Another first here at EVERYDAY, I am blogging live from inside the polling place in Tewksbury, Massachusetts.
I will update throughout the day, but polling has been light.
16 October 2007
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21 comments:
While I applaud your enthusiasm, I must say that state central isn't exactly great at supporting Connecticut RTC's. I wish you'd focus a bit more on helping Republicans win local elections!
http://flytotheright.blogspot.com
Dave, if they can get some experience helping folks in very Democrat Massachusetts win elections then they might bring some of that expertise back to CT... I wish Chris the best of luck - stepping out of CT might just give us some insight in what we have to do here.
Judy- the problem is we need help now. We could use the manpower for lit drops, phone calls, and sign waving now. Not in two weeks when the elections are over. Meanwhile in our state district we can read about the investigation over Lou DeLuca every day.That certainly doesn't help us. They are our Republican party, they should be helping us (RTC's) win elections.
Dave - You cannot get the manpower and help you need from your own town or RTC? I guess your town's RTC needs to do a better job getting Republicans in your town to engage in the process.. I am not sure State Central is responsible for that. Admittedly we have the same problem in West Hartford, and in my opinion the lack of sign wavers and phone callers is really their own darn fault.
All respect to you Dave, but if you are looking for manpower you have come to the wrong place. State Central employs all of four people. We do provide tools and services to campaigns - better techniques and methods, like the new ones we are testing here in MA-05. If you want good help, you need us to be able to give it.
Dave, come on, get with the spirit. State Central is all about Chris Healy and his celebrity cult. Why would they spend time urging people to volunteer on municipal races, when they can go on an expense-paid lark to Taxachusetts?
If the state central committee didn't care about municipal elections, they wouldn't have busted their butts turning out the vote 2:1 for Perillo to secure the Republican seat. It's all about supporting the GOP. The seat in MA-05 is actually attainable. Plus, it would be great to get Shays a New England R buddy.
When is the last time you volunteered on ANY public office race, Anon?
Anonymous commenters always have the most brass. If you want to attack Chris Healy or his "celebrity cult", go for it. But put your name on it.
Heath W. Fahle
Executive Director
Connecticut Republicans
I've called state central, left messages, and received no response. Top republicans in CT are always about the federal and top state races and not about local elections. That's why we don't have a good pipeline of good candidates to work with. It starts on the local level. It doesn't start with federal seats in Massachusetts. That won't get us anywhere. The everyday republican is on the street in his own town trying to win selectman and mayor seats. That's where your focus needs to be or the dem's will have a veto proof majority forever. As I said above, i've left messages looking for access to the voter vault but have gotten no response. I guess I'll say I'm a Massachusetts candidate instead...And yes you are four strong, but where is the call for volunteers to help tight local races like the one urging people within 2 hours of Lowell to come out? I dismiss the fact that you are learning how to campaign effectively. How many meetings, conventions, fundraisers have you guys been too anyway?
Dave Colavecchio said:
>>"I've called state central, left messages, and received no response. Top republicans in CT are always about the federal and top state races and not about local elections."
I'm not as active in GOP5 as I would like to be due to time contraints, but much of my district (16th) is within the 5th as are you. I'd be happy to help you in any way possible.
- Doug Hageman
`Authentic Connecticut Republican'
Call me anytime!
Cell: 860 919-8315
Representing the 16th District (Cheshire, Southington, Waterbury & Wolcott) Connecticut Republican State Central Committee
Dave, if your own townspeople are so disinterested in the candidates you are running and those candidates can't even get their friends and families to volunteer for them, how is State Central going to help?
Access to the voter vault for target marketing, a few ideas that may have worked for other RTC's in the same boat. They said they'd help with websites. Those things to name a few. Can't get them to call back though.
Architect, exquisite analytical spread, thanks for sharing – and your name is…?
Indeed Mr. Colavechio is right, all politics is local, bad timing to wonder about Massachusetts and sing kumbaya.
Respectfully,
Boaz ItsHaky
State Central isn't this vacuum cleaner sucking up money from everyone in Fairfield County and redistributing it to every Republican candidate and committee in the state, there are plenty of targeted towns, who actually have some sort of functional campaign structure, that CTGOP is spending its time on.
Like I said Dave, if you can't even get the friends and families of candidates to volunteer, you're really in trouble. CTGOP is going to probably spend its time where its resources can make a difference, not spend what little they have on a hopeless situation according to your very own description.
Three weeks out and you have no door knocking going on, no phone bank in place, and no one for sign waving? And now you're demanding SCC help and blaming them for your failures? Tell us why your town is worthy of what little resources State Central has to offer?
Man oh man, are you missing the point. I just want a return phone call so we can get in the voter vault for target marketing. We'd like someone, a campaign guru to give some advice from time to time. WE aren't looking for money. We have plenty. But we'd like a central group that could help organize rallies etc. We have people to call, wave signs, etc. but we could always use more and those guys would better serve us by being here than guarding a town garage in Tewksbury....
I may be missing the point, but you're providing the bad information: "We could use the manpower for lit drops, phone calls, and sign waving now." Dave Colavecchio said... October 16, 2007 11:22 AM
We could, so could everyone else. Instead of babysitting a town garage and a cop in Tewksbury, meanwhile they don't return phone calls- that's the point and the only point I'm trying to make....
Can't help but reiterate that if your campaign shows no signs of life from within your own town, any support from CTGOP will probably be minimal at best. They have other targeted races in CT that are much more winnable than yours to spend their energies on.
Contrary to public belief, State Central is not flush with millions of dollars in secret bank accounts and flush with warm bodies ready to deploy to anywhere they command at a moment's notice.
Ok what I think really is needed is an understanding between State Central and the RTC's to define what each is supposed to be doing separately, as well as for each other. Currently no one seems to have a clear understanding what the function is of either entity.
Perhaps we ought to have meeting of all RTC chairs and state Central to get this all aired out. Perhaps our RTC representatives to State Central are not communicating effectively what the roles, services, and responsibilities are.
It makes no sense for us to be fighting amongst ourselves (ala Dave C. and State Central shown here on this thread), and we need to build a stronger relationship where everyone knows who is supposed to be doing what.
I could go on for pages about the inadequacies of my own RTC - and mostly their problems are of their own making. Grassroots begins in your backyard and in our RTC's case the little districts within our RTC have chairs that do little to recruit except to fill a slate before election time rolls around.
The RTC's really need to do more work to engage the registered Republicans in their areas to become active and involved on a regular basis. I don't see that as the job of the State Central and as for voter vault - you can get much more up to date and better information from your local registrar of voters - trust me - been there done that.
MC the Rapper Architect said…
“Tell us why your town is worthy of what little resources State Central has to offer?
Could it be just because all politics is local…?
CT GOP needs to re-brand itself and fast!
Having few (very few) Republicans up in the high ups, dwelling within an unrealistic bubble, majestically hovers above an unfathomable Republican void – simply will not do dues.
Where are the “cheers” for the few brave Foot-Republicans in Ansonia, who dare challenge a crushing D dynasty? Or for the superb Republican campaign efforts in Beacon Falls?
… negatively whining (http://ctgop.blogspot.com/2007/10/get-your-chin-up-strap-on-your-helmet.html) from Massachusetts, a la testing new and better/lesser (have your pick) techniques and methods…according to the Executive Director of 4 (I counted at least 5 or 6), Mr. Fahle.
Keep CT’s GOP saviors – Speaker of the House and President Pro Tempore – Alive!
Respectfully,
Boaz ItsHaky
A good debate. Glad to know I have a cult following. I would be happy to dilineate what we have and are doing to help all our RTC's in Connecticut build their organization and win locally. But here is the short version. First, I would refer all bloggers to check our website daily to see the events listed for both the party and local events. I and our Finance Committee are raising money by personal calls and two upcoming fundraisers Saturday - October 20 in Greenwich with Larry Kudlow of Kudlow & Company and Oct. 25th in Stamford, the latter hosted by Lt. Gov. Michael Fedele at his home. We have been working hand in glove with any campaign that we have sought out or has asked us. The money that we raise we got to as many campaigns as we can help but only those who has earned it by running effective, bottom up campaigns with hard working candidates that have a plan. Gov. Rell and Lt. Gov. Fedele have been out campaigning. I have appeared everywhere I can physically get to. And everyone gets their phones calls returned here in the same day or within 24 hours. No one has been denied Voter Vault access if they want it. But ultimately, it is up to local Republicans to get the job done locally. We are all a team and we are all in this together. In Massachusetts, Congresman Shays asked that if we could spare some people for 72 hours to lend some expertise and some muscle to Jim Ogonowski, it might elect a Republican and give New England two Republican Congresman. When our Congressman asks, we deliver. We all went on our own dime and came back last night. I made fundraising calls from my cell as I did doors and spoke with numerous candidates from Connecticut during Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. We did learn a lot and earned some good will from the RNC, the NRCC and the Massachusetts Republicans. Someday they might return the favor. If Mr. Colavecchio's call slipped through here, I do apologize and will make it right. But let there be no confusion about what we do here, we work together and work hard - especially our staff. And of course, if you want to come to the aid of your party, credit cards are accepted on our website. Thanks.
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