Republican National Convention Blog

Anita Dunn 'Fox News...wing of the Republican Party' will step down VIDEO

sookietex@yahoo.com (sookietex) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:54:09 PST

Anita Dunn, the White House Director of Communications, to President Obama has announced today that she’ll be leaving her post at the end of the month, her deputy, Dan Pfeiffer is to replace her.

"Fox News...wing of the Republican Party"

"opinion journalism masquerading as news."

"The reality of it is, fox news often operates as either the research arm or the communications arm of the Republican party,"

Dunn began her career in the Carter White House, first as an intern for White House Communications Director Gerald Rafshoon and then worked for chief of staff Hamilton Jordan. She worked on the campaign of Senator John Glenn (D-OH), and on Capitol Hill before joining the firm founded by Bob Squier and Bill Knapp in 1993. She has been the top adviser to Senator Bill Bradley (D-NJ), including serving as the chief strategist for his presidential campaign, Senator Evan Bayh (D-IN), and former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD).

She was hired by then Senator Barack Obama in 2006 to direct communications and strategy for his political action committee, The Hopefund. This move signaled to many that Obama was nearing a run for the presidency. While advising Hopefund and Obama in 2006, she was instrumental in the preparations for the launch of Obama for America, and brought many key staffers to the Obama campaign with whom she had worked in Bayh's and Daschle's offices.

Video Credit: CNN's Reliable Sources and PoliticsNewsPolitics

Image Credit: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

Biography from: Anita Dunn From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Health Care Reform Chart

sookietex@yahoo.com (sookietex) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 19:24:11 PST

Health Care Reform: 31 New Federal Programs, Agencies, Commissions & Mandates.

House Republicans, led by Rep. Kevin Brady (R-TX) and House Republicans on the Joint Economic Committee (JEC), have created the chart below detailing the bureaucratic nightmare of the House Democrats’ $1.5 trillion health care plan that relies on massive tax hikes on small businesses and job creators in the midst of a deepening economic recession - and will cause as many as 114 million Americans to lose their current coverage.

The chart identifies at least 31 new federal programs, agencies, commissions and mandates that accompany the unprecedented government takeover of health care in America.

Americans want health care reform - and House Republicans agree - but the Democrats’ go-it-alone, tax and spend attitude isn’t the way to improve the best health care system in the world. House Republicans have a plan that will reduce costs, expand access and increase the quality of care in a way we can afford - without raising taxes on small businesses or middle class families.

Sarah Palin: The Pelosi Bill Was Rammed Through on Saturday, But Sunday’s Here

sookietex@yahoo.com (sookietex) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 18:30:38 PST

We’ve got to hold on to hope, and we’ve got to fight hard because Congressional action tonight just put America on a path toward an unrecognizable country.

The same government leaders that got us into the mortgage business and the car business are now getting us into the health care business.

Despite Americans’ decisive message last Tuesday that they reject the troubling path this country has been taking, Speaker Pelosi has broken her own promises of transparency to ram a health “care” bill through the House of Representatives just before midnight. Why did she push the 2,000 page bill this weekend? Was she perhaps afraid to give her peers and the constituents for whom she works the chance to actually read this monstrous bill carefully, if at all? Was she concerned that Americans might really digest the details of a bill that the Wall Street Journal has called “the worst piece of post-New Deal legislation ever introduced”?

This out-of-control bureaucratic mess will be disastrous for our economy, our small businesses, and our personal liberty. It will slam businesses at a time when we are at double-digit unemployment rates – the highest we’ve seen in a quarter of a century. This massive new bureaucracy will cost us and our children money we don’t have. It will rob Americans of more of our freedom and further hamper the free market.

Make no mistake: we’re on course to have government commandeer one-sixth of our economy. The people who gave us Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac now want to run our health care. Think about that.

All of us who value the sanctity of life are grateful for the success of the pro-life majority in the House this evening in its battle against federal funding of abortion in this bill, but it’s ironic because we were promised that abortion wasn’t covered in the bill to begin with. Our healthy distrust of these government leaders made us look deeper into the bill because unfortunately we knew better than to trust what they were saying. The victory tonight to amend the bill and eliminate that federal funding for abortion was great – because abortion is not health care. Now we can only hope that Rep. Stupak’s amendment will hold in the final bill, though the Democratic leadership has already refused to promise that it won’t be scrapped later.

We had been told there were no “death panels” in the bill either. But look closely at the provision mandating bureaucratic panels that will be calling the shots regarding who will receive government health care.

Look closely at provisions addressing illegal aliens’ health care coverage too.

Those of us who love freedom and believe in open and transparent government can only be dismayed by midnight action on a Saturday. Speaker Pelosi’s promise that Americans would have 72 hours to read the final bill before the vote was just another one of the D.C. establishment’s too-common political ploys. It’s broken promises like this that turn people off to politics and leave them disillusioned about the future of their country.

But despite this late-night maneuvering, many of us were paying close attention tonight. We’ll keep paying close attention. We need to let our legislators in Washington know that they still represent us, and that the majority of Americans are not in favor of the “reform” they are pushing. After all, this is still a country “of the people, by the people, and for the people.” We will make our voices heard. It’s on to the Senate now. Our legislators can listen now, or they can hear us in 2010. It’s their choice.

- Sarah Palin

Ron Paul: Healthcare "Reform" Will Make a Flawed System Immeasurably Worse VIDEO

sookietex@yahoo.com (sookietex) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 18:18:02 PST

Congressman Ron Paul's Texas Straight Talk for November 9, 2009.

Governor Haley Barbour Weekly Republican Address 11/10/09 VIDEO FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT

sookietex@yahoo.com (sookietex) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:23:18 PST

Governor Haley Barbour Weekly Republican Address 11/10/09 VIDEO FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT

Weekly Remarks by Gov. Haley Barbour of Mississippi, as provided by the Republican National Committee.

Hi, I’m Haley Barbour, governor of Mississippi, and I’m pleased to give the weekly Republican address.

This past week’s been a momentous one in American politics. It marked the first anniversary of President Obama’s election.

This week also saw the first big elections since this administration and its Democrat majority in Congress took control of our federal government. The results made clear the American people don’t like where the Democrats are trying to take our country.

Virginia and New Jersey elected new governors Tuesday, and in both cases, voters chose Republican governors to succeed the Democrats elected four years ago. Both are states that President Obama carried by large margins last year.

Virginia’s Bob McDonnell, a conservative who focused his campaign on jobs and economic growth – the issues that concern most Virginia voters – won by nearly 20 points, as Republicans swept all statewide offices.

In New Jersey, moderate Republican Chris Christie defeated incumbent Democrat Jon Corzine, despite several campaign visits by the president. Independents voted overwhelmingly for the Republican in both states.

Independents, most of whom voted for President Obama only a year ago, are concerned where his policies are taking our country. Don’t take my word for it.

Rep. Jim Cooper, senior Democrat in Tennessee’s congressional delegation, called the election result "a wake-up call for Congress." "A tidal wave could be coming," he said.

Democratic Congressman Dan Boren of Oklahoma made his views plain when he told the Wall Street Journal: "Voters sent a clear message that the administration and the Congress need to focus on the economy. We need to focus on creating jobs right now, and you don’t do that by raising taxes on small businesses."

The Washington Post’s David Broder, dean of American political writers, identified a crucial factor in Tuesday’s voting. Broder wrote, "The more worried voters were about keeping or finding a job, the more likely they were to vote Republican."

Americans think economic growth and job creation are priorities 1, 2, 3 and 4. Despite all the trillions of dollars in spending by this administration and Congress, voters see little progress on jobs.

And, these elections came before it was announced that the unemployment rate had risen to 10.2%, the highest in 26 years.

Americans’ concerns are greatly increased because Washington hasn’t been focused on economic growth and creating jobs. Instead, all the talk and attention has been on healthcare reform.

And now that the Democrat leadership has settled on a healthcare bill, what have Americans learned?

This healthcare bill will cost another trillion-plus dollars. The bill will increase your health insurance premiums. It will cut Medicare spending for seniors by $500 billion, and it will clobber small businesses, which create most new jobs.

Indeed, the National Federation of Independent Business, the organization of small businesses, projects the healthcare reform proposal pending in the House will mean 1.6 million fewer jobs – that’s right, it would cost 1.6 million people their jobs.

Isn’t it easy to see why Americans sent that wake-up call on Tuesday?

Now, the question is, did Democrats in Washington hear it?

Will they listen to folks like Democratic Rep. Michael Michaud of Maine, who said after the elections, "People want jobs. We have to start focusing on jobs and the economy"?

The best time to start’s now. The House Democrats’ healthcare bill should be withdrawn and reworked. There are many reforms that enjoy overwhelming bipartisan support in both houses of Congress.

Great improvements can be made without a government-run healthcare system; without gigantic tax increases that fall primarily on small businesses; without a $500-billion cut in Medicare spending; without higher insurance premiums; and without costing 1.6 million people their jobs.

Governors, including many Democrats, also realize this Democrat plan will result in tens of billions of dollars of state tax increases because it would greatly expand Medicaid and make state governments pay more than $30 billion that our states don’t have.

Americans are a whole lot smarter than politicians give them credit for. Americans want and need jobs. Congress has been focused on health and energy legislation that will cost millions of jobs.

Hopefully, Tuesday’s fire alarm will get Washington’s eye back on the ball: back on job creation and economic growth. I’m Governor Haley Barbour. Thanks for listening. ###

Ron Paul on The Glenn Beck Show VIDEO

sookietex@yahoo.com (sookietex) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:09:29 PST

No Compromise, On Friday, Congressman Ron Paul and Dr. Rand Paul appeared on The Glenn Beck Show with guest host Andrew Napolitano to discuss the Republican Party's future, third parties, and the important of putting principle over politics.

Ron Paul and his son Rand chat with Judge Andrew Napolitano on the growing rift between libertarians and Republicans.

Club for Growth Charlie Crist Federal Stimulus Bill TV Ad VIDEO

sookietex@yahoo.com (sookietex) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:03:14 PST

Day After Crist Says He “Didn’t Endorse” Stimulus, TV Spot Corrects the Record.

WASHINGTON - The Club for Growth today released a TV advertisement encouraging Florida Governor Charlie Crist to set aside his big government record and embrace pro-growth policies to revive Florida's economy.

The ad, which will air soon on Florida television stations, details the consequences of Crist's embrace of big government spending, and comes one day after Crist told CNN that he never endorsed the $787 federal stimulus bill this year. The ad states:

"Since Charlie Crist helped pass Barack Obama's spending program, nearly two hundred thousand Floridians have lost their jobs. Unemployment is the highest in decades. Personal income's down. And the deficit in Washington is three times larger."

"Yesterday, Charlie Crist said he never endorsed the stimulus, but that's simply not true," said Club President Chris Chocola. "Crist embraced the stimulus, and Florida's economy has suffered for it. The Club for Growth's ad sets the record straight, and we encourage Floridians to remind their governor that jobs are created by free markets and competition, not big government spending and debt."

Club for Growth® and Club for Growth® PAC - 2001 L Street NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20036 202-955-5500 Attribute work as: "This information reproduced from Club for Growth".

Michael Steele GOP victories Virginia and New Jersey VIDEO

sookietex@yahoo.com (sookietex) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:36:48 PST

Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele gave remarks in reaction to the GOP victories in the Virginia and New Jersey Gubernatorial elections.

Ann Coulter Keith Olbermann VIDEO

sookietex@yahoo.com (sookietex) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:00:59 PST

Ann Coulter and the Red Eye team on Keith Olbermann.

Chris Christie Acceptance Speech FULL TEXT VIDEO

sookietex@yahoo.com (sookietex) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:46:56 PST

New Jersey Governor-Elect Chris Christie (R) Delivers Acceptance Speech - 11/03/09 FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT

" Ladies and gentlemen thank you so much. Thank you so much all of you -- here tonight. Thank you so much. Thank you so much."

" My -- economy get through this. -- first I want election. They're that good. Now. I want I want Alexia I want to let you all -- I want -- all about."

" I want to -- although. I wanna let you all know that about forty minutes ago. I received -- call of congratulations. From governor Jon Corzine."

" Okay."

" Now. -- Not help please don't."

" C'mon now. -- and the governor's call with gracious. I thank him for -- years of service to the state. He pledged he pledged he pledged a smooth. He pledged a smooth transition. To the new -- administration."

" Okay."

" Now now I'd like to I'd like you'd indulge me in just a few bank --"

" I want to thank you for it. --"

" Like you tells me if you -- I wanna bank. -- Great former Republican governors who stood with me governor Tom -- governor Christie Whitman thank you very much. It. I want to thank. My great friend. And my campaign chairman state senator Joe --"

" It the I want to thank the future of the Republican Party are Republican state chairman."

" And most of all most of all. I want to thank the most important people in my life. My wife Mary pat. -- for my four great children Andrew and Sarah. Patrick in -- it. -- effect -- that bill who is here with me tonight. I think you all know my brother Todd."

" Okay."

" And my sister gone I love them both thank you very much. You know and -- New Jersey New Jersey. Is extraordinary place. Here I am. -- guy who was born in -- forty -- years ago. Two parents two parents struggle to make ends meet brought me home. To a fourth floor walk up apartment on the corner south -- avenue and fourteenth street. At five years later. Five years later they moved this the Livingston because they want our family that the best public education we could possibly have. And everything. That I've been lucky enough to become. The foundation with -- for back. In those schools in those years by great teachers. Have by -- great parents. Who gave us the values that allowed me. To be standing in front of you tonight. At the 55 governor stated --"

" Okay."

" But you go I think -- all before. The selection tonight it's not about me. And it's not back him. And candidly. It's not about many -- you. This election. Was. And is. About the future of the state we love the great state of New Jersey. "

" And I."

" because. Because for me and for most of you. We've already had a great New Jersey life. Great New Jersey life and what we want to do is to make sure that everyone in New Jersey has the opportunity for that great New Jersey life and even more importantly. That our children and our grandchildren. Have the opportunity for that great -- life because. If we continue on the path we're on. That will not be possible. We are in a crisis. The times are extraordinarily difficult. But I stand here tonight. Full of hope. For our future. Full of expectations. And dreams. Not just for my children. But for all the children of New Jersey -- are gonna get to work to make that happen starting tomorrow."

" Because tomorrow. Because tomorrow. Together. We begin to take back New Jersey. "

" It. Tomorrow we're gonna take back -- Jersey for our families tomorrow we're gonna take back New Jersey for our friends. Tomorrow we're gonna take back New Jersey for our neighbors tomorrow we're gonna take back New Jersey for the least fortunate among us. Who do not want the government to fix every problem they just want to give a hand up so they can build opportunity for themselves."

" Tomorrow. Tomorrow. We begin. To build that greater New Jersey for our children and grandchildren. Because you see. I want my children. To raise their children. In this state. I want your children to raise their children in this state. So tomorrow. Tomorrow begin the task of fixing our broken state and I tell you. I can tell you I can tell you that they've and I -- Kim and I are ready for the task given the higher ready for the task. Now. I will tell you. The campaign. The camp we went rules seem easy. Compared to the path that lie ahead of the -- Thursday. We know the challenges we face -- over the next four years. Ever work cut out there are no easy answers. These difficult problems. But you know on the campaign throw -- and I really learned. Was that the suffocating taxes. And the government that was out of control. Has -- threatened completely out of touch tomorrow starting tomorrow. We're gonna pick -- up and we are gonna turn it upside down. Now. Over the last week only been on that campaign -- I've met a number of people and I -- tell you about just a few of them you can understand what we really -- front of us. Just today. I met a man from Hamilton with his two children. Who's a small business owner. Who with tears in his eyes told me if you don't win. -- this this is gonna go broke. I don't know what I'm gonna do with my children. We're gonna have to leave the state -- I was born and raised. This election tonight it's about him and his children. This week this week I met a senior citizen for ten -- A man who was nine years old. Who grabbed -- by the -- instead. A minding your sold. You better do everything you said it's not going to be here for years without -- hole to fill it. Tonight that election is about him. And couple weeks ago I met a farmer from violence. Who was a fourth generation. Farmer. In that town. And he's fit to be you know mr. Christie if this continues. I'm gonna have to be the one who gives up the farm that's been in my family for four generations. And -- feel like a break in the heart. Of my father. My grandfather. And my great grandfather. Tonight. That election is this election is about him. We need to make New Jersey more affordable and we need to do it now. And you know. You know -- be naysayers who say that. Kim and I are gonna be able lower taxes. That we're not gonna be able lower spending that we're not -- be able to cut onerous regulation but we're not gonna be able to get government back under control. Well let me tell yeah these were the same people who wait years ago when I became US attorney. Said that you couldn't fight corruption in New Jersey. Well they were wrong then that. And they are wrong now. -- kid a kid and I. Given Iowa -- without regard to party or politics. We will do it without regard to what section of the state you're from. What you're it's your race -- your ethnicity. What's your gender. Without regard to any of that because new Jersey's problems are too big. To any more conduct the petty politics of yesterday. No matter whose idea it is if it's a good one -- and I'll figure out how to get it done."

" Okay."

" Now let me say one more thing about the people of the state of New Jersey. You know you know for you know for years. For years and years and years. The Talking Heads on television. Commentators in the newspapers said you cannot. Win an election in New Jersey. Without being. Personally. Negative without doing smear attack ads on the character of your opponent now it now -- February. In February when -- for governor I said. But I knew that this campaign. Would get into the gutter. And that I would not follow my opponent that -- got -- And I told you then I did not know where that was a winning strategy or losing strategy. But I told you it was my strategy and -- worked too hard I've worked too hard. Over my life. To give away my integrity for any job not even this one."

" Okay. Okay."

" And let me tell you that's. Through bear overwhelming. -- work tonight. The people of New Jersey said no more -- negative personal campaign. --"

" In the face of a thirty million dollar onslaught. That consisted of almost exclusively. Negative personal can't -- campaign against me. My family and my friends the people of New Jersey decided enough is he now."

" And and so now. -- out to all. Of those pundits out there. -- all of those experts on politics. I beg you. Let's turn the page let's put the petty politics of the past behind us and it started a new era of hope. And -- to -- New Jersey. "

" because. I was born here. And I was raised here. And this is the state that I love. And I'll tell you I have known from minute one of this campaign. That we can change New Jersey. So tomorrow. Let's roll up our sleeves. Let's get to work. At the hard task ahead of us what we will know. That at the end of these four years. I promise you one thing. That we will restore. Your hope. And your faith. And your trust. In New Jersey thank you very much."

by Christopher Christie

RNC MICHAEL STEELE STATEMENT ON GOP VIRGINIA BOB McDONNELL VIDEO

sookietex@yahoo.com (sookietex) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:18:53 PST

November 3, 2009 CONTACT: Press Office 202-863-8614

WASHINGTON – Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Michael Steele released the following statement today:

“Tonight, Republicans made history in Virginia. In a state that had been in the Democrats’ column after the 2008 election – and in DNC Chairman Tim Kaine’s own backyard – Republicans swept all three top state offices in Virginia for the first time since 1997. These significant victories speak to the fantastic campaigns run by Republicans across the Commonwealth and the voters’ clear rejection of liberal tax and spend policies that Washington Democrats are trying to force on Americans.

“Governor-elect Bob McDonnell’s common-sense conservative message of less spending, lower taxes and more responsible government clearly resonated with voters. His opposition to the Democrats’ plans for higher taxes, government-run health care and a job-killing ‘cap and trade’ bill was rewarded by Virginia voters with a victory tonight.

“Lt. Governor Bill Bolling was reelected tonight to be Virginia’s chief job creation officer and continue promoting a legislative agenda that focuses on the things we Republicans believe in – keeping government small, improving the quality of health care for Virginians, and keeping taxes low for families and businesses to make certain that Virginia remains a great place to do business.

“Virginia voters’ selection of Attorney General-elect Ken Cuccinelli to be Virginia’s top law enforcement officer ensures that public safety will be a top priority in the Commonwealth, Virginia’s second amendment rights will be protected and small businesses will be sheltered from excessive regulation.

“This is the first time since 1997 that the Republican Party has swept all three top state offices in Virginia and I believe that it highlights the desire of Virginians to have strong Republican leadership guiding their Commonwealth.

“The Republican Party’s overwhelming victory in Virginia is a blow to President Obama and the Democrat Party. It sends a clear signal that voters have had enough of the president’s liberal agenda. The Republican Party and our grassroots supporters have renewed strength in Virginia, and I look forward to working with Governor-elect McDonnell and Republicans across the state to build on our momentum.”

RELATED: Michael Steele GOP victories Virginia and New Jersey VIDEO FULL PRESS CONFERENCE Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele gave remarks in reaction to the GOP victories in the Virginia and New Jersey Gubernatorial elections.

RNC RELEASES NEW RADIO AD ENTITLED “ECHO” ON ELECTIONS IN NEW YORK PODCAST

sookietex@yahoo.com (sookietex) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:17:25 PST

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 2, 2009. CONTACT: Press Office. 202-863-8614

WASHINGTON – The Republican National Committee (RNC) today announced a new radio ad entitled “Echo” on the elections in New York. The ad encourages New York voters to vote for conservative candidates on Election Day. The RNC is supporting Doug Hoffman in New York 23 and local Republican candidates. The radio ad will run Monday and Tuesday in North Country media markets.

Listen to the audio of the radio ad here: “ECHO” ON ELECTIONS IN NEW YORK. MP3 for PODCAST

FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT

Time: 00:60

Voice: “The eyes of the nation are on the North Country.”

Voice: “What we decide on Tuesday, will echo from Albany to Washington.”

Voice: “Whose side are you on?”

Voice: “The Pelosi/ Paterson tax and spend train wreck?”

Voice: “Or do you believe in Republican conservative values, like thrift, personal responsibility, and family.”

Voice: “Let’s tell the liberals, enough is enough.”

Voice: “No more bailouts, taxes and budget busting spending.”

Voice: “It’s time to create jobs, with proven conservative ideas like lower taxes.”

Voice: “Let your voice be heard, join the movement to bring real conservative change.”

Voice: “Tell the politicians, no more, we won’t let you bankrupt America.”

Voice: “We need conservative leaders who stand up for our values.”

Voice: “Fight Back! Vote conservative, it matters like never before.”

Voice: The Republican National Committee is responsible for the content of this advertising. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. Paid for by the Republican National Committee. www.gop.com.

AD FACTS

The Ad

Voice: The eyes of the nation are on the North Country. What we decide on Tuesday will echo from Albany to Washington.

The Facts

Special Election In New York’s 23rd Congressional District “Taking On National Importance.” “The Nov. 3 contest in upstate New York's 23rd Congressional District, a sprawling, 11-county area … a possible gauge of Obama’s coattails. Obama, who carried the district by 5 percentage points in his landslide victory in New York last year, forced the special election when he named the incumbent, Republican John McHugh, his Army secretary.” (“23rd District Race Taking On National Importance,” The Associated Press, 10/18/09)

The Ad

Voice: Whose side are you on? The Pelosi/Patterson tax and spend train wreck?

The Facts

Since Pelosi Passed $787 Billion Stimulus In February, Over 2.6 Million Americans Have Lost Their Jobs. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov, Accessed 11/1/09)

* Since Pelosi Passed Stimulus In February, Nearly 130,000 People Have Lost Their Jobs And Unemployment Has Risen Over 14 Percent In New York. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov, Accessed 11/1/09)

Pelosi’s Government-Run Health Care Experiment Will Be Paid For By Hitting Americans, Small Businesses With $734 Billion In Tax Increases On Income, Payroll, Medical Devices, And Over-The-Counter Drugs. (“Estimated Revenue Effects Of Possible Modifications To The Revenue Provisions Of H.R. 3962, The ‘Affordable Health Care For America Act’,” Joint Committee On Taxation Publication, 10/29/09)

Pelosi Passed National Energy Tax That Could Mean Nearly 1 Million Jobs Lost Per Year. “Overall, a cap-and-trade system that reduces annual GDP by 0.34 percent per year can be expected to reduce U.S. employment by roughly 964,900 jobs per year, reduce household earnings by $37.8 billion, and reduce total U.S. economic output by $136.1 billion.” (Andrew Chamberlain, “Who Pays For Climate Policy? New Estimates Of The Household Burden And Economic Impact Of A U.S. Cap-And-Trade System,” Tax Foundation, 3/09)

Under Paterson, New York’s State/Local Tax Burden Second-Highest In Nation, Business Friendliness Ranks 49th Out Of 50 States. “Currently estimated at 11.7% of income, New York's state/local tax burden percentage is the 2nd highest nationwide, well above the national average of 9.7% … New York ranks 49th in the Tax Foundation's State Business Tax Climate Index.” (“Research Areas: New York,” Tax Foundation, Accessed 11/1/09)

In December, Gov. Paterson Proposed “The Biggest Tax Hike In State History” With 137 Tax Increases Totaling $121.1 Billion. “Gov. Paterson yesterday socked New Yorkers with a mind-boggling 137 proposed new and hiked taxes on everything from beer to cab rides to iTunes downloads and movie tickets. The doomsday, $121.1 billion plan represents the biggest tax hike in state history and slashes services across the board - while still increasing spending by $1.4 billion.” (Brendan Scott, “Gov’s Tax & Spend Shocker,” The New York Post, 12/17/09)

Paterson’s Proposed Tax Hikes Target Specific Products With High Tax Rates. “Many of the negative components of the Paterson plan fall into two categories: provisions that make the tax code more complicated, and provisions that single out disfavored goods or activities for punishment. Paterson would impose new, special taxes on sugary drinks, beer, wine, cigars, luxury cars, yachts, furs and airplanes.” (Josh Barro, “New York Governor David Paterson’s Tax And Fee Proposals A Mixed Bag,” Tax Foundation, 1/22/09)

The Ad

Voice: Or do you believe in Republican conservative values, like thrift, personal responsibility, and family.

The Facts

Republicans Offers Solutions To Balance The Budget. “Republican Study Committee Chairman Tom Price (R-GA) issued the following statement after the RSC introduced a responsible, solutions-based budget proposal that counters President Obama’s radical, big-government agenda. The RSC proposal provides for a balanced budget that reduces national debt by more than $6 trillion compared to the President’s plan. It also provides $1.2 trillion in tax relief, ends bailouts, reduces non-defense discretionary spending each year, and takes an honest look at the biggest challenge to our financial stability: health entitlements.” (Republican Study Committee, “RSC Offers Responsible Budget Solution: Less Debt, Less Government, More Freedom,” Press Release, 4/2/09)

Republicans Use “Conservative Check Card” To Review Legislation For “Lower Taxes,” “Personal Responsibility” And “Stronger Families.” “The RSC reviews each piece of legislation under consideration on the House floor using six guiding principles, printed on our ‘Conservative Check Card’ and listed below: … Lower Taxes - Does the bill promote individual responsibility in spending, or reduce taxes or fees? Personal Responsibility - Does the bill encourage responsible behavior by individuals and families and encourage them to provide for their own health, safety, education, moral fortitude, or general welfare? … Stronger Families - Does the bill enhance the traditional American family and its power to rear children without excessive interference from the government?” (“What Is RSC?” Republican Study Committee, Accessed 11/1/09)

The Ad

Voice: Let’s tell the liberals, enough is enough. No more bailouts, taxes and budget busting spending.

The Facts

Democrats Take “Unprecedented Role In Reshaping The Auto Industry” With 60% Government Ownership In General Motors. “It will be the largest industrial bankruptcy in U.S. history and the fourth-largest overall and comes as smaller rival Chrysler won approval to sell most of its assets to Italy's Fiat, moving Chrysler closer to a quick exit from court protection. A New York dealership owned by General Motors Corp. filed for bankruptcy protection early Monday, beginning the wave of court filings expected in Manhattan bankruptcy court as the automaker starts a complex reorganization that the government insists can be completed within three months. The government will end up with a 60 percent ownership stake and an unprecedented role in reshaping the auto industry.” (“General Motors Files For Bankruptcy Protection,” The Associated Press, 6/1/09)

* But GM Remains “Challenged” With “Relatively Weak” Recovery Plans. “General Motors … fresh out of bankruptcy, will remain challenged in the United States by relatively weak plans to bring new cars and trucks to market, according to an annual competitive analysis released Wednesday by Banc of America Securities-Merrill Lynch. The report -- called Car Wars -- predicts: GM's market share losses ‘are likely to be greater than expected’ because the company is not replacing its lineup as fast as the industry and key rivals … Less than a week after the new General Motors emerged from bankruptcy, the report says GM’s business assumptions are overly optimistic and further restructuring might be required.” (Tim Higgins, “Analysis Finds GM, Chrysler's Plans Weak,” Detroit Free Press, 7/16/09)

House Dems’ Bill Will Impose $460 Billion Income Tax Increase, That Will Hit Many Small Businesses, Killing Jobs. “This [surtax] would hit job creators especially hard because more than six of every 10 who earn that much are small business owners, operators or investors, according to a 2007 Treasury study... America’s successful small businesses would pay higher tax rates than the Fortune 500, and for that matter than most companies around the world ...” (“Estimated Revenue Effects Of Possible Modifications To The Revenue Provisions Of H.R. 3962, The ‘Affordable Health Care For America Act’,” Joint Committee On Taxation Publication, 10/29/09; Editorial, “The Small Business Surtax,” The Wall Street Journal, 7/14/09)

* High Taxes Discourage The Hiring Of New Workers. “The lack of U.S. job creation is a big problem, but the quickest way Washington could help would be to stop imposing more financial burdens on hiring. And if Democrats really want to reduce taxes on labor, the cleanest way would be to reduce the payroll tax rate. They could finance a permanent payroll cut by using the $300-$400 billion or more in unspent stimulus money, rather than continuing with the transfer payments and pork barrel spending that have failed so miserably to create jobs.” (Editorial, “Job Creation 101,” The Wall Street Journal, 10/12/09)

Democrats’ Budget Will Create Historic $9 Trillion Deficit Over Next Decade, Nearly As Much Debt As America Has Taken In Entire Nation’s History Up To July 2008 ($9.5 Trillion). (“An Analysis of the President’s Budgetary Proposals for Fiscal Year 2010,” Congressional Budget Office, June 2009; Public Debt, www.treasurydirect.gov, Accessed 7/20/09)

* Increasing Debt Places “Fate Of Our Economy” On America’s Debtors, Making Nation Vulnerable To Another Large Financial Crisis. “[W]e are paying an increasing proportion of this interest to foreigners rather than to our own citizens. A little more than half our debt is owned by people in other countries, primarily the Japanese and the Chinese ... the present state of affairs perches the fate of our economy rather precariously on the opinion of other nations. If the Chinese decided, for economic or political reasons, to curtail their financing of our debt, our financial markets would be spooked, and a stock-market crash and recession might not be far behind.” (Isabel V. Sawhill, “Ignoring Debt Makes It Get Worse,” The Philadelphia Inquirer, 4/30/06)

The Ad

Voice: It’s time to create jobs, with proven conservative ideas like lower taxes.

The Facts

Tax Cuts Lead To Job Creation. “Dependable lower tax rates are the only policy that allows businesses to plan ahead and invest in expansion and hiring. The expansion of private business is the only way to increase economic growth and create jobs. … Tax cuts are a far superior way to unleash the productive forces in the economy and expand job growth.” (Guinevere Nell, “The ‘American Option’ Is Good For Small Business,” The Heritage Foundation, 2/2/09)

The Ad

Voice: Let your voice be heard, join the movement to bring real conservative change. Tell the politicians, no more, we won’t let you bankrupt America.

The Facts

Democrats’ Budget Will Create Historic $9 Trillion Deficit Over Next Decade, Nearly As Much Debt As America Has Taken In Entire Nation’s History Up To July 2008 ($9.5 Trillion). (“An Analysis of the President’s Budgetary Proposals for Fiscal Year 2010,” Congressional Budget Office, June 2009; Public Debt, www.treasurydirect.gov, Accessed 7/20/09)

* Increasing Debt Places “Fate Of Our Economy” On America’s Debtors, Making Nation Vulnerable To Another Large Financial Crisis. “[W]e are paying an increasing proportion of this interest to foreigners rather than to our own citizens. A little more than half our debt is owned by people in other countries, primarily the Japanese and the Chinese ... the present state of affairs perches the fate of our economy rather precariously on the opinion of other nations. If the Chinese decided, for economic or political reasons, to curtail their financing of our debt, our financial markets would be spooked, and a stock-market crash and recession might not be far behind.” (Isabel V. Sawhill, “Ignoring Debt Makes It Get Worse,” The Philadelphia Inquirer, 4/30/06)

The Ad

Voice: We need conservative leaders who stand up for our values. Fight back! Vote conservative, it matters like never before.

The Facts

Republicans Leaders Stand Up For Conservative Values By Review Legislation For “Lower Taxes,” “Personal Responsibility” And “Stronger Families.” “The RSC reviews each piece of legislation under consideration on the House floor using six guiding principles, printed on our ‘Conservative Check Card’ and listed below: … Lower Taxes - Does the bill promote individual responsibility in spending, or reduce taxes or fees? Personal Responsibility - Does the bill encourage responsible behavior by individuals and families and encourage them to provide for their own health, safety, education, moral fortitude, or general welfare? … Stronger Families - Does the bill enhance the traditional American family and its power to rear children without excessive interference from the government?” (“What Is RSC?” Republican Study Committee, Accessed 11/1/09)

Disclaimer

Voice: The Republican National Committee is responsible for the content of this advertising. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. Paid for by the Republican National Committee. www.gop.com ###

Paid for by the Republican National Committee Not Authorized By Any Candidate Or Candidate's Committee www.GOP.com

George P. Bush endorses Armando Gutierrez Jr.

sookietex@yahoo.com (sookietex) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 21:25:44 PST

ORLANDO, FL – Today George P. Bush announced his endorsement of Armando Gutierrez for Congress. Bush, the oldest son of former Governor Jeb Bush and national GOP activist, joins the growing number of Republican leaders endorsing Armando Gutierrez.

“I’m proud to stand with Armando Gutierrez in his race for Congress. The Republican Party needs a leader like Armando Gutierrez. We must elect fresh, innovative leaders who have the business experience to get our country back on track!”

Gutierrez thanked Bush, saying “The Republican Party is blessed to have a leader like George P. Bush, and I’m truly humbled to have his support. He and his family have done so much for Florida.”

Gutierrez has been involved in the Central Florida community for many years. He serves on the Board of Regents of the Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce, Central Florida Business Force, and a Trustee for the Here's Help Abuse Center.

Gutierrez holds a Bachelors Degree from the University of Miami, Masters in Management from Harvard University, Masters in Public Administration from the University of Miami, and completed the Essentials of Management program at the Wharton School of Business. Armando Gutierrez is also a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Citizens Academy.

Gutierrez is endorsed by a growing number of Republican leaders such as Congressman Tom Rooney, Congressman Gus Bilirakis, State House Majority Whip Carlos Lopez-Cantera, State Representative Chris Dorworth, State Representative Bryan Nelson, and the Florida Federation of Young Republicans.

George P. Bush Backs Gutierrez vs. Grayson

Biography

Armando Gutierrez Jr. was born on September 11, 1981, Florida. Gutierrez founded Conglomerate.com a diversified real estate investment company with ownership in over 200,000 sqft of property and land, along with real estate developments and investments in several Hotels, and Commercial Developments. Conglomerate.com is also one of the nation's leaders in domain name ownership. Prior to that, Gutierrez was a Trustee of the governing board of Florida's largest hospital (Jackson Memorial), as a board member Gutierrez was in charge of managing the over $2 Billion dollar annual hospital budget. In addition, Gutierrez was a board member of the Miami Dade County General Obligation Bond which oversaw the spending of over $2.6 billion dollars in county government bond funds.

Education: Master's (ALM) in Management from Harvard University, Masters in Public Administration from University of Miami. EOM from the Wharton School Business, and Bachelors from the University of Miami.
Community Involvement: Trustee, Here's Help Abuse Center. Member, Central Florida Business Force. Member, Association of Builders and Contractors. Board of Regents, Central Florida Chamber of Commerce. Platinum Paw, Orlando Animal Association. Board Members, City Year .

Conglomerate.com

Sarah Palin: NJ’s Governor’s Race: Candidate Chris Daggett Plays Loose With Facts?

sookietex@yahoo.com (sookietex) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 20:12:20 PST

NJ’s Governor’s Race: Candidate Plays Loose With Facts? Today at 12:43pm

Despite what candidate Chris Daggett is claiming, I have never contacted him or his campaign. I have never asked him to drop out of the NJ Governor’s race. Now, if a politician is going to play loose with facts like this, the electorate needs to know it.

So, to the good people of New Jersey, please know that Daggett’s claims are false. I’ve never even suggested he should drop out of the race. But, come to think of it…

- Sarah Palin

Dana Perino, Obama's heavy-handed tactics reminiscent of Hugo Chavez VIDEO

sookietex@yahoo.com (sookietex) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 07:17:28 PST

(10.25.09) -- Former White House Press Secretary Dana Perino says that Team Obama's heavy-handed tactics are somewhat reminiscent of those employed by Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez.

She also goes on to say that such methods are destructive to emerging democracies around the world who look towards the United States for guidance on how to run a free press.

ConservativeNewMedia

RELATED: Dana M. Perino Biography

Scozzafava Drops Out of New York's 23rd district Congressional Race‎

sookietex@yahoo.com (sookietex) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 14:12:54 PDT

Scozzafava Drops Out of New York's 23rd district Congressional Race‎

A Message from Dede

Saturday, October 31, 2009

Dear Friends and Supporters:

Throughout the course of my campaign for Congress, I have made the people of the 23rd District and the issues that affect them the focal point of my campaign. As a life long resident of this District, I care deeply and passionately about its people and our way of life. Whether as a candidate for Congress, a State Assemblywoman or a small town Mayor, I have always sought to act with the best interest of our District and its residents in mind—and today I again seek to act for the good of our community.

The opportunity to run as the Republican and Independence Party candidate to represent the 23rd District has been and remains one of the greatest honors of my life.

During the past several months, as I’ve traveled the district, meeting and talking with voters about the issues that matter most to them, I’ve been overwhelmed by the amount of support I’ve received as I sought to serve as their voice in Washington. However, as Winston Churchill once said, Democracy can be a fickle employer, and the road to public office is not always a smooth one.

In recent days, polls have indicated that my chances of winning this election are not as strong as we would like them to be. The reality that I’ve come to accept is that in today’s political arena, you must be able to back up your message with money—and as I’ve been outspent on both sides, I’ve been unable to effectively address many of the charges that have been made about my record. But as I’ve said from the start of this campaign, this election is not about me, it’s about the people of this District. And, as always, today I will do what I believe serves their interests best.

It is increasingly clear that pressure is mounting on many of my supporters to shift their support. Consequently, I hereby release those individuals who have endorsed and supported my campaign to transfer their support as they see fit to do so. I am and have always been a proud Republican. It is my hope that with my actions today, my Party will emerge stronger and our District and our nation can take an important step towards restoring the enduring strength and economic prosperity that has defined us for generations.

On Election Day my name will appear on the ballot, but victory is unlikely. To those who support me – and to those who choose not to – I offer my sincerest thanks.

Dede ###

Dierdre "Dede" Scozzafava Biography

Dierdre "Dede" Scozzafava is a lifelong North Country resident. She graduated from Gouverneur High School and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the Boston University School of Management and a Masters in Business Administration from the Clarkson Graduate School of Management.

Prior to being elected to the New York State Assembly in 1998, Dede dedicated much of her life to public service. She served for four years as a Village of Gouverneur Trustee and was Mayor of the Village of Gouverneur from 1993 through 1998.

As a Member of the Assembly, Dede was appointed to the position of Minority Leader Pro Tempore for the Assembly Republican Conference. She is the first woman to ever hold such a prestigious leadership position. More commonly referred to as the 'floor leader,' the Minority Leader Pro Tempore is responsible for leading debates and driving forward the agenda of the conference.

Dede also serves on the Ways and Means, Rules, and Ethics and Guidance committees. Widely known for her bipartisan approach to governance, she frequently challenges her assembly colleagues to rise above politics so that the needs and concerns of New York State residents are fully addressed in the Legislature.

Dede has been a vocal advocate for Northern New York, holding forums and serving on a number of task forces to address the diverse needs of the North Country’s citizens. She has served as a member of the Manufacturing Task Force, the Hunting and Fishing Task Force, and has held hearings for the Task Force on Agriculture.

As chairwoman of the SAVE NY Task Force, Dede traveled throughout New York State to meet with various constituencies to develop and improve ways to protect New York’s women and children from domestic abuse and sexual violence. The task force played an integral role in raising awareness of these issues. A number of its proposals, including civil confinement of sex offenders and stiffer penalties under Megan’s Law, were adopted as legislation.

Dede is Vice President of SC Partners, LLC. She is a member of the First United Methodist Church in Gouverneur, Gouverneur Business Women, the Gouverneur Arts Club, the Thousand Island Girl Scouts Council, and the St. Lawrence County Farm Bureau.

Dede and her husband Ron reside in Gouverneur. They have four children, a son-in-law, a daughter-in-law, and four grandchildren.

House Republican Leader John Boehne Weekly Republican Address 10/31/09 VIDEO FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT

sookietex@yahoo.com (sookietex) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 07:15:09 PDT

House Republican Leader John Boehne Weekly Republican Address 10/31/09 VIDEO FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT

I’m House Republican Leader John Boehner. At the beginning of this year, I told President Obama and Speaker Nancy Pelosi that Republicans would be ready to work with them whenever possible to address the nation’s biggest challenges.

I also said that where there are differences, it was our obligation as a party to explain to the American people how we would do things better. And on the "stimulus," the budget, the energy bill and healthcare, we have done exactly that.

As a matter of fact, only Republicans have offered solutions to lower healthcare costs and make it easier to obtain quality, affordable coverage without imposing a massive burden on the American people.

We first released our healthcare plan in June, and over the last six months, we have introduced at least eight bills that, taken together, would implement this blueprint.

You can go right now to healthcare.gop.gov and get all the details, but for now, I just want to share with you four ideas Republicans have proposed:

Number 1: Let families and businesses buy health insurance across state lines.

Number 2: Allow individuals, small businesses and trade associations to pool together and acquire health insurance at lower prices, the same way large corporations and labor unions do today.

Number 3: Give states the tools to create their own innovative reforms that lower healthcare costs; and

Number 4: End junk lawsuits that contribute to higher healthcare costs by increasing the number of tests and procedures that physicians sometimes order not because they think it's good medicine, but because they are afraid of being sued.

These are four smart, fiscally responsible reforms that we can implement today to lower costs and expand access at a price our nation can afford. Again, you can learn more about these and all the healthcare initiatives Republicans have supported by visiting healthcare.gop.gov.

The best way to get a sense of what Speaker Pelosi’s takeover of healthcare looks like is to

...actually look at it. Just shy of 2,000 pages, it runs more than 620 pages longer than the government-run plan Hillary Clinton proposed in 1993.

This 1,990 pages of bureaucracy will centralize healthcare decision-making in Washington, D.C. It’ll require thousands of new federal employees. It’ll put unelected boards, bureaus and commissions in charge of who gets access to what drug and what potentially life-saving treatment.

And it won’t come cheap. Speaker Pelosi’s healthcare bill will raise the cost of Americans’ health insurance premiums; it will kill jobs with tax hikes and new mandates; and it will cut seniors’ Medicare benefits.

We now have a choice: We can come together to implement smart, fiscally responsible reforms to improve Americans’ healthcare, or we can recklessly pursue this government takeover that creates far more problems than it solves.

It’s clear where the American people stand on this issue. They‘re frustrated and fed up. The "stimulus" bill isn’t working. Unemployment is rising. The debt to be paid by our kids and grandkids is exploding. And now, Speaker Pelosi’s 1,990-page government takeover of healthcare?

Enough is enough. Breaking the bank and taking away the freedoms Americans cherish is not the answer to the challenges we face.

This coming week, Republicans will continue to stand on principle, defend freedom, and fight for our better solutions to make healthcare more affordable and accessible for American families. Thank you for listening. ###

Joe Lieberman will support Republican filibuster to block health bill public option, candidates in 2010 VIDEO

sookietex@yahoo.com (sookietex) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 18:52:06 PDT

Senator Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.). Senator Lieberman told ABCs Jonathan Karl that he would support some Republican candidates in the 2010 election and join Republican filibuster to block health bill public option.

NRSC Launches Web Ad: “Paranormal Taxivity” VIDEO

sookietex@yahoo.com (sookietex) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 18:07:39 PDT

WASHINGTON - With Halloween fast approaching this weekend, the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) released a scarier-than-fiction new Web ad video today entitled "Paranormal Taxivity."

The video highlights the terrifying reality that Americans face as they find themselves trapped in a real life horror film, falling victim to President Obama and Senate Democrats’ uncontrollable spending, higher taxes, and government-run health care proposals.

FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT: Title: "Paranormal Taxivity" WEB (1:10)

TEXT: the following preview has been approved for All americans By the national republican senatorial committee If this were a real film, it would be rated
BG: big government. some scenes may be too scary for taxpayers taxes, spending, czars
(Relax it’s just a parody)

TEXT: Obama Reid Pelosi TAX SPEND

PRESIDENT OBAMA: "I happen to be a proponent of a single-payer universal health care plan. But as all of you know, we may not get there immediately." (President Obama, Remarks At AFL-CIO, Civil, Human, and Women’s Rights Conference, Illinois, 6/30/2003)

TEXT: The scariest movie of all time

SEN. HARRY REID: "We’re talking about two trillion dollars." (Sen. Harry Reid, Congressional Record, 10/15/09)

TEXT: We have to make judgments very fast

SEN. ARLEN SPECTER: "We have to make judgments very fast." (Sen. Arlen Specter, Remarks At Town Hall, Lebanon, PA, 8/3/09)

TEXT: A movie that cost $3.5 trillion to make...so far (Carl Hulse, "Budget Passes but Critics Say the Deficit Is in the Details" New York Times, 4/30/09)

PRESIDENT OBAMA: "I've proposed an American recovery and reinvestment plan." (President Obama, Weekly YouTube Address, 1/24/09)

JOHN ROBERTS: "AIG bonuses" (CNN's "American Morning," 10/14/09)

PRESIDENT OBAMA: "cap-and-trade system" (President Obama, Remarks At Interview With The San Francisco Chronicle, 1/17/09)

SEN. HARRY REID: "and get card check passed" (Union Rally, Washington, DC, 6/19/07)

TEXT: a movie so "powerful" ... (Politico, 9/4/09)

LOU DOBBS: "More than 30 czars already appointed in the Obama Administration." (CNN’s "Lou Dobbs Tonight," 10/8/09)

TEXT: so "expensive"... (CNNMoney.com, Bailout Tracker, Accessed 10/22/09)

KEN STRICKLAND: "higher premiums, higher taxes." (MSNBC, 10/8/09)

SUSAN LISOVICZ: "higher taxes." (CNN, 10/22/09)

MARIA BARTIROMO: "higher taxes." (CNBC Interview with Nancy Pelosi, 10/21/09)

TEXT: and so "arrogant"... (Denver Post, 8/13/09)

SEN. BARBARA BOXER: "Could you say Senator instead of ma’am? It’s just a thing. I worked so hard to get that title." (Sen. Barbara Boxer, Senate Environment And Public Works Committee, Interview With Brigadier General Michael Walsh, 6/16/09)

TEXT: it will "vaporize" you (Manu Raju and John Bresnahan, "Reid plan: ‘Vaporize’ GOP Opponent," Politico, 10/20/09)

DYLAN RATIGAN: "Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid wants to vaporize his opponents." (MSNBC's "Morning Meeting with Dylan Ratigan," 10/21/09)

THEN-SENATOR JOE BIDEN: "Time to be patriotic. Time to be part of a deal." (Senator Joe Biden, ABC’s "Good Morning America", 9/18/09)

THEN-SENATOR OBAMA: "I think when you spread the wealth around, it's good for everybody." (Senator Obama to Joe Wurzelbacher, ABC News, 10/12/08)

TEXT: this Halloween...

TEXT: you’d call it paranormal...

TEXT: ...if it wasn’t so REAL

TEXT: Paranormal Taxivity

SINGING CHILD: "We’re gonna spread happiness.... Obama’s gonna change it. Obama’s gonna lead 'em."

TEXT: Paranormal Taxivity plaguing your area? Donate now! Stop this nightmare by visiting nrsc.org

The National Republican Senatorial Committee is responsible for the content of this advertising. Paid for by the National Republican Senatorial Committee and not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee. www.nrsc.org

Paid for by the National Republican Senatorial Committee. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee. www.NRSC.org

In New Ad, “Hope,” Bob McDonnell Speaks Directly with Virginians VIDEO

sookietex@yahoo.com (sookietex) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:40:48 PDT

Positive Spot Highlights McDonnell’s Vision to Create New Jobs, Keep Taxes Low, Control Spending

RICHMOND- Bob McDonnell, Republican gubernatorial nominee and former Attorney General of Virginia, released his latest positive television ad today. In “Hope” McDonnell lays out his innovative vision for Virginia, details his commitment to keeping taxes low and getting spending under control, notes his service as an Army Officer and Attorney General, and asks Virginians for their vote next Tuesday.

In “Hope” Bob McDonnell Says:

“Our family shares the concerns and hopes for the future that you do. I’ve outlined specific plans and innovative solutions to grow our economy and create jobs by promoting small business and keeping taxes low. We’ll control spending and make state government more user-friendly and more accountable to you. As an Army Officer I’ve served our country. As Attorney General I implemented bipartisan solutions. As your governor I’ll provide the leadership to create jobs and opportunity for all Virginians. I’d appreciate your vote.”

Authorized by Bob McDonnell. Paid for by McDonnell for Governor

Doug Hoffman Leads in NY-23

sookietex@yahoo.com (sookietex) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 07:24:11 PDT

Doug Hoffman, taken at the Conservative Party meeting on Aug. 7 in Central Square where he received the party's endorsement to run for Congress on their line. (Photo by Jack LaDuke)

New CFG Poll shows Hoffman 31.3%, Owens 27.0%, Scozzafava 19.7%

Washington - A poll released yesterday by the Club for Growth shows Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman surging into the lead in the special election in New York's 23rd congressional district to replace John McHugh, the former congressman who recently became Secretary of the Army.

The poll of 300 likely voters, conducted October 24-25, 2009, shows Conservative Doug Hoffman at 31.3%, Democrat Bill Owens at 27.0%, Republican Dede Scozzafava at 19.7%, and 22% undecided. The poll's margin of error is +/- 5.66%. No information was provided about any of the candidates prior to the ballot question.

This is the third poll done for the Club for Growth in the NY-23 special election, and Doug Hoffman is the only candidate to show an increase in his support levels in each successive poll. The momentum in the race is clearly with Hoffman.

"Hoffman now has a wide lead among both Republicans and Independents, while Owens has a wide lead among Democrats. Dede Scozzafava's support continues to collapse, making this essentially a two-candidate race between Hoffman and Owens in the final week," concluded Basswood Research's pollster Jon Lerner, who conducted the poll for the Club.

Tired of Choosing Between Two Liberals for Congress? NY-23 VIDEO

sookietex@yahoo.com (sookietex) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 06:43:54 PDT

Club and Club PAC Launch TV Ad in NY-23

Washington - Club for Growth and Club for Growth PAC will launch a $300,000 television ad campaign tomorrow in the special election for New York's 23rd Congressional District. The campaign follows the Club for Growth PAC's Sept. 28 endorsement of Doug Hoffman, a Republican running on the Conservative ticket, over liberal Republican Dede Scozzafava and Democrat Bill Owens.

The television ad (seen below) will run in all three of the principle TV markets in NY-23 (Watertown, Burlington, and Syracuse). The ad asks, "Tired of choosing between two liberals for Congress?" Both Scozzafava and Owens support big government policies like Obama's stimulus plan, Cash for Clunkers, and "card check." Thankfully, there is a better choice in conservative Doug Hoffman, who is an Army veteran, financial expert, and small business owner.

"There's a stark contrast in the three candidates running in this race," said Club for Growth President Chris Chocola. "The two liberals, Dede Scozzafava and Bill Owens, support the Pelosi tax and spend agenda, while Doug Hoffman offers a fiscally conservative alternative based on lower taxes and limited government. Hoffman is the only candidate in the race who will fight for less wasteful spending, no more bailouts, and no tax hikes on hard working Americans."

PAID FOR BY CLUB FOR GROWTH PAC AND NOT AUTHORIZED BY ANY CANDIDATE OR CANDIDATE'S COMMITTEE. 202-955-5500.

Sarah Palin Support Doug Hoffman

sookietex@yahoo.com (sookietex) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 19:50:07 PDT

Governor Sarah Heath Palin (Official Army photo by Staff Sgt. Mac Metcalfe, Alaska Army National Guard)

The people of the 23rd Congressional District of New York are ready to shake things up, and Doug Hoffman is coming on strong as Election Day approaches! He needs our help now.

The votes of every member of Congress affect every American, so it's important for all of us to pay attention to this important Congressional campaign in upstate New York.

I am very pleased to announce my support for Doug Hoffman in his fight to be the next Representative from New York's 23rd Congressional district. It's my honor to endorse Doug and to do what I can to help him win, including having my political action committee, SarahPAC, donate to his campaign the maximum contribution allowed by law.

Our nation is at a crossroads, and this is once again a "time for choosing."

The federal government borrows, spends, and prints too much money, while our national debt hits a record high. Government is growing while the private sector is shrinking, and unemployment is on the rise. Doug Hoffman is committed to ending the reckless spending in Washington, D.C. and the massive increase in the size and scope of the federal government. He is also fully committed to supporting our men and women in uniform as they seek to honorably complete their missions overseas.

And best of all, Doug Hoffman has not been anointed by any political machine.

Doug Hoffman stands for the principles that all Republicans should share: smaller government, lower taxes, strong national defense, and a commitment to individual liberty.

Political parties must stand for something. When Republicans were in the wilderness in the late 1970s, Ronald Reagan knew that the doctrine of "blurring the lines" between parties was not an appropriate way to win elections. Unfortunately, the Republican Party today has decided to choose a candidate who more than blurs the lines, and there is no real difference between the Democrat and the Republican in this race. This is why Doug Hoffman is running on the Conservative Party's ticket.

Republicans and conservatives around the country are sending an important message to the Republican establishment in their outstanding grassroots support for Doug Hoffman: no more politics as usual.

You can help Doug by visiting his official website below and joining me in supporting his campaign: www.doughoffmanforcongress.com/donate3.

- Sarah Palin

Senator Mike Johanns Weekly Republican Address 10/24/09 VIDEO FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT

sookietex@yahoo.com (sookietex) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 17:11:57 PDT

Senator Mike Johanns Weekly Republican Address 10/24/09 VIDEO FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT

Hi, I'm Senator Mike Johanns of Nebraska. My Republican colleagues and I have a simple test for reforming health care: Will this legislation improve your life?

Here's what I mean: Americans face rising health care costs, and it's increasingly difficult to get access to health care. True health care reform should decrease what you're paying, and make it easier for you to receive care. That should be a no-brainer.

Yet current proposals in Congress don't accomplish this goal, and could even have the opposite effect, negatively impacting each and every one of us.

To the working mother with a disabled child who uses a Flexible Spending Account and those pre-tax dollars for treatment, medicine, and therapy for your child: this plan will end these accounts as we know them today, and result in increased out of pocket costs.

To the factory worker, who has forgone pay raises for the promise of better insurance benefits for you and your family: your health insurance will be taxed and your premiums will go up.

To the recent college graduate burdened with student loans: you'll be forced to buy health insurance the government mandates, and if you refuse, you'll be hit with a penalty.

To our seniors, who wish to receive care in the comfort of their homes: funding for hospice care and home health care services would be cut.

My state, Nebraska, stands to lose $126 million for home health services, and many of the 38 Nebraska hospices would be in danger of literally shutting their doors. Nearly $500 billion will be cut from Medicare nationwide.

The bottom line is this: we're nearing 10 percent unemployment. We have a record budget deficit, and many families are working hard just to put food on the table and to pay the bills. Yet, there's no doubt about it: these proposals will negatively impact pocketbooks and paychecks across America.

President Obama has promised open deliberations in front of C-SPAN cameras for all Americans to learn how reform will impact them. However, a 1,500 page bill, full of carve-outs and backroom deals, is currently being brokered behind closed doors.

We're about to significantly alter one-sixth of our economy—now is not the time to shut Americans out.

Reports of this deal-making are shameful. Why do Michigan, Rhode Island, Oregon and Nevada get special deals on Medicaid costs? Why do New Yorkers with Cadillac plans get a pass on paying the tax? It is shameful.

So now, as a select few deliberate over legislation that will mean higher premiums across the board; higher taxes for hard-working families; and cuts to Medicare for senior citizens; I ask: will this improve your life?

Republicans are in favor of lowering costs, reforming insurance so Americans can get care when they need it, and providing assistance for those who can't afford insurance.

See, we stand ready with ideas to tackle those challenges. But hundreds of pages filled with backroom deals, higher insurance premiums, higher taxes, and cuts to Medicare are not the answer.

I am Senator Mike Johanns of Nebraska. Thank you for your time. ###

Dick Cheney: Obama "Putting Politics Over Security" VIDEO TEXT

sookietex@yahoo.com (sookietex) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 19:08:35 PDT

"Signals of indecision out of Washington hurt our allies and embolden our adversaries"

“We cannot protect this country by putting politics over security, and turning the guns on our own guys”

FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT:

Thank you all very much. It’s a pleasure to be here, and especially to receive the Keeper of the Flame Award in the company of so many good friends.

I’m told that among those you’ve recognized before me was my friend Don Rumsfeld. I don’t mind that a bit. It fits something of a pattern. In a career that includes being chief of staff, congressman, and secretary of defense, I haven’t had much that Don didn’t get first. But truth be told, any award once conferred on Donald Rumsfeld carries extra luster, and I am very proud to see my name added to such a distinguished list.

To Frank Gaffney and all the supporters of Center for Security Policy, I thank you for this honor. And I thank you for the great energy and high intelligence you bring to as vital a cause as there is – the advance of freedom and the uncompromising defense of the United States.

Most anyone who is given responsibility in matters of national security quickly comes to appreciate the commitments and structures put in place by others who came before. You deploy a military force that was planned and funded by your predecessors. You inherit relationships with partners and obligations to allies that were first undertaken years and even generations earlier. With the authority you hold for a little while, you have great freedom of action. And whatever course you follow, the essential thing is always to keep commitments, and to leave no doubts about the credibility of your country’s word.

So among my other concerns about the drift of events under the present administration, I consider the abandonment of missile defense in Eastern Europe to be a strategic blunder and a breach of good faith.

It is certainly not a model of diplomacy when the leaders of Poland and the Czech Republic are informed of such a decision at the last minute in midnight phone calls. It took a long time and lot of political courage in those countries to arrange for our interceptor system in Poland and the radar system in the Czech Republic. Our Polish and Czech friends are entitled to wonder how strategic plans and promises years in the making could be dissolved, just like that – with apparently little, if any, consultation. Seventy years to the day after the Soviets invaded Poland, it was an odd way to mark the occasion.

You hardly have to go back to 1939 to understand why these countries desire – and thought they had – a close and trusting relationship with the United States. Only last year, the Russian Army moved into Georgia, under the orders of a man who regards the collapse of the Soviet Union as the greatest geopolitical disaster of the 20th century. Anybody who has spent much time in that part of the world knows what Vladimir Putin is up to. And those who try placating him, by conceding ground and accommodating his wishes, will get nothing in return but more trouble.

What did the Obama Administration get from Russia for its abandonment of Poland and the Czech Republic, and for its famous “Reset” button? Another deeply flawed election and continued Russian opposition to sanctioning Iran for its pursuit of nuclear weapons.

In the short of it, President Obama’s cancellation of America’s agreements with the Polish and Czech governments was a serious blow to the hopes and aspirations of millions of Europeans. For twenty years, these peoples have done nothing but strive to move closer to us, and to gain the opportunities and security that America offered. These are faithful friends and NATO allies, and they deserve better. The impact of making two NATO allies walk the plank won’t be felt only in Europe. Our friends throughout the world are watching and wondering whether America will abandon them as well.

Big events turn on the credibility of the United States – doing what we said we would do, and always defending our fundamental security interests. In that category belong the ongoing missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the need to counter the nuclear ambitions of the current regime in Iran.

Candidate Obama declared last year that he would be willing to sit down with Iran's leader without preconditions. As President, he has committed America to an Iran strategy that seems to treat engagement as an objective rather than a tactic. Time and time again, he has outstretched his hand to the Islamic Republic's authoritarian leaders, and all the while Iran has continued to provide lethal support to extremists and terrorists who are killing American soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Islamic Republic continues to provide support to extremists in Syria, Lebanon, and the Palestinian territories. Meanwhile, the regime continues to spin centrifuges and test missiles. And these are just the activities we know about.

I have long been skeptical of engagement with the current regime in Tehran, but even Iran experts who previously advocated for engagement have changed their tune since the rigged elections this past June and the brutal suppression of Iran's democratic protestors. The administration clearly missed an opportunity to stand with Iran's emocrats, whose popular protests represent the greatest challenge to the Islamic Republic since its founding in 1979. Instead, the resident has been largely silent about the violent crackdown on Iran's protestors, and has moved blindly forward to engage Iran's authoritarian regime. Unless the Islamic Republic fears real consequences from the United States and the international community, it is hard to see how diplomacy will work.

Next door in Iraq, it is vitally important that President Obama, in his rush to withdraw troops, not undermine the progress we’ve made in recent years. Prime Minister Maliki met yesterday with President Obama, who began his press availability with an extended comment about Afghanistan. When he finally got around to talking bout Iraq, he told the media that he reiterated to Maliki his intention to remove all U.S. troops from Iraq. Former President Bush's bold decision to change strategy in Iraq and surge U.S. forces there set the stage for success in that country. Iraq has the potential to be a strong, democratic ally in the war on terrorism, and an example of economic and democratic reform in the heart of the Middle East. The Obama Administration has an obligation to protect this young democracy and build on the strategic success we have achieved in Iraq.

We should all be concerned as well with the direction of policy on Afghanistan. For quite a while, the cause of our military in that country went pretty much unquestioned, even on the left. The effort was routinely praised by way of contrast to Iraq, which many wrote off as a failure until the surge proved them wrong. Now suddenly – and despite our success in Iraq – we’re hearing a drumbeat of defeatism over Afghanistan. These criticisms carry the same air of hopelessness, they offer the same short-sighted arguments for walking away, and they should be summarily rejected for the same reasons of national security.

Having announced his Afghanistan strategy last March, President Obama now seems afraid to make a decision, and unable to provide his commander on the ground with the troops he needs to complete his mission.

President Obama has said he understands the stakes for America. When he announced his new strategy he couched the need to succeed in the starkest possible terms, saying, quote, “If the Afghan government falls to the Taliban – or allows al-Qaeda to go unchallenged – that country will again be a base for terrorists who want to kill as many of our people as they possibly can.” End quote.

Five months later, in August of this year, speaking at the VFW, the President made a promise to America’s armed forces. “I will give you a clear mission,” he said, “defined goals, and the equipment and support you need to get the job done. That’s my commitment to you.”

It’s time for President Obama to make good on his promise. The White House must stop dithering while America’s armed forces are in danger.

Make no mistake, signals of indecision out of Washington hurt our allies and embolden our adversaries. Waffling, while our troops on the ground face an emboldened enemy, endangers them and hurts our cause.

Recently, President Obama’s advisors have decided that it’s easier to blame the Bush Administration than support our troops. This weekend they leveled a charge that cannot go unanswered. The President’s chief of staff claimed that the Bush Administration hadn’t asked any tough questions about Afghanistan, and he complained that the Obama Administration had to start from scratch to put together a strategy.

In the fall of 2008, fully aware of the need to meet new challenges being posed by the Taliban, we dug into every aspect of Afghanistan policy, assembling a team that repeatedly went into the country, reviewing options and recommendations, and briefing President-elect Obama’s team. They asked us not to announce our findings publicly, and we agreed, giving them the benefit of our work and the benefit of the doubt. The new strategy they embraced in March, with a focus on counterinsurgency and an increase in the numbers of troops, bears a striking resemblance to the strategy we passed to them. They made a decision – a good one, I think – and sent a commander into the field to implement it.

Now they seem to be pulling back and blaming others for their failure to implement the strategy they embraced. It’s time for President Obama to do what it takes to win a war he has repeatedly and rightly called a war of necessity.

It’s worth recalling that we were engaged in Afghanistan in the 1980’s, supporting the Mujahadeen against the Soviets. That was a successful policy, but then we pretty much put Afghanistan out of our minds. While no one was watching, what followed was a civil war, the takeover by the Taliban, and the rise of bin Laden and al-Qaeda. All of that set in motion the events of 9/11. When we deployed forces eight years ago this month, it was to make sure Afghanistan would never again be a training ground for the killing of Americans. Saving untold thousands of lives is still the business at hand in this fight. And the success of our mission in Afghanistan is not only essential, it is entirely achievable with enough troops and enough political courage.

Then there’s the matter of how to handle the terrorists we capture in this ongoing war. Some of them know things that, if shared, can save a good many innocent lives. When we faced that problem in the days and years after 9/11, we made some basic decisions. We understood that organized terrorism is not just a law-enforcement issue, but a strategic threat to the United States.

At every turn, we understood as well that the safety of the country required collecting information known only to the worst of the terrorists. We had a lot of blind spots – and that’s an awful thing, especially in wartime. With many thousands of lives potentially in the balance, we didn’t think it made sense to let the terrorists answer questions in their own good time, if they answered them at all.

The intelligence professionals who got the answers we needed from terrorists had limited time, limited options, and careful legal guidance. They got the baddest actors we picked up to reveal things they really didn’t want to share. In the case of Khalid Sheik Muhammed, by the time it was over he was not was not only talking, he was practically conducting a seminar, complete with chalkboards and charts. It turned out he had a professorial side, and our guys didn’t mind at all if classes ran long. At some point, the mastermind of 9/11 became an expansive briefer on the operations and plans of al-Qaeda. It happened in the course of enhanced interrogations. All the evidence, and common sense as well, tells us why he started to talk.

The debate over intelligence gathering in the seven years after 9/11 involves much more than historical accuracy. What we’re really debating are the means and resolve to protect this country over the next few years, and long after that. Terrorists and their state sponsors must be held accountable, and America must remain on the offensive against them. We got it right after 9/11. And our government needs to keep getting it right, year after year, president after president, until the danger is finally overcome.

Our administration always faced its share of criticism, and from some quarters it was always intense. That was especially so in the later years of our term, when the dangers were as serious as ever, but the sense of general alarm after 9/11 was a fading memory. Part of our responsibility, as we saw it, was not to forget the terrible harm that had been done to America … and not to let 9/11 become the prelude to something much bigger and far worse.

Eight years into the effort, one thing we know is that the enemy has spent most of this time on the defensive – and every attempt to strike inside the United States has failed. So you would think that our successors would be going to the intelligence community saying, “How did you did you do it? What were the keys to preventing another attack over that period of time?”

Instead, they’ve chosen a different path entirely – giving in to the angry left, slandering people who did a hard job well, and demagoguing an issue more serious than any other they’ll face in these four years. No one knows just where that path will lead, but I can promise you this: There will always be plenty of us willing to stand up for the policies and the people that have kept this country safe.

On the political left, it will still be asserted that tough interrogations did no good, because this is an article of faith for them, and actual evidence is unwelcome and disregarded. President Obama himself has ruled these methods out, and when he last addressed the subject he filled the air with vague and useless platitudes. His preferred device is to suggest that we could have gotten the same information by other means. We’re invited to think so. But this ignores the hard, inconvenient truth that we did try other means and techniques to elicit information from Khalid Sheikh Muhammed and other al-Qaeda operatives, only turning to enhanced techniques when we failed to produce the actionable intelligence we knew they were withholding. In fact, our intelligence professionals, in urgent circumstances with the highest of stakes, obtained specific information, prevented specific attacks, and saved American lives.

In short, to call enhanced interrogation a program of torture is not only to disregard the program’s legal underpinnings and safeguards. Such accusations are a libel against dedicated professionals who acted honorably and well, in our country’s name and in our country’s cause. What’s more, to completely rule out enhanced interrogation in the future, in favor of half-measures, is unwise in the extreme. In the fight against terrorism, there is no middle ground, and half-measures keep you half exposed.

For all that we’ve lost in this conflict, the United States has never lost its moral bearings – and least of all can that be said of our armed forces and intelligence personnel. They have done right, they have made our country safer, and a lot of Americans are alive today because of them.

Last January 20th, our successors in office were given the highest honors that the voters of this country can give any two citizens. Along with that, George W. Bush and I handed the new president and vice president both a record of success in the war on terror, and the policies to continue that record and ultimately prevail. We had been the decision makers, but those seven years, four months, and nine days without another 9/11 or worse, were a combined achievement: a credit to all who serve in the defense of America, including some of the finest people I’ve ever met.

What the present administration does with those policies is their call to make, and will become a measure of their own record. But I will tell you straight that I am not encouraged when intelligence officers who acted in the service of this country find themselves hounded with a zeal that should be reserved for America’s enemies. And it certainly is not a good sign when the Justice Department is set on a political mission to discredit, disbar, or otherwise persecute the very people who helped protect our nation in the years after 9/11.

There are policy differences, and then there are affronts that have to be answered every time without equivocation, and this is one of them. We cannot protect this country by putting politics over security, and turning the guns on our own guys.

We cannot hope to win a war by talking down our country and those who do its hardest work – the men and women of our military and intelligence services. They are, after all, the true keepers of the flame.

Thank you very much.