Chairman Puharic has taken to calling the $1000 background checks that candidates must voluntarily submit to "vulnerability assessments."
Instead of publicly poking into candidates' dirty laundry, Puharic should look in the mirror. The divisive course he is leading the party down will surely lead to the Monmouth GOP's demise.
Here we have a man who as a candidate and Municipal Chair in Aberdeen never won a general election. By his own admission, he was punitive in the name of unity. Yet he left the Aberdeen GOP defeated and its county committee seats largely vacant. A defeated, smaller, yet united party.
He sailed to victory in the Chairman's race by vowing to create party unity to a county committee that was tired of fighting, and by backing off his "the conventions are a cancer" rhetoric.
With a ticket he inherited, he finally won in a general election. 2 out of 3 seats. Rather than celebrate victory, he set out once again to punish someone who had the audacity to disagree with him and win in the process. Anna Little.
Determined not to go through another campaign with an independent thinking and powerful woman, Puharic set out to destroy Little by creating a scandal where there wasn't one. That failed, as there was no truth to the rumors he and his minions were spreading.
He dusted off his "conventions are a cancer" rhetoric and created a screening committee stacked with the supporters of the losing candidates from the previous conventions. He announced a structure for the screening that would only apply to Anna Little, but then declared that all candidates must screen when he realised he couldn't sell singling out Little, especially after she just won a tough general election.
Then, in a gaffe that worked with precision he told the candidates they would have to pay between $2000 and $2500 for their background checks. He gave the press and the Democrats an issue that they will hammer him, and his ticket, with throughout the upcoming campaign.
And come November, the Monmouth GOP will have been molded in Puharic's image. Just like Aberdeen, it will be united, smaller and defeated.
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Why is it that none of the Freeholder challengers are women? Women swept the county races last November. Women are now the majority of the Freeholder board.
Depending on how things break in the 11th District, 5 of 9 Monmouth GOP legislative candidates could be women.
Monmouth County voters seem to like and trust women. Why is it that none of the Freeholder challengers are women?
It seems to me that we have another vulnerability in the making.
Instead of publicly poking into candidates' dirty laundry, Puharic should look in the mirror. The divisive course he is leading the party down will surely lead to the Monmouth GOP's demise.
Here we have a man who as a candidate and Municipal Chair in Aberdeen never won a general election. By his own admission, he was punitive in the name of unity. Yet he left the Aberdeen GOP defeated and its county committee seats largely vacant. A defeated, smaller, yet united party.
He sailed to victory in the Chairman's race by vowing to create party unity to a county committee that was tired of fighting, and by backing off his "the conventions are a cancer" rhetoric.
With a ticket he inherited, he finally won in a general election. 2 out of 3 seats. Rather than celebrate victory, he set out once again to punish someone who had the audacity to disagree with him and win in the process. Anna Little.
Determined not to go through another campaign with an independent thinking and powerful woman, Puharic set out to destroy Little by creating a scandal where there wasn't one. That failed, as there was no truth to the rumors he and his minions were spreading.
He dusted off his "conventions are a cancer" rhetoric and created a screening committee stacked with the supporters of the losing candidates from the previous conventions. He announced a structure for the screening that would only apply to Anna Little, but then declared that all candidates must screen when he realised he couldn't sell singling out Little, especially after she just won a tough general election.
Then, in a gaffe that worked with precision he told the candidates they would have to pay between $2000 and $2500 for their background checks. He gave the press and the Democrats an issue that they will hammer him, and his ticket, with throughout the upcoming campaign.
And come November, the Monmouth GOP will have been molded in Puharic's image. Just like Aberdeen, it will be united, smaller and defeated.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Why is it that none of the Freeholder challengers are women? Women swept the county races last November. Women are now the majority of the Freeholder board.
Depending on how things break in the 11th District, 5 of 9 Monmouth GOP legislative candidates could be women.
Monmouth County voters seem to like and trust women. Why is it that none of the Freeholder challengers are women?
It seems to me that we have another vulnerability in the making.
Posts
17 comments:
It looks like he's already handed the Dems an issue.
Has Adam handed the Dems an issue. Or did the Dems see an opportunity after reading the public blogs full of divisive comments and seized on it?
silence dogood said...
Has Adam handed the Dems an issue. Or did the Dems see an opportunity after reading the public blogs full of divisive comments and seized on it?
Divisive or critical?
While debriefing last years loss of the beloved Andrew, Adam responded to criticisms of the campaign with, "Why didn't anyone tell me that?" The response was, "We did. You didn't listen."
This blogger, and I think Abe too, see a train reck coming. I know Adam would prefer that we either write only ideas that support his misguided moves or go away, but we're not going to do that.
There is so much animosity, on Adam's part, that it is probably too late to stop the train reck. But that is really up to him, he can still turn things around, but he's running out of time.
You are delusional. The only people upset with Adam are the Anna-Aid drinkers. Why wouldnt Anna agree to a background check THAT SHE DIDNT HAVE TO PAY FOR? What is she hiding?
As evidenced by your blog, you will stop at nothing to slander anyone who goes against your opinion. You're a real loyal Republican!
What was Ginaell's record in Red Bank when he ran against Adam? What did he win? Zilch, Zip, Nada. Jennifer Beck won while Gianell was working against her. That's right; a GOP chair working against his own candidate! What is Gianell? A real estate agent who gives money by advertising in the uber liberal Courier. Thats someone I would have wanted running the party.
Adam has been active for years, a former young gop chairman, has worked in PR & is an established fundraiser. Sure he got roughed up in Aberdeen, but I would challenge Gianell to attempt to run a race there. I would to see those results.
Why wouldnt Anna agree to a background check THAT SHE DIDNT HAVE TO PAY FOR?
The fee only became voluntary when the press got wind of it and when legal counsel convinced the Chairman that it amounted to an unconstitutional poll tax.
There are more problems with the screening process than the background check. There is a contract that forbids a candidate to run in a primary, which is also unconstitutional in the opinion of some lawyers. Additionally, the contract requires the candidates to hold the Monmouth GOP harmless in the event that any background check info is leaked or used against them, and the Party specifically does not make any assurances that the results will be kept private. Only a fool would sign such a contract.
What is she hiding?
Nothing.
Morganvillian, Just what do you have against Anna?
She won the Election. As a result is she not entitled to support unless someone has some actual hard proof that she is now unelectable?
Does anyone have such proofof anything a parking ticket even?
If so put it on the table.
So far all I have seen are rumors and pictures of abamdoned houses.
I have seen proof of nothing, Nada, Zilch,Zippo a big fat Zero.
So who is driking Kool Aid now.
I have an idea for everybody. Put up or shut up
Great advice. Thank you, TR.
Is this really a Republican forum any longer? There are three warning signs that cast serious doubt:
1. The public attacks on the decisions made by and character integrity of the Monmouth County Republican Chairman;
2. The use of the very liberal APP as an accurate source in blog posts to demonstrate dissatisfaction with the Chairman;
3. Agreement with Democrats regarding the Chairman's policy of background searches.
William H Seward, Secretary of State under Abraham Lincoln, was known for his loyalty to the Republican Party. In fact under Lincoln, Seward oversaw the widespread imprisonment of peoples for disloyalty to the Union during the war. He was critical when necessary, but protective of his associates. I leave it to you Blogger Seward to decide whether you are being critical or divisive. Because like it or not, there is a political war being waged throughout this county, and the choice of weapon is the mighty pen.
silence dogood said...
Is this really a Republican forum any longer? There are three warning signs that cast serious doubt:
1. The public attacks on the decisions made by and character integrity of the Monmouth County Republican Chairman
I'm a firm believer that integrity will always stand up to scrutiny. I disagree with the Chairman's decisions. His words and deads lead me to question his integrity, as they are inconsistent; i.e. he says one thing and does another.
2. The use of the very liberal APP as an accurate source in blog posts to demonstrate dissatisfaction with the Chairman;
The APP is not "very liberal." They have endorsed Republicans in the last few statewide races. Kean, Jr and Forrester twice for sure. I don't remember who they endorsed in the McGreevey/Schundler race.
They are all over the waste and fraud in Democratic Trenton and I admire most of their work in that regard.
As the only daily newspaper that covers Monmouth County politics and government, it is appropriate to cite them. I've been critical of them and their integrity too. Read the archives.
Reporters and editors of the APP read this blog almost daily. While this blog has not to my knowledge been cited by the paper, I know that they are informed by this blog.
3. Agreement with Democrats regarding the Chairman's policy of background searches.
I think it's more that the Democrats are agreeing with me. I've been a lot harder on them then I have been on the Chairman.
I actually don't have a problem with background searches being done on candidates. I think its a smart thing to do. My problem is with the manner in which the Chairman has gone about it.
Background searches should be done quietly, and if there is a concern, it should be addressed privately and with dignity. The Chairman is using the prospects of background searches as a public threat to thwart participation, as a fund raising tool, and to malign Anna Little when she refuses to sign an onerous contract. He backed off the fund raising aspect of the strategy after he received criticism.
As I've said here repeatedly, the process as Adam designed it is a farce and an embarrassment to our party. Adam has justified the need for background searches by saying the Democrats will do them and use any dirt they get. Well, Anna Little just won a general election against those Democrats and they didn't attack her character during the campaign. Any attacks against Anna's character have come from Republicans and those attacks have not stood up to scrutiny.
William H Seward, Secretary of State under Abraham Lincoln, was known for his loyalty to the Republican Party. In fact under Lincoln, Seward oversaw the widespread imprisonment of peoples for disloyalty to the Union during the war.
Was Seward protective of the Republican party or of the Union? There is a difference.
The governance of Monmouth County by the Republican Party has left a great deal to be desired in recent years. The problems are well known. I have worked within the party for reform. Reform of our politics and of our governance.
In my mind, Anna Little's selection and election was a huge step forward toward better government and better politics in Monmouth County. Her success is a threat to those use County government and politics for their own aggrandizement. That is why she has come under attack and I am proud to use my pen to defend her and the promise she represents.
The header on Adam's website promotes "Rugged Individualism." He words and deads say "Do what you are told or else." I choose "or else" and I have a better pen then he does.
Ronald Reagan became a Republican saying he hadn't left the Democratic Party, the Democratic Party left him.
If this blog ceases to be a Republican blog, and that could happen, it won't be because my principles changed.
As you stated, Ms. Little was selected and then elected to her current post. I think withdrawing support for one of our own incumbents ought to be done only when supported by a truly compelling argument. I have yet to hear such an argument.
I'd like to think that when our chairman calls for unity, he is not simply looking for a homogenized party. Yes men are of no real value, they weaken the organization as they narrow the scope of debate. I do not want to see our county party go down the same path that the national party has gone down over the past several years.
TR, my issue with Anna is that she & her Anna-Aid drinkers go out of their way to attack members of their own party. She tries to play a role of an independent reformer, when esentially, she is merely a pawn of Gerry, Mary-Fran, Lillian, Gianell, & others.
Yes, she won the election & I'm proud of her for it, but when the Dem $$$ comes in this year, can she win again? That is something we need to figure out NOW!
I dont know what she has in her background. I, like everyone else, hears the rumors. If theyre not true, why not go before the screening committee, then the county committee and run for her seat. She won it once, why cant she do it again?
Not entering the screening process proves to me that she has something to hide? What are you afraid of Anna? Get screened, then run on your proven ability to reform!
"If this blog ceases to be a Republican blog, and that could happen, it won't be because my principles changed."
Is there a making of another james purcell?
Whs, how can anyone trust your statements when it is obvious you see the republican chairman a clear threat? I can repost all the positives if you would like. It seems like you will do and say anything to keep anna around. I still don't see why. She is a terrible freeholder. Most of these rumors I am starting to think are true. Why would she hide from the screening process and why is gianell going to form a ticket to run against our line?
steamroller said...
"If this blog ceases to be a Republican blog, and that could happen, it won't be because my principles changed."
Is there a making of another james purcell?
Not likely. However, I am committed to making government smaller and more affordable and to making the political process more democratic (note the small d). I believe the Chairman's actions are contrary to both of those commitments.
Whs, how can anyone trust your statements when it is obvious you see the republican chairman a clear threat?
Exactly because its obvious. I have a pretty good track record of stating exactly where I stand. You can agree or disagree with where I stand. Either way I'll give it to you straight.
I can repost all the positives if you would like.
Be my guest. It will be a good debate.
It seems like you will do and say anything to keep anna around.
I won't lie for her. I spent a good deal of time and effort getting to the bottom of these rumors and who is behind them. I didn't start defending Anna until I knew the facts. If she was dirty I'd be running her out of town. She's not dirty and as the truth comes out, I believe most Republicans will support her. That is why Adam won't let her get to the convention....most Republicans support her.
She is a terrible freeholder.
I don't think so.
Most of these rumors I am starting to think are true.
They are not. I did the leg work to make sure of that. You should too if you don't believe me.
Why would she hide from the screening process
She's not hiding from it. She is confronting it and exposing it for what it is.
It is a farce designed only to get rid of her. The contract Adam wants candidates to sign is onerous. It requires the candidates to reveal all private information about themselves and allows the Party to share that information with anyone for any purpose the party deems necessary. There is no promise or expectation of privacy. The contract also states that the party can unilaterally changes the terms and that the candidate is bound to comply.
I wouldn't even vote for a candidate foolish enough to sign that contract. Anna is not the only candidate who has refused to sign it.
why is gianell going to form a ticket to run against our line?
That is a rumor started on another blog that is well know to make things up out of thin air. To the best of my knowledge giannell is not planning on doing that.
I edited your post to omit the reference
If Anna is taken off the ticket without proof that there is something in her background that makes her unelectable I for one would support a ticket running against the party line and I will do it with my real name Not as TR.
Teddy Roosevelt said...
If Anna is taken off the ticket without proof that there is something in her background that makes her unelectable I for one would support a ticket running against the party line and I will do it with my real name Not as TR.
Me too.
Yeah, Adam is the divisive one...
You guys are propogating this idea and splitting the party.
Stop griping and backbiting the candidates and party. Start working hard for the candidates, raising money for the candidates and uniting the party.
Lead by example. Adam is doing his best and trying to circumvent whatever mud would be slung our way down the road. If Anna is hiding something it will be brought out by the other guys and then Adam will be the least of her problems...
Regoplican.
If Anna has done anything that effects her ability to get elected I will be the first one to say take her off the ticket.
I still have not seen proof that that is the case.
i will say it again to all of you who want anna off the Ticket.
PUT UP or SHUT UP
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