Rove meets with Simpson faction
Written by Kristen Rapin | | krapin@toledofreepress.comKarl Rove met with Jeff Simpson and other area Republicans before the Lincoln Day Dinner on Jan. 21.
Karl Rove and Jeff Simpson
“Its very exciting to meet Rove and have the opportunity to sit down with him,” said Simpson, chairman of one Lucas County Republican Party faction. “This is the fun stuff, the gravy. This is why we get involved, why we go out and support candidates.”
Rove shared stories with the group about visiting Louisiana post-hurricane Katrina, talked of his excitement about the Republican ticket in Ohio for 2010 and discussed the “tea party” movement.
The effectiveness of tea parties varies from location to location, with the most effective tea parties being ones that push the government towards sensible spending and governing, he said. Tea parties that grapple with the idea of picking candidates aren’t as successful, he said.
Rove, who is aware of the area party’s issues, joked “what have you gotten me into?” but then asked if the party was going to get everything back on track.
Paul Hoag, central committee chairman for the Simpson faction of the LCRP, said he was grateful to Rove for taking the time to meet with them.
“This has been a really good meeting,” Hoag said.
From left: R.J. Rajner, Don Spencer, Tom Haupricht Sr., Karl Rove, Jeff Simpson, Larry Romaine, Matthew Bartow and Joanne Wack meet Jan. 21. Rove is autographing a ‘Karl Rove Award’ given to Bartow by the county GOP.
I only hope that sometime soon the new faction of the Lucas County GOP will get it’s act together and proceed with a platform of burnished candidates. This Old Guard/New Guard is getting old. Stainbrook needs to leave so the party may unite. So many people have been burned or disenfranchised and have been staying away. The only way you can get a hold of anyone is by cell phone and only if they want to talk to you. This has been no way to run a party that should have had a better record.
This comment was posted on January 21st, 2010 at 10:21 pmThey give Bartow the Rove Award…what for stealing from GOP candidates. Talk about tone deaf. Which faction is responsible for that? More of the same keystone cops.
This comment was posted on January 22nd, 2010 at 12:03 pmGee, Schulz, can’t ya get any more original than that?
Surprised we didn’t see you amonst the stellar stains on the party.
This comment was posted on January 22nd, 2010 at 5:58 pmYea, could have mentioned the irony of him receiving the Rove award. Rove who fights for “family values” and then keeps piling up the divorces. One is intellectually dishonest, the other is just plain dishonest.
This comment was posted on January 22nd, 2010 at 8:03 pmOh come on Dave, can’t you just enjoy the irony of Karl Rove signing an award given to Bartow by ousted chairman Jon Stainbrook? Even those of us on the outside can see how tongue in cheek this is. Lighten up and have a nice day!
This comment was posted on January 23rd, 2010 at 11:25 amOld guard, new guard. Looks all like the same. Simpson is there with Wack who is one of the prime reasons the LCRP failed to re-elect Chairman Reichart. Wack and her crew has attacked Bartow while he was with Stainbrook…now they sit together? Where are the fresh new people in charge? Who are the officers of Simpson’s crew? Is it Wack, Bartow, Noe? Where are the people who DON’T have criminal backgrounds and endless bad PR Blade articles about them? The bad laundry just keeps recycling itself!
The Republican Party is doomed without new people with NO RECORDS and poor Simpson may not get the fair shake he needs to revive this party. It can’t be done with the likes of Wack and Bartow walking away. Which they’d do if they cared at all about the republicans in this county. I think this whole thing is going to sink the GOP chances in 2010…good job old guard, good job Stain you have ruined our county’s chances again!
This comment was posted on January 23rd, 2010 at 3:07 pmIs that Joanne Wack I see? I am no fan of the Stain but I guess the old faction of the GOP will never learn.
This comment was posted on January 23rd, 2010 at 6:25 pm