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1/13/2010
Roth, Savard on the stump, grassroots style
Roth is polished and practiced; Savard more cerebral, ponderous. Great old-fashioned grassroots politics, candidates on the stump. Just as when I wrote about the N.E.W. Patriots (as in “NE Wisconsin") last year, “true patriots” and “salt of the earth” continue to be great descriptors.
First – the Patriots.** These folks are professional and organized. It’s an odd setting – a cavernous barroom 10 or 15 miles west of Wrightstown with the requisite bar right inside the door, a stage, tables and lots of chairs as you venture in further. Lots of 4x4s and worker-trucks in the unpaved, not very well-plowed parking lot rurals are used to.
When I can get there, I try to arrive early, order a pizza or a burger and take in the flurry of activity. Setting up the chairs and the sound system. Getting the fish jar out for any donations that might come in, readying the gift raffle that’s part of every meeting. These organizers are knowledgeable and dedicated – and belie any label the vast surrounding farm country might bring to mind. Well, any label that is, except conservative, and for the most part, originalists, tied to their founders and their constitution. About 70 in attendance in the middle of nowhere on a cold, mid-week night in January. It’s just darned impressive.
Last night began a series of candidate presentations that will stretch to the November election. Ron Zahn, emcee for the evening, mentioned that about 30 candidates would be up for election in September and November, representing their small corner of the state – and the N.E.W. Patriots would continue working to schedule them all – U.S. Senator to Governor to Assembly candidates.
(Zahn was great – nervous as he was, “like a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs.” He kept control, monitored, cajoled, at one point gently admonishing a long-winded “questioner” – you know the type! - “Sir, could we invite a question please?”)
8th Congressional District candidates Marc Savard and Roger Roth did their schtick last night. Good stuff. May have stretched on into the night – Zahn promised with a straight face they’d be there ‘til midnight if folks continued to have questions.
The typical issues surfaced. The war. Immigration and illegal aliens. Health care. Roe v. Wade. Global warming and cap-and-trade. Campaign finance and the corrupting influence of PACs. The economy, the stimulus package. National security, the Constitution.
Roger Roth, State Representative in the 56th Assembly District is smooth, organized, very well practiced. Probably what you might label as a “politician” – but a politician who definitely knows the issues and his position on them. Touting his “military career” repeatedly, Roth mentioned veterans and soldiers and Iraq whenever it fit in. (I applaud Roth for his Wisconsin Air National Guard service and his short tours in Iraq; will have to get the details on how extensive that service was.) Though young (31), Roth claims small business experience, working with his dad’s small home building company.
Marc Savard, life-long entrepreneur, organic farmer, painting contractor and Door County Supervisor, was sure and steady, but certainly not a suave and smooth “politician.” Despite a masters degree in history, I heard a few “Me and ____” phrases – that grammatical error, though common, really bugs me, especially when I hear it from teachers or other professionals. That aside, Savard knows where he stands and knows the issues thoroughly. He’s kind of the anti-politician’s candidate, aghast at corruption he sees in Washington and committed to not accept one dime of PAC money for his campaign.
These candidates will be everywhere in the next nine months; no need for me to go on and on about them. Key to me is who can best beat Rep. Kagen – and then of course, who will best represent me in Congress. Style matters – and voters will decide what best appeals. Two more 8th Congressional District GOP candidates will join the N.E.W. Patriots for their February meeting. Those meetings are always the 2nd Tuesday, Evergreen Bar and Grill, 7075 Morrison Rd., Morrison. Tuesday usually means you can sup on the Evergreen’s famous Pizza Buffet – but if that’s not up and running, the chef will take $2 off any pizza you order. Such a deal.
**The Mission Statement of the N.E.W. Patriots:
“In order to re-establish the blessings of liberty for ourselves and our posterity, we commit ourselves to promote the conservative values of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We shall do this by educating the public, promoting and supporting quality candidates, and communicating with our elected officials, while remaining politically independent.
We shall work together to: present guest speakers; present current issues and recommend a simple call to action; provide an open forum; provide education on government, the Constitution, and political issues of interest; affiliate with a limited number of regional and national organizations with similar interests; identify and support candidates who share our mission (statement); and make our meetings both compelling and enjoyable.”
Jo Egelhoff, FoxPolitics.net
COMMENTS
"Touting his “military career” repeatedly, Roth mentioned veterans and soldiers and Iraq whenever it fit in. (I applaud Roth for his Wisconsin Air National Guard service and his short tours in Iraq; will have to get the details on how extensive that service was."
First off, one day of service in a combat area should be enough to earn the respect of any American. Roger has deployed to Iraq three times for tours lasting 2 1/2 months to four months at a time. Because the Air Force deploys in force packages designed to take advantage of equipment already in Iraq, deployments are much shorter, in fact, during my tour in 2005-2006, Air Force Combat Air Controllers assigned to my Brigade Combat Team deployed for only four months. I can tell you this. I was on the post where Roger was stationed in 2005-2006 and that facility received more indirect fire (mortars and rockets) than any other post including the Green Zone in Baghdad.
I don't think that any other candidate in the race brings that experience to the table.
Dale McNamee (Sat Jan 16 20:02:15 2010)
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