carol@stormzero.com – Page 21

“No Borders. No Walls.” Incrementalism

While President Trump is being slammed for separating mothers and children, it’s important to take a step back and remember historically how we got here, and it was not President Trump that brought us to this point.

In 1997, it was Democrat President Bill Clinton’s court settlement in the Flores case that set a 20 day limit on detaining children who illegally enter our country.

It was a court order in July 2015 that slammed the Democrat Obama Administration’s immigration policies on family detention, and applied that 1997 decision to children who enter with or without parents.

It was then 120+ Democrat legislators who, in 2015, penned a letter to President Obama, demanding the FAMILY facilities be closed .

While President Trump may have (finally) decided to treat illegals as illegals to stop the inflow of illegals, he wasn’t involved in any of the prior decisions that now cause parents and children to be separated.

Congress could have fixed this problem any time they wanted: when they had both houses and the presidency during the Obama Administration, or while they had both houses and the presidency during the Trump Administration. But many in Congress don’t want to; the optics against President Trump are just too good to pass up by the “Never Trumpers” on both sides of the aisle.

And, once again, the operative word is ILLEGAL. Every day, parents are separated from their children if they are a mom or dad and are arrested for doing something ILLEGAL.

Perhaps under President Trump’s “let’s get it done” leadership, Congress will finally act to fix all this, but I doubt it. Listening to Chucky Cheese Schumer, he has no intention of doing so. He had no intention of fixing DACA either, and those brought here as children still linger in limbo. The Democrat Socialists of America use the optics to creep closer to their goal of “No border. No walls. Sanctuary for all.”

The optics of both of these make such nice issues for Dems to use in their campaigns. They’re users, not problem solvers. That’s why pragmatist, solution-seeking, “Art of the Deal” President Trump scares them so much and they’ll do anything to get rid of him. And, it’s why the American public likes him so much and wants the swamp drained of obstructionists.

Political Activism or Community Activism

The current CD 27 Special Election is critical! Republicans need a 50%+1 win on June 30 to avoid a September runoff that will be costly to Texas voters, costly to our candidate, and potentially costly to the balance of the House of Representatives if not won by a Republican.

Political strategists would expect the Bastrop Republican County Executive Committee (BRCEC) as a whole to be working hard to get out the Republican vote for this election. Sadly, that’s not the case.

Community organizing is apparently more important. The Republican chair has asked for volunteers for an Elgin community event all day on Saturday, June 23, exactly one week before Election Day.

Elgin is not part of CD 27. In fact, Elgin sits at the most northwestern tip of Bastrop County, far away from CD 27. It’s in Congressional District 10, Mike McCaul’s district.

But getting known in the community is important, you say. Yes, it is. But when the balance of the U.S. House of Representatives is at stake, political activism trumps community activism every time.

For those in my precinct, look for this postcard in your mail this week. It has information about the Special Election, how to contact me, and where to find Bastrop County Republican information online. Even if you’re not in my precinct, but are in CD 27, please share with your friends, and be sure to early vote or vote on June 30!

Intro Postcard - Front with contact information

The Perils of Posting Rumors

Posting rumors on Facebook as facts is dangerous. All Facebook pages are public, and all posts on them are public. Posting false information at the very least is unfair to the subject of that, and at worst can be legally libelous or physically dangerous.

I teach the use of social media. I speak at conferences internationally on the use of social media during disasters. Anyone authorized to publish posts on a Facebook page posts as that page. That means administrators and editors don’t show by name on a post. The reading public only knows the entity posted. For example, ABC Corp may have 2 admins and 3 editors, but all posts show as coming from ABC Corp.

Imagine the consequences for publishing a shelter location during a category 4 hurricane because you “hear” one is open at a particular location. Imagine, again, that a family takes off for that shelter and a tree falls on their car, injuring the occupants. Imagine, as well, that the information was incorrect.

This example may sound extreme, but short of the injuries, it’s happened. It happens all the time in the political world, too, but there’s no reason for it. Just today, two days after I became a precinct chair, the Bastrop County Republican Party published lies about me. I have no way of knowing who the admins are on the page, nor who posted the lies. So, I called them on it. Only then, did someone acknowledge he was the author. You would not have known that had I not cried foul. And as I write this, the lies remain.

As president of the Women’s Republican Club, I do not endorse publicly when more than two Republicans are in a race. The Republican Chair is a member of a women’s Republican club, so should know this. I’ve previously told Mr Weller this. And, I had emailed the candidate on May 4, asking her to remove my name as an endorser. So posting that I am supporting this candidate or that is false. As I write this post, I am at the Texas GOP convention, purposefully not wearing a sticker for either candidate in the TX GOP chair race for just this reason.
Response to Facebook false post

This is not a good way to start a precinct chair term. If the new Chair really wants to turn over a new leaf, she’ll take this post down ASAP.

Diverting Resources Loses Elections

The most qualified candidate for a position can easily lose an election by running a poorly planned campaign, by losing focus, or by letting the opposition distract or divert attention to things that don’t matter to the outcome of the race.

A perfect example of this is happening right now in Bastrop County.

Bastrop Democrats

Early voting for a critical special election starts in just a few days, but the Republican chair-elect has spent her time over the past few weeks with the Democrats, planning a joint fundraiser for a local civic group. On May 19, while the Republican Chair-elect was at a CEC meeting convincing Republicans to do a joint fundraiser with the Democrats, Democrats were on the bridge in Bastrop publicly supporting their candidates.
While support for local organizations is a worthy endeavor, the number one priority of a political organization is to win elections, and winning takes time and money.

It’s sad, but apparent, that the possibility of giving the Democrats two opportunities in two months to defeat our Republican candidate doesn’t matter to Bastrop Republican leadership. They’d rather fraternize with the Democrats than defeat them.

With such a short window before early voting in the CD27 Special Election, this wasn’t the time to divert Republican resources away from Get Out The Vote (GOTV) efforts. We’ve yet to see any Bastrop County Republican Party emails or postal mails regarding the June 30 Special Election, the impact of this special election on the November general election, or the candidates involved.

I am fully supportive of raising money and awareness for local civic groups. A cursory review of my bio shows a long history of civic engagement. But right now, Republicans should be laser focused on GOTV efforts to win the CD27 Special Election with more than 50% of the vote.

If our primary winner, Michael Cloud, doesn’t get over 50% of the vote and is forced into a September runoff, it gives CD27 Democrats two chances to defeat him in a two month time span. It’s sad, but apparent, that the possibility of giving the Democrats two opportunities in two months to defeat our Republican candidate doesn’t matter to Bastrop Republican leadership. They’d rather fraternize with the Democrats than defeat them.

More Hogwash

For more than thirty years, my focus has been growing the Republican Party and having fun while doing so. During my ten years in elected office, my focus was always implementing smaller, more effective, conservative government. It pains me to call out particular Republicans. That’s not my style. But if I am the subject of direct attacks, I will respond.

Mr. Namken: I’d welcome a conversation with you. My husband and I would be happy to take you to lunch. You have my email address and phone number. The ball is in your court. If you truly believe what you write about open discourse and civility, I’ll hear from you to arrange a lunch. If I don’t, that will speak volumes.

I have never met Jarrett Namken. I have never talked to Jarrett Namken. Jarrett Namken has never discussed my political philosophy with me, nor asked my opinion on any issue. Yet he has, in writing, defamed me and my profession, lied about me, and hurled false allegations at me. He has cited laws in his posts that don’t exist and has shown a complete ignorance of copyright law. As the subject of his direct attacks, I must respond.

My “crime” is to be friends with the former chair. Another “crime” was to have the audacity to start two Republican clubs: the Bastrop County Republican Club and the Lost Pines Republican Women, organizations have raised significant funds, had fun doing it, and expanded the opportunities to participate in Republican politics. For some unexplained reason, this infuriates Namken.

In a May 29 email (which someone else just sent me since I’m blocked from those as well), Namken once again states that he wants “more discussion, civility” without “fear of indimidation”:

Our political movement strives to achieve the vision that positively impacts the manner and nature of political discourse in Bastrop County. This effort will be spearheaded to foster more discussion, civility and positive benefits for local republicans.

We will strive to bring more conservatives to engage and participate in their political institutions without fear of intimidation.

Odd words from a man who blocks people from his Facebook page while writing accusatory, false posts about them. Odd words from a man who attempts to intimidate others on an almost daily basis. Odd words from a man who has brought his negativity to campaigns and to the County Executive Committee. Odd words from a man who vilifies and attacks others, even people he’s never met.

Mr. Namken: I’d welcome a conversation with you. My husband and I would be happy to take you to lunch. You have my email address and phone number. The ball is in your court. If you truly believe what you write about open discourse and civility, I’ll hear from you to arrange a lunch. If I don’t, that will speak volumes.

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.

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.

The Thirty-Eight Day Countdown

On Saturday, June 30, just thirty-eight (38) days from today, all Congressional District 27 voters will go to the polls to elect an interim congressman. The winner of this race will serve until the full-term congressman, elected in the November general election, takes office in January 2019.

There are nine candidates in the race. This is not a primary, but rather a one-day special election. All nine candidates will be on the ballot and voters will choose one. If a runoff is necessary, it will be held in September.

The June 30 Special Election is not a primary. All nine candidates will be on the ballot and voters will choose only one.

Republicans include Primary winner Michael Cloud as well as Bech Bruun and Marty Perez. Democrats include Primary winner Eric Holguin as well as Raul “Roy” Barrera and Mike Westergren. Independents Judith Cutright and Christopher Suprun along with Libertarian Daniel Tinus round out the candidate list.

It’s very clear that if the Republican Michael Cloud or Democrat Eric Holguin (primary victors) wins the special election, he will have a leg-up for the November general election. While CD 27 has been considered a safe Republican district, complacency has been the cause of more than one stunning election defeat. Democrats are energized and if the 2017 race in Georgia’s Sixth District is any indication, out-of-state money will pour into this district to attempt an upset.

Winning the special election at the ballot box on June 30 with more than 50% of the vote would be decisive. Strategically, Republicans should work hard to top 50% for our candidate, eliminating the need for another election. With many Republicans out of their home districts for an entire week because of the RPT Convention (June 11 – 16), we need to double our efforts when on home turf to make this happen. And, those not going to Convention need to double their efforts during Convention time.

Republican friends: Let’s get to work! The clock is ticking. Keep Texas Red!