Dennis Justice is one bitter Republican. At least that’s the way he comes across in a long post at the Henderson County GOP’s official web site here, www.hendersongop.com. Or at least what used to be the Henderson County GOP’s official web site. Justice, the webmaster, says in his post that he’s shutting it down.
Justice’s rant stems from former U.S. Rep. Charles Taylor’s continued reluctance to say publicly whether or not he’ll run again in 2008 against U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler, the guy who whupped him last time around. Ashvegas predicts an announcement from Taylor next week after Labor Day, but we shall see.
In the meantime, we’ll let Justice speak for himself:
Charles Taylor is owed nothing. His service IS his reward. Even Bob Dornan had the decency and good sense to announce immediately he was running one last time when he was finally voted out. Mr. Taylor will not even do that. How good will Taylor’s few supporters feel when he loses again in 2008 and Heath Shuler is far more entrenched? And did he or did he not push for term limits?
This race is too vitally important. Given 537 votes separated Mr. Bush and Mr. Gore in Florida in 2000, the same number separated Charles Worley and Brian Peterson in a recent Asheville mayoral race, and given a petition drive from Asheville residents to stop the Democrat’s attempt takeover by ending non-partisan city elections won by just 22 signatures, every vote and every voice matters. This race will greatly determine the outcome of the Congress in 2009, maybe effect key races out west. We need every available moment building a network to defeat Heath Shuler. No man or woman has the right to hold this party hostage.
The very day after the last election, I sent a letter to the Hendersonville Times-News saying that Charles Taylor ran “one race too many” and we needed new blood. He’s had several months and his non-statements are frankly insulting. The idea of Dr. Mumpower, Sen. Apodaca, or any other Republican beating Taylor in the primary no longer concerns me.
The Buncombe County Democrats tried to hijack city elections in Asheville by pushing partisan elections literally at the last moment, to disenfranchise Independents from running without an unreasonable petition demand, and even after the public (Republicans, Independents, and Democrats alike) rebuked them with the successful petition drive, held a public meeting on how to get Democrats elected to Asheville City Council. They are shameless.
Just what in the hell is this Republican Party waiting for?
Since I have publicly declared that under no circumstances I will vote for Mr. Taylor, even though I am not officially a member of the Executive Committee, I will not wait for the Dr. Shufstall treatment given by the party “leaders.” I am resigning now and will focus my efforts personally on whoever wins the Republican nomination in 2008 as a private citizen, presuming of course it is not Mr. Taylor.
I have run this website for seven years, even when I ran for public office in the past nobody could say I ran it unfairly. I’m not going to advertise a candidate that I myself have no intentions to vote for. I have way too many other things in my life more important than codifying Mr. Taylor’s ego.
Please no longer consider www.hendersongop.com as the Party’s official website. The registration will not be renewed by myself.
I call once again for Charles Taylor to do the right thing and declare his intentions, preferably that he will support a new Republican nominee in 2008.
Dennis Justice