Republican Pride - Thought for the Day

I've called myself a Republican since I was in college or for roughly 40 years. More recently, I called myself a conservative to differentiate between moderate Republican and progressive Republican and Republicans who were no longer even prolife.  But the notion of being Republican always made me lift my chin just a little bit higher -- I am proud to be a Republican. I think the Republican principles of limited government, individual liberty, capitalism, etc., are right, based on fundamental principles discoverable in Nature and Nature's God.

Frankly, my first experience on the Armstrong Republican Committee greatly disappointed me. It was not a gathering anyone could be proud to be part of.  This was sort of a big deal for many of us who were new to the committee - running in an election, having our names on a ballot, and being elected. Naive maybe, but I am not embarrassed by it.  On the contrary, I think the three people sitting at the head table in the conference room ran a very sloppy meeting. Everything -- from their attempt to hold an illegal election to their dress, to their posture, to their language, to their rudeness -- was an embarrassment to the Grand Ole' Party!

1874 Harper Magazine Thomas Nash cartoon

Now that I do have the bylaws and have read through them, the bylaws are embarrassing as well. The first thing bylaws do is establish the group's purpose. It is an amazing and embarrassing fact that many of us ran for committee seats without being able to determine the purpose of the committee because we could not see the bylaws and were told ridiculous things, such as "put on a banquet" and "we don't need committee people, we need volunteers."  I didn't even know we were running for four year terms until after I'd turned in my petition signatures.  Surely the bylaws would enlighten me, but no. Not only is the purpose of the committee left undefined but also the rules by which business is to be conducted.  Thus, a sloppy meeting! Meetings without rules seldom go well and a sense of fairness to all members is virtually unobtainable.