25 Comments

This is a fantastic piece with thoughtful conclusions. Thank you, Brian!

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Very well said!

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Amen! The insight is appreciated.

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Old school Republican Chucks, what do you expect from them. Thats the problem with the republicans always has been they would rather fight amongst themselves than actually accomplish anything. This in house squabbling will continue and poison the well. This shows just how little the losers are. Little men, short sighted, power holding, little men. Sad very sad.

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Trent Clark's profile bio on Twitter: "Crafter of customized grain malts for baking, confections and brewing. Concerned that true "conservatism" has been hijacked by drug dealers and crypto-peddlers."

Soo......anyone who doesn't follow along with his establishment definition of "conservatism" is a drug dealer or crypto-peddler. Hmmm...

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Let's not burn the GOP to the ground because of who's in charge. Let's burn it to the ground for being an utter failure as a vehicle for conservative progress and, instead, a vehicle for stealth Leftists masquerading as conservatives.

I have the gas. Anyone have a match?

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Hate to say it (not really) but the GOP has been having this battle for decades and it will never go away. Saint Ronnie Reagan talked about the party's "big tent" and welcomed republicans with differing points of view. That seems out the window for some now. Labeling fellow republicans as "stealth lefties" and "Rinos" because they disagree with you is offensive. It remains me of this Kari Lake stuff in Arizona where she continues to denigrate noted communist (meant humorously) John McCain. On what planet does someone act this disrespectfully towards a war hero and former U.S. senator?!? On planet purity, I guess.

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Being a "war hero" doesn't make you a good person or a conservative. Only God himself will know what to do with John McCain. I voted for both he and Mitt Romney over Barack Obama but that while holding my nose! It was establishment power RINOs who gave us Romney and McCain as our Republican candidates in the first place. I'm tired of those milquetoast candidates who make agreements with the left and abandon their conservatism almost immediately after the primaries. We all should be tired of that clown show repeating itself over and over.

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Using John McCain as an example proves the point. How many times did John McCain have a gang of (insert number here) while he undermined the GOP and made deals with Democrats? McCain was after all the deciding vote to kill Obamacare, but his hatred for Orange man was far more important. Conservatives need to strategize to expose and take out more of these light weight GOP members in primaries and fight for more power of the party with no holds barred momentum.

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Well, being a "conservative" or "superlib" or anything else doesn't make anyone a good person. I suppose only God himself (assuming one) will know what to do with any of us. The GOP is not going to build itself into the force it wants to be by catering to people who want ideological purity. Those folks are always going to be looking for someone to go after. It's like the French Revolution or something. Look what happened to Robspierre.

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Let me educate you Herr Wissenschaft! John McCain was NO, I repeat, NO war hero. He was a hot-dog, Navy aviator who lost five Navy jets due to his malfeasance. He was shot down over North Vietnam because he disobeyed the standing order you don't fly below a certain altitude because SAM (missiles) could only go so high. McCain went below that altitude and got shot down. When McCain was released, he dumped his cancer-ridden wife for the wealthy Cindy. And, by the way, McCain was a lousy senator, voting and cavorting with Democrats his whole senate career. Learn before you type!

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Ahem:

Silver Star Legion of Merit (2) with Combat "V" Distinguished Flying Cross Bronze Star Medal (3) with Combat "V" Purple Heart

Debate settled!

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Politics in the military. Pathetic. He should posthumously stripped of every one of those medals.

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Thank you

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We will not save Idaho from Leftist ideals with the likes of Trent Clark. It is time to strengthen our resolve to become the "Shining City on the Hill" that Reagan espoused. The status quo of the Establishment running our state needs to be put in the rear view mirror.

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I was at the meeting .

I arrived 45 minutes early.

I help set up chairs for the people who came to observe.

I suggested to both Daniel silva and diamond watkins to open the room divider to allow more space for observers.

I was told it was necessary.

We don't want that many people here.

25 minutes later with standing room only and after 8 people asking for more space they said go ahead and open the room.

4 people could not figure out how to remove the divider.

I went over and section by section opened up the room. The next 1hour 15 minutes was arguing over the agenda.

Demon should not have voted because he is the reason for the meeting nor Daniel silva or Theresa Bradford who was the vice president of the republican woman.

The by laws are very clear on this.

This was all a huge waste of time.

I feel bad for those that traveled from a long distance to attend. Of the negative voters 5 of them have been in their positions for 3 and 4 terms.

We need new blood in our party and civilized people.

These long term rhinos were anything put that.

I am sick and tired of our way or the highway that the icaci Vandehoot kabul has been doing to all of us who don't agree with them.

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Power.

The issue is, and always will be, one of power.

Those involved in politics who care more about power than they care about freedom will always be unwilling to work with others unless it grows their own power.

If you're burning the GOP down, and whatever progress we're making, because your own power struggles and personality conflicts are more important than the future freedom of my children, you should re-think your life.

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Solomon in his wisdom proved this same point. The woman who wanted to save the baby was its mother. The power-hungry politicians would burn our party down if they don't control it are the same as the lady who perjured herself to steal the baby. 1 Kings 3:16-28

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Again, the voice of reason, you are. WeThePeople are fortunate to have your unbiased voice at our Conservative table. It's too bad that the good ole boy club can't let go of the reigns, but instead choose to fight those of us who see that change IS needed, to coalesce with the new wave of Constitutional Conservatism.

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First, Brian. A thoughtful take, thank you. Second, the Twitter account is blocked for everyone because it was one of those "you've now created an account on Twitter" that I never intended. My original account @TrentLClark1 is still active. Third, I was NOT a party to the appeal. I was billed as a "complainant" but that is just the term of art for "the guy who started the serious of inquiries" that led to Cravens et al to appeal. My inquiry is still pending: Who thought it appropriate to dox where the Watkins children are living, where they sleep at night, where they go to school during the day, with which parent are they living, what is the nature, market value and street appearance of the house in which they are staying. This information is irrelevant to whether Damond Watkins is a valid elector of Idaho. I note that Rep. Chad Christensen, my pro-2nd amendment heroic state legislator, had a wife and children in Texas much of his time as my voice in the Idaho Legislature. That is none of my business. Dorothy Moon's answer to that was "I had no personal involvement in that." I take her at face value, but am still trying to find out who is "harassing" the family of a fellow Republican volunteer.

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Dec 7, 2022·edited Dec 7, 2022Author

Thank you Trent, for the cordial and reasoned response. I appreciate you taking the time to share your perspective even in a critical context. I hope that all sides can get this matter settled and unite going forward.

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The republican party needs an update and be rid of the "establishment" CROWs ( Crony Republicans Old and Worthless) These people are not RINOS in the definitive sense...sometimes calling them that is just looking for an adequate acronym. We do have RINOS in our midst, but CROWS are often worse than RINOS - CROWs are destroying from within!. Our party needs to update their thinking and how to represent the conservatives of this nation. Sadly the CROWs only want to hold onto power and personify a point of view that is no longer prevalent nor appropriate for todays battle with the left.. It is the CROWs that cost us our red wave in this last election. Offering no solutions other than denigration of the left, they left the voters in a state of indecision. The party needs to change and present a platform that is appealing to our younger generation. we need a platform that rids of CROWs and puts a real sense of unity within the party. Thank you Brian for an excellent article!

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Wait a minute, the establishment types are the ones harassing the conservatives and crying about them. If the Establishment types are on the same team, instead of taking the ball away and stop playing, they need to conform and fight the Left which is the real threat.

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Consent of the governed is foundational to conservatism.

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