If you want to know what is wrong with the Marion County GOP organization leadership look no further than the insider local GOP blog, Washington Street Politics. Earlier WSP had called popular northside Republican state senator Mike Delph "crazy" for introducing a bill that would require a presidential candidate to produce a birth certificate to qualify as a candidate. Of course, that is simply asking for proof of one of the few legal requirements in the Constitution to run for President, but that fact didn't stop WSP from mislabeling it as a "birther" bill aimed at President Obama.
Now WSP attacks Sen. Delph for offering a bill establishing a "Don't Tread on Me" tea party license plate. According to WSP, these efforts are Delph trying to appeal to the "fringe right." I wonder if WSP means those tea party, "fringe right" type people who helped Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard get elected in 2007, the ones Ballard immediately sold out?
These two posts by WSP reveal how completely clueless the Marion County GOP establishment leaders are in understanding the importance of issues in motivating not only voters but the people who work the trenches in Republican politics. To the GOP country-club establishment, the motivation is government contracts, insider deals, and making private individuals and companies wealthy at the expense of taxpayers. Unless party leaders can grasp the importance of political issues and ideology in motivating voters and party workers, any effort to rebuild the local Republican Party is doomed to failure.
17 comments:
C'mon. Those people over there are pretty smart and certainly clever.
I'm quite sure that they would do really well on any playground with the rest of the ten year-olds.
As to having a respectful, knowledgable and rational discourse?
Well, if it doesn't fit their scripted agenda, they immediately descend into name calling, taunting and whatever else they remember from their (fairly recent) days of bullying others in some elementary schoolyard.
Seemingly, that kind of behavior does seem to persist more in the political arena than most anywhere else.
Gosh, maybe if we're lucky they'll taunt us again? But next time, perhaps we'll get the French accent, too?
Revised below is the truest insight you've ever penned on establishment Republicans:
"The members of the GOP country-club establishment seek government employment to award government contracts to friends, to structure insider deals, and to make private individuals and companies wealthy at the expense of taxpayers."
I find myself agreeing with WSP on this issue, but for a different reason. While it might not be pandering to the fringe-right (I don't see the Tea Party as fringe), it IS still pandering.
If a Tea Party group wants to get a vanity plate, let them pay the fee just like others do.
Gary Welsh wrote about problems with the In God We Trust plates, and how many people complained about getting them as the default plates without even being given a choice when it was originally introduced.
And let's be honest Paul, Delph is from Carmel. He probably isn't aware of the 2007 Tea Party rallies. This is pandering to the national Tea Party, not the 2007 municipal election Tea Party protests.
On another note, I always thought Delph's district was mostly in Carmel, but I checked the map and it looks like a good chunk of it is in Pike Township. How does he manage to get elected since Pike is trending Democrat?
IS,
My comment wasn't about the merit of the plate. Actually I 100% agree that EVERYONE should pay a vanity plate fee if they have a vanity plate...no exceptions.
My comment wasn't even necessarily about Tea Party values. It was about the establishment GOP types mocking anyone whose motivation in party politics is the issues or ideology, isntead of what motivates them, insider deals and making themselves and their friends wealthy at taxpayer expense. It is not that the Establishment Repblican types are liberal...it's that they are apolitical, they don't care about the issues. But that's what motivates you and I in politics - the issues.
IS,
Delph's district has gotten pretty close. Next time around it may be break-even. Republican Ike Randolph's old council district is northern Pike and it was marginally Republican before he vacated it in 2007 and it was won by Democrat Jose evans.
Actually, the Daniels' administration opened up this can of worms when it agreed to afford the same status to the specialty plate "In God We Trust" as the regular Indiana license plate; they actually instructed the BMV to issue you one of those plates instead of the regular plate unless you specifically requested the regular license plate. I think it is time to stop the entire nonsense of having dozens of different types of license plates. We're getting away from the purpose of requiring a license plate on a vehicle. Indiana has so many types of license plates it's becoming difficult for someone to know which ones are Indiana license plates. The "In God We Trust" legislation was promoted by Eric Miller and Micah Clark. In fact, Micah Clark bragged that the Daniels administration let him design it. As I understand it, the "Don't Tread On Me" symbol was popular among the American Revolution movement and used to be a symbol of the U.S. Marine Corp.
Aye. When you're taking rounds from both port and starboard, it appears you have done something worthy of their attention. Alas, the battle will continue, probably against a new regime...
But, Hark! What a dolt am I! We have no worries, Correct? The Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission is on the task! They will dispatch any scurrilous riff-raff amongst the new November vagabonds, just as thoroughly as their handling of the current den of thieves and blackhearts!
No worries. Correct?!
Good call...Marion County GOP are apolitical or apathetic! They lack the passion and grit to be good political leaders.
It really is sad, though, that so many in our party are going after people like Mike Delph who actually stand for something. Those of us who believe in core principles are no longer welcome in the Republican Party here locally. I can't stomach going to anymore of their functions. It's nothing but a bunch of government employees, government contractors and useless hacks that show up for the party functions.
Delph is quite aware of the 2007 Tea Parties.
I want one of those plates.
AI, Are you serious about Mike Delph. He is a first class jerk. His attacks on Lugar and about as nasty as it gets. Smart move on his part, go ahead and one of the most respected men in the history of Indiana politics.
Delph is in way over his head when he starts attacking Lugar.
I used to like Mike,till he started his Lugar rants. What a turncoat. Lets see how much cash the Tea Party guys raise for Delph.
Bill-
I've voted for Senator Lugar. He's a man of good education. Nice enough to greet our High School gathering in D.C. He's a bonafide global leader in nuclear non-proliferation. He would be a step-up compared to recent selections for President (that's not a big compliment, Bill).
Senator Lugar also voted for justices Kagan and Sotomayor for appointment to the Supreme Court. Two justices that will favor the interpretation that we are Constitutionally obligated to buy health care. Do you agree with that interpretation?
He voted in favor of retaining legislative line items within the past couple of months. In FAVOR or pork barrel spending. Not directly to blame, but part of the collective crew that put us trillions in the hole for debt, deficit, and financial obligations.
He voted in favor of the DREAM act. To me, not all aspects of that legislation were bad by any means. But, we want our Senator to support select legislation dealing with a narrow portion of the illegal immigration issue, when we have refused to secure our borders?
If elected (maybe now), he will have the longest senatorial tenure. Do you think rotating citizen participation versus career politician is the template we should follow? Senator Robert Byrd is the example we should emulate?
Senator Lugar would make a wonderful global emissary for the nuclear disarmament issue. My preference is Treasurer Murdoch, but either he or state senator Delph would be an improvement upon Senator Lugar in D.C.
I've voted for Senator Lugar. He's a man of good education. Nice enough to greet our High School gathering in D.C. He's a bonafide global leader in nuclear non-proliferation. He would be a step-up compared to recent selections for President (that's not a big compliment, Bill).
I agree
Senator Lugar also voted for justices Kagan and Sotomayor for appointment to the Supreme Court. Two justices that will favor the interpretation that we are Constitutionally obligated to buy health care. Do you agree with that interpretation?
Yes I do, he had his reasons. In this case it was the lesser of two evils.However there is No proof that Kagan will uphold the health care issue. But I do see yout point.The jury is out on that one.
He voted in favor of retaining legislative line items within the past couple of months. In FAVOR or pork barrel spending. Not directly to blame, but part of the collective crew that put us trillions in the hole for debt, deficit, and financial obligations.
Thats a pretty broad statement about the pork barrel spending.If you take a look around our city and state, and many of the improvements,that came as a result of "pork barrle".However, I dont agree with the numbers.
He voted in favor of the DREAM act. To me, not all aspects of that legislation were bad by any means. But, we want our Senator to support select legislation dealing with a narrow portion of the illegal immigration issue, when we have refused to secure our borders?
I stand with you on this one. The dream act is logical, however very hard to administrate.However, Lugar has long been a supporter of the Hispanic community here are around the ocuntry. He wants secure boarders like you and I do.
If elected (maybe now), he will have the longest senatorial tenure. Do you think rotating citizen participation versus career politician is the template we should follow? Senator Robert Byrd is the example we should emulate?
If there is a better person running then fine, Delph is not that man. Murdoch has the personality of a doorknob. He is a number cruncher. Cant see him in any social situation at all. Neither Delph or Murdoch can fill Lugars shoes.Im not sure if he wil be the longest serveing, I know he is for the state.the last time that I spent anytime with him he looked great,was as smart as a tack and was very engageing.
Senator Lugar would make a wonderful global emissary for the nuclear disarmament issue. My preference is Treasurer Murdoch, but either he or state senator Delph would be an improvement upon Senator Lugar in D.C.
I am in agreement with you except for Murdoch.
My point is that we as political creatures have very short memories.It's the old what have you done for me in the last two weeks. Lugar has issues,but he has always voted his mind and not the party. I favor him for that.My problem is that Delph is full of himself.delph is no Lugar.
Lugar is without a doubt the single most respected man in the country when it comes to international issues.
I think votes for justices who are likely prone to support non-existent and unaffordable "rights" are very poor votes indeed.
If the money stayed in our pockets in the first place, we wouldn't need the extra line items to get our money back. If the line item in-question is so virtuous- then pass legislation to let it stand on it's own two feet. Our senator is part of the incestuous, back-scratching, "vote-for-mine and I'll vote-for-yours". The "compromise" and tit-for-tat is delightful if you're tossing back a few in the Rotunda at the end of the day (with your lifetime health care already paid)- but unaffordable for the dwindling backs who have to pay for the "comradery".
I'm sorry it didn't work. I wish it had. But, all "compromise" has done for us is put us in-hock.
I'm ready for less personality and more principle. Murdoch spoke for a couple of hours on the radio a week or two ago. I thought he had an enormous amount of common sense. Much, much more engaging than any doorknobs in my house. Most of all, he had enough cahoonas not to back down from his duties to protect Indiana's investments (the Chrysler bankruptcy episode).
I'm sure Delph is capable or rubbing even more people the wrong way. But, enough with smiling faces that spend money we don't have, tolerate "rights" that don't exist, and believe in government that seems anything but "limited"- including their stay in Congress.
Thank you for your thoughts and tolerating mine.
One of my favorite thinks about Mike Delph is how he stood up to Sen. Richard Lugar and simply said out loud what conservative Republicans have been saying about Lugar for years.
Lugar abandoned conservative political philosophy a lont time ago. I'll never forget his voting for Jocelyn Elders as Surgeon General. When Elders was Surgeon General of Arkansas she found out the condoms they were passing out had holes in them. She though didn't recall those faulty condoms because she didn't want to undermine public confidence in the state's birth control program. Sen. Lugar voted for her knowing this.
Lugar't time is over. He needs to just hang it up and walk out of office with dignity. Instead he insists on hanging on, the perpetual athlete who hasn't accepted the fact that the game has long ago passed him by.
AI,
I totally agree with your post at 3:43 about the license plates. Those "In God We Trust" plates should have been treated as speciality plates and people pay a fee for them. I know they weren't sponsored by a group, but all the speciality plates should have been treated the same. Period.
We are getting to the point where we have too many plates.
Right on dcrutch. There's nothing so sacred about public service that these folks aren't replaceable.
We need Constitutionally reconciled representation. Now!
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