Why? Because we just love that she is talking about GraniteGrok more often lately (like this past Saturday at a hilltop meeting) – and each and every time she does, we get new readers! Best of all, they keep coming back. Frankly, she’s one of our best salesmen (er, where have you heard that logic before, eh?)! Much obliged, ma’am, and we PROMISE you, Jennifer, that your kind words will not go to waste – we shall strive even harder to have content worthy for our new readers!
Yup, she decided that part of her speech (where elected and political operative folks like Alan Glassman and Mike Dennehy (to mention just a couple) were anoddin’ in time to her warbling. In fact, it seemed that some amount of time was spent on the innuendo was that “some conservatives prefer to blog instead of writing a newsletter or work to get Republicans elected or do other positive stuff for the Party” (Yes Jennifer, we may have not been invited, but trust me, we were there. You see, we are not just the Boisterous Band of Bloggers here at the ‘Grok, we are all over NH). Problem was, her words may not have been in the most glowing of terms. Tsk, tsk, tsk – can’t have that, can we? Hmmmm….given that we have outlasted most right of center blogs over the years, who MIGHT she (and others) be talking about? Was it to identify, in a sideways fashion, me and the rest of the Boisterous Band of Bloggers here at the ‘Grok? The ignominy of it all!
What’s hysterical about this is was the purpose of the meeting: “Building Bridges“. That would be “between the different wings and factions” of the Party. Jennifer, here’s a clue: you can’t be “Building Bridges” when you’re dynamiting some of those same bridge members behind you. Unless of course, the real purpose is to do exactly just that. So, let me give you a hint: you have brought us upon yourselves. I remind you: one of your campaign promises was to unite the Party’s schism – this ain’t helping.
Now, as to the “prefer to blog instead of writing a newsletter or work to get Republicans elected or do other positive stuff for the Party” stuff, let me direct you first to this this (it will point you back to the first part). Now, let me reproduce what conservative political strategist Jon Henke once said when he tries to explain to politicos what bloggers are (even though it was said a few years ago now, it’s premise has changed little since then) (paraphrased):
“Bloggers are like Pastors with a flock in their church. That Pastor has sole control of that pulpit and does influence all those that come to listen to him make pronouncements and giving opinions that they will listen to. Why? They keep coming back, Sunday after Sunday, to listen for more. They have learned to take those words and evaluate them for truthfulness; the fact that they keep coming back means they have vetted those words.
So too with bloggers – they are not your followers and they are not your staffers. Yes, they may like (or tolerate) you, but their first calling is to their readership and their independence. They are the gatekeepers to the folks you are trying to reach. Approach them as you would a Pastor – or you may not like the result.”
So, Republican Republican Horn, we have chosen to blog. We have specifically chosen NOT to write “happy, happy” newsletters. We have chosen NOT to be campaign workers. We have chosen NOT to be door knockers, envelope stuffers, or phone bankers. We have chosen NOT to be political operatives or campaign managers. We happen to be political and culture bloggers here in NH and we have national awards to prove our bona fides that others believe us to be at least decent at it. And isn’t that a big part of life – finding what you are good at, doing it, and having fun doing it? Let me add this – we don’t care if that offends you. And we don’t care if what we blog offends you or anyone else. We are NOT a Republican house organ, dutifully regurgitating each and every talking point that comes down the pike. In fact, most times, we’ve either already beaten you to the punch from the Principle aspect, we’ve probably already said it many, many times. But certainly don’t expect us to re-blog, re-talk, re-FB, or re-tweet stupidity just because the Party pushes it. Especially if it runs counter to what we hold to – the US & NH Constitutions and the Platform as currently constituted.
And what we do is to point out inconsistencies and hypocrisy from that standpoint. Being techies and engineers, we find it impossible to point those out in just one wing of the political spectrum – engineers just don’t work otherwise. Standards are to be applied universally – so, just like that Nascar drivers’ ad – we hate’em all. So, we do point out the idiocies of ALL parties and people – we would not be Consistent if we did and we would lose the Trust of our readership. The Republican Party, in and of itself, is not worth violating that Trust.
So WHY does the Republican Party, Jennifer, want us to do different? And why would we listen to you?
So, let me give you a second hint: Every time we hear about the complaint that we “ought to shut up” with variations of “please be quiet”, “don’t air out dirty laundry”, “don’t talk about other Republicans that way”, we redouble our efforts. We’re ornery and curmudgeonly this way. Why? You keep forgetting – while we all are registered Republicans (‘cept for occasional contributor Ed Naile, who is a registered Democrat) and most are NH GOP State Committee members, we are conservatives and libertarians first! Our allegiance is to Principles and Ideals first! We view the Republican Party simply as the best environment in which to express our beliefs – but we are not Republican Republicans. We have also learned, in our real professional lives, that if one doesn’t learn from their mistakes, you tank. We’ve also learned that it often needed that others have to help you see those error for what they are – and so it is with the Republicans. But, many (way too many) are not looking for the errors and even less, to be self-corrective.
Engineers and techies exist to solve problems. Sometimes the solutions, by necessity, consist of band-aids, spit, and duct tape. Sometimes, we get to wholesale remove the bad parts and put in new and more robust ones. But the best solution is to make a problem irrelevant, then it is no one’s problem and everyone can concentrate on new stuff.
You want to shut us up? Here’s a third hint: Follow Laura Ingraham’s philosophical advice via the title of her book “Shut up and sing“. As a former project manager, I’m tired of the excuses, the deflections, and the outright lies. We’re tired of the unkept promises and the flaccid rhetoric. Show us results. Period. Stand on stated Principles, message directly from those Principles, craft legislation using those Principles, and reject all that cannot be found in those Principles. Vote knowing that other Republicans will support that and that those who are not Rs will see the Consistency, that you are trying to establish a Trust with them, and you may well like the results.
Follow that up with a fourth hint: If the NH GOP acted according to its own stated beliefs, half of our raison d’etre as bloggers would no longer exist. Instead, Republicans continues to provide a target rich environment of their own making; we just simply comment on what is out there in plain sight. Bright Flashlights work wonders when shown into the dark corners of Big Governments – ditto for the more unseamly sections in the Party’s backrooms.
Consistency also comes with listening. There is a large problem confronting the NH GOP – formerly dedicated Republicans, giving of their interest, time, and treasure, are just throwing in the towel. They are dropping out and tuning out. They no longer believe their efforts are worth it when these ‘individual contributors” look up at elected leaders and go “So, what’s the difference between the Parties? So, what difference am *I* making”? And for each question, one answer suffices for both: “er, not much”. So, they quit.
Yet, some in the Party can’t under stand, grok it, and then act upon it. I tried to explain this to a female Republican of some note a bit ago:
Me: there are Republicans out there they are no longer voting nor donating to the Party. They’ve quit.
She: Well, why ARE they doing that?? Don’t they realize that this will allow Democrats to be elected?
Me: They no longer care
She: WHY don’t they care? Don’t they understand what this means for implemented policy, they are allowing Democrats to win??
Me: They realize that. They don’t care anymore.
She: They HAVE to care – Democrats will win if they just stay home. Don’t they realize that?
Me: You’re not listening to me, and haven’t been for a while. You have made them not care. Why SHOULD they care when Republicans do things at cross-purposes to what they say they stand for? Why should they support candidates that, in the end, don’t support their beliefs? When they don’t see their beliefs being advanced?
She: But Democrats will win?!?!?!
Me: Now you’re making me not care much. Whether you like it or not, whether you want to admit it or not (and I think you are at the point where you don’t want to SEE what they are saying), these people exist. They are dropping out, and you can’t seem face reality even when I put it in your face.
The long and short of it, you Republicans “of note”, the Establishment Republicans (or as I now say “Republican Republicans for the sake of the Party”), aren’t listening. They make it sound like they do, but they aren’t. How to tell? The voting data says the truth – these people have left. Stayed home. Sat on their hands. Kept their wallets shut. You may say what you want, but what the evidence says contradicts you. They are telling YOU their answer to your question of “where else will you go” – and now you aren’t listening to that answer either. Too bad.
You’ve told lots of folks: do it our way or go away. So, they’ve done what you’ve told them and have gone away. And now you don’t believe it. I’m telling you where they are going, and they are all telling you where to go, too.
They. Don’t. Care. People will work, and work hard, when they see results. Where do they see those “results” (being non-hyper media / political junkies like us)? In the media. And what do they see? Object lesson (again): Medicaid Expansion. Sure there are differences between the Dems and the Repubs – important ones, too. But NOT to the non-political-cogneseti – they see:
- Lots of Federal money coming in
- They know that money is not free
- In most cases, they ARE paying those Federal taxes that provide that Free Money even as NH GOP Rs are repeatedly saying it’s Free Money
- Thus, they see Rs all too willingly to spend it just like the Dems.
- They don’t care if one solution is traditional Medicaid & one is real insurance – they see money being spent. THEIR money being spent
So what they see? Two thieves stealing their hard earned money that means they have less to spend on or for their own families. They see, once again, that Rs are complicit in forcing them to take care of others with no choice in the matter (and no, they don’t believe this is “the price we pay for civilization – they see it having to be complicit in the Left’s involuntary ideology of the Collective). They see the Rs assisting in moving the Left’s policies of the redistribution of their wealth FORWARD! – while the Repubs simply calling it anything but a rose.
They are tired of being lied to incrementally, they are tired of being taken for granted, and they are tired of being used, they are tired of Rs not fighting for their stated ideals, and they are tired of the Rs NOT GP GOING TO THE MATS AND THE WALLS AND FIGHTING FOR THEM. Why should they fight when they see Rs being the Jr. Partners of the Democrats? So they stay home. They are hunkering in for the dystopia they know is coming and doing all they can to prepare themselves and their families to best ride it out.
You have stopped giving them hope. And THIS is the message we bring. Only you don’t listen – I can’t make it any plainer than that. It no longer matters what you believe or what you say now. Only concrete results will save you. Been saying that for a while but you aren’t listening – you’d rather bash us for saying the obvious.
Too freaking bad – we aren’t stopping and we will be the pains in you butts until you start doing what will give them hope: no more talk, just concrete actions that say “we are fighting for your freedom by once again acting to truly limit government”. In fact, look – we ARE rolling it back! And if you no longer know how to do that, just read us – we’ve been telling you for quite some time – you just haven’t been listening.
Period.
They no longer care and the Rs have no one to blame but themselves. And yet, we Groksters are blamed for bringing the bad news to light. Well, frankly Jennifer Horn and the other R apparatchiks, you SUCK at listening. And now the Piper’s kids have decided not to follow you and have gone home – they have decided that the Leader is no longer worth leading. Or following. So, just keep going, Jennifer and other Republican Republicans (aka, Establishment). If you think you can succeed without a substantial percentage of non-Establishment Republicans (the TEA Party, Constitutionalists, 9-12ers, Libertarians, and others), knock yourselves out.
We’ll be watching. And blogging. Because that’s what we do. That’s what we are. And I am truly thankful for each and every Grokster that has accepted my offer to join. And if you knew what was good for the Party, you’d be doing the same thing.
