Tuesday, 2 February 2010
First We Must Get Their Attention
There is an old tale about a farmer who bought a new plow mule and was informed by it's former owner that, "He will do everything you want from a plow mule, just ask him nicely."
Much to the chagrin of the new owner, the mule laid his ears back, dug his hooves in the dirt and didn't budge.
So he called the former owner who came over looked at the mule, picked up a 2 X 4 leaning up against the barn and WHACK laid the mule out.
"I thought you said all I needed to do was ask nicely", the new owner said.
"Well" the former owner replied, "FIRST you gotta get his attention."
I would say events around the country, Tea Party Rallies, Town Hall Meetings and most recently the Election in Massachusetts, MAY indicate that the American Public is giving up on, "Asking Nicely"
The question is, whether anyone is paying attention.
Now it is quite true that the Election of Senator Brown WAS about the Proposed Health Care Plan.
That, however is not the entire picture.
Let's be honest, the public does think Health Care is important.
The American Public does want some changes and improvement.
The American Public also wants something done about dependence on Foreign Energy supplies.
What it doesn't want is the Progressive Plan on Health Care with an accompanying take over by the Federal Government of 1/6th of the US Economy.
NOR does it like the Raping of the US Economy that is a called Cap and Trade with the attending Redistribution of Wealth around the World which is in my opinion the real goal of the Global Warming Agenda.
But MORE IMPORTANT.
The American Public is LIVID at the Progressive's Obsession with the above to the Exclusion of attention on what it feels are the MOST Important Issues of Today.
Those being, the Economy, Jobs and National Security in the Face of International Islamic Jihad,
And while they were voting on Health Care, Cap and Trade they were also saying
YOU ARE NOT HEARING US
We want you to start focusing on what WE think is important
PAY ATTENTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Which means to me that anyone who campaigns on other issues to the exclusion of the Core Values that the Public desires?
Is in for a BIG surprise.
As Republicans and Conservatives we stand att the cusp of a Generational Opportunity, possibly surpassing the one we found in 1994.
Should we let this slip through our fingers it may be more than one generation before we have another one and if we fail generations of Progressive Politicians will be indebted to us.
Our Tent has many rooms, Social Conservatives, Fiscal Conservatives, Constitutional Conservatives etc.
All of our Core Values have importance and if fact, we do well with the General Population.
Right to Life values are increasing among the public, Defense of Marriage Values are as well, 30 some States have taken stands on the latter and there has been a shift in the attitude of the Public on the topic of Abortion in our Favor.
In the last Generation, more and more States have affirmed support of the 2cnd Amendment with Shall Carry Legislation.
So many of our Core Values ARE held by most of the General Public,
BUT if we do not come to the Electorate on the Issues that they deem to be most important NOW?
We may be picking ourselves up off the plow field along with the Progressives.
What the Tea Party espouses ARE Conservative Core Values,
We need not do anything but be true to our Basic Principles and Campaign on them.
Wednesday, 20 January 2010
Who Wants A Good Loser
Who wants a good loser?
I mean the type who yawns and assumes the attitude of "It doesn't matter, I could have won if I wanted to but it was not worth the trouble"
I prefer the ones who rend their hair and clothes beat upon their chests
and wail how unfair the universe is.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010 we saw History in the Making
There was the Fall of the Bastille on the 14th July 1789
The Storming of the Winter Palace on the 25th October 1917
We had the Collapse of the heretofore considered impregnable Fortress of the Democratic Party, in Massachusetts.
In Honor of which I did something I have never done until tonight.
I watched MSNBC
Conan the Barbarian answered the question, "What is Best in Life" with
To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of the women!
But today I think it is:
To see the Kennedy Machine Crushed to See them Driven before Republicans, to hear the lamentations of Olberman, Matthews and Maddow.
Yes THAT is what is BEST in Life!
Sunday, 17 January 2010
So You Want To Be Heard?
One of the most common complaints one hears from the Public is,
" No one listens to us, we want to be Heard!"
Well, this Saturday Jan 23, the Iowa Party Caucuses will be held.
If you do not Show Up, Speak Up and VOTE, then no one WILL hear you.
Linn County's Caucus will be held, according to a notice sent out by the Linnn County Central Committee in Cedar Rapids at:
Washington High School.
Location:
2205 Forest Drive SE
Cedar Rapids, IA, 52403
Parking will be available in the North lot, adjacent to the performing arts wing of the school. The Caucus event will be held in the Main Auditorium. Designated parking spaces for handicapped and senior citizens and will be available. Additionally, volunteers will be on hand to assist as you arrive for the Caucus.
Time:
Check in - 12:00 p.m.
Program - 1:00 p.m.
Check in will begin at 12:00 p.m. and we highly encourage everyone to arrive early for credentials, materials and to be seated by 1:00 p.m.
The purpose of the caucus is to perform the following two functions:
1. Elect 2 persons, each Republican residents, from every precinct to serve on the Linn County Republican Central Committee
2. Elect delegates and alternate delegates to the Linn County Republican Convention to be held on Saturday, March 6th 2010.
You must be registered as a Republican to participate in the Caucus. Voter registration forms will be available at the Caucus for your convenience. Please arrive early if you need to register.
The Agenda will probably follow the following format:
I. We will meeting all together, Pray, Pledge, Speeches and other misc. stuff
II. Breakout into Precinct Meetings
1. Temporary Chair starts this part of the meeting. – The only job of the Temporary Chair is to elect the Caucus Permanent Chair and Secretary. The Temporary Chair will assist for the rest of the night regardless if the Temporary Chair is elected Permanent Chair or not.
2. Ensure that everyone has signed in on the computer sheets. If a person’s name is not listed on the sheets, they are required to fill out a voter registration form.
3. Ask for nominations for Permanent Chair (hold election if necessary.)
4. Count votes; declare winner and record on FORM A. Turn caucus over to Permanent Chair.
5. Ask for nominations for Permanent Secretary (hold election if necessary.)
6. Count votes, declare winner and record on FORM A.
7. Temporary/Permanent Chair explains the role of Precinct Committee Representatives.
8. Ask for nominations for Precinct Committee persons. – Proxy Nominations are allowed.
9. Hold election, declare winners and record on FORM A.
10. Fill out Form B which is for County Convention – You do not have to attend County Convention to attend District, State Conventions or to be part of the Central Committee.
11. Fill out Form C which is for being an Alternate for County Convention –
12. Fill out Form D is for Junior Delegates – I hope as many young people as possible are signed up.
At present I do not have a copy of the New Form A, but the following is a sample and I expect the final version to be similiar. At least this will give you something to base your expectations on.
There will be folks circulating to verify that the Form A and others are filled out correctly and the record of the Causcus is above reproach,
BUT
It is in YOUR best interest, indeed it is YOUR Duty and Responsibilty to ensure this as well.
An informed Public is an essentiial leg in the foundation of Democracy, but Citizen Participation is even more vital.
If you wish to be Heard?
Show Up, Speak Out
And VOTE!
Saturday, 9 January 2010
Just Make It Cost More
I just ran into one of the most Byzantine, Convoluted and Backwards ways of lowering costs on something that I have ever encountered.
Cross Posted at Committees of Correspondence
Union officials told The Associated Press that they view the meeting Monday as a chance to forcefully make their case that the tax is bad policy and bad politics. Unions contend that the tax would be passed along to workers.
House Democrats prefer to raise income taxes on individuals making more than $500,000 and couples over $1 million and are reluctant to abandon that approach, saying the insurance tax would violate the president's campaign pledge not to tax the middle class. But they realize they likely will have to bend on that and other issues so that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., can maintain his fragile 60-vote majority support for the bill.
The Senate wants to tax insurance companies on plans valued at over $8,500 for individuals and $23,000 for couples. Most analysts say the insurance tax would be passed on to consumers.
But Obama has defended the tax as a way to drive down health costs.
"I'm on record as saying that taxing Cadillac plans that don't make people healthier but just take more money out of their pockets because they're paying more for insurance than they need to, that's actually a good idea, and that helps bend the cost curve,"
Obama said in an interview with National Public Radio just before Christmas. "That helps to reduce the cost of health care over the long term. I think that's a smart thing to do."
Fox News' Major Garrett contributed to this report.
Let me see if I have this correctly. Obama thinks we spend more than we need to on insurance via our employee based Health Care Plans
SO His Solution is to TAX them make them cost MORE so we will not be able to afford what we have and will therefore settle for a cheaper Health Care Plan?
And THAT is his idea of LOWERING Costs???
Tuesday, 1 December 2009
The Vanishing Voter
Today, December 1, 2009 we have a Special Run Off Election for an At Large Cedar Rapids, Iowa City Council Seat.
We'd better vote while we can, there seem to be a lot of folks who think it's their duty to make those decisions for us.
I was #2 in my Precinct I cast for Karr go ye hence and vote your own conscience
I got an email which included the following
Two of the three Iowans who serve on the Republican National Committee say a petition outlining ten key G.O.P. policy positions is designed to help show “grassroots” Republicans that the party’s platform means something.
Steve Scheffler, Iowa’s Republican National Committeeman, is part of a “conservative steering committee” that has pushed for reform of the national party.
“We wanted the RNC to make a difference as opposed to being a mere social club,” Scheffler says. “We felt that the party needed to do some things, make some statements that would give our grassroots some faith that we were going to try to be accountable to them.”
First off, I would have preferred a title more like, "A couple of Iowans say", because this gentleman does NOT speak for me.
Further on it this missive he states:
“In my view these 10 points are not a litmus test and so we’re not saying you have to agree with all of them,” Scheffler says. “…But, you know, if you want RNC funding, then there ought to be certain standards and there should be a benchmark by which you ought to qualify for that money.”
Now isn't that cute? Not a litmus test but "there should be a benchmark by which you out to qualify for RNC funding?
Makes one wonder just what his definition of a "litmus test" is. Makes one also wonder what his definition of Democracy is.
In case it has escaped his attention, I feel compelled to answer Mr Scheffler, there is ALREADY a benchmark which qualifies a Republican Candidate for RNC funding.
It is called a PRIMARY, Mr Scheffler,
It is called the WILL OF THE VOTERS!
What gives YOU the right or idea that YOU can decide these things for US?
The Party Structure exists to express the Will of the Republican Voters
It does NOT exist to decide what our Will should be.
When the Day comes that the Party refuses to fund candidate that We the Voters select with donations that We the Voters gave the Party?
We should donate to the candidates of our choice and not a Party which thinks it can use that money to support candidates that they choose and not the ones we choose.
They have in my opinion misunderstood the lesson of NY 23, it was the Party's choice the Voters rejected and now we have those who want to make the Party's choice here superior to the choice of the Voters.
You may wish to read the rest of this article, I would not advise doing so on a full stomach.
Monday, 30 November 2009
The Political Purity Test
I just read an interesting article on the Campaign for Liberty Website
Which I will post below. But before that I will expound on my views.
It does not matter what I think of the 10 point issue list,
It does not matter if I support all 10, oppose all 10 or chose 1 from column A and 2 from column B I object to Purity Tests period.
In my opinion, the Party and it's Officials should be strictly neutral during the Primary and fiercely partisan during the General Election.
And who emerges from the Primaries is the decision of the VOTERS, and NOT someone far off who thinks they know better than we do and should therefore withhold funds from a candidate that the ignorant unwashed masses elected.
I don't know about anyone else but I am sorely tired of other people deciding that THEY have the right and obligation for making my (our) decisions for us.
There are different reads on the results recently of the NY District 23 Election.
Mine is that Conservative Voters soundly rejected the candidate that Republican Leaders chose for them.
It is really bizarre to have a Democrat running a campaign based on the Republican's record of raising taxes, supporting government growth and intrusion into our private lives,
It was on Economic, Fiscal Responsibility, Government Growth and Intrusion issues that Owens won, issues that the Republican Candidate fell flat on.
Now that the Democratic Congressman upheld his stand on those issues which won the election for a whole hour before reneging on the major 4, I feel sure that the only Candidate that was truly Conservative will win next year in the General Election, but the VOTERS will determine that and it is sadly obvious that the Republican Party officials fell flat on their faces.
And now we have those who are on the other side of the Political Spectrum deciding that they can do the same thing.
That is decide for us who should represent us, rather than leaving that decision to US.
 | Posted by GoSlash27 on 11/28/09 10:16 AM
Last updated 11/28/09 10:18 AM
 |
It might seem at first glance that the Democrats are in serious jeopardy of losing their hold on Washington. President Obama's approval ratings are tanking. People are out in the streets protesting against out-of-control spending, government takeovers of health care, the auto industry, and the banking industry.
With all the public fervor being displayed at the town hall meetings, TEA party rallies, anti-amnesty protests, and the massive groundswell of grassroots support for uniquely conservative policies, the Democrats should be understandably nervous about their prospects next year.
But they have a powerful ally in the Republican party's unique ability to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Their mind-boggling ability to alienate their own base, as well as the vast majority of independents remains unchallenged.The moment they get the Democrats in their sights, they take a deep breath, slowly exhale, turn the gun around so it's pointed at their own face, and squeeze....
We have seen an example of this phenomenon right here in the Cedar Rapids District 33 debacle; a race that the Iowa Republican party seemed determined to lose (and succeeded spectacularly), but the truly telling example of Republican political self-immolation is documented at the Republic of Dave blog.
In the wake of their loss in the NY-23 special election (in which they hand-picked the liberal candidate over the conservative one and split the base, thus ensuring their own defeat), the official response from the national RNC Vice Chairman is to subject all future candidates to a 10 point litmus test.
The 10 points:
- We support smaller government, smaller national debt, lower deficits and lower taxes by opposing bills like Obama's "stimulus" bill;
- We support market-based health care reform and oppose Obama-style government run health care;
- We support market-based energy reforms by opposing cap and trade legislation;
- We support workers' right to secret ballot by opposing card check;
- We support legal immigration and assimilation into American society by opposing amnesty for illegal immigrants;
- We support victory in Iraq and Afghanistan by supporting military-recommended troop surges;
- We support containment of Iran and North Korea, particularly effective action to eliminate their nuclear weapons threat;
- We support retention of the Defense of Marriage Act;
- We support protecting the lives of vulnerable persons by opposing health care rationing and denial of health care and government funding of abortion; and
- We support the right to keep and bear arms by opposing government restrictions on gun ownership.
Any potential candidate who disagrees with
3 or more of these points would not receive support or funding from the Republican party.
Now... setting aside the fact that this list is outrageously specific and undermines philosophy in favor of policy positions, let's begin by focusing on what kind of candidates it would exclude.
Aside from myself, (not sure about #4, adamantly opposed to #6 and #7, and personally offended by #8), this handy new definition would disqualify a few other well-known figures that the Republican party has always feigned admiration for, such as Thomas Jefferson, Barry Goldwater, and Ronald Reagan. Locally, it would almost certainly exclude every candidate that could ever hope to harness grassroots support.
What the Republican Party has failed to grasp at every level is the simple fact that
Conservatism is a philosophy, not a list. The
philosophy is popular, but their list is not. The
philosophy would demand a litmus test composed of exactly one item:
#1: I swear (or affirm) to faithfully execute my desired office and will preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States and the State of Iowa.
This (essentially the oath of office that every elected representative takes) *is* what conservatism is all about, and anybody seeking office under the Republican label should be absolutely passionate about it. Senator Barry Goldwater defined the role of a truly conservative public servant when he said:
"I have little interest in streamlining government or in making it more efficient, for I mean to reduce its size. I do not undertake to promote welfare, for I propose to extend freedom. My aim is not to pass laws, but to repeal them. It is not to inaugurate new programs, but to cancel old ones that do violence to the Constitution ... or have failed their purpose ... or that impose on the people an unwarranted financial burden. I will not attempt to discover whether legislation is 'needed' before I have first determined whether it is constitutionally permissible. And if I should be attacked for neglecting my constituents' 'interests,' I shall reply that I was informed that their main interest is liberty, and in that cause I am doing the very best I can."
This is what the American people are desperately seeking, and (not coincidentally) is exactly what the Republican party is
supposed to be representing. Until such time as they begin promoting candidates and philosophies that reflect this sentiment, they will be doomed to the only role they've shown any aptitude for; helping Democrats win elections they should be losing.
Friday, 27 November 2009
A Sisterhood of Mommy Patriots
I recall the night before the First Gulf War, when we saw on TV, Saddam Hussein being broadcast with a small American boy.
As he placed his hand on the child's sholder, you could see the boy shivering in terror.
I looked over at my mother and my aunts who were there that night and their faces were like images carved out of stone.
And I knew that this Nation was going to War.
When, after the attack on Pearl Harbor Isoroku Yamamoto said, ""I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve"
He was speaking of a pygmy compared to the righteous rage that you waken when you convince the mothers and grandmothers of this country that you threaten their children.
Folks recent events and Politics as Usual have wakened that rage.
And this Nation is going to War.
I present to you a website that I do not qualify to join, but I reccomend.
A Network of principled mothers, grandmothers, daughters, & guardians of our nation's children dedicated to the 9 Principles & 12 Values
9 12 Project
The Nine Principles
1. America is good.
2. I believe in God and He is the Center of my Life.
3. I must always try to be a more honest person than I was yesterday.
4. The family is sacred. My spouse and I are the ultimate authority, not the government.
5. If you break the law you pay the penalty. Justice is blind and no one is above it.
6. I have a right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness, but there is no guarantee of equal results.
7. I work hard for what I have and I will share it with who I want to. Government cannot force me to be charitable.
8. It is not un-American for me to disagree with authority or to share my personal opinion.
9. The government works for me. I do not answer to them, they answer to me.
To these we add this one:
Children are a gift from God and a sacred responsibility
For more information see ”The 9.12 Project” (http://www.the912project.com/ Copyright © 2009 Mercury Radio Arts, Inc.
Wednesday, 25 November 2009
What's Good For the Environment
All the confusion about who should or should not have been voting this year, brings to my mind a Soviet Era Joke on Elections.
Dimitri had just picked up his ballot and was on his way to the box to put it in when the Political Commissar noticed him starting to open it.
"Dimitri!" The Political Commissar shouted out, "Just WHAT do you think you are DOING!"
"I was curious about who I was voting for." Dimitri replied.
"Dimitri you fool." growled the Political Commissar, "Don't you know this is SECRET ballot?"
This an old story and not limited to the Former Soviet Union.
Recently the now deposed President of Honduras, not only had ballots printed up, but it seems that he also had on file in his computer system the RESULTS of the not yet cast votes in the coming Election.
Here in the US that is also an old story, it is said that the Bosses of Tammany Hall in New York City used to wait until the upstate election votes were in and then filled in their tallies to compensate.
These individuals who have in the past decided who should and should not win elections have certain characteristics in common.
Despite my obvious conclusion that their actions were Evil, they in fact often believed that what they undertook was for the "Greater Good" and were acting out of a "Higher Morality"
Beware those who feel compelled to make your decisions for you.
Such sincerity, in my opinion is vastly overrated.
But without vigilance this syndrome will continue to rear it's ugly head.
I despise the actions of those who play "Politics" without a leavening of "Democracy"
I expect my opponents to be vigorous partisans of their ideals, as I myself am.
But when some feel compelled to disenfranchise the voters?
That activity must be crushed.
We are told that all of this will go away after the next Caucuses.
Were it so simple, we would not be in the dilemma we now face.
We must all become involved so as to ensure there are no repetitions.
For Evil to Triumph it is only necessary for Good People to remain Silent.
If we stand idly by, or leave in disgust, we will abandon the field to those who have a need to decide who is "supposed" to win,
In that case what purpose ballots?
We might as well dispense of them and allow ourselves to be told what the results are.
That would at least save some trees and do some good for the environment.
Tuesday, 24 November 2009
Remember NY CD-23
Dear Friends, Today, Tuesday, November 24, 2009, it is with a heavy heart that we declare this election over. We will formally end this election and not ask for a recount. This was a difficult choice to make because so many people have put their faith, hope and aspirations into our campaign. Yes, there seem to have been many vote counting problems, missed vote counts and, as was recently reported by the Gouvernour Times, software problems in the computerized voting machines. Despite these incidents, I do not believe the voters of NY-23, or New Yorkers in general, would be well-served by a disruptive and costly recount that would most likely not change the election outcome. I know many are disappointed and even angry. To those I say now is not the time to look back, but to focus on the future and ensure that next year we win back this district decidedly. Know this decision was not an easy one. I did not want to let down those who worked so hard, donated so much and shared their enthusiasm for retaking our country with common-sense conservative values. And rest assured, our energies are now directed toward 2010. This election, in which a third party candidate narrowly lost, showed that principles do matter. Special interests do have an Achilles’ heel, the American people. Main-street conservatism’s voice is now echoing through the government chambers and boardrooms that shape America. By most measures, this campaign was a success and I have you all to thank for this. And all of us have to thank the Conservative Party of New York State for nominating a candidacy like ours. We take away lessons from this year’s campaign that will make us stronger and more competitive in the future. Next time we will be better prepared. Many people forget that our campaign only began in earnest three months ago. Most campaigns of this stature take at least a year to prepare. In three months, we almost toppled an entrenched political system and successfully defied the conventional thinking of the elite political punditry. Citizen government is making a comeback in America. I thank everyone who participated in this campaign and urge each one of you to stand with me in the future. We have a calling that we must answer. My opponent in this race quickly abandoned the promises he made to his voters. Within the first hour of being sworn in by Nancy Pelosi, Bill Owens broke 4 campaign promises … so much for change in Washington. We must resoundingly defeat him next year and, with your help, I promise to help restore our nation’s faith in elected officials when we win. But there is more to do than just win back NY-23 in 2010. We must work to help other like-minded citizen candidates win across the country. We need to make time to help other candidates who are working for the principles we hold dear… other fiscal, common-sense conservatives. Together we can successfully take back our great nation, one legislator and one member at a time. We need more than one common-sense conservative voice in the echo chamber of liberal, spend thrift cacophony if we are to redirect our great country. I would also like to commend those election commission officials who worked tirelessly and may have taken offense to an unfortunate and poorly worded fundraising email that was sent out toward the end of our campaign. As we tried to make sense of the false vote counts and stories of so/ftware viruses in the voting machines, we never intended to imply the election commissioners had somehow acted improperly. This was never our intention and, on the contrary, the election commissioners went above and beyond to uphold their duty to ensure a fair election took place. I owe them a debt of gratitude for all they have done. So where to now? Full speed ahead to 2010. This gives us time to carefully articulate and communicate thoughtful positions on issues that impact the great people of our district and ensure that our campaign promises are NOT broken. Best of all, it allows me to work hand-in-hand with the many supporters who shared their ideas, their concerns and their dreams with me. We need to continue to stand united because we cannot spend our way out of recession or tax our way to prosperity. We must continue to fight to protect our liberties and protect those who are yet to be born. We must protect our country against terrorists and protect the sanctity of marriage. We must fix our corrupt tax code, our immigration policy and our educational system. Most of all we must defend the free enterprise system that made America the greatest and most prosperous country in the world. Although I’m conceding an election today, I do it with the certainty that we will win back this seat a year from now. I am certain of this because our mission is too big, the country’s problems too dire and the American people are too smart. Thank you for all you have done and will continue to do. “We the people” are retaking America. 
|
Monday, 23 November 2009
Don't Take My Word For It
It is very easy to make claims and assertions.
It is wise not to simply take someone's word for something but to verify for yourself.
That is why I have supplied here an audio file of the Novemeber 17, 2009
session of the GOP Linn County Central Committee meeting
When a claim is made as to what the duties are of the Executive Board Secretary per the County Constitution and ByLaws you can also verify that for yourself.
As Regards the membership lists? The precincts in the recent District 33 Special Election Nominating Convention are 1 through 11.
You may wish to look at the November 13 Membership List and the List of Committee members in those Precincts who were sent a notification of the Nominating Convention to see if they are the same.
The above links are to PDF files, if you do not have a PDF viewer a simple Freeware PDF viewer can be obtained
HEREI put the meeting audio file into a streaming player, because it is rather lengthy, about 70 megs, but in responce to requests I will put a download link
HERE
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