On the positive side: I hope this consultant will wake up this “non-grassroots” group on how to help but not control the building of a true conservative GOP base.

On the concern side: I would reiterate the issues/ concerns which I set forth in “Arkansas GOP Chair Down to Two Candidates – Issues?” http://arkansasgopwing.blogspot.com/2008/12/arkansas-gop-chair-down-to-two.html

A few points from the post:
“Of critical importance: will the RPA awake or will it continue business as usual with the party circling the wagons and taking almost no conservative public stands on issues? Will the RPA slumber until the next election cycle only to awake to ceremoniously endorse those who have won their primary races? In the last regular legislative session, the RPA leadership did not take active stands on critical issues. Fortunately, action was taken by faithful committed Republicans who worked on their own and issued documented position papers to members of the legislature and who worked with other nonpolitical agencies to stop liberal legislation.

“Another major concern is growth! The RPA does not need to sacrifice one of the wings of the conservatism to grow the party. What we need is a chair who can clearly and repeatedly articulate the conservative Republican position while standing on issues in the middle of liberal Little Rock. It definitely should not matter if the person knows and is friends with democrats. This is not a friendship position but a leadership position representing republicans and the republican message.

The RPA chair and executive staff have not been active in working with the conservative new media (bloggers and others) in Arkansas. The RPA has not worked to team up with new media conservative activists who are active in Web 2.0 social networking via FaceBook, Twitter, LinkedIn, MySpace, Ning groups, Google groups and more. The result is an expanding conservative network outside of the RPA. This same situation is being debated as a central issue in the selection concern of the next Republican National Committee Chair.

“Because of a lack of leadership and motivation by the RPA chair and executive offices, a majority of county chairmen either do not have an effective understanding of how to use email to communicate to advance Republican activism. Few chairs have an understanding of the power of the Internet and social networking to reach into the heartland and homes within their counties and districts. The result is the RPA continues in a passive mode in majority of Arkansas often with a defeatist mentality. Except for a couple staff members, the RPA does not communicate via new media and the Internet. Very few counties have active Republican websites. . . .

“Most active party members want to see a revitalized party but again, leadership does not occur in a vacuum. We need a new chair that can competently communicate Republican principles, take clear and concise competent stands on issues, and can work with the new media talent in Arkansas to advance the Arkansas Republican Party. If this does not occur, the RPA is doomed to continue as the minority party in Arkansas.”

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I hope this meeting signals a beginning or an attempt to gather info and not another inept attempt to spend lots of funds, ignore the grassroots and the new media, and fail to build to build a “solid” base. Also, while we need to work on occasion with RINOs, we do not need to continue to support RINOs that rip the Republican big tent to dash out and climb in bed with Democrats and sacrifice the GOP in Arkansas to support their personal ambitions. This only results in conservative staying outside of the GOP.

I really hope Jim Holt was there. He’s funny. I miss him.

-We couldn’t beg anyone to run for that position so support for him was by default.

“I sure hope she didn’t learn about it through a blog first. Ouch, that would hurt.”

-That is how I found out, from this blog, and yes…..it does hurt….a little. By the way parking is terrible at Rick’s house. I am not sure how that many people went anyway.

It does sounds as if it was more Central Arkansas-heavy, but again, it was a private gathering, not a party function.

If someone in the know wanted to add to the names on the list in a subsequent comment, well, go right ahead….
D.

What Republicans were there representing NWA?

Seems a bit interesting to have a gathering of leaders and insiders with no one representing the partys geographical base.

(Carrol County doesnt exactly count.)

Who was there on behalf of the triumvirate of NWA?

If memory serves me correctly this will be his second
year to serve.

Edifice Complex anyone?

.