Precinct Delegate takes issue with Holly’s comments
Dear Ms. Hughes,
It’s unfortunate our first correspondence is under these circumstances. I would have much preferred a more cordial introduction. I felt compelled to write, being very upset with your comments at the State Convention on Saturday. I thought maybe you do not know what you do or maybe you just haven’t met the right “Ron Paulers” yet. At any rate, I felt the need to inform you that it is statements like yours that have so deeply divided and hurt the Republican Brand. I thought maybe you could use a different perspective.
Sitting in all three seats directly to the right of you in the front row at the State Convention this past Saturday were could-be-considered “Ron Paulers.” To refresh your memory, from your right: the lovely brunette was Ms. Kathy Berry – Republican Precinct Delegate of St. Clair County, the fine gentleman with the groovy hat was Mr. Tony DeMott – Republican Precinct Delegate, Washtenaw County, and then me, the smiling red-head next to the aisle. I’m also a newly elected Republican Precinct Delegate, Oakland County.
I believe I can speak for my friends as well when I write that I have taken great offense as a Republican, as a decent person for that matter, to your unfounded insinuations and accusations regarding, I believe you said, those “Ron Paul” people. To go on a tirade insinuating comparison and likeness of people like myself to infiltrating Democrats, and for goodness sakes, “clansman” is just plain infuriating, yet laughable.
Although I know quite a few “Ron Paulers,” I do not know any that are disruptive, disrespectful, or sneaky. I believe “sneaky” was implied when you said something to the effect of “they” are learning “our” processes and rules by which politics and the Party operates. That part I found funny being that you seemed to consider it a negative development that people are “learning.”
I’d be very hard pressed to find anyone in the Oakland, Macomb or Washtenaw Counties that could bring forth names of people that you claimed to be disruptive “Ron Paul” people> Just for the small sake that there is someone that can, I’ll apologize on their behalf. I’d be willing to bet that it is a matter of some learning the process and making mistakes (and irritating people) along the way. I’m guessing there may be a couple that may seem a bit over-the-top as the ideology of freedom seems so far fetched these days. I try to think of them as those that have true passion, keeping the process honest and interesting. I only know and share the company of those that behave, and will continue to participate in the process, in an honorable and respectful manner.
It is interesting that you would be the Republican National Committeewoman, essentially slandering those that support conservative values and smaller government. I believe the Republican Party needs refreshing, new, open and independent young (and old) minds. I believe many would agree the lack of such is what has helped get the Party the “bad name” is currently enjoys. I’d like to just mention that I heard the Republican Party is starving for members. Maybe you would do well to make friends.
Sincerely,
Christe Langdeau
Republican Precinct Delegate – Madison Heights, MI
Holly Hughes withholding endorsement
With the announcement of Michigan’s entire Congressional Delegation, virtually all of the Party Leadership and nearly everyone of importance supporting Saul Anuzis’ bid for RNC Chair in Michigan, RNC National Committeewoman Holly Hughes is still the last woman standing. She refuses to offer her support.
Holly is not a free agent, she is elected by Michigan Republicans and accountable to them. Even the Democrat and Ron Paul precinct delegates which she seems to think are an actual problem (they aren’t).
Contact Holly Hughes and tell her that this excessive grudge holding is not acceptable and even destructive and that she should support a Michigander for RNC Chair like everyone else here is!
Office: 231.894.5956
Cell: 231.740.8974
Emails: hughesh@mastertag.com or holly@hollyhughes.com
MI GOP Congressional Delegation Supports Saul Anuzis for RNC Chair
MI GOP Congressional Delegation Supports Saul Anuzis for RNC Chair
Dear RNC Member :
We, the nine Members of the Michigan Republican Congressional Delegation, support Saul Anuzis to be Chairman of the Republican National Committee. Saul has demonstrated the vision, skills, energy, and leadership needed at the RNC if our Republican Party is to again become a majority party.
Running campaigns is a tough business wherever one happens to live. This is especially true in Michigan if you happen to be a Republican. Michigan is the headquarters of organized labor in the U.S. Labor is certainly adept at the art of campaigning – and campaigning for Democrats at that. However, Republicans can win in Michigan when they, and our party, clearly articulate a common-sense conservative message.
Saul has been involved in Michigan campaigns for nearly 30 years. He got his start in Wayne County campaigns. Wayne County happens to be one of the largest, and most Democrat, counties in the country. It is notorious for machine politics and bare-knuckle tactics. Saul knows how to roll up his sleeves and win.
Whether it was playing an instrumental role wresting control of the Michigan State Senate from the Democrats in the early 80s or keeping control of that chamber in 2006, despite the gargantuan spending assault by liberal special interests, he knows how to fight for every vote possible.
When the national campaign pulled-up stakes in October of this year, and diverted millions of Michigan dollars, Saul refused to give up. He led the fight to find emergency resources to keep our Victory program functioning throughout the state and to steer vital resources to the districts of two of our colleagues – Joe Knollenberg and Tim Walberg – both of who were under heavy assault by the Democrats.
Saul worked with the RNC to maintain Victory Centers in these two districts and to conduct GOTV mail and phone programs on their behalf. Though both Joe and Tim failed to hold off the Democrat onslaught, Saul and the Michigan Republican Party went beyond what anyone expected to help provide them the infrastructure and critical dollars that enabled them to fight to the bitter end.
Tactics alone are not going to restore the GOP to majority status in Michigan or nationally. All of us as Republicans need to be true to our ideals. Our actions after elections need to conform to our rhetoric during elections. Saul is an unabashed conservative and isn’t shy about debating Democrats in the arena of ideas, anywhere or anytime. He’s been a tireless spokesman on behalf of our party and our candidates. He’s taken our state party communications program to an entirely new level and set a standard that will be hard to follow.
Tactical campaign battlefield operative and practiced strategist; tireless and effective communicator; accomplished fundraiser; indefatigable optimist and bold leader; these are all terms used to describe Saul, and they are all reasons why we hope you will select Saul to be the Chairman of the Republican National Committee.
Sincerely,
Dave Camp, Member of Congress
Vern Ehlers, Member of Congress
Pete Hoekstra, Member of Congress
Joe Knollenberg, Member of Congress
Thaddeus McCotter, Member of Congress
Candice Miller, Member of Congress
Mike Rogers, Member of Congress
Fred Upton, Member of Congress
Tim Walberg, Member of Congress
Sen Kahn endorses Rankey for Youth Chair
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MIGOP Executive Committee Meeting
Saturday morning the Michigan Republican Party voted to endorse Saul Anuzis for RNC Chairman. The vote was unanimous…NO ONE voted no. Apparently before the conclusion of the meeting, two men who I assume lacked the courage for no vote said that they voted no.
Michigan Republican Party watch is reporting these men are Scott Greenlee and Glenn Clark.
These men were also part of an earlier disturbance during Saturdays meetings. They tried again to remove the precinct delegate preference in which precinct delegates get a spot at state conventions.
The entire committee has already voted no on this issue before, along with the policy committee on Saturday. Bill Beddoes made the motion to remove the precinct delegate rule from the flooe and Holly Hughes, Tom McMillin, and Glenn Clark also spoke in favor.
Holly spoke of the problems with the rule and said that the county party could be forced to send Democrats or even worse (in her opinion) Ron Paul supporters.
Holly of course makes no mention at all of the abuses that could occur and benefit her allies such as a district chair offering his districts vote to a certain cause or candidate. This has largely been banned because of the precinct delegate preference rule.
The unemployed chocolate salesman and district chair Glenn Clark has made thousands of dollars from the McCain campaign as some suggest by taking advantage of the loophole before the precinct delegate preference rules were in place.
Norm Shinkle and Eric Doster spoke up in favor of the rule and Saul had the final word on it.
Greenlee, Zatkoff, Hall and Clark surrounded the room to simulate that there were in fact more than 4 or 5 people clapping after Holly whined about the precinct delegate preference rule.
Of course, Saul still proved it was his house even on his way out the door when the committee voted 2 to 1 to keep the preference rule in place.
All of the State Chair candidates as of today have also vowed that they will keep the rule in place.
The Losers:
1) Glenn Clark – He keeps pushing an issue and losing it. When he speaks before the committee he sounds like a bitter whining girl. He has burned up any clout that he has with his bitter infighting. The below the belt attacks that he is sending out against Saul Anuzis’ run for RNC Chair also does not resonate well with the grassroots especially when he isn’t even brave enough to vote on the floor against Anuzis. Also, Clark was walking around the committee meeting room trying to convince people to vote with him. Before he had even got to a certain delegate she said very loudly, “I am not voting with you…Don’t tell me how to vote!”
2) Holly Hughes – She is a case of special annoyance to me. She was spared in the Chuck Yob purge and she still has the audacity to withhold support from Michigan’s native son, Saul Anuzis. On top of that she gets up at the state committee meeting and talks about all of the other candidates running for National Chair. She also, once again sided with Bill Beddoes to try and undo the preference rule.
Holly, when you are the National Committeewoman and you can’t influence one vote it is time to step aside. I believe you have out lived your function and soured many people on you with your bitter participation in factional infighting. I didn’t support you against Sharon Wise, I hoped you would be gotten rid of this last time around and I hope that someone will take you out in the next election.
The Winners:
Saul Anuzis – On his way out the door, Saul has proven it is still his house. He was the last word on the defense of the preference rule and that sealed the deal. He has his opponents so weakened that even the most brash of them are too afraid to vote no on the committees endorsement of him and are diminished to the point of sending out secret emails.
Ron Weiser – It looks like Ron Weiser is shaping up to be the consensus candidate for state party chair. He should be mindful of a union of Hoogendyk and Shinkle as that appears to be the only thing that could upset his chances of leading state party.
Leon Drolet: Crappy Speech Syndrome
Dear Joe,
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This is the first week of the legislature’s lame-duck session. As a former state legislator, I experienced three such sessions with mixed public policy results. But one constant in lame-duck is the “farewell” speeches delivered by outgoing lawmakers who are completing their final term in office.
These farewell speeches are all reliably similar. In fact, the content of these politicians’ speeches is SO predictable, they’re formulaic enough to build a drinking game around. Wanna play the politician “farewell speech” drinking game? Tune in to Michigan Government TV and watch the speeches. Here’s how it goes:
1. The outgoing lawmaker opens his/her speech with reverent, almost religious, statements about how great the institution of the legislature is. They always use words like, “honorable”, “cherished”, “esteemed” and such. Everyone do a shot.
2. Next, each politician absolutely MUST, without fail, go on to disparage the citizen-imposed constitutional term-limit amendment. Nothing is more important and popular among House chamber members than this. Do another shot.
3. The speechmaker laments the demise of the great statesmen from the halcyon, pre-term limit days of Camelot. In those glorious days, politicians confined themselves to selfless public service resulting in brilliant leadership responsible for everything good in prosperous Michigan’s past. The longer these noble statesmen of old held and consolidated political power, the more selfless and brilliant their leadership became. Of course, those meddling citizens with their damn term limits law ruined everything! Do shot.
4. Now, the politician must ALWAYS thank some fellow House member from the opposing party whom they worked with to create some new law or regulation. This is a warm, fuzzy way of nobly appearing “above the fray” and creating an overall “team spirit” within the political class. Another shot.
5. Finally, a bonus shot if the outgoing House member breaks down and cries, and is surrounded and hugged by colleagues. Like someone died.
Still standing? You’ll need the booze in order to withstand the jaw-dropping detachment from reality on display in the House chamber. In reality, Lansing’s political class is not now, and never was, beloved nobility. Politicians, bureaucrats and rent-seeking special interests in Lansing have always been something that Michigan’s productive citizens must, at best, endure. No citizen loves government officials more than government officials do, and the politicians’ speeches to themselves put that fact on display.
Can outgoing lawmakers name ONE of those ‘great statesmen’ from the glorious pre-term limit days that they believe existed? They might name some prominent politician that led the bureaucracy and political class in Lansing to expand their size and power, but can they recall a statesmen who actually inspired and led everyday citizens?
Was John Engler was such a leader? Engler, I believe, is a perfect example of why term limits are a very good thing. Can anyone name an accomplishment from Engler’s final (third) term? I can name several from his first term and even a few from his second.
The “sucky speech” syndrome is symptomatic of a disease that infects the ego, creating a false sense of self-importance that strikes both Democrats and Republicans. Democrats are expected to worship big government, central planning and politicians as saints. Infected Republicans forget that they’re elected to restrain government, so that everyday citizens can lead Michigan forward – each in their own individual, productive ways. They forget that government’s primary responsibility is to serve by protecting the liberty of citizens – not to “lead” them with new programs and such.
Thankfully, there are exceptions to the “sucky speech” syndrome. A few former lawmakers never lost their sense of perspective. My personal favorite is former State Representative Margaret O’Conner (R-Washtenaw County) who dedicated her years in Lansing (1982 – 1992) to uncovering, exposing and publishing an annual report on wasteful and unnecessary state spending. House leadership despised her because she dared criticize the institution of the legislature. They stripped her of staff, and sentenced her to the worst office in the basement of the Capitol beneath leaky pipes. She never noticed, and kept churning out and distributing her reports on spending.
Another notable exception was former Rep. Stephen Dresch from the Upper Pennisula, whose 1992 farewell speech I listened to from the balcony above the House floor. Both House members and I couldn’t understand the things Dresch was saying in his speech because he chose words that exceeded our vocabularies. After he concluded his remarks, his House colleagues rose to applaud the speech that they hadn’t understood. Only later, with the help of a dictionary, did I discover that Dresch’s speech excoriated the elitist, egotistical mentality of his colleagues and their lack of constitutional restraint.
Two years ago, after serving my three terms in the House, I gave my farewell speech. You can find the content here.
Conservatives, libertarians and other supporters of constitutionally limited government can help future politicians avoid the sucky speech syndrome by doing our part to keep the political process in its’ proper context. We should not deify the institutions of government. We should not teach young people that elective office is some noble calling. America’s founders, the real statesmen from our past, understood that government was like fire; something to fear and handle with extreme caution.
Leon Drolet
MI Taxpayers Alliance
Pete Vitale officially announces bid for youth Chair
Last night at the Macomb County Republican Convention, the Chair, Jim Carabelli endorsed Harry Awdey for Youth Chair despite Vitales announcement. Vitale is from Macomb County and this endorsement will ensure that he does not win his home county.
A member or the Executive Board asked if anyone wanted to make a motion to put Vitale on the Executive Board in Macomb and the room was silent so he was not put on the board. Keep in mind that this is the county that he is from.
Below is Jim Carabelli’s endorsement letter of Harry Awdey:
I am writing today in support of Harry Awdey who is running for Youth Vice Chair at the 2009 state convention. I have been involved in Macomb County politics for over 20 years and have had the pleasure of working with many young activists. However I have yet to find a young man that matches Harry’s commitment to our party and its principals.
Harry first came to me in April when he was considering running for Macomb County Charter Commissioner. At the time he was facing a tough 6 way primary against some notable candidates including the CEO of our county Chamber of Commerce. I personally had my reservations about how a 20 year old could upset a primary filled with talented and well funded candidates. Harry however didn’t back down and on August 5th he was victorious. I have no doubt this was due to the fact that he knocked thousands of doors and was steadfast in his commitment to the principals of Reagan.
After his August victory Harry again stepped up to the plate and proved his worth by finding sign locations for John McCain, Candice Miller, Rep. Kim Meltzer and numerous other local candidates. He worked countless hours lit dropping and making calls for other candidates putting the parties interests ahead of his own. His selflessness was appreciated and noticed by leadership at all levels of our party.
As our party looks to rebuild itself for victory in 2010 it will be seeking young men and women of character to lead our party. I am confident that Harry Awdey is that person. Jim Carabelli,
Chairman Macomb County GOP
