Republican HQ For Sale & The Secret Squirrel Society
Posted by Jeff Pruitt - 2/20/08 @ 11:50 am - Filed Under 2008 Local Elections, Featured
The Allen County Democratic Party blog has a post up linking to two stories at Indiana News Center. The first is a story that the Republican party’s financial troubles have caused the building to be put up for sale. The second is a story about the “ Secret Squirrel Society’s” (as one official described them) attempt to try and fill precinct committee spots in order to oust county chairman Steve Shine. Kevin Leininger followed up with a piece in today’s News-Sentinel that is definitely worth reading.
Its headquarters at 135 W. Main St. - partially owned by Chairman Steve Shine - has been put up for sale because the party is three months behind in its rent. And Shine himself may be in for some changes, thanks to a movement by conservatives to reassert control of a party they believe has veered from its traditional conservative roots.
Marvin Hoot, a former East Allen County Schools board member who supported Matt Kelty for mayor against party favorite Nelson Peters in last year’s primary, said efforts to encourage people to seek election as precinct committee representatives is not specifically directed at Shine, the 16-year chairman whose term expires in March 2009. But Hoot said he believes the party is no longer reliably conservative in its approach to social and economic issues.
“We just want to see good people involved at the grassroots. It’s a liberty issue,” said Hoot, who is among candidates seeking election as precinct officials, who elect - or un-elect - the party’s leader.
Readers might remember that Hoot’s wife was the baker of the infamous Kelty-cake which eventually ruined his campaign. Despite the attempts to oust him Shine is taking the high road as he did throughout the Kelty trainwreck.
“I welcome and encourage this. I want as many people as possible to file,” Shine said.
Despite the turmoil, Shine said he wouldn’t have handled last year’s election any differently, as he tried to reconcile Kelty and Peters supporters.
“We tried to create a team, but some people didn’t want to join the team, for whatever reason,” he said.
I’m not going to pretend to understand the internal strife of the Republican party but I think it would be unfair to lay all the blame on him for last election’s disaster. If a grassroots movement within the Republican party wants to take the party over and move it in a different direction then more power to them - that’s people-powered politics at its finest. But they might want to be careful when they pick a new leader because let’s just say that the Kelty team was not the most polished…
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8 Responses to “Republican HQ For Sale & The Secret Squirrel Society”
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I have never understood why Kelty’s supporters have had it out for Steve Shine. In my opinion, Steve went way beyond the norm in his support for Kelty’s campaign given the horrible circumstances.
The Secret Squirrel Society? What a perfect name for the group since they appear to be working hard to gather NUTS for precinct committee positions. Rumor has it, that Marla is being groomed to be the grand poobah of this secret little society.
Marla would be smart to avoid that group. If the other factions work to keep the SSS out then she might stand a chance as chair. Otherwise, she will have headaches and won’t last long. I agree with Sam that Shine went beyond to support Kelty. But the Kelty group are totally blind to truth.
This goes beyond Kelty. I love the interst in the GOP, but let us let the Gop work things out within the GOP. This blog is a welcome site. I hope it continues to be a neutral local.
I’m not sure what you mean by neutral but I’ll be the first to admit that FWP does not strive for neutrality.
It’s true that the 3 contributors have a variety of political philosophies but I want each author’s voice to be their own.
The same applies to those that wish to comment…
http://localsloveamerica.com/brian/bullwinkle.jpg
i want you to support local bullmoose party!
http://blogs.zdnet.com/open-source/images/bullwinkle_magic-hat.jpg
http://static.flickr.com/109/274921881_953252e278.jpg
“hey rocky! watch me pull some candidates out of my hat! again? that trick never works. nothing up my sleeve! presto!”
http://img157.imageshack.us/img157/3550/scan0002mf3.jpg
meanwhile:
ilegal alien moon men:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4c/RockyBullwinkleGidneyCloyd.JPG/230px-RockyBullwinkleGidneyCloyd.JPG
boris badenov and little moonie men plot with natasha fatale to overthrow “fearless leader”
http://us.movies1.yimg.com/movies.yahoo.com/images/hv/photo/movie_pix/universal_pictures/the_adventures_of_rocky_and_bullwinkle/_group_photos/jason_alexander1.jpg
meanwhile, at “whatsamatta U”,
our heros are having a party- baloons, cake, and kool-aid, to celebrate the sale of the “white elephant”- fort waynes newest strip club, donwtown, across from stoners, and the old “cats Meow”
http://www.renodiscontent.com/wp-content/thumb-masonhall.jpg
giggle!
steve shine- 4 more years!
Jeff, I like his idea. Change the name of your blog to Fort Wayne Neutral and instruct everyone to please not offend Democrats, Republicans or Libertarians. We will end up talking about Spring Peepers and you will soon be the next Fort Wayne Observed.
or read x-wire!
http://x-wire.blogspot.com
and offend everybody equally!
if you’re not offended, i’m not doing my job as local sleazy tabloid whore publisher!
If you know any dirt on anybody, tell me, I’ll blab in my blog. if you have nothing nice to say about anybody, “X” marks the spot.
anonymity assured
send tips to dcroach@yahoo.com