Thursday, 28 May 2009
I Will Not Be Silent
Word has reached me that some of the events taking place here in Linn County are seen as an embarrassment by some of our GOP Party Leaders in Des Moines.
One of whom called a gentleman here to discuss moderating the tone in order to enhance Party Unity.
One problem, is the Gentleman with whom he was speaking, does not happen to be in charge of any of these events,
Certainly not in charge of what I write,
Now he and another person from the previous Executive Board Circle DO receive from me emails with copies of my posts, but then so do the Present Chair and Co-Chair of the new Executive Board,
This happens AFTER I post my missives.
As I have severe philosophical differences with some of the events that have taken place recently, I will continue to speak out.
To the question, "What does this have to do with electing Republicans?"
My reply is, "How can we as a Party oppose Election Corruption and Violations of the Rule of Law, if we do not keep our own House clean?"
While I was musing on these matters I stumbled onto this song and despite it being from a Hillary PUMA supporter, I find it appropriate.
PUMA for those not in the know stands for
Party Unity My A#%
Now some of the verbiage is WAY past what I would claim, but it is IMO fitting at this cusp
Waif Of The Future
I call this post Waif of the Future, because it contains ideas that will remain orphans without support by the membership
In previous posts we have looked at the Form As that contain the information telling us, who Chaired, Acted as Secretary and those Elected to be County Central Committee Person selected during Precinct Caucuses.
Before the last Executive Board Election the information was assembled into a Credentials List.
I have that file Below
For those who do not have a program with which to view XLS files here is a link where you can go to download a Freeware Viewer
Open the Credentials File above look around in it. Find YOUR Precinct compare the Credentialed Voters listed there with the Form As for your Precinct.
I was contacted by one person about the Form A posts I put online.
They were grateful to find out that they had indeed filed it out as they remembered.
It seems that a person they were certain they had entered as a Central Committee member was not able to vote in the Executive Board Election and someone who Chaired the Meeting voted instead.
The Reason?
Well the ORDER that was on the Form A was altered when the names were transcribed to the XLS Credentials Form.
That was a mistake and happens.
I have had the luxury of assembling this information, in my own time, in my own home, without someone breathing down my neck and objecting to all and sundry entries.
So how do we prevent such mistakes?
Why not use the FORM As?
Not the originals, of course but we print replicas,
Put them in a folder?
Put them in an online resource in the same manner I did?
Works for me.
We can still have the XLS File and print that off for a quick all on one or two pages lookup.
But have the folder of the Printed Off Form A replicas as the Authoritative List.
There are some other very useful attributes of this system.
We use the Form A copies not only to comprise the Official Central Committee Members List,
But with a simple alteration it can also serve as an attendance record.
Take a look at this Form A
Mr Tim Pugh, who is a Committee Member from the 38th Precinct shows up at the Credentials Desk, he is looked up quickly in the XLS File and signs in, then he goes to the person who has the Form A Folder and initials the block for that Meeting.
Notice there are 48 Blocks above? A Committee Person has a Two year Term, or 24 monthly meetings.
We have a record.
There is something else we can do.
After the meeting the Secretary or someone else scans all of the Form As in our Folder.
Those images are uploaded into a Directory
With the SAME File name as the images already in it and replaces them.
Then if for instance someone from Precinct 38 want to see if Mr Pugh is actually attending meeting as representing their Precinct?
There is an online record.
One just like the one I showed you in
Now maybe Mr Pugh is NOT attending meetings as he should?
That person if they are concerned could appear before the Committee and at the least present themselves for consideration as a
Assistant Committee Person,
one who helps the Committee but only has Voting Rights in the absence of a Permanent Committee Person.
I don't really think what I have outlined is that difficult
Since I have in the last few days done pretty much what I have outlined on this website.
What do YOU Think
Comment! You CAN do it anonymously if you so wish.
Wednesday, 27 May 2009
What's So Confusing?
There has been talk about how confusing the Caucus Form As are, even suggestions that they needed to be rewritten
At the risk of being accused of being even more argumentative than I already have been
I disagree.
But unlike others, I will present samples and my reasons.
In a previous post I supplied links to all the Form As from the 2008 Precinct Caucuses, with the exception of 4 that are not available,
So let us look at some, First we have one not filled out, Perhaps there were no Republican there?
r
As you can see, there is a place at the top left for the Caucus Chairman
There is a place at the top right for the Caucus Secretary.
Then there are lines which state
The Precinct Committee persons who will represent Fill in Your Precinct Name here Precinct on the Fill in the Name of Your County here County Republican Central Committee are:
So what's so confusing?
As we will see, there was indeed a lot of confusion, but I do not think it was the fault of the Form A itself.
Let us look at a correctly filled out Form A
It has clearly listed, the Chair, the Secretary, the Precinct County Central Committee Members and is witnessed by the Chair and the Secretary
Now THIS Form A is a WORK OF ART!
Wasn't that nice?
Now let's look at one that is ALMOST perfect
Can anyone tell me what mistake was made on this Form A?
Correct it is the second Committee Person
Which seem to be listed and Alexander & Krista Kaminski
Now I realize the Wedding Ceremony says thing like these
two people are now one, but those Spiritual attributes do not hold for
Elective Office, only ONE of them can be a Central Committee Member
My suggestion to Alexander is to say "Yes Dear" if Krista wants to be it.
I believe we are getting the idea go back to the previous post
2008 Precinct Caucus Form As
Check out some Form As yourself
Remember the Rules?
Chair and Secretary on the Top of the Form where it says to put them
Then below these lines
The Precinct Committee persons who will represent Fill in Your Precinct Name here Precinct on the Fill in the Name of Your County here County Republican Central Committee are:
There should be TWO names, no more and ANY designation of Alternate etc does not exist in the Election Code.
But before you leave and go exploring here is one more example
One of the ways NOT to fill out a Form A Correctly.
Monday, 25 May 2009
2008 Precinct Caucus Form As
These links will take you to the information on 2008 Precinct Caucus Form As I will have a followup post titled
Which will have Samples of Form As
And a discussion on the ones filled out correctly, the ones almost correct and some that are way off base.
Why this is so and the implications
Marion Precincts Linn County Precincts |
Saturday, 23 May 2009
Memorial Day
A Moment of Silence and Peace for the Next Few Days in Respect for the Fallen
Arlington (Trace Adkins)
SOME GAVE ALL
Fallen
The tree of liberty must be refreshed from
time to time, with the blood of patriots and tyrants
Operation USO Care Package
PO BOX 8069
Topeka, Kansas 66608
1-877-USO-GIVE
Everyone But Us
I have in previous posts described the ways by which those of us who have attended Linn County Central Committee Meetings on a Regular Basis over the years, discovered that we were no longer going to meet where we were accustomed.
There was the surprising revelation that a flyer was passed out one weekend in March the 27, 28 & 29th at an NRA Gun show informing the PUBLIC of a new meeting location.
But by no attempt via the normal Email List, nor the Social Network Facebook Linn County GOP Website,
Did the Executive Board EVER enlighten us on these matters or give us a location until just shortly before the meeting.
Actually many former members did not even get an email announcement before the meeting and there was quite of bit of Internet chatter getting the word out to the Uninformed.
Indeed it was after a silence of Two months that the rationale was finally given,
IMO grudgingly and with all the ease of pulling teeth from an unwilling attack dog.
But I will have to say my latest discovery is surprising to me,
Despite the fact that the present record has been replete with unwelcome surprises,
I ran across this post Updated: Linn County Republicans switch leaders
on a website called., Essential Estrogen,
Which by the way in my opinion would be an informative website, no matter what the gender of the reader,
I recommend it without any reservations whatsoever.
But to get back to my main point, The post begins
Updated to list the full Linn County GOP executive board:
Chairman -- Tim Palmer
Co-Chairman -- Mark Hudson
Treasurer -- Brent Schulte
Secretary -- Dawn Brown
None of the previous members of the executive board were re-elected. That being said, I'm not sure if all incumbents were seeking another term. From what I've been able to find out through text messages, e-mails and the local Twitter feed, the newly elected leaders (described by Renee Schulte as "young professionals") will be making some changes in the near future that will likely begin with a new meeting location.
Note the date March 18, 2009 7:05 AM
That children is the MORNING AFTER THE ELECTION.
This lady had been previously informed of these changes,
But were those who normally ATTEND Meetings informed?
Not until MUCH later.
Why that might have AFFECTED the Voting.
I ask you.
Was there ANYONE in Iowa who did NOT know about these matters before WE did?
Doesn't appear to be the case .
Just more of that Unifying Communication that we are becoming accustomed to.
Rise Against - Behind Closed Doors
Time out, let's stop and think this through,
We've all got better things to do,
Than talk in circles, run in place,
Answers inches from our face.
[Chorus]
Black eyes, broken fingers,
Blood drips and I let it run,
down my lips into my swollen gums,
When hope is non-existent,
Our instincts all scream "Run",
We never turn our backs or even bite our tongue.
Thursday, 21 May 2009
Committee for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice
Brothers and Sisters We are indeed Blessed.
In addition the the duties formerly pursued by the Linn County GOP Central Committee there has been added the Onerous Task of Shepherding the Moral Purity of our Flock.
Yes as part of the explanation of why exactly the venue for the Monthly Meeting had been changed, the Executive Board revealed to the Body that INTOXICATING beverages are known to be dispensed at the Longbranch.
As a result, it seems there are some who might refrain from frequenting such a Den of Iniquity, including a few, we were informed Who have been aching to line our pockets with golden donations, if only they could attend a Meeting in safety.
Why one gentleman rose and addressed the Body, to solemnly inform us there are those who refer to the Longbranch as the Longbranch Saloon.
To which one member replied that the correct title was the Longbranch Hotel and Convention Center.
I am certain that individual meant well, but has been misled.
We must pray for him.
But on reflection, it may be that he is blameless.
Some of our Body have lived Sheltered Lives, they are not knowledgeable about Worldly Matters.
Now myself?
I must confess, with Deep Regret, in my Youth, I was wont to Sin.
Indeed, it is to my Eternal Shame that often, I rather enjoyed it.
So I have a breadth of knowledge that may be lacking in this person, and others of our Body.
So let me reveal, that along with Intoxicating beverages, in Hotel rooms there are frequently enacted acts of sensual depravity that would shock the very core of any decent person.
As to CONVENTIONS?
I-- I cannot bring myself to utter a description of what can occur during them,
These after all ARE the Lips I kissed my Mother with.
So we have been rescued, Dear Friends from Venal, if not Mortal Sin.
When one considers that children were brought to those meeting, even the young innocent daughters of some families, sitting, without realizing, while on the other side of the wall of the room they were in the Fires of Hell were Flaming.
One gets a queasy feeling just thinking about it.
Narrow is the Path, and confusing at times.
I try, I really do.
I support Fiscal Responsibility
I oppose Raised and Punitive Taxation
The Attack at Present upon the Capitalist Foundations of Our Society by Socialism.
I support a Strong and Vigorous Defense against the Worldwide Forces which seek to either Destroy or Enslave us.
I uphold the Sanctity of Marriage and it being Union between a Man and a Woman.
I support the Rule of Law and wish Action be taken against the current invasion of Illegal Aliens who have no regard for our Law.
I am for Clean and Untainted Elections
and I stand Square against the Murder of Babies
But just like a Computer Game, where as you think your have arrived victoriously at the End, only to find.
NO
You have only reached a
Higher Degree of Difficulty.
I realize that I am lacking
Despite all of the above and even despite the fact that I have not touched a drop of liquor in Lo these twenty odd years.
I am lacking
You see, I fear it does not matter to me if the person sitting beside or across the table from me, has not only coke in their glass, but Demon Rum as well.
As long as they don't slobber on my sleeve, throw up on my pants leg, or pass out under the table, of course.
So I suppose under the new strictures laid down these past two months
I have been Weighed in the Balance
and Found Wanton.
I have pondered this matter and endeavored to think of some way to Redeem myself.
I realize it must be an extreme and not token action,
Maybe I should propose at the next Meeting that a Curtain be placed down the length of the Room.
To prevent the Men and Women attending from being Distracted by Impure thoughts?
For unless I can discover a means to redeem myself I remain a Pariah and Outcast
One If By Land
Two if by Sea, and I on the opposite shore shall be.
Is a statement about Communication.
As is this, about Communication, Retrograde, Incomplete, Absent and Shutdown.
Communication has been all of the above of late.
Quite by accident about 2 months ago we learned that where the Linn County Central Committee had for quite some time been having it's meetings had been changed.
Did we find this out by an announcement via email to the mailing list that had been a form of communication for sometime?
No
Did we find this out by an announcement on the Linn County GOP Central Committee Face book website, which had been set up to utilize current Internet social networking?
No.
It came to our attention because the Executive Board had been passing out handouts at a NRA Gun Show, informing the Public that
The Linn County Republican Central Committee Meeting for April would be a Post Tax Tea Party at a local Church,
The Public was informed of this but no attempt was made to inform the Body.
When inquiries were made on the Central Committee Face book site, we were informed that they had not made a determination as to the location of the April meeting, but when that had been decided, the Body would be informed.
We did receive, or some of us did, but many did not, information that the April meeting was to be held at the Kirkwood Continuing Educational Center, at the far southern end of the County.
Which was not a meeting, but a Rally so no questions from the floor could be raised.
Now a response could be made that the members of the Executive Board stood ready to answer any questions put to them before, during and after that Rally on these issues.
That is beside the point,
The Body of the Central Committee has a RIGHT to have it's Leadership inform them as a Body of the decisions and actions taken by the Executive Board in the Central Committee's Name.
When these and other questions and statements appeared on the Linn County GOP Face book Comments and Discussion website.
Input there came to a SCREECHING HALT. Comments from the membership were totally Shutdown. I am not even certain they use
it now at all, the May Meeting doesn't seem to be in the Events.
Now there WERE plenty of questions raised at the May Meeting.
The Executive Board when questioned about the change in venue and the increased costs of the New Meeting location, did inform the Body
AFTER TWO MONTHS OF SILENCE
That it was their intention to have meetings in a Kirkwood facility situated a few blocks from the previous meeting location, but that facility was not always available
and
By the way we are not spending that much more money,
Because we closed down the Permanent Linn County GOP Office.
It was further stated that among the reasons for the change was because some people would not attend meetings if it were held at the Long Branch, including some large financial donors.
One gentleman from the floor termed the former location the Long branch Saloon.
Point of information. We were at a Linn County GOP Central Committee Meeting not in Gun smoke and the City is called Cedar Rapids, Iowa, not Dodge City, Kansas and the year is now 2009, not 1873.
As to the donor who abhors the Long branch? I was always impressed with the good treatment this Committee received from the owners, mangers and workers of the Long branch.
My Daddy taught me better than to walk out on a friend because some Pharisee offered to toss 30 pieces of Silver in my palm.
When I asked the floor if there was anyone in attendance that would NOT have been so, if the meeting had been held at the Long branch.
There was dead silence, even from the gentleman who thought he was an actor in the Gun smoke TV serial.
I find the abhorrence of a meeting place on those grounds to be ludicrous and juvenile.
It invokes in me THIS image of their version of the Republican Party
Some people use the phrase "
paper tiger" as an aspersion of disdain, They are not even "paper elephants."
The thought of someone squirming with unease because a room or two away or EVEN GASP on the other side of the Wall someone is being served LIQUOR and THAT might keep them away from a meeting or making a substantial donation is so puerile, that my immediate reaction is.
Come back when you grow up.
What are we going to do, I wonder if it should dawn on these tender sensitivities that the person
SITTING NEXT TO THEM
Might be drinker, might drink after the meeting might EVEN have had a drink before the meeting
and be breathing toxic alcohol fumes into the very air they are breathing?
Should we issue Arm Bands with a Yellow B for Boozer on them
so the pious are not contaminated?
Despite the fact that I have not touched a drop of Liquor in more than 20 years
I would proudly don one and take my Stand among the Unclean.
Wednesday, 20 May 2009
Motion For Compliance
Here is the First Draft of the Motion I intend to enter into the Record during the June Linn County GOP Central Committee Meeting.
Input, suggestions and critique is welcome the Comment Section is Moderated but I will attempt to post them in a timely manner
Whereas: the Result of the Point of Order and Law raised in this years February meeting placed the Membership List of the Linn County GOP Central Committee in Dispute, because the appointment of Members had not been in Compliance with The State Election Code, nor with the Constitutions of the State and County Party and By-Laws
and
Whereas: The Ad-Hoc Committee assembled to rectify this situation by compiling a List of Members from the Precinct Caucus Form As, exceeded their Authority by giving Voting Rights not in Compliance with the Election Code, Constitutions and By-Laws
I Move: That a Quorum of Duly Elected Central Committee Members whose names appear on the Precinct Caucus Form As as having been Elected to that position be assembled.
For the Purpose, if they so choose
By a Majority Vote of their Quorum to,
Fill any Vacancies of Committee Members in Precincts
Appoint Assistants for each Precinct
In accordance with the provisions of the
AND by a majority vote of their Quorum, if they so choose
Affirm all Actions, Elections and Votes that have takenplace in the interim as
The Will of the Body of the Linn County GOP Central Committee
What we got here
Have you ever looked around and had the uncanny feeling that you were part of a Movie?
Recently I have had the odd deja-vous impression
What we got here is... failure to communicate
Or at least that is what seems to have been the case for the last two months, there was however extensive communication at the May Central Committee Meeting, to say the least.
Before I get into the present I wish to make some comments on the past.
I first started making County Meetings just prior to the 2006 Elections. No reflection on the Executive Board at that time I was impressed with Dan Abolins drive and dedication, but things were a total mess.
When the next Executive Board took over, the Committee was broke and had to clear up some serious financial reporting issues that took the better part of their two year term , but they accomplished that goal.
We ended up with a strong IMO system of sub-committees for volunteer organizing and fund raising and were so successful, that unlike most of the Counties in Iowa, we paid for the entire 2008 Election, the Election Victory Offices, had established a Permanent Linn County GOP office, with some equipment staffed by volunteers, we had set up a social network webpage on Facebook for speedy communication AND we had about $5000 in the Bank.
Then we voted in a new Executive Board. What has transpired since?
The Sub-committees? Do not Exist anymore.
Our Permanent Office? Does not Exist anymore.
Our Meeting Location? Changed to the far end of the County.
But we were informed we MAY be meeting in a more Centralized Location, sometimes.
We Do have a Coffee morning rotating around the County, the First Friday of each month and that IS a good addition,
The Communication during the May meeting was
The Issue of using the NRA logo, without their permission, was raised and the Body was informed that an apology had been made, but when requested that the Body be informed as to who that had been delivered to the answer was vague.
The issue of using the name of the Tea Party organization for the April meeting without consulting with them or getting their approval was raised and there was a commitment made to refrain from that in the Future.
There was a LOT of communication on the minutes of the last two months and those issues are to be worked out.
The issue of illegal proxy votes at the March Election was raised and the Executive Board was tasked with an inquiry.
The Issue of the termination of the Permanent Linn County GOP Office was raised and the point of order was, by what authority did the Executive Board terminate the Lease and eliminate the Office, since it had been established by a Vote of the Body of the County Central Committee.
The answer seems to have been that the Executive Board felt they did not need to return to the Body for that decision and could make it themselves,.
Now THAT does appear to this writer as a direct violation of the Linn County Republican Party Constitution.
Which states
The general management of the affairs of the party in Linn County is vested in the Linn County Central Committee
and
The Executive Committee shall transact the routine business
of the Linn County Central Committee during the interim of the meetings of the Linn County Central Committee
. Any business transacted or action taken shall be reported to the Linn
County Central Committee at the next regularly scheduled meeting.
The Executive
Committee is subject to the orders of the Linn County Central Committee, and none of its acts
shall conflict with actions of the Linn County Central Committee.
Others may disagree, but I do not think voiding Lease Agreements and Closing down Offices, that have been established by a Vote of the Central Committee constitutes "routine business" and it is my opinion that the Executive Board exceeded their Legal Authority when they took this action.
The Body of the Central Committee is the Legal Authority for General Management and cannot be overruled by the Executive Board
Now their INTENTIONS may be in Good Faith, but Good Faith as I have stated in one of my previous articles does not endow Legal Authority.
While your Heart may be as Pure as the Driven Snow, and your Cause Just and Righteous, you are either in Compliance with the Rules of the State Election Code, the Constitutions of the State and County GOP or you are NOT.
Which brings us to the subject dear to my heart. We are in my opinion STILL not in compliance as regards Voting Members,
When I asked if there was a Quorum present, I was informed there was, BUT that count included what was termed Alternate Committee Members and as far as I can tell
There is NO repeat NO such designation in the Rules and Election Code as an Alternate Committee member selected during the Caucus Elections.
This Category does not exist, AFTER a duly Elected Central Committee is convened they may appoint Assistants who have Voting Rights in the absence of the Elected Committee Members, the Elected Committee Members may also Fill Vacancies by a majority vote.
But we never did this, The entire result of the Issue that David Chung raised at the February meeting is that until we have a quorum of Elected Committee Members assembled we cannot fill any vacancies nor appoint Assistants.
The only Legal Authority the Ad Hoc Committee formed to deal with this issue had, was to find and recognize Elected County Committee Members, using the Form As as a resource.
They exceeded their brief when they gave Voting Rights to persons appearing on the Form As described as Caucus Chair, Co-Chairs, Secretaries or Alternates.
In one case , the duly elected Committee Member was prevented from voting because their name did not Appear on the Form A and one of the persons responsible for seeing that the Form As were filled out, who had not attended a Committee Meeting for most of the previous year voted instead.
The Solution to all this is simple and I will submit a written motion to the Committee for the next meeting.
Assemble just ONE TIME a Quorum of Elected Committee Members, they can Recognize ALL of the people should they wish, who have been given voting rights, to Fill Vacancies in Precincts and to be appointed as Assistants for Precincts to Vote in the Elected Committee Members absence, AND they can adopt as the Will of the Body ALL Decisions that have been voted on during the recent past.
If we do this we will be in FULL compliance with the Election Codes and our Constitutions and By-Laws.
It has been presented to me that we should just let things ride until the Next Election Caucuses.
That says to me
Just pretend we are in compliance with the Law,
Who cares?
Well I care.
How about YOU?
So we have serious Issues in Linn County,
Which in my eyes have simple solutions.
Obey the Election Code of the State of Iowa and the Rules outlined in the State and County GOP Constitutions and By-Laws
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