A CONVENTION, BY NO MEANS CONVENTIONAL | Eastern NC Now
A tale of the Beaufort County Republican Convention
A CONVENTION, BY NO MEANS CONVENTIONAL
BY: The Eastern Carolina Avenger
Ahoy! It is I, the EC Avenger, bringing you a tale of the Battle of Beaufort that occurred this past weekend. My ship and crew were sailing the stormy seas in search of the Fount of Knowledge when we emerged from a fog bank and happened upon a battle of epic proportions. I spied two ships through my looking glass. It was clear from the battle flags flying above the mainmasts that one ship, the “Rhino”, belonging to the privateer, Captain Kidd Well, was being pursued by one of the royal navy’s men-o-war, the H.M.S. Hood.
Both ships maneuvered, seeking favorable winds to their advantage but neither side yielding. The “Rhino” and “Hood” began exchanging broadsides at rapid pace. It was apparent that the “Hood” was in a position of advantage, having struck down three or four attempts by the “Rhino” to gain the upper hand. Captain Kidd Well could be seen standing on the bridge shouting orders to the crew. As the broadsides from the “Hood” struck home, finding their mark, the crew of the “Rhino” began to lose nerve and hope. Captain Kidd Well could be seen flogging his crew of “scurvy dogs” to do his bidding as they attempted to desert or mutiny his cause.
All appeared lost for the “Rhino” until the “Treacherous Terror” captained by the pirate queen, Lyn Gariss, came over the horizon. The sun was already beginning its steady descent toward the horizon and both sides broke off the action. The “Rhino” set sail toward its haven south of the Pamptico river as the “Hood” returned to the seat of government in the colonial capital of Caroline. It appeared to yours truly, the EC Avenger, that the “Hood” had given better than she got. However, it was clear both sides, though unbeaten, would emerge again at a later time to rejoin battle for control of the Fount of Knowledge off Beaufort. But that my friends is a tale for another day. Until we meet again, I am the Eastern Carolina Avenger reminding you to stay vigilant as you sail in search of truth and knowledge.
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It looks like the county insider elitist are making every effort to undue the results of the latest Beaufort County Republican Convention. These folks view the grassroots as people to follow orders, write checks, and keep quiet. My advice to executive committee members is to bring your own refreshments.
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I am not a fan of fiction myself and rarely read it unless required to. I can appreciate good satire for what it is, and whoever this so-called Avenger is, he does make a point. If healing wounds and advancing the cause of the party is a top priority and true concern, I’m of the opinion that limiting the ability for people who want to participate to do so, excluding certain members of the party because their viewpoints differ from those of others, using the Executive Committee as a PAC instead of a collaborative group of all party members, and attempting to consolidate power and control among a select few stands completely counter to that position.
I did attend the county convention and witnessed first-hand Keith Kidwell dictating to people how to vote and yelling at them when they chose to vote against his wishes. I witnessed Kidwell attempt to limit, not expand, the ability of our citizens to participate and serve on the Executive Committee and then explain that America is not a democracy. He is correct to some extent because we are a constitutional federal republic. However, at the lowest, grassroots beginning of our political process, each person who chooses to vote does so in a democratic process where each voice is heard. So, in my opinion, the U.S. is a democracy because we, the people, hold the ultimate political power. We aren’t a “direct democracy”, however, we are a “representative democracy.” That’s because we exercise our political power in a different way: by voting in elections to choose our representatives. That is what makes us a “representative democracy”. The Constitution doesn’t use the term “democracy” but notable Americans such as Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Noah Webster and Chief Justice John Marshall all used the term. Those men understood representative democracy – the American variety – to be democracy all the same. When a motion to allow anyone who wished to volunteer to serve on the Executive Committee was made, Keith Kidwell made a motion to not only prevent this but to limit the number of individuals who could serve on the committee from what previously had been 21-24 seats to a smaller number capped at 15 seats. Limiting control of government to a few cronies as opposed to opening it up to anyone who wants to participate is elitist and the type of politics we see coming from New Jersey and New York...remember your history and Tammany Hall. Furthermore, Joseph Knox made a motion to try and prevent an open discussion/debate of the issue. Fortunately, both of these attempts failed, and the Executive Committee is now composed of approximately 45 individuals. While Keith Kidwell may vote conservatively on issues when in Raleigh, he is no true conservative or friend to the Beaufort County citizen. He actively endorses the RINOs in our county that have corrupted our county government, allowing for a weak School Board and County Commission. These are nothing more than power plays so that a few can remain in power and share power for their own personal benefit. That's the same type of corruption we saw in politics in Iraq and Afghanistan during my 14 years of military service to these United States. We deserve better. It's possible that some party members are offended that these details are being made public as they don’t reflect well on the messaging that has been coming out of the Executive Committee and senior party leadership in the county for years. But let’s face it, these folks are already up to their same old shenanigans. Why else would Carolyn Garris need to appoint a “Chairman's Advisory Committee” stating the members of this “esteemed committee” are Keith Kidwell, Ashley Woolard, Sandy Hardy and Paul Varcoe? Why does she require a personal committee more limited in size than the Executive Committee as a whole? What makes this committee “esteemed”? This was not announced to or voted on by the Executive Committee as we haven’t had the first meeting yet. Remember that these same folks voted against expanding the size of the Executive Committee. Additionally at a previous convention, it was Kidwell who filed a false report with the Sheriff that Mr. Richardson had slapped a woman at the convention. Also, Paul Varcoe harassed Hood Richardson to the point that charges were brought against him for pushing Richardson at the same convention. This is dirty politics at its best. Concerning the first meeting of the new Executive Committee to be held on April 10th, why is it being held in Aurora? This location is not centrally located as Washington is. Is this an attempt to make it more difficult for everyone to attend? Also, why is there a $10 fee to attend, supposedly for refreshments? That’s a high price for a few refreshments and what should be a relatively short meeting. Remember the price to attend the county convention was only $5, a meeting which lasted close to six hours with only refreshments being offered that ran out well before the meeting was over. One last question would be why Gail Breed is listed as “Acting Secretary”? Who appointed her? This wasn’t brought to the attention of the Executive Committee as a whole or voted on by said committee. I believe it was April Holloway who was elected at the county convention to serve as Secretary. Why isn’t she attending or involved? Could it be she received severe criticism or backlash because she chose to remain neutral and abstained from voting on issues regarding the Executive Committee during the convention. She should be applauded for her courage and fortitude. The observations and concerns that I mention here appear to me to be a violation on the part of several members of the Executive Committee to abide by the 2024 North Carolina Republican Party Platform document which states: “ARTICLE V. STATE GOVERNMENT 1. We believe that in a free society, power should rest in the hands of the people. We believe in a limited government which serves the people, rather than one that burdens them.” The people of Beaufort County are waking up to what has been going on. If our goal really is to heal wounds and advance the cause of the party in our county, then an environment that is inclusive to all, welcomes and facilitates open discussion and eliminates centralized control and back-room meetings is the first step toward achieving that goal. |
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I have much in agreement with both Stan and Hood on policy. Hood and Stan put their names on what they write.
This kind of article may be funny to some — but at the end of the day how is this helping to heal wounds and advance our cause? And whoever this writer is have the cajones to put your name on it. Other than that it’s a joke and so are you. |
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Choppy seas indeed.
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Good piece of writing Eastern Carolina Avenger.
Oh the imagery giving pause to remember years ago when I was the First Mate on the H.M.S. Hood. |
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Ain't that something...scalawags like Captain Kidd Well still think they can hang on the high seas?
Some things never change. One day, his hull will be breached and I hope I see it happen😎🤘 |
Maybe he didnt know the insider games being played, but now he does, and he wont enjoy the long term backlash.