Today, MDGOP chairwoman Audrey Scott begins her 5 day “Take Back Annapolis and Washington Town Hall Tour” with stops in Annapolis (noon, Conte-Lubrano) and Salisbury (6:30 PM, Wicomico Youth and Civic Center).  The tour criss-crosses Maryland and finishes up Friday in Bowie.

Scott is to be commended for her efforts.  If the MDGOP were a functioning party, I have no doubt that Scott would be an excellent chair.  Sadly, the MDGOP is not a functioning party and has little sign of becoming one in the near future.  Check out successful, conservative, state Republican parties.  They’re NOTHING like the MDGOP.

Why?  Grassroots conservatives have no say in how the party is governed and aren’t particularly welcome.  The party deliberately separates itself from the grassroots by promoting a layered, “big fish in a little pond” approach to governance.  At a recent county central committee meeting one member went so far as to claim that, “They (Tea Party activists) need us more than we need them.”  This fool obviously has never had any real experience in WINNING campaigns.  My money is on the folks that seem to be willing to knock on doors, make phone calls, and write letters.  That ain’t the folks who think that the Republican Party elects candidates in this state.

We don’t need to be pandered to.  We will support candidates who have earned our respect.  We won’t be supporting candidates simply because they appear on the GOP line.

Hopefully, grassroots conservatives will attend these “town halls” and let Scott know that their support must be EARNED.  Sure, we’ll be supporting GOP candidates, particularly those committed to free markets, limited government, and fiscal restraint.  However, that doesn’t mean that we support the Republican Party.

Why?  Simply look around.  Michael Steele’s RNC is spending money on private jets and bondage clubs when they should be working to elect right of center candidates.  Other self-identified conservatives are possibly more dangerous to the cause of liberty than Steele.  A new 527 group dubbed “American Crossroads” has decided to make hay out of Steele’s ineptitude.  Do conservatives actually believe that the answer to our current problems is to return to the days of “big government conservatism” (one of the greatest oxymorons ever) with the likes of Karl Rove and Ed Gillespie?  Sure these guys are excellent political operatives.  They would also sell their mothers for the right number of votes.  As for principles, these guys never had any TO sell.

So what should grassroots conservatives do?

First and foremost, we should work at the grassroots level to elect fiscally solid, right of center candidates.  In the case of Maryland, that also means helping to elect fiscally solid, center – right candidates.  For every Andy Harris, there are several Allan Kittlemans.  You may not agree with him on 90%+ of the issues, but he’s honest, straight, and definitely worth electing.  That means knocking on doors, making phone calls, writing letters, or just talking to a few of our neighbors.

Second, our money should go directly to good candidates; not to the RNC, the NRSC, the RNCC, or the MDGOP.  We need to elect the Marco Rubios and Andy Harris’s.  We need to re-elect the Tom Coburns, Jim DeMints, and Mike Pences.  We don’t need the Charlie Crists or the Roy Blunts.  While candidates like Blunt or Crist are definitely better than their Democrat alternatives, these “faux cons” also make many moderate GOP incumbents feel safe in continuing their profligate ways.

Third, we need to educate ourselves.  I’m not talking about educating ourselves just on the issues; I mean educating ourselves on the integrity and records of those candidates asking for our support.  In Maryland we have an excellent example in the GOP Senate primary.  Because Queen Anne’s County Commissioner Eric Wargotz has plenty of money to throw around, he’s convincing people that he’s actually a conservative.  My wife’s mutt holds more conservative ideals than Wargotz.  Jim Rutledge is the real conservative alternative to Barbara Mikulski.

Last, we need to organize.  This means changing your party registration to the GOP for starters.  Conservatives can’t have an impact on the MDGOP if we are registered as “non-affiliated” or Libertarian.  We cannot affect policy if we don’t win elections.  Whether you like it or not, we don’t have a prayer of winning elections without access to that GOP ballot line.  If you have time, join your local Republican club, but you’ll learn (and accomplish) more by joining your local AFP chapter and attending Tea Party events.  Just remember that groups like the AFP are “non-partisan”, so you need to network with like-minded members and then work for the right candidates outside of the formal AFP structure.  Then volunteer directly for candidates you support.  Make sure they know that you are not part of the formal GOP structure.  When candidates are elected AND know that grassroots conservative activists made the difference, THAT is how you affect positive change.

Perhaps then, the MDGOP will take an interest in the views of grassroots conservatives other than merely hoping we turn out for their slate.

As noted in an earlier post, Virginia AG Ken Cuccinelli has filed a lawsuit on behalf of the citizens of Virginia to void ObamaCare.  You can help to support Cuccinelli’s efforts.

General Cuccinelli has launched a petition supporting the suit and calling for the courts to STOP THE MANDATE!  Show your support and fight this unprecedented attack on our liberty.

Also support the Club for Growth’s new ObamaCare page – RepealIt.org  Join thousands of Americans and leaders such as Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN), Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN), Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK), and Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) is supporting the repeal.

H/T – Bearing Drift

We also recommend that you read Jim Hoeft’s excellent post on Cuccinelli and the lawsuit.

This is why we need more people like Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) serving in our Congress, in our state legislatures, and in our local government.  Unlike too many of those in the current GOP leadership of both houses, Sen. Coburn is willing to take a stand and stick to his guns.

We need more Tom Coburns, more Jim DeMints, more Mike Pences and Jeff Flakes.  True patriots won’t cut a backroom deal with our nation’s enemies.  Note that Tom Coburn actually worked WITH Sen. Barack Obama in the Senate on several pieces of legislation.  With people like Tom Coburn, it’s not about partisanship; it’s about DOING WHAT’S RIGHT!

Former New York Gov. George Pataki has endorsed Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman over GOP candidate Dierdre Scozzafava in the race for New York’s 23rd Congressional District.  Principle over party is now the cry!

As Hoffman narrowly moves into first place in a three way race, we are fast seeing who is willing to take a stand:

• George Pataki
• Sarah Palin
• Tim Pawlenty
• Sen. Jim DeMint
• Fred Thompson
• Steve Forbes
• Dick Armey
• Tom Cole (former RNCC chair)
• Ed Meese
• David Keene
• Al Regnery
• David McIntosh
• Brent Bozell
• Jim Miller
• Richard Viguerie
• Tony Perkins
• Tom Winter
• Ken Blackwell
• Craig Shirley

Who is supporting Scozzafava?

• Michael Steele
• Newt Gingrich
• The RNCC

Gingrich has ceded all ties to the conservative movement with this move.  Steele never had any.  Their support of liberal Wayne Gilchrest merely made them look foolish.  However, this race has the potential to be as meaningful to conservatives as the 1976 GOP presidential primaries.  Assuming Hoffman pulls off a victory, Steele’s resignation should be demanded immediately.  Those on the RNC who voted for Steele over Ken Blackwell should be ashamed!  As for the RNCC, no conservative should donate a dime as long as the House GOP caucus is led by the likes of Boehner and Cantor (see below).

Worst of all – Who is standing on the sidelines?

• John Boehner
• Eric Cantor
• Mike Huckabee
• Mitt Romney

This is merely a warm-up for next year.  We are witnessing the GOP elite support statist candidates over true conservatives.  We need to support people like Marco Rubio in Florida and Chuck DeVore in California.  As Neil Stevens recently reminded us, there are two kinds of Republicans.  We know which kind our country needs.

… Almost Every Socialist Scheme You Can Think Of

I know.  I’m a conspiracy freak… a wing nut … a simpleton … a Luddite.

Our federal government has basically nationalized some of our largest banks and insurance companies.  While the Senate may have postponed a “bailout” (read “nationalization”) of the big 3 automakers, the Treasury (under a Republican administration no less) is prepared to step in with TARP money (meaning OUR money).

Now, even a solid conservative like Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) is admitting that socialized medicine is probably inevitable.  Phillip Klein’s piece in the American Spectator outlines the Long March that Barack Obama, Tom Daschle, and (our own newly elected) Frank Kratovil want to take us down.

On Wednesday night I attended a Wicomico Planning Commission hearing
and listened to a small army of left wing activists attempt to explain
that property rights are simply subservient to the “common interest”. 
Landowners have NO RIGHT to be compensated for their land being taken
for the betterment of the collective.  I had to chuckle at the irony of
these mostly well meaning folk wearing red flags or ribbons pinned to
their clothes.  I thought I was at a meeting of the Young Communists’
League.

While mouthing “we have nothing to fear but fear itself”, the new crew in town plans on using fear – much of it false – to scare a majority of Americans into finally capitulating as they become servants of the state.  The long march down the road to serfdom is not a single road.  It appears to be winding through Washington, our state capitals AND county courthouses like Salisbury and Centreville.

I know.  I’m just simplistic and paranoid.