Connecticut Republican Party: The Epitome of Dysfunction

If press reports are accurate, the CTGOP
could set a new fashion style in 2014
before this is over

Well, you knew this was coming, didn't you?

Before we begin, let's get one thing straight - for years now, and in these very pages, The King has warned the Connecticut Republican Party of it's endless flirtation with calamity and corruption.  If the last two months of full mainstream press exposure hasn't convinced readers that there's a cancer crippling our Party than nothing else will.

Even liberals agree that Governor Dan Malloy and the Democrat-owned legislature have done an exceedingly poor job of handling our economy.  For years, Democrats have successfully chased businesses and jobs away through regulation and tax increases, raised spending to record levels, and turned Connecticut into little more than a social experiment laboratory - pushing the envelope every session to the point where social norms are nearly unrecognizable to the average Nutmegger (legalizing transgender bathrooms, ending the death penalty for murderers, forcing Common Core standards on children, and eroding first and second amendment rights; even Republicans admit that last month's marginal victory over liberals on assisted suicide may be only a temporary victory - as the devil reassesses and regroups, and plots and waits for the next round).

But believe it or not, the problem - or more specifically our problem - isn't with the Democrats. They're going to be what they've always been  - liberal, intrusive, and progressive to the point of madness. And it's not like they have anyone standing in their way to challenge them, or point out their flaws.

If Jerry Labriola were a UConn basketball
player, he'd be "self-checked"

The problem lies with the CTGOP which over the last 10 years has become the epitome of dysfunction. Our current chairman - Jerry Labriola, Jr. hasn't the foggiest idea of what he's doing - anywhere or at any time. Instead of rallying troops from the front like a leader, he's relegated himself to a whispering ghost who nobody actually sees or hears; many of our own candidates can't even pick him out of a crowd (I've actually witnessed this first-hand).

Labriola rarely does television appearances (like he should), and you can count the number of press releases that he's produced over the course of his chairmanship on one, maybe two hands. Jerry is persona-non-grata so much so that Democrat opposition leader Nancy DiNardo has been able to go on vacation mode since Labriola's took office. Aside from a few canned paragraphs he might issue from time to time, she never worries about pressure from a guy who'd much rather spend his evenings in a smoky hotel lounge at his keyboard pretending he's Stevie Wonder.

Oh, he'll tell you he does a lot behind the scenes - but that's the role of the Treasurer, or Secretary, or the Party Twitterina - and not the role of the Party Chairman.  And he does get it, folks.  It's just that he just doesn't want to do the real work.  And you can see that a minimalist effort reaps minimalist results.

I think the final straw came for The King this week when he described recently indicted villains Lisa and Brian Foley as "good friends" who'm he hopes can put this "unfortunate episode" behind them.  Unfortunate episode? Behind them? Really? He certainly wasn't good friends when he was a willing accomplice to help push Andrew Roraback over the line to defeat Lisa Wilson-Foley at the 2012 State Convention. Talk about revisionist history!

Look, Jerry Labriola is a fabulous family man, a good coach, and a decent person. Deep down he probably cares about winning, but it's just that when it comes to leadership -  he's inept. And for those of you who want to make poor Jerry out to be just another victim of this blog - Save it!  Between the Healy years and the Labriola years - there's no where to go but up.  Our last two Chairmen have marginalized our brand to the point where it is unrecognizable to the electorate. We are in the game to win elections, and our Party's record is dismal.

Moreover, Connecticut Republicans have become so irrelevant to the Republican National Committee that Connecticut Republicans had to create a volunteer phone bank to beg local RTC Chairmen for money just to purchase Mitt Romney signs - I think that tells you that there's something seriously wrong.

If Jerry Labriola were a product in store; you'd agree that he didn't come as advertised.  He's not suited for the Chairman role. The CTGOP needs a strong leader who is going to lead from the front, set the tone, and work to coordinate political activity on a statewide basis.

And someone please tell the CTGOP to stop bragging about fundraising totals over Twitter. While we appreciate the hard work and effort, it gives everyone the impression that the CTGOP Headquarters is oblivious to the current crisis.  Few people are going to be distracted by Yea-Rah-Rah-Sis-Boom-Bah,  As someone wrote in a email to The King, "What the F--- is wrong with these people?"

It's hard to explain to people who are probably well-meaning that success isn't determined by how many dollars you raise, or by the number of shots you can do at the bar - but rather but by how many Republican seats you win

Bottom Line:  For the good of the Connecticut Republican Party, Jerry Labriola, Jr. must resign.  And a visible, activist Chairman must be elected in his place immediately following the Prescott-Bush Dinner. State Central must cast a vote of no confidence, or be willing to accept the squandering of limited funds, and the consequence of further electoral defeat in 2014.

If Republicans want to rebuild our brand, and confidence with voters we need to make a few more things happen:

1. Fire Jerry Labriola, Jr. - and most of the CTGOP officer corps (they are no better than he is). Term limits for the same old faces might make way for new ideas, and a new approach.
2. Publicly condemn those Republican individuals who have been indicted, or found an accessory to political improprieties and crimes.  Refusing to do so implies approval of their actions and pursuit of the status quo. And the media, and our opponents have already taken note of the CTGOPs hunker down strategy, and will exploit this fact for all the mileage they can get out of it.

   

   There aren't enough of these to pass out to everyone in an
   elected or leadership position in the Connecticut Republican
   Party. Time to end CTGOP corruption before things get worse 

   
   
3. Adopt a more conservative platform and promote conservative candidates - which was once the key to Republican victories in Connecticut before it became fashionable to emulate Democrats on both fiscal and social issues. Democrat-lite is a sure way to guarantee Democrat majorities for the next 100 years.
4. Stop promoting corrupt former Republican candidates, elected officials and party chairmen to serve as CTGOP spokesmen (and women) - for they have comprised our position, ethics, political process, and integrity.  Every time Governor Rowland squawks on radio, or Chris Healy makes sarcastic comments on Capitol Report, Republicans want to puke. An ex-felon and a failed chairman are the last people we want to take advice from (and the latter couldn't even find a Republican attorney to defend his pathetic ass - guess there were none available - so much for keeping business in the family).  The Curse of Chris Healy is alive and well.
5. Discourage candidates from hiring long-time Party hacks with failed win-loss records from managing Republican campaigns. It's frankly embarrassing how some of our profiteers weasel their way onto campaigns promising everything and delivering nothing!
6. Stop relying on candidates to build the Party apparatus. Create a state-wide organization to  build the brand, and coordinate activities, and formulate a get-out-the-vote campaign.  Today, there is nothing in place!
7. Require all candidates to show up for televised debates. Again real leaders don't cower out of fear of saying the wrong thing, or believing they're not quick enough on their feet to debate publicly with members of their own Party. It's kind of pathetic if you think about it!
8. Work to end the wasteful and rigged State Convention Process and move to a direct primary. Think of all the money we could be saving while the State GOP boozes it up at Mohegan Sun. Donors should think about that when they get mailers asking members to fork over $30/$50/$100 a pop.
9. End Radio Silence! Put the Democrats on the defense! With a record like theirs we should have a field day. Daily emails, tweets, press releases, Facebook posts, mailers, etc. Make Nancy Dinardo sweat!
10. Condemn fringe candidates like Martha Dean who think Sandy Hook is a hoax and think there's an NSA Agent hiding behind every tree. This Party has a hard enough time operating in the real world without public candidates venturing into fantasy and delusion.  It's hard to quantify the level of anger the public feels when a Sandy Hook Truther who wants to train kids to fire guns in school takes to a Mic. (Oh, and Chris Healy's quasi-endorsement of her entrance into the race tells the rest of us that he's ready to be put out to pasture, or take his place at Club-Fed. Get Out! Funny, the political genius didn't mention that Dean has no money and only a few Facebook advocates who surf the web and sit around watching TV in their sweatpants)
11. Stop using the Prescott-Bush award dinner as a platform to prop up billionaire donors, and failed candidates who campaign with the opposition President, or tries to take selfies with the enemy, or does anything else that serves to promote our disgraceful big-government, anti-Republican President. 

Martha Dean and her flying monkeys 

are doing permanent damage to the Connecticut 

Republican Party; she's tearing apart the 

conservative wing for personal gain and ego

Wicked is the best way to describe this one!

It's been said so many times before - when it comes to the Connecticut Republican Party - we are our own worst enemy. The best thing we can do is cut our losses by removing our poor leadership, change direction, and start anew.  Do what's necessary, or anticipate that 2014 will be another banner year for Dan Malloy and his Democrat henchmen. And trust me - Republicans, Democrats, and Independents deserve a viable option for their families, their businesses and themselves - and it's up to Republicans to deliver that option.

I AM

THE KING

REPORT: Dean-Visconti Resolutions sent to Sub-Committee

Here is a quick update for those who've been following the Dean-Visconti Ethics Resolutions saga --

It was decided that there would be neither a full-fledged debate or a call for an up-or-down vote this evening.  Instead, the Resolutions will be sent to a sub-committee for study and/or possible modification.  The Committee will either accept or amend the Resolutions and forward them with their recommendation to the entire body for approval or rejection.

The Sub-Committee will be chaired by State Central Member Michael Vitali (Wallingford).  Given his reputation, Vitali is expected to be a fair and impartial arbiter.

The King would also like to recognize State Central Members Mr. Scott Veley and Mr. Mark Pappa for their courage and fortitude to present these Resolutions despite "pressure" not to do so.  And we would be remiss to not state our appreciation to CT Republican State Chairman Jerry Labriola, Jr., who stuck his neck out to make sure that the Resolutions would get a fair-hearing in Committee.  We believe that Chairman Labriola has a vested interest in running an impartial State Convention for both members and voters of Connecticut.

It's The King's View that the individuals selected to serve on this Committee should be left to study and review the Resolutions in detail without undue pressure and criticism from outside forces. After weighing the pros and cons, we pray they will come to the logical conclusion that the Resolutions should be passed not just for the good of the Connecticut Republican Party but more importantly - to better our political process in Connecticut.

I AM,

THE KING

Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? Or How About $20?

One of the most annoying aspects of the campaign season (as if it's really seasonal) is the endless amount of junk mail, (and now thanks to the advent of social media) tweets, posts, and email asking for donations from political candidates, PACs, and Political Parties.  Given the scarcity of disposable income, an 8-9% unemployment rate, rising taxes, and the stress of having to make ends meet, being asked to cough up greenbacks to help support another person's crusade seems a bit presumptuous, if not downright frustrating.  And the language in some of the fundraising correspondence I've received is not just misleading, it's dishonest.  The world will not be swallowed up into a black hole by Satan if so and so doesn't get a donation from me. Sorry we aren't that gullible.

Now before some of my friends in the GOP start getting uppity, this isn't a piece urging voters to not donate to Republican candidates, but rather a reasonable look at what they'd be getting for their buck, if anything.  This piece is written from a voter's perspective, not a candidate trying to beat the clock to show progress against their competition on a ledger.  That's not our problem.

Donating to the State Party:

First let's start with the State Party - the Connecticut State Republican Party.  Most of us have seen several fundraising schemes distributed over the last few months from our friends at CTGOP. The first was an invitation to join the CTGOP 2012 Club. (contributors where asked to send in a check for $20.12).  I'm not quite sure what happened to this or how many people joined, but I haven't seen anything more about it recently - so I'm going to assume that this idea has been shelved.  There's been banter about a foul-up involving the 2012 Club - but I'm going to leave that go for now since it seems it's neither here nor there.  

The latest scheme involves paying $20 to participate in an online Presidential straw poll.  Last week you may have seen my tweet: "Does anyone have $20 I can borrow? I want to vote in this #CTGOP online presidential straw poll.  This isn't a form of online gambling, is it?".  Of course, the day that the correspondence came out about the online poll, former Governor John G. Rowland was ranting on WTIC 1080 about the dangers associated with online gambling, so I found the timing mildly amusing and thought I'd poke fun at the idea.  The tweet was retweeted by a few other tweeters, and a few people got a little steamed at me for my unique sense of humor.  What am I going to do with you people?

Look, having thought about it, the online poll for $20 isn't the worst idea, but it isn't the best idea either.  The timing of this is a little odd given all of the controversy surrounding reports that Senate Candidate and Pro-Wrestling Mogul Linda McMahon has sent donations to several RTCs and may be purchasing convention delegate votes, while an ethics resolution is pending review at State Central Headquarters.  The fact that CTGOP would go down the road of selling (poll) votes to raise funds is disappointing. As one reader pointed out, this fundraiser was created by people who who want to intentionally thumb their noses at those trying very hard to eliminate the impression that Connecticut's Republican Party is for sale.  Alas - the point is well-taken, but there is little that can be done at this point. It's The King's View that a little more caution might have been in order before shoveling more controversy atop of existing controversy. 

The bigger question is whether it makes sense to give money to the Connecticut Republican Party, at all.  If you were to consider yourself an investment banker, and Chairman Jerry Labriola, Jr. walked into your office and asked you to invest in the CTGOP, what would be the first question you would ask him?  Why, you'd ask for a WRITTEN BUSINESS PLAN which would contain a list of specific goals, a high level outline of how goals would be achieved along with a detailed roadmap showing how he would get there. You'd also expect to see a detailed budget of how the money would be spent.  Business 101.  Not very complicated, right?

The simple fact is that right now no such plan exists.  And I've been getting a lot of heat for supporting the new Chairman for so long and giving him a free pass, and putting the blame for disorder on former Chairman Chris Healy.  Well, the six month honeymoon is over, and like President Obama - the statute of limitations on the blame game has expired.  I'm not going to go out of my way to hammer the new Chairman, but I can't defend him at this point if there isn't a strategic plan, and our coffers are nearly empty.  And I would not be inclined to mail him $20 without knowing that he and his staff, or the 72 members of State Central had a formal plan in place.  And there is no secret plan hidden under a floorboard in New Britain, and a verbal barrage of impromptu thoughts doesn't cut it.  The only plan that is acceptable is one that is formally written down and has been vetted, and approved by State Central members. Anything else is simply unacceptable.  Anything else is lip service.

Before I move on, let me point out that you don't need funds to create a plan.  Anyone who tells you that is a liar.  You only need utilize the depth of experience from within the Party membership to assemble a plan.  So cut the excuses - pick a weekend, pick a team, and have a working session and get it done.  No plan is going to fall out of the sky.  After you get a good plan together, then you can pester people for money.  For now dear Republicans, keep your $20 in your pocket.

If someone from the Connecticut State Party asks, "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?  Or $20?" 

You reply:  "Brother, Can You Get Off the Dime?"


Donating to Political Candidates:

I've always believed that if you were going to donate money in politics - then you should do so by donating to the candidate of your choice, directly. Not to a PAC working on behalf of your candidate, but ONLY to your candidate of choice. If you decide to donate to a PAC for specific purposes - that's fine, just keep in mind that your money may be merged into a fund and used for all kinds of purposes unrelated, or even contrary to your desires!  Fact is that tracing PAC money expenditures is pretty tricky.  I happen to think that a lot of these consultant firms, PACS, and so-called think tanks are full of people who've created a phony business around themselves so they don't have to work for a living like the rest of us.  Scam City!

In The King's View, there are really two reasons to donate to a candidate - 1) they are actively running and you believe they can win, or they can make the opposition spend their money (else it will end up in the coffers of another GOP candidate's opponent, or opposition PAC), or 2) to help a previous candidate clear their campaign debt.  Too often people in the first category are promised big things from Party hacks who encouraged them to run in the first place, and end up in the later category having overextended themselves and find that they're left holding the bag.  Not everyone can write massive checks to themselves like Linda McMahon and Tom Foley, which is why I become incensed when people of means put out a fundraising letter ripping their primary opponent for carrying a campaign debt that they could have helped to reduce, in part or whole.  Fact, it's even more amusing to me to see how frugal some of our richest candidates have been when its come to donating to Connecticut Republican campaigns at all (see http://www.opensecrets.org).  They'll drop $600 bucks on a big dinner in New York, but could care less about anyone else, unless it comes with a favor attached.  Simply amazing.  Now mapping who donates to who and why is another story for another day.

I'll have to say that a candidate like CT-5 House of Representative Candidate Mark Greenberg sets the standard in terms of generosity to fellow Republican Candidates.  That in itself shows that Greenberg cares more about Republican Party goals instead of selfish ambition for promotion and power.  There are some CTGOP candidates who haven't shelled out a single penny to ANY candidate, yet I bet you'll see an email begging constituents and RTC members for their hard earned cash so they can fund their campaign.

I also suggest that if you get a campaign fundraising solicitation from a candidate that is full of negative bullet points about their opposition, that you don't donate to their campaign.  If you reward negative campaigning with cash, you're opt to end up encouraging more negative campaigning, and never see anything tangible about what the solicitor plans to do if elected. 

And by the way - millionaires and billionaires don't need a penny from you - how do you think they became millionaires and billionaires?

I want to make one more point on the topic of donation solicitation when it comes to being asked to donate to either local, state, or federal campaigns which voters should remember -  if you can't afford to donate, then don't.  Don't be guilted into sending in money that you need to manage your own life.  As one person told me: "You can't save the world if you can't pay the bills."  And a decent candidate will accept that, they WON'T keep badgering you for a smaller increment, or suggest a payment plan.  That is bollocks!   All you need do is VOTE. There is no obligation to donate just because you care more about the political process than the guy down the street.  Personally, some candidates could better use volunteers rather than cash - the value of hardworking individuals - making calls, folding fliers, and going door to door is invaluable!

Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

(Composed by Jay Gorney; version recorded by Al Jolson, 1932)

In summary, I'd say think twice about the whole business of sending donations.  Give to those deserving of your hard earned cash.  And don't give to anyone or any group that claims it needs money to get itself organized.  Ideology doesn't require cash, it requires smarts, conviction, and dedication.  Money can't buy those aspects.

In closing, here are a few of The King's Rules for donating to PACs , Candidates, and Political Parties and Groups:

• Validate that the political correspondence comes from a legitimate organization, and/or candidate. You can do this buy calling the campaign directly or contact the Secretary of State's Office.

• If the soliciting brochure contains more bullets and information about the sender's opponent, rather than the sender than throw the brochure in the trash. Or better yet call the sender and tell them you tore up their brochure because it tells them nothing about how they are going to solve the economy, jobs problem, energy, etc.

• If the fundraising correspondence is written by anyone other than the candidate themselves, than throw the correspondence in the trash. There is nothing worse than being bullied by someone from another district, state, or political office telling you who to vote for.  You can make your own mind up without someone half a continent away telling you what to do.

• If you have a question about where a candidate stands on an issue before you donate, call their campaign and ask.  If they don't know, ask them to find out. If they don't want to tell you or they give you a cryptic answer -  don't donate. 

• If it's a political party, call the party and ask them exactly how your  money will be spent.  If you like what you hear then donate, if you hear some broad answer  like "use the money to defeat democrats" or some boring sales pitch with few specifics, then hang up.  Also, be aware that only a percentage of what you donate will go to the CTGOP, as in previous years, individuals working to help collect money are getting a HANDSOME percentage of the cut.  That part of it is the single most dishonest part of the transaction - what the rest of us in the real world refer to as - the hidden fees. 

• If its a PAC, use the internet to find out where they distribute their fundraising dollars to.  This information is public.  If the dollars go to lobbying firms unrecognizable to you, then don't donate.  Donating to the wrong PAC could mean putting money in the hands of the wrong candidates or the wrong special interest group.  Also, find out who is running the PAC and what their true agenda is.

• All things being equal, if you have to decide between giving to a federal candidate, state candidate, or local candidate, always give to the local candidate first.  God Bless your neighbor for putting his neck on the line and trying to make a difference locally.

• Lastly, if you give, expect nothing in return from the candidate or organization except the right to say that you gave.  Donating to candidates should be seen as a selfless act with no strings attached.  The only thing you should expect is that you'll wind up on someones public report, and that you can bet your bottom dollar that you'll become a magnet for future political solicitations.

I AM

THE KING

This original blog post can be found on www.thekingsview.blogspot.com

Disclaimer: This entry and others will be modified/updated at a future date. All entries are for the sole purpose of entertainment

Support CT Republican Delegate Integrity - Sign the Resolution Petition

Looks like the effort to give the recommended Connecticut Republican Party resolutions more more publicity, and more steam continues.  I applaud those activists who are trying to clean up our CTGOP and Connecticut politics.  

This is a link I received in my inbox asking people to SIGN THE PETITION:

http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/support-delegate-integrity.html

Again, here are the proposed resolutions that under consideration:

PROPOSED CT GOP STATE CENTRAL RESOLUTIONS

Concerning delegates and integrity of process at 2012 State GOP Convention

RESOLVED, that prior to selecting delegates to the State Convention, Town Committees shall ask appropriate questions of potential delegates concerning their paid involvement or business affiliation with any candidate’s campaign;

RESOLVED, that Town Committees should endeavor to avoid the appearance of impropriety by selecting delegates to the State Convention who are not on a campaign’s payroll or in a vendor or other business relationship with any candidate’s campaign; and

RESOLVED, that prior to selecting delegates to the State Convention, Town Committees shall obtain the commitment of any prospective delegate to wear (if selected as a delegate) an appropriate disclosure, to be decided upon by the State Convention’s Rules Committee, in a conspicuous place at all times during the State Convention, which disclosure will identify the delegate as on the payroll of a specific campaign or in a vendor or other business relationship with a specific campaign.

Why not get involved and sign the petition!  Let's get behind those who are working to make a big difference right here in the Nutmeg State by putting integrity and ethics before politics!

I AM

THE KING

This original blog entry can be found at http://www.thekingsview.blogspot.com

A Bold Move to End CTGOP Convention Corruption

Every once in a while a bit of good news is delivered to The King's Castle. This is one of those rare times where I find myself cheering wildly for a few brave souls who are trying to make a positive difference within our self-beleaguered Connecticut Republican Party; the goal to end corruption within our Party is a noble one, well worth the effort, and well worth making it a point of public record here. 

You didn't need a magnifying glass
to see the connection between dollars
and delegates during the 2010 CT
Republican State Convention.

I'm hopeful that this body of work is not news to any of Republican State Central Members, who I'm told, have been mulling around these suggestions for some time. The fact that this body of work was only made known to me formally in the last couple days or so suggests that its ready for public consumption. My thanks to Joe Visconti for keeping me in the loop, and sending the latest drafts my way.

In this entry I want to focus on what is being proposed rather than take everyone down the long dark path of historical record. The resolutions being recommended deserve a fair hearing on their own merit without creating additional divisions within the Party by naming names of naysayers, and dissenters at this point, or going off on a hypothetical tangent about who might benefit most from their approval. And honestly, since the proposed resolutions would apply to all those involved in the upcoming State Convention Process - it is The King's View that everyone would be placed on the same level playing field; giving no one candidate advantage over the other. Those opting out would be subject to intense criticism and scrutiny; doing so at their own peril.

One of the chief reasons the public hates politics is because there is the assumption that politicians tend to care more about taking care of themselves (and each other) rather than the constituents they serve. Whether money is the root of all evil is a matter of conjecture, but it certainly seems to find it's way into the pockets of many of our politicians, whether elected to formal office, or as representatives to commissions and committees on our behalf. And to be fair, no political party owns the high ground on this issue, as reward and patronage have been with us since time immemorial.

While stopping the transfer of all cash or favors from one hand to another would be a Fool's Errand, we can at least create a window of transparency that allows the public to make it's own judgements as to what is above bar, and what is collusion, or patronage. These resolutions were drafted by former CT Attorney General Republican Candidate Martha Dean, Esq, and former CT 1st District Republican Congressional Candidate Joe Visconti, and are being co-sponsored for presentation to Republican State Central by two courageous State Central Representatives - Scott Veley (District 6; Kensington) and Mark Pappa (District 9; Newington). God Bless you guys for sticking your necks out as Change Champions!

Without further ado, here are the proposed resolutions in current draft form:

PROPOSED CTGOP STATE CENTRAL RESOLUTIONS

Concerning delegates and integrity of process at 2012 State GOP Convention

RESOLVED, that prior to selecting delegates to the State Convention, Town Committees shall ask appropriate questions of potential delegates concerning their paid involvement or business affiliation with any candidate’s campaign;

RESOLVED, that Town Committees should endeavor to avoid the appearance of impropriety by selecting delegates to the State Convention who are not on a campaign’s payroll or in a vendor or other business relationship with any candidate’s campaign; and

RESOLVED, that prior to selecting delegates to the State Convention, Town Committees shall obtain the commitment of any prospective delegate to wear (if selected as a delegate) an appropriate disclosure, to be decided upon by the State Convention’s Rules Committee, in a conspicuous place at all times during the State Convention, which disclosure will identify the delegate as on the payroll of a specific campaign or in a vendor or other business relationship with a specific campaign.



All historic movements require a starting point. The approval of these resolutions would be a giant first step to move not just the CTGOP, but all of Connecticut Politics toward more ethical way of conducting the People's business. A process free of pressure from outside influences trading rewards for favors would purify decisions made by trusted representatives and renew confidence in the public trust.

You would have suspect that anyone unwilling to support the resolutions proposed must have something to hide. Further, anyone arguing that they would not support these resolutions because they would not be legally enforceable are merely looking for an excuse to hide behind a technicality so that they can conduct business as usual. Obviously, a bylaw change, which would be enforceable, is a better overall solution, but given that the effort required to change the bylaws would take months of preparation, it is not feasible that it would be adapted prior to the 2012 State Convention. These resolutions are about what can be done to make the process more ethical today.

And the best thing we can hope for is a roll-call vote to let the public know who is in favor of transparency, and ending improprieties, and who isn't.

So, who will have the courage to support the Dean-Visconti Resolutions, and who will fight for the status quo? Only time will tell. Based on what I've been told, the resolutions will be entered/have been entered on the December State Central agenda, and would need to be voted on in a subsequent meeting - perhaps, January at the earliest.

Let's hope that Republican State Central Members do the right thing and vote to pass these historic resolutions.
In the meantime, are there any takers in the Democrat Party who would dare challenge their members to approve a similar set of resolutions?

RTCs, State Central, Convention, etc.

Although this column is favored by political insiders and hobbyists, it occurred to me that some people reading this piece may not understand what I'm talking about when I mention Republican State Central or State Convention, etc. As it stands, I know that many registered Republicans aren't even aware that Republican Town Committees (RTCs)exist, or that RTCs chose representatives to represent them at a State Central Committee, and also chose a slate of delegates to represent them at a State Convention where candidates are voted on, and formally nominated by the Party.

For starters, if you're a registered Republican and may be interested in joining your Republican Town Committee, you might want to inquire soon. As it happens, in January of 2012, towns and cities are mandated by Connecticut State Law to select Republican Town Committee Members. Some towns have an open process which is conducted by Caucus, and some towns have a closed process where members of the Town Committee select a nominating committee and draft a slate of RTC candidates of Republicans to be voted on. Some towns permit only a set number of RTC members, while others seem to have an unlimited number of members - as determined by their by-laws. Above all else, the purpose of the RTC is to draft candidates, get local Republicans elected, and raise funds to support local elections. A side role is to discuss local issues and strategize or discuss how to approach them. 

Second, RTCs send delegates to Caucus to select State Central Committee members who are supposed to meet a certain number of times a year, and act as a liaison between RTCs and the State Party. While there are many questions regarding the benefit and productivity of the current organization, State Central helps to draft candidates for federal office, and has responsibility for holding a State Convention, and nominating a set of candidates for federal office, and state offices. State Central members have the added benefit of voting at the State Convention as Super-Delegates - meaning their vote counts twice - this is as obnoxious in theory as it is in practice (mainly because most serving are hardly worth half a vote given the state of things IMHO).

Third, RTCs also have the added responsibility of selecting delegates to send to the State Convention to participate in the nomination of federal and state candidates. Each town has a set allocation as determined by State Bylaws.

One of the big beefs that the public has is that they complain that they don't know who makes decisions on their behalf within the Connecticut Republican Party. Fact is that I would guess that 99% of registered Republicans couldn't tell you who their State Central member is, or who is representing them as a delegate at the State Convention. There has always been a particularly political manner in which delegates for the State Convention are chosen. Sometimes it's by tenure, but often the decision is reserved by the Chairman alone to determine who s/he wants to attend given his knowledge of how they will vote. This kind of decision-making is all about why the resolutions above are being suggested - if you take it a step further. 

RTCs may receive cash donations from candidates as an indirect payment for votes, or even Chairman or individuals could receive cash or favors from third party vendors which go undocumented and unaccounted for; meaning individual payoffs can be masked within the current reporting process. Just looking at what occurred before and during the 2010 Connecticut State Republican Convention, you will understand the urgency around adopting these resolutions; the splintering our State Party began during that unfortunate period, and old wounds in many districts are still not healed, and fresh in the minds of delegates, and voters alike. It's clear, that the antics from that convention affected the results of the 2010 General Election here in Connecticut.

Given the obvious opportunity for shenanigans, and payoffs, and greater division within the already fragile CTGOP - if certain situations were to reoccur at the 2012 Convention, it's critical that steps are taken to ensure fair play. The three resolutions above are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to moving toward a more ethical and transparent system. And now you can understand just why they are so important.

I AM

THE KING

This original blog entry can be read at http://www.thekingview.blogspot.com

The King's CTGOP Event Calendar...

We're starting up a brand new feature here at The King's View! 

It's a section dedicated to help get the word out about Connecticut Republican Fundraisers, Meet the Candidate events and forums, Town Committee Meetings, State Central Meetings, and much, much more.

If you have an upcoming event that you want publicized via blog article, twitter, and Facebook - let us know and we'll do our part to help bring in the crowd.

Right now our CTGOP Leadership is hard at work trying to solicit donations to keep the lights on, and rebuild the Party; our current Connecticut Republican website will be revamped in the future (as other priorities are met and funding is available). In the meantime, volunteerism is critical to our success. We believe that FREE social media can help play a big role in turning the tide!

So whether you're seeking to get the word out about an upcoming a Congressional Candidate Meet and Greet in New Haven, or a RTC Meeting in Granby, or a Pasta Dinner supporting a local candidate in Goshen - let us know!  We can help!

All events/announcements can be emailed to us at thekingsview@gmail.com .  Please include contact information and phone number for events requiring RSVP, advanced ticket purchases, and requests for more information.

Let The King's View become part of your local solution!   This service is open to all Republicans, Conservative Groups, and Organizations.  Don't pass up the offer to let US help YOU!

I AM

THE KING

 This original article can be found at  http://www.thekingsview.blogspot.com