Aaron Maloy's Blog

Republican Soap Opera

Just in time 

Several weeks ago I received a call from Justine Kirkwood, a good friend of mine and the former Chairwoman of the Orleans Republican Town Committee, asking me to join her and others at Shirley Gomes' retirement party. Now Justine has endured more than enough abuse from within the Republican  party and has become very discretionary when it comes to attending Republican events. She poured her heart and soul in to promoting Republican values and was burned, and burned and burned from her own. So I agreed to personally accompany Justine, who is absolutely revered by conservatives and Republicans in the Eastham/Orleans region of the lower Cape, to the Shirley Gomes retirement celebration.

 I pulled into her driveway at her house on Pleasant Bay 15 minutes late. Waiting in her brand new Cadillac was Justine herself, husband Mac and a very active Orleans Republican from the town committee. I apologized profusely as I stepped into the over-sized Caddy with gigantic white leather seats. Before I could close the door Justine, wearing a regal artificial fur coat, floored it, causing a pellet-gun like sound of driveway rocks being up-heaved by the car tires and hitting the wooden door of the shed. Off we went.

There ride there was very pleasant. We stopped in Yarmouth to pick up a a fabulous Shirley Gomes fan who proudly articulated how she  shared the same Cape Verdean heritage with Shirley. As we turned onto Willow Street from Rt. 28 heading toward 6a Justine's hand rose into the air with excitement as she remembered a name she had heard Deval Patrick referred to: DeVille Patrick. All 5 of us broke out laughing. I'm still not sure whether this name pokes fun at Patrick's Cadillac episode (Cadillac DeVille) or compares him to Cruella DeVille (Deval the big powerful and ruthless liberal, the puppy protecting innocent families being the Republicans.......or naive Massachusetts voters).

As we approached the gate to Anthony's Cummaquid Inn I started to feel a bit queasy. Like Justine, I also had rather mean things said and circulated about me by a few within the party after I launched my episodes of constructive criticism so I prepared myself for my worst fear; that a lot of people there would be abrasive as a result.

It ended up being just the opposite, except for two or three of the usual suspects. As I bounced from table to table I was congratulated for standing up to the Mass GOP, not quivering at their feet like they want us to.  Over and over I heard "we need Republicans like you: young blood, outspoken and not afraid to speak up." And I told them that my criticism is not meant to harm the party, rather to help the party. And I will continue to mouth off because Republicans, especially here on Cape Cod have become too apathetic and disappointed with the State party. While many rank-in-file Republicans choose to stay silent and follow orders from the party headquarters, I won't, because this has proven destructive to our party.

Oh, speaking of Mass GOP, also in attendance at the event was the new Chairman, former State Rep, Congressman and head of Massport, Peter Torkildsen. Justine had her bright blue eyes perched on him the entire time, watching his every move. She had been literally abused, pushed out of the Mass GOP headquarters by a young Mass GOP male staff who dismissed her as a conservative extremist so she was very eager to become acquainted with the new Chairman after years of not being listened to and having the Orleans Republican Town Committee utterly neglected. As of the present her faith has yet to be restored.

I was very happy to see my favorite current State Representative, JEFF PERRY. He gave a fantastic speech about serving in the legislature with Shirley and credited her with being a fierce advocate for the people in her district, especially the needy. Thanks to JEFF PERRY, who we all wish could be our State Rep, we all now know that Shirley is responsible for dental care access on the lower Cape and other vital HHS programs. JEFF PERRY, for those of you who don't know, is an archetypal Massachusetts Republican. The party should use Jeff as an example. He ousted a popular Democratic incumbent while running as a conservative Republican. We need more leaders like Jeff who can excite the Republican base, not these quasi-Republicans who try to get elected by being more liberal than Democrats. Jeff has earned an A+ when it comes to integrity, being real and promoting conservative values.

But Jeff wasn't the only Republican legislator there honoring Shirley. If I can remember correctly the list of legislators included Minority Whip Doug Petersen, Tom George, Sue Williams-Gifford and Susan Pope, a Republican incumbent who was defeated by an advantageous slick liberal  in the 2006 election. Susan Pope is really cool,  Sue Gifford is very blond, very fit and attractive, Doug Petersen is down to earth, and Tom George is a riot. Other officials included Mary LeClair (County Commish), Jack Meade (Registrar of Probate), and Michael O'Keefe.

When Shirley took the podium everybody was fixated on her, with several women on the verge of tears. Her voice came through with her usual delicate passion, but this time it was different. It was clear by the sound of her voice, and her glowing face, that her years of tireless work have come to an end. Now she can fully enjoy life with her family, especially her husband (who she alluded to probably 20 times throughout the event) free from the distractions and turbulence of public life. Now Shirley has full unfettered access to what she stressed is most important to her: family. Shirley stood there at that podium a wife, a mother, a grandmother......a real caring, honest and sincere person.

I can't think of many people who can hold a candle to her.

Stay tuned for my next blog: SARAH PEAKE's SCANDALOUS Saga!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Find out about Sarah Peake's accepting of political bribes and questionable political maneuvering. (If you can't wait read this weeks Cape Codder for the tip of the iceberg).