GOP restores timely Lincon Day celebration First published: Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Schenectady County Republican Chairman Tom Buchanan has booked the annual Lincoln Day Dinner Feb. 7 at the Glen Sanders Mansion. Maybe that doesn't sound like a big deal, but it is.
During recent times, the GOP has been ridiculed for holding the event long after Abe's Feb. 12 birthday. Buchanan is five days ahead of the date. Slipshod planning during the last half-dozen years by past GOP leaders ended a forever February tradition. The party's major fundraiser was slowly pushed as far back as June. County Democratic Party bosses are claiming Republicans are more timely this year because they need funds to wipe out about $25,000 in campaign debts. Buchanan said he inherited $30,000 of debt when he replaced Armando Tebanno as party chairman two years ago. "Because the Democrats are in power, favored vendors are writing them $5,000 contribution checks while I have to rely on 25 bucks here and 25 bucks there," Buchanan said.
Schenectady Republican Party leaders resemble the gang that couldn't shoot straight. Just a couple weeks ago here, there was mention about latest Republican county Chairman Tom Buchanan trying to regroup the party. He made a major improvement by scheduling the usually tardy annual Lincoln Day dinner for Feb. 7. In recent years, past party leaders let the fundraiser slide back to June even though Abe's birthday is Feb. 12. Before Buchanan could take any bows, the anti-GOP gremlins struck. Republicans receiving mailed dinner notices said they were impressed with the formal invitation that includes a picture of Lincoln. The invitation explains admission is $99. The notice states Georgie Wonder's Big Band has been booked and the speaker will be Bill Powers, co-chairman of Rudy Giuliani's presidential campaign committee. A return envelope for payment was included. Oh, oh! The invitation fails to mention where the event will be held. "Party leaders probably want people to mail in the $99 and eat at home," one GOP old-timer wisecracked. Anyway, if nothing else happens during the interim, dinner's at the Glen Sanders Mansion.
It's rather funny that this article was in the gazette. I have talked to a few people who received one of these invitations and they all wanted to know the same thing. 'where'? Those reps better get their act together or we are doomed with the dems.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
During last week's annual Schenectady Republican Lincoln Day dinner, a GOP regular called to report 225 people at the Glen Sanders Mansion ballroom. He was was excited because that was more than twice the size of the 2007 turnout. "Besides the Republicans, to reach the 225 figure, you would have to count the kitchen/wait staff and people in the hotel's guest rooms, restaurant and tavern," a Mansion staffer wisecracked. She said the actual head count was 122. GOP County Chairman Tom Buchanan said the fundraiser was a financial success. He said some bought dinner tickets but did not attend. Also, advertising revenues from the program book were up. "We did well, considering city and county Democrats control all the patronage and award the contracts for goods and services," Buchanan said.
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