I received notification yesterday of Glen Caroline’s decision to not seek re-election but didn’t have time to post about it, and frankly was too saddened by the news! Ric James starts off the discussion with a post here, including a portion of Glen’s announcement. I’ll post the full text as the first comment.
Glen Caroline was a great leader for the LCRC when it needed strong, principled, and focused leadership. After just receiving Unit Chairman of the year from RPV, what better time to announce he wants to spend more time with his family? He never sought this position out but was drafted to fill a void. He performed admirably and who can blame him for moving on.
Of course now we will potentially see a feeding frenzy for the slot. This could get ugly, but let’s hope things remain civilized.
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Dec 08th by Loudoun Insider
Glen Caroline’s email announcement:
December 7, 2009
Members of the LCRC,
I was thinking back to my decision in 2007 to run for LCRC Chairman. At the time, my frustration with our efforts and our local party following the 2007 elections compelled me to convene a meeting with a small group to discuss the challenges and the opportunities we faced moving ahead. We met in Randy Minchew’s conference room.
At that meeting, I had many observations, suggestions, and constructive criticisms to offer, and felt good about the opportunity to raise them and hear from others in the room whose opinions and service I valued. Toward the end of the meeting, one main issue remained unresolved-who would lead our Committee over the next two years as Chairman.
Entering-and leaving-that meeting, I had no intention nor desire to seek the Chairmanship. I had recently stepped down as Dulles District Chair and was not seeking an increased leadership role. Before we left that room, I believe Kristen Kalina suggested I run. After demurring multiple times, I started to think about it-seriously.
Since it appeared nobody else was going to run, how could I simply complain and offer solutions if I wasn’t willing to put my money where my mouth was? Thus, I decided to step into the breach and practice what I preached. I would not just complain, but try to lead and improve.
The next two years were a whirlwind. I was thinking about the goals I set as Chair for the LCRC and our GOP movement, and recently took stock of how we have fared:
End intraparty bickering and focus on mutual goals and areas of agreement. While garnering 100% success rate on this challenge is virtually an impossible goal, many have told me that we have achieved more unity and focus in the past two years than in recent memory. There are still some who “don’t get it,” but their numbers are diminishing, and in the end, they will implode and collapse under their own weight. Hopefully these few will have an awakening and focus their energies appropriately in a positive, rather than destructive, manner.
Increase membership. Our membership went from a nadir in recent times, to at one time, nearly 290 members. While it has fluctuated over the past two years, we have rebuilt a hearty membership.
Enhance our overall political operations-grassroots, communication, fundraising. We put together a very sophisticated grassroots plan over the past two years. We didn’t win every election, and we didn’t engage every Republican, but as a Committee we did more-earlier, better, and on a more ongoing basis with volunteers-than we had done in the years preceding my chairmanship. Hundreds of Loudoun Republicans were integrated into our activities. Our communications were top notch, including a website that was the envy of many, and a regular, positive media presence that enabled us to reach Loudouners with our optimistic and proactive vision. We exceeded our fundraising goal this year by more than $1,000.00, raising approximately $16,000.00 in the run up to the 2009 elections! Included in this balance was an unprecedented contribution to the LCRC from Rep. Frank Wolf!
Elect Republicans! While we fell short in the Presidential and Senate contest in ‘08, we rebounded strongly in 2009! This year in Loudoun, we swept the statewide races by overwhelming margins, outpacing the margins of victory statewide, and we swept all five House of Delegate seats, ensuring that in Virginia’s lower house, Loudoun is now represented by a 100% GOP delegation!
I am very proud, not of what I accomplished, but what WE have accomplished TOGETHER!
Now, looking forward, I am re-assessing my priorities, which are basically threefold:
Continue to work to be a better husband and father and spend more time with my family;
Improve as an employee in my professional life; and
Do the best I can with another volunteer passion-youth baseball.
As I make decisions on what else to take on in the immediate future, I calculate those decisions through these three prisms.
As such, I have determined that running for re-election as Chair of the LCRC does not enhance, but rather detracts from, those three priorities. Thus, I am announcing that I will not stand for re-election as your Chairman.
This is not a decision that I took lightly, nor is it one that I made in haste, as throughout 2009, I had been praying, contemplating, and evaluating whether to run or not. In early 2009, while I was wrestling with my future decision, I pledged that I would not stand for re-election only if we succeeded in the November elections. Though I equivocated many times during my soul searching, with the overwhelming positive results on Election Day, the obvious and correct decision for me and my family emerged.
Keep I mind I didn’t covet this job to begin with. Rather, I took this challenge on out of respect for, and responsibility to, the Party that I have given 20+ years of my life. It is my sincerest hope that our next Chair will be someone who will both continue along the path we have set and improve our Party further, and someone with the passion and desire to serve as your Chair. In the interim, I look forward to continuing to build and further advance our efforts until my term ends.
Together, we have ensured we are well-positioned for continued victories for years to come. We have implemented an institution-wide reform with policies and strategies that, if adhered to, will continue to produce positive results. We have a number of current and rising stars in our midst, who are equally, if not more, capable than I to serve as your next Chair. I hope this Committee elects a leader with the judgment, passion, acumen, skills, integrity, desire, and principles we need to continue to further build upon our successes.
Now is the time for me to focus on life’s other priorities and to step back to allow the next generation of leaders to take ownership of our LCRC and further build upon the foundation that I’m proud to say I was one small part of building. My goal was never to be Chairman in perpetuity, but rather, to maximize my time as Chair to put in place a plan that hopefully would lead to success in the future. With your support, we have done just that. Our mutual efforts were validated on Election Day 2009, offering me the opportunity to end my term as Chairman on a positive note.
What I will miss most as your Chairman is your friendship and support. I don’t want to recognize everyone who was integral to my success as candidate and as Chairman, as there are too many to name, and I know I will leave someone out! However, I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge some.
First, the District Chairs and ExCom team and officers. They are the ones who do most of the work and who deserve a lion’s share of the credit for our successes. Additionally, our local Republican officials-those serving in Congress, in our County, in Richmond, and in our Party’s leadership. Their universal support for our efforts and my Chairmanship was a huge reason our team succeeded.
Mary Gail Swenson (Secretary) and John Millhiser (Parliamentarian), who were indispensable advisors on party process and its nuances, who kept me straight, and who were always there to support me. Jeff Maged (First Vice Chair) and Kai Zhang (Treasurer). Jeff, who was always willing to accept and run with assignments, especially those that weren’t too glamorous! And Kai, for keeping the books and making sure our finances were in order.
David D’Onofrio, who I never met until he volunteered to co-chair my campaign for Chairman and whose media savvy and work on our website tremendously enhanced our Committee’s communication skills and outreach to Loudouners.
David Ramadan and Greg Stone. David, as my District Chair in Dulles, whose activism and generosity represent everything that is great about our country and our Party. And Greg Stone (Potomac District Chair), for his principles, keen insight, activism, strategic ability, and straightforward commitment to getting the job done.
Delegate-elect Tag Greason (boy, that has a nice ring to it!) and Tom Seeman-the two Precinct Operations Chairs during my tenure-for their work and leadership, in what I believe is the most thankless, but most integral, position within the LCRC. Both men handled these jobs capably and with class and dignity. As for Tag, I am proud of what he accomplished as a candidate, and what he will now do as Delegate to improve the lives of Virginians in the 32nd district and throughout our Commonwealth.
Former Chairman Randy Minchew. His friendship and counsel saw me through some of the lowest points of my Chairmanship. He ensured my decisions were sound and imparted invaluable wisdom upon me as a former Chairman himself. I will forever consider him a mentor and a friend.
And finally, Kristen Kalina, who not only walked point on my campaign for Chair, but more often than not, serving as Second Vice Chair, was the “shadow Chairman”; the party’s true Executive Director, who did so much of the day-to-day behind the scenes work of this Committee. Without her, our Committee and I as Chair would not have been able to succeed. Period.
Again, there are many others I could and will thank, but I would be remiss if I didn’t specifically and publicly acknowledge those individuals.
For me, the greatest joy of my Chairmanship was that I met a lot of dedicated individuals, who, at the outset, I was pleased to call colleagues and acquaintances; but, who, in the end, I was proud and honored to call friends!
I will continue to serve as your Chairman until my term ends, and will support this Party as I am able in different capacities. Thank you for your support, friendship, and for standing with me these past two years in accomplishing what many thought was not possible, and righting our Republican ship in Loudoun County.
I will close as I began when I decided to run for Chairman in 2007, with the mantra of my campaign- UNITY, PRINCIPLE, VICTORY!
Thank you and God Bless,
Glen
Glen Caroline, Chairman
Loudoun County Republican Committee
I play for the other team, but this guy is clearly a class act. We all benefit when good people are involved in the political process.
I applaud Glen for his hard work and the success that it brought the party in Loudoun. This is the kind of person that I’ve known Glen to be for some 20 years now, going back to when he was the UMASS Amherst College Republican Chairman. Let’s all thank Glen and allow him time to recharge his batteries. I don’t think this will be the last we’ve seen of him!
I’ll miss Glen in this capacity, but we’re left with a very vivid blueprint of exactly how a county committee needs to run an effective campaign.
Back in 2008, and against a raging tidal wave, we ran a full 6 points better than our peers in some other counties. This went relatively unnoticed because of the overwhelming circumstances, the unmitigated amounts of opposition funding, and the undercurrents of the time.
I always said that if we got the second chance at it without the massive influx of outside cash, boots on the ground that really didn’t even live here, and intimidation at the polling precincts…and if we brought the same level of intensity as we did in 2008, this year was going to be an absolute blowout.
Glen was the primary force in honing that dull stick into a spear point…and he’s quite modest about it, to boot. Many thanks to those who Glen pointed out in his letter. They were indeed there to execute plans and implement directives, because it is indeed too much for one man to do alone.
The one thing I appreciate most is that Glen is fond of the saying that he “stands on the shoulders of those that came before him”. In every meeting I have attended and every time I have heard Glen speak he has been gracious in his praise and it is much appreciated at all levels.
*
I don’t necessarily think it will get ugly in picking Glen’s replacement. It doesn’t have to and we don’t need anyone fanning the flames.
I’m not fanning any flames yet, LL, but I will indeed roast anyone who tries to make a mess of this.
If someone tries to make a mess, let them be drowned out by the chorus of those that are serious.
*
Ha! Having read that I realize it is close to impossible for you, but making a mountain out of a molehill is counterproductive most of the time.
Let us not fret.
We have a fantastic candidate in Candace Strother ready to take on the challenge of LCRC Chair. Candace is a principled Reagan conservative having served in the Reagan administration as well as at Heritage. Her resume is off the charts. We should get her in place before she changes her mind.
Candace has the full support of a wide range of Loudoun Republicans. Glen has offered to Chair Candace’s steering committee and I for one will work hard to get her in place and up to speed.
Glen, thank you for leaving us in a great position moving forward.
Candace , thank you for stepping up to the challenge.
We are in good shape and moving towards future victories.
Glen Caroline is without a doubt the ablest chairman I’ve ever seen. I will really be sad on his last day as chairman. But he has accepted the Chairmanship of a steering committee for Candace Strother, who has announced for chair. Some of you may remember her as precinct chairman, or from the farmer’s market effort every weekend in Ashburn, as the organizing force behind our really successful Sheila Johnson event, as the master of ceremonies at the McDonnell, Bolling, Cuccinelli rally just before the election. She was an integral part of our major fundraising effort this fall. If anyone wants to post her bio, readers will be so impressed by her resume, you won’t believe our good luck in having her in Loudoun County. A majority of the Executive Committee applauded her annoucement last night at our meeting. It’s clear that she will be the way-out-front runner in this campaign, should she even HAVE an opponent. Frankly, no one who reads her resume, which includes service in the Reagan White House and other top level government positions and leadership roles in each, will consider themselves her equal in experience and qualifications to lead the LCRC. For a man of Glen Caroline’s huge character and reputation to throw his weight behind Candace is an endorsement anyone would be proud of.
Let’s all get behind Candace. She will make an exception leader for our committee.
Well, since you two put her name out there already, I guess it’s OK for me to post her bio info:
*
Candace L. Strother
Candace L. Strother is President of Daybreak Wellness Solutions, a leader in improving health and mental health service delivery as well as providing innovative strategies for personal health and wellness.
Candace combines her passion for wellness and healthy living with expertise as a licensed mental health clinician. She has counseled and coached hundreds of individuals in both private and community mental health settings and has seen how diet affects mood, behavior and personal performance. Candace received her health and nutrition certification from Teachers College, Columbia University and is an honors graduate of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in Manhattan, NY. Candace is a professional speaker and workshop presenter on a variety of health and wellness topics.
In addition to her interest in wellness education, Candace also has a wide ranging background in leadership, politics, policy and the media. Candace’s extensive government experience in Washington DC includes the White House, the Executive Office of the President and the Cabinet Offices of Labor and Interior. Her responsibilities ranged from management and budgets to communications and congressional affairs. As Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor at the Occupational Safety and Health Administration during the Reagan Administration, she directed agency strategic planning including regulatory priorities, international activities and training and testified before U.S. House and Senate Appropriations Committees. She also served as Deputy Director of Transition for Labor Secretary William Brock. As the Interior Department Chief of Staff to the Solicitor under President GHW Bush, she directed strategic planning for 385 person law office, chaired the management advisory group and directed external relations with the Congress, media, executive branch and interest groups. She also directed transition and confirmation efforts for the Solicitor. While at the White House Office of Public Liaison, she led issue briefings for individuals and organizations to promote administration policies and prepared issue briefing memoranda for President Reagan and his senior staff.
Candace’s political experience ranges from local organization work to national campaign strategy and issues. In 2009 she led Women for McDonnell efforts in Loudoun County by organizing and emceeing an event with Sheila Johnson. She also emceed a Leesburg rally for Bob McDonnell, Bill Bolling and Ken Cuccinelli. She served as Loudoun Co-Chair of Women for McCain and is an active member of the Loudoun County Republican Committee. Previously she worked with the Republican National Committee, was senior consultant to campaign principals on national and political issues and developed debate briefing strategies for the President and Vice President.
Earlier, Candace worked in the media in Michigan and Washington. Her radio and television experience includes investigative journalism, reporting and anchoring an evening local television news show. She has done media coaching for the Heritage Foundation and coordinated public relations with broadcast media for national and international news programs. She has also provided voice overs for radio commercials aired in the Washington area as well as narrations for corporate industrial films.
Candace has a long history of involvement in civic and community organizations as well as not-for-profits. She has worked with the American Red Cross Board of Governors. She currently advises Project HOPE
Candace is an honors graduate of Hillsdale College with a B.A. in Economics & Business Administration and English and received her M.S.W. from Virginia Commonwealth University. She attended Harvard Business School’s Executive Education Program: Managing Change and Trinity College, Oxford.
I had a call in to Candace to confirm that she and Glen were ready to announce. Nothing like best laid plans with big nosy bootprints all over them.
I guess it’s announced now.
Sorry, revise my last sentence to read “She will make an EXCEPTIONAL leader for our committee.”
That IS quite a resume!
(And Dean, sometimes I just don’t know about you. Nosy bootprints? You had a call in? Good Lord.)
Any word on if Anthony Bedell (FCRC Chairman) is going to run for re-election?
Candace has my support. Let’s all get behind this great candidate and start this election cycle strong and united.
From the website of the LCRC:
Loudoun Chair Glen Caroline is Unit Chair of the Year
“DECEMBER 5, WILLIAMSBURG: Glen Caroline, Chairman of the Loudoun County Republican Committee, has been recognized by Governor-Elect Bob McDonnell and by the Republican Party of Virginia as the #1 Unit Chairman in Virginia at the Republican Party annaul Advance.
The award, presented by McDonnell himself at a luncheon Saturday afternoon in Williamsburg is a prestigous symbol of accomplishment given annually to only one Chairman in the State. “Only the best-of-the-best get to compete for #1 Unit Chairman in the State, its a big award. This is a terrific achievement for a wonderful Chairman,” noted past Chairman Randy Minchew who attended the Advance with Caroline.
Earlier Saturday, Loudoun County was awarded outstanding Unit Committee in the 10th District by Chairman Jim Rich. Candace Strother accepted this award on behalf of the Committee. “Im so proud to have been a part of the successful effort we put forth in Loudoun, our grassroots gameplan was simply first-rate. We turned back the tide from just a year ago, McDonnell did better in Loudoun than he did state-wide and we’re proud of that,” added Strother.”
Me -Glen is a true leader in every sense of the term. He set goals and kept us on course, not allowing any distractions to interfere. He gives clear direction and then lets subordinates carry them out without micromanaging. His is a commanding presence that demands respect.
As a result, our committee has never been more unified, focused, energized, and with a clear sense of direction. The result was made clear in the last election; statewide Bob McDonnell got 58,61% of the vote, in Loudoun, 61.04%. More, every single delegate whose district is wholly or partially in Loudoun won, and did so by commanding margins.
We won a tremendous victory this November, and our mission now is to build on the polices set forth by Chairman Caroline.
As such, I heartily endorse Candace Strother as our next chair. She will do an excellent job, and her election will not get messy because G Stone has it right; she has the support of a wide range of Loudoun Republicans.
Wow, Candace will be a great Chair for the LCRC. Glen will be missed for his laser-precession on the matters at hand, but I am sure Candace and her team will continue this practice. She’s been very impressive every time I have interacted with her and I fully support her as well. It is critical that the LCRC remain united.
A number of us are fully behind Candace and will be working hard as a team to get her elected and then continue to organize and build the Committee on the foundation that Glen has built. Glen has agreed to Chair her steering committee, of which I am also a part, and has agreed to stay on during her tenure as a primary advisor to her.
We are confident that the organization will only get better and continue to thrive. I am proud to be a part of it.
I concur with all the sentiments of the team on Glen and on Candace. Any attempt by those who haven’t even had the decency to show up at a meeting in two years to imply otherwise is noted.
I was going to run an in-depth article on Candace and announce my support for her…but did not want to step on plans that she and her campaign staff probably worked very hard on. I generally wait for an okay from those involved (when it is reasonable to expect a reply) before I run a story. Nothing more-nothing less.
I am proud of the great strides the LCRC and the GOP movement in Loudoun have taken in the past two years. I was honored to be a small part of the team that made it so. I have every confidence that not only will Candace Strother continue these trends as our next LCRC Chair, but she and her team (of which I will be part) will EXPAND and IMPROVE our mutual efforts further!
I am actively supporting Candace Strother for Chair and ask all Loudoun Republicans to do the same.
Glen Caroline, Chair
LCRC
Dean, I haven’t been a member for years (since before you joined) but I still volunteer. I was not implying aything other than amazement that you would characterize members of the Executive Committee posting positive remaks about a candidate as “nosy bootprints”.
Endorse whomever you wish, but it is remarks and attitude like that which A) lead me to view your “endorsements” with a degree of caution, and B) lead me to not regret lapsing from the committee.
I think the LCRC did an outstanding job this last cycle, and I remember when Glen was Dulles Chair before I left, where he was excellent.
I volunteered for Joanne Chase when she stepped in after him, and it was a pleasure to do so.
David Ramadan works his heart out, and has some great precinct captains–TommieLynn at Little River was a treat to work with last month, and an absolute dynamo for the party.
I had the very great pleasure to be a member under Randy Minchew’s Chairmanship, when it was last a great team that I enjoyed being a part of.
Dean, have you thought of devoting some of your great spirit and energy to getting some Republicans elected in Catoctin?
Just a thought.
p.s.–I mean locally, in 2011.
I really really appreciate the gift of Miller and all, but I’m sure whatever Dulles happens to be in two years will do just fine internally! lol
“Dean, have you thought of devoting some of your great spirit and energy to getting some Republicans elected in Catoctin?”
Indeed I have. We need a republican who understands the reservations of the naturally conservative district to support a Republican. Blue Ridge and Catoctin are the two MOST conservative Districts in the County. Why one is represented by an independent, and one is represented by a moderate democrat should give pause to many in the pro-growth camp. These folks will never vote for a developer-endorsed Republican. It simply will not happen.
Need proof that these folks are Conservative on all other issues? One need look no further than the Marriage Amendment results in Loudoun County.
Names get paraded past me weekly for the post. The perfect Candidate exists out here, but weighing his conservative brand against the desires of the conservative conservationalists in these districts will determine the best fit. What we need to prepare for is the re-districting after the 2010 census, and the District boundary results of that, as well.
Mr. Miller got caught up in the politics of the local democrats…and he listened to – and was guided by – a number of folks who did not completely understand the county politics. I highly suspect he is unelectable this term. He has yet to understand that he was the Anti-Snow vote…not the great Stevens Miller vote that he advocates today.
I used to speak with him quite often in the first year, and he was always pleasant and receptive. That report was dampened as he relied more on democrats and liberals filling his head with visions of greatness, and less on common sense non-partisan solutions to county problems.
Several of the new Supervisors have turned their backs on the great program that we set before the voters , and have – SADLY – become partisan hacks for their party. They have become as bad, or worse, than those we hoisted to allow them to actively represent the populance of the County. With such turncoat behavior, it is with imperitive that we now must remove them to install trustworthy Republicans, who unlike this last bunch, will actively represent the citizens – AND NOT THE DEVELOPERS who filled the last bunch’s pockets..
David Ramadan and TommieLynn are indeed hard-working team members. They have my complete support for a job well done.
As I’ve told you before, I was a member of the committee under Randy’s leadership, and have often joked with him that he should have given Mr. Protic his vast supply of baling twine and duct tape. I purposely lapsed my membership during the time I worked for other ends to avoid being a hypocrite that had the audacity to work against some of the candidates while sitting on committee.
I’m a participant in the ExCom meetings, so I’m very aware of the other members of that organization. As such, I do not need YOU to put words in my mouth. I generally speak to these individuals in person, and they know where I fall on the subject matter.
Dean, the only person who chose to insert “nosy bootprints” into your mouth was you.
You really resigned from committee when you were campaigning for the VLF slate?
Interesting.
“Nothing like best laid plans with big nosy bootprints all over them”
I see Greg’s name nowhere on this statement. It does fit rather well with ME blathering all over it before the Committee had a chance to okay it, however.
Your reading comprehension is suffering these days. It appears that you often see what you want to and that these days you don’t even bother questioning yourself or your interpretation. Very well, it only hurts you.
Having been told it’s a go, and having an offer to speak directly to Candace, I’ve endorsed her without reservation.
http://thebulletproofmonk.blogspot.com/2009/12/candace-strother-for-seamless.html
Whatever you say Dean.
Oh, and thanks for the continuing open outstretched hand of welcome to re-up!
Would I need your endorsement for that?
(kidding.)
Can we knock this off and get back to praising Glen Caroline for a great run as Chairman?
I’m pretty sure we all already did!
Are BPM and Barbara married?? (kidding folks…)
LL, I’m laughing in horror, but I would give you odds Dean would NOT find that funny at all.
Barbara,
Must you find a reason to snipe at someone in every single thread here? I knew Dean was referring to himself, (he’s the one who wears boots) as did everyone else, other than you. But you can’t miss an opportunity to be nasty to someone, even if you have to twist what was said to make it fit.
Didn’t your Mama teach you, “if you can’t say something nice…………….”
This is a NICE thread, praising Glen and Candace. It’s not a thread for you to bash Dean, or anyone else.
Now, back to our regularly scheduled program…………….
How ’bout that resume?! Woweeeee
Whatever you say too, lovettsville lady.
I already said it was a nice resume too.
Glen and the committee did a great job, there is no better time to move on than when a significant achievement has been reached, and although I do not know the woman being suggested for a replacement, it looks like a great resume.
So, are you on the welcoming committee with Dean?
(Serious question, with only a bit of kidding.)
I sit on a great number of committees , as well as a fair number of iniatives, and even a few PACs.
I’m asked to endorse top level officials and other endeavors from time to distant time. I have no less that three county iniatives being investigated right now for feasibility in the future.
As a person who desires to be on the committee, feel free to tender your money – and come on in. I have no reason to stop you, nor does a membership rise to the occasion of needing an endorsement from me.
But you did state sometime ago (rather publicly)that I was the reason for your hesitation. That’s for YOU to work out. I’m not actively seeking to keep you away.
What an ego this guy has. He is nowhere near as powerful as he thinks he is. No wonder Glen Caroline didn’t mention him in his farewell.
FOS Monk, The real monk is a hard worker. I’ve seen him involved on many levels of the the committee and this past campaign – and he is representative of many, many LCRC members. If Glen had tried to thank everyone that worked hard on the Committee, or on the last 2 elections cycles, his letter would have read like a laundry list.
LL, not to mention that it would have been 7 pages or longer.
I don’t need his written gratitude here. (Glen is very gracious in his spotlight – and has thanked me personally.)
FOS….I am but a cog in the big wheel, pal. But I pass alot of torque thru me to the rest of the machine, as as a great many others do. As Caroline so elequently puts it…I stand on the strong shoulders of many. I suggest that if you desire to be contacted for YOUR endorsement, you need to get off the couch and get out the door. You’ll need to attend EVERY county function to network, meet with boatloads of folks that you will continually have to motivate to show when you need them, and generally have no time for yourself, because of issue or the other always needing your attention. It’s selfless work, frankly,.. and the last thing I need is criticism from a couch potato with a bad case of envy.
I stand behind men like Caroline, Seeman and Greason. All have out-worked, out-manuevered and out-smarted the competition. I remain in their company and am in awe of them.
FOS, in an after-thought, I’m fond of saying: There are three kinds of folks in the world. The ones WHO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN. The ones WHO WAIT TO SEE WHAT WILL HAPPEN. And the last group which ask “WHAT the HELL HAPPENED?”
I like to keep myself in the company of the first group, while I highly suspect you to be of the latter.
There are three distinct campaigns on issues coming before the county into the 2011 elections. I’ll identify these as the issues I carried the freight on as a excom member of a PAC or steering committee as they come to pass.
Yes Barbara, my name will appear on the list of those who are endorsing Candace Strother.
Thanks for asking!
Glen Caroline was an excellent chairman for us during the past 2 years. I wish he had been able to stay on and serve as chair during a local election year, because that’s when we have our greatest problems, as evidenced by the sniping on this messageboard. One of the things that Glen did effectively was to take the “growth” issue off the table–ensure that it was no longer a litmus test and even really part of the conversation for the LCRCs. That one issue is what has caused so much angst in the past, and, I fear will continue to.
There is a true, legitimate, middle ground on this issue. Getting all LCRC members to that spot will be impossible…but we shouldn’t take the opportunity to drive people out in the process. That means that the BPMs of the world AND the Barbara Munsey’s are going to have to find a way to coexist.
NovaCon, Those of us that came on board after the “growth” issue problems scratch their head that this is still used as a wedge issue by some. It’s tiresome, we have some important issues and battles to fight in the next 2-3 years and my hope is that our new leadership remains forward thinking as Glen did. From what I hear about Candace, that is exactly what we will get.
NovaConservative, I agree that it will no doubt continue to be an issue, whether it actually exists or not.
Stong personalities strike sparks, which can be good, but the whole “MY county” thing very easily becomes “MY committee” as well (yes, on both sides of the aisle).
The problem I have with it, and why I lapsed years ago, was that (IMO) joining a team means you play as one. When I was a member, that’s what I tried to do. If I were to join again, it would be with the knowledge that that’s what I’d have to do.
I lost patience with a very few who, again IMO, appeared to want the benefits of team play but with none of the responsibilities of trying to be team players themselves.
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Lovettsville lady, as I said to you last month when you told me to move back to Fairfax, I don’t much care what anonymous people say on a blog, so it’s up to you who you endorse. That’s why I didn’t ask who or whether you did.
It does appear you are on Dean’s “welcome to the party” committee, at least in “spirit”. lol
Barbara…you are misrepresenting my intent …. again.I do welcome all conservative minded individuals to the Party. I shadow my good friend Glen Caroline in expressing that if we agree on 80% of the issues, we have a common direction.
Hijacking the Party for a single wedge issue will not be tolerated, however. I’ve worked with several of the very folks that used to do that. Once they were made to go thru the proper committees (issues), and learned proper procedure for addressing their request or resolutions, the Committee began to run smoother. We haven’t had a major glitch in Procedure, or a shouting match since the day that Glen took over, when the Committee was standing in two halves (ripe for a photo-op in a local paper complete with a headline that declared we were fractured down the middle)in the Mass Meeting (Something that Caroline VOWED and DELIVERED on when he said we’d never see that type of action in his tenure). Unfortunately, at the October meeting, with a mere week to refine and massage our plans for November 3, yet another one of the old guard forgot how to approach this committee, and there was an unfortunate incident that COULD have thrown our gameplan off, but thankfully we recovered and pulled the great results that we did.
This beats the hell out of the helter skelter,lack of procedure/organization (under the Party Plan),charlie foxtrot behavior,rigged voting, and readily ousting those who did not agree with the shoddy road that some wanted to take.
I submit to you there is a new and far more important issue for all to consider. Our very economic survival. From Washington, to Richmond as well as Leesburg, we are broke. We are mired in budget deficits are far as the eye can see. To be very blunt we don’t have a pot to piss in, at any level Federal, State or County. Everyone knows Washington has us Trillions in debt, Richmond is Billions in the red and locally our budget deficit is currently estimated at 160 million. We have tough decisions, some hardship to endure and a lot of work to do.
This will mean building consensus against those who will advocate for taxing our way back to prosperity.
These other issues pale in comparison.
Now that’s helpful Stoner, maybe we should start to call you Chicken Little.
I concur! I’m just defending myself from one who cannot stand to see me in any position on the committee.
I do indeed agree that most fiscally conservative individuals should be packing into the local committee in massive numbers to offer their support and assistance to getting the committee ready to deal with the opposition – namely the democrats and their operatives who think that the taxpayer’s wallets are a bottomless pit.
Mr. Stone, thank you for bringing us back to earth. You are 100% correct. Scary, isn’t it?
Here comes the fellow who wants us all to dig a little deeper. “it’s for the children” after all, you know.
Enough is enough. BO, we are the highest taxed county in these United States. How much is ever going to be enough. And as Stone has explained NUMEROUS times…it compounds, and it becomes a crushing weigh around the County’s neck for years after this cycle.
When my house finances get tight, where do I turn on the money spigot?
In truth, I have to cut some things in order to afford other things. This is the basic understanding of most of the populance.
I’m pushing hard and campaigning for a fund , much like the one that was created by the State. If you don’t think you paid enough in taxes, you can go to the fund and donate any amount you feel you want to. Mr Rountree has already offered to pay more. Perhaps we could get you and him down there to kick off the contributions to that fund…since you’re being so generous with everybody else’s money.
Dean, as I have told you before, it is immaterial to me whether or what position you hold. I’m not currently a member, remember?
I still have difficulty with the contrasts between some of your statements, as I’ve also told you before.
The “open welcoming hand of teamwork” platitudes fall a little flat next to the volume of attack and self-promotion, but that is little more than a personality clash.
It becomes more than that when individuals forget to check the “I” at the gate of the “team” entrance to work getting done.
I agree with GStone, we’re about to adopt a local Copenhagen, the EPA is about to rule the economy by fiat so Obama can deal in Denmark, and the state financials are in the crapper along with the county.
There are more pressing things to argue about, especially since neither you nor I are likely to change our opinion of one another. For you, I will always be a “developer whore”–btw, did anyone ever take you up on your offer to pay big bucks for any “proof” that I was paid? I remain amazed that lack of proof never stopped you from making the frequent public accusation.
There are larger issues on which the group can be successful both within the committee, and in intersecting with the outside volunteer base.
The recent election proves that in spades.
Oh and Dean? we are NOT the highest taxed county.
Look in New England. They don’t quote in dollars per hundred.
They quote in tens of dollars per thousand to make it look smaller.
There are townships in Mass that have a 17% rate.
BO, Are you a member of the LCRC? That is the audience in this discussion, and I’d suffice it to say we all agree that we (federally, statewide and locally) are broke and up the proverbial creek without a paddle. There are serious discussions and actions to be had on the upcoming LC budget, which members of the LCRC will be heavily involved in. Since all you have are bags of dog shit to throw – why don’t you take your bags of dog shit and go home?
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Or better yet, go to LCDC meeting. They liked rolling in shit in the last election, you might not be too late to join the fun.
Barbara…Oh that we would all focus on the shortages and the dire situations you speak of. That WOULD be a unifying force. But MARK MY WORDS…Some group, somewhere, will come back witha campaign to reinsert the development issue back into the Party….where it never belonged.
I’m in full agreement with you on the need for the prioroties you mention. Absolute.
But I’m ALWAYS ready fro those that will try to bastardize or marginalize the work we have all done as a team.
nd I still want the fund created so people like the loudest critics of the cuts can readily help with the extra from THEIR household budgets. That way, they can finance their own problem, thereby “owning it” and adhering to a budget. It’s alot like putting 20% to 30% down on property. It creates a vested interest in the property..not the sense of entitlement illustrated by those who put nothing down.
I think all of you should stop talking about the people who would infiltrate the LCRC again and try to drag their issues in with them. The LCRC under Glen Caroline stopped that developer problem at the door and it ain’t getting back in, from what I’ve been hearing about Ms. Strother. Stop carrying on about it, all of you. And if BO wants to rant, he has every right, 1st Amendment, remember? But most of all, we need to build upon the successes we have already had and stay focused on re-electing Frank Wolf. He NEVER takes his re-election for granted. The 2011 election is almost two years off. We need to watch them carefully until then and then throw their sorry asses out.
And stop posturing. It’s not a pretty sight.
Sorry LW, If BO wanted to rant on the issue that’s fine, but he basically just taunts. Nobody’s stopping him from posting, but if he has such valuable input – perhaps he should use his wisdom on his OWN party. They need it.
LL, regardless of your vulgar attacks on my efforts, I’ll continue to post my point of view. I’ve been doing so much longer than you have and frankly, I don’t give a damn about your attacks. They are shallow.
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As for your question. I am not a member of the LCRC, nor am I a member of the LCDC. You might find it interesting to know I’ve been invited by both to be a member, and frankly, I’ve come to the conclusion I am enjoying my new found status as an Independent. That way I can truly speak my own mind and not have to cowtow to anyone. Jealous? Probably not since you and Stoner both march on to the rah rah without much original thought.
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Oh and I’ll continue to challeng the status quo, as rhetoric and hyperbole don’t suit me much.
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As we continue, please make sure those who are claiming to fly the flag of the LCRC at public testimony, make sure they speak the truth and not some fabricated facts. It’s not becoming. Nor is it becoming of an organization that wants to be known for integrity. It’s really not very helpful for anyone.
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My advice is to bring your views forward with strong factual backing. Keep the emotion out of it, and the debate will be productive. That goes for both marginalized parties. The power these days is with Independents. Please remind Stoner of this when you see him, his recent pubic testimony was most disingenuous. Especially for a party leader.
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It must gall the crap out of you and Stoner to think you need Independents to win anything. Haha. Start courting darlin. Oh and as you do so, make sure you have outstanding candidates for office. That is what wins elections these days, not party affiliation. You see my point is you need me and folks like me to win anything. My vote for TAG is a perfect example. (I am sure that smells like a big back of dogshit to you, get use to it)
BO, I recall you calling both Tag and Poisson “good men” – so it does not surprise me that you consider yourself a member of the confused independents. Nobody is jealous of you or your ability to spew.
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I’m sure your gold plated invite to both parties is framed in your living room, but your bipartisanship does not exist. Please stop touting yourself as a man in the middle, standing up for justice and all things good. If you gave up your moniker, you might be considered a serious person, but you stand against people, not for anything.
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Lastly, please don’t confuse agreement with cow-towing. I know it’s hard to imagine a united, fiscally conservative movement her is Loudoun, but it’s here. My original post to you on this thread was because you posted a snipe, with no substantive value. That’s pretty typical for you, so save your speeches for your “Politically Snippy Loudoun Independents Meeting” – all 3 of you can get together for a beer, or more likely, a brandy by the fire as you all congratulate each other on your worthiness.
Have a nice day LL. It’s Friday.
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I’ll apologize for the both of us for hijacking this thread on a well deserved accolade to Glen.
Now who’s married, exactly?
LOL Barbara! Right back at me.
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The highjacking started up thread and and I know I contributed. In the spirit of the season I will join BO in apologizing, although I really don’t like someone apologizing for me
I need to clarify my position after having gone to a Dinner last night and speaking with a few people. I embrace unity. I want the momentum that Glen achieved in these past two years to remain in force thru Candace. And I’ll do all I can to keep it moving forward, and I also embrace (too strong?)ANYONE who can help the team achieve that move forward.
Stand in opposition to that, or start throwing bricks under the wheels, and you’ll meet the business end of me.
Dean, if you feel the need to clarify, why add the last sentence?
It clarifies, all right! lol
Merry Christmas, Loudoun Lady! I couldn’t resist, and I’m glad you took it in the spirit in which it was tendered.
“It must gall the crap out of you and Stoner to think you need Independents to win anything. Haha.”
You don’t get it. The independents you refer to are those who left the Republicans because Republicans were perceived as being equally as bad if not worse than democrats when it came to spending. Many are very sensible about money, to the right of most elected officials on spending , taxes and waste. The shift as demonstrated by the huge victories in Virginia and New Jersey are proof that the message of Fiscal Responsibility resonates with Independents. By the way this would be the same message I was trying to impress on the BOS the other night. It does not surprise me you are incapable of connecting the dots.
Stoner, I realize the difficulty you have seeing beyond your blinders, but I am not the only one trying to point at the big picture. Check this out:
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http://loudountimes.com/blogs/loudoun-lowdown/2009-12-09/purity-checklist-GOP-Loudoun-Lowdown-Graham/
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Outstanding commentary!
Nicholas Graham is as confused as you are BO. His big picture is my rear view mirror – see ya Nicholas!
It is ironic to see BO refer to blinders, as he peers contently thru his own set.
Boy have you missed his message. Read it as a warning not reality. If you blow by it, ignore it, discount it, and laugh at it, then you are too wrapped up and unable to see the lesson. I am not really surprised.
It’s the same old, tired warning BO. I heard all this crap when the Republicans came out with their Contract with America in the 90’s. Like most of the arguements from the left, these “warnings” gets dusted off periodically, plumped up, repackaged and delivered by the media. Wow.
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The real problem is that some Republicans buy into this crap, then we lose elections and almost our country because no one is willing to stick to Principles.
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Nothing new here, move along.
Stone and I miss very litle. We readily admit that the independents who just gave us the Governorship, complete with Cuccennelli- I might add, are overwhemingly disaffected right-of-center voters who weren’t in love with the last four years of Bush. Quite frankly, even I grew tired of his efforts to reach bipartisanship with democrats….because anyone who’s ever tried that will tell you – when you extend an olive branch to them, you draw back a bloody stump.
When they saw that B Hussein Obama wasn’t everything he was cracked up to be, they aborted him in droves.
Looking at the generic ballots, you might want to brace for even more publicly performed democrat abortions.
Those ballots suggest that we’re just gettin’ warmed up. Which also suggest that other polls that indicate that just over 40% of the country identifies as conservative are pretty accurate. The rest of those needed for the 61% rollout were actually dems who became very unsettled with the fiscal aspects of their democrat peers.
The lesson here is that more and more of us resent being treated like bottomless ATM accounts with every passing election…local and nationally.
That means that the spending sprees will end, or there will be a massive display by the majority in this country one day that they’ve reached saturation…and they will not take it anymore.
Nicholas is a thoughtful man. However,here IMHO is just wrong. I hope to have the opportunity to discuss this with him over a cup of coffee some day.
The NY example is a bad one in that the candidate in question was way left of the Democrat, like off the map. I am all for differing opinions and folks from different camps being involved in a specific political party, great let’s hash it out. However, if Trotsky or David Duke wanted to join the LCRC I
might suggest they were not only not welcome but unworthy of support for public office. I Know Trotsky is dead , work with me will ya.