A Message Regarding the Vacancy on the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections

A message from Ron Lisy

Dear Friends,

As you are probably aware, our friend Republican Cuyahoga County Board of Elections member Sally Florkiewicz has announced her intention to resign from the Board effective April 2nd.

This follows a politically charged demand from Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner to all four Cuyahoga county Board of Elections members to resign their positions.

Of the four members, only Ohio Republican Party Chairman Bob Bennett, who also serves as Chairman of the Board of Elections remains seated on the Board past April 2nd.

Many of you are also aware that I have been employed at the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections for the past nine months, joining the Board staff soon after the May 2006 primary debacle.

I've learned the nuts and bolts of the elections process, and seen many areas where the Board needs to improve. I believe it is crucial that our faith in the elections process be restored, and the value of the county taxpayers' dollars be respected.

Several of you have stated that this experience and insight along with my previous activities with the Republican Party, and as an elected member of Bedford City Council would make me an ideal candidate for the Board of Elections vacancy.

Although I am flattered at the suggestion, and did give it active consideration, I will not be a candidate for this vacancy.

In my opinion, an extremely qualified candidate, and an extremely committed Republican has stepped forward and declared himself a candidate -- that person is Judge Jeff Hastings.

Jeff is an ideal person for this seat, with experience in the Ohio Attorney General's office under both Betty Montgomery and Jim Petro, experience serving as Executive Director of the Cuyahoga County Republican Party, and a stint as a Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge, which earned him wide praise for his judicial temperment and legal skills--and nearly re-election despite running against a "legendary name" and the Democratic tidal wave in Ohio.

Jeff Hastings will do us proud on the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections.

I hope that you will attend the meeting of the Cuyahoga County Republican Party Central & Executive Committees, scheduled for Wednesday April 4th at 6 to 8 pm, Independence Civic Center, 6363 Selig Drive in Independence and join me in supporting Judge Jeff Hastings for the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections.

With Regards,

Ron Lisy

Analyst says Democrats' budget would hit families hard

Jim Brown
OneNewsNow.com
March 29, 2007

A budget analyst says a plan by Democrats in Congress to implement the "largest peacetime tax increase in U.S. history" would deliver a damaging blow to American families.

Critics of the Democrats' proposed budget for fiscal year 2008 estimate it would increase taxes $900 billion over five years and $3.3 trillion over ten years. Brian Riedl, senior budget analyst at the Heritage Foundation, says if the Democrats' budget were enacted into law, the typical American household would see an average tax increase of $2,641 per year over the next ten years.

Riedl says the proposed plan does not do a single thing to address growing entitlements for millions of retiring baby boomers -- an issue he describes as "the greatest economic challenge of our era."

"We're about to have 77 million retiring baby boomers added on to our Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid rolls. The costs are enormous," says the analyst. "I mean, this would force us to either double all tax rates or pretty much eliminate every other government program if we don't do anything about this."

Yet the Democrats, Riedl says, prefer to "kick the can down the road" and ignore it.

"They reject the president's reform proposals [and] they say, we'll let the future worry about it," he laments. "And what's even more cynical and irresponsible about that is that the head of the Senate Budget Committee, Kent Conrad (D - North Dakota), went on 60 Minutes and said that Congress knows this is a problem, but too many members lack the courage to address it." And so does Conrad's own budget, the Heritage Foundation spokesman adds.

Riedl says the Democrats' budget would repeal all of President Bush's tax cuts, including the child credit, bring back the marriage penalty and the death tax, as well as raise taxes on investors.





All Original Content Copyright 2006-2007 American Family News Network - All Rights Reserved

Stockman charged with securities fraud, will "vigorously fight" charges

By Martha Graybow

Reuters

NEW YORK (March 26) - U.S. prosecutors on Monday charged David Stockman, a former chief executive of Collins & Aikman Corp., and seven other former company officials with fraud related to alleged financial misdeeds at the bankrupt auto parts maker.

 

Stockman, a former Reagan administration budget director, and others are accused of misleading the company's investors to hide its declining financial condition, according to the indictment brought by federal prosecutors in Manhattan.

Stockman "hid the full truth from the company's investors and lenders," Manhattan U.S. Attorney Michael Garcia said at a news conference.

He said that Stockman and other executives "resorted to lies, tricks and fraud" to boost Collins & Aikman's financial performance when they could not improve it legitimately.

Stockman and three others -- former Collins & Aikman executives J. Michael Stepp, David Cosgrove and Paul Barnaba -- were charged in a criminal indictment unsealed on Monday with conspiracy, securities fraud and other charges related to the alleged scheme. Prosecutors said the fraud lasted from December 2001 until the company filed for bankruptcy in May 2005.

Four other former company officials have pleaded guilty to criminal charges related to the alleged scheme, bringing the total number of people charged in the case to eight, prosecutors said.

Collins & Aikman was not named in the indictment. Garcia said his office had reached a non-prosecution agreement with the company, which has agreed to continue to cooperate with the government in its investigation.

Stockman, in a statement posted on his lawyer's Web site, said that the government's charges were implausible.

"My actions were motivated by the goal of saving the company, its investors and thousands of employees from a brutal financial squeeze by the Big Three automakers," he said. "There is not a hint of wrongful gain."

Stockman left the company five days before it filed for bankruptcy.

Separately, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission brought civil charges against Stockman and other individuals, as well as against the company. The SEC said the auto parts supplier has settled the charges, without admitting or denying the allegations. The agreement requires court approval.

Collins & Aikman remains under bankruptcy protection and is in the process of selling its remaining assets.

A former Michigan congressman, Stockman headed the Office of Management and Budget during the Reagan administration. He became famous as a promoter of supply-side economic policies, dubbed "Reaganomics."

Stockman became a private equity investor after leaving government. He joined Collins & Aikman in 2002, soon after Heartland Industrial Partners, a buyout fund that he co-founded in 1999, bought a controlling stake in the company. Stockman and Heartland lost hundreds of millions of dollars when Collins & Aikman sought bankruptcy protection.

Last week, in anticipation of government charges, Stockman told The Wall Street Journal he would "vigorously fight" any federal criminal charges filed against him.

A Collins & Aikman representative was not immediately available to comment on the indictments.

Additional reporting by Edith Honan in New York and David Bailey in Chicago

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Club for Growth Denounces Pork-Stuffed Spending Bill

Club for Growth Denounces Passage of Pork-Stuffed
House Iraq Spending Bill
Singles out "Blue Dog" Democrats who Broke Their Word

The Club for Growth denounced the 218 Democrats and 2 Republicans in the House of Representative who voted for the Iraq supplemental spending bill, containing $24 billion worth of wasteful pork-barrel projects. The Club specifically singled out freshmen Democratic Representatives Nancy Boyda (KS-02); Heath Schuler (NC-11); Nick Lampson (TX-22); Tim Mahoney (FL-16); and Harry Mitchell (AZ-05) who won their House seats on a campaign to restore fiscal responsibility to Congress and cut out earmarks. Instead these politicians caved to political pressure, throwing American taxpayers under the bus on their way down.

"Unfortunately, these candidates will say anything to get elected, but when push comes to shove, they roll over and play dead at the smallest command from their Democratic Party leaders," said Club for Growth President Pat Toomey. "The U.S. Congress though, is not a canine obedience school. American taxpayers want to be represented by responsible stewards of their hard-earned money, not poodles. Ultimately, these congressmen will be held accountable for their empty promises and their cavalier attitude towards American taxpayers."

"The Club for Growth also urges President Bush to abide by his threat to veto the spending legislation when it reaches his desk," Mr. Toomey continued. "While the Democrats have made it clear that they cannot keep even the simplest of pledges, we hope the President will set a better example."

Romney finds peril in checklist for '08

As Mitt Romney transitions from one-term governor to presidential candidate, he has been ticking through a presidential checklist, sometimes with perilous results.

Where he lacked foreign policy experience, his staff arranged one-day visits to Iraq, Afghanistan and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Check, check, check.

Where there were questions about Second Amendment issues, he enrolled as a "lifetime" member of the National Rifle Association.

Check again.

But this month, Romney scratched when he tried to wade through the cauldron of Cuban-American politics during a speech to South Florida Republicans.

"Hugo Chavez has tried to steal an inspiring phrase – 'Patria o muerte, venceremos.'" Romney said, referring to the Venezuelan president and persistent U.S. critic. "It does not belong to him. It belongs to a free Cuba."

In truth, the phrase does not belong to free Cubans. It has been the trademark speechmaking sign-off of their most despised opponent, Fidel Castro. And unlike Romney, Castro would switch to English to declare, "Fatherland or death, we shall overcome."

The mistake pointed up Romney's newness to the scene and the freshness of some of his positions.

"No human being can ever know every nuance to every issue. And the steeper the learning curve, the more likely you are to see inadvertent errors," said Dan Schnur, a Republican communications consultant in California. He worked for Pete Wilson's 1996 presidential campaign and Sen. John McCain's 2000 presidential campaign, but is not involved in the 2008 race.

"I've never seen one of these things take down a campaign, but it's critical for the candidate to show these type of things are an aberration, not a rule," Schnur said.

Unlike some of his better-known Democratic and Republican rivals, Romney, 60, lacks extensive national and international political experience. Romney has made a series of foreign and domestic policy pronouncements as he rushes to close gaps in his campaign's portfolio.

On the plus side, Romney's mostly nonpolitical background – primarily as a venture capitalist, as well as head of the 2002 Winter Olympics – means he does not have a long history on many contentious issues. That gives him great leeway as he adopts his policy positions.

At the same time, it puts him at a disadvantage with more experienced rivals, for whom many contemporary issues are second nature.

That lack of depth and familiarity increases the chance of missteps, as well as outright contradictions with past policy views.

In Romney's case, critics have lambasted him for reversals on abortion rights, gay rights and tax policy.

His Chavez comment to a March 9 Lincoln Day dinner in Miami-Dade County, as well as his mispronunciation of the names of several prominent Cuban-Americans, set off a murmur within the crowd.

Kevin Madden, Romney's spokesman, said the speech was overwhelmingly well-received despite any mistakes.

"I think what's new is there is a higher level of scrutiny now because he's a presidential candidate," Madden said. "But as far as the governor's ideas, the substance of his proposals and his blueprint for America, this is the first time everybody is hearing it, and we are confident that the substance of his policies is what's going to bring more and more people to his campaign."

Recent campaigns are littered with examples of similar gaffes.

In 2004, Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts, the Democratic presidential nominee, found himself backpedaling after he stopped in Wisconsin and declared his affection for "Lambert" Field. The proper name for the home of the state's beloved Green Bay Packers is "Lambeau" Field.

McCain took an unusual step as he proceeded through his own position checklist amid the 2000 GOP primary campaign.

After repeatedly flubbing when asked whether it was appropriate for South Carolina to fly the Confederate flag over its Capitol, McCain pulled out a statement written by his staff and read it aloud.

For the record, McCain declared that he saw the flag as a symbol of Southern heritage, not slavery. Yet after he lost the nomination to then Texas Gov. George W. Bush, McCain flew back to South Carolina and apologized.

The senator who prided himself on "straight talk" said he personally opposed the flag, but had offered a purely political answer during the campaign.

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Hagel: Some see impeachment as option

With his go-it-alone approach on Iraq, President Bush is flouting Congress and the public, so angering lawmakers that some consider impeachment an option over his war policy, a senator from Bush's own party said Sunday.

Meanwhile, the Senate's No. 2 Republican leader harshly criticized House Democrats for setting an "artificial date" for withdrawing troops from Iraq and said he believes Republicans have enough votes to prevent passage of a similar bill in the Senate.

"We need to put that kind of decision in the hands of our commanders who are there on the ground with the men and women," said Sen. Trent Lott, R-Miss. "For Congress to impose an artificial date of any kind is totally irresponsible."

GOP Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and a frequent critic of the war, stopped short of calling for Bush's impeachment. But he made clear that some lawmakers viewed that as an option should Bush choose to push ahead despite public sentiment against the war.

"Any president who says, I don't care, or I will not respond to what the people of this country are saying about Iraq or anything else, or I don't care what the Congress does, I am going to proceed – if a president really believes that, then there are – what I was pointing out, there are ways to deal with that," said Hagel, who is considering a 2008 presidential run.

The Senate planned to begin debate Monday on a war spending bill that would set a nonbinding goal of March 31, 2008, for the removal of combat troops.

That comes after the House narrowly passed a bill Friday that would pay for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan this year but would require that combat troops come home from Iraq before September 2008 – or earlier if the Iraqi government did not meet certain requirements.

On Sunday, Hagel said he was bothered by Bush's apparent disregard of congressional sentiment on Iraq, such as his decision to send additional troops. He said lawmakers now stood ready to stand up to the president when necessary.

In the April edition of Esquire magazine, Hagel described Bush as someone who doesn't believe he's accountable to anyone. "He's not accountable anymore, which isn't totally true. You can impeach him, and before this is over, you might see calls for his impeachment. I don't know. It depends on how this goes," Hagel told the magazine.

In his weekly address Saturday, Bush accused Democrats of partisanship in the House vote and said it would cut the number of troops below a level that U.S. military commanders say they need. Vice President Dick Cheney also accused Democrats of undermining U.S. troops in Iraq and of sending a message to terrorists that America will retreat in the face danger.

"We have clearly a situation where the president has lost the confidence of the American people in his war effort," Hagel said. "It is now time, going into the fifth year of that effort, for the Congress to step forward and be part of setting some boundaries and some conditions as to our involvement."

"This is not a monarchy," he added, referring to the possibility that some lawmakers may seek impeachment. "There are ways to deal with it. And I would hope the president understands that."

Lott said setting withdrawal dates is a futile and potentially dangerous exercise because Bush has made clear he will veto any such legislation.

"There are members in the Senate in both parties that are not comfortable with how things have gone in Iraq," Lott said. "But they understand that artificial timetables, even as goals, are a problem. ...We will try to take out the arbitrary dates."

Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., said the Senate bill seeks to heed the recommendations of the bipartisan Iraq Study Group by setting a goal of withdrawing some troops while leaving others behind to train the Iraqi army for border patrol and other missions.

"That, combined with a very aggressive, diplomatic effort in the region is what we're going to need to have," he said.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., said she believed that setting a timetable was appropriate but declined to predict whether it would garner enough Senate votes to pass.

"People of this country have spoken overwhelmingly. It's been constant now," Feinstein said. "They want us out. It is time for the Senate to weigh in. I hope we will have the votes."

Hagel spoke on ABC's "This Week," Feinstein and Lott appeared on "Fox News Sunday," and Nelson was on CNN's "Late Edition."

Elyria's Midway Mall Removes "No Guns" Signs

Written by Rich Hardway

from Ohioans for Concealed Carry...www.ohioccw.org

I have been asked to write an account about my experience in changing management's opinion and policy on posting "No Guns" signs on the doors at Elyria's Midway Mall in Elyria, OH so others might learn from the way I handled the situation. I was asked by Daniel White, OFCC Director-At-Large, to verify that the Midway Mall had indeed posted signs on the doors as reported by a member in the forums on the OFCC web site. He asked me if I would be willing to talk to someone about their policy if the doors were in fact posted. I accepted his request on behalf of the members of OFCC and went to the mall that evening after work. I walked the perimeter of the mall to look at each door and indeed all but one was posted. I then went to the office of the mall but found it to be closed because it was after 5:00 PM. I then decided this was a good thing because it gave me a chance to prepare what I wanted to say to the mall managers. I then went to the information booth where they rent the strollers and wheel chairs to ask who I might be able to talk to about the signs or someone in public relations. The lady handed me a business card for the assistant manager of the mall. That night at home I developed my plan of action with the power points that I wished to cover in a meeting with him the next morning The next morning bright and early I went to the mall wearing an OFCC shirt and a large smile on my face. I asked to speak with the gentleman on the card I received the night before. When he came to the counter, I introduced myself and asked him if we could sit down and discuss the mall's new policy prohibiting legal concealed handguns. We began our conversation on what OFCC is and represents. Then we began talking about the mall's reasons for changing their policy and posting of the property. Within a few minutes, he stopped me and said that he wanted to bring in a couple other management members. After a brief introduction to the general manager, Mark, I began all over again. I asked them why they suddenly changed their policy. Mark said that they wanted to create a safer environment for their customers' shopping experience. I asked them if they truly feel that they had achieved this goal by refusing to allow law-abiding citizens in the mall that had properly and legally obtained a permit from the state of Ohio to carry a concealed handgun. I went on to say that I don't feel they did. They made a reference to the recent shooting in a Utah mall and that they did not want a similar action in their mall. I fully agreed with them that I also never want to hear or see such a thing in any mall. I then countered with the facts. The facts are that a deranged teenager went to that mall with a premeditated plan to illegally assault and kill as many victims as he possibly could. If it was not for the fact that an off-duty police officer was dining in that mall at the time, many more innocent people would have become victims at the killer's hands. The truth is that due to the off duty police officer's ability to carry a concealed handgun, he was able to cut the rampage short until police arrived and put an end to the carnage. This man saved innocent lives. I then asked them if they really think that any sign posted at the door of the Utah mall would have stopped the teen from entering that mall on that day with the small arsenal that he had to support his plan of terror. In fact, that mall did have a "No Weapons" policy. John Lott reported on his website and linked to a picture of the actual sign on the doors. You can view the sign by clicking here.

I asked both managers if they had ever read the concealed carry law, as I handed them a copy of it. Then I made the following statement: "People that have a license to carry a concealed firearm issued by the state of Ohio have obtained that license after successfully attending the mandatory class, been fingerprinted by their local Sheriff, and passed a complete background check that the Sheriff has performed."

When someone has a license you know that that person is someone that has a clean background and has never been convicted of a serious crime. You can not say that about anyone who comes into your mall that has not received a license just off the fact they don't have a license

Then I told them that people that have a license would do one of two things when they see the sign on the door. They will either return to their car and remove their sidearm, locking it in the trunk before returning to shop or they will do their shopping at a retailer that respects and supports their Second Amendment rights under the law.

Let's look at Wal-Mart for a moment. I think we can all agree that Wal-Mart is one of the largest retails in the world and they understand the thinking here. They removed their signs and changed their policy to a pro-choice stance and with that they let the American people decide if they want to carry a concealed handgun or not with their license.

Although law-abiding people will honor your request to not bring a weapon into your mall, criminals will ignore your signs and do as they please. Which customers would you prefer do their shopping here?

The Manager was agreeing with what I was saying and he said that the mall would remove the signs and make changes to their policy as well.

Three hours later I received the following e-mail from him.

Mr. Hardway:

Thank you for coming in to see me today and addressing your concerns. After talking with you and considering the facts that you have voiced we have reconsidered our position and have elected to remove the signs prohibiting the carrying of concealed weapons. They have all been removed today.

Our intention for posting the signage was an attempt to create a safer environment for our shoppers. However, your points are well taken and thus we have removed the signage.

We hope you and the other members of the O.F.C.C. will continue to consider the Midway Mall a safe place to shop in the future that does value and respect your rights under Federal and State laws. We recognize the fact as pointed out by you that people whom have been issued a permit to carry a concealed weapon are law bidding citizens and that's the type of shoppers we want in our stores.

Thanks again.

Mark J. Bressler
General Manager
Midway Mall

As OFCC members, we can all make a difference with a polite and understanding voice. The use of diplomacy with education and the truth must be our weapons of choice. The facts are a powerful thing when delivered with respect.


Mr. Hardway is a proud OFCC member that shows what one dedicated individual can achieve. This is his first article for our website.

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Presidential candidate Brownback: Homosexual acts are immoral

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Republican presidential candidate Sam Brownback is backing the nation's top general over his remarks that homosexual acts are immoral.

The Kansas senator planned to send a letter on Thursday to President Bush supporting Marine Gen. Peter Pace, who earlier this week likened homosexuality to adultery and said the military should not condone it by allowing gay personnel to serve openly.

The chairman of the Joint Chiefs also said in an interview with the Chicago Tribune: "I believe that homosexual acts between individuals are immoral and that we should not condone immoral acts. I do not believe the United States is well-served by a policy that says it is OK to be immoral in any way." (Watch how Pace's comments stirred the debate )

'Unfair and unfortunate'
Lawmakers of both parties criticized the remarks, but Brownback's letter called the criticism "both unfair and unfortunate."

"We should not expect someone as qualified, accomplished and articulate as General Pace to lack personal views on important moral issues," Brownback said. "In fact, we should expect that anyone entrusted with such great responsibility will have strong moral views."

Asked whether he agreed with Pace's comments, Brownback said: "I do not believe being a homosexual is immoral, but I do believe homosexual acts are. I'm a Catholic and the church has clear teachings on this."

Clinton: It's for 'others to conclude'
Democratic candidates Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama initially tried to sidestep the issue when asked about it this week, but both sought to clarify their opposition to Pace's comments on Thursday. (Read how Clinton later said she "does not share [Pace's] view, plain and simple")

Obama did not directly answer on Wednesday when asked if same-sex relationships were immoral, Newsday reported. Obama issued a statement on Thursday, saying, "I do not agree with General Pace that homosexuality is immoral. Attempts to divide people like this have consumed too much of our politics over the past six years."

Clinton told ABC News Wednesday that it's for "others to conclude" whether homosexuality is immoral. On Thursday, she put out a statement saying that she'd heard from gay friends who said her answer sounded evasive.

"I should have echoed my colleague Senator John Warner's statement forcefully stating that homosexuality is not immoral because that is what I believe," her statement said.

Meanwhile, Democratic hopeful Bill Richardson called Pace's remarks "unfortunate" and said the Bush administration should reject them, adding that he would push Congress to repeal military's "don't ask, don't tell policy" in which gay service members are required to keep their sexual orientation private.

"People should not be judged based on their sexual orientation," the New Mexico Governor said in Santa Fe. "Throughout my entire career I have fought for equal rights and against discrimination of any kind."

Brownback: 'We applaud Gen. Pace'
While there is no indication that Pace's job is in jeopardy, Brownback's letter to Bush said "personal moral beliefs" should not disqualify anyone from a position of leadership in the U.S. military.

"General Pace's recent remarks do not deserve the criticism they have received," the letter said. "In fact, we applaud General Pace for maintaining a personal commitment to moral principles."

Pace said he supports "don't ask, don't tell," something Brownback said is "an appropriate policy."

Brownback, a favorite of the religious right, has been a prominent opponent of gay marriage.

Brownback spokesman Brian Hart said the senator was working Thursday to get other lawmakers to sign his letter. Hart said Brownback's office would not disclose who has signed on to the letter until there is "a final count."

On his campaign bus in Iowa on Thursday, Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, declined to comment when asked whether he agreed with Gen. Peter Pace's comment that homosexuality was immoral. He said he still backs the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy. "It's working."

Another Republican candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who has been criticized for changing his views on gay rights to conform with conservative views, said he thought Pace's comments were "inappropriate for public discourse."

"He can believe what he wants to, that's the great thing about America -- believe in what you want. But in a governmental setting, the right way to go is to show more of an outpouring of tolerance," Romney said on CNN's "Larry King Live."

He said he didn't think the "don't ask, don't tell policy" made a lot of sense, but added he wouldn't change it now.

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Do we need Churches to be that politically active?

While I do believe it is Church going conservative God given right to vote and fight for his right to have a Church and worship God, I am not sure of how much of a responsibility it is for him/her to be politically active. As a Pentecostal conservative I do get very involved in politics, but I do not try to recruit people from my Church because I feel it’s wrong to do so. When I see a young mother bring her kids to church and just try to do the right thing for God, who am I to ask her to come and make phone calls for some candidate that may be seeking votes from the conservative right? but also introducing this person to a arena they may not understand. A few weeks ago I posted something from my church web site “Consciously sedated in a Cultural Quagmire” written by our web master Jeremy Kiner. I am not sure but I don’t think he is ever been involved in a political campaign but he goes to collage and is very well aware of what is going on in the world and knows very well who the enemy is. And he does vote and I think most Church people including I feel the same way he does in his posting.

For some people in Church need to be focused on God, Church and family alone and not get involved in a world of back stabbing politics. For those of us that do go to Church and are politically active we need to remember to fight for those people rights. And besides that I think that the Republican think tank just wants our votes and don’t care what or who we think should best run the country other wise the Republican front runners would be people like Sam Brownback, Mike Huckabee, Duncan Hunter, Tom Tancredo
Instead of trying to appease the left and right wing moderates with the likes of John McCain, Mitt Romney, Rudy Giuliani who has tabloid flavor but no true conservative backing except that they say they will go against there personal beliefs and support the true conservative.

If you want Church People to vote, Don’t ask them to weaken there morals for the Republican party, Just give them a candidate that has a very strong conservative evangelical background, and will run the office with that agenda and passion, the God fearing conservatives will come out of there Churches and go to the polls in massive numbers.

If you would like to read "Consciously Sedated in a Cultural Quagmire" by Jeremy Kiner please click below.

http://www.thebranchcommunity.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=85&Itemid=63

Folger urges conservatives not to settle for GOP frontrunners

Jim Brown
OneNewsNow.com
March 12, 2007


Conservative author and talk show host Janet Folger of the group Faith 2 Action believes GOP presidential frontrunners -- Rudy Giuliani, John McCain and Mitt Romney -- are Republicans in name only. Meanwhile, she says GOP presidential candidates who actually agree with the party's platform are not even being considered by the mainstream press and many conservative leaders.

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Folger calls Rudy Giuliani "completely unacceptable," describing the former New York City Mayor as pro-abortion and "anti-marriage." And as for Arizona Senator John McCain, she says he is "disqualified" because of his opposition to the Federal Marriage Amendment and his campaign finance reform, which she contends "blacked out free speech."

McCain should also be disqualified for, among other things, "leading the 'gang of 14' who stood in the way of breaking the judicial filibuster," the Faith 2 Action spokeswoman says. He is also "a guy that voted against the federal marriage amendment [and] who, in his campaign finance reform, literally blacked out free speech, ripped it up," she notes.

Essentially, 30 days before a primary or 60 days before a general election, Folger explains, Senator McCain in effect tells Amerians they can forget about free speech. "In fact," she notes, "John McCain just sued Wisconsin Right to Life, taking them to court because they had the audacity to suggest that people lobby Congress, and it was during one of those federally mandated gag rules."

But Folger says she is especially troubled that many conservative leaders are rushing to support former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney. "This is the most concerning," she says, "because there's a lot of people who are running to him because he suddenly and conveniently switched from being an ardent, hardcore pro-abort."

In actuality, the pro-family talk radio host says, Romney is "extreme," as he "not only wants abortion -- he wants you to pay for it with your tax dollars." And that is exactly what the candidate's healthcare plan said, she points out, "even after his supposed conversion."

Romney also "mandated marriage licenses to homosexual couples," Folger adds, "even after his supposed pro-marriage conversion." Instead of looking at name-only Republican presidential hopefuls such as McCain and Romney, she argues, conservatives need to take a closer look at candidates like Duncan Hunter, Tom Tancredo, Sam Brownback and Mike Huckabee, and others who more closely align with the Republican Party's platform.






All Original Content Copyright 2006-2007 American Family News Network - All Rights Reserved

Is Giuliani Too New York?

"When Republicans say they are skeptical that" former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) "can survive their party's presidential nominating process, they usually point to his record of support for abortion rights, gay rights and gun control," notes the New York Times. "But there may be a less obvious hurdle that Mr. Giuliani has to overcome: Whether he is too much of a New Yorker for the rest of the country."

"Americans like New York City, as officials in both parties are quick to say. Most find it vibrant, entertaining and an object of sympathy and pride since the terrorist attacks five and a half years ago that made Mr. Giuliani the national contender he is today. But the city, with all its tumult and rough edges, is not for everyone. And few people embody all the complicated facets of New York City as much as Mr. Giuliani."

From Taegan Goddard's Political Wire- http://politicalwire.com/

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February 2007 Marks 42nd Consecutive Month Of Job Growth

Fact Sheet: Job Creation Continues - More Than 7.5 Million Jobs Created Since August 2003

Today, The Bureau Of Labor Statistics Released New Jobs Figures – 97,000 Jobs Created In February. Since August 2003, more than 7.5 million jobs have been created, with 2 million jobs created over the last 12 months. Our economy has now added jobs for 42 straight months, and the unemployment rate remains low at 4.5 percent.

More American Workers Are Finding Jobs And Taking Home More Pay

• Real Wages Rose 2.2 Percent Over The Past 12 Months Ending In January. This is substantially faster than the average rate of the late 1990s economy, and it means an extra $1,279 in the past year for the typical family with two wage earners.

• Real After-Tax Income Per Person Has Risen By 10 Percent – More Than $2,900 – Since President Bush Took Office.

• The Economy Has Now Experienced Over Five Years Of Uninterrupted Growth, Averaging 3.0 Percent A Year Since 2001.

• The Dow Is Up Over 40 Percent Since The President's Tax Relief Took Effect. The NASDAQ is up more than 55 percent over the same period.

The President's Agenda Will Help Keep America's Economy Strong, Flexible, And Dynamic

In His FY 2008 Budget, President Bush Laid Out A Detailed Plan To Balance The Budget By 2012 Without Raising Taxes. He has called on Congress to work together with him to spend taxpayers' money wisely and to tackle unfunded obligations in entitlement programs such as Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.

President Bush Has Called On Congress To Act In Four Key Areas To Keep America's Economy Flexible And Dynamic:

1. Breaking Down Barriers To Trade So American Workers Can Sell More Goods And Services To The 95 Percent Of The World's Customers Who Live Outside Our Borders. Global trade talks like the Doha Round at the World Trade Organization have the potential to level the playing field so America can compete on fair terms in foreign markets, while helping lift millions of people out of poverty around the world. The President calls on Congress to extend Trade Promotion Authority so we can complete the Doha Round and make headway on other trade agreements.

2. Making Private Health Insurance More Affordable And Giving Patients More Choices And Control Over Their Health Care. The President has proposed reforming the tax code with a standard deduction for every American who buys health insurance, whether they get it through their jobs or on their own. His proposal also taps the innovation of States in making basic, affordable insurance available to all by creating Affordable Choices grants to redirect institutional subsidies to help ensure the poor and hard-to-insure have access to private health insurance.

3. Continuing To Diversify Our Energy Supply To Benefit Our Economy, National Security, And Environment. In his State of the Union Address, the President set an ambitious goal of reducing gasoline usage in the United States by 20 percent over the next 10 years – Twenty in Ten. To reach this goal, he has proposed setting a mandatory fuels standard to require 35 billion gallons of renewable and other alternative fuels in 2017 and reforming and improving fuel efficiency standards for cars like we did with light trucks, which could reduce projected annual gasoline use by up to 8.5 billion gallons in 2017.

4. Reauthorizing And Strengthening The No Child Left Behind Act While Preserving Its Core Principles. A strong and vibrant education system is vital to maintaining our Nation's competitive edge in the world and extending economic opportunity to every citizen here at home.

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Long Shot GOP Candidate Brownback Just Five Points Behind Clinton

With the high negatives of Clinton & Obama's lack of experience, I've been convinced that the DEM that will be toughest to beat is Edwards. A true conservative like Brownback may be the best matchup against him-- Even though Edwards is now positioning himself to the left of Clinton & Obama, he may be acceptable to moderate voters once he centers his views for the general election. A Republican candidate who appeals to traditional Republican points, a la Ronald Reagan is crucial. Clearly acticulated GOP values win.

The danger with Brownback is that he cannot go overboard with being "the religious candidate"- a tag that alienated secular voters against Ken Blackwell in the 2006 Ohio Governors race. Brownback's religious views can only be a part of his marketing "package". The role-model here is George W. Bush. Be religious, but don't be a "bible-thumper"-- no Pat Robertson campaign, or the moderates will flee for the DEM.

But then why not a true GOP moderate like Giuliani or McCain? look to the 2000 election and the result with the left fleeing to GREEN Ralph Nader. A well-known Constitution Party candidate, like Pat Buchanan, Alan Keyes or Tom Tancredo and the DEMs can walk back into the White House with 48% of the popular vote.

--Ron Lisy

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From rasmussenreports.com

The first Rasmussen Reports telephone survey gauging general-election support for Republican Senator Sam Brownback (news, bio, voting record) shows him trailing Democratic Senator Hillary Clinton among likely voters by the narrow margin of just five percentage points. It's Clinton 46% Brownback 41%.

However, Democratic Senator Barack Obama (news, bio, voting record) leads Senator Brownback by the much wider margin of 49% to 34%.

Clinton and Obama lead the polls for Democrats seeking their party's 2008 Presidential nomination. While Clinton has been ahead in every Rasmussen Reports poll for the Democratic nomination, Obama and former North Carolina Senator John Edwards generally do better in general election match-ups (see summary of all match-ups).

Brownback, who announced his presidential candidacy on January 20 as a staunch religious conservative, is in the second tier of GOP Presidential hopefuls.

Both Clinton and Obama have high name recognition, but Clinton is saddled with higher unfavorables. Forty-eight percent (48%) view her unfavorably, 34% "very unfavorably." Throughout 2005 and 2006, our Hillary Meter indicated that a plurality of likely voters would not vote for the former First Lady no matter who she might run against.

Obama is viewed unfavorably by 37%. Only 14% dislike him strongly.

Brownback is an unknown to 43%, and viewed favorably by only 19%. Just a couple weeks after his announcement, the percentage who view him favorably isn't any larger even among Republicans.

That may change as Senator Brownback becomes better known. But the enthusiasm especially for Giuliani among Republicans persists despite the mayor's willingness to openly acknowledge disagreements with social conservatives on abortion and other hot-button issues.

This national telephone survey of 800 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports March 5-6, 2007. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 4 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence.

Rasmussen Reports is an electronic publishing firm specializing in the collection, publication, and distribution of public opinion polling information.

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Gun Owners of America Praises Overturn of DC Gun Ban

"For 31 years, the DC gun ban has been the criminal class's best friend. DC victims have been legally disarmed and helpless in the face of savagery from home invaders and street assailants," said Larry Pratt about today‚s ruling by the DC Court of Appeals overturning the DC law.

"DC has been home to the nation's highest murder rate for most of the 31 years of the gun ban. DC's politicians and the Congress as well never wanted to admit that their law was killing people. The criminals were the only ones to benefit from the law because they never cared what that law, or any other law, said.

"Congress has never overturned this murderous law, even though it is their constitutional responsibility to oversee the laws of the District of Columbia. The Court has provided a lengthy and well-reasoned rebuke to those who have willfully misinterpreted what the Second Amendment protects ˆ an individual right to keep and bear arms.

"It remains to be seen whether the Supreme Court will choose to take up this case. In the meantime, the sovereigns of the country, the individual American citizen, have had a measure of their rightful power restored to them," Pratt concluded.

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National NAACP refuses to do the work required for progress for black people

by Cornell McCleary, http://www.formerwtvnbadboy.typepad.com/

NAACP Chairman Julian Bond and a majority of the 64-member national board wants to continue giving lip service for progress instead of taking responsibility for making progress happen.

Outgoing President of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Bruce S. Gordon officially, and finally, told the world what most African-Americans already knows.  The national NAACP does not want to do anything but look good and get in peoples face.  The real challenges facing blacks, black on black crime, babies having babies, lack of job skills and the likes, the national leadership wants no part of that.  Even though their list of what whites are doing to hinder the progress of blacks is short, the battle cry of the national leadership is still "We shall overcome."

Personally, I can feel Gordon's pain.  I was the former Chairman of the Ohio NAACP's Legislation and Lobbying Committee and the former 1st Vice President of the Columbus Branch of the NAACP in the 80's.  I left the NAACP for the exact same reason that Gordon did.  The old guard is lazy and comfortable and, for the most part, compromised.  The progressive leadership of the local chapters is often frustrated because of the lack of support from the national office.

Many national so-called leaders justifies their continued do nothing approach by declaring what Julian Bond has recently declared, that few American blacks would quibble that equality remains an unfulfilled dream.  Equality will always remain an unfulfilled dream for everyone.  The American experience has never been or will never be about equality.  The American spirit is about parity and opportunity - the potential to gain.

The American Constitution is about individual rights not group's right.  It is flat out impossible to apply group rights and not go against the grain of the Constitution with few exceptions.  The Civil Rights Act of 1866, The Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 gave blacks parity rights in America.  Now, as individuals, blacks must personally do the heavy lifting to achieve individual prosperity and success.

This is not to say that there is no disparity due to race.   Disparity does  in fact exist but, there are very few institutional solutions to the problems that exceed the viability of personal achievement, development and spirituality.  A great house is built one brick at a time.  A great nation also requires each and every one of us during our personal pursuits and endeavors to contribute as a matter of will, our best efforts for the collective that we call America.

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Is the Christian Right a Fascist Movement?

By John W. Whitehead March 8, 2007 "I'm a Christian first and a mean-spirited, bigoted conservative second, and don't you ever forget it." —Ann Coulter "To a large extent, Dobson and his gang of thugs are real nasty bullies." —Former House Majority Leader Dick Armey In his new book American Fascists: The Christian Right and the War on America (2007), Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and former war correspondent Chris Hedges contends that today's Christian Right resembles the early fascist movements in Italy and Germany that emerged at the beginning of the 20th century. Known primarily as Dominionists, these Christians promote the belief that they are destined to take over and rule the world by taking "dominion" over the political process and reinstituting biblical law. Many perceive this as a campaign to use America to create a global, Christian empire. And statements by evangelical leaders like D. James Kennedy, who has declared that "Our job is to reclaim America for Christ, whatever the cost," only serve to foster this perception. For those on the outside looking in, it might seem as if there is reason to be alarmed. As professor Charles Marsh notes in a New York Times editorial, American evangelicals "have amassed greater political power than at any time in our history." This power, which can be traced to a handful of evangelical leaders with decided political agendas, reaches into the Oval Office and deep into the bowels of Congress. Indeed, Dominionist-influenced leaders often have a direct line into the White House. For example, James Dobson, the head of Focus on the Family, reportedly held weekly telephone conversations with Bush advisor Karl Rove during the 2004 campaign. And as Jerry Falwell remarked to Vanity Fair, "Everyone takes our calls." However, in his book Tempting Faith: An Inside Story of Political Seduction (2006), former White House insider David Kuo suggests that Christians are the ones being manipulated and used for their voting power. Hedges disagrees. In a recent interview with me, Hedges stated: "The neo-cons view these people as the useful idiots. I think it is reversed. I believe, in the end, that the neo-cons will be the useful idiots. I think that however buffoonish figures such as Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, Benny Hinn, Paul and Jan Crouch and many of the others may appear to be, there are tens of millions of people in this country who take these people with deadly seriousness. And whatever buffoonish qualities the Falwells, et cetera, may have on the outside, on the inside these people have a very different stature." Calling this particular confluence of religion and politics "Christo-fascism," Hedges argues that today's Christian evangelical movement has many of the same characteristics as fascism: a claim for moral and physical supremacy of a master race, in this case American Christians; blind obedience to a male hierarchy that often claims to speak for God; intolerance toward non-believers; and disdain for rational intellectual inquiry. Ann Coulter, a spokesperson for the Christian Right, is adept at magnifying her personality through her own useful idiots, the media. A darling of right-wing talk shows, Coulter embodies some of the above qualities, especially the tendency to demonize one's opponents. As Susan Estrich points out in Soulless: Ann Coulter and the Right-Wing Church of Hate (2006), Coulter "has called the 9/11 widows 'witches' and 'harpies,' referred to Muslims as 'ragheads,' called Al Gore a 'total fag,' and said that both New York Times editor Bill Keller and antiwar congressman Jack Murtha deserved to die." Whether the leaders of the Christian Right are really fascists or whether their hateful bombasts are just ploys to stir up their supporters and shore up their funding base is open to question. But I do know that they are not Christo-fascists. In fact, the word Christo-fascist is a contradiction in terms because Christ was certainly not a fascist. Indeed, what Jesus taught undermined both the religious and political empires of his day. And it got him killed. Where the Christian Right gets it wrong is that the present spiritual problems we face today will not be changed through the political system. Although it is a valued and necessary part of the process in a democracy, the ballot box is not the answer to mankind's ills. And, in fact, Christians who place their hope in a political answer to the world's ills often become nothing more than another tool in the politician's toolbox. Former House Majority Leader Dick Armey, remarking about those who want to impose their version of "righteousness" on others through the hammer of law, wrote in October 2006, "Our movement must avoid the temptations of power and those who would twist the good intentions of Christian voters to support policies that undermine freedom and grow government." The influential Christian theologian Francis Schaeffer went one step further when he stated that Christians must avoid joining forces with the government. "We must not confuse the Kingdom of God with our country," Schaeffer writes. "To say it another way, 'We should not wrap Christianity in our national flag.'" WC: 833 Constitutional attorney and author John W. Whitehead is founder and president of The Rutherford Institute. He can be contacted at johnw@rutherford.org. Information about The Rutherford Institute is available at http://www.rutherford.org

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Firefighters initially moved to snub Giuliani

By Sam Youngman, The Hill

March 08, 2007

Citing a "disgraceful lack of respect" for firefighters killed in the 9/11 attacks, an influential union initially decided that former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani would be the only presidential candidate not invited to the union's upcoming presidential forum. In a draft letter that was never finalized, International Association of Fire Fighters President Harold Schaitberger and other affiliate officers wrote "the disrespect that [Giuliani] exhibited to our 343 fallen FDNY brothers, their families and our New York City IAFF leadership in the wake of that tragic day has not been forgiven or forgotten." However, the firefighters changed their minds and Giuliani was subsequently invited to speak at the forum scheduled for next week. He accepted the invitation but pulled out of the event late Wednesday. The forum will include 2008 candidates from both parties. In the draft letter obtained by The Hill, Schaitberger and other union officials say Giuliani, in November 2001, "sharply" reduced the number of firefighters allowed to search the remains at Ground Zero. The letter estimates the number allowed to search was cut from 300 to 25. When firefighters and family members protested the move, 15 firefighters, including some union leaders, were arrested. Giuliani eventually changed course and allowed the firefighters back to Ground Zero. Giuliani's campaign did not comment by press time. "Our disdain for him is not about issues or a disputed contract, it is about a visceral personal affront to the fallen, to our union and, indeed, to every one of us who has ever risked our lives by going into a burning building to save lives and property," the draft letter states. It concludes with the union leaders urging members, if contacted by Giuliani or a campaign representative, to "say not just, 'No,' but 'Hell no.'" Giuliani, whose stature rose nationally in the days following 9/11, earning him the nickname, "America's Mayor," is soaring in national and most state polls. Giuliani's campaign did not comment by press time.

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USC PROFESSOR PLEADS GUILTY IN $1.5 MILLION SCAM THAT BILKED STUDENTS

Los Angeles, CA - An Orange County man has pleaded guilty to a federal wire fraud count, admitting that he ran a real estate investment scam that lured victims with bogus claims of large returns on investments in commercial real estate developments.

Barry Landreth, 37, formerly of Coto de Caza, pleaded guilty Monday afternoon to the felony charge that carries a penalty of up to 20 years in federal prison.

By pleading guilty, Landreth, a former adjunct professor of real estate finance at the University of Southern California, admitted that he ran two schemes involving purported real estate development projects in Chicago and Las Vegas. Through his company, Webster Realty Investors, Landreth offered short-term, high-yield real estate investments in two projects that he called Discovery Chicago LLC and Discovery Las Vegas LLC. Landreth induced victims, including wealthy investors and several USC students, to invest with promises that their money would be used in one of the two projects. In fact, Landreth did not use the victims' money for either project, but instead spent the money on business expenses for Webster Realty Investors and on personal expenses.

As part of the scheme, Landreth falsely represented to victims that the projects would provide 190 percent returns on investments within 30 days to 45 days.

In court documents, the government presented evidence that Landreth used victims' money to buy a Cadillac Escalade and several show jumping horses.

Landreth pleaded guilty in Santa Ana federal court before United States District Judge Cormac J. Carney, who is scheduled to sentence the defendant on June 4.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which received assistance from the California Department of Corporations.

Not in race, Gingrich still has right stuff

By Ralph Z. Hallow and Stephen Dinan
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
March 4, 2007

Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich speaks yesterday at the 2007 Conservative Political Action Conference. (AP)

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Newt Gingrich received a hero's welcome at the Conservative Political Action Conference yesterday, but it was Tom DeLay who gave the thousands of activists their marching orders: Unite conservative interest groups into a machine that can overpower the unity of their liberal counterparts.
Mr. Gingrich, who won't decide whether he will run for president until after September, tied former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney for second place in the conference's combined first- and second-choice straw poll with 30 percent each, trailing only former New York City Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani, who won with a combined 34 percent.
"We will not defeat the Clinton machine by being negative," Mr. Gingrich said, referring to Democratic front-runner Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York. "We will defeat the Clinton machine by offering better solutions based on better values with a deeper reach into the American people's lives and psyche."
The former House speaker challenged all of the candidates to commit to a new way of conducting the last nine weeks of the presidential campaign: Forgo attack ads and meet once a week for 90-minute in-depth discussions, "no Mickey Mouse," with just a timekeeper, no moderator and no panel of questioners.
In the straw poll of 1,705 CPAC attendees who voted, Mr. Romney was the top choice of 21 percent, followed by Mr. Giuliani at 17 percent, Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas at 15 percent, then Mr. Gingrich at 14 percent and Sen. John McCain of Arizona at 12 percent.
But combined with second-choice ballots, Mr. Giuliani vaulted to the top -- followed by Mr. Romney and Mr. Gingrich. Mr. Brownback was fourth, Mr. McCain fifth, and Rep. Tom Tancredo sixth with 9 percent.
The combined choice is the most important yardstick because it measures depth of support, said J. William Lauderback, executive vice president of the American Conservative Union, the conference's chief sponsor.
"The Romney [second choice] number was markedly shallow at 9 percent," he said.
Mr. McCain was the only major candidate not to attend CPAC. He told Mort Kondracke of the Fox News Channel he didn't need to attend because CPAC was mostly Washington insiders.
Conference organizers said yesterday that the 5,200 people who registered for CPAC, held at the Omni Shoreham hotel in Northwest, came from 49 states, and just 15 percent were from Maryland, Virginia and the District.
"Newt Gingrich is probably the only rock star in the conservative world right now," Georgia Republican activist Phil Kent said. "You saw the energy when he entered the ballroom. I didn't see that for any of the others."
Mr. DeLay, the former House majority leader, who left Congress under the cloud of an indictment in Texas, criticized CPAC and other conservative gatherings for never offering plans of action to defeat the left. He said he is forming a Coalition for a Conservative Majority that would unite the various conservative interest groups into a single message for the conservative cause.

"When I left Congress, I had two things to do: support the conservative cause and defend Israel," he said.
Mr. DeLay said conservatives must overcome their independent streak and match liberal groups' willingness to take up each other's goals.
"You'll get abortionists working on labor policy. You'll get unions working for abortionists," he said of the liberal machine. "We need to understand that all of these conservative groups out there need to come together and work together to maximize our resources."
But some conservatives are not yet ready to forgive Mr. DeLay for saying, during the spending spree after Hurricane Katrina, that the money should be added to the deficit because Republicans had pared the budget down so well already.
"As a conservative activist, I'm still hoping he is going to retract his comments that there is not any more fat in the federal budget," said George Primbs, 44, a database marketing manager from Woodbridge, who was attending his 20th CPAC.
Speaking earlier in the day, former Virginia Gov. James S. Gilmore III called himself "the real conservative" in the race. He cited Mr. Romney's admission he voted for Democrat Paul Tsongas in 1992 and Mr. Giuliani's acknowledged vote for Democrat Mario Cuomo for New York governor in 1994 as evidence the others fall short.
"What are we expected to do?" Mr. Gilmore asked. "There is not a person in this room who was so confused in those days they would have voted for Paul Tsongas and Mario Cuomo."
He also attacked Mr. McCain, saying he fits the label "maverick" more than "conservative" for having opposed President Bush's tax cuts and supporting "amnesty" for illegal aliens.
"Gilmore had the best message, and he delivered it beautifully," said Donald J. Devine, who headed President Reagan's Office of Personnel Management.
The straw poll also made it clear that Mr. Bush is mostly irrelevant to the conservative movement. In the poll, 79 percent described themselves as a "Ronald Reagan Republican," but just 3 percent said they were a "George W. Bush Republican."

Ridge to Serve on McCain's '08 Bid Board

WASHINGTON (Feb. 28) - Former Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge will serve as national co-chair of Republican  John McCain 's presidential exploratory committee, the campaign said Wednesday.

Ridge, a former two-term Pennsylvania governor, served as first head of the nation's newly created Department of Homeland Security from 2003 to 2005. He praised McCain's leadership in a statement announcing his support for the Arizona senator's bid for the White House:

"What sets John apart is his ability to form coalitions around a common, principled cause. Our country is at a crossroads and John McCain is the leader who fundamentally knows what it takes to move us forward and keep us safe," Ridge said.

McCain, who is expected to formally enter the race for the 2008 GOP  nomination in March, said that Ridge's "expertise as an innovative governor and national leader ... is invaluable and I'm grateful for his support."

McCain, once seen as the Republican front-runner, has been leading the GOP presidential field in endorsements, but increasingly lags behind former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani  in polls of Republican voters.

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Drafting Fred Thompson

From The Stump, AOL News Elections Blog

http://www.aolelectionsblog.com/2007/03/02/drafting-fred-thompson/

Posted Mar 2nd 2007 6:24AM by NixGuy
Filed under: President 2008, Republicans, John McCain

Thanks to this post at ElephantBiz, it's now obvious that all current GOP candidates will blow away and Fred Thompson will step in to save the day.

OK it's not that obvious, but there are many admirers of the former senator from Tennessee, including this Web site.

Hotline on Call quotes the WH Bulletin:

Thompson, the former Tennessee Republican senator who's now a Law & Order prosecutor and regular replacement for radio host Paul Harvey, is being urged by supporters to consider entering the presidential race, according to associates. "The draft Fred movement is growing," says one ally. They say that Thompson is flattered by the suggestions, but it is unclear if he is turning away their appeals. The effort is growing among conservative blogs, where several boards are pushing the folksy straight-talker to get in.

But then throws cold water all over the idea:

Most importantly, Sen. John McCain is one of Thompson's best friends. They talk regularly. A source close to Thompson said that Thompson will not run for president, period.

But what if McCain faded?This is more a symptom of certain conservatives in the party looking at the current field and realizing that there is no conservative hero among them. The only solution then is to draft one. Huckabee and Brownback don't have the stature and gravitas that Fred Thompson exudes without even trying. Unfortunately Senator Thompson has never indicated much of a desire to be president.

If McCain fades sure, Thompson could step in but don't bet on it. what I'm wondering is that given Rudy's liberal record on things, will there be a conservative Stop Rudy campaign coalescing to draft a champion? Just because conservatives can handle Rudy's liberal values doesn't mean they like it. All things equal, they'd rather have Rudy's qualities plus a social conservative as well.

Fred Thompson may not be the only one to face a draft.

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Blackwell says GOP in disarray

Jim Brown
OneNewsNow.com
March 3, 2007


Former Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell is challenging conservatives to be filled with what he calls the "fierce urgency of now." Blackwell told activists at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, DC, that they must be willing to admit that the party they call home has lost its moral and ethical compass.

"Wrecked with moral corruption, managerial incompetence, and -- yes -- public policy duplicity, there has been an abandonment of faith or fidelity to principle," the Townhall.com columnist told the gathering.

Blackwell contends conservatives need to take back the national Republican Party. "There is a question that is asked in Psalm 11, verse 3 -- 'If the foundation be destroyed, what will the righteous do?'" he quoted. "Let me put that differently: If the foundation of American democracy and civilization be threatened or destroyed, what will we, as conservatives, do?"

Blackwell said conservatives need a "new dedication" to understand the difference they can make within the Republican Party.

Fighting the liberals and the press

Yesterday on the Ohio Blog Alliance I took on Connie Schultz and her attacks on the conservative right that comes her liberal agenda that has become so bias since her husband Sherrod Brown has become senator, she has abused her position at the Plain Dealer, but since the PD is a liberal rag, they don't care. you can read my posting by clicking the link on the right.

While grass roots efforts seem to be weak in Cuyahoga County Check out what they did Indiana.

Pro-family activists help defeat Indiana hate crimes bill
Allie Martin
OneNewsNow.com
March 2, 2007


Public pressure from pro-family activists is being credited with killing HB 1459, a proposed "hate crimes" bill in the Indiana Legislature. Last week, the author of the bill, which would have granted special legal protections to homosexuals, would not allow it to come up for a vote, effectively killing the legislation.

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Micah Clark, executive director of the American Family Association of Indiana, says response from concerned Christians made the difference. "If people hadn't contacted the Indiana Statehouse about this, this bill would have passed easily," he contends.

"This was a classic case of people making their voices heard, and some legislators standing up for what was right," Clark says. "The good guys won on this issue, and a bad bill was averted."

HB 1459 appeared to be on a fast track to approval when the AFA of Indiana official became involved. He says the bill never made it to the floor for a vote. "People spoke up and said this violates the principle of equal justice under the law," Clark notes. "We support the prosecution of crime, but not based on a person's sexual behavior," he says. "We don't create special protections for homosexuals or cross-dressers."

Some legislators received more than 300 e-mails from constituents opposed to the proposed legislation, the pro-family activist points out. He is convinced the grassroots campaign of protest against the proposed hate crimes legislation was responsible for the death of the bill. Nevertheless, Clark says he expects homosexual activists to resurrect the legislation in the future.

‘That’s so gay’ prompts a lawsuit

SANTA ROSA, Calif. - When a few classmates razzed Rebekah Rice about her Mormon upbringing with questions such as, "Do you have 10 moms?" she shot back: "That's so gay."

Those three words landed the high school freshman in the principal's office and resulted in a lawsuit that raises this question: When do playground insults used every day all over America cross the line into hate speech that must be stamped out?

After Rice got a warning and a notation in her file, her parents sued, claiming officials at Santa Rosa's Maria Carillo High violated their daughter's First Amendment rights when they disciplined her for uttering a phrase "which enjoys widespread currency in youth culture," according to court documents.Testifying last week about the 2002 incident, Rice, now 18, said that when she uttered those words, she was not referring to anyone's sexual orientation. She said the phrase meant: "That's so stupid, that's so silly, that's so dumb."

But school officials say they took a strict stand against the putdown after two boys were paid to beat up a gay student the year before.

"The district has a statutory duty to protect gay students from harassment," the district's lawyers argued in a legal brief. "In furtherance of this goal, prohibition of the phrase 'That's so gay' ... was a reasonable regulation."

Superior Court Judge Elaine Rushing plans to issue a ruling in the non-jury trial after final written arguments are submitted in April. Her gag order prevents the two sides from discussing the case.

A confusing set of terms
Derogatory terms for homosexuality have long been used as insults. But the landscape has become confusing in recent years as minority groups have tried to reclaim terms like "queer," "ghetto" and the n-word.

In recent years, gay rights advocates and educators have tried teaching students that it is hurtful to use the word "gay" as an all-purpose term for something disagreeable. At Berkeley High School, a gay student club passed out buttons with the words "That's so gay" crossed out to get their classmates to stop using them.

Rick Ayers, a retired teacher who helped compile and publish the "Berkeley High School Slang Dictionary," a compendium of trendy teen talk circa 2001, said educating students about offensive language is preferable to policing their speech.

"I wouldn't be surprised if this girl didn't even know the origin of that term," he said. "The kids who get caught saying it will claim it's been decontextualized, but others will say, `No, you know what that means.' It's quite talked about."

Rice's parents, Elden and Katherine Rice, also claim the public high school employed a double-standard because, they say, administrators never sought to shield Rebekah from teasing based on Mormon stereotypes.

Daughter singled out, parents say
In addition, the Rices say their daughter was singled out because of the family's conservative views on sexuality. They are seeking unspecified damages and want the disciplinary notation expunged from Rebekah's school record.

Eliza Byard, deputy executive director of the New York-based Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, said nearly nine out of 10 gay students her organization surveyed in 2005 reported hearing "That's so gay" or "You're so gay" frequently.

"It bothers them a lot," Byard said. "As odd or funny as the phrase sounds, imagine what it feels like to be in a setting where you consistently hear it used to describe something undesirable or stupid, and it also refers to you."

She said it is OK to discipline students for using the phrase after efforts have been made to educate them.

"The job of a school is to deal proactively and consistently with all forms of bullying, name-calling and harassment," she said.

Jordan Lorence, an attorney with the Alliance Defense Fund, a Christian legal organization, agreed "That's so gay" carries a negative meaning and said he would not want his children to say it. But he said formal discipline is not the answer.

"Reasonable people should say, `Let's put a stop to this kind of search-and-destroy mission by school officials for everything that is politically incorrect,'" he said.

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