The Delaware Plan attempts to repair party branding

The activists of the Delaware GOP felt we had to break the slide in our election results. We believed one way was to communicate to the public that we stood for something. Hundreds of people participated in a process which gave a consensus platform called The Delaware Plan.

Every major political movement has had at its center a platform of action. We could look historically at the beginning of the American political parties the birth of the Republican and Populist Parties or even the Declaration of Independence. The Communist Manifesto and Mien Kampf were effective for the wrong ideas. More recently the Contract for America, Britain’s Tories under Maggie Thatcher, and the Canadian Alliance all found this technique useful. Naturally, most fall apart because they are done for a show or to keep interest groups happy not for communicating with the public. The ones that succeed are the ones that resonate with the people.

Here is a video of the Chairman of the Delaware Plan Committee explaining it. John Clatworthy is now a candidate for state senate. If you want to read more click my link pasted below.

http://delawarepolitics.net/2008/05/06/lets-look-at-the-delaware-plan/

What's the Story with High Gas Prices?

ARRA News Service: IER hit the streets to ask why people thought gas prices were so high, who was to blame, and what could be done to lower them. Additional commentary by Mary Hutzler, a former Energy Department official and Senior Fellow at IER.

Conservative Candidates Can Not Wait

John McCain is correct . . .

We have entered a critical phase of the campaign season. Senator Obama and his liberal friends have pulled out all the stops in their cynical campaign of distortions and outright lies, and with the help of their special interest allies are continuing to raise staggering amounts of money.

Collectively the Obama campaign and their cohorts have turned their full attention- and their massive war chest - toward defeating conservative candidates up and down the ticket.

They have begun their assaults against conservatives in earnest, and we must immediately respond.

To battle back against their barrage of media attacks the McCain Camp has authorized and approved their own media advertising in every key battleground state from coast to coast. These ads have started running and tell the true story of McCain service, his leadership, and hopefully introduce many undecided voters to the bold solutions he will bring to the White House. We have done the same in selecting conservative candidates.

Purchasing media time is extraordinarily expensive . . . and it will draw down heavily on our financial resources. But we have no other choice. Liberals are outspending conservatives at an alarming rate . . . especially in congressional races.

So please click here to rush conservative candidates an emergency media contribution of $20 or $50

There is not a moment to waste!

Folks we are counting on our closest friends, men and women like you , who have remained by our side throughout this rough and tumble campaign season to stand by conservatives once again at this critical juncture. The scale is much larger and the stakes are as high as ever. We have to focus on all of our conservative brothers and sisters across the Nation.

We will run respectful campaigns - but will not shy away from fairly showing voters the clear differences between our vision for our nation's future and that of the liberals . . . and the differences could not be more stark.

Our vision for a better America calls for strong economic growth policies, including tax cuts, free and fair trade and energy independence. These pro-growth policies will help create jobs, increase wages and make our economy more secure.

The liberal rhetoric speaks glowingly of new jobs, opportunities and economic growth. But the specifics of their plans call for massive tax hikes, strangling regulations and more government control of the economy. This is a recipe for grinding our economy to a halt, not growing it.

Our vision for America in the world is one of strength and clear purpose. We must strengthen and improve our military force that is already second to none. We must complete our mission in Iraq with victory by establishing a stable, democratic government. We must continue to press al Qaeda and disrupt terrorist networks. We must establish a League of Democracies that will work with us to apply pressure to promote peace, stop genocide and improve human rights throughout this world.

The liberals vision of America's role in the world is dangerously naive. They have promised to retreat from Iraq without fully considering the risks. They have advocated negotiating with rogue dictators without preconditions. And they have promised to abrogate trade agreements and turn their back on vital allies and trading partners.

The American people deserve more. We need a President who has a record of change versus merely rhetoric of change. We need a President whose judgment is proven and who is ready to be commander in chief on day one. We need strong conservatives who share our core beliefs across the nation to be shown our full support.

You can be sure Barack Obama and his liberal allies will do everything in their power to muddy the waters, distort our records and distract voters with baseless claims. They will hit hard - and they will hit fast. We will take the blows - but we must be able to fight back quickly with strength and the truth.

That is why our media campaigns for conservatives are so critically important. Our ads will clearly delineate the sharp contrasts between liberals and us. We simply must have the financial resources to fully implement our media campaigns - and your immediate contribution is essential.

Running TV ads in states from Pennsylvania to New Mexico is extremely costly. A 30 second national ad on The O'Reilly Factor costs $25,000. So it takes 500 supporters each giving $50. to run just that one ad!

Friends, we must raise millions to keep our media campaigns running. And to do that we need you to make a contribution of $10 or even $50 today!

Our campaigns have been called futile, yet we have succeeded despite being under funded and practically written off. All is not lost for conservatives! We must have perseverance and faith that the voters will continue to listen to our message and cast their ballot for experienced leadership and a renewed sense of optimism for America as well as the core beliefs that made America the greatest nation in the world.

We've been through this before. We are running against better funded opponents, but we have the RIGHT message and the RIGHT vision. If we continue to hold strong and stand together, we will win.

Visit the Let's Get This Right Contribution link to help a conservative candidate now.

Christian and Military Outlaws ?

"Of all the dispositions and habits, which lead to political prosperity, Religion and morality are indispensable supports...,And let us with caution indulge the supposition, that morality can be maintained without religion.--Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure--reason and experience both forbid us to expect, that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle." -George Washington


Not only should the Military and Religious speakers be allowed access to public schools . . . it is a legally protected right.

There is a part of me that would like to cut California loose and let it float on over to France where it belongs. That however, would be giving up on the hundreds of thousands of sane good American citizens living there that see through the horrid liberal agenda.

The Supreme Court ruled in 1969 that student expression against the Vietnam War could not be quashed in public schools. The ruling stated that neither "students or teachers shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate."

PLEASE CLICK HERE NOW FOR THE ENTIRE ARTICLE!

Slainte'

Sheridan Folger

McCain Town Hall in Cincinnati featured at OhioGOP.com

Ohio GOP features an article and video clips from a recent town hall meeting Senator McCain had in Cincinnati Ohio.

That Republican John McCain would come to Cincinnati for a town hall forum with undecided voters so early in the general election campaign made it clear that he knows this will be a major battleground between him and Barack Obama.

And what he talked about made it clear the battle won't be won on the issues he has been most comfortable with in his long congressional career - national security, defense, and, in recent years, the war on radical Islamic terrorists.

"The economy, the economy, and the economy,'' the senator from Arizona said after his town hall performance at Xavier University's Schmidt Hall. His response came after a reporter asked him to name the three most important issues he will use to influence Ohio's undecided voters.

McCain’s Growing Net Roots and Donations

The network of McCain supporter sites is going through a growth spurt, right, left, and center. On July 1st, the anniversary of John McCain’s promotion to Commander of Attack Squadron 174 in 1976, the founders of John McCain 2008 Social Network and McCain Now are launching LetsGetThisRight.com. They have worked tirelessly to launch a site that focuses on supporting Senator McCain and local Republicans across the country. They are looking to raise money for a series of candidates in important races.

On the other side of the spectrum, let me welcome Clinton supporters who now support Senator McCain to the club. The establishment and networking of Clinton supporters not willing to support Senator Obama, has been impressive to say the least. Over 125 sites and blogs have emerged within a few weeks. A list of all (or most) is available at Just Say No Deal. Here are a few that have already established a significant following. Clintons 4 McCain, Savage Politics, Puma Party (which includes the Puma Party forum), Done Dems, Hillary Clinton Forum, and Dems 4 McCain. Certainly, not all who have decided not to vote Obama have committed to voting McCain. However, there is mounting evidence that many Clinton supporters will vote McCain.

Some Hillary supporters have even decided to donate to Senator McCain’s campaign on July 4th. As a show of support, many long time McCain supporters have also agreed to contribute on that day. The request is that Hillary supporters make donations in amounts like $5.44, $25.44, or $125.44 and others donate in whole dollar amounts so Clinton supporters can be differentiated and counted.

Other new Pro-McCain sites include...
Battleground States ‘08 is a contributor based blog giving a state to state perspective on the presidential race.
Local Republicans similarly is a contributor based blog focused on down ticket candidates and state and local Republican candidates.
Grand Old Partisan is an excellent site for those interested in history. It remembers that the GOP is the party of Abraham Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt.
also...
Jews for McCain
Conservative Mom in a Liberal World
Its All Dicta
McCain Brigade
McCain Independent
McCain Supporters
Local Republicans
Obama Independent or McCain Independent?
Red Arizona
Right Score
Stop Obama Vote McCain
Democrats and Independents for McCain Social Network

Defeat Obama, Let's Get This Right

Support Important Local Conservative Races!

SCOTUS Strikes Down D.C. Ban on Handguns

ARRA News Service: Today, the Supreme Court in a 5-4 decision stuck down the District of Columbia's ban on handgun ownership as unconstitutional and ruled that the Second Amendment, one of our guaranteed rights, protects a person's right to own guns for self-defense not just for being in a militia. The court also said that the requirement that lawful weapons be rendered inoperable, by trigger locks or disassembled, was unconstitutional because it rendered the weapons useless for self-defense. Those justices ruling in the majority were Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. and Justices Clarence Thomas, Anthony M. Kennedy, Samuel A. Alito Jr. and Antonin Scalia. Resenting were Justices David H. Souter, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen G. Breyer and John Paul Stevens.

Some of the key points made by Justice Scalia writing for the majority were:

“The court’s opinion should not be taken to cast doubt on longstanding prohibitions on the possession of firearms by felons and the mentally ill, or laws forbidding the carrying of firearms in sensitive places such as schools and government buildings, or laws imposing conditions and qualifications on the commercial sale of arms.”

“Undoubtedly some think that the Second Amendment is outmoded in a society where our standing army is the pride of our nation, where well-trained police forces provide personal security, and where gun violence is a serious problem. That is perhaps debatable, but what is not debatable is that it is not the role of this court to pronounce the Second Amendment extinct.”

Republican Presidential Candidate John McCain previously filed his own brief in support of the plaintiff in the case, DC security guard Dick Heller. McCain applauded the decision: "Today's ruling recognizes that gun ownership is a fundamental right - sacred, just as the right to free speech and assembly." Democrat Presidential Candidate Barack Obama has a dismal record supporting gun rights. Last year, a spokesman for his campaign said that Senator Obama felt the tough DC gun law was constitutional. However, in reacting to the Court's decision, Obama said that supporting gun rights and some gun controls was not a contradiction.

Gas Price Reduction Act of 2008

ARRA News Service - Senate Republicans unveiled a new energy plan, the Gas Price Reduction Act of 2008, which will open up the outer continental shelf for oil exploration and remove the moratorium on Western oil shale exploration imposed by Democrats last year.

The new bill, cosponsored by 42 Republican senators, is designed to give Democrats another chance to support more American energy and more American jobs. While Republicans in the Senate continue to strongly support environmentally responsible oil exploration in ANWR, the new bill is designed to remove that as an excuse for Democrats to hide behind. If Senate Democrats will not support these sensible ways to increase American access to oil and natural gas, and thus alleviate some of the pressure pushing gas prices higher, they will have to go home next week and explain to their constituents why.

In contrast, Senate Democrats have offered nothing except taxation, regulation and litigation in response to the problem of high energy costs. House Democrats’ continue to fumble on energy legislation, as the continue to put forth proposals that will do nothing to lower gas prices.

Summary of Provisions
TITLE I – DEEP SEA EXPLORATION (OCS)
14 Billion Barrels On Atlantic and Pacific OCS – More Than All US Imports From Persian Gulf Countries Over The Last 15 Years

• State Option Nationwide (except Gulf of Mexico)
• Governor petitions to allow exploration, with concurrence of state legislature
• Exploration must be at least 50 miles from coast
• 50% of revenues to Federal Treasury, 37.5% to States, 12.5% to Land & Water Conservation Fund

TITLE II: WESTERN STATE OIL SHALE EXPLORATION
More Than 3 Times The Oil Reserves Of Saudi Arabia

• 800 billion - 2 trillion potentially recoverable barrels in Colorado, Utah, Wyoming
• Democrat Congress put moratorium on final regulations for development of this resource
• Republican proposal would repeal the moratorium and allow exploration to move forward

TITLE III: PLUG-IN ELECTRIC CARS AND TRUCKS

• We need better batteries to maximize electricity range & use less gas
• Increased R&D for advanced batteries
• Direct Loans for advanced battery manufacturing facilities
• Sense of Senate that the Federal Government should increase its purchases of these vehicles

TITLE IV: STRENGTHENING U.S. FUTURES MARKETS

• Authorizes increased funding/staff for Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC)
• Directs the President’s Working Group on Financial Markets to study the international regulation of commodities markets
• Codifies CFTC action on position limits and transparency for foreign boards of trade
• Requires the CFTC to gather information on index traders and swap dealers

NH GOP Fills Senate Slate

From NH GOP...

CONCORD – The New Hampshire Republican Party filed a candidate for State Senate District 24 this afternoon, meaning the party will contest all 24 New Hampshire Senate districts.

Christian Callahan, a Portsmouth businessman, filed to run against incumbent senator Martha Fuller-Clark. Callahan’s candidacy means that no Democratic candidate is left unopposed this election cycle.

In the state House of Representatives, New Hampshire Republicans are fielding a total of 364 candidates covering 324 seats.

“I am confident we have more than the number of candidates we need running in winnable districts to restore a Republican majority in one if not both houses of the legislature,” said Fergus Cullen, chairman of the New Hampshire Republican Party.

“I think it’s fair to say that our candidate recruitment efforts exceeded expectations. We have more candidates, and better quality candidates, than many observers predicted we would have. This is a sign that the Republican Party is regaining strength, energy, and optimism heading into election season,” Cullen said.

There will be Republican primaries in three state senate districts (2, 3, and 7) and in many state house districts.

“Unlike the Democrats, who quashed primaries, Republicans believe competition yields stronger, hungrier candidates more likely to win general elections. We let the voters choose, not party bosses,” Cullen said.

Grand Opening of Victory 2008 Headquarters NH

All are welcome to attend and invite guests!
Join us to learn more about our campaign and
meet our staff and special guests including:

U.S. Senator John E. Sununu
Former Massachusetts Governor Jane Swift

WHEN:

Tuesday, July 1, 2008 6:00pm

WHERE:

Victory 2008 HQ
250 Commercial St. Suite 3007
Waumbec Mill Building, 3rd floor
Manchester, NH 03101
(Click Here for Directions)

Holding the Left Accoubtable on Energy Prices

ARRA News Service - Conn Carroll, The Foundry, Morning Bell: The most important thing to remember as the debate over energy prices becomes a major issue in 2008 is that liberals want Americans to pay higher energy prices. That is why they sue to stop natural gas drilling in Wyoming, new refineries in South Dakota and coal power plants nationwide . The whole purpose of the Lieberman-Warner carbon capping bill was to increase the cost of energy to force Americans to use less of it. But now Americans are beginning to catch on to the left’s game, and they are not happy.

According to Rasmussen Reports, 67% of voters believe that offshore drilling should be allowed, and 64% believe lifting the ban on offshore drilling will lead to lower gas prices. A new Reuters poll found that 60% of Americans favor more domestic drilling and refinery construction to cool record prices. Facing an American public increasingly hostile to their energy policy, liberals in Congress are scrambling to find new arguments and policy proposals that can provide them with a patina of political cover. They include:

Lifting bans on domestic oil production will not lower energy prices. This liberal argument comes in two forms: 1) developing X oil well will not lower the price of gas and 2) it will take 10 years for the increased supply to lower prices. These arguments are especially pernicious because applied to each oil project today, they are technically true. However, if the test for developing any single oil field was whether it alone would lower the price of gas, then no oil field would ever be developed. Drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge will not lower gas substantially by itself, but there is so much more oil currently banned from production. Also, as the Washington Post’s Steven Pearlstein points out: “In energy, as with all commodity markets, prices are set at the margin — based on the last transaction — and short-run demand doesn’t change much in response to price fluctuations. In such markets, even small changes in supply can have a big impact on price.” Finally, liberal complaints that lifting domestic drilling bans today would take years to increase supply are completely unpersuasive since liberals have been making the same argument in support of oil production bans for decades now.

Oil companies leave billions of acres of already leased land idle. This incredibly deceptive argument is new to the left’s anti-energy arsenal. It is true that, as the left claims, oil companies already have 33 billion acres of offshore leases they are not currently drilling on. But these lands are far from idle. Oil production takes time and requires years of exploration and permitting. Oil companies are already paying billions of dollars every year for land they are exploring, and under current law, if they do not begin drilling by the time their lease is up, they lose their right to drill. This does not mean there are not billions of barrels of more profitable oil in banned areas. The Department of the Interior estimates that their are 19.1 billion barrels of oil and 83.9 trillion cubic feet of gas in the banned areas Outer Continental Shelf alone.

Speculators are to blame for the high price of gas. When all else fails, blame the moneychangers. This argument predates not only the environmental movement, but the country itself. As American Enterprise Institute scholar Kevin Hassett points out, Milton Friedman dealt with this specious claim in 1953: “If speculators know that the price of something is going to go up a month from now, they buy today. If they are correct, they make money, and the price change is smoothed by the higher demand today. … If speculators are, as is popularly believed, brilliant tacticians who are making a killing, then their activities are stabilizing. Speculation is good.”

Already there are cracks in left’s unity on the drilling issue. Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA) has co-sponsored a bill with Sen. John Warner (R-VA) to lift the ban on natural gas production off the coast of Virginia. More importantly though, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) is refusing to even allow the House to vote on lifting the offshore drilling ban. She must know many from her own party would vote for the measure. After all, they would only be responding to the fact that their constituents are eager to hold them accountable on the issue. [Source]

Congressional Monkey Business

ARRA News Service - H/T/ to Patrick Toomey for the following comment in his weekend Club for Growth e-newsletter: Speaking of high gas prices, we'd like to think that Congress is doing something about it. Or perhaps addressing our country's looming entitlement crisis, or perhaps approve some much needed free trade agreements. Nope, not this week. Instead, they voted on a very pressing matter on Tuesday. They voted to spend $5 million of your tax dollars on the prevention of the interstate sale of pet monkeys. Yes, that's right. Monkeys. . . . [Read More]

Stop the pork!

In VA 's 8th, (Northern Virginia), pork-barrel spending is a big issue. Congressman Jim Moran has, in his own words, "earmarked the sh*t out" of almost every single bill with his name on it. Now, as we all know, John McCain has made a career out of fighting wasteful spending. On his website he has launched a game called, "Pork invaders!"

Play the game to learn some facts about McCain's and Obama's respective records on pork.

Click here.

Hopefully once McCain is elected he can stop Moran's record of wasteful spending once and for all.

Important Races, PA and Elsewhere

On my Pennsylvania for John McCain blog, I have what I hope may serve as a model for other bloggers. On it, I talk some about McCain, but I emphasize how other Republican candidates (mainly for the House and Senate) can tie their own efforts to those of the presidential nominee. I discuss not only some of our fine -- and they are in fact fact fine - PA congressional candidates, some of whom have a chance to unseat incumbent Democrats, but also other excellent candidates around the nation.

My emphasis is not on gossip and the latest political outrages, but rather proven strategies and tactics for winning.

Today (Sunday, June 22) I've started a series of columns focusing mainly on Dr. Deborah Honeycutt, a GOP candidate for the seat in Georgia's 13th district. Deborah is very good at something critical to political victories: fundraising. It appears that she may have raised as much as $3 million -- and it's only June!

I talk about HOW (and where) she's raised the money -- something every Republican can learn from -- but also her excellent tactics in enhancing name recognition and generally creating "buzz." (Note: raising money is hard, but not as difficult as some candidates think.)

Another good fundraiser to look into is Dana Walsh, who has the honor of running both against Nancy Pelosi and Cindy Sheehan! In a three-way race, Dana has a chance to win. You can find her at: http://danawalshforcongress.com. (If Sheehan gets 20% of the vote, Dana would need 40%, plus one vote, to prevail.)

I'm interested only in candidates who have well-earned reputations for integrity and commitment to defending our nation's security. If you know of such a candidate in your state, please let me know about him or her at: TalkTop65@aol.com. I admit, I'm especially interested in offering whatever help I can (and sometimes it's considerable) to minority candidates, including Deborah Honeycutt and Antoine Members in Illinois, but good GOP candidates of any race, gender, or ethnicity are people I want to support.

I back both GOP "moderates" and "conservatives," social and/or fiscal.

I want to salute two fine people, Kathy Morrison and Dr. Bill Smith, for their efforts on this important site.

Stephen R. (Steve) Maloney
Ambridge, PA
http://pennsylvaniaforjohnmccain.blogspot.com
http://stevemaloneygop.blogspot.com (a "national" blog emphasizing the presidential race)
http://hillarysupportersformccain.blogspot.com (to my amazement, perhaps my most-visited site; I didn't support Hillary -- I'm a McCain backer -- but I saw her as far superior to the Democratic alternative)

Lt Col William Russell Back On Duty

Bill Smith, ARRA Editorial: Two local papers in Pennsylvania's 12 District besmirched William (Bill) Russell (Republican for Congress) after their primary. The Tribune Democrat, Johnstown PA said in a spurious editorial: "William Russell - Missing in Action. 12th district candidate strangely silent. . . . And what we see now is a candidate who has been all-but-invisible . . . But we suspect Russell has done more damage to his election chances through his own lack of action . . . " The Herald, Sharon, PA carried the same story (word for word). Who ever wrote the story wrote without getting the facts or failed to reveal the facts. The facts show the papers owe William Russell an apology.

After winning a write-in primary effort to place him back on the November ballot, Lt Col William Russell, a member of the US Army Reserves, returned to "active duty" for the period April 30, 2008 to July 26, 2008. He has been working at the Pentagon. During this period William Russell is not permitted to campaign. Russell has been in the process of relocating his family from Virginia after his prior long term period on active duty. While he returned to PA and campaigned prior to the Primary, he allowed his children to finish school at his former duty location and for his wife to prepare for their permanent return home to PA. Now that the family is relocating, Russell makes the trip home on weekends to work on their home.

Today, I caught up with Russell today in his home in Johnstown, PA. He was back for the weekend and was working on their home. He made it clear he could not talk about his campaign until after July 26 and referred me to his campaign manager Peg Luksik.

Being a retired Air Force officer, I enjoyed swapping some old war stories with Lt Col Russell and sharing about our concerns for the security of our country. Russell never complained about the false comments made in the above reference articles. He said while others outside the district may not have know where he was, many of his future constituents knew he had returned to active duty during the lull after the primary. As a responsible person, he has to earn a living to care of his family. And as an Iraq veteran, he provides unique experience in addressing military contingency operations. However, Russell looks forward to being back full-time in the 12th District on July 27.

Peg Luksik, campaign manager for the William Russell for Congress, says she is preparing for Russell's return and for a "front porch" campaign as they meet with voters through out the district. She realized that voters attention wanes after a primary, but said Russell is ready to address voters concerns on the economy, energy, and the many other needs of the district. Although their opponent has a larger war chest, she believes the voters of District 12 have even larger hearts and are concerned about change including electing Russell to Congress.

It is disheartening that the local press could easily have learned of William Russell's return to "active duty." They used his absence from the area to promote sensationalism. But even worse, what if they actually knew Lt Col Russell was back on temporary active duty? In either situation, they insulted both their readers and Russell and they assaulted Russell's character by using military terminology like "Missing in Action" and "strangely silent." There is no excuse for not reporting Russell's return to active duty to "serve his country and the residents of the District 12." While an apology would be appropriate from the papers, I expect that none will be forth coming. It is hoped that voters of District 12 know well Murtha cronyism when the see it.

In closing, I have been asked why should I care about the Lt Col Bill Russell and the voters of the PA District 12. It is because literally millions of military and veterans like myself feel dishonored by Rep. John Murtha. He is such a disgrace, we cannot fathom that the voters in his district are not ready for a change. And this week again brought Murtha to our attention, when for the seventh time, charges against one of the eight Marines accused in the incident were dismissed, leaving just one case left. It was Rep. John Murtha who proclaimed without evidence that our Marines “killed innocent civilians in cold blood,” and now Murtha remains "strangely silent" with no comment on the dismissals. In addition, Murtha greed in controlling pork in Congress has led to his being called the "King of Pork." Not just for representing his district but for his internal hand in manipulating wasteful pork barrel spending across the United States. We hope that the voters of the 12th District will elect an honorable man like Lt Col Russell over the failed character and bad performance of "Jack" Murtha. It is Time for a Change!

MN GOP - Al Franken is a Hypocrite

Comedian Rails Against Big Oil &: Big Pharma But Invests In Big Oil &: Big Pharma While Raking In Big Money From PACs Awash In Big Oil &: Big Pharma

"Al Franken is a hypocrite. He demonizes oil and pharmaceutical companies, and attacks any Republican who receives donations from individuals who work for these companies. He attacks Halliburton as a corrupt company. Yet, he has made himself richer by investing in mutual funds that are soaked with investments in these companies. And, he has fattened his campaign account with PAC money from his Democrat allies that are awash in contributions from lobbying firms that represent big oil and pharmaceuticals. Franken’s the worst kind of political hypocrite. The guy who says do as I say, not as I do." Ron Carey, Republican Party of Minnesota Chairman

From the MN Republican Party continues on to list Mr. Frankens numerous investments in oil and pharma industries

Ohio GOP

From the Ohio GOP website,

"With an army of thousands of loyal volunteers, the Ohio Republican Party has become one of the strongest and most successful state party organizations in the nation. Ohioans currently entrust Republican leadership to manage two of the three branches of state government, and Republicans hold a majority of county elective offices statewide as well as a majority of the seats in the Ohio House, Ohio Senate, Ohio Supreme Court, and among the Ohio Congressional delegation."

---

The general election campaign for the presidency has begun, and the race now turns to Ohio.

We urgently need to raise some critical dollars to hire staff, open volunteer centers, purchase equipment, install phone lines, distribute yard signs, register voters, and buy that all-important ad time.

I'm asking for just $88 to help us get there.

Your secure, online contribution of $88, one dollar for each county in the state, will help us build a strong, grassroots organization in your community. Every dollar you donate will be used to organize our Republican efforts right there where you live.

Barack Obama might have finally claimed the delegates to win Democratic Party's nomination, but he cannot win Ohio.

John McCain is leading in the last four credible polls here, and Sen. Obama carried only five of Ohio's 88 counties in the Democratic primary.

Columnist Robert Novak said this week that Ohio is "leaning Republican" in the presidential race and "looks likely to play the role of decider this fall."

But "leaning" is no guarantee.

We need your generous support to close the deal. Will you give $88, $176 or $250 today? It's time to get to work.

Kevin DeWine, Deputy Chairman

For more information about Ohio state and local races visit the Ohio GOP web site.

Let's Get the Economy Moving Again

ARRA News Service: U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI), TownHall: There is little debate right now on Capitol Hill about whether the American economy is struggling. The real conversation in Washington, D.C. and in living rooms across the country is about how to get our economy moving again. Essentially this debate boils down to one question: Should America promote economic growth and job creation or raise taxes to destroy jobs and economic opportunity?

Beginning this week, Republicans will make all House members decide which side of this debate they are on by forcing votes on a bill I introduced, the Tax Increase Prevention Act (H.R. 2734). House members will have to choose whether they support Speaker Pelosi’s budget proposal that, in total, is the single largest tax increase ever proposed in the history of the United States, a $3,000 per taxpayer tax increase.

With so much money already being wasted in Washington, I believe it is wrong for Congress to try and take more money out of the paychecks of hard-working Americans. My bill would make permanent the tax relief of 2001 and 2003, and stop tax increases on raising children, earning money, saving and investing, operating a small business, adopting a child, paying off college loans and even dying.

Consider the implications of the Democrats’ proposed $680 billion tax hike in 2011 alone:

Marginal income tax rates will increase as follows:
--35% bracket will increase by 13 percent
--33% bracket will increase by 9 percent
--28% bracket will increase by 11 percent
--25% bracket will increase by 10 percent
--10% bracket will increase by 50 percent

Capital gains rates for individuals will increase from 15% and 0% to 20% and 10%.

Restoration of the marriage penalty tax.

The child tax credit will be slashed 50 percent, raising taxes by $500 per child.

The death tax will go from 0% to 55%.

I have always held the conviction that American citizens should keep as much of their hard-earned money as possible. With Americans facing rising health care costs, high energy prices and economic instability, the absolute last thing families need is to be hit with a massive, job-killing tax increase . . . [Read More]

Republicans Sour on Nation’s Moral Climate

ARRA News Service - New Gallup survey results released! In just two years, the percent of registered Republicans who said the moral condition of America is "poor" has risen by 15 points! Today 51 percent of the GOP is frustrated by the nation's cultural climate compared to 36% in 2006, and 81% think it's "getting worse." The overall results to the question about the state of moral values show that, as has been the case consistently throughout the decade, few Americans give the country's moral climate high marks. Only 15% consider moral values to be "excellent" or "good" while 41% call them "only fair" and 44% consider them to be "poor."

Gallup's "Bottom Line" for the survey indicated that:

Americans are reliably negative when it comes to rating moral values in the country. Since 2002, a majority of Americans have consistently said the state of moral values is less than good and getting worse. Apart from this general pattern, Republicans' disaffection with the nation's moral climate (but not Democrats' or independents') has been elevated over the past two years, A number of "values" issues have been in the news in recent years, including gay marriage, pop-star misbehavior, and reports of high-profile elected officials involved in sex-related scandals, but it is unclear that any of these are responsible for the pattern in the data. Whatever the cause, this may signal that Republicans will be particularly anxious to elect a new president this November who will help to uphold or restore the values they now find lacking in the country.

Republicans are becoming more concerned about traditional values--not less. And, Republican candidates had better start listening and speaking to moral issues. See: Republicans Sour on Nation's Moral Climate

Simple Steps to Help Local Candidates

1. Visit your candidate's web site and sign up for email bulletins. (If a candidate doesn't have a web site or email sign-up call them and pester them to create one. They may not know it, but you're doing them a huge favor by forcing the issue.)

2. See if they are signed up at Slatecard, if not try to get them signed up.

3. Donate. Even small donations can be very helpful for local candidates.

4. Volunteer. Let the campaign know you're willing to volunteer and tell them how to get in touch with you.

5. Write letters to the editor of your local or state newspapers.

6. Share candidate's web site with others. Whether it is sending emails to friends, or leaving a link in the comments section of the blogs, spread the word and their web site address. It can bring much needed attention to a candidate.

7. Talk up your candidate. The non-computer version of #6, simply talk to people about your candidate. Even if you don't win someone over, you may spark some interest.

Thank you Reid & Pelosi for Doubling Gas Prices

ARRA News Service: William J. Murray, Chairman Religious Freedom Coalition: DEMS DEMAND HIGHER GAS PRICE - Democrats failed to pass the "cap and trade" legislation last week that would raise the price of gasoline by 56 cents per gallon. So this week they tried to pass a "windfall profit" tax on energy companies. The tax would of course be passed on to consumers, thus raising gasoline prices even more. Let us get honest: the Democrats want to price gasoline out of the reach of the average American. Most of the Democrats' money comes froDemocrats, gas price protest, gas prices, Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, Religious Freedom Coalition, William J. Murraym Hollywood elites and liberal billionaires who believe in the "green religion." They want all cars parked, except their own limos, to "protect the planet." The masses of people (That would be you and me) can then be forced to live in apartment clusters and use mass transportation. The "green religion" sees individual home ownership as destructive to the environment. It is also more difficult to control people who live in individual homes and have private transportation.

CONGRESS AND THE PRICE OF GAS - When the Democrats took control of the House and Senate in January of 2006 the average price of gas nationally was $2.33 per gallon. The current average per gallon is now $4.06. During less than two years in power Senator Harry Reid and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi have helped drive up the cost of gas almost $2.00 a gallon. How? The traders and speculators know that with the Democrats in control there will be no drilling for new oil, no nuclear plants built and no gas refineries expanded. With out those options the speculators know they can push prices up. Thank you Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi for doubling the price of gas. See Also: Gas Price Protest

Ron Paul Ends Campaign for President

ARRA News Service: Tonight in Huston, TX, Ron Paul officially ended his campaign for the Republican nomination for president. In an official press release he thanked his supporter saying:

For 17 months we brought the message of peace, freedom , and prosperity to millions of Americans. The response overwhelmed me: more Americans believe in liberty and the Constitution than I ever imagined. I am deeply moved and honored by your hand work and sacrifice on behalf of our cause.

However, after much serious thought, I have decided to end my campaign for the Presidency of the United States. It is time now to take the energy this campaign has awakened and channel it into long-term efforts to take back our country. We have some exciting plans and projects to move the revolution forward that will come together in the next several months.

I will wok my last breath on behalf of this great message. That I promise you. We don't have to live in the kind of America the two major parties have in store for us. Together, let us continue to lay the foundations for an America worthy of our Founding Fathers.

Paul told his faithful followers that he will keep spreading his message as he tries to help elect libertarian-leaning Republicans to offices around the country. "The campaign is going to shift gears. It's going to accelerate. It's going to get much bigger. To me, it's a technical change." Paul told bloggers and supporters that he didn't plan to endorse Republican presidential nominee John McCain because of their disagreement on issues especially the war. Paul want the Iraq War to end an all the troops brought home. He did not address the current success in Iraq.

Ron Paul's campaign has about $4.7 million in the bank. Jesse Benton, a campaign spokesman, said Paul is beginning a "Campaign for Liberty." Benton called the effort a "permanent campaign. We're going to work with the grassroots. People are really eager to continue and grow these efforts." Paul also plans to host an alternative mini-convention on Sept. 2 in Minnesota to coincide with the Republican National Convention in St. Paul.

Myth of McCain’s Weakness Among Evangelicals

ARRA News Service: by Steven Waldman, president & editor-in-chief of Beliefnet.com on the WSJ Political Perceptions: Conventional wisdom holds that John McCain is struggling to win evangelical voters. Evangelical leader Mark DeMoss predicted last week that he’d run weaker than any Republican since 1976 . . . Sen. McCain has been criticized by prominent Christian leaders such as James Dobson . . . In the primaries, most Christian leaders backed Mitt Romney or Mike Huckabee. More recently, Sen. McCain’s decision to jettison two prominent conservative Christians – John Hagee and Rod Parsely – has sent his ratings plummeting . . . .

But is this conventional wisdom really true? Or to be more precise, Sen. McCain clearly has a problem with evangelical leaders — but does he really have a major problem with evangelical voters? On the contrary, Sen. McCain won the nomination in part because he did far better than expected with rank-and-file evangelicals. . . . For instance, in New Hampshire, among the 21% of the Republican electorate that was evangelical or “born again,” Sen. McCain won 29%, Mr. Romney 28% and Mr. Huckabee 27% — even though Mr. Huckabee is a former evangelical preacher and Mr. Romney had the endorsements of many key Christian leaders. . . .

In a recent Rasmussen poll, Sen. McCain was winning 58% of evangelicals, and . . . Sen. Barack Obama, was winning 32%. . . . Why would Sen. McCain be doing so much better among evangelical voters than evangelical leaders? First, the leadership’s disgust with Sen. McCain stems from the candidate’s treatment of them. His “agents of intolerance” speech was not an attack on evangelicals, but on a few of their leaders. Second, some of the issues over which Christian leaders have chastised Sen. McCain are inside-the-beltway concerns that don’t resonate with rank-and-file voters. . . . Third, though he’s reluctant to talk about his personal faith, in many ways Sen. McCain is substantively in perfect alignment with today’s evangelical voters. . . . Fourth, Sen. McCain’s support of the Iraq war, his war-hero history and his emphasis on fighting terrorism appeals to those Christians who feel that fighting Islam has risen to the top of the list of important issues for Christians. . . . Sen. McCain’s problems with rank-and-file evangelical voters have been vastly overstated. . . . [Read More]

NOVA Primary Results

Hey Everyone.

Here are the final results from yesterday's GOP primary.

8th district: (99% reporting in)

Mark W. Ellmore: 3,240; 55.88%

Amit K. Singh: 2,558; 44.11%

Since this is a Republican blog, I am supposed to support Ellmore in here. Although I am not happy. Ellmore won through lying, and making the district feel sorry for him. For once in my life we have a candidate who actually has a slim chance of beating Democrat James Moran, and the Republican Party of Virginia decided to elect the biggest idiot in politics instead. Just goes to show you that politics is full of crooks, liars, and idiots. At the moment I cannot endorse Ellmore, and I need to reflect on it to see if I can.

10th district: (99% reporting in)

Frank R Wolf: 16,559; 91.26%

Vern P. McKinley: 1,585;8.73%

This is not much of a surprise. Wolf has held on to this district for a while, and will probably win in the general election. 

It was raining in NOVA for a reason yesterday. It was one of the saddest days in politics.

Dick Zimmer run for NJ Senate

From Patrick Ruffini of TheNextRight.com

"I don't think this was as on anyone's radar of competitive races, but a Rasmussen poll finds 84-year-old incumbent Frank Lautenberg out front of Republican former Rep. Dick Zimmer by just a point, 45-44.

New Jersey always teases us so, giving us some tempting poll numbers right before (usually) closing for the Dems. Still, this was an HRC state in the primary, and Lautenberg had to fend off a spirited challenge in the primary from Rep. Rob Andrews."

Read entire article

A Divided Northern Virginia: Good for Republicans?

Hey Everyone!

I run a blog series called "It sucks to be a Democrat Sometimes" on the GMU CR blog. I thought I'd try it out here. Let me know what you think.

Anyways, It sucks to be a Democrat sometimes. I mean the chance of having a divided party in November against the unified GOP? That's not good. No, I'm not talking about the Obama-Hillary wars, I'm talking about the Congressional battles of Northern Virginia, especially the 11th district, where two Democrats are fighting it out. Fairfax Board of Supervisors Chairman Gerry Connelly and Former Congresswoman Leslie Bryne are facing a tough, divided party. On one hand, Governor Tim Kaine has endorsed Connelly, while Senator Jim Webb has endorsed Leslie Bryne. A divided party is good news to Republican Kieth Fimman,  who is hoping to succeed retiring Republican Tom Davis.

Now some background: Bryne, who lost in a re-election bid for a 2nd term (to Tom Davis) is a pro-abortion Catholic, who believes that the district has missed her. Connelly, the perfect example of corruption has been the brainchild of massive tax hikes on Fairfax residents. What do Democrats want? The party is roughly split 50-50, with a few leaning to the minor, lesser know Democrats. 

In the 8th District, Jim Moran faces Matthew T. Famiglietti in a primary challenge. While Moran will probably win by a landslide, this is good news for Republicans. Democrats in the 8th are tired of Moran's pork-barrel spending tactics to get re-elected. Plus, his anti-semitism is not something Democrats want to advertise, especially with Obama not doing so well among Jewish-Americans.

In conclusion, it sucks to be a Democrat sometimes in Northern VA, as a divided party will never win.  CBS News Senior Political Correspondent Jeff Greenfield said, "I've tried to find a time where a divided party wins in November...I'm still looking."

Amit Singh for VA-08 GOP

The Editors of TheNextRight.com have endorsed Amit Singh for VA's 8th district primary. They quote an endorsement from Tom O'Donoghue the 2006 VA-08 nominee and a veteran.

"As your 2006 Republican nominee for Congress, and a veteran who served in both Iraq and Afghanistan, I know we need a candidate with the national security experience to keep our country safe. I also know we need a candidate with the honesty and integrity to strengthen the Republican ballot and defeat Jim Moran.

That candidate - the only candidate who shares those values - is Amit Singh. Amit is the only candidate with the ability to strengthen the Republican Party and to lead us to victory in November. He is the only candidate with real national security experience. I am proud to support a candidate who works everyday with my colleagues deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan."

For more information read the full article or visit Amit Singh's web site

Sen. Sununu Has A long Record Of Fiscal Responsibility In Washington

Former U.S. Senator Warren Rudman
The Union Leader 06/06/08

Sen. John Sununu has stood up for New Hampshire values and fiscal responsibility in Washington. He has been an independent voice for New Hampshire when it comes to reining in wasteful Washington spending. ...

Effective leadership requires leaders who are willing to take a stand against what might be politically popular at the time but the wrong direction for our country. It also requires leaders who are willing to communicate the truth about the challenges we face and work to honestly address them.

The choice for New Hampshire this November could not be clearer. John's opponent, former Gov. Jeanne Shaheen, has given lip service to the fiscal challenges our nation faces and instead has chosen to distort his record. I am not surprised, given Jeanne Shaheen's efforts to raise taxes and significantly increase spending during her tenure as governor. New Hampshire deserves better and deserves to have John Sununu's fiscal leadership for another term in the U.S. Senate. (More)

Gregg, Sununu Blast Senate's Budget Proposal

Thursday, June 05, 2008

The Union Leader

Sens. Judd Gregg, ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee, and John Sununu, a member of the Senate Finance Committee, yesterday voted against what they called "the largest tax increase in American history."

Gregg said of the Senate's final passage of the fiscal year 2009 budget resolution conference report: "For the second year in a row, the Democratic majority has crafted and passed a tax-and-spend budget -- one that most Americans can't afford as they struggle with a slowing economy and rising food and fuel costs."

Sununu said, "With consumers paying record prices at the pump and facing higher food bills at the checkout counter, we should be cutting taxes, not proposing the largest tax increase in American history. This massive budget increases spending to record levels and does nothing to address unpaid bills that future generations will face if we take no action today."

Click here to read the full story.

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New Hampshire Strafford County McCain Meeting

Strafford County McCain Meeting

Wednesday, June 11

7PM

Please join Team McCain for an organizational meeting in Strafford County. We will discuss the Senator's upcoming visit as well as how you can get more involved now!

Remax Realty Center
472 High Street
Somersworth

RSVP to McCain County Chair Matt Mayberry matt@dover-remax.com or 603-969-7241

Mike Huckabee Joins Bob Clegg at Rally in Concord NH

Introduction.

Mad Irish Man here, from The Mad Irish Man's Conservative Consortium

Live in New Hampshire. Typically when writing on this blog regarding NH I will be focusing on the Pelosi Twins and the Jeb Bradley and John Sununu Campaigns. From time to time I'll bring you some of our other important races.

I'll also be posting about what we at "Lets Get This Right" feel are the 10 most important races in the country.

For today...it's Bob Clegg. Last Night at the Sky lounge in Nashua Bob Clegg and Mike Huckabee had a great time with a crowd of around 50 folks. It was a great opportunity to talk to them both 1 on 1. Our Mutual friend Brad Marston was able to attend (Ol' Mad here stood him up, sorry Brad). This morning Huckabee and Clegg are at a rally in Concord.

Here is Bob Clegg's first Radio ad of the campaign

Episode #2 - Clegg's First Radio Ad

Senator Clegg's first radio ad.

bob clegg, 2008 ,congress

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Clegg's First Radio Ad

Senator Clegg's first radio ad.

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Published: 2008-06-09 06:13:18

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Bob Clegg for Congress
143 North Main Street, Suite 103
Concord, NH 03301
(603)856-8800
info@cleggforcongress.com

A Democratic Seat In Danger? Lou Barletta

Exerpt from Aaron Marks at TheNextRight.com

"Lou Barletta, currently serving as Mayor of the town of Hazleton, is a proven leader and has defied the odds in the past, being elected in a town with a significant Democratic registration advantage by a two-to-one margin. Lou became the focus of the national media in 2006, when he and his city council passed the Illegal Immigration Relief Act, which fined and punished those who rented to or employed illegal immigrants, along with another act that declared English the official language of Hazleton. As mayor of Hazleton, Lou has represented fiscal conservatism at its finest, erasing Hazleton's budget shortfall and renegotiating illegal contracts with the city's union. As a result, he earned the Governor's Award for Fiscal Accountability and Best Management Practices for his town."

Aaron Mark's Full Article