Ulster County Republican Committee’s website features this message from Chairman Rascoe:

Blogs – The Chairman’s Position
I consider myself a patriot and as a veteran, I often think about the one-million, three hundred thousand plus men and women who have given us the ultimate sacrifice of their lives to preserve our freedoms in this great country. Today, as I check in on the various blogs that have popped up on the internet, I think it time that as the Chairman of the County Republican Committee that I make some form of comment regarding these blogs.

Most recently, local blog sites have sprung up with interesting names and meanings. The content and information on the blog sites is left to the editorial privilege of the writer and the comments made in response to the content, most often anonymous, enjoy the same privilege as the blog site author. Politics in America, New York State and certainly in Ulster County has become more and more polarized and these blog sites are a venue that contributes to more and more polarization and conflict between opposing views.

As the Chairman of the County Republican Committee, I will not be drawn into or comment on any blog site as doing so would only add fuel to what seems to be an unending fire that continues with uncontrolled growth. I believe it more my responsibility to work towards bringing more civility into the local political process, to express the views of our Party in a dignified manner and to encourage our elected officials to work more towards finding things we can agree on than on things we certainly cannot resolve through caustic fighting and name calling.

To all you bloggers out there, have at it and thank you for exercising one of our greatest freedoms. I thank God that we live in this great County and Country where we can express ourselves in whatever manner we may choose. Out of respect to those that gave their lives for our freedoms and in consideration of my responsibility to the position of Chairman of the County Committee, I will not join you in that forum.

With kind regards, Roger Rascoe, Chairman

Let me start by thanking Mr. Rascoe for his service. I designed the Veterans’ Park in the Town of Rochester, and I feel strongly about showing respect to our heroes. That being said, I am perplexed by his statement that “out of respect to those that gave their lives for our freedoms” he would totally disregard the Ulster County political blogs. Is it possible that he doesn’t have anything meaningful to say?

Mr. Rascoe writes: “I believe it’s more my responsibility to work towards bringing more civility into the local political process, to express the views of our Party in a dignified manner and to encourage our elected officials to work more towards finding things we can agree on than on things we certainly cannot resolve through caustic fighting and name calling.” I write: “Terry Bernardo.”

Considering what Mr. Rascoe did – or did not do – since taking the helm, “the Chairman’s position” was instrumental only in screwing the Ulster County Republican Party.

– Jon Dogar-Marinesco