How goes it? Did you try The Mean Cup’s Costa Rican Fair Trade brew in Central Market today? Delicious. And as a public service announcement, remember the recommended way to brew coffee is one scoop (2 tablespoons) per 6 oz. of water.
What do you do when you have an 82-year-old retiree and a mustachioed county treasurer duke it out for chairman of the Lancaster County Republican Committee? The answer comes tonight when the Lancaster GOP has its barn dance at the Farm & Home Center in Manheim Township.
The committee’s 362 members are to vote between Frank Fryburg (the retiree) and Craig Ebersole (the treasurer) to determine who wins a 2-year term as GOP chairman. I can’t say either one of these guys has thrown a wrinkle into the local Republican fabric. I haven’t heard any ideas that would have made Ronald Reagan fall off his GOP throne in astonishment. So the choice comes down to who Republican committee people feel will be the best organized, the best mediator, the best fundraiser for the party.
Come to think of it, those are fairly profound challenges. And from where I’m perched, here are the other hurdles the county GOP has to overcome during the next two to four years:
Finding the next generation: There’s a strong possibility that state Rep. Katie True and U.S. Rep. Joe Pitts won’t be around for much longer. Retirement is on the horizon. And while local Democrats may yet be a generation away from winning those seats, they’re gearing up to take the best shot they may have ever had at nabbing True or Pitts’ position. And so the GOP has to find solid candidates. Who’s going to step up?
Diversity: As has been frequently noted in the Nest during the 2008 presidential race, the Republican Party must diversify with more Hispanic and black voters in the future. So what’s the message from the local party? You’re a Republican. Go into the city where you’re more likely to see non-European faces. What’s your message? Fryburg and Ebersole both said they want to start a “commission” on registering more minorities as Republicans. Yawn. Tell us why Hispanic and black voters should be Republicans.
The Democrats in Lancaster have gone from being down 2.3-to-1 in registered voters compared to Republicans five years ago to 1.7-to-1 just last year. In the city, Democrats have a 14,000 voter edge. The Dems are in your rear-view mirror, GOP, and unless you diversify, they may be soon passing you on your left (going for the NASCAR metaphor in honor of Sunday’s Daytona).
Raising money in a recession: People are tightening their belts. But $$$ is needed to run slick, sophisticated, high-profile campaigns. Ebersole says he wants a more Internet-savvy local party. Takes mullah. The Republicans have a fight with Democrats coming in this generation, and the local GOP has to figure out how to raise money in a shrinking economy.
Elsewhere in this whimsical world of politics:
*Your company’s pension, if you still have one, has suffered in this economy, no doubt. But can you imagine the company losing $28 billion in its pension fund? That’s what the state government is facing. The Associated Press has the report.
*There’s a new grand jury in town. State Attorney General Tom Corbett announced that the case load on public corruption investigations has grown so big he need a new panel. The Patriot-News has the story.
*And Jimmy Buffett has penned a new song about the economy called “You’ve Got a lot to Drink About.” You can view it here. Can’t post it in the Nest because there’s some foul language, but if you’re curious, check it out. Just remember there’s a bad word or two. Ye have been forewarned.
