Happy Halloween!!!

Politics as Usual

This should be an exciting campaign season for the GOP. There is renewed energy in the Conservative movement and renewed interest in our founding documents and the first principles. I myself joined the local party after the recent election loss in 2008. I looked at the loss not as defeat but as opportunity to regain control of the Republican brand. However, I am finding it is a much more daunting task than I had imagined. It seems with all the cries of protest at Tea Parties and Town Halls, our voices are still not being heard. . . even by our own party! The best example of this is the special election for New York's 23rd Congressional District set to occur on November 3rd. Currently it is a 3-way race between Bill Owens (D), Dede Scozzafava (R), and Doug Hoffman (C). What does that "C" designate you ask? Conservative! Apparently even the "R" no longer guarantees that anymore! Conservative Doug Hoffman entered the race late after growing dissent with the Republican Party's choice of the moderate to liberal Assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava. Hand-picked by the Republican establishment, Scozzafava has increased taxes, is pro-choice, pro-card check, and union supported. She has received endorsements from moderate Republicans such as Newt Gingerich, while Doug Hoffman, the Conservative candidate received endorsements of true Republicans and true Conservatives, the likes of Governor Sarah Palin, radio talk show host and Constitutional Lawyer Mark Levin, Rush Limbaugh, Conservative Columnist Michelle Malkin, and social conservative and American Values president Gary Bauer, to literally name just a few. This example of the old Republican establishment at odds with the new Conservative movement may be taking place in New York, but there are campaigns like this all across the country, including Wisconsin and including our very district. As we fight to find Conservative candidates we believe in at the local level, the party simply hand-picks candidates they feel have sufficient name recognition or financial backing. This is hardly the democratic process our founders envisioned and we need to wake up, pay attention, and make our voices heard! If we don't, we will be forced to once again hold our noses in the voting booth and sheepishly defend our "Republican" candidate. Worst of all, we will miss out on the biggest opportunity to take back our party. The only question that remains is, does our party want us back? http://michellemalkin.com/ http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1009/28641.html

Bum Rush

Last week, Conservative Radio Talk Show Host, Rush Limbaugh was dropped from a group that was looking to buy the St. Louis Rams NFL franchise. Rush was to be a limited partner but was cut out from the group entirely after pressure from the NFL Player's Union and threats of protest from the likes of Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson. This blatant blacklisting, solely due to personal beliefs, ought to give every American regardless of political affiliation, cause for concern. The fact that a law-abiding American citizen with the necessary means and financial backing was not allowed to purchase something for sale because of his political beliefs is outrageous and frankly, not the America I know. Is this not a free market? Are we not capitalists? Are we not tolerant of individual freedoms and personal expression? There in lies the double-standard. What would have happened if the controversial and liberal hip-hop star Kanye West was denied the right to purchase a football team due to his outrageous comments? We would hear cries of racism with Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson leading the way. Or, how about NBA Dallas Mavericks owner, Mark Cuban? He financially backed an anti-american "9-11 Truther" movie. Is that not controversial? Finally, why is the left-wing political hack and MSNBC host, Keith Obermann allowed to be the frontman for NBC's NFL Football Night in America while the right-wing Rush is not allowed to own a team? Since when is it appropriate and acceptable to judge someone for their political affiliation? This stunt was nothing more than a desperate move to keep Conservatism out of mainstream America. Afterall, what is more American and mainstream than NFL Football? The irony is, with this transparent attempt to keep Rush out of the mainstream, even more attention was given to him and the Conservative movement. The refusal and lies told about him only creates more unity. Conservatives will rally around Rush!

Not my Kind

As I am certain you know by now, Congressman Ron Kind is NOT running for Governor. Before you break out the confetti, realize that he will instead be running for re-election as the Representative of the 3rd District in the US Congress, including Trempealeau County. So while he is guaranteed not to be governing our great state, he could very well be representing you and me, again, for yet another term. However, I ask you, would he be representing us? Has he been representing us, the citizens of Trempealeau County? His statement about his decision not to run for Governor was as follows, "My first responsibility must be to get affordable and accessible health care reform passed this year for all Wisconsin families. That is why I cannot run for governor. I have a responsibility and duty to the people of Wisconsin to continue work on the health care reform agenda ahead of us," Kind said. Apparently he has not done much listening at his listening sessions (held in the smallest rural towns he could find in his District) nor has he paid much attention to the polls which indicate that nearly 85% of Americans are satisfied with their current health care. I attended one of his public forums in Whitehall and I got the feeling these "listening sessions" were supposed to be us listening to him, not he to his constituents. I was less surprised by his announcement not to run, than I was by the platform he has chosen to run on. . . . Health Care Reform! Is he that out of touch or is he that indebted to the liberals in Congress, like Nancy Pelosi? Kind is not a leader, he is not a power-player, and he is not a strong or persuasive voice in Congress. Yet, he is our voice. Do you feel as though you are being heard? No, instead, Kind is simply status quo, a yes-man and a vote that the liberals in the House can depend on and therefore could not risk losing. So, their best chance to hold the seat is with Kind. Our best chance at gaining the seat is with WI State Senator Dan Kapanke. Not only is he our best chance, he is one impressive candidate and offers us the best chance we have had in many election cycles! Dan is a leader. He is also a man of the people and of the community. Don't just take my word for it though, do your own research. I urge you to take a look at Senator Dan Kapanke's voting record, then compare it to Kind's. Read Dan's resume and his history with the Coulee Region. Finally, just listen to him speak and call to speak to him yourself! I have no doubt you will realize who best represents you. http://www.kapankeforcongress.com/the_candidate/ http://www.ontheissues.org/House/Ron_Kind.htm