Although Trump may have won the state of Michigan in unexpected and dramatic fashion, it didn’t feel like that was the case at the Oakland County Republican Party Convention yesterday. Whereas we should have been singing Kumbaya and toasting the imminent demise of liberalism, there was instead strife, turmoil and mayhem due in large part to many dubious local swamp rats chomping at the bit to be drained.
Let’s cut straight to the chase, I will cover the insipid bureaucratic squabbling later. The conquering heroes did all they could to keep order during the event. The chairman was put into place fairly, and he was immediately confronted and challenged by the fringe minority. This unhinged minority presented confusing and contradictory motions. They yelled obscenities. They staged histrionics designed to trick unwitting delegates into siding with them in the frenzy of the madness they artificially created.
Chairman Matt Maddock entertained the motions of the crybaby minority, going out of his way to hear concerns that were frankly rude, unnecessary and embarrassing. This fringe minority called division on a motion to stop discussion that took roughly thirty minutes to sort out amidst constant chatter in the audience and poor audio quality staged throughout the venue. Old men were throwing tantrums like little children. Obviously, egotistical infighting had taken precedence to party unity and crushing liberal scum within these petty, desperate individuals.
You’d think that the entire convention would have been a massive unprecedented celebration in lieu of the historic victory that happened just a little over a week ago by Trump, right? But that is not even close to what happened! Party leaders had to wince through prepared talking points in favor of Trump in a ruse to prop up their own political careers. Of course, they gave themselves all the credit for his victory. It wasn’t Trump’s brilliant visionary populist strategy. It wasn’t the energized grassroots working at a fever pitch. They say it was the entrenched bosses who dragged their feet the entire time that were responsible for his victory! What a ridiculous and insulting notion!
In actually, these swamp rats worked to sabotage Trump the entire time, whether they have the courage to admit the obvious or not. Lt. Gov. Brian Calley actively bashed Trump and threw him under the bus while he was working to win Michigan. While suffering through a national scandal that has made him the most hated politician in the world, Gov. Snyder never even acknowledged Trump’s existence! This is in stark contrast to the Mitt Romney for President four years ago where resources were poured desperately into that abortion of a campaign. In lieu of these facts, does it make any sense the leaders of the state party were responsible for Trump’s success?
Consider these words from Party Chairwoman Ronna Romney-McDaniel at the height of the Trump campaign on Oct. 9 –
“As a woman, as the mother of a 13-year-old daughter and an 11-year-old son, and as a Republican, I find Mr. Trump’s comments reprehensible and disgusting. Mr. Trump has apologized for the comments he made 11 years ago, but needs to do so again and again if he hopes to gain back any semblance of public trust. I am confident that Michiganders know that Donald Trump’s comments represent only himself, and other Republicans do not share his views. Donald Trump’s comments are his alone to own and I cannot and will not defend them.”
Instead of doing the right thing and supporting her candidate when times got tough, Ronna chose to sanctimoniously chide Trump after this media-created “October Surprise” to help Hillary conveniently emerged. Nevertheless, that didn’t stop Ronna from showing up at the Oakland County convention and attempting to take credit for Trump’s victory in Michigan. She is desperate to shield herself from competition against Trump’s man in Michigan, Scott Hagerstrom. Hagerstrom’s brilliance running the Trump campaign in Michigan cemented his stature as a respected conservative leader who gets the job done. The spin machine was in full effect for Ronna, and rightfully so.
The Oakland County Republican Party leadership team bragged about Trump’s victory in spite of losing the county to Cheatin’ Lyin’ Stinkin’ Hillary. It was instead the blue collar voters of the downriver area, those “deplorables” who were emboldened by the Trump mandate to end the Trans Pacific-Partnership as well as Macomb County, home of the “Reagan Democrats,” that turned out for Trump. Those are the folks who pushed Trump over the top in Michigan. The only real genius iteration from the Trump campaign in Oakland County came from the Walled Lake office, staffed primarily by organizers of the Michigan Conservative Coalition. They pioneered the flash mobs which spread through the grassroots like a virus. Trump supporters were emboldened to spread their bold, ‘America First’ message knowing they were not alone. It spread to other states and national news coverage showed the Michigan Conservative Coalition as the crucial leaders behind Trump’s amazing success in the Wolverine State. Chairwoman Theresa Mungioli attempted to take responsibility for these accomplishments, but the record states otherwise.
Two More Years on the Executive Committee
After the initial convention process came mercifully to an end, we were sectioned off to decide who our county executive committee members would be. Once again, there were grown men and women hampering the process needlessly. There was a slate prepared in my sub-caucus, but others were readily invited to get on board. Several individuals obliged and everyone was given a minute to speak. I gave a proper “Drain the Swamp” speech to the folks in my district. I said I would never take any crap from any corrupt bureaucrat no matter what damned, crooked party they represent. I was re-elected for my second term. This is more servitude that I welcome. I am lowering myself into the swamp with fist fulls of Draino ready to pulverize everything in sight. I appreciate the recognition of the genuine article from my fellow conservatives, and I will not disappoint.
As disgusting of a process as this may be, I am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. The liberty caucus has been banging our heads against a brick wall for years seeing little more than cracks in the facade. Those of us who have kept our wits together within the calamity have seen these little cracks develop into full-blown chasms. Now is the time to roll up our sleeves and do the dirty work to seal the deal. This is the dawning of a new era. Conservative activists are on the frontier of a movement with limitless potential. It’s time to shake off the political class like a bad case of fleas and forge a movement that will trounce liberals and restore western civilization. We are on the cusp of doing that, and all the bureaucratic blather in the world won’t stop that inevitable eventually.
(16)Nuh Uh.
(2)
There are many of us here who would welcome any draining of a political swamp 'if' we could immediately ascertain what that swamp would definitively look like afterwards.
Your insider description of what that cesspool has always been is desperately welcome yet no different than what has been described previously minus any statewide specific action plan transferable to those outside SE Michigan with the exact same problems and similarly powerful foes.
As for:
"..Hagestrom's brilliance running the Trump campaign in Michigan cemented his stature as a respected conservative leader who gets the job done..." (??????)
The past realities surrounding that statement 'alone' demonstrate just how long(er) any journey may be for a true grassroots-led Michigan conservative movement operating in real time or head-on tackling difficult issues as such (totally) free from outside influences.
The image of patriots rappelling down in to the swamp with DrainO scattered everywhere appeals yet it would be nice to know exactly where those extremely limited handfuls will be thrown first, at whom and (exactly) why.
Gotta start somewhere!
The State Committee...
Agreed, Shane...and we are all certainly thankful that you are willing to work towards what is right and to bless us with even 'one' first hand account of these constantly occurring MiGOP affairs that many grassroots conservatives (if not 'all' on a regular basis) have refused to share for may years now. During this lame duck? Every single meeting such as yours is critical to the average conservative's understanding of the overall political climate here in Michigan. When we do not receive anything remotely resembling what you just wrote on a regular basis? We start to mistrust those who have already been obviously co-opted by even the simplest of easily condensed means.
I can remember many of us asking what the next definitive steps would be at least 7 years ago when we were ether at the 9.12.09 rally n D.C. or on the bus back to the church returning from the very first tea party (inexplicably cancelled forever) 'tax day' affairs in Lansing.
"Gotta start somewhere" was the non-definite-simply-go-your-own-way answer back then and unfortunately remains so today as the establishment MiGOP sits down to inform President Trump as to exactly who we all are here in the grassroots and (ashamedly) what we are all about.
Obviously they did not take a lesson from their down ballot losses. They need to wake up.
Shane, I really enjoy your home base stories and so glad I'm outta there. I can almost put names to those misbehaving as they were always the same (probably now their offspring). As for up here in Grand Traverse County, we too made a slate of 15 (how many we get) but an unknown rule change made is so two on our slate didn't qualified. Damn too. However, I'm please to announce all 13 on our slate elected--some old, some new. The most telling moment for me was that I asked that all delegates get sworn in, not just the board. So they called up Wayne Schmidt, our self-important state senator, who proceeded to miss a total line in the oath as provided for under Article II sec. one of the Michigan Constitution, that being "to uphold the laws of the State of Michigan". So, I confronted him and his telling response--and I'm not making this up-- "I just read what they handed me". Now if that aint just downright scarry. Two years to "repeal and Replace. But even more alarming was the Chair's statement that "this is the oath provided by the MIGOP. How hard can it be to copy three lines from the MI Constitution and share it. So the MI GOP deny us plunking at the State Convention and now sharing an oath contrary to the Oath contained within the Michigan Constitution. My advice to all--DO NOT LET YOUR GUARD Down.
Michigan Republicans will never taste the sweetness of victory until the Romney people disappear.
...did anybody have the presence of mind to demand that Schmidt hand over the document from which he was reading from so that not only "they" could be determined (easily) but so that a verifiable copy could be made right there in from of everybody?
Collecting campaign fodder is a full time job (ie. demanding *publicly* distributed votes for any MiGOP member's unquestioned eager support of admitted/proud Hilary supporter Milliken).
Both Shane and Sue (and but a few others) have been willing to give us the blow by blow at these meetings.
The fact that they are the tiniest of minorities in this respect breeds mistrust and division statewide. This obvious lack of candor also accomplishes absolutely nothing in terms of educating both our generation AND the following as to how our system (in reality) functions.
It won't be what we screw up which will be judged.
It will be the fact that we purposely kept from our children the very keys to their kingdom in so many unspeakable manners.
...and for those who needed to be reminded:
"Collecting Campaign fodder" (above) is not akin to 'eating your own' when your #1 stated mission has been and is at least 'supposed' to be ***transforming the Republican Party for the better***.
Trump won this election due to his winning the primary (period).
So if strategizing for that next primary is not a full time grassroots job???
Then please don't waste our time speaking of part-time legislatures AND term limits while refusing to convince primary voters using umpteen different examples of intentional neglect spread out over time using this very tactic.
A poor narrative will always lose to superior resources whether simply changing the former is a more effective strategy or not.
JD, in answer to your ongoing whines about these meetings being secret--THEY ARE NOT!!!! We always have folks watching us in action--in fact there was a group from Benzie County watching us--long drive to watch the political process--maybe it was the free beer? Okay, no free beer. And, I distinctly remember inviting you to participate merely by becoming a precinct delegate--even directions on how to be a write-in. At this stage you could have asked to be elevated to precinct delegate. We had three folks anxious to be elevated, waiting until convention business was over. Once elevated, someone yelled out--they need to take the oath! So, our fearless leader read the same oath I objected to earlier--so I added the line, "And the laws of the State of Michigan," at the appropriate moment. My issue got solved at that moment and I'm honored to have them on board. BTW, I came armed with the Michigan Constitution and I can see that the first order of business is to make the Michigan Constitution required reading--at least for our self-important state senator, Schmidt who rules merely by what he's handed to read. In the future, we must make sure he's handed only the correct read.
There is no easier way to learn the political process than to be involved in it. I dragged my four kids with me (always made meetings shorter, if you know what I mean) now they are adults with their own children and was thrilled when I got a text recently saying "guess where I am Mom? At a Pence Rally" was the answer.
"...JD, in answer to your ongoing whines about these meetings being secret--THEY ARE NOT!!!! We always have folks watching us in action--in fact there was a group from Benzie County watching us--long drive to watch the political process--maybe it was the free beer? Okay, no free beer...."
Nobody should have to suffer a long or even short "drive" anywhere to see their local or even statewide Republican Party in action.
We have this neat little tool at our disposal absolutely everywhere. The internet (in real time).
This fact is never debated as most (cough) "conservatives" don't even believe in simple/inexpensive/automated 21st century technology being immediately deployed at their very own town halls (all politics being local).
There is absolutely nothing that can't be said in public worth saying...period.
Grand Traverse Republicans proved this just recently by only Jason and his Dad willing to stand up for their (anything but public) vote regarding either rabid support for or the immediate expulsion of William Milliken.
Transparency has never been fought for tooth and nail by the grassroots and they will never succeed until it is (everywhere).
"..And, I distinctly remember inviting you to participate merely by becoming a precinct delegate--even directions on how to be a write-in. At this stage you could have asked to be elevated to precinct delegate..."
I am not certain that you understand grassroots conservative political leadership in other areas of the state. Why would the average conservative statewide 'throw in' with those obviously already co-opted by their local Republican (establishment) leadership...*especially* when not one other conservative in the state is willing to (proudly and loudly) stand beside them (in public) and admit that they have indeed already been corrupted?
I have no illusion that this is not the case everywhere.
I also understand those unwilling to fight the establishment all by their lonesomes while being treated like red-headed-stepchildren by the grassroots at the same time for simply describing the battlefield factually in their own precincts.
".. In the future, we must make sure he's handed only the correct read...."
In the future, what he read that day and *how* he would even receive such an abomination TO read should be on the lips of every opposing conservative primary candidate the very second that a microphone is ever placed before them.
That line was not deleted by 'accident' and anybody reading this knows it.
I commend you for bringing your children with and teaching them to fight for each and every transgression.
If I were strategizing for an establishment Republican?
I would throw out intentional distractions such as the above to move my larger agenda forward. The tactic is especially effective when your (cough) 'opposition' is unable to meaningfully debate or rally in real time over any piece of legislation you bring forward (especially in the lame duck).
You have to hand it to those currently handing us our lunch every single day during this holiday season and beyond.
Like Trump?
They enjoy winning and are pretty good at it without really even trying very hard.
'We', on the other hand, might as well all be naive Apprentice candidates fighting each other over already well known political battle principles which the MiGOP (ala Trump) pats us on the head every once in a while for ever recognizing or achieving.
...we have to remember that many of us are still wrapping our minds around an entire block (two districts) of Michigan "Tea Party" conservatives allowing not only their entire representation to be moved clear across the state...but those RECEIVING this never-before-attempted abomination in THEIR district simply sitting back and saying...???
We have a long ways go before even be asked to 'quality' for Apprentice-like challenges let alone being on a par with those (by default) bending President Trump's ear (exclusively) right now.
OK jd, I can tell that you're a political novice, which apparently accounts for your whines. As for me--one time I had a problem with the bank and it wasn't my error but rather theirs. I tried to get it corrected but I was nobody. Complaining wasn't working, being nice wasn't working so a new strategy was needed. I packed up all the neighborhood kids (had to take them to the library to pay for their help) went to the bank on a Saturday, 15 minutes before it closed, and let the kids loose. They were running up stairs, playing hide n seek, otherwise creating chaos. Went up the the banker who wouldn't fix their error and started again at the beginning. She even asked me to corral the kids but "Oh, they're not mine but lets get this problem fixed". Miraculously and before the bank closed, the problem got fixed. This is the exact type of thinking we're trying to share with you. To keep using the same strategy that doesn't work, is just plain insane. None of the current political climate was by accident, but by many who would not have otherwise gotten involved, got involved. The silent majority got real loud--and the elitists on both sides were not capable seeing it come. A strategic perfect storm. And the above strategy is exactly the strategy Trump planned for more than 20 years. And, its not the man but this type thinking which is causing fear.
Lastly, Jason brought the Milliken resolution to us for a vote (it passed) and yes his father was in opposition and yes mainstream media misreported the issue i.e., disloyalty. On the other hand--Rona Romney McDaniel acted swiftly against Wendy Day by removing her from her State committee chair for the same issue of disloyalty with minimal fanfare. Could it possibly be that Jason's resolution planted the seed, thereby empowering others to act against disloyalty? Me thinks yes and that's how it works--time and time again. PS Trump prizes loyalty above all else.
**Breaking**:
Michigan's new favorite Anti-Common Core "Conservative" has chosen Betsy DeVos to be his Secretary of Education
(Sue):
"..OK jd, I can tell that you're a political novice, which apparently accounts for your whines..."
You're right, Sue.
Us "political novices" will never "whine" (ever) again by demanding that Michigan conservatives leap in to immediate post-election action concerning our fast-moving/*crushing* CommonCore legislation/issues so that our President would be forced to make A CHOICE between entrenched establishment Republicans and the free will of 'conservative' Michiganders not to mention their own grandchildren's immediate welfare.
"We" were actually the problem all along...weren't we, Sue?
Much too eager to get back on that Capital lawn the very day after Trump won 'and' (even worse)... ...MUCH too willing to fight for our own children when the battle was obviously being taken to them on every single day afterwards.
With everything "StopCommonCoreMichigan" ('mysteriously') on a multi-week hiatus at the same time?
The "uneducated" among us cannot *wait* to hear the grassroots political analysis from those "oh so worried as to our children's minds being mined" ALL ALONG and CERTAINLY (recently) during Michigan's lame duck.
Explain away, Sue...or better yet...give us all an eta on 'the conservative calvary' somehow about to insert themselves in to the Donald's Big Boy Education Apprentice game now already over here in Michigan not to mention nationwide.
"Timing is everything" (as conservatives full well know) unless your clock has been snatched or gave up willingly to the very party that you are attempting to crash.
...and the Capital lawn 'remained' un-muddied...(hey, this is all but about those pesky little kids anyways)....
(Sue):
"..The silent majority got real loud--and the elitists on both sides were not capable seeing it come. A strategic perfect storm. And the above strategy is exactly the strategy Trump planned for more than 20 years. And, its not the man but this type thinking which is causing fear..."
"Elitists" in "Fear", Sue ???
Of "who" exactly...or better yet "what"???
Would you like me to post a picture of "who" for you smiling and taking pictures this weekend with "who" as the formalities surrounding our new Education Secretary are but merely 'walked through'???
What are you telling us now, Sue...that "Michelle Rhee" is somehow going to push aside those (easily) able to 'stop' (in its tracks) Michigan's already barely breathing StopCommonCoreInMichigan movement **in its most critical hour**? That our chlldren's FAKE data-mining "protection" legislation presently sailing (easily) on through our lame duck will instead be STOPPED *only* because grassroots conservatives would risk ANYTHING to stop it?
Was our newly minted President put up in the same stinky/dumpy/older than dirt "DeltaPlex" arena the very last time that he visited our state (as he was previous)...or 1st class/brand new/no expense spared digs across town ***on election eve***???
What other properties in West Michigan (immediately preceding the vote) were suddenly made available to Pence (and others) when those 'in the know.'..suddenly indeed KNEW that Trump would indeed prevail???
We may not be as 'smart' as the grassroots leadership pushing these false narratives (for whatever reason this side of being 110% co-opted long ago) yet we at the very least recognize WINNERS.
They won, Sue.
We did 'not' due to the fact that nobody plays their game better than them (which history has long proven) 'especially' with a good share of our leadership brilliantly co-opted to their cause since day one. Complete and total grassroots inaction in this lame duck is proving this fact more than the total lack of even simple debate preceding it.
A number of us would congratulate the other side for a great strategy yet an equal number (or more) believe that they really didn't even have to craft one beyond "just co-opt them" (period).
(Sue):
"...Lastly, Jason brought the Milliken resolution to us for a vote (it passed) and yes his father was in opposition and yes mainstream media misreported the issue i.e., disloyalty. On the other hand--Rona Romney McDaniel acted swiftly against Wendy Day by removing her from her State committee chair for the same issue of disloyalty with minimal fanfare. Could it possibly be that Jason's resolution planted the seed, thereby empowering others to act against disloyalty? Me thinks yes and that's how it works--time and time again.."
C'mon, Sue!!!
Wendy had to go because she simply screwed up (period). We all do it, she's no different and she'll be back obviously fighting for whatever she believes in soon.
Yet claiming to have BUDGED any navigational needle on the cruise ship sized behemoth that is the MiGOP using a no-recorded-vote resolution involving a decades long-retired governor???
'Now' you are just plain insulting us mere "political novices" (again) and driving even more of us away from the conservative values of which we both obviously agree.
If you would like a copy of those two individuals shaking hands outside that very exclusive/ritzy country club in New Jersey to tell the entire story of the Michigan Tea Party movement since '09 (without words)...I would be glad to tear it from the celebrating/laughing hands of a recently victorious MiGOP member hoping to mount it with pride on his or her office wall.
On second thought...Donald doesn't like sore losers and (as you say) "prizes loyalty above all else" (which many TeaPartiers understood from day one in terms of "changing the Republican party").
JD you need to be more concerned with the prospect of Betsy Devos in that position. While she likes charter schools, she also likes Core Curriculum. Charter Schools are still public schools and still must teach Core Curriculum. The Department of Ed needs to go. That is the only cure.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ym1G2xjR02o (the aforementioned photo now sitting on every Michigan establishment Republican's desk as the proud proof of their crushing victory over grassroots conservatives not already co-opted for years in their local precincts)
No need to further educate us "political novices" here, Sue.
The entire Michigan TeaParty leadership apparatus (by design) has obviously enjoyed referring to the average Joe/Jill "unwashed" Michigan concerned conservative in this regard...and we're very frankly sick of it.
We may not be able to afford entry passes to VIP (only) 'conservative' conventions or care to rub elbows/back slap at local MiGOP country club functions...
...yet we 'do' have the presence of mind to notice the sole Michigan StopCommonCore information infrastructure go 'dark' for going on 9 days now **AS** crippling lame duck legislation moves forward at lightning speed.
We also 'do' understand the (negative) optics of what a (curiously missing) nationally broadcast massive 2012 Right To Work type anti-CommonCore demonstration occurring **RIGHT NOW**' (on our Capital lawn) would mean to those currently playing "The Apprentice" with President Trump.
Then again?
We're all just a bunch of country bumpkins out here in flyover country hoping to set the record straight when our children ask why the entire world knows what they had for 'a snack' in pre-school.
"Political novices" indeed (let's all hope and pray that our kids wear that label much better than we do or we all just could be in trouble well before our creator judges the lack of outrage/outright capitulation 'on demand' during the Michigan lame duck of 2016 as well).