Fetzer's Got a Big New Job
Tom Fetzer, the newly elected Chairman of the North Carolina Republican Party is one of the most astute politicians in our state, charged with trying to resurrect the Grand Old Party following the 2008 rout they suffered at the ballot box. To be sure Barack Obama was the deciding factor, but in 2008 state Republicans were outspent, outmaneuvered, out-messaged, and out of step with the majority of voters.
Problem number one for the new Chair lies within his own
ranks. The most vocal Republican supporters are demanding a return to the
good-old days when Republicans railed against abortion, gays, and gay marriage.
The further to the right the better these folks like it. In his acceptance speech
Fetzer promised a return to those times. It might make them feel good but that dog won't hunt. If you want bag the big donkeys you go where they are. In politics that's toward the middle, not he far right.
Republicans have a major image problem. We know what they are
against but few can articulate what they stand for. Republicans can’t be just a
bunch of angry white men if they want to make inroads in 2010. Newt Gingrich
energized national and state Republicans in designing the Contract with
The state Republican Party doesn’t have the bucks to wage a media war in the heat of the campaign season, much less firing a strong early salvo to improve their image. There are big money Republicans in our state but they will sit on the sidelines until they see a plan they think puts them back in the game with a chance to win.
Even staunch Democrats will agree we need a healthy two-party system in our state. Debating and deciding public policy should not be a one-sided game. Our republic and our state functions most effectively when we have loyal opposition, regardless of thr. So we wish Tom Fetzer well in his new task. The smart money would bet against Tom Fetzer being able to make Republicans competitive again, but others have bet against the former Raleigh Mayor before…and lost. He’s got a big job a little more than one year to produce success.
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Tags: Republicans Politics elections North Carolina Democrats
The Obama administration has abundantly demonstrated what "far left" means. So what do you mean by "move toward the middle" And just what is "far right?"
I'm fed up with these ambiguous phrases that seem to indicate we need to water down the core values of conservatives so well enunciated by Reagan.
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I am concerned that Mr. Fetzer may be too much a part of the "old boy" club. He does not seem to have the same vision and priorities for NC as the general hard-working (dare I say) grassroots conservatives.
Mr. Fetzer appears to be focused primarily on federal elections.
And I do not believe that we can get our local and state politics cleaned up that way. I met with Mr. Fetzer together with a group of conservatives that actively want to bring NC back to its origins of freedom, honesty and end the corruption and back room deals. We believe that NC must be politically rebuilt from the inside (local elections, school boards, mayors) to the outside (federal).
Mr. Fetzer made us promise we would not quite him or talk specifics of the meeting. Odd request when we are all supposed to be on the same side but okay.
Let's see - I grew up in Cary NC (1964-1986) when I left for law school in Illinois. I returned to NC to be treated for my own cancer and now I am caring for my dad's cancer. So, I needed to register to vote for the October local elections.
How can I best explain the feelings I left with the Fetzer meeting? I registered to vote that day and I registered as "Independent" - enough said. My point is made.
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The state Republican Party doesn’t have the bucks to wage a media war in the heat of the campaign season, much less firing a strong early salvo to improve their image. There are big money Republicans in our state but they will sit on the sidelines until they see a plan they think puts them back in the game with a chance to win.
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