Gathering here: http://www.redstate.com/the_gadfly/2009/08/03/my-apology-to-the-nrcc-and-neil/

    It’s one thing to be angry. We’re all pretty much angry around here. There’s a Marxist running our country who is appointing unaccountable Marxist czars to finagle regulations to further socialize our country. But you gotta control that anger and keep it directed at the enemy instead of starting a circular firing squad.

  • carich

    his name never comes up.

  • http://www.the41stvote.org rcov092

    saw his post here and recognized him for the nitwit he is and they would be better off without his “help”.

  • http://www.the41stvote.org rcov092

    you make a direct contribution. If you are waiting fro someone else to fix things for you I offer you the following:

    If you do not have enough money to contribute to principled, candidates trying to represent you in the way you want, then you have no right to complain.

    If you do not have enough time to committ yourself to making a difference and improving things in your political world, then you have no right to complain.

    If you are unwilling, or unable to do either of these things…then soon…you will have no rights.

    So, I get it you are “pissed” at the GOP, I get it so was I until I realized that I am the GOP and the GOP is I.

    I voted for Perot in 92 and learned a valuable lesson. Sometimes principle may drive us to take a stand, but at this moment in history, with the stakes so high, the most prudent approach is to take back the party that brought ius the most prosperous period the country has known over the last 20 years and fix what is wrong and stop pissing and moaning about the injustice of it all.

    So get off your bitching, moaning whining ass and go be a Precinct Committeeman. That is what I am doing. Or…be a fool, go vote for Ron Paul (who has absolutely ZERO chance of ever being elected) and amuse yourself with the diversion. Just quit your whining.

  • http://www.the41stvote.org rcov092

    and $50 to Joe Wilson. Have to wait now till payday to get to Michael Willians, Chuck Devore and Pat Toomey.

    I will not give one Red Cent to NRSC until the stop suppressing my right to vote for my candidate in the primary here in Florida. I do intend to put resources over into the NRCC.

    IN the meantime:

    I am Preceinct Committeeman
    Worrking to impllement CivicCRM in my county
    Belong to 2 GOP clubs
    Have built 3 websites for local GOP clubs
    Implemented 2 Ning Communites
    Training the Federated Women’s club on the use of Twitter and Facebook This week.

    Putting in about 40-50 hours a month in volunteer time at the county GOP. There are no lack of avenues to contribute if you do not have the cash. The theme is this:

    JOBS – Join or be silent!

    No time to give, no money to give, you have no right to complain. Be silent until you finally realize if is far more expensive for you to sit on your ass.

  • penguin2

    If they can’t figure out why we are supporting these candidates after your powerful explanation, I don’t know what else one can say. People need to understand that this site and the Conservative grassroots movement is about breaking the hold the Squishy Republicans have on the party.

    We understand that until we do, the same downward spiral for our party and country continues. We also understand, that once we are out of the primaries we need to support the Republican candidate, because it is about taking back control of the House, and maybe someday, the Senate.

    I’m with you on Devore and trusting Neil on that one. Also, I am familiar with Carly and see a lot more to question with her, than Devore.

    One of the most helpful points about a site like RS, is getting the information on the Conservative candidates, whom we can selectively support.

  • TS Atomic

    I don’t have a thing against Toomey. Or Rubio, or DeVore or Williams. I wish them well. But because the GOP will never change until they have a over-riding business reason to change, I’m not sending any money their way, or to any of their candidates. It’s the only club I have to beat them (the GOP) with. Point me to a better throat to choke and I’ll try it.

    Maybe Toomey and the other candidates will get the message and complain vigorously that the GOP needs to reconcile with conservatives, cut-off supporting the known RINO’s, do *something* to let us know they are capable of seeing our point of view. I think they need us more than we need them.

    Maybe you will understand this: It’s emotional now. It’s no longer a business decision. It has become a point of principle. I lay the blame for handing this country over to the Dems at the feet of the status-quo Republican party. I choose not to support them financially.

    I would encourage anyone who wants to support your candidates to do so. All I’m saying is that *we* have been disappointed by the GOP too many times to financially support them any more and I know we are not alone. If your other readers want to keep giving the GOP chances, that is their decision. I just hate to throw good money after bad.

    Now, that does not mean I won’t vote for the candidates I like. But not one more dime will they see from me. That is my choice. I don’t expect you to like it or agree with it. As I’ve said before, I think it is the only club I can beat the GOP with that they *may* understand. I’ve returned their mailers and polls with a similar message. I’m not a pundit or blogger. I have no political pull, influence or control otherwise. I am merely an insignificant voter in the eyes of the GOP. But I have noticed that since I’ve stopped sending money when asked, it does seem like I have been getting more mailings from them. It could be coincidental…

    I do not believe the GOP is going to be any different three years ahead, than it was three years ago. I happen to think the iron is hot for a new party and someone, who is in a position to do so, needs to strike. Obviously, you disagree.

    I also think that, even given the state of the economy, it is quite possible that GOP disappointment and disillusion may have some bearing on the slow fundraising you are seeing. But apparently, I’m an idiot (per another poster), so what do *I* know?

    And I do expect you to take me seriously, as I take you seriously. But since we disagree, perhaps it’s easier if you think I’m putting you on. For what it’s worth, I assure you I am serious.

    By the way, I do like (and recommend) most all of your writings. That is sincere, even if you choose not to believe me. I usually like the way you think. But as regards the GOP, we disagree dramatically.

  • http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens

    “It?s emotional now. It?s no longer a business decision. It has become a point of principle.”

    Emotions aren’t principles. The teenager who stomps his foot and cries because he does not get his way is not acting out of principle. He’s just throwing a tantrum.

    You are a fool to have convinced yourself that your tantrum is a principled thing.

  • nessa

    I’m surprised Cold Warrior hasn’t been here already, I’ll try to make his life a little easier and post the link for him.

    Check this out, seriously!
    http://theprecinctproject.wordpress.com/2009/08/28/becoming-a-precinct-committeeman-step-by-step/

    Or this:
    http://www.redstate.com/martin_a_knight/2009/05/05/the-committeeman-project/

    This will change the GOP, anything else just helps the Dems.

  • TS Atomic

    If you want to bow-up because you read something you don’t like, then as you wish — Lets put you in charge so you can start banning people who don’t agree with you.

    But like I replied to Moe, the GOP is broken and the *only* club I have to beat them with is to withhold my financial support. If you want to feed that entrenched beast, knock yourself out. But to wish me banned because I choose differently is pretty pathetic on your part.

    The problem is not these particular candidates; The problem is the organization they will forever be beholden to for support and how all the money that goes into that giant bucket is doled back out.

    Maybe I’m such an idiot that I can’t write coherently. Ya’ll are reading the words, but none of you are hearing me.

  • TS Atomic

    Then I am a fool.

    If I spit in your eye, time and time again, you will eventually throw a tantrum, just like the tantrum I am throwing over the GOP. I guarantee you will also be emotional about it. I further guarantee that you will form a point of principal concerning all the spit in your eye.

  • http://www.thediscerningconservative.com discerningconservative

    but you are mistaken. Giving money to these candidates is not akin to giving money to the GOP. Take Rubio for example. The NRSC has thrown it’s support behind Crist. Rubio is by far the more conservative candidate. Therefore, giving money directly to him would be a “club to beat them with” that would be more effective than starving any candidate of money. I understand what you are saying, but that is only a good argument against sending money to the GOP, NRSC, or NRCC. Sending money directly to candidates that are real conservatives will do more to fix the problems than sitting on your hands(or wallet in this case).

  • TS Atomic

    So, how many readers here are P.C.’s? I doubt I would last a week before they ran me off. It would seem I’m too contrary to ordinary…

  • eburke

    post, he’s either purposely being obtuse or brain-dead. Giving money to the NRSC, NCCC, RNC, et al is supporting the GOP squishes. As you so aptly put it, if you’re pissed at the squishes in the GOP, the best thing to do to club them to death is to give money to the people they *don’t* or *won’t* endorse (Rubio, DeVore, Frazier, et al) who are movement conservatives.

    If he can’t/won’t get that, then he can ride his whinefest all the way down to tyranny.

  • TS Atomic

    Good Lord, Man! He makes McCain seem absolutely *sane*!

  • TS Atomic

    My Henry Kissinger-esque tact would preclude me being a P.C.

  • Brian Faughnan

    I made my donation to Marco Rubio – let’s send a strong conservative to the Senate!

  • redtillimdead

    Do the donations on here also go towards his own goal on his site? http://www.toomeyforsenate.com/site/c.nkLVJ6MMKrH/b.5389725/k.DE98/Toomsday.htm

  • http://moelane.com/ Moe Lane

    Because that was good.

  • TS Atomic

    And I awkwardly agree.

    I would vote for Rubio, if I could. Perhaps this group of candidates could initiate a new party, since they are “outsiders”.

  • http://www.thediscerningconservative.com discerningconservative

    another party would be helpful. A third party of strong conservatives would split the current GOP vote and ensure that the Dems win. Supporting true conservative candidates in the primary is how we can get our party back. These candidates can’t win without our help, so we need to send what money we can directly to them. I can’t vote for any of them since I don’t live in their states, but I have sent them each a little money. Nothing substantial, but what I could afford. Every little bit helps. I devote the majority of the money that I contribute to my local candidates, but given the opportunity to support a true conservative from another state, I will jump at the opportunity.

  • http://www.theprecinctproject.wordpress.com ColdWarrior

    That is, you are not a precinct committeeman?

    Go here to learn more about “the Republican Party.” It is not a static enterprise. It is defined by its voting membership. (And, of course, lots of money — but, in reality, whoever controls the voting majority of the precinct committeeman slots nationwide and locally controls the Party leadership and who gets endorsed by the Party (if at all) in the primary elections.):

    http://www.redstate.com/coldwarrior/2009/09/02/434-new-conservative-precinct-committeemen-and-counting/

    Want to change the Party? Become a voting member of it. And get others who think like you to do the same. I’m a conservative. I’m a Republican Party precinct committeeman by necessity.

    Thank you.

    ColdWarrior

    I am only one. But I am a conservative Republican Party precinct committeeman and desperately trying to recruit more.

    www.theprecinctproject.wordpress.com

  • bs

    I advise that you lay off that one.

  • redtillimdead

    …

  • TS Atomic

    the candidates control the party. I think the candidates need the party to promote them and aren’t in any position to dictate to the party.

    I think that if there ever was an opportune time to replace the Republican party, it is now in todays environment. Otherwise, regardless of the candidates elected, I see no reason for the Republican machine to change *anything*. I don’t see how electing Rubio in FL will not stop the Republican party from supporting the Snowes, Grahams, etc. Nothing against Rubio, I just don’t see how one affects the other. It never has in the past…

  • TS Atomic

    I can wish, can’t I? The beltway insiders and GOP elite would never allow a third party to horn in on their action. You could elect 50 of your Toomeys and they would still devote significant funds to promote the Snowes and Grahams. Some folks see no problem with that at all.

  • bs

    This is a site that promotes conservative values and the GOP. 3rd party promotion contradicts that latter mission. Keep it to yourself.

  • http://www.thediscerningconservative.com discerningconservative

    comes into play. The party has leadership that makes it’s decisions. If you are a PC, you can vote for the party leadership. It is just a small step, but if we can fill all of the vacant PC positions across the country with true conservatives, we will gain the upper hand. I understand that you are frustrated with the GOP, but you have to consider the alternative. In some instances a moderate republican is just the better alternative than a liberal democrat, so we need to throw our support behind them. It is a numbers game, and when we are in the minority, the moderate R’s are much more of a nuisance than when we are in the majority because of the moderate R’s. Politics is often a lot like a chess game, and we have to chose our moves very carefully. Supporting a true conservative should be a very easy choice. Holding your nose and voting for a squish isn’t so easy, but when you look at the alternative you do what you have to do. The change in the GOP starts with us.

  • mbecker908

    cast one vote each that was a real net minus and that was this year AFTER Specter gave them cover and took the heat.

    Do they vote conservatively? No. But I’d trade either of them for John McCain or Bob Bennett. They’ve cast some awful votes like voting against the PBA ban. But the ban passed without their votes so I don’t care. Neither of them has ever written a policy that I disagree with, because neither of them has ever written a policy. Neither of them has ever run a major committee in a way that hurts the country and the party (Specter for one) because neither is on a major committee.

    The ME Girls are right where they should be. They vote for the Republican leader on the organizing vote and do essentially no harm after that.

  • clowngirl

    on a bunch of gigs, sending the checks to my credit union in CO. Will make a small donation once they deposit.

  • Curt409

    When the GOP introduces a plan to get government COMPLETELY out of healthcare, I MIGHT send them some money-if there is any left!

  • mikedaire

    … but Rubio’s site times out on me. I’ll send him a check later today. Already gave to Toomey last month and will send him another $100.00 this month.

    I’ve also politely told the NRSC to pound sand. They’ve been sniffing around looking for a contribution, but I don’t trust them to give the money to conservatives. As Nessa posted above, changing the GOP is an inside job and that change has to come from us.

  • wcgreen

    You wondered why you’re not reaching your goal. I gave you one reason–I, for one, am sick of the constant campaigning.

    If you don’t want a discussion, that’s fine. I hope you and your side have great success, but you’ll have to wait until 2010 for my money.

  • Aaron Gardner

    sounds great…..until then why don’t you keep to yourself and not try to dissuade others from doing what you refuse to….help conservatives take over the GOP in 2010.

  • dmartin

    Tarkanian, WIlson, and for the first time joined my local Republican party. Being self employed, and unemployed, and therefore ineligable for unemployment compensation thats already more than my zero income budget can afford.

    If things pick up I have a long list of people and organizations I intend to continue to support, I know it’s a catch 22, but I cant give what I dont have.

  • satchman3

    You make some good points. I would agree with your first – RP hasn’t really produced any legislative results furthering his agenda that I know of.

    I would debate your second point on earmarks as I think that’s an area where many conservatives are wrong. As a representative of a district RP has a responsibility to his constituents to see that the tax dollars they pay work to their benefit even if he disagrees with the collection of those dollars. I also think that opposing earmarks is equivalent to saying “I am offended by the <1% of the budget that I know how is being spent. To solve that problem please don’t tell me where any of my money is going.”

    I can clearly see that we have to work within one of the major political parties to achieve anything. Maybe I should refer to myself as a Ronulan Republican in the future.

    Finally, I do think our allegiance is to the agenda and not to the individual but when the individual represents your agenda you support the individual as well as the agenda.

  • http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens

    Any further promotion of third parties will result in your account being disabled.

  • TS Atomic

    that the GOP, by who it willingly and vigorously supports (Snowes, Grahams) tends to contradict your assertion that it is a party of principle that “promotes conservative values”. On the contrary, it has demonstrated time and again that it will knowingly and willingly compromise it’s core values to one extent or another and for what?

    Apparently, that is seen as “the cost of doing business”, you accept it and pretend it’s a manageable problem. But it is a bannable offense to mention it or suggest one possible remedy?

    “bs” indeed!

  • TS Atomic

    Since it upsets your delicate sensibilities, I won’t mention the scary phrase again in your little club. Let me know if you hang a “NO guRLz” sign, or whatever else it may be that you become scared of…

  • http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens
  • http://itsonlywords55@wordpress.com paulag1955

    Erick checks with me every day to see what I’m writing about before he ever puts hands to keyboard.

    Or not. ;o)

  • TS Atomic

    I’m in GA, in a very conservative area that over-whelmingly votes solidly conservative. The county GOP group is unwaveringly conservative and has no lack of local support and participation.

  • http://www.theprecinctproject.wordpress.com ColdWarrior

    TS Atomic, if you want to change the Party, then join it as a PC or shower millions of dollars on it.

    I don’t have the millions of dollars, so I became a PC.

    You should, too.

    I don’t know how many of the Redstaters are PCs, but I know many of them are. They are my heroes.

    Those that are precinct committeemen know that they are going to have a direct vote as to who the Party leaders are. That’s real political power.

    I hope you’ll become a PC.

    The worst thing for the country would be for lots of conservatives to abandon the Party and either join an existing third party or try to form a new third Party.

    “Abandon” is the wrong word. A conservative precinct committeeman leaving the Republican Party would be an abandonment, because you have to be “in” something in order to abandon it. A registered Republican voter simply changing his Party affiliation is just that — a change in Party “affiliation.” (Indeed, I can’t fathom a conservative PC abandoning the Party — once you become a PC and start “learning the ropes,” you quickly see that at the local GOP meetings a single conservative CAN change the Party just by his presence. My experience is that one conservative in a gaggle of mushy moderates is really not outnumbered. Conservatives have logic and make sense; many self-identified “moderates” actually hold many conservative values and principles and can be persuaded to think and vote like a conservative if presented with good arguments. They just don’t want to call themselves “conservative.” No problem. Good ideas drive out bad.)

    Our adversaries, the Debtocrats, want conservatives to abandon the Party or affiliate with another Party — it’s the classic divide and conquer strategy. If, by contrast, all conservative/libertarian types would join the Party and try to move it to the right through the leadership elections and by working to make sure the best conservative candidates win the primary elections, we would improve our chances greatly of getting the kind of representative government we desire. United we stand, divided we fall.

    It’s the strategy the leftist Obama supporters employed against the Clinton Machine. It worked for the Obamabots. With 50 per cent of the PC slots nationwide vacant, it could work for conservatives. If we’d all just spend a little time and effort and become PCs.

    Thank you.

    ColdWarrior

  • http://www.theprecinctproject.wordpress.com ColdWarrior

    Thanks for all you are doing!

    ColdWarrior

  • sapwolf

    Not sure how to do it through Red State.

    Go ahead and record it if you are taking stats.

  • TS Atomic

    …and I can’t “fail” at something that I can’t “do” anyway. Not everyone can be a leader (as you so aptly demonstrated above). I’ll readily admit that I’m not a leader. I’m just someone who is justifiably angry with the “leadership” (ahem) of the national Republican orgs…

    But, your chances for a misery-free future don’t look so good either. In the end, there is no compelling reason to believe that the Republican party will not retain it’s status-quo control over promoting your (then) elected officials, along with the current crop of squishy RINOs that you will unwillingly support by proxy. You’ve chosen one way to flail at that problem. I wish you luck!

  • wcgreen

    As I said, I offered my help to Rubio–never heard anything from his people. I guess they want money, not willing hands.

    You’re wondering why your goal is not being met. I have one reason. If it dissuades others, then people need to grow a spine and stop being so easily swayed.

    I never liked the “my way or the highway” approach to soliciting help or being told how to react.

    Should I ever hear from Rubio’s people, I’ll let you know. Until then, good luck with your fund drive and remember, not every conservative who disagrees with your current project is your enemy.

  • http://www.theprecinctproject.wordpress.com ColdWarrior

    My goodness. Have you ever worked on a political campaign? Or been to a GOP office? It’s usually pretty chaotic as volunteers do most of the work. One volunteer hands a backlog of work off to the next volunteer (assuming there’s a constant flow of volunteers, which usually is not the case). Money (that is, donations) pays for all the “stuff” and “services,” like phones, office space, paper, computers, email accounts, furniture, etc. It ain’t cheap. Hence the need for free labor in the form of non-professional volunteers. Hence, things do slip through the cracks.

    So you are going to make one phone call to Rubio’s campaign and, when you don’t get a call back, surmise that the reason they didn’t call you back is not because your message slipped through the cracks but because “they want money, not willing hands.”

    When I called the Maricopa County GOP long ago to express my desire to become a PC, I ran into all sorts of roadblocks. Why? Because the people who man the phones are volunteers. So I continued to call. Eventually I got through to the right person and it all worked out. You should try it. If that doesn’t work, drive over to the office and introduce yourself.

    I hope you’ll become a PC, too.

    Thank you.

    ColdWarrior

    www.theprecinctproject.wordpress.com

    An apt quote: “?Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan “press on” has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race? — Calvin Coolidge

  • Aaron Gardner

    You come here and complain about the party but are unwilling to do anything about it unless you get an invitation gilded in gold.

    You should think about not being a flake. You should think about putting your country above you fragile ego.

    You should donate your time AND money.

    Or you should stop complaining.

  • JadedByPolitics

    I gave more to Rubio because well he is my favorite. I know Toomey can win big in PA as those people are sick to death of their representation and I believe Williams will excite Texans and I donated to Devore but he has a long hard slog though voting to allow 40K people to live in hell certainly isn’t working in Boxer’s favor at this time. I truly see America turning a hard RIGHT in 2010 and I think anyone with an R will be swept in and my preference is they are all CONSERVATIVES :)

    You should put this back up top for the week so it can be seen by all who come to visit for the next week!