Tracy Warner On the Secret Squirrel Society & Angry White Boy
Posted by Jeff Pruitt - 2/25/08 @ 10:27 am - Filed Under 2008 Local Elections
Tracy Warner had a column yesterday discussing the battle between the secret squirrel society and Steve Shine. There wasn’t any new information offered but Warner weighs in on the matter and does so with candor. I want to point out that this is when Warner is at his best - too many times, in my opinion, does he pull punches when describing the political landscape or events here in the city. Lately this has not been the case, and whether or not I agree with his position, reading his column has been more enjoyable because of it. As for the Kelty matter Warner writes:
Clueless about the real reasons their candidate, Matt Kelty, lost last November’s election (his campaign was awful and voters didn’t trust him), some hard-right party members are still lashing out against the party hierarchy in the wake of Tom Henry’s victory over Kelty in the mayoral race last November.
I disagree that Kelty supporters are clueless. I think they understand the reasons he lost but they blame the party leadership for those issues. For example, the infamous loan was brought forward by party insiders after the primary election and afterwards Shine was unable to bring the party together. This undoubtedly hurt Kelty’s fundraising and having “Republicans For Henry” didn’t help his trust with the voters either.
As an aside, Warner also takes a shot at Dan Turkette of FortWayneNews.com:
The list of precinct candidates reads almost like a who’s who of Kelty supporters and other disaffected party members. The Kelty camp includes both Kelty himself and Glenna Jehl, his campaign manager, … , and Dan Turkette, who authors a rather mean-spirited blog formerly called Angry White Boy.
Like I said, whether or not one agrees with him, it’s nice to see Warner throwing some elbows…
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26 Responses to “Tracy Warner On the Secret Squirrel Society & Angry White Boy”
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Jeff, I question Warner’s political acumen if he is calling Kelty’s campaign awful. Obviously, certain aspects of his campaign were awful (such as campaign finance reporting) but his grass roots primary campaign was one for the ages. He outmaneuvered his opponent at every single turn. He made very few mistakes (outside of the campaign finance realm).
Not only was his campaign not awful, it could be used as a roadmap for future candidates in GOP primaries.
Saying Kelty made “very few mistakes” outside of the campaign-finance fiasco is a little like saying the patient is perfectly healthy, except for that large-caliber bullet wound to the cranium.
Nance, funny little line. I am no Matt Kelty supporter, but Kelty defeated a better financed, better known, supported by everybody candidate in the primary. He did it by always being one step ahead of his opponent and knocking on every door in the city. If this is an awful campaign, then Nelson Peters is damn lucky Kelty did not run a good one. As for the general election, yes, I agree, it was swallowed up in the large-calliber bullet wound.
I actually predicted in February the Kelty would be the nominee. Turns out, I was right.
He did run a great primary campaign- not only by knocking a lot of doors, but by setting the pace and tone of the Republican primary.
That said, the rules change after the primary and grass roots efforts simply are not strong enough to win in such a big race.
He should have hired professional campaign managers…..and an accountant!
I guess my primary quibble is with your language — “one for the ages” implies he worked some incredible jujitsu on the process, when he simply did what upsettin’ underdogs have been doing for ages. As you say, he worked harder and, as you don’t say, he got lucky (by having low turnout). Barack Obama he ain’t.
I know you’re a loyal R, but if Peters was the best the party could come up with, maybe it had/has more problems than are already evident. I’m following the attempted GOP HQ palace coup with interest, even from afar. It’s like watching Quebec try to secede from Canada — attempted suicide in slo-mo.
Yes, I will admit. He had the advantage of a political perfect storm. Low turnout, upset electorate etc etc. “One for the ages” was a little much. I guess maybe I was defining “ages” as the 21st century! I havent been called a “loyal R” on a blog in a long time around these parts.
A campaign is more than knocking on doors. He did run a decent primary campaign and did stay one step ahead of the Peters camp but that’s not because they were “great campaigners” - it was because the Peters camp was even more inept than Kelty’s.
I don’t want to rehash the myriad of screw ups by the Kelty campaign but they are well-documented over at Fort Wayne Left for those that are interested. Time and again Kelty did things to sabotage his own campaign, and ultimately he has nobody to blame but himself. But surrounding yourself with sycophants isn’t the best strategy and that is where he made his biggest mistake in my opinion.
I think it’s impossible to say he made very few mistakes outside of the campaign finance reporting because once that story broke that engulfed the campaign completely…
just goes to show: liberal republicans always get beat in the primary by the most far right fringe the gop can find. then the voters always vote for the sane by comparison centrist liberal democrat.
we are fighting a war overseas against radical religious fundamentalist extremists, so we dont have to fight them over here, they keep telling us. well, as POGO, the famous walt kelly cartoon character observed :” we have met the enemy, and they is us”, meaning in Alen county, and much of Indiana, we are stuck with either the pro-lifer cake& kool-aid cultists- social conservatives, but fiscal conservative; vs. fiscal liberal, social moderate by comparison GOP vs social liberal Democrats who wont take away our freedoms, and try to force us into theocratic rule. unfortunately, we always seem to get stuck with borrow and spend, rotax and spend, or just plain spend spend spend govt officials, and their cronies; so we end up with no money, and lots of freedom, or a little more money, but no freedoms.
not giggling…
Jeff, I am wondering why you think it is good Tracy Warner is throwing elbows?
I agree with Jeff on this one. Editorializing without teeth (and elbows) is, well, Andy Rooney….and I’d rather watch cheese age than listen to that kind of journalistic phlegm-gurgling.
It is short-sighted and a mistake to chalk up renewed interest in GOP precinct committeeperson seats to a simple desire to replace the chairman. Certainly there are those for whom this is an incentive. Yet, others among us see an opportunity to help reform our ailing party.
I have no personal vendetta with Mr. Shine. Leadership of either party is a thankless position requiring long hours with little appreciation. Mr. Shine and Mr. Knuth (and now Mr. Bynum) faced the unenviable task of uniting sometimes divisive factions of their respective parties - often a no-win situation.
I’m greatly encouraged by the renewed public interest in the workings of city government. For too long many in our city and self-described Republicans have allowed others to carry water for us. The time has come for impassioned citizens to put their time and talent where their mouths are. After all, this is OUR city. If we don’t care, who will?
Jennifer,
Andrew hit the nail on the head. I don’t want to read fluff on the Ed-page. What I want is no-holds-barred commentary. That’s what the best papers provide, and whether you like the positions or not, you’ll still read it. It’s the same concept that makes blogging so interesting - people want substance and there’s no substance like an occasional stick in the eye…
Sam,
Loyal R is a new one for you. Can you publicly be against the Republican candidate for mayor and still be considered a “loyal R”? Can you be a RINO and a loyal R? I’m confused…
The shape of the Republican Party is perhaps best memorialized by the fact that people not only think of Sam as a Republican, but as a loyal Republican.
I understand your point. Poking sticks in eyes is a good way to get readership, sure thing. He would have had more credibility if he did anything besides name calling.
“He would have had more credibility if he did anything besides name calling.”
Okay, can we now officially declare irony dead?
Yep. It’s dead, Jim.
Jim, I hesitate to respond but I cant help myself. Does Loyal R (in your mind) mean that you put somebody at the helm of the 2nd largest city in Indiana (which I love and call home) that is not up to the job and is under indictment? Is that loyal or just plain stupid Jim? I know it is apparently hard for you to comprehend, but my city and my childrens’ futures mean more to me than a simple “R” or “D”. So, yes, I am a Republican and proud to call myself one and your opinion of what I am means very little to me. Good day.
PS. Jim. As anybody noticed a common theme with this so-called “Kelty” faction of the local republican party? … They cant seem to win many elections. At the end of the day, the more moderate (yet still conservative) Republicans have carried the day. Look at City Council, County Council, Commissioners, and our last Republican Mayor. So, if the Kelty faction wrestles away control of the Republican party, look forward to a long run of election losses.
Sam,
You wrote: “At the end of the day, the more moderate (yet still conservative) Republicans have carried the day. Look at City Council, County Council, Commissioners, and our last Republican Mayor. So, if the Kelty faction wrestles away control of the Republican party, look forward to a long run of election losses.”
You are 100% correct. Look at the Democrats that have won as well- more moderate than extreme liberal.
In Fort Wayne, we like our politicians to be “middle of the road”.
Don’t overlook the obvious parallel, either: The delamination of the Allen County GOP is pretty much a miniature version of what’s happening at the national level. The big tent just got too big. It happens.
Nance,
I had to pull out my webster and check on what the heck delamination meant, but dont get too cocky, the White House isnt in dem control yet.
Sammy T,
I too, hesitate to respond to anything you say, but I can’t help myself. It sounds to me that those responding to your comments, are getting to you. Yes, I worked for Matt Kelty’s Campaign, and happy i did, what a fine young man and a great family. Hey, you and your friends(Little)Stevie Wonder, Cathy(I’ll take a sign anytime)Hawks, too name afew, got was you wanted, now be happy for the next 4 years.I once worked out in the cold and rain for a young men running for a spot on city counil, boy,did I waste my time on this up an coming ” loyal R “. Shame on you Sammy T.
‘
Delamination: My personal salute to William F. Buckley.
And I am not being cocky, believe me. I can’t direct you to the source material, but this blog post by James Wolcott captures the split in an anecdote about none other than WFB Jr. on a National Review cruise.
And if you substitute “taxes and kowtowing to right-to-lifers” for the war, it’s not hard to draw parallels between conservatism then and now and the Allen County GOP then and now.
Nope Bull, even your comment is not “getting” to me. Too many much more important things in life than worrying about what you might feel or say about me, so shame on you for shaming me for simply standing up for what I believe was right. And, if you are going to “shame” me use your name and do it right or send me an email and do it right.
Sammy T.
Easy there Sammy,grab a snack or something, I didn’t know there was a right or wrong way to do this posting thing. I don’t have liberty or the time to sit at the computer all day.I work three jobs,got to pay the bills,taxes,and get Ft.Crime BallPark builded. You must have a very understanding boss or things are slow at the office. I notice you only post from 8:00 to 4:00!By the way,the name is Dan Mauricio, nice posting with you!