Publius Today Liberty Forum

Frederick might not have been 100 our man% per say, but he was elected 100% by the grassroots people within the party. They voted for him to replace the good ol' Boy network of neo-cons and entrenched interests who don't pay attention to anyones voices, neo-con or libertarian conservatives, within the party. From self serving leaders who don't care about the party or its own platform or its true non-neocon conservative values. They only care about power and getting rich by milking the people of Virginia.

Frederick probably should not have used his own firm to make the collections of online contributions. Bad judgment and conflict of interest, but not dismissal worthy.

I think most of those charges are trumped up, and I know from more than thirty years of being around the VA GOP that it has been common practice. But, nobody ever raises a fuss unless the a few of the entrenched powers that be don't like the chairman personally, his faction or his ideology, if that ideology threatens their power.

One quote in the article at http://jsnotes.com/2009/03/18/fredericks-scorched-earth-policy/
says "even if you want to ignore that every member of the SCC was elected by the same delegates (and then some) that went to last year’s convention"

This quote's logic is flawed. here is why: Of course the leadership of the Party voted against the people who voted Frederick in, but the people who voted Frederick in did not vote for those who voted Frederick out.

Here's why I say that. The problem is many of the grassroots (regular people in the party) only get involved in the statewide conventions. Most don't get involved in their local meetings and groups, that elect the chairs that then serve on the Central Committee, other than filing for delegate so they can go to the state conventions.

They only come out of the woodwork:

A) once a year to do their duty, if they come out then

B) when the fight is on and we (the party) have lost elections. Then they notice we lost because the party brass has swayed away from our true conservative principles.

Many of the 'true conservatives' in the Party are part timers. Tip O'Neil really was right: "All Politics are Local".

This is where the rubber meets the road. Local action, rather in the party or in the our stream society.

If all those who showed up at the state conventions would get involved in their local meetings regularly (or in their local government bodies), then:

1) we would not have this corrupt leadership within the local, state and federal party ranks or in elected offices.

2) we would not have so many neo-cons in charge of our party or in elected office on local, state and federal levels.

3) we would still have Frederick or might have had a better choice still in office. (not a neo-con good ol boy corrupt puppet)

4) The Central Committee would not over ride our votes, because we would have truly elected them at our local meetings.

Its time to stop playing 'back to the wall' politics. Stop only coming out when the going is bad. People get lazy in the fight for Liberty when their wallets and stomachs are fat.

We need to not focus on the highest offices first. Thats why the founding fathers tried to put all the power at the local level. Its easier to make change from where you live, work, eat and play.
You elect good local guys, then they hold the state guy to task, then the state guy holds the federal guy to task.

And, if their is hardly any power at the top levels, then they that you have least control over can do little damage.

~ Publius ~