Candidates Wildin' Out In Odessa, TX

"They want to get physical, physical..."

Meanwhile, in the Ector County GOP.

We hear a lot these days about standards lowering and politics (federal, state, and local) getting more chaotic. However, even for unpaid positions within county GOP chapters, several violent incidents have occurred.

Whether it involves local gatekeepers purging Right-Wing Precinct Chairs or meetings devolving due to a irresponsible County Chair, the Texas GOP has been trending toward chaos, thanks primarily due to its decentralized structure. Arguably, fisticuffs were the next logical step.

In Odessa, TX, factional kerfuffles reached a fever pitch when Ector County Chair candidate Donna Kelm and Precinct Chair candidate Carmen Wilhite altercated at the County Annex Building.

Via OA Online

“The Odessa Police Department is investigating allegations that Donna Kelm, who is running for the GOP county chair, and Carmen Wilhite, who is running for Precinct 203, assaulted each other Thursday outside the Ector County Annex Building.

Kelm is running against Tisha Crow and Wilhite’s opponent is Ronnie Lewis.

Neither Kelm nor Wilhite immediately returned voice mails seeking comment.”

So far, we still have no details on what exactly provoked the fight or who struck first, but it is probable the dispute pertained to previous aggression between factions in a separate incident.

The night before, a candidate forum turned into a crapfest after Ector County Commissioner Don Stringer ranted and got aggressive over a text sent by opponent Samantha Russell.

Via Odessa Headlines

The opening question was standard forum fare:  “Please introduce yourself and answer two questions:  What is your primary goal in running?  How would you define conservatism and Republicanism?”.  Stringer was the last candidate to answer this question and immediately went off topic in an attempt to attack Russell who was seated beside him on the dais.  Instead of answering the question posed, Stringer read a text message on his phone which was sent out by Russell’s campaign: “Our current County Commissioner Don Stringer is years delinquent on his own property taxes, owing over $10,000.”

Moderator Rosas immediately interceded by again asking Stringer to answer the questions posed and stating that Stringer would have ample time later in the forum to address this issue if desired.

Stringer than turned towards Russell, leaned forward aggressively and began to angrily point his finger in Russell’s face while claiming he was going to sue Russell for defamation.

….

At this point Stringer began to lean forward aggressively and swivel towards Russell and interjected “you lie very well”.  As Russell concluded Stringer aggressively snatched the mic from Russell’s hand and, over the objection of the moderator, attempted to divert the conversation onto another topic.

During the next question Stringer, who was standing, began to aggressively bend down and lean forward towards Russell and heatedly stated that he “returns every phone call, every email”.  At this point, recognizing the potential threat Stringer’s aggressive behavior posed, JP #1 candidate Steve Brennan leaned past his opponent to catch Russell’s attention and asked her if she would like to swap seats with him.  Russell gladly accepted Brennan’s offer and moved a few seats down while Brennan took the seat beside Stringer.

Unfortunately, Stringer threw his next tantrum at Justice of the Peace candidate Steve Brennan.

At this point Brennan pointed a comment at Stringer:  “but you attacked your opponent.”  Stringer became noticeably agitated and claimed “No, she attacked me.”  Brennan then left his seat to move away from Stringer.  Stringer angrily followed Brennan several seats away while aggressively raising his voice and wielding his phone demanding that Brennan “read this text”  apparently referring to the text message sent by the Russell campaign.  As Stringer continued to pursue Brennan, Brennan forcibly told him to “back off!”.

Those in attendance were visibly disturbed by Stringer’s behavior.  The off duty Sheriff’s deputy hired by the Ector County Republican Party said after the forum that he was ready to restrain and remove Stringer if necessary and that he was moving towards the dais before Brennan intervened.

With the screeching, infighting, and inability to publicly act like adults, it is no wonder so many do not take us seriously. While circular firing squads usually entail “punching Right,” they sadly even arise in matters unrelated to policy. Yet many wonder why much of Texas dismisses party politics as drama.

I do not subscribe to the utopian nonsense that politics was once 100% civil, with everyone holding hands and snuggling. American politics always had a violent streak; let us not forget 7th President Andrew Jackson’s last regret being “I regret I was unable to shoot Henry Clay or to hang John C. Calhoun” (his rival and ex-Vice President).

Also, do not forget that in 1968, William F. Buckley, founder of the NeoCon newspaper National Review, called Leftist agitator Gore Vidal a “queer” and threatened to “sock” him in “the goddamned face” after the latter kept interrupting and calling Buckley a “crypto-Nazi.”

However, it has reached a point where this flares up in intra-party scuffles and is increasingly unsustainable. As we at Current Revolt explain only x+y×z times, these dumpster fires will only worsen until a “New Machine” under a cutthroat, competent, and hard-Right leader emerges. The current model of allowing 254 fiefdoms to do their own thing has clearly failed.

Until true reform transpires, I guess this will be the official anthem of the Odessa GOP. Pardon me if my frustration shows; situations like this are really “bringin’ out the animal in me.”