National Chairperson Jessie Duff, based out of Washington, DC, is active in supporting other Republicans in this year's  crucial midterm elections.  Here she is with Tony Snow, White House Press Secretary, at a November 1st event for Lt. Gov. Michael Steele, Republican candidate for Senator from Maryland. (website)  The 2008 election cycle begins when the polls close on Election Day.

November 4, 2006:

Condi "in the trenches" as "E-day" approaches.

Secretary of State Rice remains in the political "front lines" as the midterm elections approach.  She has appeared on a myriad of talk shows and given interviews across the country in support of Republican candidates. (Detroit WDIV, Des Moines KCCI)

Unfortunately, there are some conservatives, who just like John Kerry, insist upon making stupid statements on the eve of an election as they pursue some political pipe dream.  John Kerry wanted, and wants, to be President.  Richard Perle, a Pentagon policy advisor early in the Bush administration, wanted, and wants, to be a major beltway "player," like Secretary of State or Chairperson of the NSC.  (Hmmm.. What prominent Republican has recently held both of these posts?  Could "Dickie" be a little jealous?)  Perle, blinded by his personal ambition, gave a quotation to Vanity Fair that appeared in an article by AP reporter Barry Schweid:

"I probably would have said, 'Let's consider other strategies for dealing with the thing that concerns us most, which is Saddam supplying weapons of mass destruction to terrorists.'"

Richard Perle, a man who used to command our respect, has reduced himself to nothing more than a "Monday Morning Quarterback" and dupe for the Democrats.  (AP-WVEC, AP-WFRV)

November 6, 2006:

Painful lessons.

Last week we received another lesson in what not to do as a grassroots organization.

After having difficulties with several mailing services to deliver our bumper stickers and other items, we decided that we'd "do it ourselves" because after all, "How tough can it be to stuff an envelope and put a stamp on it, right?"

Well, we have found out that it is not as simple as it looks. And not every postal clerk is aware of all of the various arcane regulations. For example, many envelopes large enough to send a full size bumper sticker require an additional 12 cents postage, but some that are just a quarter inch smaller do not. Packages, or envelopes over 16 ounces, cannot be mailed from outside mailboxes for security reasons. In some post offices, "outside" can mean mailboxes that are physically in the post office building but do not require interaction with a postal clerk to deposit your mailed items. Magnetic items, like magnetic bumper stickers, can wreak havoc with some security and mail handling equipment if sent in a plain envelope and not marked for special handling.

Needless to say, each of these issues has caused tremendous headaches for some very well-meaning people. After a long talk with postal employees, we have re-sent many of the items that were returned to us. Unfortunately, some items, especially the magnetic ones we've been told, could have been discarded after being damaged beyond recognition when they jammed postal handling machines or triggered security equipment. We think that we finally have figured out how to mail our Condi gear items through the US Postal Service. Thank you for your patience, yet again.

November 12, 2006:

A weekend for reflection.

Many of us are still “shell shocked” from election 2006, especially those of us who, in addition to being Condistas, were also working for any number of candidates across the nation.  Further, this weekend, Veterans Day is a constant reminder that there is a very high price to be paid for the political decisions we make as a nation every time we go to the voting booth – especially when there is a war going on.   Something is clearly wrong when we can be defeated, albeit with a small margin, by a party whose only consistent message was that the nation needed to be lead in a “new direction.”

OK, so where do we go from here?  We have learned a lot since beginning this endeavor some two years ago.  There is no point in anyone repeating our expensive and painful lessons.  So, here’s a brief summary:

1. Condi is still very popular.  The most recent polls show that she has a remarkable level of support.  She is still one of the “triad” of popular Republicans: Giuliani, Rice and McCain for the 2008 nomination. (Of course, this is what is reported by the mainstream media, although we can count the number “grassroots” McCain supporters that we’ve met in the past two years at a variety of conservative and Republican events on our fingers.)
2. Grassroots organizing is very much like “herding cats.”  Cows can be driven to an objective, but cats have to be “attracted.”  Unfortunately, the only “catnip” that we have discovered is “money” and what it can buy.  It takes money to buy the stamps, envelopes, rent the offices (no matter how modest), buy toner for the fax machines, make the copies at Kinkos, print the brochures, sponsor the informational tables, buy the balloons, distribute the bumper stickers, etc.  You can have 1 million grassroots supporters and volunteers, but if you don’t have the financial ability to record who these individuals are, catalog their interests, and organize them in some fashion; they can be more of a liability than an asset.  Therefore, fundraising is paramount.  There is no way to harness the enthusiasm of the hundreds, if not thousands, of e-mail messages we receive saying: “I think Condi is great.  I am willing to do whatever I can to help, but I don’t have any money.”  (We receive so many of these messages that there is no way that we can respond to all of them!)  With the exception of those that can write, take the photographs, make and edit videos; we do not have the capacity to organize and manage these individuals – until we have had some success at fundraising.  Meanwhile, we run the risk of alienating these individuals for the future.
3. Political “professionals, strategists, insiders,” and most of all anybody that has an office on “K” Street – or anyone that claims any connection to these people – are largely opportunists that want to use grassroots organizations as a “stepping stone” to bigger and better things.  Avoid these folks at all costs, until we are able to command their undivided attention and devotion – after all, they are very good at what they do.  How do we command their attention and devotion?  Money, of course!  Hey, it costs a lot to live and operate “inside the beltway.”
4. Individuals that have “fallen out of grace” with the Party, the media, or have baggage from the past, will try to use grassroots organizations who are unfamiliar with their history to advance the cause of their own rehabilitation.  Run away from these individuals as fast as possible.
5. The mainstream media, with a few notable exceptions, has a decidedly leftward tilt.  Any exposure given to Republicans can, all too often, become a “two edged sword.”   When speaking with the press, it is NEVER “off the record.”  This is the main reason that grassroots organizations have to be exceedingly cautious about who speaks for them.  Prominent individuals in the organization will be investigated by better funded organizations from across the political spectrum and set up for an embarrassing “fall” if the person that they are supporting becomes perceived as threat from within the Party, or from outside the Party.
6. The ideal person to assume a leadership role within a grassroots organization is an individual that has no conflicting interests (Their brother-in-law doesn’t run a printing company, advertising agency, etc.), is creative, has a VERY thick skin when subjected to criticism (hopefully constructive) from others within the organization, is a “true believer” upon arrival (Somebody that has to be  “convinced” or “converted,” or sets conditions for their participation – “If we don’t have $250,000 in the bank by January 1^st, I am ‘outta here’.” is certain to become a disappointment.)  Look for individuals that are self-starters, do not require excessive “hand-holding, ” do not have an over-riding issue that would trump their support, and can, at least, voice understanding that “message discipline” is important and not equivalent to “selling out.”  Unfortunately, most grassroots “political activists” do not fit this profile.  Many would rather maintain ideological “purity,” achieve nothing, and then continuously bitch until the next election.  One of the reasons that Democrats have control of both houses of Congress now is that they were able to include “moderate” candidates; who, although they were not ideologically in “lock step” with their liberal Democratic “elders,” will still vote for Pelosi, Rangel, Conyers, Reid, etc. as their party’s leaders.

So, where does this leave us?   We have to make “something” happen between now and June, 2007, if we have any hope of continuing on until the 2008 election.  Now, more than ever, we Condistas believe that Secretary of State Rice is the only hope for progress and security in 2008.  We will have to use every resource at our disposal to see that Dr. Rice’s record of excellence, and not partisan political expediency, is the choice that Republicans offer the nation.  As for us individually, we must either get involved in the fundraising efforts necessary to make the vision of Condi 2008 a reality, organize the thousands of individuals that have already responded, or at a minimum devote the time to research, photograph,  and write about the many issues that will be crucial in 2008.  Are you up for the challenge?

November 7, 2006:

Election Day!

Today's election will have a big impact on the presidential race in 2008. We hope all of you did your part and voted -- or will vote if the polls haven't closed where you live. Some of you are volunteering as poll watchers, driving friends to the polls, etc. Our thanks goes out to you. But after the last precinct closes in your area and election night begins, 2008 begins as well. If you're able, visit some of your state and local election night parties. (Hopefully, they will all be victory parties!) These will great places to meet other Condistas.
To kick off 2008, yesterday we sent out over 2600 bumper stickers and re-ordered the lapel pins that have been out of stock for several months. (With any luck, we have finally mastered the byzantine regulations of the US Postal Service and they should begin arriving today!) Thanks to the donors that made this possible after being hit up for money from every Republican campaign imaginable.