This is the personal weblog of Aakash Raut, established Sept. 2002. It will cover current affairs, worldwide & national topics, local & university events, and provide insight and commentary on contemporary issues and the news from his perspective. Enjoy!
--------------- ARCHIVES Sept 2002 - Now
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I've noticed that some people (often due to very-legitimate alternative commitments) have been limiting their involvement in this year's bellwether Illinois elections.
And (due to a series of developments), I was thinking that I may be one of them, as well. While I knew I would definitely be involved, due to my roles as a GOP volunteer leader, Precinct Committeeman, and CRNC [low-level] Regional officer, I am not "on staff" of any campaign...
There were many, many good reasons for me to sharply-limit my political volunteerism (as I know some have been doing, due to other commitments, and busy-ness) this year; In fact, me doing so might seem to make the most sense:
- I've been heavily-involved (mostly unpaid*) in election campaigns since the year 2000, and have put in so much time, effort, money, and... [headaches, etc...] and other personal sacrifices over the past decade.
[*Note: I don't like terms like "unpaid" - While a position may not be monetarily paid, they payment often comes in other forms... The bottom part of this blog entry is also pertinent, in re: that.]
- I was hoping, this year, to be on staff (either full- or part-time) for a 2010 ILGOP election campaign. My efforts to do so did not pan out (which has been problematic, for other reasons, but that's a topic for another time). I did not want get into a situation (as has been somewhat the case, in the past), in which I work at a level that's close to what someone on campaign staff would do (while nonetheless not being on staff). While that type of thing may have been fine, in the past, in more-recent years, I've definitely needed to be on [someone's!] staff (if not on a campaign, then elsewhere).
- Though I haven't been employed by a campaign this year, I've had other occupational commitments. (After finishing a position with a national consulting group, I worked this summer full-time for a state bureau, and have now been working part-time, for a department within the university; I've also had several web design & "New Media" projects pending, which I've barely been able to make a dent in [due to my current campaign involvement, etc.]!)
- Also: While I have helped out a great deal in the past, and while some [especially at the County level!!] have indeed been very appreciative, there are some in the political scene (and I've heard this from others, as well) for whom there is "no reciprocity." Certain leaders (young & old, past & present) have benefited from my prior work & sacrifices, and have then mostly-ignored my [attempted!] contacts, when I have needed something. This is something I noticed, awhile back (and I've heard similar accounts, from other people).
- There are other factors (personal matters, interpersonal conflicts, etc.) as well, due to which it would make most sense for me to NOT be greatly-involved in this year's election season.
To greatly-limit my [volunteer, non-staff] involvement in all of that, at this point of my life/career (due to aforesaid, and other factors) is what would appear to make the most sense.
But while there are many solid, valid reasons to limit aforesaid involvement, there is one exceptionally-good reason not to - and to do everything we can, to push our candidates (especially Brady-Plummer 2010) to victory:
Don't put much stock the (publicly-accessible) polls. If they were credible, then why would campaigns be spending money on their own ("internal") polling?
I was there, right before the 2002 elections, when President George W. Bush came into Springfield, to help our ILGOP ticket. Gubernatorial nominee Jim Ryan, who up till that point was viewed as being behind the Democrat nominee, emphasized the respected Zogby poll (which was also being splashed around the web, by the State Party, et. al.), showing that he was actually slightly ahead of Blagojevich! (Most polls before then had showed him behind.) Furthermore, Jim Ryan had received the nomination of just about every single major newspaper in Illinois.
I recall, shortly before the 2006 election (by this time, almost all of Illinois was aware that Blago was scum), a poll that excited Illinois Republicans, showing our nominee within striking distance.
But here's the thing (many Republicans realize this, and I heard it again from a prominent GOP leader, just tonight):
If we don't win [at the statewide level] this time, there may NEVER be another chance.
A victory for the Brady-Plummer ticket is VITAL. A win for them would end not only the corrupt Democratic control of our state, but would also undermine the "moderate" (liberal) "Combine" ideology, that has been plaguing our own party. Both Bill Brady and Jason Plummer are downstate and independent-minded conservative GOP leaders.
So, I know that many of us have legitimate and sensible reasons to limit our volunteer involvement, during this election period. (I've only briefly touched on mine; Yours might be solid, as well.) It might make sense, to put this low, on your priority list.
****But the stakes, this time, are just too d*mn high, to do so. posted by Aakash at 2:49 AM
But while there are many solid, valid reasons to limit aforesaid involvement, there is one exceptionally-good reason not to - and to do everything we can, to push our candidates (especially Brady-Plummer 2010) to victory: