Today’s Wall Street Journal carries a thought-provoking and highly recommended column by Pat Toomey.
His personal knowledge of this topic provides insights others surely lack During his own 2004 senatorial bid in Pennsylvania’s Republican primary, Senator Rick Santorum (R. PA), with more than a bit of help from President Bush, derailed principled conservative Toomey’s campaign in favor of the liberal Democrat, Arlen Specter.
For his betrayal, Santorum paid the ultimate political price, losing to Democrat Bob Casey, Jr., the first Democrat elected to a full term in the Pennsylvania senate since 1962.
Toomey is a former Pennsylvania Republican congressman and current president of the Club for Growth.
May 8, 2008 at 5:24 pm
Pat Toomey spells this out very well. Conservative Republicans need to speak up.
May 9, 2008 at 8:47 am
When you take even a brief look at the 92 page 2004 Republican Party platform you end up shaking your head at how McCain constantly strays, and in fact has made a career out of disregarding Republican principles. Are we aiding and abetting the abandonment of the principles that attracted us to the Republican party? In Arizona, I think we may be doing just that.
I don’t believe it is in the interest of fair and open elections for the administrators of an election to collaborate on a Unity Slate and then not share that slate with our membership early in advance of the convention. The administrators of an election collaborating on a slate at all is questionable. Keeping that administrator approved slate a secret from the voters (we who elected the Administration, by the way) until it is strategically released is a very questionable practice. Not only have our administrators collaborated on a slate, but they are also working strategy on their slate. Shouldn’t the administrators of an election share ALL election information they have with ALL of the voters without intentional delay? The voters in an election are of course, free to develop any slate or strategy they want to. I’m not sure that the privilege should also apply to the administrators for any election.
You want to know which CD the At Large Ballot name is from? Tough. Somebody might make a negative comment about John McCain if they had that information. Is there a bylaw which states CD ballots are only to be made available to State Delegates from the same CD? If it’s not a bylaw then it’s a policy. If it’s a newly dreamt up policy then it’s a strategy. Pretty hard to argue strategy with the administrators for an election.
I believe AZGOP and the McCain campaign control a lot of information that they are manipulating to steer the state convention to their own desired result and silence dissent. Fair electioneering is fine. It’s a time honored tradition and the first thing a political party ought to do well. Using administratively acquired information to effect the personal choices of the administrators while restricting information from possible dissenters is what is going on here in deed and in my opinion.
I would really like to know what a Dodie Londen Series student has to say on this. Should the state unity slate be widely announced or is a state approved secret slate just fine? Am I right for pointing out this discrepancy or wrong for not going along with and accepting the manipulation? By the way, these concerns have been raised privately and exhaustively with the election administrators themselves. With absolutely no resolution is sight, these concerns are now being aired publicly.
May 9, 2008 at 9:22 am
State Delegate:
This is troubling information. I am also a state delegate, but had no idea that the Unity Slate was being kept secret. I guess I just got too busy with my day to day activities to realize we were being treated like mushrooms—kept in the dark under a pile of manure. Thank you for waking me from my stupor.
How do we get the list? Why isn’t it accessible? If we are being asked to vote for it, why is it being witheld until the meeting? It seems as though Sen. McCain and his advisors would want to keep the process as open as possible. What are they worried about? We have only one Republican nominee, and this is his home state. I expect he will address us tomorrow at the state convention. Do they think we’re going to vote for Obama?
I have to admit I am new to this. With these highjinks afoot, I’m wondering what I’ve gotten into.
May 9, 2008 at 9:38 am
Another delegate:
You have entered the McTwilight Zone.
May 9, 2008 at 10:08 am
If the rancid stench of secrecy is permeating the AZ GOP, my question is WHY? We are all REPUBLICANS who are elected state delegates.
Has anyone spoken to the state chairman about this? I can’t believe he would condone the withholding of the slate from those of us who are expected to vote on it. What’s going on here? Why not just equip us all with blindfolds along with our ballots?
May 9, 2008 at 10:41 am
I see nothing but paranoia from the McCain contingent. The secrecy is tied to their fear that the Ron Paul crowd will do at the AZ state convention what was done in Reno. Anyone with half a brain realized that’s not a plan to pursue when Barack Obama is the likely opposition.. And besides, this is McCain’s home state, where he’s been reelected for years.
He would have the full support of conservative republicans if he showed us some regard. As things stand, I give him the same antipathy he gives me.
May 9, 2008 at 12:43 pm
I not a PC. I’m coming to the convention from the “Registered Republican qualifies as a State Delegate” category. It strikes me that those controlling the election process do not have any business conferring on preferred winners. But even if they did, not sharing the preferred winners with the membership until the time has arrived to consider it a strategic advantage…is well….less than desirable.
May 9, 2008 at 1:38 pm
I worked to be elected as a state delegate to tomorrow’s convention because I thought I could make a difference. It really mattered to me. Yes, I’ll admit I’m new at this, but I am not a fool. The state party and its leadership are showing themselves to be a huge disappointment. I’ve heard about the way things were always run by the Dems in Chicago. The secrecy regarding the McCain slate for the national convention, makes me think there are people within the GOP leadership who are taking lessons from the mob.
Might as well save the gas and time and stay home. It’s a long drive for me. I can see this is all but signed, sealed and delivered. My vote won’t matter.
May 9, 2008 at 4:10 pm
McAmnesty is at the convention. hmmm. i wonder how overwhelmed everyone is going to be.
May 9, 2008 at 4:15 pm
THE UNITY SLATE IS THE MCCAIN / RINO SLATE. This slate only exists because of behind the scenes questionable manuvering. Manipulation at best and disrespectful treatment of State Delegate voters at best. (I figure they are going to accomplish a couple more “worsts” before close of business tomorrow so, I don’t want to use up my “worst” yet.)
May 9, 2008 at 4:17 pm
JUAN! NO MCCAIN, NOT HERNANDEZ. WHERE’S YOUR TOP SECRET UNITY SLATE?
May 9, 2008 at 4:36 pm
I’m leaving the minute voting becomes a dead issue. Let’s hope Mr. Independent only has a skeleton crew of RINOS left over to pander to.
May 9, 2008 at 10:06 pm
CraigL
McAmnesty won’t show up. He doesn’t want to risk the embarrassment if there is any dissent. The press wil be there.