There are days when I really miss doing a live radio show...but the vacation from doing so is about to be over. In the meantime, I get to write about some of the interesting things that I would otherwise talk about on the radio show. This piece by Matt Dole over at Lincoln Logs Blog is one of those...Matt says:
I was just thinking that what us Republicans need is a really nasty internal political struggle. I mean 2006 went so well for us, I can’t think of a better use for a ‘relatively’ quiet (…he says already tired just thinking about the 2008 cycle) 2007 municipal cycle than to have a intra-party primary for the newly created Deputy Chair position.Sarcasm aplenty there, eh? Generally speaking, Matt is right on the money: the last thing we need is a nasty primary season. And I would agree that the ORP Deputy Chair race has potential to be a really divisive one. These three guys have managed to conduct themselves with distinction so far, near as I can tell. I haven't heard of any nasty mudslinging going on...
But let's not pretend that we wouldn't find a primary season based on ideas as useful... I think it is well past time we have an internal debate about what exactly it is that we believe in and stand for in this party. I have been advocating that the party come together and formalize a platform that would help chart our course and strengthen our party's stand on the issues. This video from one of the candidates is exactly the sort of discussion that we ought to be having party-wide...
Unlike Matt, I can't shut up about who I favor in this race... Curt Braden has made little effort to campaign for the position and as far as I know has made no direct contact with anyone in the blogosphere. Dale Fellows seems quite capable and has reached out to the blogosphere and Kevin DeWine is a rising star in the Ohio GOP and knows how this game is played. To be honest, I'd be really happy with either Kevin DeWine or Dale Fellows, but Curt Braden wouldn't be a bad choice either. We are blessed in this race to have three guys who would do an excellent job.
My biggest fears about this race has been that we already have Bennett to represent the northern end of the state and it's ideals... Taking that in to account, Kevin DeWine gets the edge in my book...
