Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Chaos at the Darke County Tea Party meeting

The Darke County T.E.A. Patriots met Tuesday night at the Lighthouse Christian Center for the purpose of endorsing candidates. This group was formed recently - and as many as 100 people were at the meeting. A number of people attended the meeting with the expectation of voting, but at some point it was announced that only those people who had attended a prior Tea Party meeting would be eligible to vote. As a result, only 43 ballots were cast. Many people were disappointed at not being able to vote.

Al Bliss is the leader of the group and apparently conducted the meeting. Various candidates gave presentations, either in person or through a representative.

Each candidate for county commissioner was present and spoke on his own behalf. In the race for State Auditor, candidate Dave Yost was represented by Lyn Bliss, who gave a speech which was critical of the opponent Seth Morgan. Morgan, who attended the meeting with his family, spoke on his own behalf.

Numerous other candidates (or their representatives) also spoke.

When it came time for the vote, it was announced at some point (or it became apparent) that Dori Howdieshell would tally the ballots - see press release below. Seth Morgan's local representative objected on the basis that Ms. Howdieshell was affiliated with the Yost campaign. This caused a verbal argument between the Morgan's representative and Mr. Bliss in which Mr. Bliss yelled out the f-word in the presence of Seth Morgan's young children. Although nobody could provide a direct quote, the context consistently referenced was that Mr. Bliss didn't "f****** care" what Morgan's representative thought.

Ms. Howdieshell proceeded with the tally of the votes in private, and unlike the press release below, several attendees commented on the vote taking "a long time," or as much as a half hour.

When the vote was announced, Bob Robinson narrowly defeated Mike Stegall - and the vote tally was announced. Thereafter, the vote tallies of the other races were not announced. Dave Yost won the endorsement for Auditor of State.

DarkeJournal has spoken to several attendees of the meeting who were unhappy with the voting process. Those attendees also reported speaking with other Tea Partiers (not interviewed) who had the same concerns. The upset attendees cited the friendship of Mr. Bliss, Mrs. Bliss, and Ms. Howdieshell, and their perceived support of the Yost and Robinson campaigns. Several spoke of quitting the current Tea Party or forming a new Tea Party.

It should be noted that Bob Robinson left the meeting early due to illness, and Yost didn't attend at all. Neither was involved in the voting, and none of the attendees were critical of them in any way.

[Info was received by 10 Tea Partiers via phone, email, or in person in compiling the report above. If you attended the meeting and have more to add, you can email confidentially to darkejournal@gmail.com.]

33 comments:

  1. so basically, even if there were no shenanigans involved, they set it up so that it was incredibly reasonable to think there are.

    this thing seems incredibly poorly ran and organized and not thought all of the way through.

    how much sway would this endorsement have anyway? would those who wanted stegal (supposing he legitimately lost this endorsement) actually vote for robinson jsut because the majority of the "patriots" are?

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  2. Right on! This pathetic trio simply wanted the result to come out their way---they are known for "success at any cost---ramrod it through". Anyone with a brain would know that perception of fraud is as bad as actual fraud.

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  3. Will anyone get sued if they say what a gyp that vote was? How can one candidate get cheered and yet lose to Dori Howdieshell's favorite candidate? Sounds fishy to me.

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  4. Would someone please start a real Tea Party, not one run by such an idiotic group? I'd join if those hicks were out of it.

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  5. Almost every Tea Party group has endorsed Seth Morgan---yet the Tea Party headed (Mr. bliss)by Morgan's opponent's wife (Mrs. Bliss) selected his opponent---what kind of dumb a**** do they think we are?

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  6. However, also in talking to some Republican "big wigs" in the county, they are disappointed some other people did not run. Rumors of two or three younger (40 and under) candidates entering never panned out (for varying reasons), so we are stuck with a generally lackluster group.

    I guess Darke County gets stuck with one of 'em in the end.

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  7. To 7:34 pm:
    No matter who ran against the leadership of the Tea Party's favorite son, they would have been flushed down the drain.

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  8. What is truly sad is that like most media outlets, the DarkeJournal only reports what they want you to read, anyway. You'll never get the full story if the operator of the site does not want you to get it. Just remember that in EVERY story you read.

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  9. you're right ... but curious as to what's missing on this story ...

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  10. Maybe you should all try showing up at these events once in awhile, so you won't need to read about it here....or could fill in the details for others.

    I guess blindly bitching but taking absolutely no action is "easier."

    BTW....why is this story posted twice, with 2 different sets of comments?

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  11. Sorry. I will not back out next time.

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  12. Was Bliss elected to lead the TEA Party or self-appointed?

    That language is not acceptable - ESPECIALLY in a church!

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  13. Ive been there and it really seems like a waste of time Al Bliss and his wife are so bias it isn't very funny. If they want to support a buy out candidate like Dave Yost thats their problem. Darke T.E.A. Patriots are "Toast" Ive been attending for the last three months and its a Damn Shame that Al and Lyn are Hypocrites

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  14. The Teaparty movement has many admirable goals. But the reality is that the leadership has co-opted a well-intentioned group of citizens to benefit the same old political establishment. Very sad, but certainly not surprising.

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  15. Ive been there and it really seems like a waste of time Al Bliss and his wife are so bias it isn't very funny. If they want to support a buy out candidate like Dave Yost thats their problem. Darke T.E.A. Patriots are "Toast" Ive been attending for the last three months and its a Damn Shame

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  16. It's a urban legend: everything this duo touch becomes tainted. Most people who were interested in the Tea Party concept put on the brakes when they found out who the leaders were.

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  17. That language was not acceptable for many reasons! (He used the F-word 3 times, by most accounts) Not only was he in a church, he said it in front of a Pastor, he was acting as a representative for the TEA Party, he was speaking to a woman like that in front of both her spouse and his, candidates whose endorsements were at stake were standing there, as well as 3 small children!!!

    Help me out here.....is there a way to be MORE inappropriate than that?

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  18. @950 if you learn to read the stories state one is the Press Release, and the other is compiled of reports from people in attendance.

    As far as the entire situation goes, lol.

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  19. To 9:50:
    Obviously, you must be one of the "Bliss trio". Let's see---you can spell, so that eliminates one of that group. The arrogance of these people is unbelievable. They trashed their own private club!

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  20. Being a good Christian I was taught to never use a F-word around children, women or in Church. I thought the Darke T.E.A. Patriots stood for more than that. It sounds almost like the group Accorn or better yet Obama and a Liberal.

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  21. The election for Republican Party leadership is coming soon (after the Primary) I suggest that the Party clean house. Obviously, the present leadership has allowed the Blisses to dominate the party. I think that a new Chairman and Vice-chairman would straighten things out and give us a chance to win elections.

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  22. lol, because Obama and all liberals are all heathens who have no manner or tact? Don't be dense, 11:39.

    it must be nice to paint everything so black and white, good guys vs bad guys, etc.

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  23. Yes. The party leadership DEFINITELY needs to be changed! Unless, of course, Darke Co. WANTS to stay exactly the same, forever. It is starting to feel that way. And if that is the case, good luck ever getting any new business or tourism or "building" this community and economy in any way.

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  24. While the teaparty has an admirable fiscal goal, actions such as these strongly suggest many units will be co-opted by the political esablishment. There is certainly no evidence of non-partisanship. Sad, but certainly not unexpected.

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  25. It was a good thing gone bad, no better than Obama and his regime.

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  26. Ok. So, the word is that Thomas Subler, the guy who VERIFIED the votes- NOT helped count, only verified AFTER Doris Howdoyado had already "counted" the 43 votes for 40 minutes- is a Versailles resident who (wait for it).....is sporting a big ole Bob Robinson campaign sign in his front yard! HA HA HA!!!!!
    Never mind that Lyn Bliss is strongly active on his campaign- and by her own accounts and Bob's- is even the person who convinced him to run, with her help of course. Al is also an enormous supporter, and Dodo Howdiegirl is also a well-known supporter who uses her business (Tropical Isle) as a sort of Robinson for Commissioner "hub." (ask anyone who receives Bob's emails)

    Nope. Nothin' to see here, folks. How could anyone possibly question people so unbiased? THE NERVE!!! HaHaHa!

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  27. I agree with other posters - I am tired of this mean-spirited duo pushing their own agendas! I would never refer to them as "leaders" because they clearly are not - Leaders have followers.

    I don't have any respect for this duo and will not vote for any candidate they endorse or who has been represented by EITHER OF THEM.... a vote for a candidate they endorse is a vote for the duo.

    The LAST thing Darke County needs is a commissioner who is aligned with them.

    Mike Stegall is the right choice for County Commissioner!

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  28. 8:27 PM:
    Why does the next Commissioner have to be a Republican? Electing all Commissioners from the same party for the past ten years has certainly not been a rousing success.

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  29. A Bob Robinson win of the Republican nomination will turn a lot of people to voting for David Niley. The Democrats are salivating over the prospect of the Republicans shooting themselves in the foot with this primary. Not that any of the candidates is anything to write home about, but people are either FOR or AGAINST Bob Robinson rather vehemently. If it means voting for Niley to keep Robinson out of office, it will happen - maybe not enough to get Niley elected, but enough to show a pretty large difference in support for the Republicans from the 2008 commissioner election(s).

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  30. My concern (as a Republican who, obviously, would like to see a Rep. win) is that- since Stegall and Huffman are both from Versailles and have lived and been active in the community for so long, they could divide the vote amongst those who do not like Robinson. Huffman is a good guy- I have nothing against him as a man- I just don't think he can win. I think Stegall has a decent chance- a very good chance without Huffman in the race, whcih sort of makes me wish Ed would drop out. If what the last poster said comes to fruition- that if it is Niley vs. Robinson, then Niley will win....then, so be it. If we, as Republicans, let it come to that, then we deserve to lose in November.

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  31. Stegall is not from Versailles... he grew up in Greenville, graduated from GHS.

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  32. If you feel we are "TAXED ENOUGH ALREADY" like the TEA Party movement in general does, then Mike Stegall is the only candidate with a proven track record (as township trustee) of being a fiscal conservative. He is also a small business person and should understand the crippling effect government taxation and spending has on the wealth of our community through its businesses.

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  33. As an [out-of-state] outsider looking in, this all sounds like politics as usual where only the party name is new. Please consider an alternative approach to selecting and promoting candidates based on the Principles they stand for, and not their ability to manipulate an electorate.

    Check out www.goooh.com (GO - Get Out Of Our House) today and join a Mock Selection Session near you today.

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