Utah Should Lead in Exporting American Hope, Not Follow in Exporting American Fear

The Fort Hood tragedy is another sad chapter in the so-called “War on Terror.” I extend my sympathies to all of those victims and families of victims of this horrific tragedy.

Rhetorically I ask: “How did we as a nation get here?” As a conservative, I am an advocate of a strong national defense. That said, I fear (no pun intended) that in post 9/11 America—in the words of Thomas Friedman—our “status in the world [changed] from a country that exported hope to a country that exported fear. And when you export fear, you end up importing everyone else’s fears.” (see the article “What If 9/11 Never Happened?” in New York Magazine)

It pains me to place much of this at the feet of the Bush Administration. In the name of security, we’ve sacrificed liberty by eviscerating the Constitution with the Patriot Act and other such euphemistic behaviors that feed fear. Political fear.

Now the Obama Administration adds fuel to the fire and continues to build on this culture of fear with so much gloom and doom-speak about executive compensation and health care. In the name of compassion we have mortgaged the future of our great, great-grandchildren by nationalizing entire industries and creating an unsustainable federal safety net that violates the Constitution. Economic fear.

Wasn’t it Ben Franklin who said: “They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security.”?

This culture of fear has NOT made America great. We must reverse our course away from it. We must embrace the reality that where there are personal liberties there are great risks—and greater opportunities. I call on our Utah congressional delegation to be more vigilant in upholding their oaths of office, and re-double their efforts to reverse and prevent these misguided actions.

From my Mormon heritage I hold up this passage from one of our books of scripture (Doctrine and Covenents 6:36) that says “Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not.”

I refuse to live in fear. I refuse to raise my family in fear. I believe those 13 souls who gave their fullest measure of devotion (as well as the tens who were injured) at Fort Hood would not have us live fearfully.

In this matter, we must return to being the world’s leading exporter of hope, not continue as the world’s leading exporter of fear.

THE ISSUE in Today’s City of Orem General Election

NON-PARTISAN DISCLAIMER:  The City of Orem General Election is a non-partisan event. As such, this is a NON-PARTISAN opinion. It is also a NON-PARTISAN endorsement.

Last evening I put out the following into my Twitter and Facebook streams:

I am going to send a brief stream with my opinion on tomorrow’s City of Orem General Election. Thanks in advance for indulging me. Please feel free to share or RT as you see fit, as it may have application in your non-Orem City races.

At issue in Orem:

#1. Incumbents and time in office. As all four incumbents (1 mayor, 3 city council members) have served at least 8 years, I believe we would be best-served by a new crop of public servants–notwithstanding the experience and public-minded service of the incumbents.

Here’s why. Referring to visits by out-of-town loved ones, my aunt used to say “Family and fresh fish both spoil after three days.” I believe the same can be said of public servants–they have a shelf-life of two terms.

Now I know many of you know these people. I know many of you are pleased with their records of public service.

That said, if we are to till the political soil of Orem the way I believe the Founding Fathers intended it to be tilled, then we have to till all of it. We can’t cut around one incumbent and through another.

Why? Because others need to serve.

If you’re thinking “What about all their experience?” Well, there are three City Council Seats not up for election. Those incumbents can prevent anarchy and inefficiency from reigning while newly elected officials learn their duties.

I believe all other major issues that concern me about Orem:

• MidTown
• Taxing and spending
• Transportation
• Business climate

will all be better dealt with by a new crop of public servants.

Call me a one-issue endorser, but I stand my position in this instance.

So, it is with an eye to our future that I publicly endorse the four challengers in today’s election:

• Philip Hornberger for Orem City Mayor
• Steven Diamond for Orem City Council
• Mary Street for Orem City Council
• Brent Sumner for Orem City Council

Please visit their websites and give them due consideration today at the ballot box.

Thanks, and I’ll see you at the polls!

The “Final Four” for Lt. Governor Gary Herbert?

A little after 10pm last night, the Deseret News published an article entitled Herbert names 2 possible picks for lieutenant governor. Two persons on the list are acknowledged by Lt. Governor Herbert. They are:

Greg Bell, R-Fruit Heights, Senate Majority Assistant Whip
Stuart Adams, Utah Transportation Commission Chairman

The DesNews has “learned” two other names are still on the short list. Those additional names are:

Michael Jensen, Salt Lake County Commissioner
Natalie Gochnour, Salt Lake Chamber Chief Operating Officer

Everyone up for a group analysis of the “final four” here? How would you advise our county’s own soon-to-be Governor?

What to Do Differently in the Utah County/State GOP for Victory in 2010?

Coming out of two organizing conventions–the Utah County one in April and the State one in June–there was much talk of increased transparency, expanded use of Internet/web technology, and a more participatory Party.

My concern is how “culturally ready” the Utah County and State Republican Party organizations are to engage in the process of bringing about changes.

Let’s talk about we Utah County Republicans first.  Here are a couple of observations relating to the Utah County Central Committee Meeting (5/30/09):

1. I was SO impressed with the new Party Leadership’s (Taylor Oldroyd, Mark Cluff, Lisa Shepherd, and Lynn Taylor) efforts to engage and empower the Committee members by using Pulse Interactive Media’s audience response technology to get real-time votes. Boldness by first meeting innovation covers a multitude of past meeting execution-related sins.

2. I was less impressed with the patience of the Central Committee Members as the rather lengthy agenda discussion took place.  The agenda changes needed to happen, but it raised the concern in me for the level of patience and thinking we the Committee Members are willing to exercise and do. As a Party, and as the CCC, we need to come to the understanding that things need to be debated and discussed to get the best results.

3. As a Party, it may be we’re forgetting that people get the “Of the People” government we are willing to put in for. We’re right where we’ve worked ourselves to as a Party and Leadership, and while people may or may not be happy with where that place is–if we wish to change things, we must realize it will take work and deliberation.

Now let’s spend a moment on the challenges I believe the Utah County GOP Executive and Steering Committees will face:

1. Keeping the transparency promise by working in the open, shining a light on EVERYTHING and trusting the Central Committee, the Delegates and the electorate to make the call.

2. Deciding if the Party Leadership will continue to operate using a “knowledge-based” model of control (what you know is the value so you control it), or adopting an “execution-based” model of operation (getting everyone together to debate and discuss what we’re going to do, inviting everyone who wants to come along to do so, and then telling everyone what we’ve done).

I believe there is a great opportunity to tranform the Party and re-vitalize it in Utah County, but it will take work from everyone involved.  How would you advise the Central Committee Members?  What would you suggest to the Party Leadership?

Opinions about Opinions?

I’d like to know your opinions about these (and other) recent opinion pieces that have given me some things to think about.

A June 25, 2009 opinion peice in the Deseret News by columnist Thomas Sowell entitled Republicans need to rethink how they’re playing the game caught my eye. It explores the National Party’s lack of direction and the implications on GOP candidate electability.

A June 26, 2009 Wall Street Journal op-ed piece by columnist Kimberly A. Strassel was quite interesting. It is entitled The Climate Change Climate Change. It seems the “science” behind human-caused climate change is under an assault of its own from some interesting places.

Thomas Friedman penned a thoughtful piece entitled Invent, Invent, Ivent that appeared in the June 27, 2009 issue of the New York Times. As a career high-tech person, this really made me think. It made me think again about our nation’s educational culture regarding academic rigor and the sciences, and where this road leads us.

The July 4, 2009 issue of the Los Angeles Times included a fabulous opinion piece entitled The shining light of our national proposition. It was written by columnist Tim Rutten that was stirring in all save it’s concluding three paragraphs–where I think he made a great leap to stretch the connection between these great quotes and President Obama’s nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court.

The Washington Post’s July 5, 2009 editorial entitled Cap and Pay-Off was an interesting read about the economics of “cap and trade.” In short, I believe cap and trade is a fiscal train wreck and a morosely regressive tax in environmentalist’s sheep’s clothing.

There certainly isn’t a want of weighty things to think about as we work to advance a substantial conservative agenda in our county, state and nation, is there? Are there any you’d wish to share with me that I missed?

My Egregious Facebook Post–No Good Deed Goes Unpunished

After a call to action on behalf of Mike Ridgway and Bobi Fox by Utah County Republican Dave Duncan, I posted the following on the Utah Republican Party – Official Group’s Facebook wall:

In his speech to the Utah Republican Organizing Convention, then Party Chair candidate Dave Hansen spoke of our Republican message faring well in “the marketplace of ideas.” I believe this phrase—the marketplace of ideas—goes to the heart of what we should be about as conservatives in the Utah Republican Party.

Ideas from within the Party—regardless of their origin—must be given access to “the marketplace of ideas.” Open and fair discussion, dialogue and debate of those ideas in the marketplace is needed to sharpen make them more compelling.

It is time to end quashing of participation by those in the Party with whom some disagree—specifically the Party’s treatment of Mike Ridgway and Bobi Fox—by prohibiting their participation in “the marketplace of ideas.”

Let me make it clear that I disagree with much of Mr. Ridgway’s methodology. I find his methods distasteful much of the time. All too frequently he is terse, caustic, and scathing in his interactions with the Party membership. I have attempted to advise him on this and incurred his wrath. Candidly, this angered me. That said, this behavior is not sufficient grounds for the Party of limited government, personal freedom and responsibility, and advocate of “the marketplace of ideas” approach to prevent his participation.

We conservatives are quick to take issue with our left side of the aisle friends’ “let us do the thinking for you” mentality. As liberty-loving Americans, as conservatives, and as Republicans, we need to hold ourselves to the same standard.

I call on our newly elected Party leaders—Mr. Hansen, Mr. Philpot, and Ms. Achziger—to end the Party’s “thinking for the electorate” behavior. Simply allow everyone within the Party—including Mr. Ridgway and Ms. Fox—to participate in “the marketplace of ideas” and trust the marketplace to decide.

I call on Mr. Ridgway and Ms. Fox to be civil, to stop lashing out at individuals by name, and to play nice in the “the marketplace of ideas.”

Let’s expend our energies on the fight for the future, and begin today. Only then will we watch conservative ideas capture the hearts, minds and imaginations in “the marketplace of ideas.”

Thank you.

Kip Meacham
Orem OR27 Precinct Chair
Utah Republican Party State Central Committee Member-Elect
kip@kipmeacham.com

The point of my Facebook post was that Mike Ridgway’s methods should NOT keep him or his spouse from participation in the Party’s public events, meetings and such. My concern with Mike Ridgway has always been HOW he does things. I don’t agree with it. While on the substance of his activities, he’s correct far more often than he is wrong. I think he’d do a lot more good if he’d “play nice.”

He disagrees.

What ensued following the post was an interesting study for me in the adage: “No good deed goes unpunished.”  Mr. Ridgway and his wife Ms. Fox interpreted the post as an attack.  Long and the short of it: I am now persona non grata on Mr. Ridgway’s “ConsertativesUT” Yahoo Group; that is, I was removed from the group for failure to “acknowledge the error of [my] way in [my] Facebook posting.”

So, if you’re are regular on conservativesut@yahoogroups.com, I hope this explains my silence. I’ve been voted (well, not even voted–rather dictated) off the island.

P.S.  From the Irony Department: Wouldn’t it be funny if after my “banishment” from ConservativesUT my Facebook post were to become in some part responsible for assisting Team Ridgway/Fox in getting the access they seek? Stranger things have happened.

Utah State and County Republicans Need to Take a Hard Look at Our Web Strategy

Last week the State’s Republicans met, this week it was the Democrats’ turn. They elected Wayne Holland as their Party Chair. 

While navigating their website to read about their convention, I was forced to conclude the Democrats are doing a much better job of “working the web” than we Republicans are—at least with a “bake-off” of the State and Utah County Websites.  Almost every State and County Republican Party candidate ran on improving transparency and leveraging technology.  From what I saw, I think we need to start working on those campaign promises a wee bit.

Have a look and you tell me.

First, here’s a State site comparison: Take a look at the Utah State Republican Party website (http://www.utgop.org).  Now, look at the Utah State Democratic Party website (http://www.utdemocrats.org).

Now, for the Utah County comparison: the Republicans are here (http://www.utahgop.org), and the Democrats are here (http://www.utahcountydems.com/).

Now, one can argue it hasn’t made a difference in the election results.  We have a Republican Governor, Republican controlled State House and Senate, and an all Republican cast of County officers.  The thing I’d like to get the data on for both parties would be in these three areas:

1. Party membership growth rates (how many have joined?)
2. New membership demographics (what age/gender/education/income brackets would they fit in?)
3. Fund raising details (amounts and sources of contributions?)

I think they’d tell an interesting story.  My sense is the story wouldn’t be good for a forward look for us Republican folks.  So, should the State Republican Party Leadership be doing anything about this?  What about Utah County?  I know there are initiatives underway there, but don’t have much visibility on what’s going on at the State level.

We need to take a hard look at our strategy, and get our backsides moving on our websites–their architecture, their appearance, and their content–or I fear we’re in for some trouble in 2010.

Suggestions, comments? Wanna help?

Utah Republican Party Organizing Convention Aftermath

It’s over, or is it just beginning?

If you missed it, and you’re looking for the numbers, click on the Utah Republican Party Home Page. If you’re looking for a play-by-play of the convention, visit this post at Holly on the Hill. For an interesting analysis of Lt. Governor Gary Herbert’s convention speech, look at this post at Utah Policy dot Com. For a “from the floor” ad hoc survey of Bob Bennett supporters, read this post at David Miller’s Pursuit of Liberty. Another blogged play-by-play can be read on the Republican Legislative District 61’s post entitled Utah Republican State Organizing Convention Results. A somewhat less-than-flattering post from Salt Lake Tribune’s Salt Lake Crawler Blog written by Glen Warchol under the title Repubs eat their own wraps up the significant blogosphere finds. (Remember, blogging content disclaimer from me here.  If you go looking at other posts, do so at your own discretion. Sometimes the topics and content can be offensive.)

Media coverage from a few Utah sources can be found below:

• Deseret News, GOP leaders urge return to values
• Salt Lake Tribune, Utah GOP changes while promising to stick to its guns
• Deseret News, Hatch, Bennett get not-so-warm welcome
• Daily Herald, Hansen wins Utah GOP chairmanship
• Ogden Standard Examiner, Republicans gear up for 2009 convention with ice cream social
• ABC4.Com (TV’s Channel 4), Utah GOP has new chair
• (NEW!) Chicago Tribune, Dave Hansen Becomes GOP Convention Chair
• (NEW!) KSL-TV/.com, State Republicans Look Forward to 2010

Why dont’ you:

1. Have a look at the links, and make a comment on what you see.
2. If you were there in person, throw in your two cents worth on what you observed.

I’ll do so shortly.

Utah County Republican Party Central Committee Meeting Agenda

CLICK HERE to view the agenda for tomorrow morning’s Utah County GOP Central Committee Meeting.

What a Mess–Are You Seeing These eMails from County Delegates?

I received two more emails over the past two days: one on Tuesday (May 26, 2009) from Dave Duncan, OR10 Precinct Chair) and one Wednesday (May 27, 2009) from Clayton Holbrook, PA02 Precinct Vice Chair.  Both allege more craziness at the Utah County Republican Party Organizing Convention, and both cite (and include links to) signed affidavits as to specific rules violations.

I’ve included the email texts below, but the allegations are serious.  At BEST, they point to the IMMEDIATE need for our new Party leadership to STAND UP AND LEAD OUT IN FIXING THIS STUFF.

We have GOT to start playing by our own rules, or the infighting that will result will cause us to take our eyes of the conservative ball. We’ll then find ourselves ceding more offices to the left side of the aisle ala Salt Lake County style.

After dealing with the immediate complaints/motions by Mr. Duncan and Mr. Holbrook, I suggest the appointment of of a Task Force consisting of County Central Committee Members to review the current Constitution, Bylaws and last round of Convention Rules, and have them come up with:

1. Needed Constitution changes (and recommended amendments).
2. Needed Bylaw changes (and recommended amendments).
3. Proposed Standard Convention Rules.

So, on that upbeat note, here is the Dave Duncan email text:

Fellow Central Committee Members:

As you may have already heard, I plan to make a motion (which I have already submitted to the County GOP officers), that we finish the election for County Vice Chair.

The convention rules were clear that we must elect the party officers by a majority of the vote (p.2, Voting #3). As you may recall, the published results of the Vice Chair race were very close (415 for Mark Cluff and 405 for Lowell Nelson). There was also some confusion as Don Larsen withdrew during his speech, and the convention chair declared that any ballots for him would be spoiled.

Declaring “Don Larsen” ballots to be spoiled, may have been inappropriate, due to the fact (which most of us didn’t know at the time) that the balloting had already been opened early (multiple witnesses), with approximately 20 ballots cast in early voting (according to at least one witness who was in the counting room).

Is it fair to those that had already voted, to declare their ballot spoiled, after they had voted for a candidate who was legitimate at the time they cast their ballot?

It would have only taken 10 more votes (for a total of 830) in the VC race for 415 votes to NOT be a majority.

Regardless of whether the Don Larsen ballots were valid or not, Robert’s Rules (which were specifically declared to be part of the convention rules (Rules of Order section, Item #1) makes it very clear that all votes by legal voters (whether the ballot was spoiled or not) are to be counted into the total number of votes from which a majority must be obtained.

With multiple witnesses stating that there were more than 10 ballots for Don Larsen (including the convention Election Chair), we certainly did not elect the VC by a majority as required by the convention rules (Rules of Order #1).

I believe that there are reasonable remedies for this. The simplest would be to send out 2nd round ballots, via mail, to those delegates who attended the convention, and follow the process for holding an election by mail, which is outlined in Robert’s Rules of Order. By using nested envelopes, the process insures both accountability, and anonymity.

I believe that we can, and should, follow the party rules–especially when it comes to electing the party officers.

The Central Committee is the governing committee of the party. It is, ultimately, our responsibility to make sure that the party operates as it should.

I hope that as a member of the County Central Committee, you will come to the Utah County Republican Party Central Committee meeting on Saturday, and hear out the legitimate discussion on this issue, and vote on a resolution to it.

If it does not appear on the agenda, as has been requested, please support us in adding it to the agenda, at the beginning of the meeting.

Dave Duncan

Orem 10 Precinct Chair

801-224-5329

PS A number of Myths have already arisen about the recent convention’s improprieties. See the truth behind these myths, here.

You may also want to read the very enlightening Poll Watcher Summary, which is an illuminating summary of the affidavits.

And here is the Clayton Holbrook email text:

Dear Fellow County Central Committee Members,

Is it fair for candidates to count the votes in their own election?

On the Monday following the County Organizing Convention a challenge was made concerning the process of and subsequent results of the election. That challenge exposed multiple improprieties concerning the process of counting votes.  As a result, I have filed a formal complaint in order to bring this matter before the County Central Committee, the governing body of the Utah County Republican Party. I hand-delivered this complaint addressed to the County Central Committee in care of the newly elected County Chairman and Secretary. 

You can click on the following links (in blue) to read about the improprieties in my formal complaint and review the testimonies of several poll watchers and other convention attendees.

 

A few of the main points of interest in chronological order:

 

• State Central Committee Candidate Hayden Williamson was disqualified as a poll watcher because he was a SCC candidate.
• Four State Central Committee Candidates counted their own ballots. ****
• Qualified Poll Watcher Karen Duncan offered to assist with the vote counting, but her offer was denied when they determined which candidate she represented.
• Election co-chairs invited State Central Committee Candidate Kristen Chevrier to count votes.  (To Kristen’s credit, she properly declined.)

Click on the following link to read a summary of the affidavits telling what happened during the voting process at the convention.

 

As a member of the County Central Committee (CCC) I invite you to study the facts in this complaint. You have the right to hear all the facts, which will better enable you to make an informed and enlightened decision at the meeting on Saturday. You literally represent hundreds of registered voters in your precinct.  I encourage you to attend the upcoming meeting so that your precinct will be represented. As an elected delegate of the County Central Committee your most important task is to vote.  Your vote was diminished at the convention due to the improprieties that occurred there.

 

After submitting my complaint, I was under the impression it would appear on the 5/30/09 CCC meeting agenda (meeting details below); however, the Executive Committee voted against (11 against, 7 for) including it on the agenda. Therefore, I will make a motion from the floor to bring this matter before the governing body of the party and ask for your support in favor of a reasonable remedy.

 

I’m happy to answer any questions you may have prior to the CCC Meeting. My cell phone number is 801 472 8331. My email address is holbrookct@gmail.com. If for some reason I can’t answer my phone, please leave a message and I’ll return your call or email as quickly as possible. 

 

Sincerely,

 

Clayton Holbrook

 Payson PA02 Precinct Vice-Chair

 

**** The four candidates who counted their own votes:

• Susan Bramble (Party Secretary, Credential Co-Chair, and State Central Committee Member)
• Phil Peay (Party Treasurer, Election Co-Chair, and State Central Committee Member)
• Chad Bunn (Appointed Steering Committee Member and Election Co-Chair)
• Mike McGee (State Central Committee Member) (Mayor of Cedar Hills)

 County Central Committee Meeting Details

May 30, 2009

10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon

Dixon Junior High School

750 West 200 North

Provo, Utah