Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
~ Albert Einstein
Nethercutt and Rossi
One of the original founders of the Reagan Wing was engineer/programmer/developer Bill Leath who had just come from the Reed Davis Senatorial Campaign, where he served as campaign manager. (You most recently saw Reed as Election Night political commentator on KING5 TV.)
Reed had the unfortunate experience of being a better choice than the Establishment Anointed One to run against Patty Murray in 2004.
The following are excerpts of Bill’s recollections written for the ReaganWing.com back before the November election in 2004. You won’t believe it.
[On Becoming Reed Davis' Campaign Manager]
After meeting with the campaign committee and others, I was given the role of campaign manager. It was an exciting time. Although George Nethercutt had announced he was in the race ( bringing his campaign war chest from his House Congressional seat with him) he also brought a serious trust problem and he didn’t seem too serious about his candidacy. He had flubbed several media opportunities, seeming bent on offending the conservative base. The Vice President [Cheney] hadn’t yet been out to visit on Nethercutt’s behalf. Patty Murray was looking vulnerable. And Reed had recently blown the socks off him in preparation, speaking ability and general charisma at the King County Republican Party picnic. All in all, the future looked bright ahead. After all, Reed was clearly the better choice for Senator. But, there was one major unknown. Would conservatives have the courage of their convictions to support someone who actually represented them, or would they sacrifice their ideals to the idol of victory?
[On Washington Conservatives]
At the time of this writing, I have transferred my efforts to the Reagan Wing, The campaign has made the transition to a new campaign manager, Anne Laughlin, (who is doing a fantastic job, I think) and I now have a different vantage point from which to comment on Reed’s campaign (which I still wholeheartedly support). Before the memory fades, I want to share some reflections from my interaction with the temperamental Washington State conservatives. In general, I found Washington conservatives to be a defeated, pessimistic lot. While conservatives, especially social conservatives, tend to be people of Faith and Hope, they were not, in general, people of faith or hope. The general malaise of the conservative spirit is compounded by popular belief in a number of crucial misconceptions and myths.
The myth of Name Recognition
One of the most common excuses for conservatives to support Nethercutt or at least not actively support Reed was the specter of Nethercutt’s name recognition. This is a very weak objection for three primary reasons. First, there is both good name recognition, and bad name recognition. I’d much rather have a clean slate than be known for oh say, going back on my word, abandoning my original principles, etc. Reed was starting with essentially a clean slate and generally positive name recognition in Western Washington. Nethercutt was starting off with only slightly higher name recognition and huge vulnerabilities for Murray to exploit in the general election. Her soon to be $10 million budget will turn all of his vulnerabilities into negative name recognition. Second, low name recognition is one of the most readily overcome obstacles in a campaign – especially a United States Senate campaign. In California, [formerly “unknown”] Tom McClintock’s name recognition peaked at over 96% – largely from free press coverage
Our defeats have been blueprinted. The mechanisms of the destruction of Washington Conservative Candidates are a tried and true routine: a well-oiled machine.
How long will we suffer this incredible stupidity to proliferate without getting angry about it?
accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.
Doug,
Very timely story, I think that maybe a lot of conservatives have finally had enough. I guess the best way to really know is what happens at the State GOP reorganization meeting in January.
I’m aware of a person who is giving a great deal of consideration to running for state chair. Should it actually happen and at this point I don’t if it will, it has the potential to turn the reorganization meeting and the party upside down. (Doug, it’s probably not who you think it is.)
As much as I would like to tell all of you who I’m talking about I can’t. Until such time as this person decides, this is all I can say.
The founders correctly denounced the two party system what is the logic or reasoning in trying to be in control of a corrupt failed system ?
Strat,
There is no “two party system.” There is a human tendency inspired by a war between two ideological poles, exploited by the opportunistic.
1. The human tendency is to choose only between options viewed as “viable.”
2. The ideological poles can be variously described as:
Freedom vs Government Control,
Free Markets vs Socialism,
The Rule of Law vs Totalitarian Tribalism,
Judeo Christian Republicanism vs Marxist Dialectical Statism, or
Good vs Evil.
It’s your choice, take your pick.
3. The opportunistic can be easily swept away.
“And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?”
By a faction I understand a number of citizens, whether amounting to a majority or a minority of the whole, who are united and actuated by some common impulse or passion, or of interests, adverse to the rights of other citizens. – James Madison, The Federalist Papers, No. 10
“A general dissolution of principles and manners will more surely overthrow the liberties of America than the whole force of the common enemy. While the people are virtuous they cannot be subdued; but when once they lose their virtue then will be ready to surrender their liberties to the first external
or internal invader.” — Samuel Adams
“Where the principle of difference [between political parties] is as substantial and as strongly pronounced as between the republicans and the monocrats of our country, I hold it as honorable to take a firm and decided part and as immoral to pursue a middle line, as between the parties of honest men and rogues, into which every country is divided.” –Thomas Jefferson to William Branch Giles, 1795. ME 9:317
“I suppose, indeed, that in public life, a man whose political principles have any decided character and who has energy enough to give them effect must always expect to encounter political hostility from those of adverse principles.” –Thomas Jefferson to Richard M. Johnson, 1808. ME 12:9
I still do not see the logic in trying to define the clean end of the turd to pick up.
Steve,
Put your mind at ease it’s not her. 5 years ago it may have been a good idea, but her credibility is shot as far I’m concerned. It has to be someone who has the ability to unite the party, Susan can’t do that anymore. So don’t worry about that happening. At least not from my end.
REPLACE Michael Steele…
http://replacemichaelsteele.com
Strat says, “I still do not see the logic in trying to define the clean end of the turd to pick up.”
So, Strat, when the dog goes in the house you just let it sit there?
I use the time honored method of a shovel and a broom followed by a mop with bleach. [;-)
And that is what we must do in the Party.