GlennFrazier.com

I receive a lot of email and snail mail from the RNC as a result of contributions I made during President Bush's reelection campaign. They want a lot of more money. I'm particularly unhappy with the Pennsylvania Republican Party, and more and more am generally unhappy with how the national organization is working.

I finally responded to the latest request for donations—this one asking for a few thousand in order to renew my "sustaining member" status. Here is the letter in its entirety, sent four days ago:

Mr. Mehlman,

I have received numerous invitations--from yourself, from the office of Vice President Dick Cheney, and from others--to renew my financial support of the Republican Party. I am torn over whether or not my financial contributions are worth making.

I support the Republican platform and in particular support President Bush as the best choice for dealing with the two most important issues facing the nation today: the War on Terroism, and the defense of marriage.

However, I am deeply dismayed to see the Republican party acting like it is still the minority party in Washington when it comes to domestic legislation and executive appointments. In particular, if a Republican majority is unable to get the President's UN and upper Court appointments confirmed, I am not certain what the point of having Republicans in office is. This is particularly true when GOP funds support campaigns for politicians like John McCain and, in my own state, Arlen Specter.

I campaigned for Pat Toomey against Specter in the Pennsylvania Republican Primary last year because of Specter's RINO (Republican-In-Name-Only) voting reccord. This was considered disloyal by other Republicans. Nevertheless, when Specter won the Primary, I went out and voted for him, and I contributed both time and money toward the GOP.

Now I wonder why.

Here's my pledge:

When the Republicans make good use of the Senate seats I helped them win in my small way, then I will happily send in my sustaining member contribution to the GOP. "Making good use" means getting Bolton appointed to the U.N. post and substantially all of the President's higher court nominees confirmed.

The GOP is the majority party. It's time it acted like it.

Very Respectfully,
Glenn M. Frazier

I'm considering updating my pledge, after hearing of the cockeyed "deal" being brokered by Ben Nelson and Trent Lott.

Hugh Hewitt and others who said voting against Specter (who is rumored to possibly favor blocking the so-called "nuclear option") despite his decades-long leftward drift was a bad idea because "it's better to have a moderate Republican chair the judiciary committee than no Republican at all"—please find a way to talk me out of this: I'm considering pledging to vote against, actively campaign against, and financially contribute to the defeat of every Republican Senator who agrees to this nonsense.

If I didn't have Rick Santorum as my other Senator here in Pennsylvania, I'd be ready to completely throw in the towel on the entire Republican Party in Pennsylvania. At least Santorum is a standup guy when it comes to the President's nominations. The rest of the party in this state is looking more and more like a totally worthless good-old-boys network more interested in preserving their own little club's standings than in forwarding any sort of conservative agenda.

Getting elected at any cost will not get my support. Doing something for the love of the Senate and of tradition is in no way noble. Our elected officials are supposed to be serving their nation and their constituents, not their colleagues.