ORIGINALLY APPEARED IN KEY WEST THE NEWSPAPER Sept 24, 2010
NOTE: Matt Gardi ran
against Morgan McPherson for
the Republican nomination for
State Representative. He beat
McPherson in most of the lower
Keys precincts where both candidates
were best known, but
lost district-wide. McPherson,
whose funding came primarily
from out of district, outspent
Gardi more than ten to one, and
enjoyed unprecedented Republican
Party of Florida financial
support during the primary. As
a result, Gardi told the State and
County Republican leaders to
“stick it” and still took home 45
percent of the true Republican
vote in the District.
against Morgan McPherson for
the Republican nomination for
State Representative. He beat
McPherson in most of the lower
Keys precincts where both candidates
were best known, but
lost district-wide. McPherson,
whose funding came primarily
from out of district, outspent
Gardi more than ten to one, and
enjoyed unprecedented Republican
Party of Florida financial
support during the primary. As
a result, Gardi told the State and
County Republican leaders to
“stick it” and still took home 45
percent of the true Republican
vote in the District.
by Matt Gardi
I am compelled to respond
to Rick Boettger’s recent rants
against the national Republican
party. Why? Well because he
is spot on....of course. Now, I
can hear some of you saying...
what’s that, Matt? But...but,
you’re a Republican! Yes. Yes I
am, and a proud one at that.
to Rick Boettger’s recent rants
against the national Republican
party. Why? Well because he
is spot on....of course. Now, I
can hear some of you saying...
what’s that, Matt? But...but,
you’re a Republican! Yes. Yes I
am, and a proud one at that.
I often agree with much
of what Rick says, and he has
my utmost respect when it
comes to being someone who
stands up to the system. I feel
he is dedicated to the cause of
informing the public about the
injustices within the machine.
of what Rick says, and he has
my utmost respect when it
comes to being someone who
stands up to the system. I feel
he is dedicated to the cause of
informing the public about the
injustices within the machine.
But as much as I agree on his
points about the Republican
party, we do part ways on one
very fundamental component
of his argument. And while
it is only one component, it is
unfortunately so material that it
actually makes Rick a helpless
culprit in facilitating all that he
is ranting about.
points about the Republican
party, we do part ways on one
very fundamental component
of his argument. And while
it is only one component, it is
unfortunately so material that it
actually makes Rick a helpless
culprit in facilitating all that he
is ranting about.
Rick, seriously, do you
think that the national Democrats
are any less culpable of
the infractions that you assign
to Republicans? Now stop right
there! I don’t intend to stand toe
to toe and debate which party
is the more conspiring, which
party has more negative advertising,
which party is controlled
by wealthy elitists behind the
scenes calling the shots, which
party is facilitating more rewards
for it’s contributors, or
which party has greater heroes
or villains.
think that the national Democrats
are any less culpable of
the infractions that you assign
to Republicans? Now stop right
there! I don’t intend to stand toe
to toe and debate which party
is the more conspiring, which
party has more negative advertising,
which party is controlled
by wealthy elitists behind the
scenes calling the shots, which
party is facilitating more rewards
for it’s contributors, or
which party has greater heroes
or villains.
Nope, I won’t do it. Why?
Because if I do, I fall into “their”
trap, and become “their” tool.
Unfortunately that is exactly
what Rick has done. I don’t
blame him, it takes the greatest
concentration to break away
from the hypnotic influence of
the machine.
Because if I do, I fall into “their”
trap, and become “their” tool.
Unfortunately that is exactly
what Rick has done. I don’t
blame him, it takes the greatest
concentration to break away
from the hypnotic influence of
the machine.
You see, Rick has fallen
prey to the left-right schism
that is created and refined by
those that truly own our government,
lock stock and barrel.
prey to the left-right schism
that is created and refined by
those that truly own our government,
lock stock and barrel.
It’s a classic divide and conquer
methodology that keeps us all
busy pointing fingers at each
other, versus ransacking the
folks behind the curtain pulling
the levers and giving them one
seriously painful wedgie.
methodology that keeps us all
busy pointing fingers at each
other, versus ransacking the
folks behind the curtain pulling
the levers and giving them one
seriously painful wedgie.
Listen, as much as anyone
might disagree, our government
is bought and paid for
by people who have no ethical
or moral compass, no concern
for right or wrong, nor even a
concern for America in general.
It’s all just a game to maintain
control, power, influence, and
the true wealth of this nation,
even in the midst of its deterioration.
They balance taking from
the producers, with distributing
to those in need solely to maintain
their respective support
base, all the while their only true
concern is who actually holds
the purse strings and doles out
the goods . . . after skimming
their take of course.
might disagree, our government
is bought and paid for
by people who have no ethical
or moral compass, no concern
for right or wrong, nor even a
concern for America in general.
It’s all just a game to maintain
control, power, influence, and
the true wealth of this nation,
even in the midst of its deterioration.
They balance taking from
the producers, with distributing
to those in need solely to maintain
their respective support
base, all the while their only true
concern is who actually holds
the purse strings and doles out
the goods . . . after skimming
their take of course.
And it’s not just on the
national level; it permeates
every level of government,
right down to our municipal
commissions. It is those at the
most grassroots level that are
the most disheartening conscripts.
They put towing the line
of the State Party leaders over
the principle that their party is
supposed to represent--solely
for maintaining their positions
within the local control group
Local candidates and elected
officials fear speaking out
against the ruling kingmakers
for fear of losing party support
and financing. They, too,
become hapless tools of those
that control the system from top
to bottom.
national level; it permeates
every level of government,
right down to our municipal
commissions. It is those at the
most grassroots level that are
the most disheartening conscripts.
They put towing the line
of the State Party leaders over
the principle that their party is
supposed to represent--solely
for maintaining their positions
within the local control group
Local candidates and elected
officials fear speaking out
against the ruling kingmakers
for fear of losing party support
and financing. They, too,
become hapless tools of those
that control the system from top
to bottom.
Party officials are masters
at creating our heroes and villains
for us in order to keep us
distracted and pointing fingers.
Obama is the Democrat’s Bush.
As a Republican I could never
understand why Bush wouldn’t
reign in spending and the size of
government, and I watched us
give up our liberties in the name
of protection from terrorists.
at creating our heroes and villains
for us in order to keep us
distracted and pointing fingers.
Obama is the Democrat’s Bush.
As a Republican I could never
understand why Bush wouldn’t
reign in spending and the size of
government, and I watched us
give up our liberties in the name
of protection from terrorists.
Democrats are probably
just as puzzled as to why
Obama can’t end the wars, is
still paying Halliburton and has the same banking cartel advising
him that Bush did. Meet
the new boss, the same as the
old boss. You are delusional if
you think anything other than
that.
just as puzzled as to why
Obama can’t end the wars, is
still paying Halliburton and has the same banking cartel advising
him that Bush did. Meet
the new boss, the same as the
old boss. You are delusional if
you think anything other than
that.
As someone who considers
himself a Republican, it
doesn’t mean I have to accept
the fact my party has been coopted
by frauds at all levels.
himself a Republican, it
doesn’t mean I have to accept
the fact my party has been coopted
by frauds at all levels.
I’m a proud Republican because
I stand for small government,
low taxation, free enterprise,
and self-sufficiency. Democrats
I know and respect articulate
a hope of a society that takes
care of those that can’t take
care of themselves. Neither
of us would argue with each
other’s intention. Between us,
the only debate is how much
do you take, and how much
do you give as a government
and a society so that production
is maintained, the needy
are served, and dependencies
are not created.
I stand for small government,
low taxation, free enterprise,
and self-sufficiency. Democrats
I know and respect articulate
a hope of a society that takes
care of those that can’t take
care of themselves. Neither
of us would argue with each
other’s intention. Between us,
the only debate is how much
do you take, and how much
do you give as a government
and a society so that production
is maintained, the needy
are served, and dependencies
are not created.
When does government
support, control and protection
become an intrusion? That’s it
in a nutshell, one spectrum, and
one healthy discussion.
support, control and protection
become an intrusion? That’s it
in a nutshell, one spectrum, and
one healthy discussion.
But ultimately, it is our
government, and those that are
in control of it and our party
structure that dictate the discussion.
They create the demons,
heroes and issues du jour that
keep us polarized and make us
lose sight of what is truly going
on in our country.
government, and those that are
in control of it and our party
structure that dictate the discussion.
They create the demons,
heroes and issues du jour that
keep us polarized and make us
lose sight of what is truly going
on in our country.
So long as they can fight
it out at the national, state, and
local level for the money, power,
control and influence without
having “us” disrupt their little
charade, they care neither about
us, nor our country. They
control and own our media, so
an outsider pointing out their
infractions is ostracized, and
marginalized.
it out at the national, state, and
local level for the money, power,
control and influence without
having “us” disrupt their little
charade, they care neither about
us, nor our country. They
control and own our media, so
an outsider pointing out their
infractions is ostracized, and
marginalized.
They maintain the party
structure, the legislation, the
lobby groups, the 527s and campaign
finance, and thus control
the candidates, so much so that
what we feel are our choices,
are in fact nothing more than
puppets of their design. Unless
you’re one of the few that has
the time to dig into the morass
they create to figure out who
candidates and elected officials
actually owe their allegiance to,
you cast your vote assuming
you made a difference.
structure, the legislation, the
lobby groups, the 527s and campaign
finance, and thus control
the candidates, so much so that
what we feel are our choices,
are in fact nothing more than
puppets of their design. Unless
you’re one of the few that has
the time to dig into the morass
they create to figure out who
candidates and elected officials
actually owe their allegiance to,
you cast your vote assuming
you made a difference.
When no difference appears,
you lash out at the opposition,
and their corrupt ways...
you lash out at the opposition,
and their corrupt ways...
just wait till we can vote them
out next time... just wait. How
dare they assail us? Where’s my
flag, where’s my lapel pin, get
me a sign to wave! And then,
when election day comes, we
celebrate because we transposed
the mirage for a short
period of time, until it becomes
painfully apparent that we must
demand change yet again. And
again. And again.
out next time... just wait. How
dare they assail us? Where’s my
flag, where’s my lapel pin, get
me a sign to wave! And then,
when election day comes, we
celebrate because we transposed
the mirage for a short
period of time, until it becomes
painfully apparent that we must
demand change yet again. And
again. And again.
If you consider yourself
a Republican, don’t lash out
at Democrats; create a party
you can be proud of. Create a
party that will inspire others to
participate, one that can stand
on it’s merits and ideas, a party
that does not disenfranchise a
broad spectrum of participants.
If you’re a Democrat, do the
same.
a Republican, don’t lash out
at Democrats; create a party
you can be proud of. Create a
party that will inspire others to
participate, one that can stand
on it’s merits and ideas, a party
that does not disenfranchise a
broad spectrum of participants.
If you’re a Democrat, do the
same.
Don’t tolerate the BS that
we all know goes on in both
parties; challenge it. If you consider
yourself a leader in your
party, whether it be as a party
official, candidate, or elected
official, realize the fight is for
what is right, not what is most
beneficial to the puppet masters
that have control of the system.
Stand up and be counted and
point your fingers at the appropriate
villain.
we all know goes on in both
parties; challenge it. If you consider
yourself a leader in your
party, whether it be as a party
official, candidate, or elected
official, realize the fight is for
what is right, not what is most
beneficial to the puppet masters
that have control of the system.
Stand up and be counted and
point your fingers at the appropriate
villain.
When the discussion is
between honest concerned
people about how much we
can tax ourselves, and how
much we can expect our government
to provide for us, and
not about how much our parties
can spend to buy an election or
denigrate an opponent, then . .
. then “we”— Democrats and
Republicans— have finally
won.
between honest concerned
people about how much we
can tax ourselves, and how
much we can expect our government
to provide for us, and
not about how much our parties
can spend to buy an election or
denigrate an opponent, then . .
. then “we”— Democrats and
Republicans— have finally
won.
Rick, are you with me?
