With all that has gone on concerning the election, I've decided to take some time off the blog and focus on my new job and other activities. Frankly, I'm tired. I'm tired of hearing about how moderate Republicans are a dying a breed if not dead. I'm tired of being told inadvertently that all the work that I'm doing to help the party is all for naught.
I think it is best for me to stay away for a while. I feel that I can make a difference and work for change from within, but I need to steer clear for a while from voices that tell me to just give up.
I'm not shutting down the blog, more than likely, check back at the beginning of the new year. But for now I say goodbye and take care.
Posted by Dennis at November 7, 2004 04:37 PMAs a blogger, what are your thoughts on Podcasting?Mark
Posted by: Mark - The Podcasting Guy at December 1, 2004 05:16 PMBravo... I only found this blog after the election-- I worked as a moderate Republican in a Democrat world on the Kerry campaign, and in my disillusionment after the election scanned the internet for like-minded folks. It seems that now that the emotion of the election is over, the time is ripe for moderates to build their base. A lot of energy was harnessed in opposition to Bush, and it's still available to promote moderate ideas, preparing for elections to come. After reading this and other moderate sites, I again have hope that I can find a home in a moderate Republican party. Please keep up the good work.
Posted by: Jeff at November 27, 2004 08:48 PMI know why I keep coming back. Thanks!
Posted by: HyperListBuilder at November 27, 2004 12:55 PMInteresting... that's good info to know.
Posted by: Baxter at November 24, 2004 04:57 PMHe basically said there were no real Republicans reading this blog. Ouch. Another blow. ... It was hard to lose someone who seemed to have given up.
Jeez Louise Dennis - you make me sound harsh and that was not my frame of mind nor my intent. My response to your email was not about you - it was about me.
You may not yet be tired but I am. I'm tired
Feel free anyone to add the list.
And all the while fundamental changes are being made to
So I'm taking a time out Dennis - not from you.
Bob - like I told Dennis - when you restart your campaign, shoot me and email and my wife and I will send some cash your way again.
P.S. Dennis, in case you missed Rodrick's comment, there's a problem with the comment boxes upstream.
Posted by: dorsano at November 8, 2004 08:46 PMDennis:
Just a quick note that I have enjoyed this blog and value your tone and civility. I have looked at some other blog sites recently and found that they have a radical right perspective. I thought that once the election was over, calmer voices would be heard from both sides.
Although I am registered Independent, my mind is close to the Republican way of thought and I typically vote Republican. I was also honored to attend the 1976 Republican convention in Kansas City and meeting Edward Brooke, Nelson Rockefeller and other moderate Republicans. I remember the Reagan supporters who mounted a campaign to remove Ford from the ticket (I grew up in Grand Rapids, MI so I knew him) and thinking ‘these characters are nuts’, particularly the Texas delegation.
As to moderate Republicans being a lost cause, I am privileged to live in Maryland with a Republican Governor and the state's first Black Lt. Governor. They would not have won if they were viewed as right-wing. Maryland has not had a Republican Governor since Spiro Agnew. Maryland Republicans know about lost causes and how to take on the entrenched party and win. Moderate Republicans have been around and are here to stay.
BTW, Kerry should have learned a few lessons from the Maryland Governor’s race two years ago. The downfall of the Democratic candidate (Lt. Gov. Kathleen Townsend Kennedy) was a poorly organized campaign, letting the opponent paint you as a do-nothing politician and ignoring your base.
Anyway, keep up the great work. You are appreciated.
Posted by: EG at November 8, 2004 01:09 PMI'm very glad you changed your mind. You are doing a great job. And I'm glad my comments helped.
By the way, I am comenting on this thread again because there seems to be a problem with the commenting software on the top three threads: No comment input window to be found.
Posted by: Rodrick d'Arkon at November 8, 2004 11:33 AMIt seems to me part of the reason all this work (blogging) feels so useless is that no one is taking the moderate message to the mainstream press. Why don't we organize something? I've written three op-ed pieces I'm going to start taking to various newspapers where I already have relationships (I'm in the PR business).
Who else would like to get in on this? Send me an e-mail and let me know. My e-mail is: mbawden@brandcentralstation.com
- Mike.
Posted by: Mike Bawden at November 8, 2004 11:05 AM"It's nice to know when all of your hard work is being trashed as hopeless and worthless by some joker who probably hasn't lifted a finger to bring change other than share his two cents on some website"
I understand how frustrating it is to get trashed but consider this. If there's anybody you SHOULDN'T let get you down, it's someone who "hasn't lifted a finger to bring change other than share his two cents on some website"
Dennis,
I understand. It takes a lot of energy to maintain the blog on a daily basis. You have done an outstanding job. I think Marks offer is commendable. Hopefully, you will let him run the blog for a while. Maybe some of the other followers will step up and offer to help out as well.
Take Care
Dennis,
We'll miss ya. But in the meantime I'd be happy to keep up with daily (or every other day) posting to the site in order to keep the discussion going and keep things fresh. Hope that's okay! And I hope all the regulars on this board will keep coming.
- Mark
Posted by: Mark Kittel at November 8, 2004 09:00 AMI will miss the discussion here, and hope your recovery from "burn out" is quick.
Posted by: William Bollinger at November 8, 2004 08:45 AMOh phooey! This is no time to quit. Now is a time for Moderate Republicans to make great gains -- you just don't see the opportunity.
Moderate Republicans like Arlan Specter (Chair of the Judiciary Committee) are the best hope of fending off the possible excesses of the Christian Right, and in the coming years folks like Specter will be leaders who rally even Democrats to their support. It should be clear to many Democrats that you can't beat the Xtian Rt. by encourageing folks to vote Democrat. The only viable strategy to role back the Xtian Right is to organize Democrats and Independents to switch registration, en mass, to Republican, and support the moderate republican leaders like Specter in 2006 and elect a moderate Republican in the 2008 primaries and draft a new more tolerant Republican Party platform.
Win from within.
Now is the time to reach out to Democrats and Independents and show them how to de-fang the Christian Right by JOINING the Republican Party, and supporting a moderate Republican agenda.
Trying to get anyone to vote Democrat is just stupid and self-defeating. If you want to advance your agenda, get Democrats and Independents to register and vote (moderate) Republican, and understand that we have a golden opportunity to succeed.
I urge you to start that campaign now, and celebrate every registration switcher as a clear victory.
Posted by: Rodrick d'Arkon at November 8, 2004 12:52 AMAnd i JUST started following this blog! Oh well, see ya next year!
Posted by: djm at November 7, 2004 07:44 PM