The Republican National Committee has been meeting in Las Vegas. Turning Point USA’s Charlie Kirk arranged counter-programming in Vegas with a handful of hyper-online alt-right activists and fringe celebrities floating Taylor Swift conspiracy theories and demanding accountability for Ronna McDaniel, the RNC Chairwoman, and the RNC as a whole for losses in 2018, 2020, and 2022. Kirk, who at thirty owns a nearly $5 million home on a golf course in Arizona and a place on the beach in Florida, wants donors to give Turning Point their money instead of the RNC.
I like the juxtaposition here, but it is apples and oranges. Charlie Kirk is to the GOP as Stacey Abrams is to the DNC (at least in Georgia).
If the Squad is alt left, where are the alt right representatives that want to turn America into a dystopian ultra conservative vision, according to Google white nationalist with opposition to racial, religious, or gender equality?
Politics is down hill from society. The Squad was elected. So we have Democrats, Democrat voters, who are ok with their agenda.
While I see Trump humpers as being just as myopic I don't see them advocating for the destruction of America and our institutions, just the elites.
Only leftists elites conflate themselves with America.
As we've said numerous times.... Republicans like to hold office, while Democrats like to hold power. Democrats are in it to win it, at any cost. Republicans are in it just to get paid.
The WSJ editorial pages weigh in on this general topic today, with the “Taylor Swift Psyop” as they call it, and the “Internet rage and fundraising” by Henninger. Both good reads.
the Republican committee is working against Trump- just like you. Why would Trump do anything to help them. The FBI/judges/DOJ/etc. suppose to enforce laws - but they’re corrupt. But you skirt the issue because they’re corrupt against Trump- so that’s ok with you. Same with all the Jan6 crimes against citizens. In most folks view - that makes you corrupt. Are you corrupt or what? I doubt you’re misinformed. So that doesn’t leave many options except that you to are corrupt. Your Georgia friends prosecuting Trump seem to be corrupt. Help expose them. I hope you get it together and get on the right side. It is obvious that Trump is the best choice for President. How about helping him get elected. It’ll be best for the country. Anything else is going to be terrible for the country. You’re bound to know this. So if you don’t help him, you’re hurting the country. Do the right thing!
Corrupt? Really? Seems more like if a person doesn’t completely agree with your views they are “corrupt, Trump haters, etc.”. He was saying that for a non-profit those at to making a lot of money and some folks looking into that which they should be doing. As for the rest he was explaining the law & facts. He was in no way cheer leading the RNC just that it is basically broke and unfortunately how it works is what we are stuck w for 2024. Also that TPUSA not necessarily helping your chosen one. You need to rethink your reaction to information you do not like and who brings it. You are doing more damage to Trump as certainly not inspiring those who might be on fence.
“In most folk view [sic] - that makes you corrupt.” I doubt that most people who regularly listen to Mr. Erickson’s radio show or read his substack believe that he’s corrupt even though he’s not a Trump worshipper. He has indeed criticized the unusually harsh penalties meted out by the DOJ and the courts to J6 participants. I’m guessing from your comment about Erick’s “Georgia friends prosecuting Trump…” that you don’t regularly read what he says and writes. To my knowledge, the only one in Georgia who is prosecuting Trump is Fani Willis, the Fulton County DA, and I very much doubt that Erick considers her a friend. Additionally, I first became aware of her corruption from listening to his radio program and reading his substack. Regardless of his feelings about Trump, he HAS exposed her. I am stunned that you keep accusing Erick of corruption. Please realize that not all of us believe Trump is best for our country, and we have a right to vote for and support the person we believe would be the best choice as our next POTUS. Sadly, I’m personally not convinced that Trump will do the right thing if he is returned to the Oval Office.
Sir, I think you need to take a step back and think about what you just wrote. The RNC wholeheartedly endorsed Trump, everyone in Washinton did but Chip Roy and Thomas Massie. Like earthy.bookworm they handed him the nomination on a silver platter. Explain why he did not have to do any debates. As far as the FBI, DOJ, and the judges you better talk to Biden and the democrats. Apparently I'm not like most folks if you have opinion that I don't agree with in my mind that does not make you corrupt.
He’s still taking shots at Kari Lake after the republican establishment got caught trying to bribe her. Who else are they bribing around the world? People that support the establishment should expect to be scrutinized.
The RNC practically coronated Trump. When the DNC did it for Hillary Clinton against Bernie Sanders, we all called the DNC corrupt. Agree or disagree with Erickson, and I do disagree often, but calling him "corrupt" is preposterous.
TPUSA call for vote harvesting/ ballot chasing is no panacea - it is something not all that available to Republicans . It inextricably requires pushing vote by mail/absentee voting . Adopting it will not lead to voting integrity in blue, purple or red states. Labor intensive money required to run it is better spent on other influencing methodologies. No blue ribbons for trading in-person voting for vote-by-mail
For Democrats ballot harvesting processes are -- 1) the only way they can get many of their total idiots to vote, 2) a useful way to intimidate others, and 3) part of the process of efficiently inventing voters and voting them.
Ballot harvesting is just not all that available to the Republican infrastructure or as regards the number of foot soldiers necessary to do the harvesting. For Democrats the harvesters are often paid by others (one way or another) who have direct financial incentives tied to Democrats -- unions, NGOs, government employees, college and university apparatus and more.
The claimed "realism" of Republican advocates of ballot harvesting is naive, or inexperienced in what it would entail and myopic about who would respond. I also believe it an attack on the conservative activist base who have fought for voter integrity laws and which will be irritated at best by the resources inextricably wasted hectoring them to vote early and if not voting in front of the "harvesters' to have someone pick up their ballot right away so it can be "banked".
As for it being the path to victory and true election reform: advocates never explain why Republicans would give up a tool they are beating Democrats with, or Democrats would give up the only technique they have to turn out or invent much of their vote. We think that political "reality" belies the sincerity of the argument. There are more productive ways to win -- turn Democrats collected ballots against them with aggressive messaging NOW.
Ballot harvesting requires earlier voting than otherwise accommodating which becomes a bi-partisan but anti-good-government zeitgeist. Republican advocates of ballot harvesters are wanting to join the bandwagon, increase the reliance on early vote-by-mail.
But as regards to excessively early voting how many Republican votes did the Republican early voting advocates loose to early suppression of the Hunter Biden laptop revelations and other matters which only started to gain legs in the final week(s) of the 2020 election?
Those votes may have been available from marginal Dems and marginal Republicans voting Dem but were already "banked" (insert not mere snark but derision as to use of the term). Aggressive early messaging to inform and inoculate is needed not early voting.
And seriously -- signature "verification" (supposed safe-guard to vote by mail) because signatures are uniform, verification is actually done, verification is reliable and incorruptible, and produces timely election results en mass -- matters easily ridiculed but which ballot harvester proponents are forced to defend.
And all the "do as Democrats do" champions need to answer this question: who are these people YOU are going to harvest ballots from and then who else is going to do it. Will they get their hands dirty because for many it is unseemly at best to hector someone into giving you their ballot?. They might respond: WHAT a simple phone call to say "we see you have not voted yet and we would like to come over and pick up your ballot, and take that burden off of you. If you cooperate you won't get these calls anymore." That is the essence of the message and there is a lot, mostly negative, wrapped up in that for inclined Republican voters.
Hectoring people to vote early is key to nothing, it is inefficiently trading timely votes for early votes to earn some paid apparatchiks some gold stars. It is based on the theory of marginally increasing total votes which I fear would be at the expense of instead using the resources to create a larger juggernaut of enthusiasm to vote to save the country from Democrats.
Performance by Republican elected officials while in office and strong electoral messaging, targeted as necessary, defended not mealy-mouthed, -- done early -- moves more votes the Republican way than wasteful so called "banking" of votes - a concept the defense of which is ridiculous and a lie in practice.
If you have one 30 second or a 1 minute spot they all cost money whatever the message. Hectoring to vote early to submit to harvesting walks on informative messaging and for many Republicans and independents smacks of the bum's rush. And phone calls get through now at a rate of 1% and the hangups for that sort of call are the majority or to tell the caller that they have or will vote. But it does not stop future calls
Door knocks are answered maybe 1 in 3 or 1 in 4 in prime time ( surrounding the supper hour) in suburbia and less than that other hours of the day. Trust me, soft voters answer the door even less. Then there are access controlled buildings to probably not get into. So you mail all kinds of things and, horrendously, even absentee request forms that with fraud minded people might be answered and voted by someone else in the household or even the neighborhood and not necessarily by the Republican lest anyone have any doubt.
Turn people against Democrats and you just may have THEM vote against the Democrat in the privacy of their home, even if it is collected by a Democrat.
A lot of the problems Republican face in electioneering were seeded by them as well with their support of the expansion of early vote by mail -- an inherently insecure fraud prone anti good-government system. In some states there has been a modest reduction in voting "season" but voting by mail even if reduced to twenty days is an inherent playground for unscrupulous people a.k.a. Democrats.
Republicans who vote early by mail are anxious but know how to vote. Vote by mail is a playground for mass and onesy twosy intimidation, made up votes and then continuous counting that somehow generally does not go well for Republicans. Better to restrict vote by mail as inherently fraud prone and emphasize vote in person (even if over at most a week with in-person satellite voting enabled) where there is contemporanious ID check and observation guaranteeing intimidation free privacy of the vote along with simplified and far more reliable chain of custody of the vote. Like the old days when turn-out was as high or higher than it is today.
If Democrats beat Republicans by 9 points in mail-in voting what percentage do Repubs beat them at the polls? If you are saying Repubs are maxed out at the polls you have not seen all-voter turn out figures. The bottom line is more votes (ballots) that can be safely made and authentically survive any recount. Chain of custody is demonsterably superior or at least possible with in-person voting. Expand in-person voting to satellite centers to accommodate some early voting but not 30 or 40 days for ballot harvesting (that is the minimum Democrats say they need).
By the way turn out in the 1960 and 70s was as much or better than today and vote by mail was rare with the overwhelming vote on election DAY.
Message-less vote-early harangues whether using door-to-door, phone or mail, and flat messaging in other mail, banner ads, and radio and TV advertising buys are largely wasteful. Use the money that will need to be raised tp appeal to the majority of people who are largely tired of the woke nonsense -- unlimited illegal immigration, -- energy DEPENDENCE, -- men in women's sports, -- crime and no punishment, -- costs of food, fuel and home prices -- high taxes -- no normalcy, culture being destroyed, sexualizing children -- abortion on demand for any reason at any time before birth, -- corporations with no allegiance to the US, -- one-world government, -- failing schools . . .
Spend the large amount of money necessary for a ballot harvesting program, destined to be an expensive not very productive gleaning operation, on better truth telling messaging to be productively reaped as it resists Democrats noxious plants.
I'm glad I took the time to read your entire comment. You shared several valuable insights, including the following:
"Turn people against Democrats and you just may have THEM vote against the Democrat in the privacy of their home, even if it is collected by a Democrat."
I also appreciate anyone who uses "as regards" correctly. :)
As an activist over the years I have knocked on probably 10,000 doors as a candidate and for other candidates. I have made a few thousand calls over the years participating in phone banks which struck me even decades ago that while they were perhaps marginally useful back then were as much an effort to give people something to do. I still believe in door knocking and "lit drops" as a cost saver but not wasting face time hectoring people to vote by mail and further inculcating a very bad fraud enabling system of voting.
I don't care what TP does. I don't give money to groups like that. I also just am not familiar with them.
But...
I've wondered for years where all the investigative reporters went.
Well, they seemed to be on vacation during the Obama years, came back with vengeance during Trump, and now...they investigate TP USA.
Great work AP.
Not that this is an excuse, but there was a non-profit for veterans that had similar "upper management" issues a few years back. To some degree I think it is a learning curve, dealing with success. Maybe they'll work their way through it.
Oct 7 has really shined a bright light on antisemitism in our country...and the world.
We have both Turning Point USA and the RNC to thank for Donald Trump being the presumed Republican candidate.
TPUSA has a chapter at my daughter's school, where every student besides my daughter seems to be a brain-washed Trump supporter. When students at a Classical Christian School think DeSantis is terrible, something is wrong.
The RNC ran a primary that didn't force Trump to debate and yet forbade other candidates from debating outside the RNC-sanctioned forums. Now the RNC has "declared" Trump the candidate, despite only two states voting and Haley still being in the race.
TPUSA and the RNC did everything but hand the nomination to Trump on a silver platter. And after doing so, Charlie Kirk had the nerve to lay out all of Trump's "negatives" (which are substantial!) on Megyn Kelly's show last week. Thanks a lot, Republican Party!
They want the outrage to profit from without actually doing a thing. Hence, if Trump loses, cha-ching for the next four years without actually having to accomplish a thing.
In fairness would like to hear Mr. Kirk comment on the reported ostentatious assets at such a young age. If it is all derived from TPUSA that would be scandalous. If it is more indirect as in book deals that is another however still a bit disconcerting and possibly dispositive of available grift, say if he benefits from the organizations resources to pad outside income more than mere association. There are also articles about CPAC chairman's "substantial" salary increase and connection to Trump. Then again we allow many hospitals to call themselves "non-profit" but it seems the higher administration is well-paid. The leadership needs to make a living but just don't assume a lot about their sacrifice.
In fairness to Republican Party leadership at local and state levels and even the RNC the paint brush should be trimmed as to financial gain. With the exception of paid staff,and we have to have it, I believe local and state central committees and RNC members are all unpaid. They are voluntary boards. They and especially the hired staff can play favorites with vendors, be easily bamboozled by them, but I doubt payola is serious or widespread issue with the voluntary governing committees (to the extent they govern, a different issue). Certainly staff needs to be watched. The RNC unlike Dems does not have a well-oiled system of injecting essentially paid operatives into the "voluntary" governance. My impression anyway.
It seems that a whole lot of trust is being given to the republican establishment, when all they have done for years is lie to the voters in order to be elected and then turn tail as soon as they arrive in DC. The conservative republican message is the RIGHT way to run our country, it’s a shame those saying it don’t believe it or at least don’t believe it’s worth fighting for.
Turning Point is a sham. I have seen from experience with my daughter while she was at the University of Georgia. She was a "Silence is violence" cancel victim in high school when she was not sufficiently vocal about the goings on. This carried on into college where she was especially leery of a repeat. The leftist voices were everywhere. Sorority members telling her, "Its a good thing you didn't join one of those racist sororities" as they brought in a conga line of NACP reps, BLM, etc. to preach to them. She resigned.
The noise was everywhere, and she was hunting for a place to find people she could at least talk to safely. Turning Point was one of those she sought out. It turned out to just be a veneer of an organization that really didn't do a thing. Just enough to show they they had a chapter there, but they did absolutely nothing. It was especially bad in terms of the great need of a community where people could meet people who they could at least talk somewhat openly. The campus Republicans were a little better, but this community building amongst the young people is supposed to be the TP USA shtick. I call BS.
If what you say about TP is true, it certainly must be exposed and addressed. And for the most part I believe you. But at the same time you point out that TP is harming the establishment Republican Party by depriving it of funding and questioning its honesty and effectiveness. And those are actually good things as the Republican establishment’s corruption and incompetence must also be exposed and addressed. So are we with you Erick in your criticism of TP? Well I don’t know. Because this may be just another example of your blind and irrational unwavering support for the Republican establishment. Your misplaced loyalty calls your credibility into question. Politics is instinct so deeply ingrained in our DNA to render all of us incapable of disregarding it with reason.
Re-read he wasn’t standing up for them he was stating that by law we are stuck w them and a broke or closed down RNC not good for 2024. Unless you all can force a change at this late date re-think where your money goes and gear up to force RNC change for next opportunity. We also need down ballot wins.
While I agree with what you said, I also believe that the Republican Party should take a realistic view of itself. It needs to upgrade and modernize, and, maybe most importantly in my opinion, actually listen to the voters. This would hold true for candidates also
Unfortunately Charlie Kirk is on my "conservative" radio station 9-noon every freaking day. (I wish it was Erick Erickson). The grift only works for people like him and Stacie Abrams (or Trump for that matter) because stupid people keep sending them money.
Thank you, Erick, for shining the light, for calling out all the self-serving, the grifters and thieves.
I like the juxtaposition here, but it is apples and oranges. Charlie Kirk is to the GOP as Stacey Abrams is to the DNC (at least in Georgia).
If the Squad is alt left, where are the alt right representatives that want to turn America into a dystopian ultra conservative vision, according to Google white nationalist with opposition to racial, religious, or gender equality?
Politics is down hill from society. The Squad was elected. So we have Democrats, Democrat voters, who are ok with their agenda.
While I see Trump humpers as being just as myopic I don't see them advocating for the destruction of America and our institutions, just the elites.
Only leftists elites conflate themselves with America.
As we've said numerous times.... Republicans like to hold office, while Democrats like to hold power. Democrats are in it to win it, at any cost. Republicans are in it just to get paid.
Grift indeed
Beyond grift. Traitors. These folks outright lied when they took their oaths of office.
The WSJ editorial pages weigh in on this general topic today, with the “Taylor Swift Psyop” as they call it, and the “Internet rage and fundraising” by Henninger. Both good reads.
the Republican committee is working against Trump- just like you. Why would Trump do anything to help them. The FBI/judges/DOJ/etc. suppose to enforce laws - but they’re corrupt. But you skirt the issue because they’re corrupt against Trump- so that’s ok with you. Same with all the Jan6 crimes against citizens. In most folks view - that makes you corrupt. Are you corrupt or what? I doubt you’re misinformed. So that doesn’t leave many options except that you to are corrupt. Your Georgia friends prosecuting Trump seem to be corrupt. Help expose them. I hope you get it together and get on the right side. It is obvious that Trump is the best choice for President. How about helping him get elected. It’ll be best for the country. Anything else is going to be terrible for the country. You’re bound to know this. So if you don’t help him, you’re hurting the country. Do the right thing!
Corrupt? Really? Seems more like if a person doesn’t completely agree with your views they are “corrupt, Trump haters, etc.”. He was saying that for a non-profit those at to making a lot of money and some folks looking into that which they should be doing. As for the rest he was explaining the law & facts. He was in no way cheer leading the RNC just that it is basically broke and unfortunately how it works is what we are stuck w for 2024. Also that TPUSA not necessarily helping your chosen one. You need to rethink your reaction to information you do not like and who brings it. You are doing more damage to Trump as certainly not inspiring those who might be on fence.
“In most folk view [sic] - that makes you corrupt.” I doubt that most people who regularly listen to Mr. Erickson’s radio show or read his substack believe that he’s corrupt even though he’s not a Trump worshipper. He has indeed criticized the unusually harsh penalties meted out by the DOJ and the courts to J6 participants. I’m guessing from your comment about Erick’s “Georgia friends prosecuting Trump…” that you don’t regularly read what he says and writes. To my knowledge, the only one in Georgia who is prosecuting Trump is Fani Willis, the Fulton County DA, and I very much doubt that Erick considers her a friend. Additionally, I first became aware of her corruption from listening to his radio program and reading his substack. Regardless of his feelings about Trump, he HAS exposed her. I am stunned that you keep accusing Erick of corruption. Please realize that not all of us believe Trump is best for our country, and we have a right to vote for and support the person we believe would be the best choice as our next POTUS. Sadly, I’m personally not convinced that Trump will do the right thing if he is returned to the Oval Office.
Sir, I think you need to take a step back and think about what you just wrote. The RNC wholeheartedly endorsed Trump, everyone in Washinton did but Chip Roy and Thomas Massie. Like earthy.bookworm they handed him the nomination on a silver platter. Explain why he did not have to do any debates. As far as the FBI, DOJ, and the judges you better talk to Biden and the democrats. Apparently I'm not like most folks if you have opinion that I don't agree with in my mind that does not make you corrupt.
He’s still taking shots at Kari Lake after the republican establishment got caught trying to bribe her. Who else are they bribing around the world? People that support the establishment should expect to be scrutinized.
So, she made her own errors and some big. Kudos for not taking bride doesn’t excuse those.
The RNC practically coronated Trump. When the DNC did it for Hillary Clinton against Bernie Sanders, we all called the DNC corrupt. Agree or disagree with Erickson, and I do disagree often, but calling him "corrupt" is preposterous.
exactly
I like Megan Kelly, but she’s had Kirk on numerous times and has never really addressed this. I wish she would at some point
Agreed! She needs to be tougher on him.
TPUSA call for vote harvesting/ ballot chasing is no panacea - it is something not all that available to Republicans . It inextricably requires pushing vote by mail/absentee voting . Adopting it will not lead to voting integrity in blue, purple or red states. Labor intensive money required to run it is better spent on other influencing methodologies. No blue ribbons for trading in-person voting for vote-by-mail
For Democrats ballot harvesting processes are -- 1) the only way they can get many of their total idiots to vote, 2) a useful way to intimidate others, and 3) part of the process of efficiently inventing voters and voting them.
Ballot harvesting is just not all that available to the Republican infrastructure or as regards the number of foot soldiers necessary to do the harvesting. For Democrats the harvesters are often paid by others (one way or another) who have direct financial incentives tied to Democrats -- unions, NGOs, government employees, college and university apparatus and more.
The claimed "realism" of Republican advocates of ballot harvesting is naive, or inexperienced in what it would entail and myopic about who would respond. I also believe it an attack on the conservative activist base who have fought for voter integrity laws and which will be irritated at best by the resources inextricably wasted hectoring them to vote early and if not voting in front of the "harvesters' to have someone pick up their ballot right away so it can be "banked".
As for it being the path to victory and true election reform: advocates never explain why Republicans would give up a tool they are beating Democrats with, or Democrats would give up the only technique they have to turn out or invent much of their vote. We think that political "reality" belies the sincerity of the argument. There are more productive ways to win -- turn Democrats collected ballots against them with aggressive messaging NOW.
Ballot harvesting requires earlier voting than otherwise accommodating which becomes a bi-partisan but anti-good-government zeitgeist. Republican advocates of ballot harvesters are wanting to join the bandwagon, increase the reliance on early vote-by-mail.
But as regards to excessively early voting how many Republican votes did the Republican early voting advocates loose to early suppression of the Hunter Biden laptop revelations and other matters which only started to gain legs in the final week(s) of the 2020 election?
Those votes may have been available from marginal Dems and marginal Republicans voting Dem but were already "banked" (insert not mere snark but derision as to use of the term). Aggressive early messaging to inform and inoculate is needed not early voting.
And seriously -- signature "verification" (supposed safe-guard to vote by mail) because signatures are uniform, verification is actually done, verification is reliable and incorruptible, and produces timely election results en mass -- matters easily ridiculed but which ballot harvester proponents are forced to defend.
And all the "do as Democrats do" champions need to answer this question: who are these people YOU are going to harvest ballots from and then who else is going to do it. Will they get their hands dirty because for many it is unseemly at best to hector someone into giving you their ballot?. They might respond: WHAT a simple phone call to say "we see you have not voted yet and we would like to come over and pick up your ballot, and take that burden off of you. If you cooperate you won't get these calls anymore." That is the essence of the message and there is a lot, mostly negative, wrapped up in that for inclined Republican voters.
Hectoring people to vote early is key to nothing, it is inefficiently trading timely votes for early votes to earn some paid apparatchiks some gold stars. It is based on the theory of marginally increasing total votes which I fear would be at the expense of instead using the resources to create a larger juggernaut of enthusiasm to vote to save the country from Democrats.
Performance by Republican elected officials while in office and strong electoral messaging, targeted as necessary, defended not mealy-mouthed, -- done early -- moves more votes the Republican way than wasteful so called "banking" of votes - a concept the defense of which is ridiculous and a lie in practice.
If you have one 30 second or a 1 minute spot they all cost money whatever the message. Hectoring to vote early to submit to harvesting walks on informative messaging and for many Republicans and independents smacks of the bum's rush. And phone calls get through now at a rate of 1% and the hangups for that sort of call are the majority or to tell the caller that they have or will vote. But it does not stop future calls
Door knocks are answered maybe 1 in 3 or 1 in 4 in prime time ( surrounding the supper hour) in suburbia and less than that other hours of the day. Trust me, soft voters answer the door even less. Then there are access controlled buildings to probably not get into. So you mail all kinds of things and, horrendously, even absentee request forms that with fraud minded people might be answered and voted by someone else in the household or even the neighborhood and not necessarily by the Republican lest anyone have any doubt.
Turn people against Democrats and you just may have THEM vote against the Democrat in the privacy of their home, even if it is collected by a Democrat.
A lot of the problems Republican face in electioneering were seeded by them as well with their support of the expansion of early vote by mail -- an inherently insecure fraud prone anti good-government system. In some states there has been a modest reduction in voting "season" but voting by mail even if reduced to twenty days is an inherent playground for unscrupulous people a.k.a. Democrats.
Republicans who vote early by mail are anxious but know how to vote. Vote by mail is a playground for mass and onesy twosy intimidation, made up votes and then continuous counting that somehow generally does not go well for Republicans. Better to restrict vote by mail as inherently fraud prone and emphasize vote in person (even if over at most a week with in-person satellite voting enabled) where there is contemporanious ID check and observation guaranteeing intimidation free privacy of the vote along with simplified and far more reliable chain of custody of the vote. Like the old days when turn-out was as high or higher than it is today.
If Democrats beat Republicans by 9 points in mail-in voting what percentage do Repubs beat them at the polls? If you are saying Repubs are maxed out at the polls you have not seen all-voter turn out figures. The bottom line is more votes (ballots) that can be safely made and authentically survive any recount. Chain of custody is demonsterably superior or at least possible with in-person voting. Expand in-person voting to satellite centers to accommodate some early voting but not 30 or 40 days for ballot harvesting (that is the minimum Democrats say they need).
By the way turn out in the 1960 and 70s was as much or better than today and vote by mail was rare with the overwhelming vote on election DAY.
Message-less vote-early harangues whether using door-to-door, phone or mail, and flat messaging in other mail, banner ads, and radio and TV advertising buys are largely wasteful. Use the money that will need to be raised tp appeal to the majority of people who are largely tired of the woke nonsense -- unlimited illegal immigration, -- energy DEPENDENCE, -- men in women's sports, -- crime and no punishment, -- costs of food, fuel and home prices -- high taxes -- no normalcy, culture being destroyed, sexualizing children -- abortion on demand for any reason at any time before birth, -- corporations with no allegiance to the US, -- one-world government, -- failing schools . . .
Spend the large amount of money necessary for a ballot harvesting program, destined to be an expensive not very productive gleaning operation, on better truth telling messaging to be productively reaped as it resists Democrats noxious plants.
I'm glad I took the time to read your entire comment. You shared several valuable insights, including the following:
"Turn people against Democrats and you just may have THEM vote against the Democrat in the privacy of their home, even if it is collected by a Democrat."
I also appreciate anyone who uses "as regards" correctly. :)
As an activist over the years I have knocked on probably 10,000 doors as a candidate and for other candidates. I have made a few thousand calls over the years participating in phone banks which struck me even decades ago that while they were perhaps marginally useful back then were as much an effort to give people something to do. I still believe in door knocking and "lit drops" as a cost saver but not wasting face time hectoring people to vote by mail and further inculcating a very bad fraud enabling system of voting.
I don't care what TP does. I don't give money to groups like that. I also just am not familiar with them.
But...
I've wondered for years where all the investigative reporters went.
Well, they seemed to be on vacation during the Obama years, came back with vengeance during Trump, and now...they investigate TP USA.
Great work AP.
Not that this is an excuse, but there was a non-profit for veterans that had similar "upper management" issues a few years back. To some degree I think it is a learning curve, dealing with success. Maybe they'll work their way through it.
Oct 7 has really shined a bright light on antisemitism in our country...and the world.
We have both Turning Point USA and the RNC to thank for Donald Trump being the presumed Republican candidate.
TPUSA has a chapter at my daughter's school, where every student besides my daughter seems to be a brain-washed Trump supporter. When students at a Classical Christian School think DeSantis is terrible, something is wrong.
The RNC ran a primary that didn't force Trump to debate and yet forbade other candidates from debating outside the RNC-sanctioned forums. Now the RNC has "declared" Trump the candidate, despite only two states voting and Haley still being in the race.
TPUSA and the RNC did everything but hand the nomination to Trump on a silver platter. And after doing so, Charlie Kirk had the nerve to lay out all of Trump's "negatives" (which are substantial!) on Megyn Kelly's show last week. Thanks a lot, Republican Party!
They want the outrage to profit from without actually doing a thing. Hence, if Trump loses, cha-ching for the next four years without actually having to accomplish a thing.
In fairness would like to hear Mr. Kirk comment on the reported ostentatious assets at such a young age. If it is all derived from TPUSA that would be scandalous. If it is more indirect as in book deals that is another however still a bit disconcerting and possibly dispositive of available grift, say if he benefits from the organizations resources to pad outside income more than mere association. There are also articles about CPAC chairman's "substantial" salary increase and connection to Trump. Then again we allow many hospitals to call themselves "non-profit" but it seems the higher administration is well-paid. The leadership needs to make a living but just don't assume a lot about their sacrifice.
In fairness to Republican Party leadership at local and state levels and even the RNC the paint brush should be trimmed as to financial gain. With the exception of paid staff,and we have to have it, I believe local and state central committees and RNC members are all unpaid. They are voluntary boards. They and especially the hired staff can play favorites with vendors, be easily bamboozled by them, but I doubt payola is serious or widespread issue with the voluntary governing committees (to the extent they govern, a different issue). Certainly staff needs to be watched. The RNC unlike Dems does not have a well-oiled system of injecting essentially paid operatives into the "voluntary" governance. My impression anyway.
Hence the reply to their call for RNC people to disclose their tax returns, you first. I say all of them are grifting to one degree or another.
It seems that a whole lot of trust is being given to the republican establishment, when all they have done for years is lie to the voters in order to be elected and then turn tail as soon as they arrive in DC. The conservative republican message is the RIGHT way to run our country, it’s a shame those saying it don’t believe it or at least don’t believe it’s worth fighting for.
Term Limits for all!!!
Turning Point is a sham. I have seen from experience with my daughter while she was at the University of Georgia. She was a "Silence is violence" cancel victim in high school when she was not sufficiently vocal about the goings on. This carried on into college where she was especially leery of a repeat. The leftist voices were everywhere. Sorority members telling her, "Its a good thing you didn't join one of those racist sororities" as they brought in a conga line of NACP reps, BLM, etc. to preach to them. She resigned.
The noise was everywhere, and she was hunting for a place to find people she could at least talk to safely. Turning Point was one of those she sought out. It turned out to just be a veneer of an organization that really didn't do a thing. Just enough to show they they had a chapter there, but they did absolutely nothing. It was especially bad in terms of the great need of a community where people could meet people who they could at least talk somewhat openly. The campus Republicans were a little better, but this community building amongst the young people is supposed to be the TP USA shtick. I call BS.
If what you say about TP is true, it certainly must be exposed and addressed. And for the most part I believe you. But at the same time you point out that TP is harming the establishment Republican Party by depriving it of funding and questioning its honesty and effectiveness. And those are actually good things as the Republican establishment’s corruption and incompetence must also be exposed and addressed. So are we with you Erick in your criticism of TP? Well I don’t know. Because this may be just another example of your blind and irrational unwavering support for the Republican establishment. Your misplaced loyalty calls your credibility into question. Politics is instinct so deeply ingrained in our DNA to render all of us incapable of disregarding it with reason.
Re-read he wasn’t standing up for them he was stating that by law we are stuck w them and a broke or closed down RNC not good for 2024. Unless you all can force a change at this late date re-think where your money goes and gear up to force RNC change for next opportunity. We also need down ballot wins.
While I agree with what you said, I also believe that the Republican Party should take a realistic view of itself. It needs to upgrade and modernize, and, maybe most importantly in my opinion, actually listen to the voters. This would hold true for candidates also
Unfortunately Charlie Kirk is on my "conservative" radio station 9-noon every freaking day. (I wish it was Erick Erickson). The grift only works for people like him and Stacie Abrams (or Trump for that matter) because stupid people keep sending them money.
"A fool and his money are soon parted..."