By Lori Jaffe (With apologies to Clement C. Moore)

 ‘Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the land,

Preparations were made for the time was at hand.

The packages were waiting for all to partake,

Sweet pies in the oven continued to bake.

The stockings were stuffed with all kinds of toys,

Just waiting for Christmas and good girls and boys.

L to R, Chairman Melby, Committee Members Rubin, Meister and Byrne

Last week during the MCGOP Central Committee meeting we voted for and swore in Members for vacancies in three Legislative Districts (LDs) in Montgomery County. Doreen Rubin in LD 19, Helene Meister in LD 17 and Brendan Byrne in LD 39. Congratulations to them all.

L to R Vice Chair Stacey Sauter presents an award to Chair Dennis Melby

MCGOP Chairman Dennis Melby announced he will be stepping down from the Chairmanship at the end of his term in January. Melby served as MCGOP Chair in 2020 and again in 2024.  He will remain a Committee Member. At the December meeting the leadership surprised him with an award for his service and good wishes for his continued service to the Party. Leadership elections are scheduled for January.

We are saddened by the sudden passing of our friend George M. Cecala, 49, who experienced a heart attack on December 16.   We send our heartfelt condolences and prayers to his wife, Jennifer, whom he cherished and his daughter, Jenny, who was the joy of his life.  George led a full and busy life as a senior Congressional aide, political science professor, community activist and devoted father and husband.  Upon learning of his death, so many responded with the same words: “He was such a good man.” 

The Montgomery County Government, and programs that impact County residents, will have schedule and program changes for Christmas Day, Wednesday, Dec. 25.

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In November the Montgomery County Federation of Republican Women hosted Jenn Pellegrino to speak at Chevy Chase Country Club. 

L to R Nancy Griffin and Jenn Pellegrino

By Lori Jaffe

As we approach Christmas, a time of miracles, we ask why do some things happen the way they do? Why are certain lives saved at a particular time? We are not the first to wonder at unexplainable phenomena. People have been describing miracles throughout history. Even recently, many believe that we ourselves have witnessed at least one miraculous event. If there are miracles, are we making the most of them?

Weekly Report to My Friends in Montgomery County and Maryland

I don’t write the headlines but… Watch: Crowd Awkwardly Leaves Kamala Harris Hanging

Story of the Week: The Drive-By Media Knew From Day One:

The drive-by media was all laudatory in the early days of the Biden Administration but now simply scornful of the changes the new Trump administration might make in its early days.

Apparently, the Biden administration had from its very first say no “boss” so to speak, reminding one of the “Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain” from the Wizard of Oz.

This from The Free Press today and it’s about the first days of the Biden Administration:

“In the background, up very early and also very late, were busy bee [Administration]staffers with a very different vision for the country: opening the border on Day One; $175 billion for student loan forgiveness; plus, for good measure, his presidential proclamation recognizing Trans Day of Visibility (what about lesbians, Joe!). Any given day, staffers just put on the Joe Biden bodysuit and did something absolutely bananas and then said whoa, whoa, are you calling Joe Biden a communist?”

When will these sightings stop?...

As we enter 2025 the world is full of optimism. Folks in other countries are finally happy that there’s a new leader of the free world. There is promise of international peace and prosperity, and maybe an end to these endless wars confounding our planet.

Here in America too, a majority are optimistic. Governing is always difficult, it’ll be just a little easier with the White House, Senate and House in moderate and conservative hands. There’s hope that inflation will ease, over-regulation will be tamed, the environment will be protected and we’ll have the energy we need to face the bright future we have ahead.

But Maryland and Montgomery County are on a blue Island of discontent. Those in power here want to raise taxes, they want to protect criminals here illegally, they want to continue social experiments in the public school system, and they want to fight the choice of the people every chance they get. Watch your wallet, there’s never enough money for entrenched Democrats and folks on the left, is there?

Yes, our Republican numbers are increasing, but we need the moderate Democrat legislators to speak up. They're out there - but often afraid of the cancel culture of their own Party.

We choose to be on the side of the optimists, to promote peace and prosperity, public safety, advancement and equality.

Thanks for your good wishes, thanks for sticking with us. Let’s clean up the mess of the last four years, come back together and move into 2025 in good spirits and optimism for a brighter future.