Thursday, June 4, 2015

County Republican Fiasco

Last night, the County Republican Convention was nothing more than an embarrassment.

First, 10 Legislative seats were left blank!!  TEN!!  To win a majority, Republicans have to almost run the table.   But, it gets worse ...

In 2 of the legislative districts, there were 2 candidates nominated.  However, no vote was permitted.  No endorsement.  They just said there will be a primary.  No vote.  Commiteemen got no vote or say.

But, it gets worse ...

Holley Carnright got nominated.  However, the County Chairman, for reasons I am about to discuss, adjourned the meeting so quickly, that Holley never got to give his acceptance speech.

But, it gets worse ...

Prior to the meeting, 2 candidates, Don Wise and Terry Bernardo, announced that they wished to run against Mike Hein for County Executive.  Both had a nomination and a second ready.  However, County Republican Chairman, Roger Rascoe, did not want anyone nominated against Mike Hein.  So, he ran up, and asked for a motion to adjourn.  A person yelled out their intention to nominate a candidate, but was ignored.  An adjournment was moved and seconded.

Basically, the Republican Chairman refused the committee members right to make nominations from the floor.  Though he denies any deal being made to not run a candidate against Hein, Rascoe said the party was still looking for a candidate.

Both Bernardo and Wise each said they spoke with Rascoe prior to the meeting, but he kept telling them they should not run.  Makes one wonder if they really want a candidate.

But, it gets worse ...

A reporter from the Freeman asked County Chair Rascoe why he would not allow Bernardo to be nominated.  Here is what the Freeman reported:

"He said although he had heard Terry Bernardo was interested in running, he didn’t approach her because her husband, who chairs the county Independence Party, told Rascoe he didn’t want her to run.
'Out of respect to him, I didn’t ask her,' Rascoe said."

Let me see if I understand this statement.  Chairman Rascoe would not allow a married woman to be nominated because her husband did not give his permission?  Really??  I wonder what married women think about that?  Can married men run if their wives are against it?
The Democrats will have a field day with that comment.  They will likely demand that every Republican candidate respond to the comment.  They will use the comment to support their foolish argument that Republicans are anti-woman.
This statement needs to be retracted immediately and Rascoe must apologize for it.  
In short, it is hard to imagine how the convention could have gone any worse.  Ten vacancies, no votes on anything, Incumbent County DA not allowed to give acceptance speech, no nominations from the floor, committeemen offered no real involvement, and to top it off a comment that Democrats will hang on the Republicans' necks.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

I thought Hoffay's Democratic Committee Fiasco was the best entertainment in town...but it looks like the Republicans may just rival them, after all!

Anonymous said...

As a female republican....Seriously??? What is this...back to Victorian times??


Anonymous said...

Holly Carnwright does not have an opponent because he made a deal he woul run unopposed and so would Mike Hein. Oppose Mike Hein with aBernardo and the Democrates will be out in droves. A lot of Republicans Legislators don't want that to happen , they could lose.

Richard T. Cahill Jr. said...

9:11,

Bernardo will submit petitions and on line anyway.

Besides, there is a principle involved. Committeemen have the right to make nominations from the floor.

Also, republican legislators now will be asked about Rascoe's comment.

Just bad all the way around.

Anonymous said...

Does anyone remember the days and rivalry of GOP power brokers Al Spada and Pete Savago? That's when the Republicans had total control of county government.

Cory Newton said...

If the Ulster County Republicans had any basic competency and proficiency whatsoever, they would recruit candidates who would hit Hein on his wildly inaccurate statements surrounding the 1% Sales Tax episode.

https://www.osc.state.ny.us/localgov/pubs/research/snapshot/localsalestaxcollections0214.pdf

https://www.osc.state.ny.us/localgov/pubs/research/snapshot/localsalestaxcollections0714.pdf

https://www.osc.state.ny.us/localgov/pubs/research/snapshot/localsalestaxcollections0215.pdf

Hein's assumption that economic activity would remain constant for the sake of quantifying a 1% reduction in the sales tax rate in a year-over-year period was a textbook case of Economic Malpractice.

He attempted to use ceteris paribus as the foundation for passing off a correlation (the 1% sales tax rate decrease corresponded with a decrease in sales tax revenue)as causation.

The Comptroller's reports clearly show decreased economic activity resulted in decreased sales tax receipts over the time period in question. (so called Cahill Crisis)

Given the phenomenon of price and cost elasticity, for all we know more sales tax revenue was generated at the 3% rate than would have been at the 4% rate.

Anonymous said...

I'm just curious if this blogger will be equally critical of the county conservative party if they fail to run conservative candidates in all legislative districts.

Richard T. Cahill Jr. said...

10:53,

The conservatives will have more candidates than the Republicans. Also, we will not require a married woman get her husband's permission to run for office.

Anonymous said...

Snarky remark but I love it!! Good comeback Rich!!

Anonymous said...

This is horrible. I am a registered Conservative....please advise on how to get involved in the county party. THanks. And thanks for bringing this mess to light.

Richard T. Cahill Jr. said...

7:33,

The County Conservative Convention is this Friday at 7pm at Esopus Town Hall.

Anonymous said...

10:53 - If the Conservatives do not have candidates for all positions, it will be because there aren't enough Conservatives who want to run. They will not cut short the convention because of some sleazy backroom deal...