Success - The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather in a lack of will. Vincent T. Lombardi
Candidate forum that is being held next Tuesday evening, November 3rd at 6:30pm at the Grand Meridian in Appleton (2621 N. Oneida Street).
Bio's of three candidates.You can also go to the links to read further on each candidate.
"Introducing Andy Williams – 8th Congressional Candidate Why he is running:
I’ve entered this race because I believe I have what the Republican Party has come to lack: an aggressive, informed, and constitutional approach to what our government should and shouldn’t be doing to protect our freedoms and ensure our rights. If you look around at those who represent us, you will see, with few exceptions, a cowed and timid response, bent on compromise, regardless of the strength or weakness of an argument. You will not find the same infirmity in my constitution.
Whatever happened to those Americans who could stand with an unbending will to see that our government fulfilled its promises? Where are those who caused the insincere and inconsequential to break upon their wit and tenacity? Our country is adrift for lack of a helmsman, and our eighth district representative seems to have missed the boat.
The solutions to our problems are not complicated. The framework already exists; the hard thinking has already been done. We need only apply the principles and foundations given to us. They are the star, the light of the shining city on the hill, that will safely guide us. To pay tribute to any other system or operation by applying a different set of principles or foundations is treason, and we must rid our government of those who would commit such treason.
"Introducing Marc Savard – 8th Congressional Candidate
Why he is running:
I am running because I believe that our current US Congress is taking this country in the wrong direction, and I want to change that, by getting this country back on a solid financial footing.
Over the last several years we have seen an explosion of government spending and borrowing that is unsustainable for the long term economic health of our country. Republicans must start acting like Republicans and stand for the principles that founded this country, such as:
1 Individual liberty protected by our constitution from the intrusions of an overreaching federal government. 2 The defense of our homeland through a strong military, and the freedom to worship God as we see fit.
This campaign will be all about getting our federal government back to the basics it was founded on and I need your support in this endeavor.
We will be pushing back against a trend that has taken our country to the brink of financial insolvency. It will take all of us to fight the good fight to return us to the nation we know it has been and will be again.
My name is Reid Ribble and I have decided to run for the U.S. House of Representatives in the 8th Congressional district of Wisconsin. The idea to run has been on my mind for many years, but life kept getting in the way. I am a roofing contractor by trade, and owning and operating your own business takes a lot of time.
I am also married and have two adult children – and most recently I have been blessed with two grandchildren. Each of these relationships requires attention, as all husbands, fathers and grandfathers know. Spending the time, resources and energy required to maintain healthy family relationships can be both exhausting and exhilarating. I have been married for 34 years, and that relationship is still the single most important thing in my life. Ultimately, all of my relationships – at home and at work – have shaped me (sometimes my kids suggest misshaped me) and have given me a broader view of the world.
In spite of the hectic pace of my life, it is because of these relationships, and mostly because of my children and grandchildren, that I feel compelled to run for Congress. I care deeply that the U.S. Congress and our president continue, as they have for decades, to spend money they don’t have. I care deeply that my grandchildren will be forced to pay for benefits to recipients who will have long since passed on.
I care deeply about government intrusion into our daily lives. I care about the impact of unnecessary government regulations that have driven up costs for businesses, and consequently to consumers. I care that the national debt is growing every day, and will become even more of a burden to future generations. I care that the congress of the United States routinely disregards the U.S. Constitution when promulgating laws.
Add to these concerns a health care system that is failing, a $36 trillion unfunded liability for Medicare, a population that is aging without enough young workers to replace them, then you have serious problems that never seem to get addressed. Some in Congress would have us believe that just raising taxes on the wealthy will make things better. I believe the real solutions are more complicated. In this campaign I plan on offering solutions and a plan to balance the federal budget, reduce the size of government and restore the Constitution to its rightful place." Introducing Reid Ribble – 8th Congressional Candidate « Fox Valley Initiative
Who's says Paul Ryan can't beat Feingold in 2010? The train left the station with the tea parties. We all need to get on board. Someone talk to Paul Ryan. There's still plenty of time.
"Paul's Biography As a fifth-generation Janesville native, Paul Ryan is committed to carrying forth Wisconsin’s proud tradition of hard-working, reform-minded leadership to Congress" Biography
Run Paul Run!
How long have we been hearing this from Russ?
U.S. Sen. Feingold: Feingold unveils major bill to slash the deficit, curb wasteful spending Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Russ Feingold, a member of the Senate Budget Committee, unveiled major legislation today to cut wasteful spending and institute reforms to control spending going forward.
There has to be another republican to replace Ryan after he beats Russ.
Is this from the Onion? Steve Kagen wants to lower unemployment costs and generate more income tax revenue. A TAX CUT? From WHBY
"Kagen proposing job growth tax cut
Oct. 28, 2009 An area lawmaker wants to give employers a temporary tax break for adding more workers.
Congressman Steve Kagen says businesses that increase their payroll in 2010 would get a 15 percent tax credit. That credit would be 10 percent in 2011. The Appleton Democrat says it would lead to a lot of jobs across the country.
Kagen says a similar tax cut was offered in 1977 and 1978 and he says it was successful.
Kagen says the tax break would cost the federal government about $28 billion in lost revenue, but he says it would lower unemployment costs and generate more income tax revenue." 1150 WHBY » News » Kagen proposing job growth tax cut
Catch that, a temporary tax break.
So Steve Kagen screwed the tax payers with the stimulus and now will try to promise a tax cut to get more federal income. You can't have it both ways Congressman Kagen. Your acting like a Republican In Name Only, RINO alert in the 8th district!
"Kellogg 3Q profit rises on strong brand loyalty Kellogg 3rd-quarter profit climbs as North American cereal sales rise 9:54 am EDT, Thursday October 29, 2009
The food maker, whose other products include Pop-Tarts, Cheez-It crackers and Rice Krispies cereal, earned $361 million, or 94 cents per share, for the period ended Oct. 3. That's up from $342 million, or 89 cents per share, in the same period a year earlier.
The thought is from Jay and Nick at1130 WISN. Shortages and people dieing.
Wheres the outrage against the Obama adminastration? Who's running the show?From JSOnline.
"State swine flu deaths rise to 142 of latest victims were in Milwaukee By Mark Johnson of the Journal Sentinel Posted: Oct. 28, 2009 Swine Flu Latest news and information on the H1N1 influenza strain
Four more deaths from swine flu since Oct. 21, including two in Milwaukee, brought the state's death toll from the novel virus to 14, and local health officials are almost as busy fighting the pandemic as they were in the spring." State swine flu deaths rise to 14 - JSOnline
Where are the candidates in Wisconsin on this? Couldn't anyone at least put a press release out? Where's conservative candidates?
"Economy grows in 3Q, signals end of recession Economy grows again in 3rd quarter, best showing in 2 years signals end of recession * On 8:36 am EDT, Thursday October 29, 2009
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The economy grew at a 3.5 percent pace in the third quarter, the best showing in two years, fueled by government-supported spending on cars and homes. It was the strongest signal yet the economy entered a new phase of recovery and that the worst recession since the 1930s has ended." Economy grows in 3Q, signals end of recession - Yahoo! Finance
"Fox Valley Initiative forum keys on Rep. Steve Kagen's opponentsCongressional candidates to get exposure at event By Ben Jones • P-C Madison bureau chief • October 29, 2009
Republican candidates for Wisconsin's 8th congressional district will appear for the first time together in a candidate forum Tuesday.
The forum, sponsored by a group called the Fox Valley Initiative, will give the public a chance to query the declared candidates who want to unseat Rep. Steve Kagen, D-Appleton.
"This is the first opportunity the public will have to see the candidates on the Republican side in person and together," said Jim Steineke, a founder of the group holding the event.
Steineke, an Outagamie County supervisor who is chairman of the Town of Vandenbroek, ran for the state Assembly last year as a Republican but said the initiative is a nonpartisan group interested in responsible government.
"We (want officials) to keep our taxes lower and keep legislation they pursue within the constitution," he said.
Tuesday's forum includes the declared Republican candidates: Reid Ribble of Kaukauna, Marc Savard of Sister Bay and Andy Williams of De Pere.
Steineke said his group would like to hold a series of forums before the election.
"To give people many opportunities to question the candidates, hopefully on both sides," he said.
Williams said the biggest challenge Republicans in the race face is name recognition. He said people will have a chance Tuesday to see how candidates differ.
"People need to know now what do we see in common, but what do we see differently," he said.
Where is the event?
What time will the event start?
To the Post Crescent.
The Society of Professional Journalism, in its code of ethics says:
Journalist Seek Truth and Report It Journalists should be honest, fair and courageous in gathering, reporting and interpreting information. Journalists should: — Test the accuracy of information from all sources and exercise care to avoid inadvertent error. Deliberate distortion is never permissible.
For the tax payers of the Pulaski Community School District. The bad news is the levy goes up $8.90 per $1000. We thank Joan and the Leader for covering the meeting. From theShawano Leader.
"Pulaski Schools refinance debts By Joan Koehne, Wolf River Media
The Pulaski School Board Oct. 21, responding to public outcry over its original proposed budget, voted to refinance the district’s debt to lessen the burden on taxpayers. Following this debt refinancing move, the district’s tax levy will experience a 6 percent increase over last year.
“We couldn’t possibly have picked a better time to do a refinancing. It turned out to be an excellent decision on the board’s part,” said Pam Kercheval, director of business services.
The unanimous vote took place five weeks after the annual meeting in which residents spoke out against a proposed 12 percent tax hike and voted down the tax levy increase with a 77-30 vote. About 90 people attended the meeting Oct. 21, but no one commented publicly.
The board approved an overall tax levy of $13.6 million, whittled down from the $14 million initially proposed. The tax rate of $8.90 per $1,000 equalized value was approved, up from $8.34 last year, but down from $9.36 in the original proposal.
The tax levy is comprised of three funds: the general fund, debt service fund and the community service fund. The board was hesitant to decrease the general fund levy, because such a move would reduce the district’s future ability to acquire funds under the state’s revenue cap. Instead, the debt service fund and the community service fund were restructured.
But the board wasn’t satisfied with these savings and instructed District Administrator Mel Lightner to find an additional $250,000 in expense reductions from the budget within the next 30 days.
One cost reduction Lightner proposed was to leave vacant a middle school clerical aide position for an estimated savings of $35,000. He also proposed a switch to every-other-day cleaning at the schools, for an estimated annual savings of $100,000.
Board member Barb McKeefry included these measures in a motion, but the motioned failed due to lack of a second. If the board approved the $135,000 in expense reductions, the district’s 2010 tax levy would have increased 5.5 percent over last year. These spending reductions were just two of more than 30 cost containment initiatives presented to the board.
While the focus of the meeting was to reduce expenditures, Lightner presented the board a proposal to spend $60,000 to repair the middle school roof this fall, due to leaks. Board members agreed the roof should be fixed, and amended their initial cost reduction instructions to Lightner, directing directed him to present a plan for $190,000 in expense reductions within 30 days.
The board’s discussion regarding roof replacement caused board members to consider the need for a capital improvement budget to address the district’s long-term needs. The district’s Excellence Task Force, formed this fall, has been studying district issues and may eventually recommend a referendum be placed before voters in the future to fund capital improvements.
“There are things we would need to include in a referendum. Capital improvement is right there at the top of the list,” said Board President Cindy Hendricks. “I also think that it’s not necessarily fair to go the taxpayers for a referendum to ask them for dollars for capital improvement when we’re not making an effort to do that in our budget.”"
The other shoe to drop with worst news. A referendum is coming to jack the tax rate up through the roof. They even said the roof is leaking , kinda of like the sky is falling. They use the words,"Capital improvement"."I would hope for the tax payers they try the referendum in November 2010.
A side note. Just because the Shawano Leader was at the meeting, isn't it nice the board president is all of a sudden thinking about the tax payers. Back in September she said the 77 who voted against the levy increase was "an organized group". Those evil greedy selfish tax payers, organized and against tax increases and in front of the press, "not necessarily fair to go the taxpayer", oh really!
How's this for hope and change.and how much more are Americans going to taske
From JSOnline
"Stimulus jobs don't add up Duplications, overcounts found in federal report By Brett J. Blackledge and Matt Apuzzo, Associated Press Posted: Oct. 28, 2009" Stimulus jobs don't add up - JSOnline
Washington — A Colorado company said it created 4,231 jobs with the help of President Barack Obama's economic recovery plan. The real number: fewer than 1,000.
A child-care center in Florida said it saved 129 jobs with the help of stimulus money. Instead, it gave pay raises to its existing employees.
Elsewhere in the United States, some jobs credited to the stimulus program were counted two, three, four or even more times.
The government has overstated by thousands the number of jobs that it has created or saved with federal contracts under the president's $787 billion recovery program, according to an Associated Press review of data released in the program's first progress report.
The White House says it is aware there are problems. Ed DeSeve, an Obama adviser helping to oversee the stimulus program, said agencies have been working with businesses that received the money to correct mistakes. Other errors discovered by the public also will be corrected, he said.
Wonder how many people are packing heat up north on their daily walks and anyone want to buy a house?
From Pine River World News
"28-OCT-2009 A couple of things... This morning I drove past a group of 5 coyotes standing in a field eyeing some birds on the northside of U.S.-2, west of Spread Eagle, Wis. I seldom give much thought to coyotes (particularly since there are wolves in northern Wisconsin) but here is an article from CBC Canada today: Coyotes kill Toronto singer in Cape Breton [Excerpt:] - "A 19-year-old folk singer from Toronto has died after being attacked by two coyotes in Cape Breton Highlands National Park." - - - "Pine River World News
Here's an interesting "Michigan" article: Detroit: A city for sale, and very few takers World Socialist Web Site, 27-OCT-2009 [Excerpt:] - "Nine thousand homes and lots at auction... for prices as low as $500."
A tax Credit for jobs? Where are the jobs from the stimulus Kagen voted for? Does Steve Kagen really know what he is talking about? Kagen gives a a history lesson.
From WisPolitics.
"Wednesday, October 28, 2009 10:27 AM Kagen pitches jobs tax credit
U.S. Rep. Steve Kagen believes Congress should enact a new jobs tax credit to stimulate employment over the next two years.
Kagen, D-Appleton, said lawmakers are working on a proposal that would provide a 15 percent tax credit on new hiring in 2010 and a 10 percent credit in 2011. He noted that the traditional methods to spark an economic recovery -- boosting the housing and automobile sectors and lowering interest rates -- have already been tried.
"We're in a position now where almost 15 million people are now unemployed," Kagen said in a conference call with reporters. "As we begin to continue the process of stopping the bleeding ... there are several ways that we can work ourselves out of the recession."
Kagen added that a similar tax credit in the late 1970s drove a 11 percent increase in employment.
"This is a temporary, two-year tax credit, and would effectively put labor on sale," Kagen said.
He also touted the Small Business Financing and Investment Act of 2009, which is currently in drafting in Congress. Kagen said the plan would allow the Small Business Administration to directly loan to borrowers if no local lenders are interested, and would increase the loan guarantees in the SBA's Rural Lender Outreach Program." WisPolitics DC Wrap: Kagen pitches jobs tax credit
Steve Kagen wants to go back and repeat history from the late 70"s. Can Congresman Kagen promise jobs like the 70's? Steve Kagen would like to ask you two questions on the late 70's.
Who was President in the late 70's?
What was the misery index in the late 70's?From Wiki.
"During the Presidential campaign of 1976, Democratic candidate Jimmy Carter made frequent references to the Misery Index, which by the summer of 1976 was at 13.57%. Carter stated that no man responsible for giving a country a misery index that high had a right to even ask to be President. Carter won the 1976 election. However, by 1980, when President Carter was running for re-election against Ronald Reagan, the Misery Index had reached an all-time high of 21.98%. Carter lost the election to Reagan." Misery index (economics) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
What about a TV ad showing Kagen wanting to go back to the 70's. Pictures of unemployment lines, flu shot lines and Kagen and Carter side by side. "Do you want another MISERY Index like the late 70's! I think not." . Will the media call him on this?
Now, this dovetails very nicely, and we're going to start very soon on some of these sound bites from this speech. You've got to hear them. People say, "Rush, we need to uplifted, we need to inspired, we need to be motivated." Well, you're gonna get that today before we start attacking Obama's health care plan, the latest folly with Harry Reid and so forth. There's a great piece in the UK Telegraph today -- you get real journalism over there -- this is by Nile Gardiner. "Barack Obama Has Failed to Defeat Conservatism in America." He plays off that Gallup poll, 40% of the people in this country say they are conservative, 20% say they are liberal, 36% say they are independent. Now, Nile Gardiner is a Washington-based foreign affairs analyst and political commentator, and he appears frequently on television, both here and in Great Britain. The point of this is that not only are we not defeated, we are rising from the ashes, we're fighting in the shade out there but we are fighting. After you listen to some of Ronald Reagan's Goldwater speech from October 27, 1964, I'll share with you some of the details here from Nile Gardiner. Here's cut one, Ronald Reagan.
"The Elegant Farmer's Brown Bag Apple Pie is so popular, they sell 10,000 during Thanksgiving week alone! Bobby Flay is hoping his fried pie creation is scrumptious enough to challenge the leading dish." Brown Bag Apple Pie : Throwdown with Bobby Flay : Food Network
Hey Mark,(I know he doesn't read my blog) Mrs Berry Laker was the judge along with Alice and Dairyland 2008.She's the one with the red chef coat. Here's the video.
Ok, so what are the republicans doing in Washington? A bit early, isn't it? From JSOnline.
""Young Guns" not so young By Diana Marrero of the Journal Sentinel Oct. 27, 2009 6:32 p.m.
Turns out you don’t have to be so young to be considered a potential “Young Gun” by the National Republican Congressional Committee.
The committee, which works to elect Republican House members, announced it added 32 candidates to its “Young Guns” recruitment program Tuesday. Three of the candidates are from Wisconsin and two of them are not that young.
Dan Kapanke, a state senator from La Crosse, is 62. Reid Ribble, a roofing contractor from Kaukauna, is a middle-aged grandfather of two. Sean Duffy, an Ashland County district attorney, is in his late 30s.
“Age to me, I don’t even think about it,” said Kapanke, who hopes to challenge Rep. Ron Kind (D-La Crosse) for a seat in the U.S. House.
“I get more energy as I’m out here campaigning,” he said.
Ribble plans to challenge Rep. Steve Kagen (D-Appleton); Duffy hopes to run against Rep. David Obey (D-Wausau). The three candidates have raised more than $100,000 so far for their campaigns.
Tom Erickson, a spokesman for the NRCC, said the committee put out the list as a way to recognize candidates that are making strides in their campaigns. The recognition doesn’t come with any funding from the committee but can help candidates generate more interest from GOP donors, he said.
He added that although candidates don’t have to be young to be in the program, they have to be eager to run for office.
“They will be young in terms of their seniority when they go to Congress,” he said.
The program was created by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Janesville) along with Reps. Eric Cantor (R-Va.) and Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) to recruit and help GOP candidates challenging incumbents and running in open-seat races. Candidates are chosen for the program if they meet certain benchmarks, including fundraising and building support for their campaigns in the community." "Young Guns" not so young - JSOnline
Can you put a smaller, lighter snow plow on a 2003 Ford Expedition?
The trucks paid off, has a lot of miles and in the future will not use it for many miles. Is it worth doing or going out and buying another truck and plow attachment? Not looking to spend big money. Any comments.
To all media outlets. Received the following code of ethics about journalism concerning Steve Kagen.
The Society of Professional Journalism, in its code of ethics says:
Journalist Seek Truth and Report It Journalists should be honest, fair and courageous in gathering, reporting and interpreting information.
Journalists should: — Test the accuracy of information from all sources and exercise care to avoid inadvertent error. Deliberate distortion is never permissible.
Here is the story from the Hill.
"Mich. Democrat: Pelosi 'not happy with me' By Bob Cusack - 10/27/09 01:30 PM ET
Rep. Bart Stupak said Speaker Pelosi is not pleased with his effort to change abortion-related provisions in the healthcare bill being crafted by the House.
During an interview on C-SPAN's "Washington Journal" show, Stupak (D-Mich.) said he is undeterred in trying to ensure that taxpayer dollars do not pay for abortions. Stupak, who opposes abortion rights, acknowledged that some in his party are upset with his public campaign to change the bill.
At the August listening sessions Congressman Steve Kagen said abortion is not in the Health care bill. If it's not in the bill, why is Bart Stupak trying to take it out?Does that mean Kagen is for abortion?
Will someone in the media ask him why he lied to the constituents of the 8th district. Will they give cover to Kagen again? Will someone use this for a campaign ad? Who knows. I don't get paid for marketing.
No posts for a couple of days, been busy with the family, work and other things. Since I need to catch up with the world I will call this the "Weekend Wrap"
"RINO, Give Me A Hug" - From My Way News
"Fla. gov's Obama hug lingers in US Senate primary Oct 25, 7:32 AM (ET) By BRENDAN FARRINGTON
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - Republican Gov. Charlie Crist probably wasn't worried that literally embracing President Barack Obama back in February and strongly supporting the $787 billion federal stimulus package would hurt his U.S. Senate campaign." My Way News - Fla. gov's Obama hug lingers in US Senate primary
Rubin Stretching Taffy, Kagen To Vote Against Health Care, That's a Stretch - From FDL
"Steve Kagen’s spokesman, Jake Rubin, believes I’m mistaken. “Your source may have told you half of the story.” Rubin said that Rep. Kagen, a doctor, doesn’t support a bill unless it includes all of his 10 essential elements of health care reform. Rubin highlighted Kagen’s insistence that no discrimination in any access to health care, which for the most part has been accomplished in the bill. In fact, a good bit of these 10 essential elements are part of the House bill. Other parts are “open to interpretation,” and that will be where Rep. Kagen makes his determination on the bill, Rubin said. Rep. Kagen was part of the “Quality Care coalition” which extracted a concession from Speaker Pelosi on rural reimbursement rates for Medicare doctors and hospitals, so that may be an additional factor. “Rep. Kagen’s stand is consistent with where he was three years ago when he was elected to Congress,” Rubin said." FDL News Desk » Kagen, Kissell Among Those Vowing To Vote Against Any Health Care Bill: Source
Green Bay's Hansen, Let's Play Hide And Seek - From Fox 21 News
"A proposal by Green Bay Democratic Senator Dave Hansen would let all candidates go back to filing by paper if they choose. Hansen says there will come a time when electronic filing is understood by everyone, but “we’re not there yet.” Lawmakers from both parties are supporting the plan." Electronic campaign system proving unpopular with Wisconsin politicians | FOX21Online.com
What If She Was A Republican or Their Eating Their Own - From the Jerry Bader Blog.
"6:38 PM -- Barbara Lawton story update. Earlier today, we broke a story that seems unbelievable; that Lt. Governor Barbara Lawton is bowing out of the governor's race because........................................................................................................" AM 1360 WTAQ | wtaq.com Update link to Jerry's Show. I guess you need to know your source's.
I'm Sick Of AARP Mail Too - From The Pine River World News
Try 2 Focus with some GREAT comments about Sarah Palin. Go to his post for the whole story.
Dr. Clouthier, in an op-ed over at Pajamas Media, makes the case that it has. And that champion is Sarah Palin.
She’s shown that one doesn’t need the press (ie – the state-run media) to get a message out.
"Not surprising considering it underestimated how ticked off its own base is at it.
The Republican establishment made another miscalculation last year. They underestimated the resolve and force of the tea party movement. These folks are ticked. They are angrier at the Republican establishment than they are at President Obama and his Marxist minions. In fact, this trouble was brewing all through the presidential campaign and even before. It all started, really, with the notion of “compassionate conservative” — an idea both insulting and inherently false. Conservatism is compassionate. Conservatism is something to be proud of, not something to hide.
So the Republicans have seemed as stunned with the tea partiers as the tea partiers are stunned at their party. The grassroots folks have had it. They’re tired of being disrespected. They’re tired of being told to pipe down and go along to get along when the candidates the party picks stink and then lose. (Source: Sarah Palin Strikes Back – Pajamas Media)
They’re also looking for a champion who can help steer the Republican Party back to its conservative roots. By going against the establishment this week, Sarah Palin showed she is that champion. She’s willing to stand up for conservatism when the elitist establishment won’t. Unlike the Republican establishment she realizes what needs to be done to take this country back.
Perhaps that’s why Josh Painter over at Texas for Sarah Palin made this point recently.
Call Sarah Palin a political child of Reagan, one of his disciples, a soldier in his army or whatever allegorical device works for you. The bottom line is the same: Reagan showed everyone how he led his revolution, but many seem to have forgotten. Not Sarah Palin. She has studied Reagan’s blueprints and committed them to memory. She’s the contractor who can win the bid to reconstruct his coalition. All she has to do is submit it. The construction workers are ready to get on with the job. (Source: Sarah Palin: Political Progeny of Ronald Reagan – Texas for Sarah Palin)
The question is will the Republican Party listen to Sarah Palin and its base, now that a champion has drawn the line-in-the-sand? Will it finally wake up and start choosing conservatism over Democrat Lite?" Try 2 Focus
The difference between a conservative and the rest!FromThe New York Post
"Take back the Party! By DOUG HOFFMAN Last Updated: 4:29 AM, October 25, 2009
Posted: 12:26 AM, October 25, 2009 The 23rd Congressional District in upstate New York is locked in an election battle that echoes far beyond Watertown. When the local Republican party nominated Assembly member Dede Scozzafava, some conservatives balked, objecting that her positions (on gay marriage, abortion and spending) are too liberal. Local businessman Doug Hoffman decided to run as the Conservative Party candidate to oppose both the Democrat, Bill Owens, and Scozzafava in the November election. Hoffman tells The Post why the Republican Party needs to return to its base.
At this time, three months ago, I was wrestling with a decision. A decision as to whether or not to run in a special election to fill the seat vacated by the new secretary of the Army, John McHugh. If you had told me 90 days later I would be penning an op-ed piece for the New York Post, I would have laughed in disbelief. I would have laughed even louder had you told me that I would be receiving endorsement and support from political leaders like Fred Thompson, former Majority Leader Dick Armey, or Sarah Palin. Or appearing on broadcast media with national audiences, as their hosts peppered me with questions about the future of the GOP and our nation.
You see I’m not a professional politician; I’ve never sought elected office. I grew up poor in Saranac Lake, in the heart of the Adirondacks. My siblings and I were raised in a single-parent household by our mother. We worked to help her pay the mortgage. But, like so many others in this great land, I worked hard, got a good education, did a six-year stint in the military, married, landed a good job with a “big eight” accounting firm and started living the American dream.
It’s funny what can happen in America, when you are able to dream and have the courage to follow your dreams. At 27 I was hired as controller of the organizing committee for the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid. Three years later I bought the accounting firm that employed my mother. Now I have six offices spread across the northern reaches of New York and a dozen other small businesses in the Adirondacks that employ my wife, children and hopefully someday, my grandchildren. I am living the American Dream.
The reason I’m running for office is to ensure that others share the same opportunities.
Sadly, that dream is quickly becoming a nightmare. Unemployment grows, our economy is in crisis, and our elected officials seem out of touch with reality. Government in Albany is a disgrace; it’s the most dysfunctional in the nation. New York has six statewide elected officials, only two of them have been elected by the people. Three of the remaining four hold office as a result of the scandals, sexual and financial, that forced a governor and a comptroller to resign.
It’s just as bad in Washington. The Obama administration suffers from the illusion that the way you solve problems, both social and economic, is to throw money at them.In the meantime, Congress fiddles while our economy burns. They lack common sense.
They don’t seem to get it that increased spending leads to higher taxes and fuels a projected $9 trillion deficit. That earmarks and pork-barrel spending might be beneficial to their political careers, but are devastating to the taxpayers who foot the bill. They are oblivious to the fact that tort reform, cutting of waste, and the introduction of free-market solutions are the ways to lower the cost of health care. That Obama-care will only lead us down the slippery slope to socialized medicine.
They are addicted to spending. When they run low on funds they simply create a new tax or raise an old one.
Taxes, the deficit, red tape and regulation are breaking the back of the nation, mortgaging the future of our children and grandchildren.
Americans have had enough and are vocalizing their anger in town hall meetings and on the streets of Washington. They are mad as hell and they’re not going to take it anymore!
That’s why I am running. I am one of them!
Freedom is what Americans want. Economic freedom to reap the rewards of the free enterprise system, personal freedom from the intrusion of big government in our lives, freedom from the nanny state that is being forced upon us.
I’m a lifelong Republican running as the nominee of the New York State Conservative Party. I didn’t leave the Republican Party, the party left me. The GOP bosses in New York and Washington felt the candidate needed to be as liberal as possible. They picked a professional politician, with a voting record more liberal than 46 Democrats in the New York state legislature. They threw principles out the window. Their candidate has voted for increased spending, higher taxes, gay marriage and abortion. She supports “Card Check” (EFCA) and is supported by trial lawyers, gay activists and Big Labor. In 2008 she ran on the line of the radical left Working Families Party, ACORN’s political party in New York.
The battle I wage is not a lonely one. Like-minded citizens in the district, the state and the nation have joined me in this fight.
It is a battle that has been joined by current and former elected Republican officials, conservative activists and members of the ever-growing Tea Party and 9/12 movements. And if the GOP picks liberal candidates for the midterm congressional elections next year, they may find that there are a lot more people out there like me who won’t go along. We are not going to win by becoming more like the Democrats. We’re going to win by standing up for our beliefs.
It’s principle over party.
It’s a fight for the heart and soul of the Republican Party. It’s a fight for fiscal responsibility and the return of common sense to those who govern us.
This is a fight for our children’s future. It’s a fight for America.
Notice the words Mr Hoffman uses. " worked hard, living the American dream, out of touch with reality, taxpayers who foot the bill, addicted to spending and breaking the back of the nation, mortgaging the future of our children and grandchildren. They threw principles out the window. They are mad as hell and they’re not going to take it anymore!"
Words, all spoken from the heart. Spoken as an American. Spoken as a conservative and not a RINO.
Some questions. When will the republican party come back to it's senses? Are the leaders , the movers and shakers and ones who know better then we in it for money, for power , for the status or just think they are better then the rest of us? When will they come to there senses?
I ask the question, when will they join us?
Where are more conservative candidates? Where are conservatives running for school boards, for town or county supervisors, for state representatives, for congress and senate. Where are the candidates that speak from the heart about the love of this country and the want to take it back? The candidates that are not leaning to the center, not trying to be inclusive and not twisting in the wind for political gain?
2010 is still a year away but the lines are drawn. We will not hold our noses in the ballot box or vote for the lesser of two evils. We're as mad as hell and we're not going to take it anymore!
Every time true conservatism is tried, is spoken, is lived, it always succeeds and always wins!
Where are more conservative candidates?Good luck Doug Hoffman and to the rest of conservatives stepping forward to take back this country.
