I gladly stand corrected
The other day I posted about what I perceived to be the futility of attending a CuyCo GOP Central/Executive Committee meeting to discuss a proposed party platform. My senitments were that it was already a done deal and that the folks who opposed the platform (mostly because they wanted to offer amendments, etc.) wouldn’t be given the opportunity to make changes - boy was I wrong.
Apparently the dissenters out-numbered the supporters and the platform was tabled. You can read the blow-by-blows here on King’s page. Well done to those who had the fortitude to stick it out.
King and I exchanged some emails prior to the meeting and because of my present work schedule I just didn’t have the time to devote to helping with the cause… maybe there’s a lesson there?
In any case, this demonstrates that the party of which I remain a member (despite the best efforts of its leadership) may be turning the corner. It’s entirely possible that the rank and file have had enough of the failed potentates who are running an organization that hasn’t demonstrated any success since Mike Wise and Jim Trakas delivered us from bankruptcy.
Rumors are already swirling among party irregulars that at least two strong candidates are considering testing the waters to challenge the current stool in next year’s chairman’s election. My only hope is that they stick to their guns and give it a shot.
What’s really interesting about Wednesday night’s victory over the establishment is that my take on the party’s proposed platform was agreeable in its conception. For the most part it held moderate positions on most issues (platform committee chair Bruce Akers is about as liberal as they come) and represented a healthy segment of what local Republicans support. The problem I had (which is much different than some of my confederates who opposed the platform on its issue stances) is that the process was exclusive instead of inclusive - and as long as the party operates in this manner, I will remain with the opposition.
Regardless of the reasons, well done party irregulars, well done!
I actually think this is a good sign. Everyone assumes we (the GOP) are completely dead in this county. We still have fight left in us. Let us use that fight to clean up our house, get focused and give the Dems real competition and the people a real choice at the ballot.
July 27th, 2007 at 9:19 am
Don’t forget either what happened last fall when most of the platform committee’s recommendations were shot down. There is a growing wave of dissent.
July 27th, 2007 at 10:07 am
We need a focused platform. I am talking almost a “Contract with the Citizens of Cuyahoga County.” Showing the people what we (the GOP) will do now, and how we will accomplish it for this region. Enough with vague generalities, platitudes and social wedge issues. This region is an inch from death. Does the GOP have any tonic give it? I think we do…
July 27th, 2007 at 11:24 am
Joe,
Do not get ahead of ourselves…. A platform is an outline, not a plan of action.
It may not be of our best interest to have a platform that is very task specific.
A plan of action should be crafted along with and in conjunction with the platform, but not within the same document.
Our plan of action should enhance the platform as supporting documentation, of how we plan to achieve our goals set forth in the platform.
But the platform they had proposed was too vague, allowed for to much fence sitting, and mainly NO INPUT from the rank & file.
That fact alone was my driving force against the platform.
July 27th, 2007 at 12:35 pm
I’m with King on this one. The NO INPUT issue is (and has always been) my biggest concern. the only way that this party can succeed in the future is by adding active members. Nobody wants to join a party that has no interest in what it’s members have to say.
July 27th, 2007 at 12:52 pm
Last Wedneday meeting was an embarrassment to the Republican Party. I felt like I wasted 2 hours that I could have spent with my family. How can we expect to govern, when we can’t even agree on a platform.
What was so wrong with the Platform? Less Government in Cuyahoga County, Less government in Cleveland, Speaking out against Double Dipping Government pensions while public servants continue to work. Instead at every issue people spoke out against these issues. Some spoke so long and incoherently, you could not tell if they were speaking for or against an issue.
Why does Cleveland need 21 councilman? We have more councilman per population than almost any city in America? Our population is declining and will soon be below 400,000. For each councilman we pay their salary, plus benefits, plus staff, plus pensions. Maybe some of you from all those nice suburbs can bail us out in Cleveland, when there are so few of us Cleveland taxpayers to pay these salaries and pensions.
Speaking of the Double dipping from our fine public servants. All you heard was whining by the teachers and other officials in attendance. How is it right that someone can retire as a Superintendent of a school system one day and be hired back the next. Most private companies don’t have pensions anymore, and if you are lucky enough to have one, you aren’t allowed to work for the company once you take them. No wonder there are few jobs for the young in the county, the public sector retires keep staying on after retirement.
It seems to me that the Platform Committee spent quite a bit of time putting together a decent platform. Not perfect but a good start. One of our finest Mayor’s in the County, Mayor Akers, was treated with snide remarks and catcalls from some in the back of the room. He deserved better treatment.
Please if so many of you want to serve on this commitee, please do so before the next Central and Exec meeting, so I don’t have to sit through another 2 hour meeting, only to have the meeting tabled.
So the next day after the meeting, 2 of our County Commissioners voted to increase our Sales tax. We are one of the highest tax counties in one of the highest tax states.
I had hoped that we would have passed a resolution opposing the pending tax, but that didn’t happen. Are we going to do anything to try and rescind this tax or will we debate it for the next several months?
One of the few highlights of the meeting was the salute given to State Rep Josh Mandel on his fine service to our Country and the encouraging words from Mike Dovilla from Iraq. To me they were the shining stars of the night and our party.
Michael Flickinger
Ward 13, Cleveland
July 28th, 2007 at 12:08 am
Michael:
All good points - especially the part about the amount of time you’ve invested in the process - which is another clear indication that the leadership (or lack thereof) for our party is such that nothing is getting done.
This vote was as much about a lack of confidence in those in charge as it was anything else.
July 28th, 2007 at 10:39 am
I was one who voted to table and I will tell my friend Michael and the rest of you why. On item (2) Reform of City of Cleveland Government only the one issue was in the Platform. Reduction of City Council. While I have long been a supporter of this reduction, I think the Platform doesnt go far enough. According to the Charter of the City of Cleveland, a Charter Review Commission must be appointed by the first day of February 2008. I would hope that we would have a plan for the reform of City of Cleveland government that includes more than the reduction of city council and can give it to the citizens of Cleveland in anticipation of the Charter Review Commission.
I doubt that the next meeting will be any better. I received a flyer in the mail from Richard Mays group that wants to include a Pro-Life Plank: We support the monthly inspections of all abortion clinics in Cuyahoga county by the Cuyahoga County Board of Health. 2. we support availability of free ultrasounds for all women at all abortion clinics located in Cuyagoga County.
I would like to point out that currently the health inspectors are tied up right now trying to catch me smoking in a bar. I cant wait to hear how Ward 20 Republicans want to pay for this. For those of you who dont know Richard, he is the gentleman who said at the meeting: We need to keep the council size at twenty-one so that councilmen can to continue to return our phone calls. If wards get to big they might not be responsive.
Myself, I would prefer a council that takes action. Fix our schools, our building inspection dept, crime, reduce the size of goverment and become councilpersons of the City of Cleveland, not just your ward. Get off the PHONE With RICHARD.
July 28th, 2007 at 6:14 pm
I have read all that I can find on last Wednesdays meeting and I am amazed that no one has questioned the necessity of a PLATFORM for the Cuyahoga County Republican Party. Why do we need a platform when we can’t win any elections in this county? It seems this is just busy work for an over paid underachieving staff.
The function of the party is to assist in the election of Republicans! The goal of the party is to elect Republicans! The fundraising effort of the party should be to elect Republicans to office in Cuyahoga County! Have I made my point yet?
I guess when you fail so miserably at your main function you create a “Platform” because then you can point to it and say “see, we want all these good things - we are relevant”. Well I hate to break the news to you but the CCRP is not relevant. And the CCRP will not be relevant until they can get some more republicans elected to office.
I would respect this group more if they just abandoned all this platform crap and did charity work. Seriously, if the time and money that has gone into achieving absolutely nothing was spent on coats for kids or something I would feel like something had been accomplished.
I can see it now, Dimora and Hagen checking with the CCRP platform before they vote. Dimora says “the CCRP platform says we should be pro-life and we should have fewer councilmen in the city so let’s get right on that”. Give me a break!
Now I understand - the function of the CCRP is comic relief for the Democrats!
July 31st, 2007 at 7:38 am
true, the only plank in the platform should be to win elections.
August 10th, 2007 at 11:10 am