Friday, August 14, 2009

SPEAK UP should be job #1 for incoming Kent GOP Exec. Dir.

By Chucky Daniels

New Kent County Republican Committee Executive Director Mandy Bolter better put on her game face, and quick. She’s already falling behind and is missing golden opportunities to spark a flame to the KentDem propaganda, which snowballs through the county at a furious pace.

• Exhibit A: Grand Rapids City Commissioner Dave LaGrand announces need for city ordinance mandating the use of a bicycle helmet.
Where was the Conservative response to this incredibly liberal suggestion that government should police my cycling leisure time? Meanwhile, Dave LaGrand is the front runner for Bill Hardiman’s senate seat, and failed to get called out on the gift he handed Kent GOP. Not a peep.

LaGrand has shaded his liberalism by representing himself as the most conservative among the Grand Rapids City Commission. But like the rest, he’s in the pocket of the unions. Kent Republicans should have held a rally outside of LaGrand’s downtown offices, complete with “LaGrand! Take a La-hike! Stay off my bike”. They should’ve had the signs laminated on big red signs, with big white letters. And every protester should’ve been wearing a bike helmet.

• Exhibit B: Steve Pestka Out of Running for 29th Senate Seat.
In the hours since the Grand Rapids Press launched the most telling story of the year regarding the hotly contested open seat, there has been zero feedback from Kent Republicans.

Lambasting LaGrand’s liberal bike helmet antics would’ve helped lower his status, but the problems begin with Kent GOP’s inability to read between the lines, and furthers with their chronic failure to plant seeds in the smaller elected positions (Westsider Dave Shaffer defected from the Republican ranks years ago and remains the only conservative-minded person willing to challenge the grassroots Democratic hierarchy). Dave LaGrand has been gearing up for the Senate seat for three years, since his 2006 loss. In that time he’s padded his coffers, run unopposed and seeped deeper and deeper into the echelon of the union organizations who fund the city campaigns.

It should be of no surprise that Pestka has ducked out considering he never entered the race to begin with, has plenty to do in running a business, and the lingering smell of smoke screen clouded the reality that this race is LaGrand’s to lose. Secondly, the misled fables that Pestka would impose on the Democratic powers-to-be should have been recognized, and acknowledged by Kent Republicans. Though Sith-like dissension runs pure in Democrat blood, an internal squabble would be uncalled for, as state Dems gear up for a senate takeover next year and won’t want any hurdles during the primary. Money will be plentiful for any lefty candidate, but the iron fist of Kent Democratic Fuhrer Phil Skaggs (West Michigan Rising) has helped to keep the Demfanatics internal squabbles (Progressives vs. Labor Unions) at a minimum.

Bolter’s experience lends well to the Kent GOP, whose faithful should be elated over the recent overhauls conducted by the Kent County Republican Committee. A new logo, and a new perspective on reality is most certainly lending buzzworthy to their recent efforts, which have resulted in some excitement as of late. A recent Kent GOP “Family Picnic”, held at the Posthumus farm, followed by the innovative “Young Party-ers” fundraiser (which drew criticism over its suggestive title), are noteworthy efforts that are intended to excite the base and draw youthful supporters (regardless of their one-eyed whisky ways). The coconuts were out in full force, which will help spark candidate uprisings. However, the Committee continues to lack a timely response to the fast paced liberal agenda, especially at the local level, and within the media. Bolter’s efforts to rebrand the Conservative machine is important, but without a voice, her help in establishing a new base that transcends the social agenda will come to a screeching halt if they cannot find a message that represents conservatives, business and independents.