What’s the Score?

The score is 14 – 7. We’re losing.

I’m not talking about football. I’m talking about social media and digital communication. The Bastrop County Democrat Party in December (so far) has posted twice as much as the Bastrop County Republican Party. And, they’re on both Instagram and Twitter.

Social Media graphic

Social media is the preferred communication method for all age groups. Entities must be in these spaces to connect with the public.

The Republican Party website is out of date. The Election Information page showed Nov 4 ballot info as recently as Saturday, December 7. The cutoff date for filing to run for office was December 9. Until mid-day December 8, not one word was on the website about how to do so.

Silence about the new precinct created in Bastrop County last month even though it affects more than 2,000 voters. Nothing about how to register to vote, yet that’s the top priority for TexasGOP. And, the news page’s last article is from June 2, 2018! Its subject? A joint event with the Democrats.

Bastrop County Republican Twitter Feed

Twitter? The last tweet from the Bastrop County Republican Party was April 25. The Democrats? December 3.

Instagram? (70% of 18 – 29 year olds use Instagram)
The Republican Party doesn’t even have an account. The Democrats last post? November 25.

YouTube? (90% of 18 – 49 year olds use YouTube)
The Republican Party doesn’t even have an account.

“You’re a digital communications expert and a precinct chair. Why don’t you volunteer to fix this,” you might ask. I have. The chair refused my offer. It’s one thing to lose a football game because of poor communication. It’s quite another to lose elections for that reason.

Leave ALL signs alone. Don’t trespass. Don’t steal.

A few days ago, some Democrat signs in Tahitian Village were apparently destroyed by someone driving through the neighborhood. This prompted a post on the Republican Party’s Facebook page condemning the action and forcefully stating that when the perpetrators are found, they’ll be turned over to the authorities. Because the signs were on Democrat properties, the Bastrop County Young Republicans went so far as to blame the Alt-Right for this wrong-doing.

It’s interesting to me that these two Republican organizations have been silent in the face of trespass and sign theft of Republican signs. Not a peep out of either organization as Cruz signs have been stolen from private property in more than a few cases. Perhaps they didn’t know, you say. Well, maybe, but that’s really hard to believe in the face of property owner reactions, some like the one at left.

It is inappropriate to point fingers at anyone, call out any group without proof, laser focus on only one instance of this type of behavior when it’s happening across the county to all sides.

No one should trespass on private property to remove or destroy anything, including political signs.  It doesn’t matter what candidate from what party a person is supporting, they have a right to display signs supporting that individual or party.  TXDOT regulations require signs to be on private property so anyone taking or damaging a sign is violating trespass and destruction of personal property laws.

Practice What You Preach

Are you aware that the Bastrop County Young Republicans (BCYR) Facebook page has blocked any person or group that posts something with which BCYR President Jarrett Namken disagrees?

There is no such thing as “open discussion, substantive debate” on the Young Republican’s Facebook page.

That’s what makes his May 29 post below so stunning, so disingenuous. Namken does not practice what he preaches.  There is no such thing as “open discussion, substantive debate” on the BCYR Facebook page. Be aware of that if you read its content.BCYR Facebook Post

I’ve been blocked.  Those who questioned why I was blocked have themselves been blocked.  The president of the Bastrop County Tea Party has been blocked.  Various Republican candidates and elected precinct chairs have been blocked. The list goes on and on.

Namken claims blocking all these Republican leaders was necessary to bring civility to the discussion.  These two uncivil posts got Russ Tepper blocked.

And, what about this comment isn’t civil?  It got Simone blocked.

Beware!!  Blocking opponents on Facebook is not the practice of Republicans. But silencing those who disagree is standard operating procedure for tyrannical dictators.

What a shame that any person or group has so little confidence in their own ideas that they feel it necessary to control page content so their readers hear only one side of every story.  Beware, for blocking opponents on Facebook is not the practice of Republicans. But silencing those who disagree is standard operating procedure for tyrannical dictators.