Spat inside the Oregon Republican Party
Paulie Brading
On July 7th Davis Dyer wrote a column for the Oregon Catalyst titled "Are Ron Paul supporters sabotaging the GOP?" Back on June 28th another author writing as Portland Aristotle on the Oregonian's OregonLive page wrote "The Ron Paul Revolution vs. Allen Alley at the Oregon Republican Party's district coventions". Dyer wrote about Ron Paul supporters who became PCPs to participate in district conventions to select the twenty eight delegates Oregon is sending to Tampa in August. He was particularly unhappy that the Ron Paul PCP's dominated in every district, only losing if they were not running a candidate.
Eric Shierman, also known as Portland Aristotle and author of" A Brief History of Political Cultural Change" wrote a lengthy piece on OregonLive decrying the executive leadership of the Oregon Republican Party. He states there was an intentional attempt to stop the delegate voting so the establishment ORP could appoint their own people as alternative delegates to the Ron Paul delegates. According to Shierman, each district chair were told to shut the voting down by 5 pm and the Republican state staff were told to grab the unused ballots.
Shierman wrote:
"Now watch the Scooby Doo ending, where it gets announced that the ballots have been taken, two confident, yet tactful 20-somethings use the power of the camera in documenting evidence to force two angry state party workers to return those ballots to the convention."
Davis Dyer and Eric Shierman demonstrate how far apart members of the Oregon Republican Party really are. Ron Paul delegates call Romney "just another Obama" and Romney delegates know there aren't enough delegates for Paul to get nominated for president.
Shierman believes the Oregon Tea Party in Oregon has fizzled out. This new generation of Paul supporters are young and they are well organized. Shierman sees the continued growth of Ron Paul PCP's and he believes these kids supporting Ron Paul are the future of the Oregon Republican Party.
Ron Paul PCP's are about to become delegates to the state convention. Meanwhile, the chair of Oregon's Republican Party, Allen Alley is left holding a very messy bag.
Your thoughts.
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6:46 p.m.
Jul 8, '12
While we have our family squabbles, we are united in reigning in a federal government that has completely exceeded any worst nightmare of even the Hamiltonians. While some of the changes that have occurred on the national level were undeniably needed, there is a way to achieve those changes lawfully. Unfortunately that process has been sadly ignored in favor of less honest methods of meeting a changing world.
7:33 p.m.
Jul 8, '12
And you nominated and elected a president, GWB, who exploded the budget by giving tax breaks to people who didn't need them and putting two wars and a vast expansion of Medicare on the credit card.
Your current nominee has the same recipe, to give himself an enormous tax break, increasing military spending, and do it by decimating Medicare, depriving needy people of food stamps, and kicking elderly out of nursing homes while at the same time exploding the federal deficit even more. No wonder the younger members of your party are calling you out.
11:34 a.m.
Jul 10, '12
I agree with you in some ways Bill but however Food Stamps is not the answer for the needy. They make it too easy to get spoiled. When I was younger and we were in need we had Commodities which were basics like Cheese, Lentels, Powdered Eggs and such. It was nice to have food but gave you incentive to do better. This all came from American Producers and you had to have a kitchen to receive them.
Older People were always taken care of by family and the church. I don't remember many going without. They only used nursing homes when they had no other option. We were not in never ending wars though.
4:14 p.m.
Jul 13, '12
I used to support Dennis Kucinich. Now I'm a Republican supporting Ron Paul. Nothing really changed about what I believe in... I've always hated corporate welfare(socialism) and the welfare state(socialism) along with violent war machine politics, etc etc etc...
I never voted for Bush. And I won't be voting for Bush's 4th term in Obama, or Romney either... People who think there is some major difference between them need to wake the hell up.
10:30 p.m.
Jul 8, '12
David,
You're coming through loud and clear that you think some of the policy changes under the Obama administration were bad ideas.
I'm not interested in discussing all of that.
But I am honestly curious about this - "there is a way to achieve those changes lawfully."
Would you mind sharing with all of us what policy changes were achieved unlawfully? Best as I can tell, everything that was done was in the usual way - passage in the House and Senate, signature by the President; or executive orders within the scope offered by law.
And where there are disagreements between the branches - or between the federal government and the states - there have been lawsuits, reasonably adjudicate by the third branch.
What's this unlawful activity you're talking about?
9:11 a.m.
Jul 9, '12
Kari,
In today's GOP, anything that doesn't go their way is "unlawful" or "unconstitutional." It's no longer about what's best for the country, it's only what's best for the GOP.
11:58 a.m.
Jul 10, '12
Most of the things Obama has been doing since in office are unconstitutional. He seems to think he can bypass Congress because may not get his way if he lets them know what he is doing. They haven't the guts to stop him.
6:17 p.m.
Jul 14, '12
Gary, Kari asked you for specifics. You didn't respond to the question.
10:23 p.m.
Jul 14, '12
Most of the things Obama has been doing since in office are unconstitutional.
One example, please?
I think that "unconstitutional" doesn't mean what you think it means.
7:30 p.m.
Jul 8, '12
Pass the popcorn.
10:38 p.m.
Jul 8, '12
Me too! I luv all this adventure into Woo-woo land!
7:33 p.m.
Jul 8, '12
"Scooby Doo" ending. Hee hee!
"And we would have succeeded … if it wasn't for you meddling kids!"
And "Romney is another Obama?" I don't care how many nice things they say about Romney, I'm still not voting for him!
And … poor Allen Alley. I'm sure this isn't what he was hoping to have going in. He's avuncular and a nice guy and all … still just a shadow of the great Republicans that used to lead this state … but avuncular just isn't gonna cut it in the modern ORGOP. There are a few factions, and each figures they're the REAL GOP and the other guys are the posers, and they're all quite willing to go to the wall with each other over it.
For liberals and Democrats, it's popcorn time in Oregon. Pull up a seat and watch.
10:13 p.m.
Jul 8, '12
Samuel, Here is the link to my first article where you can find the video to the "Scooby Doo" ending: http://blog.oregonlive.com/myoregon/2012/06/the_ron_paul_revolution_vs_all.html?fb_action_ids=291835314247645&fb_action_types=og.recommends&fb_source=timeline_og
The second one will run probably tomorrow afternoon. While this one tries to put the Ron Paul folks into their historical perspective, the next one will go into more detail about what rules were broken and offer an opinion as to how the ORP leadership should be held accountable by its membership.
I have often thought about posting here on Blue Oregon. I suppose having one's name mentioned in the article above is good enough reason as any, but one knows he is a nobody when the author offers multiple spellings of his name. It's not your fault Paulie; it's just a crazy-spelled Volga German surname.
I have close ties to progressives in this city, having become a JWJ pledger during the anti-Arizona SB1070 demonstrations and I'm still able to make it out to 5 pro-immigration events a year to maintain my name on the "hot list." This has afforded me the opportunity to meet many of this city's most ideologically pure progressives who consider Obama to be too much like Bush. I also spent a night at the JWJ tent at Occupy Portland, and became a member of their debate society, arguing the free market side of course.
A question I would pose to you guys is, why do progressives with such strong views about serious matters such as a single payer healthcare system, opposition to the wars, and the like seem to have far less influence in the Oregon Democratic Party? My friends at Occupy Portland talked a great deal about their plans to steer the ODP in a more social democratic direction, but they appear to have been unable to follow through on that.
10:32 p.m.
Jul 8, '12
I've dropped into Paulie's post and cleaned up the typos. Thanks for dropping by Eric.
11:16 a.m.
Jul 12, '12
Short answer is that the social democrats are divided between entirely outside and inside/outside strategies, and the inside/outside people aren't that skilled at the inside the party piece.
The division arises in part because the DP doesn't appear to provide means to hold electeds accountable, but mainly to be a tool for mobilizing door knocks and $ for candidates who are independent fundraising centers (the more so the higher up the food chain you go) with real voice going to those able to pay the freight for the fundraisers.
12:08 p.m.
Jul 10, '12
Poor Allen Alley is finding out It is no longer business as usual. What he did is criminal and may be convicted of a felony with a minimum sentence of 5 years instead of hopes of Governor.
8:08 p.m.
Jul 8, '12
The big question is, if the Oregon GOP commits what amounts to political suicide, who will be left to pick up the pieces? I for one wouldn't mind seeing ORGOP "nuke" itself (cheese corn, please), but it would be good to have a faction take over that is more moderate and more amenable to working with Oregon Democrats, instead of constantly saying "No! It's all mine!" like a bunch of 2-year olds. It's long past time for the Oregon GOP to work with Democrats as a "Standard Operating Procedure" rather than for them to continually play political gamesmanship at the expense of our citizens.
9:02 p.m.
Jul 8, '12
Okay, so the new hero of the vital youth of the GOP is an aged white supremacist who wants to get rid of Soc. Sec. Sounds like a great future for the GOP.
12:17 p.m.
Jul 10, '12
You appear to have a real misconception of the Ron Paul Revolution. We are not all under 30 years old and we are not all students. Some of us pledged to support the constitution many years ago. By the way we are not all calling ourselves libertarians either. We are calling ourselves Patriots and Republicans. Most Democrats are in line with ending the wars and bringing troops home from over 1,000 bases. Along with many other issues. The Main stream republican is no longer the Mainstream.
11:19 a.m.
Jul 12, '12
Good that you are not calling yourselves libertarians. Ron Paul is not a libertarian. He is a states' rights man through and through, and believes in highly authoritarian states in many respects. Just not the federal state.
His anti-imperial analyses are clear-sighted and commendable.
10:17 p.m.
Jul 8, '12
Anybody want to start a new party, something ex-GOP could go for,called, say, the "American Party", to try to draw in the spurned & split the GOP vote?
Would be an interesting ruse to give third-party politics the kick in the pants it needs...
12:19 p.m.
Jul 10, '12
Fortunately it is easier to take over the Republican party than to try to compete in a 3rd party. We have learned a lot over the years.
2:54 a.m.
Jul 9, '12
Eric says: "A question I would pose to you guys is, why do progressives with such strong views about serious matters such as a single payer healthcare system, opposition to the wars, and the like seem to have far less influence in the Oregon Democratic Party? My friends at Occupy Portland talked a great deal about their plans to steer the ODP in a more social democratic direction, but they appear to have been unable to follow through on that.
The Democratic Party of Oregon Platform has among its Legislative Action Items:
Declare that health care is a fundamental human right as provided in the US and Oregon Constitutions and adopt a comprehensive single payer health care system that provides all Oregonians with basic health care that include medical, dental, vision, mental health care, addiction treatment and preventative care by licensed providers.
Accelerate the withdrawal of American forces from Afghanistan. Close American bases in Afghanistan.
Want more? How about...
Amend the U.S. Constitution to state that corporations are not people and money is not speech.
Invest in Oregon industries based on sustainable technologies such as low carbon fuels, renewable energy, non-food biofuels, and distributive electricity or thermal and geo-thermal generation systems.
or...
Prevent the privatization of Social Security and Medicare, and support continued full funding through payroll taxes to preserve retirement security for American workers....
Oppose laws that restrict the right of all lawful citizens to vote, including, but not limited to, seniors, low-income individuals, students 18 and over, people of color and those convicted of crimes who have served their sentences.
Ensure full marriage equality for same-sex Oregon couples and effect full legal recognition for same-sex unions of other jurisdictions; repeal or amend Oregon Constitution Article 15, Section 5a (Ballot Measure 36 of 2004) that bans marriage equality for same-sex couples.
I'm guessing your friends are making assumptions and don't really KNOW what Oregon grassroots Democrats are all about... and we don't just talk. We lobby for the issues and work for those candidates that will fight for progressive change. From GLBT rights to tuition equity to election integrity, I have stomped around the cubicles in Salem and made enough phone calls to earn at least a couple activist stripes. And I am only one of many Oregon Dems that do the same thing.
11:23 a.m.
Jul 12, '12
Carla, This is great, but I am not sure how to move the party to actually act on these things. It feels to me like a sop to get me knocking on the doors for candidates who ignore it.
Am I too cynical? Any way to get training for grass-roots folks who don't know the ropes or the players and have trouble with even $75 fundraising events so price is a barrier to entry?
7:48 p.m.
Jul 15, '12
You're a little cynical, but let's face it, change and progress happens much slower than we'd wish, so all of us progressives will have some level of frustration. I think we look at historical change in a way that doesn't properly translate the critical element of time. Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony spent a couple of generations working on women's suffrage, but neither lived to vote. Rosa Parks holding her own on that bus just didn't happen; she spent years with other activists preparing, and waiting for the best moment.
Except for violent events and the reaction to them, change moves like molasses, and it is up to us to grit our teeth and keep it moving. All the while we must do it with the knowing perspective that regressive activists and their monied interests will do everything they can to thwart progress & justice.
Chris, you are always welcome to our PCP trainings (the new ones will start up next month, the schedule is not set yet, but will be posted on our website wwww.multdems.org) A lot of activities necessarily are campaign focused right now - that's just the calendar. But I'd say this, we need more Democratic pals in DC and Salem to line up with folks like Sen. Jeff Merkley and Rep. Michael Dembrow, both of whom stepped up and advocated loudly - and on the receord - for single payer health care.
9:15 a.m.
Jul 9, '12
it's about time for the grown-ups in the ORP to start a new ORP. Alley is a failure as Chair. Hanna's ambitions are personal. Wingard is becoming their poster boy. and between the Tea Party & Paulites, the existing party is imploding.
if there is anyone left from the ORP's moderate & successful past, they need to step up & organize. it does Oregon no good to have one strong statewide party & a fractured opposition. for the Dems to stay strong, we need to be challenged to prove our ideas & our candidates. and that won't happen with an ORP that has committed suicide via stupidity, cupidity & arrogance.
12:44 p.m.
Jul 9, '12
Where are you, Tom McCall, Mark Hatfield, Clay Myers? Come save your party from madness and destruction!
3:40 p.m.
Jul 9, '12
I doubt any of those guys could make it through a GOP primary today. Nor could Victor Atiyeh, Dave Frohnmayer, or Norma Paulus. In today's Republican party, they'd probably have to work their butts off to come in third.
The last Republican to win a statewide partisan race was Gordon Smith ("I'm not a moderate, but I play one on TV") in 1996 and 2002. Before that, it was four-term incumbent Senator Bob Packwood squeaking out a narrow re-election victory in 1992. That record won't change this year; the Republicans have offered token neophytes for all three partisan statewide offices (State, Treasurer, AG), two of whom were write-in candidates. It would take a massive act of political self-destruction for any of the Democratic candidates to lose in November.
There have also been three Republicans elected to both statewide nonpartisan offices in the past two decades: Jack Roberts as Labor Commissioner in 1994 and 1998, and Normal Paulus (1994) and Stan Bunn (1998) for State School Superintendent. That's a better win/loss record, but they didn't need to face a partisan primary that apparently acts to screen out prospective winners.
When a major political party produces exactly TWO successful candidates for all partisan statewide offices in nearly 20 years -- one of whom was a sitting Senator who'd been there for decades -- you'd expect the party to rethink their positions. Or maybe their primary process.
7:16 a.m.
Jul 10, '12
Oh my...from national delegate convention shenanigans to weak write-in candidates to the Matt Wingard fiasco. The "new face" of the Oregon Republican Party. Sweet!
9:14 a.m.
Jul 10, '12
The shenanigans done by the republican party are nothing new. I have been registered as an independent since I started voting and I am now 62 years old. I am one of those young Ron Paul supporters. My family switched from independent voters to republicans to vote for Ron Paul. We are really sick and tired of the main stream media with their prejudice on Ron Paul. I went to the Gathering of the Eagles Bar B Que South of Salem in 2011 and we were allowed to set up a Ron Paul booth. I was pleased with the responses we received and the welcome from the Hosts as well. Then I went to my first Republican county monthly meeting and was rudely awakened. At that first meeting I found my Ron Paul position was not much appreciated. They were talking about recruiting dwindling numbers of members and were hosting events to draw more members. I mentioned that if they wanted to bring more people to the party they should consider bringing independents and democrats that were supporting Ron Paul. The head of the committee told me they did not want any democrat or independent rhinos coming in and disrupting what they were doing. Next I went to the county court house and asked for registration forms. I got a stack and went to the farmers markets and gun shows in the area. I signed up more democrats and independents than anyone else locally. I told the person at the county committee I gave each person two registration forms so they could vote for Ron Paul because Oregon has a closed primary and they had to be registered as republican to vote for Ron Paul. If they wanted to switch back after the primary it was easy to do. She was livid stating they did not want any rhinos. I said I guess I am what you are referring to as a rhino. I also told her it was my job to recruit new members and it was her job to keep them. I posted a few Ron Paul comments on their facebook page and within a couple of days I was blocked from using their site. They did not ask me to stop first just blocked me. I will return and with many others. We are the new Republicans.
11:04 a.m.
Jul 10, '12
Okay, Ron Paul libertarian supporters. You have a candidate to vote your conscience for, Gary Johnson, candidate of the Libertarian Party for 2012.
11:13 a.m.
Jul 10, '12
Ron Paul is not a purist Libertarian. He is more of a constitutionalist. Gary Johnson is more of a Libertarian than I could cope with personally. However he would be easier to digest than another 4 years of Obama or Romney Two Peas in a pod. That is why Ron Paul appeals to many Progressive Democrats.
11:25 p.m.
Jul 10, '12
Whoa there! Not so fast on the Progressive Democrats - or perhaps we could define "appeal". Ron Paul has made himslf available for conversations WITH Progressives, and seems to be a pretty likable guy. But progressive appeal as in vote for him over Obama? UH-UH.
Paul believes that Social Security and Medicare are unconstitutional; he'd eliminate many Federal agencies inc. Energy and Education, and he opposes banking regulations. He's not concerned about climate change and thinks that environmantal policy can be handled by private concerns.
He'd leave it to the states to handle hot social issues like womans health (choice!) and marriage equity, and he wants to end birthright citizenship.
While I am agreement with him on his stance about Iraq and Afghanastan (Get OUT), and his position to dicriminalise pot, the other positions are not exactly a progressive's dream.
What I DO find appealing is the huge kerfuffle his followers are stirring up in the various state GOPs.
11:32 a.m.
Jul 12, '12
Ron Paul in not a libertarian, he is for states' rights in very destructive ways. KC outlines well his vicious views on the social safety net and on regulation. Others include attacking personal liberty on abortion rights and lgbtq rights. His monetary and economic beliefs are loony and would drive us into deep depression if enacted. His main appeal to progressives are his good anti-war and militarism positions, and for some on the conspiracist left, his opposition to the Federal Reserve.
7:34 a.m.
Jul 12, '12
Try Virgil Goode then. He is likely to be on the ballot.
11:48 a.m.
Jul 12, '12
What has happened to the OCA supporters? The reports of moderates losing control of the ORP started 25 years ago, for the first 10 or 15 the OCA & allies were the heart of it. I know Lon Mabon himself literally became a fringe candidate, diving into militia conspiracies about fringed flags in federal courthouses, and joining the Constitution Party -- but what about his constituents? Are they Tea Partiers now? Or what?
11:49 a.m.
Jul 12, '12
Interesting that Geoff Ludt hasn't pitched up to defend the Tea Party, I'm guessing they don't think they're as dead as the Paulians/ites here wish they were.