Back to Basics for the RTC

Brad Marston's POSTING over at Red Mass Group is an excellent summary of specific steps that Republican Town Committees must take if the party is to compete more effectively in 2012 and beyond. This posting, and the following comments, are a must read for anyone with a stake in the future of the Republican Party in Massachusetts.

Karl (TLC) Weld's comment is especially notable:

The data is available to identify these folks. We just need to do it. We must make year-round activism the norm instead of getting in motion only during election season. There are plenty of votes taken on the Hill that are a sound basis for year-round lit drops in the form of "fact sheets' and "Did You Know" messages. Let's not save these for the run-up to elections but constantly remind voters of what's going on up there. Maybe we can break through to some folks and get them to realize that the only way to reform state government is to change the players. And then offer them viable players with viable solutions. Waiting until it's time to campaign to do this is like starting from scratch every time. And that's unproductive and an inefficient use of resources.

Let's not wait until the spring of 2012 to get started.

Mornings after can be painful, especially today as we look at the local election results in the cold hard light of day. But even given the one-sided results, there are definitely points of light amid the gloom.

First of all, the GOP fielded a strong slate of candidates, generating tightly- contested races in just about every election. Landslide victories were few and far between. It is easy to forget that only a few years ago, most incumbents ran happily un-opposed. Those days are gone. The GOP is back as a factor to be reckoned with in Massachusetts. Would it have been better to win some of those races? You bet. But don't think for a minute that we won't be back, applying our new-found and well-earned knowledge to future elections.

Also, Don't gloss over the importance of the Republican gains on the national level. We now will have a majority in the House, and a stronger position in the Senate. most political commentators are convinced that this election was a profound repudiation of Obama's socialistic agenda, and we have the antidote. The vision of Nancy Pelosi moving out of the Speaker's chair has to bring a smile to even the most disappointed among us.

Like the Macy's Thanksgiving parade, preparation for next year's event starts the very next morning. Stay the course. Redouble the effort. Stick to your principles. We will be back.

Jeff Perry Hits His Stride

Jeff and Lisa Perry were in town the other evening at what must seem, to them, like an endless series of campaign events as Jeff heads into the gun lap in the race for The Congressional seat representing the Mass. 10th. But they were quick to dismiss any suggestion of fatigue, pointing out that they draw strength and stamina, not only from their personal commitment to Jeff's platform, but also from the tremendous support of their growing legions of supporters.

It's already been a long campaign, but as we head into its final four weeks, the key issues are coming into razor-sharp focus. And to no surprise from many of us, the key issues, those that most concern the majority of voters, are those that form the cornerstones of the Perry campaign. Click on NEW AD, to view the new Perry campaign ad. You are probably going to have to watch it a few times, because Jeff's granddaughter, Faith, steals the show first time around. But the message is crystal clear. We are facing an election that may well become the most pivotal of our generation and Jeff's prescription of cutting spending, reducing debt and lowering taxes points the way to re-claiming the way of life that has made our country great.

Writing in the current week end issue of the Wall Street Journal, Peggy Noonan points to the key issues for the November election:

Whatever stand you take on the social issues, you have to be blind to think they will make a big difference this year. The issue this year is the size, role, weight and demands of government, and the public sense that its members selfishly look to their own needs and not those of the country. A GOP congressman told me this week that he very much disagrees with the characterization of tea party and Republican voters as enraged or livid. They are scared, he said. He has never, in two decades in politics, heard so many people tell him they are "scared," frightened for their own futures and for the future of their country.

Read the whole article HERE

Whether fearful, angry or somewhere in between, this election is, perhaps, our one chance at stemming the tide of the progressive takeover of not only the U.S. Government, but the American way of life. Sending Jeff Perry to Congress may well be the most important choice made this year by the voters of the Mass. 10th.

A Night to Shine for Charlie Baker

Charlie Baker came to Plymouth last night and was well-received by a large crowd of supporters, lead by host, Vinny deMacedo. Also in attendance was Charlie's running mate, Richard Tisei, Congressional candidate, Jeff Perry, incumbent Plymouth County Sherrif, Joe McDonald and a host of elected officials representing local government. It's been a while since we have heard Charlie in person, and we all came away with the recognition that Charlie is hitting his stride as a speaker. he has, of course, always had a well-reasoned platform supporting his candidacy, but now we are hearing the emotion and conviction, which underlines the rhetoric. It was exciting to hear him and he brought the crowd to its feet several times. And while there were no reports of leg tingles, ala Chris Matthews, Baker's message came across loud and clear.

Three main points have consistently been the main support for Charlie's strategies: Spending, taxes and jobs, as well a clear recognition that our government has lost sight of the equity due to those who pay the bills, the taxpayers. Another Baker axiom is "time is not our friend", when it comes to solving the state's problems, and a tight focus on each issue in turn is more effective than a sense of universal concern.

What voters are now understanding is that in order for state government to be effective, it must first put its fiscal house in order and create a business climate that will support the growth of jobs and opportunity. To make this happen, we need leaders with a clear sense of priorities as well as the experience and skills to craft a lasting recovery. The incumbent governor, Baker pointed out, has over forty union endorsements. The very thing that has hindered his efforts over the past four years, has been his need to satisfy his debt to these groups, at the expense of developing long range solutions. Let there be no doubt, Charlie baker and his team know how to turn this around.

While it is tempting to crow about a Republican re-emergence, it is more interesting to note that support for these ideas is coming from all across the political spectrum. Republicans, conservatives, Libertarians, Independents and even many Democrats are realizing that the tax and spend strategies are digging us a hole that future generations will have to deal with.

The election is five weeks from today. Get involved, get active and let's make it happen on November 2nd.

Tuesday's Primary Election

The polls, in Plymouth, will be open from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM on Tuesday, 9/14/2010.

As you go to the polls, keep the following in mind:

Un-enrolled voters (those not registered for a particular political party) can request a Republican (or some other party) ballot in order to vote in the primary.
You will have to re-register, after the vote, to go back to un-enrolled status.

Many of the party candidates are running unopposed in the primary. They would still appreciate your vote. Show Charlie Baker (Governor) and Karyn Polito (Treasurer)some love.

Of course there are a few key races that are being hotly contested, including:

Jeff Perry, running for U.S. Congress

Mary Z. Connaughton, running for State Auditor

While there is no Republican candidate on the ballot for Massachusetts Attorney General, two candidates are running write-in campaigns in an effort to get on the November ballot to challenge incumbent Martha Coakley. The two write-in candidates are Jim McKenna - Millbury, and Guy Carbone - Belmont. Remember to write the name AND home town, and to fill in the oval on the ballot.

Vote for Jeff Perry, Tuesday, September 14, 2010

This primary election, especially for voters in the Massachusetts 10th Congressional District may well be one of the most important elections of current times. Hyperbole? Not a bit. anyone with a modicum of sense and who has witnessed the results of one party rule in Washington DC for the past eighteen months should realize that it is crucial that we right the ship of state by bringing balance back to the U.S. Congress. Here in the 10th, our choice is clear. Jeff Perry has laid out his conservative credentials and his plans for stopping our country's slide into a socialistic morass.

In more ordinary times, this battle would be fought in November, but in this election, the primary election may well be the telling event. Jeff Perry is faced with an opponent who is committed to destructive campaign techniques in an attempt to discredit Perry. With the help of the lefty media, He has resurrected decade-old events and accusations that have been thoroughly investigated and resolved years ago and which resulted in Perry being fully cleared of any wrongdoing.

So it comes down to the September 14th primary. Voters will have the choice of voting for Jeff Perry, a true conservative with a public record of accomplishments and fresh new ideas for putting America back on track. Check out Jeff's WEBSITE for more detailed information. Or, his opponent, who seems to have focused most of his efforts on slinging mud at Perry. Perhaps not a bad idea for him. If he can succeed in focusing attention on these questionable charges, then perhaps voters might not notice the opponents total lack of favorable accomplishments or any ideas he might have to solve our country's problems.

Voters of the Mass. 10th. Go to the polls on Tuesday, September 14th and help Jeff Perry take a big first step towards the U.S. Congress.

Is There a Point Here?

This editorial cartoon, published in the August 7th edition of the Old Colony Memorial, prompted the following letter to the Editor on August 9, 2010:

To the Editor:

The editorial cartoon featured on the Opinion page of Saturday’s edition not only missed the one of the most serious problems facing Town Government, but gave the Pinehills community a gratuitous back-hander by casting its residents as boozing golf fanatics. Mr. Dorn might find it enlightening to discover the impact that Pinehills residents are making on Plymouth, not only through its collective tax revenues, but also through their widespread volunteer efforts on behalf of many public and private local organizations.

More importantly, one of the biggest, non-fiscal, problems facing the Plymouth Town Government is not some vague power grab by a few precincts, but rather a widespread lack of participation by many of our fellow town folk. As David Peck notes in his comments, posted just below the cartoon, some precincts have had trouble in recent elections fielding enough candidates to run for vacant Town Meeting seats. As recently as last Sunday, the Boston Globe reported that the Selectmen are actively seeking volunteers for a number of Town boards and committees. Broad representation is clearly a key driver of Town Government, but it takes an interested and engaged public to make it happen.


John F. Malloy
TMM, Precinct 5

The following reply was received the same day:

John: Managing Editor Scott Smith and I have discussed your letter at length and we have no problem with the majority of it, however....Jon Dorn is one of the Jam session participants, just like all the others except that his contribution is in the form of a cartoon rather then a paragraph of words. Editorial cartoons by their very nature are caricatures - to identify me the cartoon might have a really big nose or funny glasses, for instance.

Also, neither of us think that Jon portrayed all Pinehills residents as booze swilling golf fanatics. The Jammers were all directed to the same story, which explained that the town charter requires the Fin Com be comprised of a member from each of the town's precincts with the only duplicate being from the precinct of the chairman, who does not vote unless there is a tie. Yet, Precinct 5 currently has multiple members on the committee, meaning there are none from some other precincts. You make the point, yourself, that it's difficult to find people to serve in town government.

Questioning whether Jon knows how much the residents of The Pinehills contribute to the town has no connection to the question posed.
Other Jammers also questioned allowing multiple Fin Com members from one precinct, yet you did not challenge them.

We'd be happy to print your letter without the statements we feel misinterpret the opinion solicited from Jon as part of his participation in this forum and the very nature of an editorial cartoon.

Tam Burgess, senior editor
GateHouse Media New England

There are a number of issues here, not the least of which is our concern for the portrayal of the Pinehills Community.

The last paragraph of the editor's reply comes perilously close to offering a quid-pro-quo which would offer to publish the original letter on the condition that certain comments be removed. Perhaps the "Letters to the Editor" section of the newspaper might then be re-named "Edited Letters to the Editor". For the record, we stand by our original version.

Finally, there is at least one point of confusion running throughout this exchange. The Charter Review Committee which has no restrictions on the number of its members from a particular precinct, and the Advisory and Finance Committee which, under current rules, should be made up of at least one member from each precinct. It is the Charter Review Committee that reportedly includes five members from precinct 5.

If you are still reading at this point, you may be want to read, or re-read, the entire August 7th JAM SESSION article including the opinions of the contributors.

How do you feel about the cartoon? Is it insulting to a whole community, or is it an acceptable response to this opinion poll?

Comments to the View are always welcome. You can also email your comments to the OCM editorial staff at ocm@cnc.com. You may, or may not, have your comments printed in the newspaper