So Now What? Post Election Analysis From Chip Tarbutton
on June 15th, 2012 at 4:50 pm
As many of you know, I’ve been on a Leave of Absence from the Roanoke Tea Party Presidency. Our plan was for me to resume the duties of the President once the campaign for Senate ended for E.W. Jackson. We are having a board meeting next week and that transition should take place at that meeting. I want to personally thank Greg Honeycutt and Hank Benson for taking on additional responsibilities during my stint with the Jackson Senate Campaign. They did a nice job.
I have certainly learned a lot from working on the Jackson campaign. I will be sharing some of that soon.
So now what? We have the Romney/Allen/Goodlatte ticket here in the 6th District. This is a sad turn of events for our nation and our area as there were better choices. We have rated Allen and Goodlatte as Epic Failures at upholding their oath to defend the Constitution. I don’t apologize for those ratings as they are accurate based on their voting records. I would imagine Romney’s vetting would be similarly dismal based on our strict standards.
Our organization is not in the business of sugar coating the truth.
But a failure to uphold the oath infers that you actually tried to do so. Allen and Goodlatte didn’t always violate their oaths. They were cavalier with this sacred honor and that is not acceptable.
However…
The Obama/Kaine/Schmookler ticket, would seek to completely destroy the Constitution, not just violate the Constitution on occasion when convenient. We have moved past the normal bad versus terrible paradigm.
An Obama/Kaine/ Schmookler ticket means the destruction of the Constitution and the Republic. Or as Obama and his minions would call it, they would bring about a “fundamental transformation” of America. It means shredding the Constitution as an impediment to building the socialist paradise they envision.
So we are stuck with bad candidates to fight the Socialist juggernaut. This leaves us with 3 choices that I have heard tea party members openly discuss:
1. Hold your nose and vote for the GOP.
2. Stay home and let them fail. That will teach the GOP a lesson.
3. Vote for Obama/Kaine/Schmookler to teach the GOP a lesson.
I refuse to consider option 3 as I would not consider promoting evil. But I certainly understand people who feel like staying home. There is nothing about the GOP ticket that makes we want to drive to a voting booth or reach for my checkbook. If you keep encouraging the GOP by accepting sub-par candidates, as I have suggested myself on occasion, how will things will ever change?
But the situation is dramatic now, with a President, willing to violate the Constitution at a whim. Giving this president 4 more years without the need to run for re-election and supported by enablers in Congress is akin to national suicide.
However…
Some have described the willingness to let the GOP lose, articulated by some tea party people, as akin to a child taking their toys and going home because they didn’t get their way. That is a ridiculous analysis.
There is a reason why there is a tea party movement. There are many who are tired of the games the GOP play, have joined the tea party, and they never brought their toys to the GOP house. They are independents and if these nominees want their vote, they are going to have to court them.
They aren’t in the GOP. They are in the tea party. Want to get rid of the tea party movement? It is super easy GOP. Follow your own Republican Creed. Then we will go away and join with you. Until you consistently follow your own creed, how can we join you?
I will likely vote for the GOP ticket because of the desperate situation, but I can’t begrudge someone for looking at the Republican ticket and taking a pass. So what to do…
1. I plan on inviting Romney, Allen and Goodlatte to come to Roanoke Tea Party meetings in the near future (not that we haven’t done so before) to try and make the case for those who are ready to sit this one out. If they want tea party support, they are going to have to make a case to the members who are ready to tell the GOP to take a hike. Romney and Allen aren’t going to win Virginia if a significant number of conservatives stay home. To win, they are going to have to secure the support of the 1/3 of likely Republican voters who recognize the ticket’s past voting/policy failures and their inability to stand up to the Democrats.
2. Pray for guidance. This is a tough situation. Unlike some tea party leaders in Virginia, I am not going to try and force you to go and do something. I do think that the evil of the Obama/Kaine/Schmookler ticket makes a strong case for minimal support of the GOP ticket and I encourage people to vote for the ticket.
By “minimal support” I mean going to a voting booth and hitting the button. But the Republicans are going to have to make that case to you, because I am definitely in the hold the nose category and that hardly puts me in a position to cheerlead.
I will be working on a vetting document for the Democratic ticket for the next meeting. While it is chic, and occasionally accurate to say both parties are the same. the GOP, on their worst day, can’t match the wickedness that is the Democratic Party. It would be nice if our GOP representatives actually understood that they are in a war with these people. Perhaps when and if they come to our meetings, we can remind them of that simple fact. We need Churchill’s in D.C. not Chamberlain’s.
This is a time to speak boldly. We should never be ashamed of the truth and perhaps spending some time with those willing to stand up and fight will embolden Romney, Allen and Goodlatte to have some courage. Allen and Goodlatte have occasionally shown courage. In 1994, Allen described the Federal government as a “grimy boot” on the throat of liberty. Goodlatte was the only member of the Virginia Congressional Delegation to vote against Bush’s TARP bill. They have shown some intestinal fortitude on occasion.
As I told an Allen supporter today, we need 1994 Allen, not 2004 Allen. Let us pray the GOP ticket has the courage and wisdom to channel their inner Patrick Henry. Our republic may depend on it.
Chip Tarbutton
Fascism (the GOP way) or communism (the Democrats way) is not is not a ‘hold your nose and vote’ choice. Collectivism is what it is, and a vote of this sort should be cause for rebellion.
I don’t agree with the 80/20 guideline espoused by Reagan and certainly not with the 20/80 that we have with Goodlatte, Allen and Romney.
Goodlatte has violated his oath of office countless times voting to shred the Constitution. He loves his wars and thinks nothing of violating nearly every Amendment to that Constitution… if not all of them.
As Governor, George Allen almost singlehandedly destroyed public education in Virginia and was a model for Bush’s No Child Left Behind.
RomneyCare a model for ObamaCare.
These are just a few examples of all three of these GOP candidates on the direction they will take us, as proven by their records. The current statism will lead further collectivism regardless of the which party gains power. That is the system that needs to end and I will not vote for it.
good friend called this article a long cop out. I don’t see it that way but like I said in the article, I can’t begrudge a soul who looks at the GOP ticket and decides to stay home for the reasons Terry A. Franklin and Mitch Grimm effectively lay out. I think the GOP ticket is not going to do AS blatant a hachet job on the Constitution as Obama. Witness the Amnesty deal from Obama yesterday. I don’t think you need a history lesson on Obama’s sins. Lets just say they are grounds for impeachment. Not destroying the Constitution as bad is not a great reason to vote for a ticket. But based on the unfettered access Team Obama would have if he wins in November…I think that gives me just enough reason to hold my nose and vote. I don’t reckon the establishment folks will like this article anymore than Terry and Mitch. They can’t see how we all can’t just hold hands and sing a happy song with these guys. None of this bodes well for the future of our Republic. Chip
While I do understand your points, I believe I have voted “for the lesser of two evils” as long as I can. Without people standing up and saying they won’t support this, I can see no reason for either party to ever change what they are doing. There is no reason to do so because people will eventually come around and do what they want…even if it is grudgingly. Only when we take a firm stand and say no will there be change. Only when we give third parties or independents our vote will they gain power. Obama will certainly not get my vote. The Constitution to him is meaningless. Romney will not get my vote either. He is a proponent of Agenda 21 and too many other things I oppose. For me, the time is now to say that I will not go along with things the way they are. If enough people do this, I believe things will change. If not, to me, the “establishment” will nod, smile, and say…”see….I told you we wouldn’t have to do anything different…we never do.”
For the record, I’m undecided between those choices. Since it feels like the Republicans have once again put a gun to my head and dared me not to vote, I think it’s incumbent on them to show me how Mitt Romney, George Allen etc. are upstanding examples of fiscally responsible politicians who believe in limited government, and would follow the Constitution. Heard that one before… Not saying I won’t ultimately do it, but it’s become tiresome having to beg for my Liberty.
I will bet the breakdown of the 3rd of the voters that voted against Goodlatte Allen breaks something like the comments here ….1/3 shaking their head and feeling the need to oppose the Dems anyway, 1/3 saying heck no, these guys all stink and 1/3 saying I don’t know what to do yet.
Well, I can understand all of the above reasons to vote or not vote for the GOP ticket this Nov. Having just spent the last 17 months of my life working to get a better congressional candidate on that ballot and failing, I am more than a little discouraged! I am of a mind to write in my picks for all three positions. Then I hear Obama saying to wait until he gets re-elected when he can be more flexible, and I am scared to death! He thinks he hasn’t been flexible? I may not have a clue how I will vote until I walk into that booth. SIGH! We will be starting on Karen for Congress 2014 soon. Look around at any upcoming offices we can take over. Find and vet good candidates. No rest for the weary! In the meantime we will watch our electeds and scream and yell at them if they don’t vote right. My fondest wish is for Goodlatte to be very sorry he won this round! This past election has cost him dearly and I believe he may not know the full extent yet.
I think your analysis is rather fair. As a young guy who is just starting to become interested in politics, I do believe there are other ways. I am going to look into Independents, Constitutionalists, and the occasional Libertarian (but not Gary Johnson, I am afraid).
Do they have any chance of winning? No. Will my vote count? Yes. It will make a statement that these ideas are increasing, that people aren’t giving their vote simply to beat the almost cloned opponent, and that change will have to happen.
Thanks for the kind words. I think there is a whole generation of young voters that are looking at the current political mess and are looking for a reset button. We have certainly created a fine mess for some bright young people to fix for us…
Lisa, thanks for all you did to help Karen K. this year. It is a shame that more people just don’t get the failures of Goodlatte. I think people are starting to wake up, but I am afraid it will take an upheaval of epic proportions to wake up people to the facts of failed leadership. Let’s pray it won’t be too late.
If anyone thinks that the recent Sixth District primary has “cost Bob Goodlatte dearly”, then you need to get into another line of work. Modern politics ain’t gonna work out for ya! Congressman Goodlatte defeated Dr. Kwiatkowski by a 2 to 1 margin, or 33 percent of the vote! You didn’t lay a glove on the man!
Congratulations to Team Goodlatte! Team Allen! And Team Romney!
Onward for liberty!
I agree with your assessment that Bob is safe for another 2 years. Andy Schmookler isn’t going to beat him. There are some cracks forming in the Goodlatte machine and I pray as more people start recognizing his poor voting record, there will be even more in 2 years. Can you explain how Goodlatte writing SOPA with Debbie Wasserman Schultz and meekly going along with $5 trillion in debt limit increases is going to lead us “onward to liberty?” And if you say the BBA I will give you a virtual wedgie.
I don’t really feel that any of my liberties are being infringed upon at present. I had no problem with SOPA, and debt when managed properly is a constructive tool. Yes, we have a way bit too much of it at present. However, I’m confident that’ll all get worked out. If not, we’ll go bankrupt and deal with it that way. In fact, we may be in such a position already that perhaps federal government bankruptcy is the only answer. Hopefully not, but maybe.
In the long run though, I think we’ll be fine. I’m certaily not “scared to death” about things. It’ll all get worked out, and Bob Goodlatte, George Allen, and Mitt Romney will be in the mix helping get things ironed out. As the old song goes, “Don’t worry, be happy.”
Mike, your statements are a perfect example that ignorance is bliss.
I think that Mr. Lam only hates the Kwiatkowski campaign because he has an unhealthy stalking obsession of Lisa that is rather creepy.