news – Page 18 – Carol A. Spencer

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!

Identity Crisis in Leadership

We can’t keep Texas Red if our Republican leaders praise and support elected Democrats. Just because an office is non-partisan under Texas law, if an elected official’s voting record is solidly Democrat, the values he relies on to make decisions are solidly Democrat.

Thus, it was stunning to see this FB post from Republican Precinct Chair and Republican Chair-elect two days ago.

GOP Chair-Elect praises Democrat Mayor

Smithville’s mayor is a solid Democrat, voting in every Democrat primary from 2010 to 2018.

These non-partisan local offices are fertile ground for future leaders. Democrats know that. To keep Texas red, Republicans, not Democrats, should be running our cities.

Those of us who serve in Republican political party offices should understand that our primary goal is to elect Republicans. The values of the Republican Party are our values; the goals of the Republican Party are our goals. Any elected Republican leader who supports or praises elected Democrats should immediately relinguish that leadership position.

My goal is to keep Texas red, so giving Democrats free advertising and support isn’t in my playbook. And when I see local elected Republican Party leaders doing so, I’ll call them out publicly on this blog.

When Republicans act like Democrats, we lose. And, no one should undertand that better than elected Party leadership.

Food for Thought

Here’s a (rhetorical) question for you to consider. I’ve been involved in the political world in two states. The states are very different, but the political party is the same. And, it appears, the power plays, derogatory comments, and backstabbing are the same as well. The politics of personal destruction is alive and well in both, too. So, I posted this on Facebook:

Could someone please explain to me why the chair of an organization would resign as chair and then immediately set up a competing organization, raising money in the same way, from the same people, andfor the same causes he/she raised money for as chair of the first organization?

Instead of collaborating positively, you constantly compete with and badmouth the organization you helped grow and the people who helped you grow it. You were already in power. You could do whatever you wanted with the organization including bringing in new leadership and new ideas.

I’m listening, because personally, I can’t think of one good reason for this divisive and damaging action.

Fascinating that the first comment was from NJ and the second from TX. And, the “likes”? Both states. I wonder if my involvement spanned three, four, or five states, would posts based in personal experiences come from them all? I submit that’s likely the case. And, I submit that if we as a Party don’t stop this, we’ll destroy ourselves from within.

Ours is a competition of ideas. Our ideological competitors are Democrats, socialists, and others whose beliefs are diametrically opposed to ours. It would serve us all well to remember our core beliefs and stand together with others who share them. United we stand.

Gohmert Issues “Robert Mueller: Unmasked” Report

Representative Louis Gohmert (R-TX) has published “Robert Mueller: Unmasked“, a scathing report of the history and tactics of Special Prosecutor Robert Mueller, now hell-bent on taking down President Donald Trump. In the April 30, 2018 report, Gohmert says of Mueller’s fixation with keeping innocent men in jail (men who ultimately were paid, by the taxpayers, $100 million in compensation for false imprisonment): “But it was part of a pattern that eventually became quite clear that Mueller was more concerned with convicting and putting people in jail he disliked, even if they were innocent of the charges, than he was with ferreting out the truth.”

“The Swamp” continues to attempt to protect itself. The targeted misuse of government bureaucratic power against US citizens should scare every single citizen who understands, and believes in, the tenets upon which this country was founded.

May Voter Information

Depending on where you live, you’ll have one or two elections in May. While below you’ll find links to information about both, my focus in this post is on the May 22 Republican Runoff election.

MEET THE CANDIDATES
In the Republican runoff on May 22, voters will choose their candidate for Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace, Place 6 Third Court of Appeals, and Congressional District 27. To help voters choose, the Lost Pines Republican Women will host the Third Court of Appeals candidates on Thursday, April 19 at the First National Bank in Bastrop. This is a free event. Details…

The Bastrop Republican County Executive Committee (BRCEC) will hold a Spring Picnic, expected to be attended by all the Republican runoff candidates. This will be held at Fisherman’s Park in Bastrop from 11:00am to 12:30pm on Saturday, April 28. This is a free event. Details…

VOTER INFORMATION
BastropVotes.org has a wealth of information about upcoming elections.

Info about the May 5 elections, including early voting info, in Bastrop, Elgin & Smithville
Info about the May 22 Runoff election (scroll down past the May 5 election info)
Find your specific information: registration, polling place, and sample ballot for either the May 5 City/School election or the May 22 Runoff election.

Freezing Fun at Jamboree

When I decided to move to Texas, I told my daughter (who lives in Austin) not to worry about me. I wouldn’t be one of those retired moms who looks to her daughter for constant company and entertainment. I said “Don’t worry about me. I’ll find a Republican women’s club and I’ll be fine.”

Fast forward, I got married, retired, and we bought our house in Bastrop County. Unfortunately, the women’s Republican club here had just disbanded.

LPRW at ARW luncheon with Congressman McCaul — LPRW at ARW with Congressman McCaul

So, for 2 years, I joined Austin Republican Women. Then, with the help of then-Republican Chair Jeanne Raley, we were able to pull together 10 paid members (required by NFRW) and charter the Lost Pines Republican Women. The ladies in both of these clubs have proven that Republican women’s clubs are a great place to meet like-minded women, make great friends, have fun, and raise money to support Republican causes and candidates.

Yesterday, for the second time, LPRW had a booth and parade entry at the Smithville Jamboree. For the second year in a row, we were wrapped in winter coats and blankets. Second Place, Best Organization Smithville Jamboree 2018 trophy But, for the first time, we won a trophy: 2nd Place, Best Organization. And, we had a blast doing it. We decorated the truck on Friday (and it survived a horrible overnight thunder storm), enjoyed dinner together, set up our “stuff” early on Saturday morning, and again, dined together. We shared stories of the day, of our lives, of the political world.

If you’re a Republican woman in Bastrop County looking for friends and fun, join the Lost Pines Republican Women!