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    Tag: integrity argument

    Thinking Like Grant


    By Kevin Rex Heine, Section News
    Posted on Fri Nov 15, 2013 at 07:45:28 AM EST
    Tags: constitutionalist insurgency, Campaign For Liberty - Michigan, Republican Liberty Caucus of Michigan, Michigan Conservative Political Action Conference, iCaucus Michigan, Michigan Conservative Union, liberty minded network, tea party movement, grassroots conservatives, integrity argument, causa provocare, liberty-minded network, acta non verba, empowered grassroots operation, Reagan's Eleventh Commandment, old guard establishment, Michigan Banana Republican Party, Defending Main Street, Conservative Victory Project, relentless progressive action, heavy-handed bifarceisanship, poisoning the party brand, creeping progressivism, executive-grade arm-twisting, "Mastermind" vs. "Oracle", corinthian scales vs. absolute standard (all tags)

    "Oh, I am heartily tired of hearing about what Lee is going to do.  Some of you always seem to think he is suddenly going to turn a double somersault, and land in our rear and on both of our flanks at the same time.  Go back to your command, and try to think what we are going to do ourselves, instead of what Lee is going to do." - Lt.Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, to an unnamed Union field commander, on the evening of May 6th, 1864, during the Battle of the Wilderness.

    In sports, a key to keeping one's opponent off the scoreboard is to keep their defense off the field (or to significantly disrupt their offensive rhythm).  Matt Stafford, Calvin Johnson, and Reggie Bush can't do the Lions much good if they can't get off the sidelines; nor can Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder do the Tigers much good if they can't get into the batter's box; nor can Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk do the Red Wings much good if they can't inside the opponent's blue line.

    Similarly, in war, both strategic and tactical success is often determined by whichever side can maintain the initiative, denying the enemy forces the operational latitude to dictate the time, location, and conditions of any engagement more significant than an isolated skirmish.  Doing so keeps the enemy reactive, instead of proactive, and denies them the opportunity to accomplish their objectives, while allowing friendly forces to achieve theirs.

    In regard to maintaining the initiative, politics is no different from either sports or war.  Keep the opposition responding to your actions, or keep them just disorganized enough that they can't do anything productive, and the next thing they know, the election's been won before a single vote gets tabulated.


    (8 comments, 2706 words in story) Full Story

    Some Consensus Assembly Required


    By Kevin Rex Heine, Section News
    Posted on Mon Sep 16, 2013 at 04:26:02 PM EST
    Tags: 30th Biennial Mackinac Republican Leadership Conference, Conservative Republicans, Ronald Reagan, Dave Agema, Liberal Republicans, Mitt Romney, Bill Milliken, Libertarian Republicans, Rand Paul, Justin Amash, Moderate Republicans, Gerald Ford, John Engler, Tea Party Republicans, Sarah Palin, Tom McMillin, Reagan's Eleventh Commandment, integrity argument, empowered grassroots operation, internal consensus building, 2014 Michigan Gubernatorial Election, 2014 Michigan Gubernatorial Republican Primary, 2014 Michigan Republican State Convention, "Mastermind" vs. "Oracle" (all tags)

    Gretchen Whitmer refers to it as a "civil war" (and Bill Ballenger tempers that to "controlled-fire civil war"); Todd Courser refers to it as "intense fellowship;" both Brian Calley and Wes Nakagiri refer to it as "a competition of ideas;" Saul Anuzis refers to it as "growing pains;" and Garrett Arwa cites it as evidence that the Michigan Republican Party is "coming apart at the seams."

    Me?  I think the truth is somewhere in the middle of all of that.  I also think that these various characterizations dance around an interesting finding of the iCaucus Michigan survey, but which wasn't referred to in the press release in a way that would draw attention, and which by itself explains why a top-down approach to Michigan Republican Party unity is never going to work.


    (1174 words in story) Full Story

    A Message To Our Legislators - Beware False Choices

    Consultants Miss Big Picture, Fail To Connect Dots


    By Kevin Rex Heine, Section News
    Posted on Thu Sep 12, 2013 at 07:07:26 PM EST
    Tags: 2014 Michigan Gubernatorial Election, Rick Snyder, Mark Schauer, 2014 Michigan Gubernatorial Republican Primary, Dave Agema, Gary Glenn, Bill Schuette, 2014 Michigan Republican State Convention, Brian Calley, Wes Nakagiri, 30th Biennial Mackinac Republican Leadership Conference, causa provocare, sending a message, Michigan Banana Republican Party, MIGOP convention rule 22, MIGOP Policy Subcommittee, poisoning the party brand, creeping progressivism, executive-grade arm-twisting, good old boys network, GoverNerd, Nerd King, Slick Rick, mister thirty-six percent, Mr. 36%, Reagan's Eleventh Commandment, integrity argument, constitutionally-restrained government, liberty-minded network, acta non verba, empowered grassroots operation, politician paper training, corinthian scales vs. absolute standard, "Mastermind" vs. "Oracle" (all tags)

    Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself.
    Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.
    Proverbs 26:4-5 (English Standard Version)

    Solomon's words of wisdom here have been quite helpful this past week and a half, when I've had the sense to heed them.  Further relevant advice comes from my dad (a Mustang pilot during WW2) and one of my elementary school teachers (a Mitchell navigator during WW2):  If you're not drawing fire, then you're not over your target.

    Judging by some of the flak I've been catching since Labor Day, I'd say I've discovered a target the value of which neither the blueblooded old guard party elites nor the Snyder-Calley "nerd herd" want as public knowledge.


    (5 comments, 1945 words in story) Full Story

    Provable Vulnerability


    By JGillman, Section News
    Posted on Mon Sep 02, 2013 at 11:05:58 PM EST
    Tags: Michigan, Republicans, Survey, 30th Biennial Mackinac Republican Leadership Conference, poisoning the party brand, creeping progressivism, executive-grade arm-twisting, constitutionally-restrained government, Reagan's Eleventh Commandment, integrity argument, causa provocare, liberty-minded network, acta non verba, empowered grassroots operation, sending a message, politician paper training, corinthian scales vs. absolute standard, "Mastermind" vs. "Oracle", Rick Snyder, GoverNerd, Nerd King, Slick Rick, mister thirty-six percent, Mr. 36%, Dave Agema, Mike Bishop, Keith Butler, Betsy DeVos, Gary Glenn, Pete Hoekstra, Bill Schuette, Michigan Banana Republican Party, MIGOP convention rule 22, MIGOP Policy Subcommittee, Brian Calley, Wes Nakagiri (all tags)

    When was the last time a sitting Republican governor of Michigan was subjected to a primary?

    Truthfully, I am not sure if it has ever happened.  In 2014 it would likely succeed, according to polling by iCaucus that was completed on Friday and finalized this weekend. The scientific polling was done over a week targeting a specific group that will decide who is the GOP flag bearer going forward; active, educated and engaged republican delegates.

    As a foreshadowing through early results had revealed, there is little question of where folks are at this point in time, and on the eve of Snyder signing Obamacare capitulation into law in Michigan.  The polling shows Rick Snyder in disfavor with delegates, and unwelcome to nearly half. Less than 40% would NOT like to see a primary challenge.

    Not surprisingly to this writer, the results are not as clear with Lt Governor Brian Calley, who has results that are within the margin of error.  Outside of the polling there is a sense that many conservatives still find the problem to be with the governor himself, and Calley to be more incidental and possibly holding the governor to more conservative positions than he would be otherwise.

    This might be the case, and might be seen as an additional reason to oust the governor who requires such 'care'.

    Continued with SO MUCH MORE below the fold.

    (6 comments, 1961 words in story) Full Story

    Wow, That Was Quick


    By Kevin Rex Heine, Section News
    Posted on Sat Jul 20, 2013 at 12:49:47 AM EST
    Tags: Michigan Banana Republican Party, 30th Biennial Mackinac Republican Leadership Conference, poisoning the party brand, creeping progressivism, executive-grade arm-twisting, constitutionally-restrained government, Reagan's Eleventh Commandment, integrity argument, causa provocare, liberty-minded network, acta non verba, empowered grassroots operation, sending a message, politician paper training, corinthian scales vs. absolute standard, "Mastermind" vs. "Oracle", Rick Snyder, GoverNerd, Nerd King, Slick Rick, mister thirty-six percent, Mr. 36%, MIGOP convention rule 22, MIGOP Policy Subcommittee, shenanigans and skullduggery, 1st Michigan Tea Party Alliance, false-flag challenger (all tags)

    Let me point out that a mere five days ago I'd pointed out that a convention rules change approved by the MIGOP Policy Committee subtly sent a signal that Brian Calley is somewhat vulnerable to getting his keister kicked off of the republican ticket at next year's Michigan Republican State Convention.  This would square with what a couple of C.I.s inside the Republican Legislative Caucus are telling me, but at this point I don't have anything that I can corroborate on the record.

    Nevertheless, I was kinda hoping that it'd be more than 48 hours before someone went shooting their mouth off to the press.  (62 days or so sounded like a really good number.)  Apparently, I shouldn't underestimate some people's ability to attract reporters.

    (5 comments, 1313 words in story) Full Story

    Speculation, Scuttlebutt, and Surprises


    By Kevin Rex Heine, Section News
    Posted on Mon Jul 15, 2013 at 05:58:12 PM EST
    Tags: Michigan Banana Republican Party, 30th Biennial Mackinac Republican Leadership Conference, poisoning the party brand, creeping progressivism, executive-grade arm-twisting, constitutionally-restrained government, Reagan's Eleventh Commandment, integrity argument, causa provocare, liberty-minded network, acta non verba, empowered grassroots operation, sending a message, politician paper training, corinthian scales vs. absolute standard, "Mastermind" vs. "Oracle", Rick Snyder, GoverNerd, Nerd King, Slick Rick, mister thirty-six percent, Mr. 36%, MIGOP convention rule 22, MIGOP Policy Committee (all tags)

    I've been a more-or-less regular contributor to this site since June 28th, 2008, and more than once I've referenced John F. Kennedy's admonition that those who insist on making a peaceful takeover impossible ultimately make takeover by revolt necessary.  Without variation, that reference has been in the context of yet another ham-handed move, by the blueblood elites that populate the state party's halls of power, to shut down the voice of the grassroots volunteers and convention delegates.

    Just in case the bluebloods weren't paying attention, the August 2010 State Convention, the May 2012 State Convention, and the February 2013 State Convention sent a pretty consistent message that the rank and file are beyond fed up with party leadership (both internal and publicly elected) behaving like their priority is staying in power rather than in delivering results consistent with the party platform.  However, what came out of the State Committee (specifically, the Policy Committee) over the weekend didn't do anything to advance a détente.  Realistically, the net result may have been to provide the liberty-minded network with a primary target that heretofore wasn't even on the radar.


    (1 comment, 1137 words in story) Full Story

    That's Unfortunate . . . Now We Play Hardball


    By Kevin Rex Heine, Section News
    Posted on Sun Jun 23, 2013 at 07:53:39 AM EST
    Tags: 2013-HB-4714, House Roll Call 241 (2013), 2013-HB-4111, House Roll Call 11 (2013), Michigan Banana Republican Party, heavy-handed bifarceisanship, poisoning the party brand, illusion of state control, nullification vs. enabling, legislative malfeasance, creeping progressivism, executive-grade arm-twisting, Supremacy Clause abuse, U. S. Constitution Amendment X, State Sovereignty, constitutionally-restrained government, Reagan's Eleventh Commandment, integrity argument, causa provocare, liberty-minded network, acta non verba, empowered grassroots operation, sending a message, naming names and identifying targets, politician paper training, corinthian scales vs. absolute standard, "Mastermind" vs. "Oracle", Rick Snyder, GoverNerd, #OneRoughTurd, Nerd King, Slick Rick, 30th Biennial Mackinac Republican Leadership Conference (all tags)

    I grew up as the second of six siblings.  My parents were absolute geniuses at molding natural sibling rivalry into six sets of well-honed competitive instincts.  We were taught that if someone's keeping score, then winning's important, and you either play to win (within the rules of the game) or don't bother playing; full-contact euchre is a regular event at family get-togethers.  We also were taught how to be both considerate winners and gracious losers, and that once the final score is on the board, you shake hands, go have a beer, and get over it.  My three now-adult children were taught the same concepts, as were most of my two-and-a-half-dozen-or-so nieces and nephews (including the in-laws).

    It would appear, however, that the GoverNerd never learned the same lessons.  If you can tolerate listening to all of the logical fallacies and factual misrepresentations, the money quotes start at about 5:01, 11:17, 21:47, 22:24, and 23:19.


    (55 comments, 2257 words in story) Full Story

    Richardville's Charge


    By Kevin Rex Heine, Section News
    Posted on Thu Jun 20, 2013 at 12:29:14 PM EST
    Tags: 2013-HB-4714, U. S. Constitution Amendment X, State Sovereignty, constitutionally-restrained government, Supremacy Clause abuse, illusion of state control, nullification vs. enabling, legislative malfeasance, liberty-minded network, empowered grassroots operation, heavy-handed bifarceisanship, politician paper training, creeping progressivism, Michigan Banana Republican Party, integrity argument, causa provocare, naming names and identifying targets, Reagan's Eleventh Commandment, corinthian scales vs. absolute standard, "Mastermind" vs. "Oracle" (all tags)

    We're a shade under two weeks from the sesquicentennial of the Battle of Gettysburg (July 1st thru 3rd).  And as I was mulling over what I've learned about the Michigan Senate Republican Caucus this week, one track of my mind started comparing what's expected to happen on the senate floor today to the final Confederate assault of the battle, popularly referred to as "Pickett's Charge."  Without overly belaboring the analogy, I think it appropriate.


    (2 comments, 662 words in story) Full Story

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