Collier Merrill hosted a party and book signing for Joe Scarborough,host of “Morning Joe,” our former Congressman and one-time publisher and editor of our paper. Joe’s book, “The Last Best Hope”, is a bestseller that focuses how true conservatism can regain its national prominence.
Speaking at the event that was held on The Fish House Deck, Joe said that Republicans need to stop being shrill. He reminded the crowd of about 125-150 that Ronald Reagan wasn’t a hater. Politics was not a blood sport to Reagan. Joe admitted that he was a firebrand during his first two years in Congress and a vocal opponent of the Democrats. “However, I learned you could only make so many Pickett charges up the hill before you realize that you aren’t getting anywhere.”
Joe appeared with his co-host Mika Brzezinski. He joked that the crowds on his 10-day book tour have been mostly excited about meeting Mika. He said that the crowds on the tour have been evenly split between Republicans and Democrats. “We have less Balkanization today. Democrats and Republicans are looking for answers and trying to figure things out.”
Joe did say that the Democratic Party really isn’t doing that much better than the Republican Party. “If Obama went off to join the pro bowling tour, the Democrats would be left with Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid. Dick Cheney has a higher approval rating than Pelosi.”
Joe also remarked that Internet is changing the political scene. Candidates like Barack Obama and Ron Paul have run, raised money and reached voters without the support of their party’s power brokers. “Obama beat a Democratic Party machine that was all lined up to make Hilary Clinton the nominee.”
Joe and Mika spoke for about 20 minutes and took questions from the audience for another 10. Then they both signed books for the next 90 minutes.
In crowd, Dick & Carolyn Appleyard, Mayor Mike and Mary Ellen Wiggins, State Sen. Don Gaetz, Quint Studer, Supervisor of Election David Stafford, Commissioner Grover Robinson, PNJ Publisher Kevin Doyle, Carl Werneicke, Dan Thomas, Jay Massey, Dr. Wayne Campbell, Dr. Joe Saiter, Ashton Hayward, Fred & Brenda Vigodsky, Evon Emerson, George Scarborough and his family, Joe’s parents, Lewis & Belle Bear, Doug & Nancy Halford, Ann Reagan, Judge Roger Vinson, Bobby & Jane Switzer, Lane & Jill Harper, Betty Gail Peters, Rob & Jan Mackey, Diane Appleyard, Mike Robertson, Will Merrill, Miek & Debbie Wein, Taris Savell and others that I will probably remember later.