...or why strong leaders rarely waste time/propose useless legislation (unless the consultant advises 'its best')
Not many would argue the fact that ‘our side’ has been unable to field not to mention ‘elect’ the number of solid fiscally conservative/no nonsense legislators that we desire here in Michigan in any quantity that is near acceptable. Few others would agree that we have effectively measured the performance of those who did rise to acceptance or insist that a public stance be taken on legislation before or after their votes.
Recently, two “Tea Party”(for lack of a better description) backed legislators have introduced themselves and their #1 legislative priorities to us through their “Contract for Liberty” or “legislative framework to restore liberty”.
Really?
With the overwhelming quantity of harmful legislation presently being forced on to a fast upcoming legislative docket PURPOSELY designed to drastically alter the Michigan political/financial landscape…constitutional conservatives are desperately in need of…more rhetoric? Haven’t we tried (and failed) to achieve our (equally vague) goals for the past 6 years using these same broad ‘principles’ versus simply (publicly) naming the enemy, describing their agenda/associations…and allowing no quarter?
General Boykin described in no uncertain terms exactly what has upset him most (lately) in his speech last weekend. It was the fact that those who he had sent into battle had no courage to fight HARD from the moment that they were dropped on to the battlefield. They took the advice of others to ‘lay low’ and ‘hope for the best’ from those who controlled their political aspirations.
If our representatives are allowed to take the advice of political consultants who predictably advise our leaders to waste their limited time and do what’s best for them ‘politically’ (or worse yet for an enemy that they have sworn to fight in an extremely limited time frame) we are sunk. Put simply, if your precious ‘manifesto’ isn’t naming a single legislative issue/bill/law by name or the legislator, state employee, department, lobbyist, industry or non-profit that has your constituents in a stranglehold due to it?…you are effectively blowing smoke for all intents and purposes.
For years, many of us have been waiting for leaders to appear who immediately recognize/verbalize exactly who our enemy is and how we will defeat them in the political arena. In turn, we have received little but well worn out catch phrases and ‘initiatives’ effectively wasting time/resources that differ little from (failed/non-focused/vague) ‘pay attention to the shiny ball’ sham political efforts of old.
Here’s a solution:
Demand that both new and old legislators obsessed with ‘liberty’ break down, analyze and publicly announce a plan of action (together with the grassroots) to DEFEAT any previously introduced legislation ‘already’ grossly affecting our liberty TODAY.
Evidently, Nov. 4th 2014 through January 20th, 2015 would be more accurately described as an ‘armistice’ for freshmen/veteran tea party hopefuls.
As the General alluded to…when those we support get their noses bloodied well ‘before’ they are even able to take the oath of office?…we’ll certainly know that we have a true soldier in the fight.
(5)Nuh Uh.
(7)
I get what you are saying, but lets let the dust settle a moment before we critique the method.
(Wait for) The 'dust' from the election (I count 2 months + 2 weeks in a 12 month calendar year)
or the 'dust' from what KRH (evidently accurately, with no opposing commentary here) described as going on behind the scenes at the single most important date (for the patriotic 'unwashed' at least) on the 'liberty' calendar?
Again, i just don't see any 'method' whatsoever for taking the reins of leadership IMMEDIATELY...us ALL (grassroots supporters included) getting our noses bloodied simply PREPARING for the fight..nor any discussion whatsoever breaking down what we all are truly up against in terms of 1) pending legislation, 2)forcing legislators while they are 'home' to take positions on same or (3) frankly any indication that these new leaders will be informing us as to the behind-the-scenes critical information needed to act swiftly enough to make a difference given the (secretive) manner in which our legislature currently operates.
If there was any evidence that these new leaders had ALREADY been in a 'dust up' for these past 2 months (plus) with those that they have sworn to fight BEFORE their shared backslapping ceremonies tomorrow...perhaps criticizing the same flag-waving-nothing-of-substance crap that we've been fed for 6 years now wouldn't be justified.
They haven't (see the PowWow) and it is, in my opinion.
Just my 2¢, JD, you're barking up the wrong tree by haranguing away at Reps. Courser, and Gamrat. What evidence do you have of any malfeasance they have bestowed upon their constituency by their legislative action plan?
I'm also not understanding what the John Yob bogeyman meme carried over from past topic is all about either. I mean, is it Strategic National's record of U.S. Senators Hoekstra, and Lynn Land, which strikes terror deep within the fiber of you, and KRH? Is it Presidents Cain, Gingrich, and Santorum, which in certain folk's minds has elevated Mr. Yob to such lofty Rainmaker status?
The above is not to besmirch Strategic National, as it is a very accomplished and successful firm, which if one would like opportunity of having a seat at the table, I would strongly suggest and highly recommend retaining their service. Odious face? No, and the quality of its clientele demonstrates why it passes as good enough for narcissistic mouthbreathers in liberal wastelands.
Ps. I appreciate the leveraging of the inspirational Lt. General, however, even the Lt. General understands the difference between a serial number and a civilian. Maybe, JD, you should review his video from the Pow wow, again.
Why don't we make it easy for everybody?
KRH is obviously making the connection between those who would never betray their (steady) paychecks; those who 'sign' said checks (ie. those currently crippling our state) and and those who apparently believe that the former's consultation is invaluable in defeating the (longtime) author(s) of said checks.
Get it?
If not, then why isn't at least one person up here claiming that none of what KRH has claimed in indeed fact...or that the TP movement has (finally) NOT been effectively 'purchased' by those able to both write checks and dangle political careers between their little fingers?
Our 'consultants' today:
"My first advice to your group would be to take a page from your 'old' playbook...and continually fill speeches with NOT current legislative news or your next political target by name, department or deed...but to continually regurgitate the concepts of "liberty" and "freedom" (ad nauseum) which will strike mortal FEAR into the hearts of all that you seek to defeat..."
As KRH alluded...great advice... if you're seeking to drive the final stake into an already 'woozy' opponent (apparently, they have more help than any of us would have ever surmised).
Yep. I "get it".
If only you, and KRH had the courage of the Lt. General with standing in the same room where the Kryptonite image of a cannabis leaf adorned the wall perhaps, the rhetoric spewed would hold some value with me.
Best wishes to both with your stratagems.
I have better things to do with my time than get into yet another drawn-out conversation over what appears to be a difference of perspective, so I'll make this quick:
To be clear, Scales, I spent the weekend actually earning an honest paycheck at my day job. I'm evidently good enough at what I do (marketing for a home remodeling company) that I wind up getting assigned to damn near every trade show within driving distance. It ties down just enough of my time that I cannot stay as involved as I’d like to in the political landscape, but it does keep the bills paid. Otherwise, maybe.
As I attempted to point out in that original comment in another thread (although I apparently should have done a better job), my beef isn’t with Gamrat, Glenn, or Courser (I actually think that they’ve acquitted themselves quite well). Nor do I have a beef, in this context, with John Yob, as I agree with your assessment that he’s one of the best in the business at getting his clients seats at the table of political access (though, as you’ve observed, he does have this nasty habit of coming up a tad short in high-profile public elections).
My annoyance, rather, is at what I view as blatant hypocrisy by certain PowWow leadership, who gave me unrelenting crap for two years straight, for no other reason than that I was on Strategic National’s payroll for the 2012 campaign cycle, and yet is now apparently quite content to welcome JPY with open arms as a keynote speaker. This is the same PowWow that apparently cannot produce an actionable strategy or platform, in spite of a 14-month-old opinion article (one of many I’ve written) providing crystal-clear guidance as to what that ought to look like.
You want to talk about courage? Okay, let’s do that. Setting aside, for the moment, my 20 years, 4 months, and 28 days on active duty in the U. S. Navy (including 13 years, 3 months, and 7 days on sea duty, specifically including at least three deployments into a combat zone), how about we take note of my efforts to smoke out the rats in a snake pit, which involved having the testicular fortitude to stand up to considerable establishment pressure to rescind my demand for a proper roll-call on the Calley vs. Cooper question? Or would you rather I mention my work as the Chief Whip on the campaign to replace an unprincipled moderate with a principled conservative as our national committeeman? Would either of those work for you?
Given that my active exposure of provably unprincipled, non-conservative, lack of leadership – attempting to get renominated to yet another octennium in a university board seat – drew fire from tea partiers and establishment types alike, and even resulted in my employer at the time actively dicking with my paycheck (come to find out that he was on her campaign payroll all along), after the fiasco in Novi, I just opted out of the manure tub for a few months. Maybe I get back into it in a role on someone’s convention campaign, maybe not. I gotta be able to pay the bills before I can concern myself with saving the republic.
Honor. It's about honor. That is reason for response. I figured so, swabby. Never construe otherwise when I say/write - Thank You for your service. Likewise, I wish I had time to expound upon that but, I do not - not for here, anyway. Nevertheless, time is fleeting for everyone on this Big Beautiful Blue Sphere, and I truly understand that as none of us are exceptions to the Life 101 balancing act, which lately has consumed more amounts of both of our valuable time as noticeably it has become your signature exit line.
It is understood, as you once enlightened me in comment not long ago that you are a student of the Gold Standard of Conservatism. OK. What if I told you, our Founder's idea that is America, gifted to us, that it's not about you, would you still believe? As a Publius, I do. Or, as a young man, which I respect, stated to me not long ago, "Bottom line up front, mother f***er - do you have one?" Yes, I do with regard to this matter, perhaps, a course of Prager U to sort out whatever bad juju exists between you and Mr. Wells? Somehow, someway, whatever the solution, find peace.
Bottom line the young man wrote?!?! Because, I haven't the time for your sh!t, nor those peddling 2A flapdoodle in exchange for a few billion to the Nerd agenda nor, the fruit-loops you're attracting over pretty crap they don't understand and don't even understand they don't understand. May 5th approaches, and a liberal Nerd has the MEA in his back-pocket for ramming through a $1.9B tax hike. Fact. No, this douche is not going to be any better than Bolger. Get it together, KRH, or we are all fooked.
Ps. I am somewhat disappointed with one of the three you shared, and I'll give you this - it ain't the one you and Wholihan f***ed over in 2012.
Pps. actually hanging the statewide losers on StratNat? C'mon, KRH, you're smarter than that. 😉
From the South Bend Tribune; January 18, 2012 (deja vu):
Only hours after this week’s formal announcement by Kalamazoo’s Jack Hoogendyk that ***FOR THE SECOND TIME IN TWO YEARS*** (emphasis added) he’ll seek to unseat the 13-term congressman in the August primary, Upton issued a statement taking issue with Hoogendyk.
“In fact, Jack Hoogendyk called me just before Labor Day and told me I was doing a good job and he wasn’t running against me. He told that to several other community leaders as well,’’ Upton said in part. “My focus on job creation and commonsense reforms hasn’t changed, but apparently Jack’s view has.’’
Asked about Upton’s comments on Wednesday, Hoogendyk agreed he spoke to Upton over the summer, explaining he had failed to congratulate him on his re-election in 2010 and he wanted to atone for the oversight. However, according to Hoogendyk, Upton misinterpreted his comments.
“I told him I respected him, and I told him he did a good job on his re-election. I hadn’t done that before,’’ he said.
As for allegedly telling Upton he wouldn’t run against him again, Hoogendyk DIDN'T DENY IT, (emphasis added) explaining his mindset on Labor Day and as recently as Christmas was that he wouldn’t challenge Upton. Asked why he changed his mind, he cited a variety of reasons but one in particular.
“I looked at his voting record and he’s not a true constitutional conservative,’’ he said. “There’s too much spending, too much debt, too much regulation.’’
No kidding.
(Fast forward to the PowWow):
"...Yeah, we have all these (daily) connections to the (local/state) Republican Party and are keynoting their decades old 'rock star' consultants (among other things 'familia')...so (taking a cue from 'Jack') we're simply trying to express the respect that we have for their election prowess and their 'old school' method of influencing voters..."
The man who called Agema a 'prophet' (and that accomplished 'what'???) is gone.
How far 'gone' from the grassroots base will those who fawn over the GOP's tactics/consultants 'today' be well before the next election?