Today's Augusta Free Press hits the nail on the head ... and it was written by the Waynesboro Democrat Chairman (as well as writer of the AFP) Chris Graham who says that "Michael departure bad news for GOP, good news for Dems":The Republican Party is going to miss Kurt Michael - big time.Again I say this is coming from the Democrat Chairman of Waynesboro. Read the entire article here.
... Michael was quite effective in the role of party chair, bringing in new muscle in the form of a hearty (if not leaning toward the lightning-rod point of view themselves) group of shock troops that, and you have to give credit where credit is due, know how to organize a local party committee.
I had the fortune to get to know Michael well in the early years of his turn as the GOP chair and in the early years of the Augusta Free Press, and in the course of working on a couple of projects together, I realized quickly his love for Augusta County, the Republican Party, and paying attention to the minutest of small details as he sought ways to increase the party’s reach in local politics.
... Republicans statewide are going to need Augusta County to get every Republican vote it can to have any shot at winning.
Their best shot was with Michael at the helm of the Augusta GOP ship.
I guess I ought to just go ahead and say this, as controversial as it may be. This news is great news for Democrats and progressives, both locally here in the Valley and across the Commonwealth. [emphasis added]
So the Democrats could say, "Mission Accomplished," with the help of Emmett Hanger since they supported him in his primary and at the mass meeting. Emmett and his supporters worked together as part of the three-month assault on Kurt Michael that went through the April 10 mass meeting, the May 3 appeal at 6th District Committee, and the May 30 appeal at State Central Committee.
There have even been suggestions from Emmett's supporters that they may take the chairman's race to court after losing at State Central ... keeping in mind the chairman's position is one of those "insignificant jobs we give to anyone," as Emmett told the Augusta Free Press in 2007.
With the help of Emmett's followers who are more interested in their own positions than what is best for the Republican Party, local elected Republicans and Hanger supporters were blind to what they had ... their best defense against MoveOn.org Democrats taking over in the Valley and the state. Republican candidates depend on the Valley to offset the dem vote in blue parts of Virginia.
So while some Augusta County Republican Committee members and Kurt Michael have been under attack from Emmett Hanger, David Beyeler, Jean Shrewsbury and others who want it to be the "way it used to be" ...
... while they played games by refusing to allow the Committee to meet at the Government Center (our thanks to Congressman Bob Goodlatte for allowing us to meet at his campaign headquarters; our thanks to Attorney General Bob McDonnell for trying to broker peace with Emmett in August 2007 only to be rebuffed) ...
... most statewide and local electeds sat back and watched. They may regret their hands-off attitude come November ... and next year ... and the year after. The Democrats are licking their lips....
This is an opinion piece written by Lynn Mitchell for those who do not recognize "opinion."
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