I absolutely can not let go a quote from Deputy Chairman Kevin DeWine in the Columbus Dispatch electricity re-regulation piece from below. Check this out:"He hasn't had to make what I consider to be tough decisions, decisions that may force him to spend political capital," DeWine said. "To me, so far, first six months in, he has successfully been all things to all people."Emphasis added.
Even in context that makes it sound as if the Deputy Chairman of the Republican Party thinks that Taxin' Ted is doing just groovy in his new gig.
I keep hearing from certain quarters that somewhere in the great halls of the Ohio Republican Party Headquarters there is a master plan of attack. Is this it? Smother our new socialist overlords with kindness and positive soundbites??? Methinks we could use a new strategery...
I'm just saying...
Oh, I get what the Deputy Chairman was trying to say... Strickland hasn't had to make any tough choices yet beyond what color the drapes should be and the shape his conference table. I get that. But riddle me this, Batman...why hasn't Strickland been put to the test? Why isn't Strickland being challenged? Why is the Speaker of the Ohio House, a Republican, being embraced by the Governor?
This is no secret: I'm pretty lazy... If there is a path of least resistance, I'm going to take it. Right now, that means fighting my own party on issues and ideas that they really should already be already on my side. I have been criticized for not offering up constructive ideas when I write these screeds, so little me offer up some advice: Stop genuflecting towards Gov. Strickland. Do not kiss his ring.
I can hear it already, "But, Matt, we Republicans have a Big Tent and that is all the strategery we need!" Uh-huh...the Big Tent mentality got us slaughtered in the last election. It is now raining and I'm getting wet...that Big Tent is doing me a whole lot of good. And just how screwed up is that? In the run-up to the 2000 primaries, I was a centrist who supported McCain. Granted, 9/11 had a profound effect on me and my desire to live, but did I move so far right that I'm now out there with Pat Buchanan? No... So what happened? From my vantage point, the party moved farther left than they should have while at the same time I moved a bit to the right.
Let's review what I stand for and see just how closely that matches what Republicans say they stand for... I'm for a strong national defense and serious about homeland security (which includes issues such as immigration and border control). I'm for a smaller, limited government. I'm for lower taxes and reduced government spending. I'm for the enforcement of laws and the maintenance of order (which also includes issues such as immigration and border control). I believe that competence matters at all levels of government. I believe in government by the people, of the people, and for the people... I believe that America's (and Ohio's) best days are ahead, not behind.
And I am getting wet!!! Either this Big Tent has a Big Hole in the roof or I'm no longer in the Big Tent...and THAT is the problem with the strategery I've been seeing.
