Republican Circular Firing Squad

by juls [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

Break out the popcorn folks.  The Republicans are writing each other nasty letters and using the Chronicle to lob shots at one another over the CRP's hiring of a Canadian to become their director of research and political technology.  On one side you have mouthpieces of the CRP and on the other, former CRP official spokeswoman Karen Hanretty.  She has become a reliable quote against her party, in much the way that Gary South has become from the other direction.  I really have to side with Hanretty on this one.  There are plenty of qualified people to take that job already in the country and the move is embarrassing to the party.

Michael Kamburowski, the Australian who was recently hired as the CRP's COO, shot off a letter to the party's executive board, from which John Wildermuth is quoting over at the Chron Blog.

Kamburowski generally suggested that Hanretty will never be able to eat lunch in Washington again.

Much more below the fold...

"This story would not have the 'legs' it does were it not for the role Karen Hanretty is playing in fanning it," Kamburowski said in his letter. "I do not know Karen, but I find the spectacle of someone who has fed at the trough of the CRP (California Republican Party) behaving in this way despicable and sad. If she desires a career in Republican circles in Washington -- she may find her career rather short-lived."

This letter appears to have been sent out prior to Hanretty's appearance on CNN, where she went after the CRP for potential improper use of H-1B visas.

I really do love Hanretty's response to the letter, which makes him look incompetent professionally, thus refuting the notion that he should have been hired in the first place.

Hanretty called Kamburowski's letter "a peculiar response to a leadership decision."

"You attack someone personally when you want to deflect criticism," she said in an interview on Thursday. "When you feel you have the moral high ground, you don???t need to change the subject."

The letter wasn't a threat to Hanretty, said Hector Barajas, a state GOP spokesman who suggested his former colleague is "trying to make a living by attacking other Republicans."

Wow, look at that from Barajas.  In a short span he denies there was a threat, then insults her again.  Knowing Hanretty, I expect her not to let these statements lie.  She has plenty of outlets to get her point across and she is tenacious.  I look forward to more entertainment.