TxSkirt’s Blog

Right on. I've been feeling and saying the same. We have to start at home, in the local parties and some of them need totally new leadership. They won't like #rebuilding at all, but it's time. Speak your mind, go around the barriers to entry, collaborate with other conservatives even if you don't agree with them 100%

Thanks. It will not be an easy road--change never is, but we cannot keep doing the same thing and expect different results. I am so sick of the "reach-across-the-aisle" mentality. I miss Tom Delay.

Wendy, the problem is when the "aisle" is inside the party. The anti-abortion crew mad at the pro-gun, or the small gov't types beating up the anti-UN team. I'm recommending that conservatives collaborate even if they don't agree on small c niche issues.

The wussypants RINOs have ruined the party. Specter, McCain, Snowe, Graham all need to go. It will have to be in the primaries...that is the only way to rid ourselves of these losers and make the Republican party conservative once again.

AWD

Here, Here...As a Precinct Director during the past Election, I saw first hand the absolute power, dedication and passion of the base...the grassroots folks...those who work and who raise families and who vote. These are the people who give a 'rip' and don't want our Constitution watered down by power mongering socialists. I want to raise the ante just a bit by adding that people do need to know the heck is going on in their states but they also need to get into action. As much as some of these GOP women groups seem like social clubs, we need to be there...Young women need to join. They are the future of these clubs. Locally I am a member of Republican Women Federated and we have an active, year 'round voter registration program going. So, Yes...know what is happening and get into your car on a weeknight and drive to your next County Party Meeting...bottom line...get involved and get into action.

Absolutely Dalton! The dems would love for us to get bogged down in petty squabbling over abortion or gun rights. We must keep the end goal in site and not work so hard at protecting our pet projects.

Great points, now just to get more state reps and senators on Twitter.

Twitter is not the "end all." We can jaw all say on issues, but the goal of a political party is to join like-minded people to elect candidates to office. Frankly, I see Twitter as a misused tool these days. A better use, IMO, is to connect the network to ideas expressed in blogs like this, build readership, and share substantive ideas - perhaps less on issues than the mechanics of party revitalization, which includes connecting as many Republicans to the network as we can.

You end your post with...

"As conservatives and TCOT members we must be willing to do what ever it takes to save the Republican Party."

I question this in the following ways:

1 - whatever it takes? That is rather vague and far too broad. We should not engage in illegal activity, nor in the vitriol that is seen from many on the other side, nor should we give up our souls, our self-respect or our pride.

2 - save the Republican Party? Is saving the party in it's current form of real interest to Americans? If the Republicans remove it's liberal-leaning elements, then they are a party I can be a part of. If they continue to move to the Left, than perhaps a new party is in order. Saving the Republican Party is only of value if the values of the party make sense for the members and the country.

Lastly, you mention that we should get to know our local leadership and RNC delegates. This is very important. What is even more important is making sure that they know us. They need to know that we are watching, talking, discussing, planning and then taking action on our plan. By reminding them that as we engage, so must they engage, they will be able to be more responsive, and that is what will help build a better, stronger conservative base.

The stronger the base, the better we are at bringing our message to America. And if we do that, we all win.

Keep up the great work.

Tony Katz

I couldn't agree with you more. All the tweets in the world won't save this party; we'll have to wrest it away from the "powers that be", and do it forcefully. No room for niceties, now!

Tony, Thanks for the response.

1. Your mind and mine don't always work the same way! "Whatever it takes" would obviously mean using all legal and moral courses of action. I didn't expect anyone in my party would stoop lying or theft because I don't think we have to. As Rush Limbaugh (sorry @RightGirl) is so fond of saying "Conservatism works every time it is tried". Give the choice of a true conservative over a left leaning candidate, I trust the American people will side with us the majority of the time.

2. I agree wholeheartedly with you. The Republican party that was represented in this election (save my personal heroine Gov. Palin) has truly wandered away from the conservative pillars of smaller government and lower taxes. It is, however, the horse we have to ride. If the horse cannot be re-trained to follow a more conservative path, then it should be put down. No other party (constitutional, libertarian, etc.) has evolved to the point of making a difference in election cycles.

3. You betcha our local and stated elected officials need to know who WE are and that we are watching them and TALKING about them. I think we provide them with needed accountability when we remind them for whom they work. We should show up at their local speaking engagements and e-mail and call them frequently. That's the "pain in the butt" section of my recommended plan!

Again, I thank you for taking time to read my blog and make a comment. I very much admire your work and am honored that you would spend a little of your time here.

Wendy...Well said my friend! CHANGE IS necessary! I love the dialogue this provoked and as I shared earlier....True leadership is stepping forward and calling to action that which GOD has placed in the heart no matter how great or how small! Oh, btw...for what it's worth, twitter IS a great networking tool and opens itself up for collaboration buds! Happy Twittering my friend!

Wendy, you gotta know that 'petty power squabbles' aren't what this is about.. that's just growing pains.. what this TCOT thing is about is focusing the determination of these thousands of people into action that can make change.. it IS us, as you say... 'leadership' can change in any organization.. and sometimes it should.. but TCOT is only a MONTH OLD for pete's sake.. :-) it doesn't even know for sure what it IS yet.. but it's sure bigger than anyone expected..

We the people are looking for the technological ways to focus and multiply our determination to save our country. I have yet to see evidence that TCOT is not going to be one of those ways.

Great column, keep up the good work

Dave P
Irving, TX

Like Patrick Ruffini has said, don't get married to the technology when the problem is fundamental. In the case of the national party, they do not communicate, they dictate. "Do this" versus "should we do this".

Getting them on Twitter isn't going to solve that, as all they will do is what people like Rep. Boehner does with his Twitter account - a glorified RSS feed, not a true communications medium.

Maybe this is why I have a bit flustered with #tcot - it is a great communications medium to allow us to collaborate on projects, but too many people are too focused on the tool. We need to focus more on the communcation.

Dave P.-that's what I told the guy I was squabbling with. TCOT is just a tool--and an NEW one at that. It's like a gym membership. Belonging to a gym will not help me lose weight. The only way for me to lose weight is to CHANGE my eating and movement habits. When I use my membership properly, I will get different results. If we use TCOT and other SNS, we will get different results in the next direction, but it takes the hard work of getting into the trenches locally to facilitate this change.

David West, I think getting out party leadership on twitter and TCOT would be a huge help. It's an immediate way to garner feedback and for us to hold them accountable for their votes and actions. I agree, however, that TCOT should not be the focus. I don't think Mike Leahy started TCOT to become a "king maker". I think he was looking for a tool bring party members together to talk about strategy and "what happened?" I think TCOT has brought out the minor disagreements that we have within the party and some members were surprised to find out how many different types of conservatives there are out there. That is were the petty crap has come from--individuals protecting the thing they think most important. TCOT is not the place to work out those disagreements--that is done in your local precinct meetings. It's all local, baby. Get involved, change the world.

I think TCOT has the ability to become the MOVEON.org for the conservative movement if we will just get over ourselves and keep our eyes on the big picture

Thanks bother for your comments. Debate is preamble to agreement.

True, #TCOT does not have the magic cure for the RNC.

WE DO.

Get involved in your local politics. Do you know of an open PTA/PTO seat? a School Board seat? What about a committee person appointment? The power here is change from within. Committee people, at the state conventions, vote on which candidate the party will endorse. RINO's are endorsed by RINO's not conservatives.

In Pa, if we had conservatives in committee seats, Arlen Spector would never have seen the light of the Senate chamber.

As it is, in Chester County alone, there are 55 open committee person seats. My group has been given the okay to present names of interested Republicans in the areas that have open seats to the county GOP. We will only submit names of individuals who share our conservative values - RINO's need not apply.

PACC (Pa Conservative Coalition) will also endorse candidates that share our conservative values.

Add this to everything else stated by TXSkirt.