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When a Political Party Becomes a Cult
City Politics / County Politics / Local News / Local Politics

When a Political Party Becomes a Cult

This is Part II: Part I is entitled, “A Membership in a Political Party or a Philosophy?” Part I dealt with political party versus political philosophy.Part II - IntroductionPolitical parties naturally attract people who share similar beliefs, but sometimes the internal culture shifts from healthy teamwork to something more rigid and unhealthy. When loyalty becomes more important than honesty, and group identity replaces critical thinking, a party can begin taking on patterns that resemble cult-like…

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November 24, 2025
A Membership in a Political Party or a Philosophy?
City Politics / County Politics / Local News / Local Politics

A Membership in a Political Party or a Philosophy?

Part I:This is my journey through politics and the Josephine County political scene. I’ve been a committed conservative for many years long before moving to Oregon. I was active on social media, spending hours supporting conservative candidates and policies. Even then, I wasn’t involved in any political party.A few years ago, while promoting a conservative candidate online as I often did, someone from the local Republican Party’s communications team noticed my writing. That eventually led…

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November 23, 2025
The Cost of Blind Loyalty in Local Politics
County Politics / Local News / Local Politics

The Cost of Blind Loyalty in Local Politics

I came across a comment on a political post that stopped me cold:“I am just super tired of people bashing my friends.” That statement was honestly alarming, not because friendship is bad, but because it showed how easily loyalty can override morality. I genuinely hope most people still know the difference between right and wrong, between moral and immoral actions. And I hope that when a friend steps onto the wrong path, we have the…

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November 19, 2025
Recall Signatures vs. Scrutiny: Commissioners on the Recall Tightrope
County Politics / Local News / Local Politics / Recall

Recall Signatures vs. Scrutiny: Commissioners on the Recall Tightrope

It appears that enough signatures have already been collected for the recall of both Commissioner Chris Barnett and Andreas Blech. As of 11/17/25 Chief Petitioner Jim Goodwin submitted:Commissioner Blech: 7,079 signatures submittedCommissioner Barnett: 7,312 signatures submittedThe required number of signatures is: 6,445 valid signaturesSignature gathering remains open until: Sunday, November 23, 2025 The calls have already started from the commissioners and the republican party. They are demanding signature verification as opposed to a formula. Odd,…

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November 18, 2025
Elected, Exposed, and Ensnared: A Party’s Fight for It’s Soul & The Hypocrisy
County Politics / Local News

Elected, Exposed, and Ensnared: A Party’s Fight for It’s Soul & The Hypocrisy

It is interesting to watch from the sidelines. We have serious issues in our community. Some argue that we shouldn’t air our dirty laundry, and normally, I would fully agree. But because this is such a small community, one in which most people are already aware of the issues and the “dirty laundry,” it’s impossible to escape it. So, is it better to hide it or confront it? It’s far better to face it openly,…

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November 12, 2025
Questions of Legitimacy and Ethics Surround the Josephine County GOP Chair Recall
County Politics / Local News / Local Politics

Questions of Legitimacy and Ethics Surround the Josephine County GOP Chair Recall

As I mentioned in another post, the issue of lacking a quorum—and why the Josephine County Republican Party remains in an “unorganized” state—highlights the core problem with the Josephine County Republican Central Committee (JCRCC): their tendency to pick and choose which bylaws to follow. The lack of a quorum also lies at the heart of the controversy surrounding the recall of the chair—a slippery slope filled with gray areas that have led to questionable and…

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November 12, 2025
JCRCC: Quorum of One? Not Possible and Not Legal
City Politics / County Politics / Local News / Local Politics

JCRCC: Quorum of One? Not Possible and Not Legal

This gets to the heart of the reason why the Josephine County Republican Party remains in the state of “unorganized” until the ORP steps in. This also gets to the heart of the problem with the Josephine County Republican Central Committee (JCRCC) and their desire to pick and choose which bylaws to follow and not follow. What Happened At the last Josephine County Republican Central Committee (JCRCC) meeting, the minutes said: “The meeting was called…

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November 11, 2025
A Recap of an Excellent United Conservatives Lunch & Learn — November 6th
City Politics / County Politics / Homeless / Local News

A Recap of an Excellent United Conservatives Lunch & Learn — November 6th

The United Conservatives’ Lunch & Learn on November 6th was a full and lively event, bringing together wonderful people who share a common interest in understanding how politics shapes our everyday lives. Guest Speaker: Rhiannon Henkels — Josephine County ClerkWe were honored to hear from Rhiannon Henkels of the Josephine County Clerk’s Office. It was impressive to learn about the wide range of services her office provides and her extensive experience in public service. Rhiannon…

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November 8, 2025
It’s Not the Title – It’s the Respect
City Politics / County Politics / Local News / Local Politics

It’s Not the Title – It’s the Respect

The art of communication: As I was reflecting this morning on the idea of titles and their importance, I came to an interesting realization - something I’ve lived by all my life without ever putting it into words. It’s not the title that holds true value; it’s the respect we have for the person behind it. Whether someone is the President of the United States, the Chair of a political party or a janitor, if…

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November 5, 2025