Keeping in Touch
The beginning of a new year is upon us. With shouts of Happy New Year, horns blowing and bells ringing, 2008 did enter the scene. Now it's a time for making resolutions, of course one popular resolution that comes to mind after eating, eating and more eating during the holidays, is called dieting.
Of course intentions are always good at least in the beginning, but think of what's yet to come in the New Year, valentine candy, chocolate Easter bunnies, St. Patrick's day goodies, Fourth of July picnics, Halloween tricks or treats, and wouldn't you know it Thanksgiving turkeys and Christmas goodies, oops so much for 2008 and resolutions!
The year 2008 comes to us brand new, like an unwritten page of history yet to be lived, and yet the living of it will bring about change, unknown challenges, it will inspire new ideas and will open the door to new beginnings for each of us as we begin to know what will fill those pages of history for 2008.
One of those changes that we will be seeing this year is that of the Montana Republican Party's Presidential Primary Caucus which will be held Feb. 5, 2008.
The adoption of this caucus form of election, which was adopted by the Montana Republican Party State Central Committee in August 2007, paved the way for Montana to have a presidential primary caucus this year. This is not a new concept. In creating this caucus, Montana joins 29 other states that hold some form of caucus or closed primary.
The caucus will supplement the state's primary election in June and every Montana voter will still cast a ballot for President at that time.
The caucus will enhance Montana's influence on the national level, by giving Montana a chance to hear from Republican Presidential Candidates on issues we care about and it will give us greater opportunity for input in the nomination process of our presidential candidate.
With our primary being so late in the process, Montana's 25 delegates to the Republican National Convention aren't obligated to vote for the candidate who wins Montana's primary, they simply vote for the presidential candidate they personally want to support. That's right, under the current policy, only 25 people get to decide which candidate gets the support of all Montana Republicans (the same is true for the Montana Democrats). The new proposal (caucus) would require Montana's delegates to support the winner of the Montana's Republican presidential caucus, an honor that could only be won by garnering broad support from the more than 2,000 people representing every county across the state.
Those individuals that will be able to cast their vote on Feb. 5 are all voting members of the Republican State Executive Committee, elected officers of each county Republican central committee, each elected or appointed Republican Precinct Man and Woman, incumbent Republican members of the Montana House of Representatives, incumbent Republican members of the Montana State Senate, incumbent Republican members of the PSC, incumbent Republican officeholders in county, state and federal officers. With the Feb. 5 caucus just around the corner, make sure your voice is heard regarding your choice for the Republican Presidential nomination.
Talk with your officials that will be casting their vote, share why you'd like them to consider your candidate or why not to consider one of the others.
If you are not sure who your Sanders County elected officials and representatives are, please feel free to contact me or Mike Hashisaki, Chairman of the Sanders County Central Committee @ mike@blackfoot.net, PO Box 10, Plains, MT 59859 or 826-4447; and one of us can and will provide you a local listing.
For more information regarding the why's, how's, etc. of the actual caucus itself you can visit the Montana Republican Party Web site at www.mtgop.org, or contact: Karli Hill, Montana State Republican Party at (406) 442-6469 or khill@mtgop.org. Now it's your turn to "Keep in Touch" by contacting me regarding your questions, concerns or comments. I can be reached via e-mail at pathd13@blackfoot.net, or call me at 827-4652 or by mail at P.O. Box 1151, Thompson Falls, Montana 59873.