A Parting of the Ways
By Leon H Wolf Posted in 2008 — Comments (14) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
Friends,
It is with regret that I am announcing that my time as the E-Campaign Coordinator for the Sam Brownback Campaign has ended. The reason for this is simple: I simply do not have the available time that is necessary to do the job properly. I am currently finishing my last year of law school, and am additionally working a significant number of hours for a law firm, and I also need time to spend with my family. I have, during previous times in my life, thought that I was "busy," but only in the last two months have I come to understand what "busy" truly means. Additionally, I am hampered by not being able to either be located somewhere that is relevant to the campaign (either at HQ or in one of the early battleground states), and have not been able to follow the Senator around and report on what is going on. In light of all this, the campaign and I have agreed that it is time to move on.
I am still, however, supportive of Senator Brownback and his campaign. I believe in his message, his character, and his vision for America. I have already said enough about Senator Brownback's policies, so I want to close with an observation about Sam Brownback, the human being.
One of the things will doubtless be said by anyone who spends a significant amount of time around politicians is that politicians are generally not likeable or genuine people. They are magnetic on television, they seem to exude an aura that allows them to command any room that they are in, but when you get up close, they are hard to like, personally. They have flaws. They have overinflated egos. They are generally incapable of talking to ordinary people without acting as though they are talking through a television screen.
I was delighted to learn – after I began working for Sam Brownback – that he is both likeable and genuine – in person and from afar. What you see from him is what you get. Sam Brownback talks about things like intervention in Africa, prison reform, and curing cancer because those are the things that he really and truly cares about – and it shows. Senator Brownback has often been encouraged to drop these things, deliver more applause lines, spend all your time pressing all the buttons people want you to press – but he will be who he is. And throughout this campaign, my conviction has been strengthened that this quality, which to me speaks of his strength of character and leadership, would serve this country well.
In closing, I would like to thank Senator Brownback and the members of his campaign who have given me the opportunity to serve in this capacity. May God bless Senator Brownback and his efforts.
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A Parting of the Ways 14 Comments (0 topical, 14 editorial, 0 hidden) Post a comment »
I don't speak for Mr. Wolf, but two things:
1. Confusing the Tom Tancredo approach to Immigration and Conservativism. They are not the same thing. Regardless of how much Mr. Tancredo and his friends want to insist otherwise, there are competing conservative values in this particular debate and it is not right nor fair to decry people for weighing these differently then another.
2. Why in God's name did you expect Brownback to vote against it in the first place? He voted for a comprehensive reform bill earlier, and said, and continued to say he was for it. His flip-flop was a whole lot more surprising then his initial impulse to vote for the bill.
“I am telling people loosen your ties, fire up the coffee pots, get ready for the weekend, ... We've got a lot of work to do.”
- John Bolton
I'm sorry that you had to take this decision but in the few moments I had to ask Senator Brownback a question in New Hampshire this was abundantly true about him:
I was delighted to learn – after I began working for Sam Brownback – that he is both likeable and genuine – in person and from afar.
Senator Brownback wasn't just a quick thinker, he was a straight shooter and most importantly took the *time* to explain his positions.
I was downright angry in New Hampshire that more of the Republican candidates weren't on the floor in the Spin Room and I was relieved that Sam Brownback and Duncan Hunter took the time to be there, because both of them gave extremely candid, thoughtful and patient answers to my questions.
I was on the floor in the room when Brownback was about to be hounded by one of the Ron Paul Conspiracy Theorists (who latched onto Ron Paul as latecomers) like Jason Bermas and I was astonished by how well Senator Brownback handled that encounter. He spent more than an hour in the Spin Room answering questions from all comers and he was unfailingly erudite and very Presidential. In fact, for a few moments there I felt like I was in a Colonial setting, listening to one of our Founding Fathers, even though I was shocked back into reality when I realized that the 9/11 conspiracy theorist freaks who were profiting from people's ignorance were also standing right behind me.
On the merits and in any reality-based community, Senator Brownback should be one of the top three candidates for the nomination. Mine go like this: Mitt Romney, Sam Brownback, and Rudy Giuliani, in that order. However, I don't run this crazy world and even though it's a good idea, a lot of people apparently aren't listening. Such is life. It's happened before.
In the meantime, Leon, I did enjoy meeting you in New Hampshire and I'm genuinely sorry to hear that you can't continue working on Brownback's campaign. Get the law degree and make us proud in other ways.
It has lost one of its finest intellects to his family. That is precisely what this is, as you are training yourself to provide handsomely for your family without being forced to abandon them for stretches.
I'd think SSB would approve of your choice.
Hey buddy, I understand. Noticed we haven't heard from you much lately. Just remember, there's another day. You will not always be getting through law school while holding down a job. We'll see what's going down in 2012.
It's war -- so when can we start shooting back at the enemy Democrats?
Regardless of how '08 plays out, we should remember that, because he will still be one of our heroes in the Senate.
"No compromise with the main purpose, no peace till victory, no pact with unrepentant wrong." - Winston Churchill
Leon, thank you for all your efforts as part of our team. We will miss you and sincerely wish the best of luck in finishing law school!
-- Iowa Team Brownback
http://www.brownbacker.com
.... And they should be sorry to see you go. Best of luck.
For we have a peculiar power of thinking before we act, and of acting, too, whereas other men are courageous from ignorance but hesitate upon reflection.
But as Mark said, I'm sure the Senator--perhaps more than any other politician--understands the need for you to be with your family.
Though I'm not supporting him for President, there is not a day that has passed in the Senate where Sam Brownback has not made me proud to be a Republican. Any way you can convince him to stay past 2010?
And if so, do you know a guy named Edwin Cook? goes by Win
Win's a great guy, we were in the same 1L section.. haven't talked to him much since we haven't had a class together in a year...
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This kind of liberty is, indeed, but another name for justice; ascertained by wise laws, and secured by well-constructed institutions.
-Edmund Burke
Than to have served as one of the consiglieres to the William Wilberforce of our age. Well done in all respects, Brother Leon.
"At times one remains faithful to a cause only because its opponents do not cease to be insipid." --Friedrich Nietzsche
Dear Mr. Wolf,
While I don't agree with your choice in candidates, I certainly understand your decision to move on (Sorry for the unfortunate use of a horrible phrase.) Now that you've left the Senators official auspices, maybe you can explain why Senator Brownback switched his vote on the immigration reform bill that was before the Senate this Summer. I actually supported the Senator until he voted in favor of the bill as proposed. I became an opponent of his (a very different status indeed) when he changed his vote for the sake of appearing more Conservative than he apparently is. Is there any reason that you know of to justify his actions?
Sincerely,
DJ
www.airmanjacobson.com