Archive for the ‘2016 Republican Presidential Nomination’ Category

Have We Learned?

Wednesday, June 11th, 2014

An earthquake hit the Republican Party last night.  House Majority Leader Eric Cantor’s (R-Va.) was defeated  by a Tea Party challenger.  This will fuel Tea Party types with the real impact hitting in 2015 and 2016 as battle for the Republican nomination moves into full gear.

I just hope this is realized by all Republicans not just insiders.  The consequence will be significant as we enter the contest to select a 2016 Republican presidential nominee.

Every day Republicans not active in the party must get involved immediately if we are to nominate a presidential candidate who can get elected.  Otherwise, let’s just crown Hillary Clinton.

This cannot wait until the excitement of a campaign.  Anyone who follows politics will recall the movement to nominate Barry Goldwater in 1964 started well before that year.  F. Clifton White was organizing, recruiting and taking control of Republican Party machinery at the local level.  This is well document in his book Suite 3505.

That year regular Republicans waited too long and the battle ensured.  Throughout the spring and summer of 1964 there was blood on the floor everywhere you looked.  At the last minute even former President Dwight Eisenhower got involved trying to save the Republican Party from itself.  We all know how 1964 turned out!

In West Virginia control of the party has been underway for some time by Tea Party believers.   Our representatives to the Republican National Committee are Tea Party in their heart.  The State Chairman is a “wolf in sheep’s clothing”.   Following the May election when new county GOP committee members were elected the same is taking place as committees reorganize.

This take over extends even to selecting a Congressman to replace Shelley Moore Captio in the 2nd District.  Not only has the Tea Party prevailed there but it was done with a Maryland resident coming across our state line.

Eric Cantor is a conservative Republican but not obviously to the extent liked by the extremists.

Extremism cannot win in 2016 get involved now – don’t wait until it’s too late.

 

You’re encouraged to comment.  Just go to bottom of the post…look for Comment or No Comment and click.

 

Posted in 2016 Republican Presidential Nomination, Bill's Blog, General | 5 Comments »

Extremism

Sunday, October 20th, 2013

There is a cancer growing on the Republican Party.  Extremism.  Extremism does not win national elections.  Senator Barry Goldwater only won 6 states and 52 electoral votes in the 1964 presidential election.

Winning the nomination was one serious fight in the GOP.  Despite that Goldwater’s allies led by F. Clifton White started early and were organized at the precinct level.  There may be a lesson here for main stream conservative thinking about the 2016 nomination.  Teddy White in his national bestseller “Making of the President 1964” provided an excellent account of the battles.

Even before the outcome of that election Goldwater set the stage in his Cow Palace convention acceptance speech for continuing the fight.  He made the infamous statement, “Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice. Moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.”  The battle continued between extreme elements of the Party and the more moderate thinking.

Fortunately, former Vice President Richard Nixon still loved by most Republicans got into the 1968 campaign early, won the nomination and the extremist went under cover.  In subsequent presidential elections responsible conservatives like Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush were nominated and elected.

Our party faces significant decisions if it is to win another presidential election, let alone in 2014, hold the U. S. House of Representative and take over the Senate in Washington.

Those decisions include rejection of the Tea Party’s scorched earth strategy, strengthening the hand of moderate leaders and finding a presidential nominee who knows the importance of working with others.

This is not something which can wait.  Republican activists on a national, state and local level need to begin to think about the consequences of their actions.

“As the founder of modern Republicanism Barry Goldwater found out, extremism in the pursuit of one’s goals isn’t popular with the American public.” (1)

(1) Brandt Ayers, publisher Anniston Star in Alabama

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Posted in 2016 Republican Presidential Nomination, Bill's Blog, General, National Republicans, Tea Party | 2 Comments »