It all comes down to this; John Mertz-bad, horrible, started the NNTP party, so what if he volunteered for a suicide run against liberal DEM Tonko?. GP-great, effective leader who lost every race, so what if he went on a suicide run against a popular REP Assemblyman? Give us a break. No wonder the party is in ruins. How was the turnout for REP blitz day? What's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. Stop the revisionism and double dealing.
BT could not be more correct. John Mertz has the needed leadership abilities for County Chair. He can reach across the aisle. He can fund raise and form a unified slate. You can keep rehashing old vendettas or more ahead and take it.
The Reps should be preparing a candidate for the Supervisor's position for the 2011 election! It's time to eat crow and give up on the belief that the NNTP ruined the Rep Party. They need to embrace Brian M and get him on board for the next election.
TAke Mertz and Littlefield out of the discusson if you plan to resurrect the party. Mertz is over. Only good thing you can say is he was willing to serve and when he was on the Ethics Board many of us had faith in him and hpe that he would be "that guy" that we all looked to for reason and justice. Instead he truned out to be "that guy" who was nothing more than a narcisistic and power hungry politician...a big fish, so to speak, in a small pond. And empty suit.
Littlefield was another sham. But he was even worse. He tried to pretend he was so much more--a savior of peace and justice, level-headed, devoid of the mean streak that many reps live by, a kind of politician for all peple and all parties. But there again--CON man.
Move on--new blood. Don't know this Donovan(because I am a Dem) but good luck to you. But I would be very careful to say anyone is "OUT." You are in charge but I would listen to the others so they can have their voices heard. Should be room for ALL REps/Cons at your table.... They just shouldn't have a leadership role because you shoulod have learned by now their leadership did not work--NEITHER DID TOM BUCHANAN! Is he still around?
Boomer, as much as you and I are on way different sides of the political issues, this was another of your better posts! We all know that you have a personal ax to grind with Mertz over your job, nobody blames you for your feelings. You said he would fall right in with Tommasone and Buchanan and to a point I have to agree, then of course they went in different directions.
Ms. Donovan, as Boomer points out, you don't speak for the Republicans in Rotterdam and you would be well served to listen to Boomer and "make room for ALL Reps/Cons at the table) as is said over and over again, a house devided. As for your opinion of the No Tax Party, Mr. McGarry is very popular and I can tell you a lot of people voted for him over Mr. Tommasone. As far as Mr. Mertz getting all the credit for taking out the Reps, I am a little surprised to see him getting so much credit. I recall Mike O'Connor and the others being very vocal in opposition to the prior administration.
As the new chair, I have a question for you - do you as a committee person and now chairperson take any responsibility for the failures of the party? Or are we to believe that it was all Mr. Mertz?
Mertz would be the best choice for the rep county chair!!! He has great leadership skills, seems focused and is conservative. Mertz appears to be a staunch republican and a unifier. He will clearly call a spade a spade.......no bullcrap and no games!!!
There are many many people, countywide, who see mertz in this same light. Forget about rotterdam. That town will just self destruct and fall off the map!! Rotterdam has lost all credibility in both the dem, rep and con party!!! IMHO of course!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Ms donovan, First and foremost, Mertz was NOT the originator of the nntp!!! REALLY!! You are trying to re-write history yet again!!
Second, are you saying that Mertz should have primaried for the rep line? He was already publicly ousted by GP and replaced for endorsement by his own brother republican, x-county legislature suhrada. How did that work out, huh?
So it would appear that Mertz took the respectful high road. Unlike GP (the x-rotterdam rep chair, now sitting town board member) who primaried for the assembly seat JUST to dirty up GA (another brother republican) so his dem buddy AS could win???? And how did that work out, huh?
You have GOT to be kidding!!
If mertz could single handedly organize and pull off this alleged coup and change the entire political landscape of rotterdam.......than you ms. donovan, and the rest of the reps, should be knocking down his door to be the rep county chair!!!
You people are nuts! IMHO of course!
Bumblethru is entirely correct! The NNTP party was formulated on the foundation of the national tea party at the time. Less government, less taxes, less personal intrusion. The candidates that made up the party held the belief that Rotterdam was ready for a change from the existing two party system. This was the "HAVES" for the party in power vs. the "HAVE NOTS", the party striving for power. Their thoughts and premise was based on let there be no "HAVES" and "HAVE NOTS", but let's have a slate committed to the betterment of the Town residents, party offiliation exempt. This was a tad to progressive to be successful in Rotterdam. The party appealed to the electorate because there was no major financiers, and the candidates were clearly not beholding to anyone. To the voter, this translated into people working for their constituents, something Rotterdam was starved for. The Republican Party's demise in the last election was of their own doing. Voters ballot based on a candidate's message and track record if there is one. For the Republican party to re-establish itself, they need a message similar to the NNTP, AND they need to reach out to those voters that supported that movement. I can assure you that the current Town officials are even less appealing, and the time is right for another turnover, but it will not happen without candidates to challenge and a different attitude. I think the NNTP voters are tired of hearing about how they ruined the election, we are now looking for some quality candidates, and a parallel ideology to support. If the Republicans are going to continue with sour grapes and sit back whining about the past, they are doomed to sit on the sidelines. If you want those "up for grabs" votes, you have to offer something better than what we have all witnessed over the last year.
Mertz would be the best choice for the rep county chair!!! He has great leadership skills, seems focused and is conservative. Mertz appears to be a staunch republican and a unifier. He will clearly call a spade a spade.......no bullcrap and no games!!!
There are many many people, countywide, who see mertz in this same light. Forget about rotterdam. That town will just self destruct and fall off the map!! Rotterdam has lost all credibility in both the dem, rep and con party!!! IMHO of course!
Here's an interesting or troubling thought, depends on who you are - IF Mertz's boss has told him he has to stay out of local politics and THEN other Reps go after one of his felllow Assembly members, why wouldn't he just tell Mertz to have at it?
Tell us Ms. Donovan, if Mertz is as big a problem as you say he is, then what happens if his boss takes the chains off and tells him to go after those who went after his GOP Assemblyman Amedore? What's your plan then? IF Mertz so easily took down the three most popular local Reps, do you really think a committee of Gerard's family and you would be much of a challenge to him? It's almost as if you are taunting him, or challenging his reentry into local politics.
Boomer is right, give the guy credit for serving, but know when to turn the page. IF you don't you're just asking for another replay of last year. Take a deep breath and let it go, otherwise you may be on the outside looking in.
Bumblethru is entirely correct! The NNTP party was formulated on the foundation of the national tea party at the time. Less government, less taxes, less personal intrusion. The candidates that made up the party held the belief that Rotterdam was ready for a change from the existing two party system. This was the "HAVES" for the party in power vs. the "HAVE NOTS", the party striving for power. Their thoughts and premise was based on let there be no "HAVES" and "HAVE NOTS", but let's have a slate committed to the betterment of the Town residents, party offiliation exempt. This was a tad to progressive to be successful in Rotterdam. The party appealed to the electorate because there was no major financiers, and the candidates were clearly not beholding to anyone. To the voter, this translated into people working for their constituents, something Rotterdam was starved for. The Republican Party's demise in the last election was of their own doing. Voters ballot based on a candidate's message and track record if there is one. For the Republican party to re-establish itself, they need a message similar to the NNTP, AND they need to reach out to those voters that supported that movement. I can assure you that the current Town officials are even less appealing, and the time is right for another turnover, but it will not happen without candidates to challenge and a different attitude. I think the NNTP voters are tired of hearing about how they ruined the election, we are now looking for some quality candidates, and a parallel ideology to support. If the Republicans are going to continue with sour grapes and sit back whining about the past, they are doomed to sit on the sidelines. If you want those "up for grabs" votes, you have to offer something better than what we have all witnessed over the last year.
Really, Mertz and Littlefield created Palin and the national Tea Party movement, after all, the No Tax Party was in Rotterdam before Palin, Paul, Toomey and Rubio. It was a national movement to the right of the party and the Tommasone administration wasn't on board. I don't care who Mertz worked for or anyone else for that matter, there was a crisis in the Republican Party and there still is. Donovan you don't get it and that's why you should resign as chairperson.
Really, Mertz and Littlefield created Palin and the national Tea Party movement, after all, the No Tax Party was in Rotterdam before Palin, Paul, Toomey and Rubio. It was a national movement to the right of the party and the Tommasone administration wasn't on board. I don't care who Mertz worked for or anyone else for that matter, there was a crisis in the Republican Party and there still is. Donovan you don't get it and that's why you should resign as chairperson.
I guess "someone" in the Republican Party has to "get it" and valuable time is being wasted as potential candidates need to be brought forward NOW! If you ain't got em, then you better figure out who you can poach to get somebody unless the strategy is "let them run unopposed"!
The nntp has become 'the big bad wolf' of the reps inner circles in rotterdam. The town where people are identified by their politics. Where you vote in line with the 'friends and family club'. Sadly that describes rotterdam in a nut shell! Poor bastards!
What seems to be missed here is that the rep party was in a free fall BEFORE the nntp came on the scene. They became too cocky and thought they could get a pass or perhaps wouldn't be noticed by the electorate by ousting one of their own (breaking the 11th commandment). They thought no one would notice the negative campaigning. They though no one would notice their backhanded plan to push a taxing district through for rems. When in fact it was mertz that spoke out in opposition of it....for the rotterdam taxpayers.
While the dems where licking their chops, in stepped the nntp. With the exception of mertz, these were your average residents/taxpayers, who were tired of tax and spend and larger government. They were clearly NOT seasoned politicians. They were a breath of fresh air for the 'informed' in rotterdam. They were clearly not part of rotterdam's friends and family club as mertz also never was. Perhaps that is why he was ousted.....for not playing the bullcrap political games of 'going along to get along'!
Until the RINOS transform back to 'real reps' they will never advance. This includes ALL of schenectady county! People in rotterdam doubt that ms donovan has what it takes to be the rotterdam chair. But then again, in schenectady county, rotterdam is an entirely different political animal. Ya can't use rotterdam as a plumb line for ANYTHING! Just look at their governing crew now!!!
I predict that there will be more third party candidates popping up. The reps have left the electorate no choice!!!
IMHO of course!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
The nntp has become 'the big bad wolf' of the reps inner circles in rotterdam. The town where people are identified by their politics. Where you vote in line with the 'friends and family club'. Sadly that describes rotterdam in a nut shell! Poor bastards!
What seems to be missed here is that the rep party was in a free fall BEFORE the nntp came on the scene. They became too cocky and thought they could get a pass or perhaps wouldn't be noticed by the electorate by ousting one of their own (breaking the 11th commandment). They thought no one would notice the negative campaigning. They though no one would notice their backhanded plan to push a taxing district through for rems. When in fact it was mertz that spoke out in opposition of it....for the rotterdam taxpayers.
While the dems where licking their chops, in stepped the nntp. With the exception of mertz, these were your average residents/taxpayers, who were tired of tax and spend and larger government. They were clearly NOT seasoned politicians. They were a breath of fresh air for the 'informed' in rotterdam. They were clearly not part of rotterdam's friends and family club as mertz also never was. Perhaps that is why he was ousted.....for not playing the bullcrap political games of 'going along to get along'!
Until the RINOS transform back to 'real reps' they will never advance. This includes ALL of schenectady county! People in rotterdam doubt that ms donovan has what it takes to be the rotterdam chair. But then again, in schenectady county, rotterdam is an entirely different political animal. Ya can't use rotterdam as a plumb line for ANYTHING! Just look at their governing crew now!!!
I predict that there will be more third party candidates popping up. The reps have left the electorate no choice!!!
IMHO of course!
Bumble, thank you for framing this better than I! As precious days tick by, rather than embracing potential vote getters, they continue to hold their staunch beliefs which took them down in the first place. Hey Reps, "Get over yourselves", and put together a slate that is for the betterment of the Town. NNTP would likey help, but you have to quit kicking them around the playground . . . . it's getting old!
Logged
It all comes down to this; John Mertz-bad, horrible, started the NNTP party, so what if he volunteered for a suicide run against liberal DEM Tonko?. GP-great, effective leader who lost every race, so what if he went on a suicide run against a popular REP Assemblyman? Give us a break. No wonder the party is in ruins. How was the turnout for REP blitz day? What's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. Stop the revisionism and double dealing. 
