Messages

9/26 - 10/3

Dear Town Committee Chairs:

The call for 9/26 was very short, and centered on the news that Tom Finneran would likely be leaving as Speaker. While it was not known with any degree of certainty, it seemed probable. This is a minor blow to our Reform agenda. Tom Finneran’s autocratic rule was a quick shorthand symbol of what was wrong with the Legislature – a bumper sticker instead of a thesis. Now, our candidates will be forced to relate more explicitly how Gov. Romney’s Reform agenda will benefit their specific District, while disallowing their Democrat opponents’ claim that this is a new day, and they should have another chance. You may have noticed that Speaker Sal DiMasi referred to the need to reform during his inauguration speech. That is a hollow promise, and nothing more than a tribute to how well our message is resonating. Barbara Anderson wrote an excellent piece on the subject for the Lowell Sun (which has endorsed George Bush!), and I can send it to anyone who replies to the email.

I actually saw Darrell Crate that weekend, as my husband and I went to Lewiston, Maine for the Mass-to-Maine campaign initiative to campaign for President Bush. We both attended a fantastic cookout held at the beautiful Poland Lake summer home of National Committee Man Ron Kaufman for all the volunteers. He asked how his speech went at the Barnstable County Republican Club that prior Wednesday, and I told him it was, quite frankly, shocking. He was surprised, and asked me why. I told him one phrase in particular was amazing – he said that when he took office, he found that the previous Republican governors had treated the State Committee as their own personal fund raising and volunteer machine, and that none of the benefits or funds raised had gone to grass roots building and legislative candidates. Darrell said the thought that was a no-brainer. I told him it was, that we all knew it was true, but the fact he was willing to say so PUBLICLY heralded a new day and a new attitude for the State Committee, and gave heart to all the Town Committee Chairs who had served, unappreciated and used, for so long.

Speaking of Mass-to-Maine, I had a blast – of the 60 households my team visited, 40 were pro-Bush and 10 asked for lawn signs. Also, I got to be part of a protest rally (just like when I was young!) at the Lewiston Armory, where about 50 of us held signs and chanted at a speech by John Edwards. I got to keep my ‘W Stands for Women’ sign. If anybody is interested in participating in this effort or has been asked by anybody who is interested (always remembering that our own candidates come first!), contact Christina Bain at masstomaine2004@hotmail.com or call her at 978-317-3828.

The call for 10/3 centered on Gov. Romney’s message for the week – the Cost of the Status Quo. Poll data has repeatedly shown that while voters disapprove of the Legislature, they approve of their own Legislator. We need to demonstrate that that person that they like, who hands out citations and visits old ladies in nursing homes, is part of the problem. For instance, one excuse we hear over and over to ignore the voter’s mandate that the income tax rate should drop to 5% is that it would cause local property taxes to go up. What doesn’t get told is that Gov. Romney included $75 million in additional local aid in the recent supplemental budget which spent $700 million in surplus revenues (the cost of rolling the tax rate back to 5% is estimated at $250 million, by the way) – but the Legislature cut that $75 million to $25 million, and crammed the rest into pork projects for favored legislators. That resonates especially well here on Cape Cod where our local aid money is paltry. For example, Dennis – pop. 13, 864 – got an additional $62,000, while the town of Dighton – pop. 5,631 – got $70,000! While I like the Zeiterion Theatre in New Bedford, I’m not sure it needs another $500,000 above and beyond the money it already received in the FY 2005 budget. And I am at a total loss to explain why the Little Red Store in Hopedale got $100,000. Remember, that’s your tax money from here on Cape Cod!

On Oct. 2nd, Chatham opened its GOP Headquarters – if you haven’t done so already, stop by – and volunteer if you can. Contact Walter Bilowz at waldad@aol.com for information.

Nantucket completed its reorganization on Oct. 4th, and Donna Hamel has been elected Chair.

Events are plentiful – so I will list the upcoming ones briefly –

Thursday, October 7 – Event for Larry Wheatley, Mary LeClair, Tom Keyes - Falmouth Yacht Club, 290 Clinton Avenue 5:30 – 7:30 pm
Friday, October 8 - Ann Canedy will be on WXTK’s at 9:30 am. Call in to support Ann, and ask Reform-minded questions.
Saturday, Oct. 9 – Organizational Meeting for Cape Cod Young Republicans – Dennis Pines Golf Course, 2 pm.
Sunday, October 10 - Pizza Party in support of Mike Jones - British Beer Company, Sandwich, 5:30 – 7:30 pm
Tuesday, October 12 – Meet Mary LeClair – Star City Grill, Hyannis – 5 – 7 pm
Tuesday, Oct. 12 – Debate – Gail Lese vs. Rob O’Leary – Brewster Ladies Library – COME SUPPORT GAIL!
Thursday, October 14 - Cape Cod’s Annual BBQ to Salute Our Heroes, Larry Wheatley, VFW Hall, 5:30
Monday, Oct. 18 – Gov. Romney, Lt. Gov. Healey and Joe Malone at Plimouth Plantation – invites soon!
Wednesday, October 20 - 2004 Cape Cod Unconventional Republican Convention, Mattakeese Wharf Restaurant

Finally, Darrell Crate has sent Bob Dwyer and me each 100 Bush bumper stickers – so contact me through the State Committee web site – vote-in-stead.com - if you’d like one, and spread the word that the web site exists in order to answer questions and fulfill requests.

Cynthia E. Stead

Copyright 2003-2007

Site design and hosting services provided by CyberAdept.com