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The Limits of Online Activism

By: Loren Heal (Diary) | November 25th, 2011 at 03:00 PM |

RESIZE: AAA

Michael Barone has been watching and influencing politics for decades, and seems to be the rare pundit who is not in love with his own opinion. Barone talks today about the ways in which the 2012 campaign is different than those of the last 40 years. He is more or less correct in the three key differences that he finds, but more notable to me are the things that are the same.

Barone says the three rules changes for campaign strategists are:

Money is no longer everything
Personal campaigning is less important
Social conservatives are not the driving force

But it’s still early, and the people paying the most attention are those who always pay attention. The wide swings in the polls show that not only are people unsure whom to support, but that support is thin for most voters and most candidates.

Increasingly, political activists and opinion leaders are in essentially constant contact with one another. We watch debates with one eye on the television and the other on Twitter or a chat session presented on our favorite blog. As Barone says:

Behind all these apparent changes in the rules of the game has been the increasing importance of new media, which makes political communication cheaper, more plentiful (for those who are interested) and harder to control.

But the assumption that new media’s influence with activists will translate into influence with the less politically interested public is a weak one. More and more people are taking to the Internet to connect with friends, communicate for work and for their many and varied interests. For us, that includes politics. For many, it simply does not.

People use the Internet to search out and locate their own interests, but those interests are not based on geography. Elections, however, are. As long as we base elections on geography and not on individual issues, it will still be necessary to reach out to people geographically.

The old gatekeepers — local politicos, TV news and newspapers — are increasingly bypassed. It’s a more polarized politics, but also one that is more democratic and more open.

The local politicos have been bypassed, it’s true, but that’s primarily because they’ve quit trying, not because of anything structural getting in their way. The basic structure of state, county, municipal, and precinct division still exists.

The problem, as many readers will know, is that of the approximately 400,000 precincts in the U.S., only about 200,000 are filled (in either major party). If you are a Republican, do you know who your Precinct Committeeman is? Have they contacted you and asked you to vote yet this year?

The party structure is of singular importance in who wins an election. It is the one tool conservatives can use to defeat the left, with their ownership of the media, unions, and the cadres of energetic youth. Yet, we let it gather dust, a curious relic of a bygone era.

Conservatives and small-government activists must enter the Republican Party by becoming Precinct Committeemen where they live. Take care of your own back yard. It’s not a job for people in a far off city, it’s a job for you. You will talk to your neighbors, enlist their help, and burn away the laziness that has infected our national politics.

Because as long as we elect people to represent the place where they live, we will have to elect them by going there.

Tags: 2012, Michael Barone, Precinct Committeeman

COMMENTS

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Xasteius

1) What do you do if you’re in a predominately conservative area?

2) What do you do if you’re in a predominately liberal area (read California)?

For me the first one would apply, but someone’s bound to ask.

lastgopinillinois

If you send your local Republican party chairman several e-mails volunteering your services, they wont answer you. Why? because they dont have any precinct committeemen in your area to assign you to (especially in a pro-union, pro-liberal area). The Chairman has surrendered the area decades ago. It is wasted effort. You cant win in that area. That must be the attitude.
I got my hands on a 2010 voter list from the county clerks office without the help of any officials. It doesnt list most of the streets in my ward, even though I know there were voters on those streets, because I went to the polls in 2010.

So , with a list like this, you are forced to “canvass”. This is the last place on earth you’d want to canvass if you are a Republican. You would probably be killed by the second or third house you went to.

acat

Specifically, don’t go alone.

Mew
1stRichard

Yes, you got the right. Sounds like you are in the same boat I am in, W/Mass. The established GOP out here is about as useful as udders on a bull and if you play with them, they get angry. The problem starts at the top, when you have candidates and you cannot tell what is more liberal, brand (R) or brand (D) why get involved. Then when there is a difference, the established GOP declares it is a lost cause, they withdrew support and backed a liberal. Now that we are fighting back, the established GOP has literally declared war on us. Top this off with the moonbats that are willing to get extremely violent, it does matter where you live.

http://teapartisan.wordpress.com Loren Heal

Very few races are run in a single precinct. A small town may fit in one precinct, but at the local level elections are based more on personality and individual relationships than party ideology.

So the value a PC brings is bringing people to the polls for upticket races — county board, state legislature, federal offices, And in those the point isn’t “winning” the precinct, but the overall vote total in the race.

All your precinct has to do is deliver the votes it has. The object is to get people registered, and get those who register to vote, in higher numbers than in prior elections. There are so many factors to that that I can’t do it justice here, but really you just want to improve.

Moving a precinct that votes 90/10 Democrat to one that votes 80/20 Dem may yield 100 new votes. That’s the same 100 votes you’d get in a comparably sized precinct by flipping it from 45R/55D to 55R/45D.

But it takes lots and lots of time, something you can only afford when it’s volunteer time in your own precinct. That’s why campaigns ignore 80/20 and higher precincts.
http://www.theprecinctproject.wordpress.com ColdWarrior

Whether one happens to be in a predominantly conservative area or predominantly liberal area should not deter one from getting involved “inside” the Party as a precinct committeeman because a conservative inside the Party can always have a positive impact on the others already inside the Party and one will be in the best place, obviously, to learn more about the inner workings of party politics.

As for helping to GOTV, I recommend that one speak to the Republican candidates or their campaign managers to find out whether (in the case of a predominantly conservative area) their help in GOTV would be redundant or (in the case of a predominantly liberal area) futile. If one’s time, effort and money could not be put to good use in thier own area, then I recommend one find candidates with a chance to win in other areas who have set up GOTV internet telephone calling systems and make phone calls for those candidates. I have used several different kinds of these calling systems, which usually requires one to create a userid and password and then the name and number of a voter will appear on screen. Using one’s phone, or Skype, calls can be made to the voter and then one provides information regarding the results of the call (for example, whether a voice message was left, whether the voter had already voted, whether the voter committed to voting for the candidate, etc.).

I hope that helps.

Thank you.

ColdWarrior

earlgrey

she writes “the lone republican” column in the Boston Herald. She has run a number of campaigns in MA, and she was really on the ball. It was a pleasure to hear her speak, and I learned a lot. She was incredible to listen too.

I know not all areas have these types of people, but if an activist that feels lost in the shuffle can hook up with a campaign with someone like her, they could actually see some success (she has a great record in special elections in MA), and it sounds like it would be a lot of fun.

I worry that some people will go to these all day sessions and get so overwhelmed they end up doing nothing, but that is a subject for another post.

In short I think the advice to work for a local campaign is very good and it might be nice to hook up with some like-minded people in the area. Sort of a sanity check.
earlgrey

she writes “the lone republican” column in the Boston Herald. She has run a number of campaigns in MA, and she was really on the ball. It was a pleasure to hear her speak, and I learned a lot. She was incredible to listen too.

I know not all areas have these types of people, but if an activist that feels lost in the shuffle can hook up with a campaign with someone like her, they could actually see some success (she has a great record in special elections in MA), and it sounds like it would be a lot of fun.

I worry that some people will go to these all day sessions and get so overwhelmed they end up doing nothing, but that is a subject for another post.

In short I think the advice to work for a local campaign is very good and it might be nice to hook up with some like-minded people in the area. Sort of a sanity check.

earlgrey

nt.

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

You say California, but that’s wrong. California has solid R areas in it. It’s a huge state.

But if you’re in a lefty area, you have the most freedom to help take over your local party and shape the national party.

In far left areas, where Republicans are fewest, the lone activist has the most power.

supergirl2911

just wondering. Other than County Republican Offices

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

That’s where it begins. That’s where you can find out how to try for party office.

supergirl2911

Saying remember Georgia is Cain Country, I delete and ignore. Feels like a lot of good ol boys running the show I guess I should make my voice be heard.

1stRichard

Contrary, there is less freedom and more dirty antics, a part of it here

http://www.massra.com/images/pr112011.pdf

Xasteius

Now for the implementation phase.

kowalski

That’s why I’ve almost stopped commenting here at Redstate and everywhere else.

It’s the height of arrogance to walk into someone else’s backyard and start calling the shots but that’s what “online activism” really means. It’s horrible.

I’m about two keystrokes away from telling the Directors at Redstate to pull my username and password (and Neil knows my IP address very well) and just keep it lost.

Most people I know have no interest in politics except in the last two weeks. Most of the rest of this stuff is just for the acolytes and the hangers-on.

Blogs were interesting when they got started but they’re old news now. Glenn Reynolds warned people of this a long time ago in a session I transcribed for Redstate. Now it’s just so much noise.

I know who I’m voting for and frankly I don’t care much what the rest of you think.

Redstate started down the wrong path when it became absorbed by Human Events. It went from being a true Republican/Conservative blog to a mouthpiece for the editors at Human Events. I’m not interested in hearing them, I can find them any time I like.

Xasteius

others who leave the chattering class and get out and do something.

YnotNOW

There is only a limited influence you could potentially have in swaying a vote or two immediately before an election. Because people have already made up their minds – and to the majority of non-political-junkies this is based upon sound bites from TV news and Facebook.

True activism lies in convincing your neighbors, co-workers and others you come into contact with, about the correct ideas and solutions for our Country. Constitutional ideals (i.e. limited government) and conservative principles (freedom to succeed drives economic growth, for example).

When people understand that conservatives aren’t “ucky” or trying to “make them” do things (we stand for freedom, after all), then they start to shift their ideology filter. And only then can we generate a conservative majority.

http://www.800cart.com Ron Robinson

Due to the very reasons Loren sagely states, some online activism has shifted a bit – from ‘this is what we need’ to more literal strategizing for tactics that work in our local party committees, then keeping those committees coordinated thru online email lists, etc.

At lease, some are doing that with a measure of success.

Kowalski, I don’t know if you’ve ever coordinated mew media for a campaign as some here have, but I would counter that online activism for local races is essential.

How does a campaign get 17 local letters to the editor published in one week? Without online activists, it cannot be done these days. Most papers these days pay far more attention to the email than they do the snail mail these days, and many have very active comments sections that do sway opinio.

How do you get the word out to 17,000 meat space activists that those letters to the editors are needed or that an incumbent’s office needs a mass visit (I won’t say ‘occupation’)? Without online activism, that wouldn’t happen either.

If we use our language carelessly, then we fail to cnovey what works and what does not work.

I may not sway much local opinion here in LA when I post here at Redstate, unless it’s to sway the opinion of other local leaders that I have a ‘national online following’ (if they only really knew!).

But participating in the local papers’ comments and letters to the editors certainly can accrue and advantage to our side if our people are active in the online local conversation and making basic sense on mainstream local issues.

http://teapartisan.wordpress.com Loren Heal

Well said, Ron. If I have an unstated thesis for this post, it’s that online activism is for reaching activists — volunteers, at the local level. It’s not going to win the election, but failing to do it can lose one.

kowalski

I disagree so powerfully with the Editors at Redstate it’s a miracle they still let me post here.

I absolutely completely disagree with their view on Mitt Romney, and the reasons I think they disagree with him on principle are close to meaningless in this election.

Human Events has a circulation of perhaps 100,000 people in this country. It’s not representative of anyone except Human Events.

When Redstate was new, there were a lot more voices that ranged in the Conservative/Republican spectrum and now they’ve all gone elsewhere except for a few die-hards. But the 100,000 Human Events subscribers in this country aren’t going to make a difference in this election, particularly on social issues.

This election is all about economic issues and that’s it. Nobody, left right or libertarian wants to hear anything about what Human Events has to say about social policy, in particular abortion or marriage or anything else.

tomatin

Economics is the issue and people like me here do care about. Romney was for the stimulus before he was against it. And now I think Romneycare=Obamacare will bankrupt America. Romney did not even say he would end Obamacare. The waiver thing Romney pushes would just force voters in red states to pay for blue states Obamacare like in MA.

If you want flexible views then you want Romney but principled conservatives want a principled candidate on every issue including the economy.

I hear allot of focus on the economy here starting with Romneycare so I don’t know what you are talking about.
kowalski

Who in their minds have branded Mitt Romney the Antichrist already. The fact is that they hated him when he ran the last time and what we got was John McCain and then he lost to Barack Obama.

They’re going to repeat the process this time and when Barack Obama wins his second term I’m not going to blame David Axelrod, I’m going to blame Redstate.

From top to bottom.

It seems to me that they’d all rather lose the big fight. Increasingly I can’t stand to listen to them. In my view they’re being tremendously irresponsible and I think it’s going to cost this country very dearly.
kowalski

And I can tell you conclusively that the last person anyone gave money to politically in my family was John Thune, to help him win. I was proud to send some money to Thune when he needed it and I’m glad he endorsed Romney.

This website has a policy of sticking a fork in its eye recently. They’re embittered and they’re increasingly alienated from the rest of the population. I really think Redstate has marginalized itself into a collection of Die Hard Conservatives who represent approximately 0.5% of the American population. They’re less influential than Ann Coulter.

Hard words, I know. But I can’t come to any other conclusion.
acat

I was quite happy that he stayed out.

His claim to fame is to pin the Dem national agenda on Tom Daschle who had previously been able to vote liberal but press release conservative and get away with it.

Good for him for seeing the chink in the armor, and for calling out Obama as defeatable early… but – as with Palin – one gift is not sufficient.

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

Pretty sure Thune was the right call there.
acat

For the White House, not so much.

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

In fact now that we have the seat I wouldn’t mind Thune getting a primary challenge. It irks me and Vitter didn’t get any last time.
tomatin

Saying 0.5% of the nation are hard core conservative is just not true. I guess you missed the Reagan revolution and the more recent Tea Party revolution.

Consistently at least 20-25% of Americans say the are strong conservatives. You must be mistaken and talking about people who call themselves hard core liberals.
heraklios

and nobody believes them for sure
tomatin

Here is the only place I’ve heard the truth be told about Romney.

Blame voters for accepting what the LSM feeds them.

There are numerous reasons why true conservatives cannot stand Romney from day one or otherwise.

He started his campaign in 2008 with flip flop after flip flop.

He is still flip flopping.

Above all true conservatives who believe in freedom like me hate hate Romneycare which is the same as Obamacare. Many of us see repealing Obamacare as the biggest issue because it is a job killer AND freedom killer.

Why should we apologize for not wanting a RINO to run for president?

If the only selling point you have is that Romney is not Obama that’s a low standard.
heraklios

given that no one else in the media does or is willing to talk about it. Romney is the most immoral, dishonest, feckless top-tier candidate the GOP has ever had, and so Antichrist would be too much of an understatement….
tomatin

I’m tired of the LSM telling us how to think.
buckedup

No Text

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

RedState is “a mouthpiece for the editors of Human Events?”

Heh.

You really have no idea what you’re talking about.
http://www.erickerickson.org Erick Erickson

Kowalski, I missed this over the holiday weekend and hope you see this.

What you are actually saying is an indictment of me personally.

See, we have no contact with Human Events except on a limited basis. And the Human Events reporters and editors routinely get angry at me for my endorsements and championing of conservative causes including my push to oust Bob Bennett and for holding the line on cut, cap, and balance.

There is a brilliant, hot fire wall between Human Events and RedState, which includes me living 800 miles away from the home office.

So if you think RedState has deteriorated since Eagle Publishing bought us, I’d agree on the technical side that there have been prolonged and aggravating problems. But any and all complains about deterioration on the editorial side would have to be directed at me specifically as the editorial biases against the site in general reflect me, not Human Events ? in addition to the other front page writers whose views are unique to them.

kowalski

They don’t want to hear someone from Human Events preaching to them about their lives. And all of them want to have the option for safe, medical abortions for their chiddren in case Johnny knocks someone up when he’s 17 and feeling his oats out with Janie.

People at Human Events think they can turn the moral objection to abortion (which I agree with) into a governing majority but it is not possible in the United States. I don’t see how it’s even remotely possible among the truly poor. We’ve already made the Faustian Bargain, people. The only thing you can do is choose not to have one and fight so that the government doesn’t force you to fund one through mandated insurance coverage. But abortion is absolutely going to continue as a medical option funded by insurance policies.

You’re not going to change the minds of tens of millions of other people who cannot afford to raise children and make dumb mistakes. The only thing you can hope to do is:

1) Combat the public sector unions. That might be done well.
2) Reduce the cost of healthcare by really going for the source: the diagnostic profligacy and super-specialized care.
3) Reduce the business taxes.
4) Get as many people as early as possible off the freeload train by taking teacher’s unions out of the loop as completely as possible.
5) At every instance seek to cut the budgets of our municipalities, states, and the federal government itself.

But I do not believe you will *ever* be able to outlaw abortion. The people who believe in abortion are simply not going to let you do it. You may force them to pay for it themselves, that’s about it.
kowalski

I am going to sit here right now and tell you that abortion is going to continue to be funded by medical insurance policies because of a professor I know from the University of Chicago, who was at the FOREFRONT and continues to be at the forefront of making sure abortion was deemed a medical procedure covered by insurance policies more than a decade ago.

She has more books in her living room than you do in your entire house and I’ll tell you right now that you’re not getting that changed no matter how hard you sit here and bitch about Mitt Romney.

I won’t use her name right now. But she was a Big Deal at Illinois Masonic Medical Center and the University of Chicago.

Fight the battles you can win and should win. Don’t be stupid.
publious

pcscipio

Authority gets less and less respect.

kowalski

Is this article from the Wall Street Journal:

Fred Siegel: “The New Tammany Hall”

Here’s this guy who spent most of his entire life a “center-leftist” who helped to create the conditions he now deplores and once he has a change of heart he’s feted in the Wall Street Journal. He spent almost all of his adult life *arguing for* the conditions that allowed the public-sector unions to become as powerful as they are, and now that he’s having second thoughts, the WSJ decides to publish them.

He was a Socialist (or “center leftist”) his entire life and now all of a sudden, the WSJ thinks his opinions are worth publishing. People on our side of the Ditch have been saying this for years, but it takes someone from the Bronx, I guess, to really make it stick. Particularly if he gets in a few shots about New York State government and Bloomberg’s lack of “guts”.

Bloomberg doesn’t have a “lack of guts.” He WANTS the public sector unions because he’s a nanny-state big government megalomaniac.

It’s amazing that these people manage to have two bites at the apple, first contributing to the catastrophe and then diagnosing the problem they created. This is among the most shameless articles the WSJ has ever published, and certainly one of the most disgusting.

What bugs me about online activism is that we’re all sitting here getting schtupped by a former editor of Dissent and the WSJ is publishing it. We can yack and yack and yack away but this dude finally comes to his senses and it’s like there’s been some kind of amazing global transformative epiphany.

http://www.gmsplace.com/ civil truth

Look, we know Obama is killing small businesses with his tax and regulatory banditry which is destroying the livelihood of hardworking patriotic Americans like you.

And you are very anxious that the Republicans are not going to be able to put up a candidate that can beat Obama (a sentiment I increasingly share). And you fear that only Romney can win enough swing voters to gain a majority.

But RedState is not responsible for the lack of enthusiasm among Republican voters for Romney. That’s from Romney’s not having been able to close the deal despite having been the longest in campaign mode.

Which then raises a question as to how he’s going to be able to sell to voters that he has a good alternative – and sufficiently distinctive from Obama – that will convince them to switch sides.

I don’t want to go too much further in a comment, except to note that the qualities needed to defeat an incumbent president is quite different than an open office (as in 2008). And Romney’s qualities aren’t the right set this time around.

It’s not just about ideology.

And I’m not sure what to make regarding all your passion regarding abortion is about – that’s not exactly going to make or break Romney’s chances for nomination – it’s already been largely factored into the political equation as I see.

And please in your anxiety don’t create a straw man regarding the pro-life movement: those who are pro-life know it’s a long-term struggle for hearts and minds (and there is a shift going on among the public).

Take some deep breaths. What’s going on is very complex.

tomatin

It’s not just about ideology. If Romney was a bit moderate and steadfast in his convictions I would have less problems with him than with all the flip flops.

He has NO integrity. They guy even lied about his name.

Romney is a small business killer as well with his Romneycare.

Why is asking for a candidate with true small government principles all of a sudden too much to ask?
http://www.gmsplace.com/ civil truth

Actually, this comment of yours was what pushed me to respond to your rather free-from anger/frustration, but I responded to your earlier comments above and didn’t really respond to this comment about Fred Siegel.

Again, why the focus on the person? Does it really change your life one way or the other as to what the WSJ thinks of him (as you perceive it)? It the AUG* degree that matters in the end.

IFred has really excellent insights into what sustains the unions and what can cut off their oxygen. That’s valuable to share. Just like LaborUnionReport and Art Chance, the folks who know best are those who’ve had past involvement and understand the people and mindset.

It’d be a different matter if Fred were running for President…
__________________
*Approved Unto God

http://www.gmsplace.com/ civil truth

.

kowalski

It’s not just “displaced anger” or some irrational fealty to Mitt Romney. I’ve never donated a dime to his campaign(s).

The concerns I have for the next four years include the fragmentation of the Euro zone, in line with what many banks and economists and other financial analysts are increasingly indicating is likely.

I think we’ll do a lot better to have a President with an intimate knowledge of finance as our Commander In Chief if the Eurozone comes apart. In fact I think we’d do better to have that person in office even if the Eurozone doesn’t come apart.

The knock-on effects for America of even a controlled breakup of the Eurozone (which, incidentally there aren’t any good mechanisms to accomplish) are going to be serious to severe. People who think America will be isolated from the turmoil of a messy European undoing are ignorant of reality.

In that case, you bet I want someone who understands bond yields and the troubles surrounding recapitalization of banking systems amid the chaos resulting from the collapse of a currency. I want someone running the country who can read this document and understand its implications and chart a course through its various scenarios better than I can. Like it or not, that narrows the field down by a lot.

What if we wake up one morning in 2013 to discover that American banks have placed a $250 limit on domestic withdrawals and an absolute ban on overseas money transfers, capital markets across the world are frozen in their tracks, and trade with Europe has stopped? I’d rather have someone in the Oval Office who isn’t going to have to read the Cliffs Notes to Global Finance Capitalism or get the 2 hour short course from their advisors, while trying to prevent the worst from happening.

http://www.gmsplace.com/ civil truth

…but I do want a President who (unlike Obama) has concern and interest and recognizes the importance of foreign affairs. And one who is willing to do the homework necessary to assess what he has presented to him. And one who chooses well his advisers.

That would leave Romney, Gingrich, Perry among the major candidates, and leave Santorum and Huntsman in terms of the minor candidates.

kowalski

I *am* angry, make no mistake about it, about a number of things that have occured in the past 5 years, but lashing out at people isn’t much of contribution to be proud of. I want all the things that you want in a competent President who is really proud to be an American.

I will place here, for the record, the GOAL Massachusetts report on their assessment of Mitt Romney’s tenure as governor in regard to 2nd Amendment rights.

He made a couple of missteps (one of which was probably due to his proclivity – widely discussed and derided here for several years now – to “igloo” himself with people he trusts at the beginning) – but his overall record here in MA was one of unprecedented access by GOAL and other 2nd Amendment groups to the Governor. So he didn’t “flip flop” on that issue and I have never had any trouble with him speaking before the NRA or any other pro-2nd Amendment group. His record here in Massachusetts was supportive in a sometimes very hostile state, and he had basically an “open door policy” to the members of GOAL here.

The two major events that eventually led to this improved relationship were the raid on the Inland Fisheries & Game Fund in 2003 and a botched press conference/bill signing in 2004. Both situations are outlined in this report.

While at the time these events greatly angered GOAL members, the result was much improved access to the Governor?s office and his staff. During the following years, senior level Romney staffers met on a monthly basis with GOAL?s Executive Director to discuss and work on any issues relevant to GOAL?s members. This should not be taken as an indication that GOAL ?controlled? the corner office, but rather that a very good working relationship was developed that benefited both parties.

Read the full text at GOAL.ORG. It’s a very positive summary of his work with the preeminent 2nd Amendment Rights group in Massachusetts. Romney worked very productively with them here and for the benefit of almost everyone concerned.

Proclamations: During his administration, Governor Romney issued a proclamation declaring May 7, 2005 as ?The Right to Bear Arms Day?. The proclamation was issued on this date to coincide with GOAL?s Annual Banquet.

If anything can be called my “single issue” more than the economy it’s the 2nd Amendment. Mitt Romney had a couple of minor gaffe missteps but in the end he didn’t disappoint anyone here on that score in the end, and I don’t think he will as President, either.

Contrast that with our current governor. Believe me, Deval Patrick is nowhere near as accessible to GOAL.
kowalski

It takes a concerted and determined but levelheaded and articulate lobby in Massachusetts to preserve and maintain our 2nd Amendment rights. We don’t achieve our goals here by “Occupying” anything or through loud demonstrations or sandbagging our legislators: we engage in a continuous and vigilant, civil dialogue. It does require compromise and accomodation on everyone’s part.

My sense is that Romney would be a strong Republican/Conservative President particularly if he is backstopped by a legislature he can work with, despite all the nasty things that have been said about him. And in the next 4 years I want someone who puts America first *and* who deeply understands international finance and capital markets at the helm. I don’t want someone who has to rely exclusively on his or her advisors for a grasp of the complexities. Romney comes across as well prepared because he’s smart. And I forgive him for being the Governor of Massachusetts. I wish he was still the Governor in a lot of ways.
heraklios

…
kowalski

And that’s all I’m going to say right now.

I think he’ll be a very strong pro-business President, a moderately strong pro-2nd Amendment President, a rather formidable persona on the world stage, a good deal-maker for American interests, strongly in support of American exceptionalism, and I don’t question his patriotism. Call me a starry-eyed optimist.

He has some floppy bits, a few too many to make me comfortable. But he’s not going to be a scandal hound in office. He’s got a formidably complex mind and a great work ethic, he understands finance, and as a family man he’s a stable person. I’d take him back as Governor of this state tomorrow morning if I had the ability to. Back him up with some gains in the House and Senate and I think you’ve got the potential for a great President and a productive Presidency that might possibly pull America out of this awful abyss we’re staring into.
kowalski

And gone through my seasonal bout of electoral indigestion, he’s basically right:

If you want to get involved you have to be involved face to face instead of just tapping away at a keyboard.

I know I have to do it. I did it in a small way when I covered the Republican debate in New Hampshire for Redstate and the Minority Report, but I have to take it to the next level.

Loren, I’m sorry for hijacking your thread. You’re absolutely right. I need to find a better outlet for my energies and you’re pointing the way.

wacowboy

the website has a “find your precinct” map where you can see if the coordinator’s position is occupied, if so, the person’s name and address. Turns out that between 50-75% of the precincts in my area are vacant. Exactly as you say.

heraklios

Hopefully, your state party isn’t as “top-down” as some are and you can get some things done!

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

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1111/69048.html

The article explains the nominating process and even links to the Rules of the Republican Party.

It may turn out that all of the Republicans who may actually be determining our Party?s nominee are those precinct committeemen who elected, directly or indirectly, however the rules in their respective state allow, the convention delegates. “Mere” registered Republicans do not have a vote. Only the precinct committeemen do. Again, if we want a ?more conservative? Republican Party, we have to get more conservatives ?inside? the Party.

Thank you.

Cold Warrior

Common_Cents

nt

acat

reply with a post with 5 in the title, specifying or expanding on agreed-upon points in the body.

Mew

tngal

The various social networks we allot some of our time offer reassurances that we are not alone in our thinking. That is not a bad thing. No man is an island and one can take comfort when they are among like minded individuals.

If we discover a “comfort zone” has become increasingly hostile or, in gentler tones, “less than friendly” we can go elsewhere for a time. Because there are so many social networks, there’s always another place to find company. Freerepublic, Twitter, email, a gajillion blogs, comments at fav sites, etc.

Activism requires motivation. You can draw it from within, or when things seem less than great, try to draw it from others.

We may not convert thousands of individuals to our particular candidate or concern de jour, but online we have brothers (and sisters) in arms.

*Echo chambers are also great places to just b**ch and vent. Its group therapy without the cost and time constraints.

http://teapartisan.wordpress.com Loren Heal

People enjoy arguing, but won’t argue outside the culture of the group they’re in.

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

http://api.ning.com/files/RNLTbDGcouowXxluPyCxCp29slO7hcEr-2gowTsf26ckk5Ovn**LY9cA0gmlaC1SJ9RMxYOelhj-1Lxq*tSIZnF1XmZxFLXo/20110406NeighborhoodPrecicntCommitteemanStrategyoutlineunite.png?width=500

Here’s the entire article.

And, we’re now up to 3,450 or so PCs in Maricopa County, AZ. Which means we’ve gone from 31.8% of the allotted slots being filled, in 2008 (1,989 of 6, 431 or so), to about 51% filled now. And almost all of the new PCs are conservative Republicans.

Here’s an article that explains the Neighborhood Precinct Committeeman Strategy. I hope you’ll read it, follow the links, and then ACT. It’s up to “we the people,” no?

http://www.redstate.com/coldwarrior/2011/04/10/what-we-need-to-do-as-soon-as-possible-why-we-need-to-do-it-why-it-will-work-if-we-unite-now/

Pray. Recruit. Repeat.

For Liberty,

ColdWarrior
funwithknives

who vehemently disagrees wth you and YOU ARE THE BAD GUY.
You have only stuck up for what you know is good and moral, plus it works as proven by the historical record, but all too often, bits and pieces are taken out of context and you get “fragged”.
All to often, ” the culture” you try to address is not what you’d imagine. They’re nothing like you. It’ s harpies, vultures and demonizers in full display.
So, you stick to a comfort zone, and why not? Why create a place where you’re not wanted, are disdained, and even reviled?
{But, I was only trying to start some honest debate…!!}

The Human Equation as seen by yours truly;
Out of every Ten People you will meet:
Two, like ya’
Two, hate ya’
Six,…Just Do Not Care.

RS

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