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Despite breathless media reports of divided Democrats, it is the Republican Party that is suffering deeper organizational divisions that may come home to roost this November.
BOR has reported recently on Tea Party primary challengers to incumbent Texas Republican Congressmen. Here in Central Texas, that division is going even deeper, with Tea Party challengers to many of the elected party officials in the Hays County Republican Party.
I'm not talking about State Reps or Judges... I'm talking about Precinct Chairs. Tea Party activists are primarying sitting Republican precinct chairs in Hays County. There's also a Tea Party challenger to Hays County Republican Chair Bud Wymore.
It kinda gets better. The Ellis County Observer, basically a blog for the "Ron Paul!!" crowd out of Midlothian, has endorsed in the Hays County GOP primary and stated its preference for particular precinct chairs. (Note: Ellis County and Hays County are about 3 hours apart on I-35. Just saying.) In each case, the Ellis County Observer has endorsed the Tea Party, anti-establishment Republican candidate.
So in case you are voting in the Hays County Republican primary and want to know how to cast a ballot for more dysfunction, here it is:
Hays County Co Chair - CLARK REGAN
Hays GOP Precinct # 116 - ROB ROARK
Hays GOP Precinct # 225 - DAVID CROWELL
Hays GOP Precinct # 330 - SEAN BOLOCK
Hays GOP Precinct # 337 - CRAIG YOUNG
This is more than an amusing side note to a busy primary season, however. Precinct chairs are the heart and sole of a grassroots party organization. They knock on the doors, participate in the phone banks, and do the work that makes a difference in close elections. Hays County is largely considered to be a bellwether county in Central Texas. If the party activists are largely taken over by Tea Party and Ron Paul folks who won't work for more "mainstream" conservative Republicans, it could make a difference in the upcoming election.
After all, any Tea Party activist who would do the work for the more compromised "moderate" Republicans would be giving up on their core values of liberty. The Tea Party movement is founded on grassroots activists showing their independence from a compromised Republican Party that has sold out our rights to the highest corporate bidders. Whether the Citizens United decision or the bank bailout, so-called "conservatives" like Kay Bailey Hutchison are really just shills for the corporate overlords who want to take away the individual liberties that Tea Party activists hold so dear.
Of course, the real threat is if Debra Medina squeaks into a run-off against Rick Perry. Then these now-entrenched activists will be ready to snap into action, and do all they can to push their Tea Party Hero into the general election.
But take heed, folks. The Tea Party is getting organized on a local level. What that will mean in the Republican Primary at the top and bottom of the ballot remains to be seen.
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