As usual, Elmer chaired a good meeting Wednesday night.. The turnout was light, but the enthusiasm is noticeable.. Couple of the candidates for office attended.. Katy Hubener, running for state representative in district 106, addressed the group and answered some pretty tough questioning.. Most questions were directed toward issues of motorcyclists interest .. I believe she would be a motorcycle issues advocate.. Overall.. she is a sincere and willing candidate who will represent her constituents . There is no doubt that she has the courage to fight and the integrity to stand for the best interests of our government.. Gary Page was the other candidate and he walked in wearing a motorcycle helmet .. Damn.. the dude rode over there on his harley, even with the threatening weather that we've been warned about.. He explained that he has been so busy working on his campaign and making a living, that his opportunities to get miles and hours on that new harley of his, that he's having problems doing all the break in business on it.. Gary is running for US Congress in district 24.. It is uncertain who his opponent is going to be.. General opinion is that Ken Marchant will resign his seat in the state house to pursue the US Congressional seat.. Gary Page addressed the group and then took some questions that were revealing enough for me to believe that he would give us a voice in Washington.. I know both these candidates personally, as well as politically.. We've engaged in some good campaigns, so far and I respect them both as constituent advocates, who are motorcycle and consumer friendly.. The agendas' of these past meetings of TMRA II have become primarily, detailing the delegate process for the conventions coming up.. This process is interesting and informative.. The workshops that have been conducted are educational and the general information to be learned gives everyone a better understanding of our selection system by both parties..Now comes the objective judgement by me.. Understanding the delegate selection and their responsibilities is important.. Anyone who feels the desire to better understand this political process will find the various workshops very beneficial.. The delegates are not going to WIN an election, if they can't get the voters to the polls to cast those votes.. It is past time for this machinery to be devised .. We can throw the most impressive conventions in history and lose an election, if those voters don't kick in their votes.. Voter apathy is the most demoralizing issue in our elections.. Unless that apathy is motivated into action at the polls, those impressive conventions and the delegates attending them are going to face defeat.. How about it guys.. dedicating meeting for three consecutive months to hash and rehash the delegate process in primaries and conventions is enough.. We best be working on the voter motivation to get the constituents to the polls. Preaching to the choir to impress ourselves and each other is not the formula for winning any election, unless you have generated the interest of the people who count, the VOTER.. We gathered outside the VFW Post, in the parking lot to admire that sharp little harley .. Since Page was the only genuine biker to brave the elements, it was of course, his.. Damn thing sounded like a honda.. LOL.. He kinda scowled a bit when I suggested some Vance and Hines to make it sound a little beefier.. He totally ignored me when I suggested that he should watch me ride it .. LOL.. Damn.. after all the braggin' I been doin' about Gary, turns out he's narrow minded about a brother test runnin' his ol' motorcycle.. Watch out for the tornadoes.. Your friend in Irving Bill Walker
