Hmmm, I've been thinking and I just may stay in MD

[chaim]

Many here may be familiar with my long postponed dream of getting the heck out of this anti-gun heck hole. Well, a friend nearly has me convinced to stay.

I have had political aspirations since I was 12 years old. Since I was 21 or 22 I have ignored them as "unrealistic". However, this weekend a friend of mine and I did a lot of talking and I just might think about getting into politics in about 2-3 years (of course starting small, county council or board of ed, but maybe in 5-10yrs I can be in a position to do something bigger).

I will probably finally be changing my political affiliation in a couple months, though I'll wait for the primaries since the Republicans won't have a contest (I'm sick of being a conservative Democrat, hated by other conservatives for being a Democrat and hated by other Democrats for being a conservative). Anyway, a side benefit of that is that as a "moderate" Republican my gun and other more conservative views wouldn't be held against me and I am probably just (barely) liberal enough to have a chance to win with the general electorate in this state.

So anyway, I'm not going to write these long held aspirations off as "unrealistic", and I won't let my newfound cynicism get in the way. However, it is still probably a long shot.

What do you guys think? Should I stay in MD in the hope that in 5-10 years I might be in a positition where I could help (hopefully with others) to make the political climate more positive for MD gun owners (state delegate or if really lucky state senator) or should I still get out ASAP and move my political dreams elsewhere?

 

[jsalcedo]

If you think you can make a positive change go for it.

But in the long run you may need to think of #1 to achieve happiness and safety.

 

[chaim]

If you think you can make a positive change go for it.

Well, like I said, I am unwilling to continue to write off the possibility as "unrealistic". However, it is a long shot.

I used to be a liberal Democrat once upon a time (started changing slowly in the early to mid 90s and pretty quickly over the past 5 years or so). I am still a registered Democrat (though I haven't been active for a while). I used to be very active and I used to have many contacts that could have helped me if I decided to get into politics. Of course all those contacts were Democrats. Anyway, I haven't been an active volunteer for the Democratic Party since 1996 (and then I only worked a couple hours because it seemed the thing to do- I had always done it and didn't want to break my streak). I had been volunteering since I was 14 (1984).

However, the combination of not being involved for the past 7 years and soon, changing my party, means I need to establish totally new ties. Well, mostly anyway- I have been a member of the Concord Coalition for about 10 years now (i.e. since its inception). However, I haven't been active locally even with them for some years- only giving money to the national group (they are a non-partisan fiscal conservative group BTW).

So needing to start over in making my contacts means that I am really going to be a long shot. The one advantage (if you can call it that) is that I might be moving back to Baltimore City if I stay here and I might then be the only Republican running for some slots. Also, for some races, like school board, might not be too difficult if I get a bunch of friends to help out and spend a few thousand on bumper stickers and signs (that is one office in which grass roots campaigns still might have a chance). If I did that then I just might start to get my name noticed.

 

[Bill Hook]

Why not establish totally new ties elsewhere? I'm thinking a moderate Republican who's pro-RKBA and libertarian on most issues would do well in most of the places that are gun-friendly.

Did I see a thread where you mentioned add'l schooling while searching? How's that coming along? Seems that leaving for another state for school would be a good time to make a fresh start.

I'd rather make a stand among like-minded folks and fight to preserve what you have than try to roll the clock back in a den of leftists.

 

[cpileri]

COOL

chaim, whatrever you run for, if i am still in MD, i'll vote for you.

I'm still evacuating, though.
C-

 

[chaim]

Did I see a thread where you mentioned add'l schooling while searching? How's that coming along?

I'm in the second quarter of an online graduate certificate in "professional counseling". I'm doing pretty well. However, I am 33 and I am getting frustrated with how long I'm going to have to be in school. For what I want I'll need a doctorate, and with a masters first and some being part-time that can be as long as 10 years. We'll see.

Oh, if I do get into politics, I'll still do school and go into mental health. In MD the offices I'm looking at (county/city council, school board, House of Delegates and state Senate) are all "part-time" offices and you are expected to also hold a full-time career as well. In theory it prevents career politicians and encourages public servants.

chaim, whatrever you run for, if i am still in MD, i'll vote for you.

Thanks for the "vote" of confidence there.

 

[cpileri]

no problem

Its not just a vote of confidence, but a promise of a real vote! Now at least you'll get 2 votes.

I met you and read all your stuff here, and i can say to anyone else that "Chaim" would be a great person in office in ANY state- and particularly in MD.

C-

 

[Mark Tyson]

Why not just remain a Democrat and run? MD is a Democrat dominated state anyway. I'm a registered Democrat myself, I just can't stand where the leadership has taken the party. I think you'll have more of a chance in MD with a D behind your name than an R.

 

[Cliff]

I will add my voice to say do what you feel is best for you. But if you stay,you will have my utmost support. Period.

 

[Balog]

I'll second the motion of staying Dem. While I've no love lost for that party, once you're in office you could vote the way your conscience dictates. After all, John Ross ran as a (pre-Roosevelt) Democrat!

 

[chaim]

Why not just remain a Democrat and run? MD is a Democrat dominated state anyway

Well, if I was in another state, maybe. But here in MD the Dems are run by the left wing of the party and the Republican Party is on the moderate side. I've changed enough over the past few years now (especially the last 1 1/2-2) that the MD Republican Party is a better fit.

In the last primary I looked at the Howard County candidates and I had a very hard time finding a Democrat to vote for. Sure there were a few that were OK, but none were that good for me. Among the Republicans there were some offices where I liked them all, and a few where one or two would have been a bad political match for me but there was always at least one candidate I could support (in the Democratic primary there were offices I had to leave blank because there was no one running I could support). I am also a staunch Ehrlich fan, on very few issues do I find him too conservative and on at least one (gun rights) he is too liberal.

Then I am still angry over our (conservative Democrats) treatment after the last congressional election. Sure, the Democrats became too conservative so the country voted Republican. Makes sense to me . Then to futher slap us in the face by making Pelosi the minority leader in the House, I almost bolted then.

Now, when I eventually run for something, sure Democrats have a better chance in MD. However, you have to get through the primaries. My views on guns (repeal as many "controls" as possible, CCW, etc.), abortion (parential notification and preferably permission for minors, waiting periods, mandatory pre-abortion counseling), private school vouchers (I'm leaning towards pro), and several other issues would cause me to never make it through the primaries which are by and large controlled by the far left of the party.

Of course, there are still a few areas where I am essentially liberal, but even those are mostly tempered by a conservative streak. For one example, on the face of it the fact that I think Welfare has a place seems liberal. However, I think it is for the protection of society and not the individual. Thus, I think everyone on Welfare should have 3-6 months to be doing something to work towards perminantly getting off Welfare (getting experience by working or volunteering, getting an education, job training, etc). For those that don't know how to get out of the "cycle of poverty" case workers should be provided to teach them how (also, cheap or subsidized child care should be available so they can work/train/go to school). The end goal would be that anyone falling into Welfare would be given what they need to get off Welfare for good and become productive members of society within 2-3 years (and for some protection of the system I'd have an absolute time limit of probably 4 years). On top of that, if people aren't trying (don't have a job/volunteer position/training program, etc, within the 3-6 months, keep dropping out of school, job or volunteer position) they are off for good. I would also have a built-in limit at which time there would be a study to see if my changes make a difference- that way anything that costs more wouldn't become perminant if it didn't cause the program to cost less in the long run (through getting people off). So I appear a liberal on the issue on the surface since I seem to support Welfare, but what I really support looks pretty much nothing like what we have (and would teach self-reliance, not state reliance).

I am also a long-time fiscal conservative. I've been a member of The Concord Coalition since just after its 1992 inception (I'm not sure if it was still 1992 when I joined or if it was winter of 1993). Basically they are a one issue (drop the debt), non-partisan, fiscal conservative group who tends to anger whichever party is in the White House by pointing out poor fiscal policy.

I guess I have a bit of an independent streak, but at least here in MD, the Republicans look like a good fit for me now. If I do move, then maybe I'd be better served staying a conservative Democrat, or maybe neither would work, but that determination is for a later time.

I'll second the motion of staying Dem. While I've no love lost for that party, once you're in office you could vote the way your conscience dictates

I'm not sure if you are suggesting "say one thing to get elected" (play the role of a "good Democrat") "and do another when you get elected" (vote as I'd wish). If you are, I can't do that. I would not be a typical politician (and if I started to become one I'd hope my friends and family would let me know in no uncertain terms). That is just one more reason I suppose that I'd be a long-shot.

 

[Balog]

No, I wasn't implying you should pretend to be anything. I was saying you could run as a Dem (being honest), and then vote as you wish when elected. I don't know about the primary situation, but belonging to a party doesn't mean you have to act like them. I used the example of John Ross. He ran as a Dem, even tho he's closer to a Libertarian, or so it would seem to me. Ron Paul of Texas is another example. Ran for President as a Libertarian, but got to Congress as a Repub.

 

[Mark Tyson]

Chaim, I like a lot of your ideas. I know exactly how you feel when you say you get no love from Democrats for being conservative, and get no love from conservatives for being a Democrat. I'm in the same boat and sometimes I feel like the last buffalo.

I'm a moderate Democrat. I believe the government can and should help the underprivileged, protect the environment, and reign in the occasional excesses of corporations. But I also believe in personal responsibility, private property and free enterprise. I understand and sympathize with the conservative viewpoint. I especially understand the resentment of those who live in rural areas who end up paying to fix urban problems that they did not create. Yet I think that republicans also ignore some of the good things government can do - not as a central planner like in socialism, but as a partner in creating an environment in which a market can function and in correcting some of the worse market externalities.

Your views on welfare make a lot of sense to me, too. I think society is obligated to help people when they're down on their luck, but if you're able bodied you need to get back in the work force ASAP. I also think conservatives are a little iffy on environmental protection. I think we need to keep some other government programs like public education, with some overdue reforms.

I'm still a Democrat because I believe that we are a dynamically evolving society, and we need to be ready to adapt to new circumstances and new societal problems. I think a lot of conservatives and republicans are too afraid of change. We have modern problems and we need modern solutions, not 1792 solutions. We can do this while preserving the spirit of individual liberty that our founding fathers so treasured. We CAN have it all, dammit!

Chaim, the party needs more people like you. The national party is embarking on a kamikaze campaign, determined to go down in a blaze of self-rightous glory. When I see the likes of Pelosi and That Woman from New York(I will not speak her name) my blood runs cold and obscenities spew uncontrollably from my mouth. All the party is capable of is moaning over the "stolen" election, blah blah blah . . . . do they realize how childish they sound? Do they care?

Look, I'm beggin ya to stay! Without Democrats like you the party will continue on its current trajectory towards disaster. What do I have to do, bribe you? Buy you a gun? Meet me at Atlantic Guns in Silver Spring, LOL! Seriously, if I'm ever in your district, you'll probably get my vote, whichever party you're in.

 

[Norton]

Chaim,

We need people like you here in this wasteland! I'm not cut out for the political life myself, but if all of us like thinking people abandon the PRMd....who'll be left to fight the crybaby, kneejerk leftists? For someone such as yourself, who may have political inclinations, to leave the state.....why, who will I vote for?!

Come on down to AA County and save us

 

[chaim]

No, I wasn't implying you should pretend to be anything. I was saying you could run as a Dem (being honest), and then vote as you wish when elected. I don't know about the primary situation, but belonging to a party doesn't mean you have to act like them. I used the example of John Ross. He ran as a Dem, even tho he's closer to a Libertarian, or so it would seem to me. Ron Paul of Texas is another example. Ran for President as a Libertarian, but got to Congress as a Repub.

I understand now. I'm glad you weren't saying the other possibility.

Anyway, I think I'm done beating my head against the wall hoping the Democrats will come to their senses, having it occasionally look like some might, then have those hopes dashed. I'm not making this choice lightly. I've been a Democrat all my adult life (I'm 33). I have been politically active since I was 14. I'd rather find a place for myself as a conservative Democrat, but it appears the party is still controlled by the left and they are practically declaring war against the moderate and right wings of the party (how else to interpret blaming us for the last congressional elections because they half heartedly started talking like moderates for the last couple months before the election and using that loss to push left wing party members for party leadership).

Anyway, in some states I think what you are saying might work. However, with very few exceptions the Democratic Party in MD is quite liberal. I'd never get past the primaries. The Republicans fit me better here and they are more moderate so I might have a chance in the primaries.

 

[greyhound]

Chaim-

You have my vote, though its 50/50 I'll be in South Carolina or Alabama in a year (after my whole life in Maryland, gulp).

The only thing that scared me was when you were saying you might move back to Baltimore (City) and run as a Republican. When was the last time a (R) had a chance in a City election?

I too have had a lot of change in my political stances in the last few years.
I just want politicians that don't vote "the party line" but will listen to their constituents.

My greatest hope in life is that at some point term limits are passed and we "throw the bums out", both D and R, and get some real citizens (not elites) in there.

If this is really your dream, please don't give up on it.....

 

[Futo Inu]

Get out now

Once you start your political career, you'll never leave. Start is somewhere else.