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Suburban Snapshot chats with Dick Morris

Neither snow, nor rain, nor dark of night—or two back-to-back blizzards—could stop Republicans from gathering for the annual winter state committee meeting in Harrisburg last weekend.

The weekend started Friday with with GOP movers and shakers, state committee members and others milling around the hallways, talking about Harrisburg, Washington, and discussing interesting local news. Candidates, elected officials, local party chairs and rising stars were elbow-to-elbow talking with old friends, chatting up the media and soaking up the political buzz.

The dinner, which was sold out as tables were all the way to the back, was terrific. Tom Corbett, Sam Rohrer, Pat Toomey and Peg Luksik all took turns answering questions in a forum. But the real reason everyone was in the room was the sardonic wit of Fox News pundit, Dick Morris. The former Clinton administration adviser is now “on our side,” and is sharing ways to help make November a great one for the Republican Party.

Morris, the plucky, conservative politico, had the audience howling with many truisms. “There is no such thing as a conservative Democrat,” he said at one point. “I know because I used to be one, and I am an instinct species, a walking dodo bird.” He cautioned against moving to the center.

When Suburban Snapshot asked him his thoughts on the not-so-far-off 2012 presidential race, he Morris said, “it’s too early. It’s like watching ‘American Idol’ as we are just watching performances.”

And he had nothing but good things to say about the burgeoning Tea Party movement. “The Tea party is vital to the GOP as the people involved are from the bottom up,” Morris said. “I think the Tea Party in the GOP is equivalent to MoveOn.org in the Democratic Oarty, which was the basis of the Obama campaign victory.

After the dinner, the de rigeur receptions were in proliferation throughout the Hilton and the Whitaker Center—Tom Marino for Congress, Jim Cawley for Lieutenant Governor, Pat Toomey for Senate, Tom Corbett for Governor. Dauphin County Commissioner Nick DeFrancesco won the prize for most unique party, complete with Wii bowling.

For me, Saturday morning’s official meeting was the most contentious, but the most democratic meeting. Robert’s Rules of Order were definitely being followed. It started with roll call, then there was a committee vote as to whether or not their would be an endorsement for the three slots of governor, lieutenant governor, and senate. Needless to say, it was a long process. Votes had to be tallied. In the end, Corbett, Toomey and Cawley were all endorsed in their respective races.

This was indeed a truly democratic process, allowing people with differing minds to come to the microphone and speak with no holds barred. Also, what was amazingly evident was the excitement and passion in the room.  For the past two cycles, the Republican Party has not done too well. But with what is going on in Washington, the birth of the Tea Parties and the passionate advocates in the rank-and-file GOP, this year promises to be a year unlike one we have ever seen before.

Log-on to this story later for photos from the weekend.

February 15, 2010 at 1:38 pm

--Beth Hegedus

Tags: Republican Party

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