Comments on: Arizona Right to Life PAC Speaks on Arizona GOP Chairmanship

By: Maricopa GOP

Maricopa GOP — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 05:25:34 +0000

People keep saying that Pullen did not help elect Platform Republicans and challenge others to show them wrong.

Read what the eight state senators, and the sixteen state representatives (none of them voted in favor of Nappy’s budget against their own caucus) who endorse Pullen have to say and you get your answer.

However, an old adage seems to fit the position of the anti-Pullen hawks: “I have made up my mind, don’t confuse me with the facts.”

Randy has made some errors, but he will at least talk with and consult with someone outside the circle of supporters of the three Washington Amnesty Advocates.

By: Veritas Vincit

Veritas Vincit — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 17:31:24 +0000

Under a James chairmanship; those with deep pockets and well connected with Kyl and McCain would receive most of the attention. Those rank and file members who aren’t so well heeled would be pat on the head, and told to “go register more voters”

Or, “don’t worry what kind of Republican he is, that doesn’t matter. They have an “R” after their name so we support them… [even if they tried to gut the Employer Sanction Laws and voted with Napolitano's budget how many times before] they still have an “R” so we support them.

By: Goodyear GOP

Goodyear GOP — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 08:02:16 +0000

I think that most of this small stuff is just that. Small stuff.

What matters is actually quite fundamental. I will vote for Randy Pullen because he is an effective, conservative leader for our Party. He puts the Party and our values first, and he has seen us through a very rough time for our Party, both nationally and here in Arizona. I don’t imagine any chairman is ever perfect, but we won when most expected us to lose and when a few of us were hoping we would lose.

Today, those who hoped we would lose do not get to challenge Pullen on the basis of those losses, so they’re dragging up a bunch of garbage in an effort to find an issue that works. These are not good or honest people, and their motives are unpure.

I will cast my vote for a good man and a great conservative. And I’ll consider myself fortunate that I have been given such an opportunity.

By: Sherlock Homie

Sherlock Homie — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 05:17:03 +0000

Yeah, and if you look at Pullen’s GOP chairman campaign website he uses a figure of $10.5 million raised, but for McCain. and that means funds not passed through the party. It’s just a lie for the state GOP, and Pullen, to say he takes credit for that.

By: Her?

Her? — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 21:40:40 +0000

@ stardust:

The Capitol Times had a story about that last week, I think. If you have a subscription, here’s the link:
http://www.azcapitoltimes.com/story.cfm?id=10155

The gist of what they reported was that Pullen raised a total of about $2.5 million at the state and federal levels.

In 2006, the party raised $6.3 Million.

The story said the 2008 numbers were the worst of the decade.

By: Veritas Vincit

Veritas Vincit — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 20:16:56 +0000

“divisive” and “didn’t raise the money” Easy to say, but the James Gang hasn’t “showed us the beef”

Where was James two years ago? AWOL following her loss to Pullen.

Bottom line in this whole mess? Its the Border Stupid. Follow the money…

James supports Kyl and McCain (and they in turn are very good for her husband’s business).

Pullen opposes the Bush Administration’s border non-policy and the proposed amnesty plan … thus he’s on the out’s with the Kyl crowd. (but in with the voters)

I can suggest to the Pro-Life folks that Pullen will be stronger on the issue then James (because McCain is a lightweight on the issue and James wants a piece of the McCain re-election business)

Its politics not rocket science kids.

By: stardust

stardust — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 04:34:05 +0000

Can someone show some hard numbers on what Randy Pullen actually raised at the state party versus the previous administrations? There seems to be a lot rhetoric about Randy not raising money, but no one ever gives numbers or facts.

By: curious observer

curious observer — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 03:41:57 +0000

OK you explained it well. Makes sense to me.
Thanks

By: Sherlock Homie

Sherlock Homie — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 03:18:18 +0000

What’s wrong with that picture is that leadership and ambition go hand in hand. And it’s a winner-take-all election. Do you expect people that lose legislative seats to hang out at the capitol and attend committee meetings?

And let’s be clear about the goal of a party leader. Recruit candidates and get them elected. Raising money really helps you do the second one. But you should try to recruit candidates that don’t have to rely on party help (money) which means you need to find candidates that are independently wealthy or are able to raise funds themselves, or have IE expenditures made on their behalf.

Everyone knew or should have known that when Pullen was elected there’d be no money. So the smart ones running got their own house in order because they knew early on they could not rely on the party and just bootstrapped it. The not-so-smart-ones still bootstrapped it. The irony of course is that Pullen shows up and takes credit for their victories, and in a sad way he’s actually right.

By: curious observer

curious observer — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 23:59:40 +0000

Hey SA I do find it disturbing to me that it comes down to a test of who is more pro life…
The right to life PAC declaration should have taken that issue off the table.
What I do find equally disturbing is these posts about James that talk about her lack of participation in helping the party during the last two years. If she cared about the party for its own sake, we should have seen her rolling up her sleeves to help and then it would prove to everyone she was everything she claimed to be. That would have made the case in my mind for her to have a sucessful run now. But if it is true that she bailed on her obligations to her her own precinct and other tasks that is very sad. When she did not win by 4 votes 2 years ago did she take her marbles and go home ? If so now to emerge again when it is time to re-elect a new leader is kinda creepy.
Why not use that time to pitch in and work with the party apparatus to prove her dedication beyond personal ambition ?

What is wrong with this picture ?

By: Casual Observer

Casual Observer — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 22:17:00 +0000

“HE” didn’t do anything but spend illegal campaign contributions on a pornographic ad!

The hard work of serious candidates, grassroots elbow-grease, the Marriage Amendment and Sen. McCain on the ballot did it. Any other year and we would be looking at a Dem controlled House today.

By: AZGOPgal

AZGOPgal — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 21:52:37 +0000

Goodyear GOP,

Are you insane? “He’s gotten more platform Republicans elected to all levels of government than anyone before”? Which candidates did Randy Pullen directly help elect? Can you name any, much less say it with a straight face?

By: Sherlock Homie

Sherlock Homie — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 20:25:30 +0000

The sun came up today. Re-elect Pullen!

By: Goodyear GOP

Goodyear GOP — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 19:33:10 +0000

Simple, elect Randy Pullen!

He’s gotten more platform Republicans elected to all levels of government than anyone before, and he did it in a rough year for Republicans.

Next question.

By: DSW

DSW — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 18:15:53 +0000

First, the statement issued by the Arizona Right to Life PAC is NOT an endorsement. It is simply a revelation of where Lisa James and Randy Pullen stand on sanctity of life issues. I have not seen the survey but I would expect it to contain a question regarding the GOP platform and the acceptance and advocacy of candidates who embrace it.

Second, Gordon James is NOT running for Chairman. Katherine Pullen is NOT running for Chairman. Kim makes a good point about the Matalin/Carville relationship.

Third, Because the statement by AZRTLPAC is not an endorsement but rather an acknowledgment that both candidates meet AZRTLPAC’s criteria on life issues, this appears to make this an even playing field.

I would therefore encourage our readers and ultimately, precinct committeemen, to look at the candidates on other issues but more importantly, HOW WE ARE GOING TO GET MORE PLATFORM REPUBLICANS ELECTED AT ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT IN ARIZONA (keywords: “Platform Republicans elected”) (Hopefully that didn’t come over as shouting.)