Wishing well
November 19th, 2010
By ddepledge
By ddepledge
Gentry Collins, who quit this week as political director of the Republican National Committee, sent out a memo critical of the RNC’s fundraising and get-out-the-vote efforts under chairman Michael Steele.
Collins complains that Republicans could have been competitive in 21 more U.S. House districts if not for the lack of funds, including HI-01, where state Senate President Colleen Hanabusa beat U.S. Rep. Charles Djou, R-Hawaii.
Djou and Hanabusa matched each other in fundraising, but Hanabusa received more financial help from national Democats and labor unions.
Posted in In Politics | 10 Comments »
Political Radar
November 19th, 2010 at 9:57 pm
Collins’ letter makes interesting reading, if for no other reason than the nitty-gritty details of campaign organizing/financing that rarely get explained in the MSM.
Troubling, or at least revealing, however, is that Collins, the RNC, and the likes of Mitch McConnell state as their aim in 2012 is NOT taking back the White House, generally, but very specifically denying Barack Obnama a second term. The letter talks about cementing the new GOP majority in the House and retaking the Senate but doesn’t name names. Yes, of course there are 438 Representatives, 100 Senators, and only one President. But, at a deeper level, I think this phrasing confirms that the national Republicans are not FOR SOMETHING, they are AGAINST SOMEONE. It’s a cult of personal attack and destruction that was echoed in a very lame way by the State GOP in this past election, which makes it no less disturbing.
Are voters’ memories that short or are the Democrats that bad at communicating how much better off we are and how much worse off we would have been had we continued down the Bush/McCain road?
November 19th, 2010 at 10:01 pm
Democats?
November 20th, 2010 at 10:19 am
So, an RNC insider blames Michael Steele’s poor leadership for Djou’s loss . . . the VERY SAME Michael Steele who was blindly supported over much better candidates for RNC chair by the Hawaii GOP’s three representatives to the RNC: Jonah “Righteous” Kaauwai, Miriam “Get Rich off Lingle/Aiona” Hellreich, and Brennon “First to Bail on Lingle’s Cabinet” Morioka. I’m hardly astonished that these three leaders, whose own lackluster performance in 2009-2010 caused local Republicans to lose, were responsible for installing the failed national leadership which led to Djou’s demise . . . even after they took part in diverting hundreds of thousands in local party monies from LOCAL races (which went on to lose big) to very substantial party advertising for Djou. Hawaii Democrats should send thank you letters and gift baskets to Kaauwai, Hellreich and Morioka for their ‘leadership’ of the Hawaii GOP.
November 20th, 2010 at 2:48 pm
Eric Ryan and the Demorat Advertiser are both thrilled about the latest attack on Steele. That says it all.
November 20th, 2010 at 4:17 pm
I gave my 2 cents.
What a bad investment!
November 20th, 2010 at 5:02 pm
Eric,
As a very active Democrat, I would like to send YOU a “Thank you” note for all the discomfort and dissension you are provoking within the local Republican Party.
Speaking of campaign contributions, did you receive our check?
November 20th, 2010 at 5:29 pm
“Gentry Collins”? Who makes up these names?
After reading the letter, I am not sure there is much “there,” there. Without having all the figures in front of us, I would guess the RNC funds were siphoned off by Karl Rove’s behemoth American Crossroads “independent” operation, by the RGA and other GOP money conduits.
To what extent is that a vote of “no confidence” in the RNC under Steele’s leadership versus the advantages of targeting the money more precisely through those other operations? I hope none of this stops the GOP trips to “bondage-themed strip clubs.” If nothing else, Michael Steele has great entertainment value. Gotta love the honest expression of “traditional values.”
I mentioned in a comment the other day that the Citizens United ruling will transform the role of the political parties, especially the GOP in this immediate period, as more and more money (and talent) goes to the newly emerging independent expenditure bribery machines.
Let me guess Mr. Gentry Collins will also end up with one of those operations. He is deserting the RNC as it is listing to one side (guess which side).
November 21st, 2010 at 2:12 am
Eric, you posted in a previous entry, “Charles still suffers from acute reading comprehension difficulties. Nowhere did I write that I was hired by the GOP. Nor did I assert campaign management duties. But Charles does feel motivated to lob one ill-supported ad hominem per day at yours truly. Now Charles can go for that elusive happy ending and get some sleep.”
Okay, besides the usual ad nauseum diatribe, are you saying you weren’t paid by the Republican Party?
A simple yes or no will do.
November 21st, 2010 at 11:56 am
The Hawaii GOP has a few braindead members who assume that any criticism of either Jonah Kaauwai or Michael Steele is an attack on all Republicans. Read the Washington Post article for a fuller picture of the ineptitude that Steele brings to the equation.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/20/AR2010112003722.html
You’ll be reminded of the ineptitude of the Kaauwai party leadership — MINUS ANY VICTORIES to show for it.
November 21st, 2010 at 11:46 pm
In response to poor Charles, who finds new ways each day to surpass the previous day’s “ad nauseum diatribe”, I received not one penny from the GOP, national, state or local. Just ask Jason Bradshaw — political director for the AFL-CIO, 2008 Kailua state house candidate, and 2010 Ewa state house candidate — if you don’t believe me.