Vermont College Republicans Free to Enlist!
Yup, these young idealogues no longer have the burden of running their club. They’ve disbanded due to lack of funds. So now they can follow the ideals they have espoused, and enlist in the United States Armed Forces. They can ask for service in Iraq, preferably in those zones John McCain and [...]
Yup, these young idealogues no longer have the burden of running their club. They’ve disbanded due to lack of funds. So now they can follow the ideals they have espoused, and enlist in the United States Armed Forces. They can ask for service in Iraq, preferably in those zones John McCain and George Bush think are “safe.”
So, why did they have to disband? It seems about 18 months ago these guys invited Newt Gingrich to speak on campus and they guaranteed his speaking fee. Alas, they still haven’t come up with the cash, so they’ve been forced to disband. The Burlington Press informs us:
When the club invited Gingrich to speak at Ira Allen Chapel on Oct. 6, 2005, he settled for an undisclosed honorarium that was apparently higher than the College Republicans could afford. They took out a $7,000 loan from the Student Government Association to help pay the bill, but more than a year later, when the loan still wasn’t fully repaid after several ultimatums, the Student Government Association decertified them. In other words, the College Republicans were removed last month from UVM’s long list of “recognized,” or subsidized, student clubs.
Gingrich charges a high fee to college students, they don’t pay and they have to disband. To me this seems like a very poor political strategy, to make the young idealists pay for one’s livelihood. . . er. . ah. . . Yeah, Newt is living off the beer money of college students. Does he have a comment?
Gingrich was asked Monday, via e-mail, if he realized that his appearance in Burlington had effectively led to the decommissioning of the UVM Republican club. A reply came from Joe DeSantis, communications director of Gingrich Communications: “We have no comment.”
No, actually, he has no comment.
This speaks volumes as to how Republicans regard their future. We’ve seen wave after wave of young Republican leaders get in trouble years later. Abramoff comes to mind. But in those days the party supported their kids so they’d have fresh blood throughout the years. Seems they’re taking a little bit of a different tack nowadays. Gingrich, at least, has decided that eating their young is the best course.
So, I’m thinking these guys, the College Republicans at the University of Vermont, don’t have anything to do anymore. Why not sign up for the military? They could see the world. Basra, Baghdad, Kirkuk. . .
Serves them right so now let the right serve.
This speaks volumes as to how Republicans regard their future.
I am reluctant to put my thoughts in a statement, as well as coin a phrase. But I will partly avoid the conflict by asking the question instead:
“Are the rats deserting the sinking ship”?
Check out the Reuters article entitled Bush fighting to stay relevant.
Well, depending on the MOS, some of those fine young republicans could repay the student government with thier enlistment bonus, alllowing their comrades to continue thier club.
Marcus, you surely don’t expect that kind of commitment from Republicans, do you?
“We’ve seen wave after wave of young Republican leaders get in trouble years later.”
Hilary Clinton, “Goldwater Girl” (1964).