Just a couple of quick thoughts on the Draft Derek Hall blog that popped up earlier in the week that I wanted to pass along:
-Derek Hall was considered a front-runner most of the first half of 2006, and a run for CRNC Chairman looked increasingly likely heading into the fall. Then Kentucky Chairman Hall resigned his post to run a local campaign, and talk of such a move quieted considerably. This talk of a Hall campaign is not a new phenomenon, though.
-Hall was always seen as a reluctant candidate, one who did not necessarily yearn for the spotlight. He got things done in Kentucky, doubling the number of chapters and running his own field program. However, even given his track record of success and seemingly endless likability, Hall has never been an eager candidate. A draft movement with strong support and deep roots is probably the best way to convince him to run.
-There are a couple of key relationships to keep in mind when it comes to looking at a Derek Hall for Chairman campaign. First of all, Hall is close with Missouri's Justin Smith, an endorser of Real Reform. His replacement in Kentucky, Brian Weber of Morehead State, is also a public Real Reform supporter. Finally, Hall is reportedly close with Ohio Chairman (and Real Reform kingpin) Brian Siler as well. It is hard to see him striking it out on his own if these three are not behind it.
-Here is the bottom line, as I see it currently: there may very well be a continued presence of a Draft Derek Hall movement within this CRNC campaign, but I seriously doubt Derek will end up at the top of a ticket. More likely, instead, is a spot a bit lower on a ticket, more than likely whatever Siler and Brent Ludeman are hashing out. My personal hope is that Hall gets involved once again, hopefully on a national level, so that he can bring his leadership to a wider audience of College Republicans.
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21 comments:
one kid does not make a draft movement
my own opinion of Hall is that he stayed on as state chair to work the "opposition" line at the summer state chairman training meets, and then stepped down once that was over. He kept the national committeeman title to remain in the national scene, but turned away from state responsibilities. Hall has always come across as a me-first politician. But thats just how I see his recent moves, may not be the case
This is the creator of the Draft Derek Hall blog...I would like to clear up a few misunderstandings. The Draft Derek Hall movement did not start by me sitting it home with too much time on my hands. I have never blogged before but I decided to do so because of the lack of a true reform candidate in the current field, and the support Derek has received from across the country. I also believe that Derek being a "me first politician" is completely false. The reason he stepped down from Chairman was if he was going to commit his time to running a state rep race he wouldn't have the time to effectively run a federation and the interest of the federation has always been his top priority. I would encourage anyone to visit the site, express their concerns, and hopefully we can clear those up and convince a candidate who has implemented real reform to run.
Hall has a skeleton in his closet, one entirely of his own making. It could make him look like a badass to some in the opposition, but not to anyone with a head on their shoulders.
would the skeleton your talking about me at cpac last year?
sorry i mistyped earlier would the skeleton your talking about be the encounter with nate walton at cpac?
No, that's not it. Its worse, something that speaks to Hall's attitude, and even to how pathetic the opposition has turned of late.
If there's one good thing to come out of this thing with Hall, its that people are more likely to become aware of the opposition's abuses these past two years. Most CRs would be shocked at how these guys operate. They say one thing and act entirely different.
This has to be a joke. Even if it's not, its really funny.
hmm...im interested to know about this skeleton....
I call BS on the skeleton. I like Derek, and he is a great guy to sit around and talk with, regardless of any of the politics of the CRNC he holds. Derek did step down to run a state rep. race, and I didn't say anything about that, because I didn't think anyone would stoop so low as to say he wanted to shirk his responsibilities as State Chair. Brian Weber was able to do a good job as a full-time chairman in Kentucky, which Derek would not have been able to do while running a campaign. He did the responsible thing, when you look at everything involved, and the best thing for his state. As for anyone criticizing Derek for keeping the Natl. Committeeman title, let me say this. I have talked with a couple of different state chairmen throughout their first month or so on the job, and all have said the same things about the national CR politics. To a man, they have called it daunting, and even intimidating upon first exposure. In staying on in a national role to represent Kentucky, Derek is again helping his state to retain the institutional knowledge and keep up a solid level of representation nationally. Again, I do not see him actually being the guy at the top, but he is clearly going to play a role. Anonymously alleging skeletons in the closet does not mean they exist. If I remember correctly, people were on the blogs before the CRNC Board Meeting in Denver saying that there was zero support for the amendments, and we saw how that one turned out. Skeleton in the closet? Show me something more than that; I can sit here all day and make up fallacies about Chairman Gourley, but this would not make them true. And, to the Draft Derek Hall blogger: I respect you taking matters into your own hands and joining the fray. I started Red State Rampage for many of the same reasons, and I have found a great many CRs that see things the same way.
The skeleton is, a 23-year old gal field rep showed up to help him recruit during the Spring Semester 2006. When Hall found out, he called her on the phone and told her to "get the fuck out of my state, now."
sounds like what has happened elsewhere in other states, just slightly less diplomatic...krink operatives were behind the scenes and covert in several states this fall and in the past
^ even if you're right, Derek Hall can't run a field program when he's disrespected the field reps in such a fashion.
Obviously not. This will clearly kill his political ambitions.
State Chairs who take out their dislike of National leadership on Field Reps are too immature enough to realize that most of the field reps don't have anything to do with the inner CRNC politics. They just saw a job they thought would be fun and took it. Hall is sad and immature if that story is true, but he's not the only one over the past year to treat a field rep like shit. Oh, the stories i've heard.
Ask some of the younger staff in Senator Bunning's office for opinions of Hall. Hall is not looked at in the best light in his state, go do the investigative work on your own.
Anyone know what the field rep was up to before Derek found out she was there? And why did he not know she was coming before she arrived in state? In most cases, CRNC field reps are thrown into the fire without any knowledge of the situations they are going to. However, there were cases both this fall and in editions of the field program past where they were given rather sinister tasks to carry out. I have heard of fund-raising the week before the election, active subversion of state feds, and subverting individual chapters. Things like this merit being thrown out of the state, no matter who is running the show in DC.
This talk of Derek and a field rep is pretty hilarious. I am the Vice Chair from Kentucky. We made the decision not to have a field rep from the CRNC early last spring, and notified Paul Gourley of that decision. After that point there was no further contact with anyone from the CRNC regarding that decision. We then implemented a very succesful field rep program of our own. I can tell you from dealing with Derek personally that is not how he would respond to a situation like that. That instance never took place, next time someone levels charges like this maybe they can provide the name of a specific field rep, or have other evidence to prove their claim.
I would hope it's not true, that would make Derek Hall the ULTIMATE asshole.
Glad to hear exactly what happened, Colby. It would not be the first time that the folks in the Washington office went against the wishes of a state fed. I have heard many a tale of this happening just this fall. And to whomever brought this charge up, bring your A-game next time. Hardly a skeleton in the closet.
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