SAM MUST REMAIN AN OUTSIDER

Dear Phil,

Yes, the main reason Sam got elected was his
promise to air dirty political linen. I could not agree
more. And you have read my jeremiads to him about not
becoming a clubman if he wishes to have a future in
USCF political office.

I disagree with the notion that Sam fails to
understand the politics of his position. I think he
has the reality figured pretty well: the insiders
want to jolly him along for a year, thence into
obscurity after he disappoints his supporters.
AND/OR: the insiders will try to provoke Sam
in some fashion to provide fodder for banning
him from Board meetings.

To be fair to Sam, he is not yet on the Board and
will not be in much of a position to get financial data
until after he joins the Board at the U.S. Open in the
second week of August.

Sam need not fear losing votes by 6 -1. Such
results will not necessarily help the incumbents.
What he must fear is never losing votes by 6 - 1. Lev
Alburt lost a record number of such votes and left the
Board as one of its most respected members. Moreover,
several key sections of Lev's agenda later became
Federation policy.