The condescending my-way-or-the-highway Libertarian messaging that cost Republicans in 2018 could be deadly in 2020
By Jim Cardle
Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas After Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick recently noted that while Gov. Greg Abbott received 1.8 million more votes in 2018 than 2014 his percentage margin of victory actually decreased its just mind-boggling to think an undercurrent by the Libertarian-minded faction of the Texas Republican Party continues to be allowed to fester.
Due to population growth and the continued influx of 1000 people moving to Texas every day Lt. Gov. Patrick projects Texas Republicans will need to find and turn out at least 1 million more voters in 2020 just to maintain their streak of statewide election dominance. Yet some grassroots Republicans continue to carry on with the same self-righteous condescending my-way-or-the-highway messaging patterns that just caused Republicans to:
- Lose 2 Congressional Races
- Suffer an unnecessary scare in even Senator Ted Cruzs re-election effort; and
- Lose 12 precious House Seats and 2 invaluable Senate Seats in the Texas Legislature
The repercussions of that last fact losing 12 seats in the Texas House of Representatives and 2 State Senate Seats now seems to be the focus of the partys latest squabble as the Texas House & Senate appear to be headed toward producing results that in all truth are nothing more than the result which the #UnStableLibertarians own actions have imposed upon the rest of Texas: Less conservative" legislation and most recently the announcement that the Constitutional Carry" issue wont be addressed this Session.
First of all it would do everyone well these days to realize that the shooting of Congressman Steve Scalise at a softball game practice over a year ago not to mention the injuries inflicted on Texas own Congressmen Roger Williams Joe Barton and others has led to a higher level of concern or cautiousness on the part of todays elected officials whore understandably a little more nervous about their life as Public Servants.
This is especially true after theres been an increase in the level of heated rhetoric on the internet recently over the Constitutional Carry issue.
And then you have the recent and well-publicized visits by Texas Gun Rights Activist Chris McNutt to the homes of numerous State Legislators including Speaker of the Texas House Dennis Bonnens home which epitomizes the conundrum facing the Texas Republican Party today.
The tail is wagging the dog. And it has been for at least the past couple Election Cycles.
After talking to Mr. McNutt at a recent Republican dinner thats received some minor attention on Social Media this week it almost seemed as if hed been put up to such tactics by others political operatives with ulterior motives who need controversy and speculation to make their next round of fund-raising pitches or worse their next round of wild-eyed rumor-based allegations that are rarely if ever based on fact. Those rumor-based allegations then feed their next round of rabble-rousing social-media-driven self-justifications.
Its never constructive involves Score Cards and dishonest campaign mailers and Republicans are criticizing Republicans when their focus would be better used to prepare for the Democrats 2020 Ground Zero onslaught.
McNutt himself as well as so many other Texan activists whore falling prey to the fiefdom-building political manipulators in Austin appear to be humble and sincere in their political engagement. Theyre certainly not the ones inclined to go looking for trouble or seek attention.
But because of the manipulation and tactics that most reasonable Texans would consider at least a little bit concerning in this day and age its attention and distraction they have.
And it cost Republicans dearly in 2018.
The problem for Texas Republicans right now is that over-adamant Libertarians are being allowed to distract them from their self-admitted challenge: Texas is going to be Ground Zero" in 2020 tens of millions of dollars sent into Texas from all across the nation are going to be spent trying to beat Texas Republicans and the distractions that hurt the party in 2018 caused this.
If one would assume for the sake of discussion please that both Mr. McNutt & House Speaker Dennis Bonnen are reasonable and decent Texans whore just trying to do the best they can with what theyve got in 20-20 hindsight itd probably be safe to say both wish they could go back and do some things over.
But theres more to it than that.
Before the 2019 Legislative Session has even hit Crunch Time or its Final Stretch when things actually happen or are finalized the name-calling and finger-pointing libertarian crowd surrounding people like Chris McNutt are ratcheting up their rhetoric and have even begun to question the motives of party favorites like Lt. Gov. Patrick Speaker Bonnen and sometimes even Gov. Greg Abbott.
Its designed to divide the party at a time when it should be focusing its Messaging Manpower and Money to defeat Democrats.
Mind you its clearly not the partys leaders and usually not the individuals caught up in the supposed controversies where the intra-party finger-pointing begins. Rather its from the Austin-based political class those who surround unsuspecting activists and advise" them on issues or political tactics where things get out of hand.
Its embarrassing not constructive and what everyone complains about in politics today both nationally and at the state level.
And as with most things in life its rarely ever as complicated in politics as wed like to make them out out be.
The fact is theres too many people in Austin these days whore making a killing by blowing things out of proportion wasting other peoples trusted donations to do nothing more than build their own little fiefdoms so they can pretend to be somebody. And the shame of it is its all done at the expense of the well-intentioned Texas volunteers and donors who get involved in politics to better their state.
Texas Republicans have been suffering the consequences for 2-to-4 years now of having too many people in Austin whore wasting their donors precious dollars by causing controversy ginning people up with unverified rumors that tear down their own friends and create a further justification for raising and wasting even more of their donors money. Its a maddening cycle and theyre making a killing off it.
And the sock-puppet left-leaning media are laughing with every column they write saying You just couldnt make this stuff up!" Right?
If grassroots hardworking Texas Republican activists and donors really believe the Democrats announcement that Texas is going to be Ground Zero" in 2020 theyd remember that they have plenty to be thankful for that their opponents have more problems to worry about than they do and that you cant make friends out of the new voters moving to Texas by making enemies of the voters you already have.
Theyd do well to just quit falling for the condescending high-and-mighty self-righteous messaging thats being sold to them.
Its insanity a con job and a sham. It cost them dearly in 2018 and its about to destroy the the nations conservative backstop Texas.
Jim Cardle is Publisher & CEO of the Texas Insider online newsletter and host of the Texas Insider Radio Show carried Saturdays from 12:00-1:00 p.m. on Austins Right Choice Talk 1370AM.
