Good letter but I disagree. I think a large part of the reason that Schroeder lost is that he plays dirty politics. The folks that will put up with that crap are the radical right wingers who ultimately want someone more radical and right wing than Schroeder. I don't think Tom is in the same boat. His
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consists of moderates and progressives.<br><br>But I could be wrong! Bill is a wiser man than I am! I guess the question is whether there are enough moderates left in the local Republican party. What do others think?<br>
<br><div class="gmail_quote">On Sat, Apr 2, 2011 at 8:29 AM, Tom Hansen <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:thansen@moscow.com">thansen@moscow.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex;">
Courtesy of today's (April 2, 2011) Moscow-Pullman Daily News with special<br>
thanks to Bill London por posting it.<br>
<br>
-------------------------------------------------------<br>
<br>
Rep. Tom Trail<br>
should switch parties<br>
<br>
This is an open letter to Rep. Tom Trail:<br>
<br>
The Republicans have targeted you for political defeat. The hardcore<br>
conservatives and tea-partiers who now control the Idaho Republican Party<br>
want to get rid of you and all the moderate and thoughtful members of<br>
their party.<br>
<br>
They are now stacking the deck to require that only the most committed<br>
party members (no independents) can vote in Republican primary elections.<br>
<br>
In the last primary election, they got rid of Sen. Gary Schroeder. They<br>
want a ideologically pure party, and they are coming for you next.<br>
<br>
Please consider avoiding this ugly primary battle by switching to the<br>
Democratic Party.<br>
<br>
Bill London<br>
Moscow<br>
<br>
-------------------------------------------------------<br>
<br>
As a liberal, I couldn't agree with you more, Bill.<br>
<br>
Having voted in every federal election since 1972, every Idaho state<br>
election since 1989 and every city and county election here in Moscow<br>
since 1992, I can count the number of Repblicans I have voted for on one<br>
hand. I can proudly state that I have consistently voted for the T-man,<br>
Tom Trail. I would like to continue doing so.<br>
<br>
However. I may not have that opportunity any longer if Tom Trail were to<br>
remain in the Idaho Republican Party. The writing's in the tea leaves.<br>
<br>
The Idaho I have grown to love needs selfless, constituent-oriented,<br>
honest legislators<br>
<br>
Come on over, T-man. No heavy lifting and the partiers are less demanding.<br>
<br>
Seeya round town, Moscow.<br>
<br>
Tom Hansen<br>
Moscow, Idaho<br>
<br>
"The Pessimist complains about the wind, the Optimist expects it to change<br>
and the Realist adjusts his sails."<br>
<br>
- Unknown<br>
<br>
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</blockquote></div><br>