Help Divide the Right

As I grow increasingly gloomy about politics in Canada, I must say I'm mightily enjoying the ReThuglican meltdown in the Excited States. And the news just gets worse for the Republican National Committee.

The head of an influential social conservative organization urged members and supporters Wednesday to stop donating to the Republican National Committee and instead contribute to its own coffers or to candidates with like-minded goals.

Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, made the plea in his "Washington Update" column posted on the organization's Web site following the revelation that the RNC paid for a night out at a risque Hollywood nightclub.

"I've hinted at this before, but now I am saying it -- don't give money to the RNC," Perkins said in his column. "If you want to put money into the political process, and I encourage you to do so, give directly to candidates who you know reflect your values.

"Better yet, become a member of FRC Action and learn about the benefits it offers, including participating in the FRC Action PAC which can support candidates who will advance faith, family and freedom," he said.

Perkins is the latest social conservative leader to openly criticize RNC Chairman Michael Steele for allowing the controversial expenditure to happen under his watch.

Don't give the RNC money. Give it to this group.

So far, the new soft-money group, American Crossroads, has received commitments of almost $30 million and is seeking to raise a total of some $60 million to help dozens of Senate and House incumbents and challengers this fall, say three sources familiar with the new 527. In contrast, at the start of January, the Republican National Committee had only $8.4 million in the bank compared with the $22.8 million it had on had a year earlier when Steele was elected chairman.

So, I was wondering: how can I help that sort of move here?

Oh. Look: Rural Alberta is starting to turn on Progressive Conservatives.

So now the Highwoods constituency association last week sent a letter to the PC party head quarters accusing the government of "nearing the precipice of moral insolvency to govern."

Yowzer! That's strong language. (And it's also, alas, provincial. And the disgruntled will probably support Wild Rose Alliance, a party described as 'right of Attila the Hun'.)

Nonetheless, dirty laundry is being aired. And, even better, Alberta Cons are getting hit in the pocketbook too.

This is also evident as while the Party continued to make the highest amount of donations from corporations their membership renewals fell precipitously by over $58,000. When your party memberships only cost $5 a year it means that number is fairly alarming.

Alarming? Yee-haw!

Seems to me that humble (ahem) bloggers can help divide the right.

From hanging out at Free Dominion, I've learned that both the fiscally conservative and socially conservative are not happy with Stevie Peevie. For the former, he's spending way too much money, and for the second, he's not doing anything about their issues -- abortion and same-sex marriage.

I don't think the fiscal conservatives can be persuaded in any great numbers to vote for the evul tax-and-spend Liberals -- but maybe for the Greenies? I leave this to wonkier wonks than I.

But maybe the so-cons can be cajoled into at least keeping their chequebooks shut and staying away from the polls.

And there's another group -- libertarians. When it sinks in with them that their sons and daughters -- or themselves -- will get a mandatory six-month minimum prison sentence for as little as six pot plants, they may well stay home too.

So, let's get to work, progressive bloggers! In our blogs and in our lives, let's harp on keep pointing out that Stevie Peevie will NEVER reopen the abortion debate and that responsible adult taxpayers who get caught smoking a little recreational weed WILL go to prison.