We as Conservatives have been reluctant to take public stands in the past. To actually go out and take it to the streets. What would a Conservative protest look like. Well as I blogged about a lot earlier we in Muskegon had a mini protest over the “Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less” protest started by Newt Gingrich.
-----link to previous post-----
http://bottomuppolitics.blogspot.com/2008/07/energy-freedom-march-is-done.html
------------------------------------
Was there details of that protest email campaign by Newt that you didn‘t like? Probably. Some Conservatives probably felt it too over the top. Don’t shake the boat on this some said. We probably can’t do much anyway, we have to pick our fights more wisely. Plus remember Newt sat down with Nancy Pelosi.
Well Newt had his way and over a million signatures flowed in. More importantly Congress was flooded by outraged calls from people saying they had enough. Well guess what? The moratorium on drilling ended. A victory, at least for awhile. Now it looks like it will come back. But the point is we won a battle that most said we by all right should of lost.
We did it by uniting behind a concrete example of how government intervention doesn’t help solve a problem, it only makes it worse. The people knew it and they used the leverage of the election year to force their voice to be heard. I was happy some in Muskegon were a part of that effort.
Recently in response to the Stimulus Bill, a stock guy blew up and ranted on National TV. Although he was ranting, he was echoing the thoughts of many in the country. Was there anything wrong with the message? Could it of been different? Did he represent all the diverse groups of the Republican party? Well he represented something that resonated and something the people could relate to.
We in Michigan had a Lansing Tea Party. Nick at Right Michigan was there and took pictures and wrote a good article about it.
-----link-----
http://www.rightmichigan.com/story/2009/2/27/124743/081
---------------
Others around the country had similar “Tea Parties”.
What I have learned from all this and which the CPAC reinforced for me was that as a party we can not turn away from the good because it’s not perfect.
As we try to come up with solutions to the problems we face, remember that we are Conservatives and if we base our solutions on our core principles then for example we should be able to attend either a school voucher rally or a home school rally or even a public education reform rally. All three would help the education system. Like free enterprise, let them all be tried and base our opinion on what they actually accomplish.
-----link-----
Edreform.com
---------------
I add a quote from Pope John Paul II
“Parents are the primary educators of children.”
Haley Barbour said we should count as friends anyone who agrees with you 80% is your friend.
President Reagan sand anyone who agrees with 90% is not your enemy.
Both were talking about building a coalition.
We as Conservatives need to see the good in each of our different solutions, get behind other solutions and other people’s ideas if they are conservative in nature. Forget our own righteousness once and awhile.
What this means in conservative politics and education reform as mentioned above in particular, is that while vouchers and charter schools are not as government free as home schoolers, we should not lose sight of the fact that all of these are better than the record of public schools.
On CPAC I heard a home school activist say that his enemy is the same that the charter school and voucher programs face. Why he asked should we not unite also. He talked of one success and how it works in a cross pollinating sort of way with the others. We in other words should be gaining strength from all our success as conservatives.
This is the new face of Activist Conservatives. Actually it has been around for hundreds of years, but it is new in this big everything age.
Got a protest of any sort based on Conservative principles? Give me a call. I’ll try to make it.
Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Love Community Garden
Well the Love Community Garden is making progress in the money game. Saving money game that is. Seeing how little of the offered money they can spend to get a quality product.
Morning Bear took the bit in mouth and came up with the quote for the lumber and dirt etc for the raised beds and will submit them to Pastor Phillips. We went from the suggested 7,000 to 1,500.
The grant controllers have gotten used to the idea that they can’t force us to take what we don’t need. They will use the rest of the money I’m sure. This is really not a political statement. Just some common sense, a wise stewardship of God’s gifts.
Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative
PS. This garden was here last year, it was used as an example to get State funding for others. With or without any funding it will again be here next summer. Hope the other gardens do well.
Morning Bear took the bit in mouth and came up with the quote for the lumber and dirt etc for the raised beds and will submit them to Pastor Phillips. We went from the suggested 7,000 to 1,500.
The grant controllers have gotten used to the idea that they can’t force us to take what we don’t need. They will use the rest of the money I’m sure. This is really not a political statement. Just some common sense, a wise stewardship of God’s gifts.
Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative
PS. This garden was here last year, it was used as an example to get State funding for others. With or without any funding it will again be here next summer. Hope the other gardens do well.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Check It Out
Here is a link I just got.
-----link-----
http://www.rightmichigan.com/story/2009/2/24/93630/6089
---------------
Looks like fun. If anyone wants to car pool please let me know. More than happy to split the gas.
Glhotdogs@verizon.net
231-728-3455
Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative
-----link-----
http://www.rightmichigan.com/story/2009/2/24/93630/6089
---------------
Looks like fun. If anyone wants to car pool please let me know. More than happy to split the gas.
Glhotdogs@verizon.net
231-728-3455
Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative
Monday, February 23, 2009
Adopt a Precinct
Adopt a precinct.
This should be right up this blog’s alley.
-----Shinkle------
http://www.shinkleforchair.com/adoptaprecinct.asp
---------------------
Remember last 2007 those special elections that the Dems won in seemingly “safe” Republican districts? I think there were three or four in a row. They showed us what was coming up in 2008. We already had taken losses in 2006. We should of known, we were complacent and dispirited.
This special election for the Michigan State Senate district #19 could a portent of things to come in 2010 for Republicans. This could be a way to get our party on the move and enthusiastic again. Could be a way to put all the new slogans about grassroots, bottom up change, relevance etc to a test, a chance to start to learn from our mistakes of the last 8 years, a chance to learn and experiment to find out what works and what doesn’t.
I heard a couple of speakers at the State Convention in our 2nd District Caucus talk of the importance of getting a Republican in that seat.
The election date has just been set by Governor Granholm for Nov. 3rd.
-----link-----
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-mi-statesenate-elect,0,3659902.story
---------------
Nick as usual at Right Michigan gives an astute analyses of the situation. A close study of his “primer” shows the importance of the race in and of itself as to the Republicans gaining a stronger working majority in the state senate. The bonus factor of enthusiasm over such a pick up could be the first of the dominos.
-----link-----
http://www.rightmichigan.com/story/2008/12/1/141944/268
---------------
I emailed Shinkle, Hoogendyke, and the state party about info on the Adopt a Precinct program and will report when I hear more.
If anyone is interested in helping to organize this please let me know. If anyone has any info. Please let me know.
Bob Carr (aka Live Dangerously)
Glhotdogs@verizon.net
231-728-3455
Other links to the 19th Mich. Senate district.
-----State map of Senate Districts-----
http://www.senate.michigan.gov/2003/senatedistricts.pdf
---------------------------------------
Click on the 19th in the above link and it will enlarge.
Below Calhoun County Precincts and maps (over 50)
-----link-----
http://www.co.calhoun.mi.us/election.taf?_function=precinct
---------------
Next is the Jackson County Precinct Maps. Not all of Jackson County is in the 19th State Senate District. I don’t know the area well enough to know what precincts are in and which are out. Right click on the map and then click the marque tool and the zoom is excellent.
-----link-----
http://www.smartmap.org/MapGallery.cfm?ParentID=347
---------------
Well that’s it for now till I get some more info. This is a possible win for us I think. But we need to out do the vaunted Obama machine.
What say you???
Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative
This should be right up this blog’s alley.
-----Shinkle------
http://www.shinkleforchair.com/adoptaprecinct.asp
---------------------
Remember last 2007 those special elections that the Dems won in seemingly “safe” Republican districts? I think there were three or four in a row. They showed us what was coming up in 2008. We already had taken losses in 2006. We should of known, we were complacent and dispirited.
This special election for the Michigan State Senate district #19 could a portent of things to come in 2010 for Republicans. This could be a way to get our party on the move and enthusiastic again. Could be a way to put all the new slogans about grassroots, bottom up change, relevance etc to a test, a chance to start to learn from our mistakes of the last 8 years, a chance to learn and experiment to find out what works and what doesn’t.
I heard a couple of speakers at the State Convention in our 2nd District Caucus talk of the importance of getting a Republican in that seat.
The election date has just been set by Governor Granholm for Nov. 3rd.
-----link-----
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-mi-statesenate-elect,0,3659902.story
---------------
Nick as usual at Right Michigan gives an astute analyses of the situation. A close study of his “primer” shows the importance of the race in and of itself as to the Republicans gaining a stronger working majority in the state senate. The bonus factor of enthusiasm over such a pick up could be the first of the dominos.
-----link-----
http://www.rightmichigan.com/story/2008/12/1/141944/268
---------------
I emailed Shinkle, Hoogendyke, and the state party about info on the Adopt a Precinct program and will report when I hear more.
If anyone is interested in helping to organize this please let me know. If anyone has any info. Please let me know.
Bob Carr (aka Live Dangerously)
Glhotdogs@verizon.net
231-728-3455
Other links to the 19th Mich. Senate district.
-----State map of Senate Districts-----
http://www.senate.michigan.gov/2003/senatedistricts.pdf
---------------------------------------
Click on the 19th in the above link and it will enlarge.
Below Calhoun County Precincts and maps (over 50)
-----link-----
http://www.co.calhoun.mi.us/election.taf?_function=precinct
---------------
Next is the Jackson County Precinct Maps. Not all of Jackson County is in the 19th State Senate District. I don’t know the area well enough to know what precincts are in and which are out. Right click on the map and then click the marque tool and the zoom is excellent.
-----link-----
http://www.smartmap.org/MapGallery.cfm?ParentID=347
---------------
Well that’s it for now till I get some more info. This is a possible win for us I think. But we need to out do the vaunted Obama machine.
What say you???
Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Let's get Relavent
Tony Marsh wrote a column called “On The Road To Relevance” linked here
-----link-----
http://townhall.com/columnists/TonyMarsh/2009/02/11/on_the_road_to_relevance
---------------
This a well written article but also Mr. Marsh put forth my opinion of how the Republican party can regain the trust of the people. Relevance being the first priority.
-----quote from the above article-----
We began to fear our own conservative principles because we’d refused to make them relevant to the day-to-day concerns of those whose votes we desperately sought.
-----------------------------------------------------
This is basically a get back to basics type of article. It brings up Michael Steele’s efforts to make the party more relevant by getting candidates running at all levels and in every precinct. I see it as a back door way to change the party in the way it needs to be changed in order to get the new voters we need.
-----another quote from article-----
Those candidates will look like and speak like the people whose votes they seek to earn. They’ll carry the message that the people and the policies of the Republican Party don’t build walls, we open doors.
------------------------------------
For this type of thing to work. Well to put it bluntly it calls for a massive effort. If we are to get a Republican on the ballot in every township race, well that would in the case of Muskegon County involve getting I would guess twice as many candidates as we had last election cycle. I just did a quick head count of the last election and Republicans just in the township races in Muskegon County failed to even run over 40 candidates for the township offices such a supervisor, clerk, treasurer and trustees. That is not counting the city races and the village races.
This is 40 new candidates not to mention fielding candidates for all the other races in areas where we ran but lost.
I tried my best to give support to the township candidates but found no support at the county party level. In some cases open hostility. I ended up doing very little. A lot more needed to be done. If Mr. Steele can come up with a way to do what he wants almost by definition the huge influx of new candidates will bring change to the party. That’s what I mean by a “back door approach”. All those new faces will also have some new and relevant ideas, and that also by definition will scare the beejesus out of the current party leadership particularly at the county level.
With my experience from the last election, I saw that it was all the county party could do to field the county wide candidates then only give partial help in their elections or lack thereof. How we are going to add another 40 to the list is beyond me. Our last county meeting in its exclusiveness had barely 20 attendees.
If Michael Steele is serious about this Endeavor then he should be looking at recruiting Precinct Delegates as the starting point to find the necessary recruits for office.
He has the old riddle of the chicken or the egg as to which comes first. We need a good message a relevant message that you me and all the peons of the party can get behind. The problem is trust. We need to trust the messenger to fulfill the message.
The best way I know to do that is starting at the local levels with concrete plans and projects that voters and citizens can relate to. Set up by and run with concrete real people. I like freedom, I think freedom is what this country is all about. Let’s showcase some projects locally that highlight individual freedom free from government rules and regs etc that work and enhance our real sense of empowerment derived from our selves not force fed from the government.
As Tony Marsh finished and I quote
-----quote-----
We’ll recapture our credibility when we turn those messages into concrete policy initiatives that create economic prosperity and personal empowerment.
The Republican Party is under new management. It’s arrived just in time. Now, let’s get on with it.
---------------
I will again get up off my butt and start doing what I should.
Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative.
PS. This next County Republican Meeting I will be making a proposal. It will be along the lines of what I've blogged here and hopefully get something started. I have less than a week to get it flushed out. Then we have less than two years to make it work.
-----link-----
http://townhall.com/columnists/TonyMarsh/2009/02/11/on_the_road_to_relevance
---------------
This a well written article but also Mr. Marsh put forth my opinion of how the Republican party can regain the trust of the people. Relevance being the first priority.
-----quote from the above article-----
We began to fear our own conservative principles because we’d refused to make them relevant to the day-to-day concerns of those whose votes we desperately sought.
-----------------------------------------------------
This is basically a get back to basics type of article. It brings up Michael Steele’s efforts to make the party more relevant by getting candidates running at all levels and in every precinct. I see it as a back door way to change the party in the way it needs to be changed in order to get the new voters we need.
-----another quote from article-----
Those candidates will look like and speak like the people whose votes they seek to earn. They’ll carry the message that the people and the policies of the Republican Party don’t build walls, we open doors.
------------------------------------
For this type of thing to work. Well to put it bluntly it calls for a massive effort. If we are to get a Republican on the ballot in every township race, well that would in the case of Muskegon County involve getting I would guess twice as many candidates as we had last election cycle. I just did a quick head count of the last election and Republicans just in the township races in Muskegon County failed to even run over 40 candidates for the township offices such a supervisor, clerk, treasurer and trustees. That is not counting the city races and the village races.
This is 40 new candidates not to mention fielding candidates for all the other races in areas where we ran but lost.
I tried my best to give support to the township candidates but found no support at the county party level. In some cases open hostility. I ended up doing very little. A lot more needed to be done. If Mr. Steele can come up with a way to do what he wants almost by definition the huge influx of new candidates will bring change to the party. That’s what I mean by a “back door approach”. All those new faces will also have some new and relevant ideas, and that also by definition will scare the beejesus out of the current party leadership particularly at the county level.
With my experience from the last election, I saw that it was all the county party could do to field the county wide candidates then only give partial help in their elections or lack thereof. How we are going to add another 40 to the list is beyond me. Our last county meeting in its exclusiveness had barely 20 attendees.
If Michael Steele is serious about this Endeavor then he should be looking at recruiting Precinct Delegates as the starting point to find the necessary recruits for office.
He has the old riddle of the chicken or the egg as to which comes first. We need a good message a relevant message that you me and all the peons of the party can get behind. The problem is trust. We need to trust the messenger to fulfill the message.
The best way I know to do that is starting at the local levels with concrete plans and projects that voters and citizens can relate to. Set up by and run with concrete real people. I like freedom, I think freedom is what this country is all about. Let’s showcase some projects locally that highlight individual freedom free from government rules and regs etc that work and enhance our real sense of empowerment derived from our selves not force fed from the government.
As Tony Marsh finished and I quote
-----quote-----
We’ll recapture our credibility when we turn those messages into concrete policy initiatives that create economic prosperity and personal empowerment.
The Republican Party is under new management. It’s arrived just in time. Now, let’s get on with it.
---------------
I will again get up off my butt and start doing what I should.
Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative.
PS. This next County Republican Meeting I will be making a proposal. It will be along the lines of what I've blogged here and hopefully get something started. I have less than a week to get it flushed out. Then we have less than two years to make it work.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
