Floyd County's GOP chairman returned to the editorial page yesterday, lamenting the passing of two local Republicans who he characterized as being among the heroes:
Pay homage to some true political stalwarts, by Dave Matthews, Local Guest Columnist (News and Tribune).
Those folks who serve, often unpaid and seldom thanked, who do so just because they feel they can make a difference. To folks like Charlie (Wilson) and Dick (Stewart), I want to say a very hearty “Thank You” for your faithful service through all the years when practically no one knew or cared that you were there.
For folks like Charlie and Dick, who can't tell you anymore but continue to say so by the example of their life's testimony, I want to tell everyone who thinks their participation doesn't make a difference: “It does!”
Point taken. Wilson was a friend of my late father's, and Stewart a feisty adversary in the blogosphere. Both were involved, and that certainly counts for something, doesn't it?
Matthews also briefly revisited the November election:
It was hard enough convincing people to vote for our Republican candidates when our party is already outnumbered in New Albany by a margin of 2 to 1. But add to that the apparent apathy that seems to be displayed by such poor numbers in voter turnout and it's almost enough to make one downright depressed.
Indeed, pervasive apathy and a low voter turnout are depressing phenomenons, but just as dispiriting to me is the tendency, almost certainly more pronounced among the city's older citizenry, of blindly choosing a straight party ticket. Straight ticket voting played a demonstrable role in returning to office the 3rd district's accidental councilman, Steve "Minor Chord" Price.
While Matthews probably isn't incorrect in blaming these social conditions for hampering the Republican cause, the collateral damage affects one and all, not just Republicans. Furthermore, when considering his party's catastrophic performance in November, its executive level campaign strategy is deserving of analysis, too.
New Albany's municipal Republicans by all rights should be in the position of the Bolsheviks in pre-revolutionary Russia: Fewer in number, but capable of greater feats of organization and political savvy. They're not, and for this persistent condition, the voting public's disinterest is not responsible.
The free market response is obvious, Dave: Offer a new and improved product, and see if you move more units.
And, like Mike Sodrel, pray for Hillary to run. Perhaps President Bush will visit New Albany yet again to court the Neanderthal vote ... and that's your bloc to lose.
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