Blogs are still abuzzing.....Local blogs (What? You don’t know about them yet?) are still chattering about Republican County Chairman Gary Gillen turning the tables on the precinct chairs that wanted to tie his hands. In case you didn’t know, Gillen has appropriated the traditional Lincoln Dinner, the party’s major fund-raiser, by forming a political action committee (PAC) to handle the logistics and funds for the Dinner, thereby circumventing the restrictions of the new by-laws.

In monitoring what many are saying on the local blogs, I have been surprised to see that the argument has degenerated to “Who is a REAL Republican?” Now I don’t know why I said that. I’m not really surprised.

That’s been a tactic of a certain element in the Republican party from the national party down to the local level for some years now.

Why, it hasn’t been too long ago that if you criticized the Iraq war, you were disloyal to your country and not a REAL Republican to boot. The crescendo of those criticizing from both parties has mounted to the point that mantra has been discarded.

Now, there are certain elements in the local party who are touting that if you agree with Gillen’s actions, you are not a REAL Republican. You are a RINO (Republican in Name Only).

Just what in the Sam Hill is a RINO? According to this group, it is someone who doesn’t support every candidate (good, bad, or indifferent) of the Republican party. According to them, a RINO is a voter that is pro-choice, pro-environment, and doesn’t give a flip about gay marriage. It is a person that doesn’t walk in lock step with their narrow view of what a Republican should be. Many in that group still believe that Tom DeLay is the second coming and would fall on a sword for him.

Hey, I’ve got news for you! A real Republican believes in fiscal responsibility, state and individual rights (as opposed to federal) and small government. He/she is anti-bureaucracy.

A group of so-called religious politicians have appropriated the party as their own and in a few short election cycles, changed the whole tenor of the party. They’ve made social issues the thrust of the party, not fiscal issues. And if you’re not with them, why you’re not a REAL Republican.

I think the voters spoke this November, admittedly in other parts besides Fort Bend and I believe this will continue until ‘08, Let’s face it. Do you want someone who believes in approaching Armageddon to have his finger on the nuclear trigger?

A Christmas story....Many times over the past (mumble) years that I’ve written this column, I’ve urged you to “Have a Fort Bend Christmas,” “Shop Local,” and “Leave your money at home.” In all honesty, I’ve had a selfish reason for doing this. It’s often said that retailers make their profits for the whole year in the Christmas season. Those local advertisers are what keeps this paper delivered to your front yard, and I’ve always believed in dancin’ with who brung me.

However, the number of really locally-owned business has dwindled as Fort Bend has grown and attracted many national retailers who in turn have offered competition that local businesses can’t meet. They (local businesses) are still there, but you almost have to hunt for them.

My exhortation used to be that one saved gas by shopping locally, that sales tax money stayed at home, and that local people were employed. My goal was to keep shoppers out of Houston.

However, now all those conditions still exist when one is buying from a local national retailer. You save gas, your sales tax money stays at home, and local people are employed.

As our shopping habits changed from locally owned shops to national retailers, we really never developed a loyalty to the national companies. And lately, we’ve certainly developed an alternative to crowded, anonymous shopping. It’s called the Internet.

Yes, my friends. Those same companies that ran our small businesses out of town are now being assailed themselves by Internet shopping.

Internet shopping is easy. It’s open 24 hours a day. It’s never crowded and your stuff arrives on your doorstep, which is about the most extreme form of saving gas.

Another advantage of on-line shopping is that you are not tempted to pick up other things as you are in an enticingly displayed store. The major disadvantage is that you can’t pick up and examine the merchandise, something we all like to do.

Pundits have predicted for years that “big box” retailers will lose out to the internet retailers who don’t even really have to warehouse stock. They can simply round it up after you order.

Not surprisingly, most of the “big box” retailers have aggressive web sites; however, the prices at their sites are not the lowest on the web although you can generally trust them to get the merchandise to you. Another advantage that large national retailers have on the internet, is most allow you to return unwanted merchandise to a local store.

Yes, shopping has really changed over the years and since I have no real loyalty to those large chains, it doesn’t bother me a bit to shop on-line.

But if I can get my Christmas gifts from a locally-owned store whose owner is a member of the community and supports it in many ways every day, then I’m there.