To the Editor:
As one who attended, and suffered through, the entire Republican State Convention a little over a week ago, and is still recovering from it, there are several thoughts flowing through my muddled mind.
My husband and I, while lifelong Republicans, have been involved more deeply in the Lincoln County GOP for the last few years. As conservatives, we feel that, in spite of straying into liberal waters, the Grand Old Party is still the place to be, showing the most hope of returning us to the traditions upon which the country was founded – smaller government and individual responsibility.
Some very random thoughts here:
1. There is absolutely no way Jim (and Donna) Carlton could have worked harder for the Lincoln County Republicans than has been the case during Jim’s tenure as chairman.
2. There is also no way Jim could have foreseen or avoided the Ron Paul chaos running rampant at the State Convention in Augusta last weekend. It threw his hard work, and that of those of us trying so hard to learn within the system, totally out of the window. It was exhausting and upsetting.
3. The Ron Paul people were dedicated, organized, and passionate. They were of all ages, but mostly young to middle-aged. It appeared they tried to work the rules of the convention as they understood them but suffered a bit from inexperience and exuberance, which in my case caused at least one young man to bend those rules when speaking with me. Whether this was the case with other attendees, I don’t know.
4. When I faced this same young man the next day, along with a perhaps older and wiser Paul supporter, I expressed my dissatisfaction and was met with courtesy and respect.
5. I feel that Mitt Romney, while far from perfect, is our presumptive GOP presidential candidate. At this point, it’s more important to win the White House than get Ron Paul a prominent position at the National Republican Convention, but I’m trying to understand the Paul folks’ perspective.
6. Whatever your views might be on Dr. Paul regarding foreign policy, he is spot on when it comes to our fiscal problems. He has ignited a fantastic youthful movement, and if we Republicans are smart, we should lick our collective wounds and try to enlarge our tent in order to tap into this energy.
If these activists are a one-issue, one-candidate flash in the pan, it won’t work and that will become apparent rather quickly. However, if even just a few are in it for the long haul and are as worried about the country as so many of us conservatives are, then let’s bring them on in and create a fantastic force to be reckoned with. They’ve actually pushed the door down anyway.
My faith leads me to the parable of the Prodigal Son. One son is the establishment type (like many of us and the old guard GOP faithful) and a second son is the non-conformist who strays a bit but then comes back into the fold. The wise father welcomes and favors both.
Some say the old GOP is the one who really strayed away from principle. I see that, and a “coming home” is needed there, too.
I encourage any and all, whether politically-minded or not, to come to some of our Tea Party meetings up in Warren and attend some of our Lincoln County Republican meetings. We’re limping along right now and might need some time to recoup after that crazy convention, but we’ll be up to speed again soon.
There are a bunch of tough “old dogs” within our ranks. We, combined with some dedicated “young turks,” could just possibly rock this state and the nation.
Carolyn Baltes, Nobleboro
