The GOP is a Party - Divided! After eight long years under George Bush´s regime, the country is in turmoil! The American Public is wracked with anger due to the Economy and Other Issues. Gas prices are going through the roof, we have a senseless war in Iraq with no end in sight, in-fighting across the nation over everything from Health Care, Illegal Immigration, Religion and Global Warming. Most Citizens, including members of the GOP, are blaming the problems on President Bush and the GOP.
The Republican Party has always had various factions, from the Christian Right to the Neocons, Global Business to the ANTI Immigration Reformist and finally to the Extremists. In previous elections, the Republican Party united across all groups. In this election year, they are clearly divided.
Case in Point 1: Refusals to Support McCain (examples)
1. Ron Paul refuses to endorse McCain
2. At least 14 Republican members of Congress have refused to endorse or publicly support Sen. John McCain for president, and more than a dozen others declined to answer whether they back the Arizona senator.
3. Former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld recently declined to answer whether he will support Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) for president. (payback)
Case in Point 2: The Battle in Arizona - Russell Pearce vs Other Republicans
"There is a growing sense among people who are mainstream, pro-business Republicans, who believe Russell Pearce is leading our party into a permanent wilderness if we don't act," saidNathan Sproul, a former executive director of the state Republican Party and chairman of the Mesa Deserves Better committee.
Sproul is also running a ballot campaign this fall that would loosen some of the state's employer sanctions, but he says the critique of Pearce goes far beyond illegal immigration. Sproul said Pearce leads an extremist faction of the party that, if not called out, will take over the state GOP."
Sproul is also running a ballot campaign this fall that would loosen some of the state's employer sanctions, but he says the critique of Pearce goes far beyond illegal immigration. Sproul said Pearce leads an extremist faction of the party that, if not called out, will take over the state GOP."
Many GOP groups are angry at Pearce for a variety of reasons, including:
1. Pearce disses John McCain (see video). Response to New York Times reporter asking if he was claiming that John McCain is “treacherous, treasonous”: “Yes, I am.”
2. Pearce links himself to Nazis and Racists. Distributes an article from the neo-Nazi National Alliance website.
3. Pearce requests a reprisal of "Operation Wetback," and claims his GOP peers are "sissies" for not using the racist term themselves because "You don't use it today because people have tried to make it offensive. Things change, and you know what? Who cares?"
Pearce has lost several key endorsements from GOP leaders including that of U.S. Rep. J.D. Hayworth (R-Ariz.), and Arizona State Sen. Carolyn Allen (R) who said Pearce had "lost his moorings. He's driving himself mad about this [immigration debate]."
These are but examples. Other GOP contenders are jumping on the ANTI Immigration Reform platform and attempting to use it as a stepping stone, including Tom Tancredo, Joe Arpaio and Jim Gilchrist. In the meantime, GOP Leaders are desperately attempting to keep the whole Immigration debate undercover until after the election.
Some of the ANTI Immigration reform groups are not standing still for this attempt at a cover up of their primary cause! NumbersUSA, Alipac.us and a Congressman are advocating "Operation Calm Before the Storm." They are asking their members to sign a petitition and deluge Congress with their message. The mission: "To position every activist group in the nation on the same "Playing Field" with its' opposition, by providing access to, and the facilitation of, currently available technology based “Tools” and information resources necessary to effectively combat illegal immigration on an individual community basis."
These ANTI groups provide free form letters and faxes and encourage their members to overwhelm Congress with these messages. In the past, their members, primarily retirees, have been quite successful with their use of internet tools. However, now, Congress and all those that oppose their agenda are fully aware of their tactics. During their last "National Rally" only 2 dozen people marched. The reality is, they have very few supporters!
The question today is, will the GOP continue to splinter? Will those with specific agendas continue to disrupt the vast majority? Will they continue to refuse to support their candidate? We will see at the GOP Convention!
The Republicans have to make a decision. Either they want a chance at winning in November or they don´t.
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19 comments:
No, those opposed to illegal immigration are among the majority in this country. Not choosing to march in public and other visible ways of protesting is not an indicator at all as to where most Americans stand on this issue.
If Obama and McCain are smart they will heed the will of the majority and not special interest ethnic groups who have an agenda. They are among the minority not the majority.
Arizona is getting bad. Republicans are moving away from Arpaio as well:
http://republicansforsaban.blogspot.com/
What Republicans?
Anon,
thank you for the link.
Pat,
Anons link plus the many in the links on this post illustrate the vast number of groups who are distancing themselves from Arpaios side, from Pearce´s side, from other Republicans sides. The GOP is splintering!!
Here is what the link says:
RINO JOE supported Janet Napolitano in 2002 - now he's sending top level bureaucrats on Scuba Trips to Honduras. This site has been dedicated to those of us Republicans that grow tired of this RINO - who cares more about himself; then party or public safety.
MMP IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE: Gilchrist Camp Looses 2nd Case in 1 week in Gilchrist v Stewart
News from the MINUTEMAN PROJECT
http://www.immigrationwatchdog.com/?p=7050
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Marvin L. Stewart
President
(562) 221-1820
Daniel F. Lula, Esq.
(949) 851-1100
Second Frivolous Defamation Suit Against Patriots Deborah Courtney, Marvin Stewart and Paul Sielski Stricken; Jim Gilchrist’s Suit Follows the Same Path As That Of His Associate Stephen Eichler
Santa Ana, Calif. – July 29, 2008 – Judge Randell Wilkinson of the Orange County Superior Court today struck Minuteman founder Jim Gilchrist’s defamation suit against Minutemen Deborah Courtney, Marvin Stewart and Paul Sielski as a “strategic lawsuit against public participation.” Gilchrist’s suit against Barbara Coe, head of the California Coalition for Immigration Reform, was also stricken on the same basis.
Marvin Stewart and Deborah Courtney are members of the board of directors of Minuteman Project, Inc., and Paul Sielski is executive director of the corporation. Both have been embroiled in a dispute with Gilchrist regarding alleged financial irregularities within this high-profile nonprofit corporation.
On April 16, 2008, Gilchrist filed his defamation suit against these patriots, as well as Chelene Nightingale of Save Our State and Brook Young of Immigration Watchdog. Gilchrist claimed that the defendants had “defamed” him by speaking out about his transfer of the assets of the Minuteman Project corporation to a new corporation titled, “Jim Gilchrist’s Minuteman Project,” without board knowledge or approval.
Under the relevant law, defendants Stewart, Courtney and Sielski are entitled to an award of the attorneys’ fees and costs they incurred in defending themselves against Gilchrist’s meritless suit. Gilchrist has already been ordered by the Court to reimburse Ms. Coe over $9,100 in attorneys’ fees.
Gilchrist’s frivolous suit against fellow anti-illegal immigration activists is the second in less than a week to be dismissed. Last week, Gilchrist’s associate, Stephen Eichler, suffered the same ruling from Judge Kirk Nakamura. Eichler had filed a virtually identical defamation suit against the same defendants.
The vindictive and retributive behavior against fellow patriots by Gilchrist and Eichler is deeply disturbing to many in the anti-illegal immigration movement. Today’s ruling should be heeded by them as a warning to engage others on the issues, not attempt to use litigation to squelch freedom and dissent.
The Minuteman Project was founded in early 2005 to secure America’s borders by means of civilian volunteer observers. Incorporated in mid-2005 as a Delaware nonprofit corporation, the Minuteman Project is governed by a board of directors under applicable law.
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Deborah Courtney & Paul Sielski have VICTORY in court over Gilchrist's sidekick Stephen Eichler.
http://www.immigrationwatchdog.com/?p=7021
News from the MINUTEMAN PROJECT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Marvin L. Stewart
President
(562) 221-1820
Daniel F. Lula, Esq.
(949) 851-1100
Frivolous Defamation Suit Filed by Steven Eichler Against Patriots Deborah Courtney and Paul Sielski Stricken; Orange County Superior Court Finds Their Special Motion “Meritorious”
Santa Ana, Calif. – July 24, 2008 – The Orange County Superior Court today struck Steven Eichler’s defamation suit against Minutemen Deborah Courtney and Paul Sielski as a “strategic lawsuit against public participation.” Judge Kirk Nakamura permitted ample oral argument by both sides, and then granted the defendants’ motion, putting an end to Eichler’s frivolous suit against them.
Deborah Courtney is a member of the board of directors of Minuteman Project, Inc. and serves as the corporation’s treasurer. Paul Sielski is executive director of the corporation. Both have been embroiled in a dispute with Minuteman Project founder Jim Gilchrist regarding alleged financial irregularities within this high-profile nonprofit corporation.
On April 25, 2008, Gilchrist’s associate Eichler filed this defamation suit against Courtney and Sielski, as well as fellow patriots Barbara Coe, Chelene Nightingale of Save Our State, Brook Young of Immigration Watchdog, and Marvin Stewart of the Minuteman Project. Eichler claimed that the defendants had somehow “defamed” him by speaking out about his role in Gilchrist’s actions – especially Gilchrist’s transfer of the assets of the Minuteman Project corporation to a new corporation titled, “Jim Gilchrist’s Minuteman Project,” without board knowledge or approval.
Under the relevant law, defendants Courtney and Sielski are entitled to an award of the attorneys’ fees and costs they incurred in defending themselves against Eichler’s meritless suit.
The other defendants remain in the case; however, it is anticipated that most if not all will shortly file similar motions to strike. These defendants, too, expect to win and to be awarded their fees and costs.
The vindictive and retributive behavior against fellow patriots by Gilchrist and Eichler is deeply disturbing to many in the anti-illegal immigration movement. Today’s ruling should be heeded by them as a warning to engage others on the issues, not attempt to use litigation to squelch freedom and dissent.
The Minuteman Project was founded in early 2005 to secure America’s borders by means of civilian volunteer observers. Incorporated in mid-2005 as a Delaware nonprofit corporation, the Minuteman Project is governed by a board of directors under applicable law.
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Minuteman leader Gilchrist loses another biggie in court (8/7/08)
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/gilchrist-coe-lula-2117272-courtney-minuteman
Thursday, August 7, 2008
FRANK MICKADEIT
Register columnist
fmickadeit@ocregister.com
I never thought I'd find myself cheering a legal victory secured by Barbara Coe, the Huntington Beach anti-immigration activist (she would say anti-illegal-immigration activist), but I find myself cheering today.
That's because her opponent in this fight was Jim Gilchrist, perhaps the only other Orange County figure who has done more to foster hatred for our immigrant friends – those immigrants who are not felons or leeches, but get lumped into the small minority who are simply because it serves Gilchrist's and Coe's purpose to pander to society's latent racism.
Gilchrist has been for months now fighting for control of the Minuteman Project, the organization he founded and which did or didn't (depending on who you believe) have a board of directors he was answerable to. I've been standing by, happier than a Minuteman with a night scope, chronicling Gilchrist's helpless foundering on the tenuous shoals of sanity as his Queeg-like mania gradually pulls him under.
There have been suits and countersuits, and in the biggest Gilchrist debacle yet, he filed defamation actions against Coe and other former members of his cadre, including Marvin Stewart and Deborah Courtney. He filed this action when his opponents were on the ropes – nearly broke, struggling to retain a lawyer and reeling from a deluge of other Gilchrist-inflicted legal challenges.
But then Gilchrist's worst fear was realized. An experienced, pedigreed attorney with a strong local firm decided to help Coe, Stewart and Courtney. This attorney, Daniel F. Lula of Payne &Fears LLP in Irvine, took the case under a financial arrangement he declined to disclose. But I know his clients have virtually no more money to spend on lawyers. Courtney, in fact, is losing her house.
Payne &Fears (is there a better named for a litigation firm?) is, among other things, lead counsel for traditionalist Episcopal Church parishes trying to break away from the main U.S. Episcopal Church and yet retain their properties. Lula, Harvard Law/Yale undergrad, is precisely the lawyer Gilchrist was afraid he'd run up against.
Why'd Lula do it? He says he was repulsed by how nastily Gilchrist has treated his former mentees. He calls Gilchrist's method "the hamster style of leadership" – because hamsters eat their young.
Last week, Lula brought the antiGilchrists their first significant victory. He got Judge Randell Wilkinson to throw out the Gilchrist defamation suit as well as a nearly identical one by Gilchrist ally Steve Eichler. Both alleged the defendants had defamed them by calling into question where all the money the Minuteman Project took in through donations had gone.
Under a statute designed to protect free speech, Wilkinson ruled it was in the public interest for people to question the asset management of a nonprofit organization. Not only does this statute allow a judge to throw out such specious lawsuits before the defendants have to pay tens of thousands in pre-trial discovery, but it has another powerful component: It allows the judge to require the plaintiffs to pay for whatever attorney fees the defendants have accrued.
And Wilkinson did exactly that in the case of Coe, ordering Gilchrist to pay her more than $9,000. Courtney, et al, will be seeking the same sanctions, and there's no reason to think Gilchrist and Eichler won't end up owing all the folks they've been harassing a whole lot more. Just remember that the next time you see Jimbo with his hand out.
But this was just a prelude to what is shaping up to be the Main Event: the lawsuit that underlies all of this.
In this action, Courtney, Stewart and others are alleging fraud and trying to find out what really didhappen to the money that came into the Minuteman Project under Gilchrist's watch. How much that is is no one has said, but it is certainly in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
With the decks cleared of the defamation nonsense, Lula is ready to go after Gilchrist full bore, with motions to compel him to produce financial documents that he's thus far kept out of court.
Maybe Jimbo has every dime accounted for. But something tells me forensic accountants are going to have a field day.
Mickadeit writes Mon.-Fri. Contact him at 714-796-4994 or fmickadeit@ocregister.com
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Who cares about Jim Gilchrist anymore? Certainly not the MM organization. He was a turncoat and didn't represent the ideals of the MM organization anymore, if he ever really did. Only pro-illegals would get themselves all worked up into a frenzy over Jimbo these days. I guess it just more dirt that they think makes their own racist agenda look good.
Pat and Sam and MM, You certainly prove my point. There is a lot of infighting on your side. Gilchrist was once your advocate. Now you chastise him.
As would anyone who has been deceived. If one of your pro-illegal leaders decided to jump over to "You Don't Speak for Me" and called you guys racists, you would do the same thing.
There isn't a "lot" of fighting on our side. You are just exaggerating as usual. Stop licking your lips over this. The majority of Americans are still opposed to illegal immigration and want justice to me served.
Actually, most on your side have different lead agendas besides immigration (e.g. ANTI Abortion, PRO War, PRO Global Business, etc) and a number on your side do NOT support McCain.
And your point is? All Latinos and/or Democrats don't view all the issues the same either.
I'm a registered Republican in Arizona. I believe in free people and free trade. But I vote pro-immigration (or anti anti-immigration) even if it means I have to cross party lines.
There are few things worse in this world than a government (founded on the idea of individual freedom!) saying it's forbidden for you to earn a living and make a better life for yourself through hard work.
I also believe legalization is the key to preventing exploitation. As long as an employer can threaten you with deportation if you complain, they can do almost anything to you.
"The majority of Americans are still opposed to illegal immigration and want justice to me served."
That's a contradiction.
jus·tice
n. 1. The quality of being just; fairness.
Nothing about forcing us to treat people differently based on birth circumstances is "fair" or "just".
nelson, I will never be an open borders freak like you. I believe in the soviergnty of each nation's borders and it's right to have immigration laws and to enforce them. I believe the citizens of each country are the only ones who should have any real rights in their own countries.
"I believe the citizens of each country are the only ones who should have any real rights in their own countries."
Do you believe I, as a citizen, have the right to hire who I want to hire? Do you believe I have a right to rent a home to someone of my own choosing?
Oh, how did I miss this one.....
Saban is a hack. He is just like Gascon, the Mesa PD chief. There are both a joke, buying their time, so they can move on to "bigger and better things".
Gascon is running Mesa PD into the ground until he gets hired for LAPD chief, which just passed him by. We're stuck with this idiot for at least another 6 years or so.
Saban comes off as a "less-pressure, less-crime" kinda guy. He has lost to Arpaio many times already, and doesn't seem to get the hint: Maricopa County loves Arpaio.
Welcome Nelson. I agree with you! We do need comprehensive immigration reform. Those here should be put into some legal type status. The exploitation should end.
Arizonian, What will the Latino citizens have to do to get Arpaio out of office? If they all registered and voted, would their numbers be sufficient to get him out?
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