I like Ryan Trabuco.  He is an amigo and an old friend from California who is now leaving the Republican Party in light of the fiscal cliff crisis.

I could not believe my ears when he told me he was considering leaving the GOP.  He’s a strong conservative.  I cannot say that I blame Ryan for leaving the GOP particularly when the California Republican Party hands over the microphone to extremists like Tim Donnelly who is running for California Governor.  (You would think that the California GOP would have learned by now considering Prop 187 and the fast growing Mexican-American and/or Latin population there). The Republican National Committee should have started changing their platform yesterday after suffering a devastating loss on November 6, 2012.  Now they are acting as if they have a leg to stand on after the devastating blow with regard to the fiscal crisis issue. The GOP keeps giving the soapbox over to the likes of Tea Party extremist Jim DeMint.  [My God -- how in the heck do they expect the party to grow with tools like that?]

Here is why Ryan chose to be an independent / no party preference voter … and I think it is important to share his story with fellow Arizonans — particularly since California is a neighboring state.

Ryan Trabuco writes:

 

No Party Preference

Posted on January 3, 2013

“I am an American; free born and free bred, where I acknowledge no man as my superior, except for his own worth, or as my inferior, except for his own demerit.” — Theodore Roosevelt

My decision. My choice. Certainly, this wasn’t easy. Allow me to think this through.

I’ve always admired Theodore Roosevelt. He fought corruption, spoke out passionately about his beliefs in much-needed reforms, and was noted for his fairness in policy and politics.

Of course, you may also read that folks at the turn of the 20th century considered him belligerent and opinionated. Hell, I’ve been called worse. For every one of his critics, however, there were many more who considered him “the hero America needed” as author Michael L. Cooper penned in his 2009 biography on our nation’s 26th President.

What I admire most about Teddy’s legacy and leadership, was his ability to bring folks together — often transcending partisan politics — and in doing so, for the good of our country.

Many of Teddy Roosevelt’s decisions were not easy, such as leaving the Republican Party in 1912 — a party he was active in and helped lead as a New York Assemblyman, Police Commissioner, Governor, Vice-President, and President. The Republican Party had left him and tacked a hard right turn, and Roosevelt, through the passion of defiance, left the party to continue to champion those reforms, values, and ideas he held dear.

Today, I feel it’s the same path I must take as well. Today, I re-registered to vote as “No Party Preference” (a.k.a. “Independent”).

I assure you, no decision could have been harder for me, personally.

Freedom. Opportunity. Self-Reliance. State’s Rights. Government efficiency.  There’s a sense of tradition and a value system — that I cherish and hold dear — you just don’t find in other political parties.

There’s a proud history of nearly 10 years here registering Republican voters. Volunteering. Fundraising. Knocking on doors, calling voters, doing anything I could possibly do to help Republican candidates win elections — pouring blood, sweat, and often tears into these efforts. Oh Lord, did I mention the tweeting?

For now, in this moment, I just felt it was the right choice to make.

As unfortunate (for a number of reasons) that I felt 2008 was a bad year politically, nothing could’ve prepared me for the slaughter of 2012. Of course, in the heat of election cycles, it’s easy to re-hash the talking points of a campaign, and paraphrase why you feel it’s better that voters should choose your side. There’s facts, graphs, logic, and ideology at play. What’s often overlooked though is governing, and the plan to govern.

There hadn’t been much thought about re-registering until recently, while watching the fiscal cliff debate play out over weeks on end. Speculation. Finger-pointing. The constant will-they-won’t-they approach to politics. Quite honestly, it was sick. For as bad as it was for Democrats, I couldn’t honestly sit back and defend the Republicans’  seemingly hands-off approach to governing.

I kept asking myself, “Where’s the leadership? Where’s the plan?”

Then, allowing the Democrats to figure it out on their own and then dictate the terms of whatever the compromise would be was embarrassing to say the very least. I can’t defend that.

I admit, I said for a long time that wild horses couldn’t drag me from my party — and they didn’t. The selfish behavior of those who would rather bring our country to its’ knees, rather than face the challenges ahead of us have drug the party away from me. The constant kowtowing to the Tea Party and like-minded ideologues have damaged the brand, the mission, and the spirit of the Republican Party.

Look at California. The Republican Party, here, is a mess. Enough said.

In San Diego, it’s not nearly as bad but there’s problems here as well. There’s nothing wrong with good-natured, well-intentioned, and much-needed government reforms, but there is a significant problem when you allow a single elected official — an emotional and personality equivalent to Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride — to dictate the focus of the party, and whether you are or aren’t welcome within the apparatus.

When Nathan Fletcher left the Republican Party last spring, I admit, I was more than disappointed and reflected those feelings to him over the phone. He said he was tired and over the drama. All the critics said it was political. After much soul-searching these last few weeks, I have to say that Nathan was right. I’m tired and over it, too.

All in all, I don’t feel there’s leadership. Or focus. I don’t feel there’s necessary attention being paid to strengthen the Republican Party. All talk, no action. I’ve said for years that the GOP needed to embrace it’s roots founded in the original 1856 Platform — a document that reads more like the blueprint for ideas in freedom and governance, rather than today’s GOP platform which specifically says what you can or can’t do in life.

Where’s the allure? What’s the difference between the Republicans and the Democrats, aside from being polar opposites on the political spectrum? Nothing. God forbid you find yourself in the political center. You have no where to go.

All that said, where do we go from here?

I’m sure folks will say I’ve always been a squish. Not committed. Not conservative enough. That’s fine. That just shows that those folks have very little respect for the consistent work I did all those years. All the more reason for my decision to step aside, and re-register.

I am now a simple, registered voter who states that I have NO PARTY PREFERENCE. That doesn’t change who I am or what I believe. Our spending needs to be under control, I’m not in favor of big government or higher taxes — we need some desperate spending cuts, for sure. However, if I ever served as an elected official, I would have sense enough to know not to bring a government to its knees because of hard-headedness (a heartfelt sentiment to both parties).

Thankfully, I have no designs on political office. I’m too honest for it.

Now, there are good Republicans, and there are good Democrats. I’m honored to know both. It’s the self-interested ones on both sides of the aisle who need to reappraise their purpose in politics.

Hopefully, there will be a time in the very near future when the Republican Party evaluates itself in the tradition of Abraham Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt. I pray it does.  It would be an honor to re-register as a Republican under such circumstances. Until then, I will spend my time focusing on my commitments and service to my community, and encouraging camaraderie among others — no matter what their political persuasion may be.

Teddy Roosevelt once said, “Keep your eyes on the stars, and your feet on the ground.” I’ve always been inspired to reach for the stars, and although I’m no longer a Republican, I feel as grounded as I’ve ever been.

On a last note…

Americans are getting sick and tired of the do-nothing Congress because they cannot seem to pull their heads out as elected official to do what is in the best interest of the United States. We are fed up with their bickering and their inability to work together in a bipartisan fashion.

It is no wonder why we are seeing a sharp rise in independent voters (or no party preference) across our Nation. We are on the brink of an independent revolution, and am glad to see new leaders like Ryan emerge.

GREAT BREAKINGNEWS!

Israel’s Haaretz newspaper endorses President Obama for re-election!

Tens of millions of Americans will go to the polls on Tuesday to vote for a president and vice president. It will be an important day for American democracy. This will be the Americans’ day, but the outcome of the elections will impact the entire world.

For Americans in general, and American Jews in particular, the United States’ attitude toward Israel is just one of many factors to consider – among internal and foreign affairs, the economy and defense – when casting their vote.

But for various reasons, Republican candidate Mitt Romney has made incumbent President Barack Obama’s policy toward Israel a hot-button issue in the campaign. One of those reasons is Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s open support for Romney, who like him enjoys the patronage of casino magnate Sheldon Adelson. Obama has been accused of taking a cool and hostile stance in relation to Israel on several issues, from Iran to Palestine. Romney promises a warmer, more supportive approach.

Indeed, one would hope the realization of Romney’s wishes would further advance Washington-Jerusalem relations, in the tradition of all recent U.S. administrations, both Republican and Democrat. But a deeper examination of the core issues comprising the two countries’ relations – devoid of political and personal interests – reveals no grounds for portraying Obama in a negative light.

Obama’s predecessor, George W. Bush, assisted Israel’s defense by toppling Saddam Hussein’s regime in Iraq and deterring, albeit for a limited period, Iran’s accelerated progress toward attaining nuclear weapons. Bush contributed to Israel’s peace, even if partially, by being the first president to adopt the two-state solution. His support even enabled the evacuation of settlements from the Gaza Strip and northern West Bank.

Obama continued this two-way track vis-a-vis Iran and the issue of Palestinian statehood. Under his pressure, Israel suspended for the first time – for a while – construction in the settlements. Relations between the two countries’ armed forces have never been so close. Obama’s challenge in his second term, if he wins the elections, is to lead the region to a stable arrangement of peace and security.

The outcome of the elections will be determined by the voters’ decision as to which of the two candidates is good for America. But if any of them are vacillating in their vote over whether Obama has been a good president for Israel, the answer is yes.

 

MORE FROM HAARETZ.COM

Oh how we reminisce of the days that go back to bipartisanship via Ronald Reagan and Tip O’Neill!

There is hope because bipartisanship is still alive via (R) Senator Chuck Hagel and (D) Bob Kerrey in Nebraska!

Tequila Party Movement (Woman-led Latin Organization) Endorses Senate Candidate Bob Kerrey for U.S. Senate — Applauds (R) Senator Chuck Hagel’s Bipartisanship!

The Tequila Party (based out of Arizona and Nebraska)  is the Latina-led counter movement of the extreme Tea Party movement.  The Tea Party wants nothing to do with bipartisanship — in fact, they comprise of a bunch of obstructionists.

 

November 2, 2012

Contact: Shirl Mora James, Lead Co-President also Civil Rights Lawyer

For Immediate Release

Lincoln, Nebraska — National Tequila Party co-lead President, Shirl Mora James and Nebraska Tequila Party member, Toni Leija Wilson met with both Chuck Hagel (R) and U.S. Senate candidate Bob Kerrey (D).  Senator Kerrey informed Shirl that he supports true family values including our Nebraskan mixed-status families.  Moreover, Candidate Bob Kerry also supports all our children including DREAMERS and the DREAM Act that will fully embrace them into taxpaying citizens.  Finally, senate candidate Bob Kerry promised to continue the good work that Senator Chuck Hagel (R) and Senator John McCain (R) once championed, i.e., Comprehension Immigration Reform.  Therefore, we strongly urge all fair-minded Nebraskans, especially Hispanics and their allies to vote for our next U.S. Senator from the great state of Nebraska, Bob Kerry.

(ABOVE) Lead Co-President Shirl Mora James with (R) Senator Chuck Hagel and (D) Candidate Bob Kerrey.

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Recently the defeated and former Senator Russell Pearce stated he had a ‘connection’ to the 2012 Republican Presidential candidate — Mitt Romney. That connection is nativist ideology and anti-immigrant extremism they both have with their support for self deportation policies.  Both politicians have ties to Kris Kobach who is the legal architect to many of these voter suppression laws while attacking our 14th amendment of the United States Constitution.

According to HUFFPO:

After dining at a Tea Party event on Tuesday, former Arizona state Senate President Russell Pearce proclaimed his support for Romney, citing similar views on immigration as his key reason.

“His immigration policy is identical to mine,” Pearce said, according to The Washington Post. “Attrition by enforcement. It’s identical to mine — enforce the laws.”

After serving 10 years as a state legislator, Pearce was voted out of office last November in a special recall election. His lead role in crafting S.B. 1070 (Arizona’s controversial immigration law), along with his ties to a college football bowl game scandal, were contributing factors behind that loss.

Now that Romney has secured the endorsement of nativist and Tea Party extremist Russell Pearce, he is joined by our whacky State Governor — Jan Brewer.  The more Mitt Romney receives endorsements from Tea Party extremists, the heavier that millstone will get around his neck.

From THINK PROGRESS:

Nativist Gov. Jan Brewer Endorses Romney | On Meet the Press this morning, Gov. Jan Brewer (R-AZ) endorsed Mitt Romney for President. Although Brewer offered little explanation for her decision, citing only Romney’s “pro-business background” and his “political history,” it is not the least bit surprising that one of the nation’s leading nativist politicians is now backing Romney. Brewer signed SB 1070, the first of a wave of anti-immigrant bills authored by Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach (R), who has also endorsed Romney. Romney also campaigned with Kobach on Martin Luther King Day, despite the fact that Kobach is an attorney with the legal arm of an organization the Southern Poverty Law Center designates a “nativist hate group.” Watch Brewer’s endorsement here.

From the National Tequila Party Movement which is the Latino counter-movement to the Tea Party:

Latinos encouraged to throw away their vote in Russell Pearce Recall and Special Elections

For Immediate Release

7 November 2011

National Contact:  520-329-1877

info@nationaltequilapartymovement.com

Phoenix, AZ  — Russell Pearce Supporters have already used and taken advantage of a Latina via their ‘sham candidate’ methods with regard to the Olivia Cortes Scandal.  Cortes acknowledged in court she had very little political education on how to run a political campaign. She allowed Tea Party Chairman, Greg Western, to be in control of her campaign where she finally and eventually withdrew from the Russell Pearce Special Elections shortly after her name was allowed to be printed on the legislative district 18 special election ballots.

Now the Pearce supporters have sunk to an all new low with regard to their continued attempt in misleading Latinos with their fraudulent behavior during an election cycle to siphon the Latino vote away from Jerry Lewis.

We have heard a lot of claims about outside influences in this election from the Pearce campaign. The Lewis campaign learned about yet another one of these groups today while talking with voters.

Mesa’s Hispanic Democratic and Independent voters were called this Saturday and encouraged to vote for a write in candidate because Pearce and Lewis were both Republicans. Who was this anti-Republican group trying to suppress votes? None other than Tea Party Leader, Republican activist, and Pearce confidant Ronald Ludders. Ludders is one of Arizona’s most prominent Republican and Tea Party Leaders. He is a known supporter of J.D. Hayworth and Russell Pearce.   It appears Ludders wanted to encourage people to vote for candidates who were not Republicans to siphon votes from Jerry Lewis as they were encouraging Latinos to throw away their votes during the November 8, 2011, Russell Pearce Recall and Special Elections.

The Tequila Party will be paying close attention through November 2012 elections as the Tea Party movement has proven to be anti-Latino with their misleading behavior against Latino voters.

###

About the National Tequila Party Movement

The National Tequila Party Movement is the Latin Counter-movement to the TEA PARTY.  It consists of a national tour of concerts, events, dinners and rallies that will encourage a massive Latino Get Out The Vote.  This movement is a non-partisan movement.  We don’t care how people vote, we just want them to get on the early ballot system, become consistent primary and general election voters.