A lot of tea party patriots are rightfully basking in the satisfaction of a major Republican victory. They were the ones that put 'enthusiasm' in the Republican sails. They pushed the GOP to unbelievable voter turnout.
And certainly there is the time for some time for R&R.
But we can't let this storm die! We must start now rebuilding the Republican party from the ground up. We saw too often how the existing status quo leaders have often (but not always) thwarted more traditional grassroots candidates. This cannot continue and now is the time to act.
First, everyone, and I mean every husband, wife, and student must get familiar with how the inner party works. Each county has something called the [insert your county name] Republican Executive Committee. This is usually denoted by acronyms (like in my case) the Orange County Republican Executive Committee or OCREC for short.
You want to be involved with this at YOUR county. To find yours go here:
http://www.rpof.org/local.php
Yeah, you're going to have to go to some boring meetings. They last about an hour or so. Some are boring and some are pretty good. Regardless you must come to these to getting voting rights in the official Republican party.
When you've gone to a few of these and expressed a sincere desire to help with the Republican party you become a Precinct Committee Man or Woman. To be fair, you have only a tiny say in the party, but you know what they say about many voices banding together!
Take my advise, membership in the REC's will be a lot more easier (and effective) than standing on a million street corners. The possibilities are truly awesome!
And some of us, if we are really serious about growing AND transforming the party may move from representing precincts, to representing county's, and then even higher positions at the state and national levels. But this all starts at the county and neighborhood level. We need officially recognized Precinct Committee representatives.
And lets put one other commonly held myth to bed. Voting, volunteering for, or in any other way getting into 'third party's' is just a waste of time. In Florida the Libertarian party continues to poll under one half of one percent. Other party's do even worse.
By all means you can discuss theory till you're blue in the face. But running candidates and even more importantly winning elections is the exclusive purview of the Democrat or Republican party. If you are passionate about making a difference (if you are conservative) the Republican party is the only game in town.
This is really no surprise since winning elections is about knocking on doors and getting out the vote. Typical voters, and by typical I mean the ones that 'don't have time for politics'-- these are the folks that just look quickly at candidates and make quick decisions.
All hands on deck, and into the boats!
Showing posts with label Republican Party of Florida. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Republican Party of Florida. Show all posts
Friday, November 12, 2010
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
The More Things Change At RPOF, The More They Stay The Same!
This is a story where everybody is talking, but no one is telling what's REALLY going on.
The first talker is Jim Greer. He rode high on Charlie Crist' shoulders when the governor installed him as the head of the Republican Party of Florida. But that was in 2006, now he's fallen from power along with his benefactor.
So eager was the 'new' RPOF to get the Crist/Greer saga behind them that they had to drag Greer out of their Tallahassee HQ. John Thrasher (who replaced Greer) and a host of big names like incoming Speaker of the Florida House Dean Cannon & incoming Senate President Mike Haridopolis wanted Greer to go quietly.
First there were offers of a sizable 'severance' package for the unpopular Greer. That blew up when the amount became known to other RPOF executives around the state. Mr. Greer said no severance, no quiet resignation.
Then it was discovered that Jim Greer had been taking a commission on all the money raised for the state party. Greer says this was a common practice in fund raising and RPOF knew about it all along.
Things got very confrontational between Greer and RPOF as some 'dirty laundry' began to turn up in the media.
Conflicting reports started surfacing about a Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigation. Finally, an indictment against Greer was announced in July and the once mighty chairman was led away in handcuffs from his posh Seminole county home.
At the press conference the next day various state attorney's outlined charges of money laundering against Greer. But one question came up that may have set the stage for what was to follow.
Bill McCollum was the State Attorney General and some reporters asked if there wasn't a conflict of interest since Mr. McCollum was a well known RPOF insider and those doing the investigation of Greer answered to the A.G.'s office.
The prosecuting attorney's bristled at the idea that their legal findings might be influenced by McCollum. But they readily agreed that Bill was their boss and they talked to him on a regular basis.
The press conference continued with how much evidence had been gathered against Greer and how eager the state attorney's were to bring this case to trial.
No more has been mentioned about this curious conflict until yesterday when a sudden announcement was made that the trail that was to happen in early fall was postponed until 'sometime' in 2011.
No reason was given for this long postponement. But it does accomplish one very important objective: there will be no opportunity for voters to hear how business is done at RPOF. Greer had promised that he would name names and explode the myths of how he was forced out.
Marco Rubio, Cannon, Haridopolis, and many others have close ties with financial dealings of the state party. It would not do to have this kind of hot testimony coming out right in the middle of campaigning.
So the question must be asked, 'What caused a seemingly open and shut case to be re-scheduled so long into the future.' Also remember that this investigation had been going on for many months and neither side had hinted at a need for more time.
But a careful reading of the story filed by The Orlando Sentinel raises more questions than it answers. Read between the lines of 'both sides agreed to postponement' (that would be the state attorney's office and Greer's high-powered defense lawyer) and you'll see a sudden shift. Link http://j.mp/dn1yp5
No longer was the state in a rush to try and punish Greer. And no longer was the defense wanting to clear their client's name. Instead, out of the blue, comes 'let's do this after the election.'
Again, no one is talking, and no media are asking the tough questions, about why this sudden change of strategy. Instead just a brief press release and perfunctory 'no comments.'
We'll have to wait to see what finally does happen.
But the typical outcome from these high profile cases usually runs like this:
1) After many postponements, the public loses interest in what happened a long time ago.
2) Then prosecutors and defense lawyers work out some plea-bargaining.
3) Everyone gets what they want.
Greer will avoid any prison time. John Thrasher get's to keep the party secrets.
Greer is gone with legal stipulations agreeing to not sing like a canary.
In the end there's lots of talk... but it's business as usual when money is involved.
The first talker is Jim Greer. He rode high on Charlie Crist' shoulders when the governor installed him as the head of the Republican Party of Florida. But that was in 2006, now he's fallen from power along with his benefactor.
So eager was the 'new' RPOF to get the Crist/Greer saga behind them that they had to drag Greer out of their Tallahassee HQ. John Thrasher (who replaced Greer) and a host of big names like incoming Speaker of the Florida House Dean Cannon & incoming Senate President Mike Haridopolis wanted Greer to go quietly.
First there were offers of a sizable 'severance' package for the unpopular Greer. That blew up when the amount became known to other RPOF executives around the state. Mr. Greer said no severance, no quiet resignation.
Then it was discovered that Jim Greer had been taking a commission on all the money raised for the state party. Greer says this was a common practice in fund raising and RPOF knew about it all along.
Things got very confrontational between Greer and RPOF as some 'dirty laundry' began to turn up in the media.
Conflicting reports started surfacing about a Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigation. Finally, an indictment against Greer was announced in July and the once mighty chairman was led away in handcuffs from his posh Seminole county home.
At the press conference the next day various state attorney's outlined charges of money laundering against Greer. But one question came up that may have set the stage for what was to follow.
Bill McCollum was the State Attorney General and some reporters asked if there wasn't a conflict of interest since Mr. McCollum was a well known RPOF insider and those doing the investigation of Greer answered to the A.G.'s office.
The prosecuting attorney's bristled at the idea that their legal findings might be influenced by McCollum. But they readily agreed that Bill was their boss and they talked to him on a regular basis.
The press conference continued with how much evidence had been gathered against Greer and how eager the state attorney's were to bring this case to trial.
No more has been mentioned about this curious conflict until yesterday when a sudden announcement was made that the trail that was to happen in early fall was postponed until 'sometime' in 2011.
No reason was given for this long postponement. But it does accomplish one very important objective: there will be no opportunity for voters to hear how business is done at RPOF. Greer had promised that he would name names and explode the myths of how he was forced out.
Marco Rubio, Cannon, Haridopolis, and many others have close ties with financial dealings of the state party. It would not do to have this kind of hot testimony coming out right in the middle of campaigning.
So the question must be asked, 'What caused a seemingly open and shut case to be re-scheduled so long into the future.' Also remember that this investigation had been going on for many months and neither side had hinted at a need for more time.
But a careful reading of the story filed by The Orlando Sentinel raises more questions than it answers. Read between the lines of 'both sides agreed to postponement' (that would be the state attorney's office and Greer's high-powered defense lawyer) and you'll see a sudden shift. Link http://j.mp/dn1yp5
No longer was the state in a rush to try and punish Greer. And no longer was the defense wanting to clear their client's name. Instead, out of the blue, comes 'let's do this after the election.'
Again, no one is talking, and no media are asking the tough questions, about why this sudden change of strategy. Instead just a brief press release and perfunctory 'no comments.'
We'll have to wait to see what finally does happen.
But the typical outcome from these high profile cases usually runs like this:
1) After many postponements, the public loses interest in what happened a long time ago.
2) Then prosecutors and defense lawyers work out some plea-bargaining.
3) Everyone gets what they want.
Greer will avoid any prison time. John Thrasher get's to keep the party secrets.
Greer is gone with legal stipulations agreeing to not sing like a canary.
In the end there's lots of talk... but it's business as usual when money is involved.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Bill McCollum Continues To Whine That He Didn't Get Office He Deserved
I guess this is how career politicians take their final bow. As the audience boo's at an over-choreographed show, Mr. McCollum steps on stage and blames everyone but himself. Even in his concession speech, he rips Rick Scott with the same mud, oblivious that most people didn't like his summer performance and were actually rooting for the other guy.
But this is what McCollum's part of the Republican party stands for. Shady backroom deals and then closing off any opponents that aren't part of the club.
It took a multi-billionaire to do it, but there will now be open fissures in the Republican Party of Florida. True, our hero does not ride on a white horse, but he vanquished an enemy that we have so long wanted to be broken up.
So there is lots of drama in RPOF. But perhaps this new star will tell a story that rank and file Republicans (and Floridians as a whole) will find more appealing.
The Orlando Sentinel link to McCollum's concession speech. http://j.mp/d4qGAV
But this is what McCollum's part of the Republican party stands for. Shady backroom deals and then closing off any opponents that aren't part of the club.
It took a multi-billionaire to do it, but there will now be open fissures in the Republican Party of Florida. True, our hero does not ride on a white horse, but he vanquished an enemy that we have so long wanted to be broken up.
So there is lots of drama in RPOF. But perhaps this new star will tell a story that rank and file Republicans (and Floridians as a whole) will find more appealing.
The Orlando Sentinel link to McCollum's concession speech. http://j.mp/d4qGAV
One Paragraph Tells It All In Florida's Governor Race
"As the evening wore on, the mood turned grim at McCollum headquarters at a Hilton in Altamonte Springs, just north of Orlando. The candidate and his wife, Ingrid, were sequestered in a suite watching returns. The lobby bar, filled with hopeful Tallahassee lobbyists earlier in the evening, was quiet."
This one paragraph taken from The St. Petersburg Times really speaks volumes about what exactly is ailing the Republican Party of Florida. People have seen the headlines of RPOF corruption recently displayed by last year's chairman being led out in handcuffs. It also entailed a list of dirty tricks that activists don't like.
And those activists are the ones that came to the lightly voted primary. They were saying no to the Tallahassee elite of the GOP. They were saying we want complete change!
Sure, RPOF brought to bear it's full might to crush outsider candidates like they so often have done in the past. This time the activists spoke clearly that they would take a never-tried newcomer to the incumbent that they knew all too well.
Round one is in the books. Let's see if Rick Scott can persuade the rest of the voting populace that he is more than just a protest vote against a corrupt regime.
This one paragraph taken from The St. Petersburg Times really speaks volumes about what exactly is ailing the Republican Party of Florida. People have seen the headlines of RPOF corruption recently displayed by last year's chairman being led out in handcuffs. It also entailed a list of dirty tricks that activists don't like.
And those activists are the ones that came to the lightly voted primary. They were saying no to the Tallahassee elite of the GOP. They were saying we want complete change!
Sure, RPOF brought to bear it's full might to crush outsider candidates like they so often have done in the past. This time the activists spoke clearly that they would take a never-tried newcomer to the incumbent that they knew all too well.
Round one is in the books. Let's see if Rick Scott can persuade the rest of the voting populace that he is more than just a protest vote against a corrupt regime.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Lots More To Florida Governor Race Than Meets The Eye
As campaign mudslinging reaches new heights, Florida's two Republican gubernatorial candidates have something else at stake. Should one of them win the November election, they would have tremendous influence over the Republican Party of Florida.
For proof, one must only look at the first thing newly elected Governor Charlie Crist did in 2006: he muscled in a new chairman for day-to-day operations of RPOF. Jim Greer was a little known party insider. His meteoric rise to power and his subsequent fall are well known.
But the story is far from over. While Greer has been indicted for siphoning off some of the money he raised for RPOF, he will soon have the chance to face his accusers.
And as radio commentator Paul Harvey would say, "And now for the rest of the story..." This is the last thing that RPOF want's to hear blaring from radio (or any other media).
Bill McCollum has held many elected offices. He is considered a long time Florida politico that knows where all the skeletons are buried and he's proven his ability to keep his mouth shut.
Perhaps that's why he and legislative leaders Mike Haridopolos & Dean Cannon led the efforts to try and buy off Greer. Why exactly Greer went from party boss to pariah will no doubt be told in court.
But in the meantime RPOF must be very careful to guard the party secrets. That's why longtime insider and lobbyist John Thrasher was rushed into taking Greer's place as chairman. So far, so good.
And with McCollum looking like an easy win, everything seemed fine.
But Rick Scott is looking like the uninvited guest at a private party. Should he win, it will be awfully hard to hide anything from the most powerful elected Republican in the state.
And that friends, is not going to be easily tolerated by insiders that want a nice dark place to conduct business. Big business. Like raking in millions from special interests looking to buy favors from elected officials.
Money is very important to RPOF. Florida election laws place strict limits on the amounts individuals and corporations can give to candidates. Those same rules allow UNLIMITED amounts of special interest money into races as long as it is funneled through a political party.
This has the perverse result of making the party even stronger. And it also shields politicians from being directly linked to any pay-to-play conflict of interests.
The problem with Rick Scott is that he's an outsider that hasn't been tested. Will he keep his mouth shut, or will he go digging in the graveyard? These are questions that will be answered shortly (or not at all IF he does not win)!
Not surprisingly, all the RPOF brass have come out strongly for McCollum. They know that this house of cards is best kept in tack by protecting it from outsiders.
For proof, one must only look at the first thing newly elected Governor Charlie Crist did in 2006: he muscled in a new chairman for day-to-day operations of RPOF. Jim Greer was a little known party insider. His meteoric rise to power and his subsequent fall are well known.
But the story is far from over. While Greer has been indicted for siphoning off some of the money he raised for RPOF, he will soon have the chance to face his accusers.
And as radio commentator Paul Harvey would say, "And now for the rest of the story..." This is the last thing that RPOF want's to hear blaring from radio (or any other media).
Bill McCollum has held many elected offices. He is considered a long time Florida politico that knows where all the skeletons are buried and he's proven his ability to keep his mouth shut.
Perhaps that's why he and legislative leaders Mike Haridopolos & Dean Cannon led the efforts to try and buy off Greer. Why exactly Greer went from party boss to pariah will no doubt be told in court.
But in the meantime RPOF must be very careful to guard the party secrets. That's why longtime insider and lobbyist John Thrasher was rushed into taking Greer's place as chairman. So far, so good.
And with McCollum looking like an easy win, everything seemed fine.
But Rick Scott is looking like the uninvited guest at a private party. Should he win, it will be awfully hard to hide anything from the most powerful elected Republican in the state.
And that friends, is not going to be easily tolerated by insiders that want a nice dark place to conduct business. Big business. Like raking in millions from special interests looking to buy favors from elected officials.
Money is very important to RPOF. Florida election laws place strict limits on the amounts individuals and corporations can give to candidates. Those same rules allow UNLIMITED amounts of special interest money into races as long as it is funneled through a political party.
This has the perverse result of making the party even stronger. And it also shields politicians from being directly linked to any pay-to-play conflict of interests.
The problem with Rick Scott is that he's an outsider that hasn't been tested. Will he keep his mouth shut, or will he go digging in the graveyard? These are questions that will be answered shortly (or not at all IF he does not win)!
Not surprisingly, all the RPOF brass have come out strongly for McCollum. They know that this house of cards is best kept in tack by protecting it from outsiders.
Friday, March 5, 2010
Who Is More Powerful: Congress Or Florida Legislature?
Most would answer Congress, but the answer is not that simple.
Congress does have a huge impact on foreign and domestic policy. And with the onslaught of nationalized health care and deficit spending it is easy to be transfixed on Washington.
But our representatives in Tallahassee merit our attention just as much. This year's budget will approach 70 BILLION dollars. Next stop: a TRILLION dollar yearly budget is within site.
So what's a poor taxpayer to do?
Figure out who your elected representative is here
http://j.mp/FLStateSenate & http://j.mp/FLStateHouse
Look carefully on the part of the page that says 'Find your representative (you'll need your zip code and the extra 4 digits that comes with junk mail/bills.
It is vitally important that we start putting teeth into our efforts for not only State Sovereignty but a raft of other issues/taxes.
The best thing about state representatives is that it is so easy to talk to them either face to face or over the phone. Mine knows me by my first name and greets me warmly when ever I'm at tea party events.
We will be soon doing a bus trip to Tallahassee to visit (harass!) our legislators. Expect a day around the end of March. We'll leave early from Orlando (7am) and return around 10pm.
Please spread the word on this!
Nick Egoroff
Admin: Florida State Sovereignty
http://j.mp/FLStateSovereignty
Saturday, February 20, 2010
As expected, money trumped all other considerations. John Thrasher, millionaire registered lobbyist, was elected State Chairman of the Republican Part
As expected, money trumped all other considerations. John Thrasher, millionaire registered lobbyist, was elected State Chairman of the Republican Party of Florida.
The election wasn't even close: Thrasher 135, Sharron Day (viewed as the grassroots favorite) 85.
While this was the expected outcome, it is important none the less. We now have yet another indication that the RPOF is just going to be about money.
And we're not talking little $50 or $100 contributions. No sir, this is BIG FAT CORPORATE special interest money. You see, because of campaign finance laws, each candidate state-level candidate can only collect $500 per individual supporter.
The main purpose of RPOF is to act as a repository for the big six and seven figure checks from lobbyists. These million dollar checks go to the party chairman who is able to accept them because of our campaign finance 'reforms'.
Now Mr. 'Money Bags' Thrasher will be able to dole out the cash to his favored RINO Republicans and keep the special interests satisfied with preferential legislation.
Many Republicans had hoped that Sharron Day winning might signal a new, more grassroots oriented party. Today's results speak otherwise.
Now starts the consideration of whether RPOF will EVER become a party of small government and lower taxes.
Why? Because big business (and their well-heeled lobbyists) want a bigger government that doles out bigger taxpayer funded projects!
Mr. and Mrs. Sunshine Republican, I have some bad news for you. Your party has been sold and you are left holding an empty bag.
But not to worry. Mr. Thrasher has reached into his deep pockets and pulled out a couple of coins. Perhaps you can go down to the store and buy that new stuffed elephant you always wanted.
Nick Egoroff
Admin: Restore The Republican Party Of Florida
http://j.mp/RestoreRPOF
Please Feel Free To Forward
The election wasn't even close: Thrasher 135, Sharron Day (viewed as the grassroots favorite) 85.
While this was the expected outcome, it is important none the less. We now have yet another indication that the RPOF is just going to be about money.
And we're not talking little $50 or $100 contributions. No sir, this is BIG FAT CORPORATE special interest money. You see, because of campaign finance laws, each candidate state-level candidate can only collect $500 per individual supporter.
The main purpose of RPOF is to act as a repository for the big six and seven figure checks from lobbyists. These million dollar checks go to the party chairman who is able to accept them because of our campaign finance 'reforms'.
Now Mr. 'Money Bags' Thrasher will be able to dole out the cash to his favored RINO Republicans and keep the special interests satisfied with preferential legislation.
Many Republicans had hoped that Sharron Day winning might signal a new, more grassroots oriented party. Today's results speak otherwise.
Now starts the consideration of whether RPOF will EVER become a party of small government and lower taxes.
Why? Because big business (and their well-heeled lobbyists) want a bigger government that doles out bigger taxpayer funded projects!
Mr. and Mrs. Sunshine Republican, I have some bad news for you. Your party has been sold and you are left holding an empty bag.
But not to worry. Mr. Thrasher has reached into his deep pockets and pulled out a couple of coins. Perhaps you can go down to the store and buy that new stuffed elephant you always wanted.
Nick Egoroff
Admin: Restore The Republican Party Of Florida
http://j.mp/RestoreRPOF
Please Feel Free To Forward
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Chairman Jim Greer Continues Strong-Arming Florida Republican Party
This evening Brevard County Republican Executive Committee Chairman Jason Steele was interviewed about Republican Party of Florida Chairman Jim Greer's attempts to shut down the 2010 Republican Party Primary process. Greer has been trying to shut out former House Speaker Marco Rubio from opposing Gov. Charlie Crist for in the US Senate race (link to broadcast below).
I wanted to add my comments as well, because this ominous trend of Republican brass attempting to intimidate candidates in primary elections holds tremendous challenges for us as Party grassroots activists. Greer contends that some primaries are just to expensive and distracting. Instead he wants to go ahead and pick for us the candidates that we should vote for.
The problem with this is that now, especially when the Party is trying to figure out if it wants a more moderate (some call it Democrat Lite) Republicanism or a more conservative brand, the decision is not going to be made by the Party members themselves. This is precisely what Primaries are supposed to solve. But Boss Greer has other intentions.
In this interview I was struck by the lack of any coherent or logical argument by Greer to support his position. His constant 'uh's' and superficial replies either show him to be unable to argue his position or else he just considers that his opinion is the only one that matters.
Unfortunately the interviewer did not ask the hard questions of exactly what voice do the Party members have in this system. We must challenge Greer and the rest of the Party bigwigs that they are not to strip us of our rights to have fair and open primaries.
I commend Chairman Steele for beginning a drive to get county chairman to pass resolutions against these tactics. But even more I think that we as Florida Republicans have just as much right and duty to make sure our voices are heard as well.
Here is the phone number for the RPOF in Tallahassee (850)222-7920. And here is their email form http://www.rpof.org/contact.php (caution: you must go to this link and then use their form to email). I'd like to ask everyone to tell Chairman Greer to keep out of the Florida Primary.
Chairman Greer also makes a 'misstatement' of fact in the interview. One was that no resources of the RPOF have been used to favor Charlie Crist over Marco Rubio. Actually the RPOF has utilized it's massive email lists to repeatedly trumpet Crist as the best choice for the US Senate. Not one email has gone out reminding members of Rubio's candidacy.
Please listen to the interview below and draw your own conclusions.
http://www.wmfe.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=9501&news_iv_ctrl=1441
P.S. I'm writing this immediately following the interview. As yet the podcast is not yet loaded onto the site.
Nick Egoroff
Orlando Liberty Organizer
I wanted to add my comments as well, because this ominous trend of Republican brass attempting to intimidate candidates in primary elections holds tremendous challenges for us as Party grassroots activists. Greer contends that some primaries are just to expensive and distracting. Instead he wants to go ahead and pick for us the candidates that we should vote for.
The problem with this is that now, especially when the Party is trying to figure out if it wants a more moderate (some call it Democrat Lite) Republicanism or a more conservative brand, the decision is not going to be made by the Party members themselves. This is precisely what Primaries are supposed to solve. But Boss Greer has other intentions.
In this interview I was struck by the lack of any coherent or logical argument by Greer to support his position. His constant 'uh's' and superficial replies either show him to be unable to argue his position or else he just considers that his opinion is the only one that matters.
Unfortunately the interviewer did not ask the hard questions of exactly what voice do the Party members have in this system. We must challenge Greer and the rest of the Party bigwigs that they are not to strip us of our rights to have fair and open primaries.
I commend Chairman Steele for beginning a drive to get county chairman to pass resolutions against these tactics. But even more I think that we as Florida Republicans have just as much right and duty to make sure our voices are heard as well.
Here is the phone number for the RPOF in Tallahassee (850)222-7920. And here is their email form http://www.rpof.org/contact.
Chairman Greer also makes a 'misstatement' of fact in the interview. One was that no resources of the RPOF have been used to favor Charlie Crist over Marco Rubio. Actually the RPOF has utilized it's massive email lists to repeatedly trumpet Crist as the best choice for the US Senate. Not one email has gone out reminding members of Rubio's candidacy.
Please listen to the interview below and draw your own conclusions.
http://www.wmfe.org/site/
P.S. I'm writing this immediately following the interview. As yet the podcast is not yet loaded onto the site.
Nick Egoroff
Orlando Liberty Organizer
Friday, March 20, 2009
Sunny Skies Cast Shadows Over OCREC Member Deon Long
Weather could not be better for Saturday's Tea Party protest rally at Lake Eola. At 12noon the amphitheater will fill with thousands of patriots staging a peaceful revolt against the powers that be: namely our elected officials that with bailouts and stimulus money are ruining our economy. Come early as the rally starts promptly and ends at 2:30pm.
But just a couple of short hours later the Republican Party of Florida will convene the star chamber (also called the RPOF Grievance Committee) for a trial of Deon Long. Mr. Long has been a consistent supporter of the Republican causes as both the leader of the Black Republican Caucus and fundraiser for the RPOF. Appointed to positions by former Gov. Jeb Bush and serving with distinction as a spokesman for the Party, he has cut an impressive image of minority growth within RPOF.
Unfortunately Deon Long has incurred the wrath of Orange County Republican Chairman Lew Oliver and state RPOF Chairman Jim Greer. After daring to question the questionable practices of Chairman Oliver in last December's Board election, Chairman Greer was called into staunch opposition to Chairman Oliver. Thus the smear campaign of Long began replete with unproven allegations of financial misconduct and lack of loyalty to the Party.
The hearing of this case will take place in Lake Mary, Fl. Deon will not be the only one hauled up before this august body. Several other long time Party members from around the state will face similar charges of 'disloyalty.' A busy day for grievances to be sure.
Usually emails of this type end with some call to action. Sadly this does not appear to be necessary. According to my inside sources, the verdict has already been arrived at. If Mr. Long and others are to be hounded from the Party for merely questioning authority, think of what will happen in the future!
Nick Egoroff
Orlando Liberty Organizer
Orange County Republican Precinct Committeeman #319
But just a couple of short hours later the Republican Party of Florida will convene the star chamber (also called the RPOF Grievance Committee) for a trial of Deon Long. Mr. Long has been a consistent supporter of the Republican causes as both the leader of the Black Republican Caucus and fundraiser for the RPOF. Appointed to positions by former Gov. Jeb Bush and serving with distinction as a spokesman for the Party, he has cut an impressive image of minority growth within RPOF.
Unfortunately Deon Long has incurred the wrath of Orange County Republican Chairman Lew Oliver and state RPOF Chairman Jim Greer. After daring to question the questionable practices of Chairman Oliver in last December's Board election, Chairman Greer was called into staunch opposition to Chairman Oliver. Thus the smear campaign of Long began replete with unproven allegations of financial misconduct and lack of loyalty to the Party.
The hearing of this case will take place in Lake Mary, Fl. Deon will not be the only one hauled up before this august body. Several other long time Party members from around the state will face similar charges of 'disloyalty.' A busy day for grievances to be sure.
Usually emails of this type end with some call to action. Sadly this does not appear to be necessary. According to my inside sources, the verdict has already been arrived at. If Mr. Long and others are to be hounded from the Party for merely questioning authority, think of what will happen in the future!
Nick Egoroff
Orlando Liberty Organizer
Orange County Republican Precinct Committeeman #319
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