DE GOP: No Starters, No Bench & No Draft Picks
In thinking about what the next year might hold for us DE Liberals I think we have to filter our strategy through the reality that the DEGOP is flat on its back.
Being such a pathetic rag-tag enterprise, might make 2009 a year of revolutionary change for Delaware’s Republicans, but I doubt it. That would take leadership and let’s take a close look at who the GOP players are these days.
I don’t know who the real shadowy string pullers are in the DE GOP, but at the public top of the org chart, we have Mike Castle. Mike will be playing for the D’s in Congress for the next 8 years. On a local level I think we can all (R’s, D’s I’s) agree that “party building” was never Castle’s strong suit – so I expect he will be as absent as ever this year.
Then I guess we come to Greenville dilettante Charlie Copeland, Tom Ross and Dick Cathcart.
Copeland’s run for Lt. Governor was meant to lay the ground work for a run for Congress when Castle croaks. I’m not sure he accomplished much with his felliniesque “East Wilmington” strategy and his crappy DENREC props. Anyway, the point is moot. When Vance Phillips hands Copeland the watermellon this year you can write down “41%” next to his name.
Tom Ross showed a glimmer of competence by allowing the D’s to half-ass the recent special election, and he knows how to play GOP inside baseball, but I don’t see any real party building skills from the man who talked Bill Lee out of retirement. He blew an opportunity to cultivate some fresh blood like Tyler Nixon by focusing the party’s Novembers efforts and money on the very Un-Delawarean style Republican Son of Clat.
Dick Cathcart is a street fighter and his confrontational style served him well in the majority, but there is nothing more irrelevant than a minority leader in the house. I expect he’ll spend more time defending his seat in the next two years than trying to turn the GOP’s Island of Lesbos into a Sparta.
That leaves a bunch of impotent hangers on like Mike Protack and Dave Burris. If anything is certain in Delaware it is that Mike Protack will not shut up. So he’ll be running for somthing and we all know how that will turn out.
Burris?…feh.
Tags: Delaware
I am glad that you care so much about the other party. Do you have any helpful advice? 🙂
Massive public apologies would be a good start. They could follow the contrition up with some real commitment to America first and Republicanism second in the form of voting for a just tax code that taxes wealth in addition to work.
But what I suspect will happen instead is that the DE GOP will bitch and moan that “our taxes are too high” or some such bullshit.
No Christine O’Donnell? Jason, I’m disappointed! My lovely Lady O’Donnell will be “on top” of the DEGOP soon enough!
Good catch. She should have been in the Protack category.
I’ve probably missed others.
John Brady isn’t disappearing. He will probably look for a new office in two years. His strong statewide performance shows he has promise for the GOP in the future, but if I were him, I would advise to stick with a regional office. Rep, Senate, or maybe Sussex Council.
John Brady isn’t disappearing.
Funny.
John Brady isn’t disappearing.
Let’s hope not. Among all politicians in Delaware, I’d say John Brady ranks up there with Karen Peterson and John Kowalko in the integrity department.
As much as a non-fan of Brady that I am, I can see him running for something else down here in Sussex. I’d still like to sit with him and see if he could win me over (see posts from this summer). The only other GOPer that I like down this way is Bob Ricker, who lost the county commission primary in District 2 to Klansman Sam Wilson.
Not fair to say “party building was never Castle’s strong suit,” when he’s recruited many good candidates over the years. That they haven’t been winning much lately is due to other factors. Castagno, Ursomarso, Lopez would have been desirable for any party. GOP’s long-time dominance of House largely due to Castle recruits.
The local R’s could lead the charge to revise the duPont Financial Act (or whatever it’s called) . They could, conceivably, gain national attention as ‘good guys’.
The act encouraged banks to rush their backwater credit card divisions to into ‘no usuary limit’ Delaware.
The shylocks have had their way w/Delaware and the nation but are still stickin’ it to their card customers w/o mercy. No bailout for credit consumers, no limit on interest & fees. Carper/Biden help fix it so even bankruptcy provides less relief than in the past.
It’s embarrassing to have this ‘national face’ in the present economic situation.
We’re getting to the point in Delaware where we’re so blue the primary is the real election. Oh wait, that just happened! We still have to work on the downstate DINOs – talk about your double entendre.
Hmm…complimented to not be included or insulted to be forgotten? Must think this one through…
Hey, you also have to give Cathcart some props…look at the people to whom he entrusts his campaigns! 😉
(waiting for snark in 5…4…3…2…1…)
To quote Jack Markell:
“But this moment of great challenge can also be a moment of great opportunity.”
http://www.markelltransition.com/index.html
I agree in the short term the GOP is in for some lean years, but with fewer current elected officials it means there are additional spaces for people we have never heard of to make a run in the longer term . If Nancy Wagner, Donna Stone , Terry Spence and Vince Lofink had held on to their seats indefinitely a new crop of candidates would have nowhere to go.
Who knows where opportunity presents itself? Until November 2008, how many people had heard of Tom Kovach?
I agree that statewide Delaware is blue enough that the prospects look better for Republicans in individual local and general assembly elections.
2009 may be bleak for the GOP,but this stuff seems to go in cycles. The question is how long the current cycle can last.
I’ve heard that Colm Connelly is on the GOP wish list to run for something here since he is definitely out of a job shortly. No idea if he would want to run for anything or just claim a partnership and a big paycheck at some big firm here, but you should include his name, I think.
I hear a lot of good things about the Levy Court gentleman, Eric Buckson (sp)? And I’d give my left t*$ to see Tyler Nixon be elected to gov’t in Delaware.
Has the DE GOP hit their low point now? If so, they don’t have anywhere to go but up. Since their bench is empty, this is when the new generation of leaders are being born. The question is, are there enough people interesting in reforming the GOP to get things going on that side? I think the 6th special election showed that the GOP is down but not out.
this is when the new generation of leaders are being born.
And then this is where we continue to crush them before they get old.
anonone, if I ever do run for office, you’re on my campaign. Sounds counter-intuitive, but I will assimilate you to Smittydom (notice I didn’t say Republicanism) and then set you loose on my opponent. You will be my pit bull…just leave the lipstick at home. 😛
Don’t make me put “except R Smitty” at the end of my posts.
Seriously, you’re a hard guy to throw an anvil to. 🙂
Be sure to put Vance on your short list. He’s ready & rarin’ to run for something bigger than Sussex County Council. He might be able to pull together the fiscal and social conservative wings of the GOP.
“I’ve heard that Colm Connolly is on the GOP wish list to run for something here since he is definitely out of a job shortly. ”
Colm is one of the few Delawareans whose income is about to increase substantially.
Jason,
Happy New Year. After a disastrous 2006 (Ting) and even worse 2008 (Lee and others) I have no concerns about where I stand. I am sitting real good right now. I have a statewide recognition over 75% and the issues I care about are the same ones most Delawareans do also.
2006 and 2008 proved the Delaware GOP can stop a candidate but not elect one. Most Delaware Republicans want something better and foor what it is worth the State GOP has lost any credibility on choosing candidates.
The things I debated Markell and Carney on in 2008 will be more important in 2010/2012.
Universal Health care is one very important issue.
Plus I do not think Obama or Markell will be very popular given the incoming challenges they face. Wait till we all see the budget in Delaware.
Enjoy the New Year.
Mike P.’s comment says it all. He is the future of the Delaware GOP.
Indeed — with a focus on popularity rather than on getting anything done.
The perennial non-candidacies of Mike Protack are a symbol of the decay at what passes for the leadership of the State GOP.
A group that would bring in airhead Whitman and the oafish Tom Ridge as drawing cards is not going to inspire any grass roots activism.
Mike Castle is a nice guy but he sells out at the drop of a hat.
Protack might have done well to follow around either Biden for hints on working a crowd.
The state GOP needs a dose of excitement. The ‘Establishment’ certainly does not get it.
Dems seem to be playing it far smarter in building a farm team.
Unstable and Cassandra, you can’t read, that is obvious. Issues is what I ran on, the name recognition was a result of hard work, not ego.
At this point the Republican Party is not a proper vehicle for anyone to run and win statewide in 2010. I have worked hard to change that fact and maybe after a total implosion it might be possible to rebuild. I hope so.
In 2008 we talked about a Universal Health Care plan which would work, about implementing Vision 2015, about having an Inspector General, about open government, about an aggressive move to renewable energy , Shot Spotter technology for gun violence in Wilmington etc.
Things which would be good for Delaware but for which I was roundly attacked for in the primary and things which are supported by most readers on this site. If and when the GOP realizes those priorities we might move ahead as we must move beyond the Reagan legacy to be viable.
In the end we suffered a huge loss at every level and not one GOP official stepped aside, not one. Every candidate in the state was hurt by the Lee candidacy especially Charlie Copeland. Charlie deserved better, he ran hard and gave it 100%. You folks roundly attack him but he worked hard.
While some of you take the courageous action of sitting behind a keyboard and making comments I stood up and ran on things I believed in. Many groups I have been in contact with since the election bemoan the disintegration of the GOP, they see it as a negative to have a one party state, I agree.
We in the GOP have to understand voters are disgusted with us and it isn’t all Bush’s fault. In 2009 we need to offer more than criticisms against Markell and Obama, we need to offer a plan.
Myself and others plan to launch an effort to offer a plan to rebuild the Delaware GOP, more to come. Guys like Tyler Nixon are essential to this sort of effort, let’s hope we can find more of them.
Happy New Year.
Republicans need to stress ideas and issues.
The mess at the DPC should have been a natural and the fumbling of Beau Biden while records were being shredded should have been made a hot topic.
There are some answers to the affordable housing problem that to not require a heavy bureacratic hand playing games with zoning.
The list could go on and it will.
Mike P.,
You slander Democrats like Obama, Markel, and Biden with made-up and meaningless junk and then expect to have any credibility?
You think the voters are going to forget which party got the country into this mess while the Democrats try to get us out?
You think people are going to like watching Senate repubs trying to stop Obama’s recovery efforts?
You think people are going to forget your support of Bush/Cheney and McCain/Palin?
You think that Gingrich GOPAC protogés like Tyler Nixon are the answer?
Good luck with all that.
Thomas Copano has name recognition in Delaware, too.
Republicans need to stress ideas and issues.
Translation From Wingutese:
My taxes are too high, Wah! Welfare queens are spending my tax money on cable TV.
Brian @ No. 5:
FYI, the only person John Brady could run against on the local level in 2010 would be Pete Schwartzkopf for the state House.
His Sussex council district and state Senate district seats aren’t up for another four years. And a fellow Republican, Gary Simpson, holds the Senate seat, besides.
I see him running for state treasurer first.
Hey Mike P — I can read this:
Plus I do not think Obama or Markell will be very popular given the incoming challenges they face.
Which you definitely wrote. Concern about the popularity of politicians isn’t addressing any of the pretty serious issues these politicians have to face. The fact that you still come here campaigning on the same stuff you lost on, but can only deal with the the popularity of pols doesn’t help your credibility one whit. Besides, you’d be facing the exact same “popularity” crisis if you had won too.
It’s pretty funny to hear Mike Protack talk about what “most” Republicans think. Most Republicans, last time I checked, rejected his candidacy overwhelmingly.
It’s pretty obvious he hears only what he wants to hear. Who’s going to vote for someone who can’t recognize reality?
“Who’s going to vote for someone who can’t recognize reality?”
All the Kool-Aid drinkers who supported John McCain and Sarah Palin, that’s who.
I hear a credo of saving the party as “Me, me, me, I, I, I…”
I do digress, though. In open forum, I have attempted to extend a hand, albeit a stern one, to Mike P. The attempts have thus far been bypassed, but I have again put them onto a site that he frequents. This attempt to move forward is located in the comments of Jason’s comment-rescue post. Let’s see if this one gets any momentum or yet again ignored.
Is he building bridges or building an island?
anon:
Didn’t know where he called home. What’s wrong with a Rep run? Schwartzkopf too good to beat? I think jumping the ladder into a statewide spot might be too high a mountain to climb, and a rep spot will give him more statewide credibility with a legislative voting record and bill sponsorship history.
Maybe he should move to a district with a schlub that’s easy to beat.. how does he like Gumboro? (j/k)
Nothing’s wrong with it, but Schwartzkopf is pretty popular locally and would be tough for anyone to beat. No one even took him on this time. His new gig as majority leader also means he has a lot more resources to call on, besides. I think Terry Spence’s loss was an abberation. When was the last time you saw a party leader fall?
Brady’s an ambitious guy, and I just think he’s got his sights set higher. He also seems to be bipartisan enough in his approach that I don’t see him being anointed as the GOP’s white knight to unseat Schwartzkopf – too partisan a role.
(BTW, to find out any politico’s district, just visit the Department of Elections Polling Place Finder site. Type in their name, and it’ll give you both the house and senate districts.)