Moving Right

by William Palumbo, New York YRs

The Republican Party should shift significantly more conservative for two important and complementary reasons.

First is the matter of statecraft. The once great Democratic Party is intellectually bankrupt and has morphed into a party of false promises and handouts – more government jobs, economically unsustainable environmental and healthcare programs, and unrestrained immorality.

The American people are smart enough to sniff out this bunk; we know that government possesses no magical powers capable of solving life’s problems and alleviating personal guilt.

The Democratic candidate poses little threat to an articulate, conservative Republican.

Republicans lost this election partially because of a cycle, but more so because our rhetoric. Even when it was clearly articulated by a largely inarticulate John McCain, it rang hollow when matched with our past actions.

Over the last eight years, the size of government expanded rather than contracted. Yes, government expansion is a threat to our economy, but more gravely its threat is existential in nature. We must reverse course or our nation will assuredly suffer decline; perhaps not with this generation, but the lessons of history foretell inevitability. Republicans must start acting as statesmen and -women and less like Democrat-lites. This is of monumental importance.

Second, while bolstering the statecraft argument, social conservatism wins elections. To say nothing of her politics, consider Ayn Rand’s refusal to support the Libertarian Party because she believed political campaigns cannot educate the public. Aside from my belief that socially conservative values, arising from the organic family, form the bedrock of a society hostile to government encroachment, they are also electorally popular. There should continue to be sufficient wiggle room for local and state candidates, but the national Republican Party must remain the party for socially conservative voters, both because of their aggression towards government growth and for practical matters of winning.

Moreover, some Republicans have taken this loss as evidence that the country has shifted leftward. Exit polls suggest otherwise. What has happened is that Republicans have shifted leftward, leaving voters with an unfortunate choice between a gradual decline in freedoms, or a swift one, camouflaged in the vagaries of hope and change. Given the choice between Republican sorrow for a once-free nation ambling slowly down the road to socialism, and a promised socialist utopia, is it any surprise whom the voters chose?

Republicans need to find a charismatic, conservative leader, well-versed in the dangers of big government and learned in the institutions and values that underpin a free and democratic society. Perhaps in four years we will have this in Sarah Palin. If not, look elsewhere. No nation, not even a great one, can exist under the insatiable demands of a government that long ago burst free from its fundamental constraints.

This election was a wake up call. Yes, we lost. But let’s not lose our way.

William Palumbo is the Publications Chair of the New York Young Republican Club.

95th Annual New York YR Club Alumni Dinner

by Jimmy Toussaint, Brooklyn YRs

In a roomy Manhattan penthouse, the New York YRs get together for their alumni dinner each year.

The atmosphere was full of refreshing conservative energy that is normally waterd down in the blue state of New York.

While looking over the city, people from different backgrounds and ages mingled before the dinner. From the self-made business man to the politically-active college student, everyone came together to support the NYYRC awardees and most importantly, they came to re-affirm commitment to the conservative movement.

This particular event featured prominent Republican speakers like Bill Kristol of the Weekly Standard and Fox News, Fran Townsend, former Presidential Assistant for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism, and Rick Lazio, former New York Congressman and 2000 U.S. Senate candidate.

Other notable attendees at the dinner were Edward Cox, Chairman of John McCain's Presidential Campaign in New York, Republican State Senate candidate John Chromczak and Republican State Assembly candidate Saul Farber.

There is nothing like re-affirming Republican values with a nice glass of wine, a multi-course dinner and camraderie with fellow and distinguished Young Republicans.

During the dinner, New York YR President, Lynn Krogh, presented awards to Fran Townsend, Rick Lazio and NYYRC alumnus Charles Moerdler.

Krogh did an excellent job with this event and the club's officers really pulled together an exceptional evening experience. If they continue on this path to bringing New York Republicans together, we will be a stronger political force in New York City for it.

Jimmy Toussaint is the Chair of Fundraising & Events for the Brooklyn Young Republican Club, and a recent attendee at this year’s NYYRC 95th Alumni Dinner.

YRs Beat Young Democrats; Win for Fallen Heroes Charity

by Lynn Krogh, New York YRs


The New York Young Republican Club showed the Manhattan Young Democrats just exactly how kickball is played, winning an extra-inning (10) match 6-4 on Saturday, August 11th, on Central Park's Great Lawn. The much-anticipated match-up was for charity, with all the players paying a fee to participate and donations were also taken. It was agreed in advance that the winner would donate the money to the charity of their choice.

Rather than see the winnings go to yet another environmental group of the YDs’ choosing, Club members put their best effort into the game, donating the day’s money to the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund. Fallen Heroes provides grants to the families of military personnel who have given their lives in defense of America. Unlike many charities, Fallen Heroes gives 100 percent of its donations to military families, taking no money out for administrative costs, which are underwritten by the Fund’s trustees.

The event came together through the work of Community Outreach Chairmen Sean White and Alanna Crawford, Membership Chairman Craig Schwartz, and Board of Advisors Chair Sharlene Santercole. Zog Sports, a charity-focused sports league, sponsored the game and provided umpires to explain the rules and officiate the game.

The YR group was made up of people who have never played kickball and people who haven’t played since elementary school. In the end, experience didn’t matter, just the will to prove that the Democrats don’t hold a monopoly on victory in this town.

The New York Sun and FoxNews.com reported on the game and both the YRs and the YDs look forward to doing similar events in the future.

Lynn Krogh is the President of the NYYRC and Vice Chair of the NYSYR.