Elephant Ears

This blog is dedicated to the political happenings in the Valley and Southwest Virginia. As the the name implies, this blog will have posts based on what is heard by this elephant's (GOPer's) ears. It is also a great treat to get while at the county fair or a carnival.

Monday, November 20, 2006

Gillespie

Mason Conservative has yet again taken the lead on RPV leadership in denoucing the candidacy and presumed coronation of Ed Gillespie as RPV Chair. He points to an old playbook and lack of grassroots connections as the reasons Gillespie is unsuitable for the position.

While I am not ready to say its a disaster in the making; I do think if all he brings to the table is a fundraising machine and a "direct line to the White House", he will probably not help the problems we face.

Hopefully he will be more than those two things, and be able to use his national experience to help RPV turn things around.

5 Comments:

  • At 11/21/2006 9:36 AM, Blogger James Atticus Bowden said…

    I just posted on the Mason Conservative that I think Gillespie will be more than a 2 trick pony. We'll see.

     
  • At 11/21/2006 9:15 PM, Blogger RBV said…

    Having a direct line to the current President is meaningless....his popularity is below 40%, right?.....That's like me telling someone I have OJ Simpson's cell phone number...anyone for a game of golf?

    The Party needs someone who can light a spark in NOVA.....Not sure Gillespie has what it takes mainly due to his close ties to the current administration. In other words, why alienate what little support you have left in NOVA by bringing in a guy so close to the current admin?

     
  • At 11/22/2006 11:34 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Folks, when Ed Gillespie was RNC Chair, the Republican Party around the country was more organized, from top to bottom, than it has ever been. The RNC was a full partner with the Presidential campaign, as well as with the NRSC and the NRCC. In other words, Ed Gillespie was a huge factor in the Republican Party's across-the-board success in the 2004 elections. We need a Chair at RPV who is skilled at grassroots organization and fundraising, and Gillespie is an expert on both counts. He also is a brilliant strategist and does an outstanding job on TV. As a resident of Fairfax County, he understands Northern Virginia, which I think needs to be a requirement for our new Chairman (RPV's leadership needs to move north. I live in Richmond, but we simply cannot continue to have Richmond-centric leadership and expect to start winning again). I disagree with the assertion that a State Party Chair who is close to the President will somehow hurt our party. I just don't believe normal people care about that inside baseball sort of things. As evidence, the President is less popular in California than he is in most places. However, when Arnold Schwarzenegger looked like he was facing a steep uphill fight for re-election, he brought on board Matt Dowd and Steve Schmidt, two of the most important players in the President's 2004 campaign, and they brought the Governor back from the political dead. How? Because they're brilliant political operatives, as is Ed Gillespie.

     
  • At 11/22/2006 11:46 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    I think this needs to be decided by the grassroots and the people who do the work, not foisted upon us from the top.

     
  • At 11/23/2006 11:25 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Sure thing. Bring in Ed. Keep up with the plan. Stay the course. Please oh please. We need Ed now more than ever! He will make possible what we want to accomplish! He will bring dispair to those we oppose, and spur determination to work harder among those in our organization.
    I respectfully ask you to keep Mr. Gillespie out front and in a strategic and pivital position.
    For the good of us all!

    Sincerely,

    The Democratic Party

     

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