Thanks for ALL the Emails

The launch of my weekly email update has been overwhelming – yes, mostly positive.  I’ve added thousands of email subscribers to my list thanks to so many of you for sending me your local activist list…and some of you, having me add your “friends” and family to my weekly musing:)

We now reach over 30,000 folks around the country, but mostly in Michigan.  Your suggestions and comments are always welcome.

Memorial Day Weekend

Thank you…to those who fought and the many who paid the ultimately price so that we may be free and enjoy the liberty that is so unique in this great country of ours.

In the words of Ronald Reagan: ”Today is the day we put aside to remember fallen heroes and to pray that no heroes will ever have to die for us again. It’s a day of thanks for the valor of others, a day to remember the splendor of America and those of her children who rest in this cemetery and others. It’s a day to be with the family and remember.”

Karl Rove Does Michigan

On a whirlwind tour of Michigan to push his new book, Karl “managed” to sneak in some political/fundraising stops along the way.  Rove fired up the troops from Oakland County’s Lincoln Dinner to a great event in Kent County…and many stops in between.

Michigan Republicans raised much needed funds and had a great opportunity to share Karl’s thoughts, wisdom and wit.

Rove on “Winning Elections”

At the Oakland County Lincoln Day Dinner Karl Rove quote a letter from Abraham Lincoln on how to organize their party and win elections!  It amazing to read and realize how true these words are today as they were so many years ago.  A great letter to share with your grassroots:

http://www.weebly.com/uploads/2/2/2/5/2225660/how_to_win_elections.pdf

Michael Barone: More Anti-Democrat than Anti-Incumbent
While Democratic spin doctors have been arguing that this is an anti-incumbent rather than an anti-Democratic year, Cook argued that both anti-incumbent and anti-Democratic winds are blowing this year.

Conclusion: it’s more perilous for an incumbent to be a Democrat than a Republican this year, in primaries as well as in the general election. Democratic incumbents without primary opposition in states where the filing deadline has passed have good reason to heave a sigh of relief—at least until the fall campaign period begins.

http://american.com/archive/2010/may/more-anti-democrat-than-anti-incumbent

House Republican Launch “America Speaking Out”

GOP members of the U.S. House of Representatives launched a unique online “Town Hall” meeting with America to hear our views, get our input and help turn this country around.

Please check out this site, share it with your email list.  Encourage your friends and neighbors, Republicans and others to take part in what is truly a unique American experience.  Be part of making a difference.

http://www.americaspeakingout.com/

Democrats: No Reason to Celebrate

Regardless of how the Democrats would like to spin last weeks elections, Pennsylvania primary results don’t bode well for them in the fall.

Here is an interesting analysis I thought was worth sharing with you.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10143/1059854-373.stm#ixzz0p9Bb63SR

Michigan Citizens for Healthcare Freedom

A group of activists, mom, dads, grandparents, taxpayers and Tea Party folks are gathering petitions to declares the right of persons to provide for their own health care without being directly or indirectly compelled by government action to participate in any healthcare system.  Join them in pushing this Constitutional ballot initiative.

http://www.michiganhcf.com/amendment-summary/

Personal Democracy Forum – NY

I’ve been invited to participate on the closing panel with Arianna Huffington, Nick Bilton and Tim O’Reilly at this year’s Forum in New York June 3-4. Personal Democracy Forum is the world’s leading conference exploring and analyzing technology’s impact on politics and government.

http://personaldemocracy.com/pdf-conference-2010

Democrat’s Trojan Horse

BEWARE….the Democrats will run against the Pelosi Washington Democrat Machine politics that currently dominates the Obama Administrations gameplan.  They will oppose certain programs, take politically “correct” positions for their districts…but in the end, they are still Democrats who will votes for their leadership, procedures and ultimate help push their radical agenda.  Don’t be fooled…make sure your neighbors understand how dangerous this “Trojan Horse” candidate will be.

MRP State Convention Reminder

The Michigan Republican’s Nominating Convention will be held Saturday, August 28th at the Breslin Center on the campus of Michigan State University in East Lansing.  There, we will be nominating our Lt. Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State plus a variety of other statewide board seats for this fall election.

BEWARE: IMPOSTER “Tea Party Group” Launches Third Party Petition Drive

As reported by Wendy Day – We learned today that a group called “Tea Party” has launched a petition drive to add a third party to the ballot in Michigan.  Petitions are being circulated in the Metro Detroit area using paid signature gathers.  This story was first reported by www.outsidelansing.com

“This effort is in no way tied to the Tea Party groups that I’m aware of,” says Wendy Day, President of Common Sense in Government. “This sounds like a liberal Democrat effort to split the conservative vote in Michigan.”

Have You Tried Microsoft’s  Office Live Online Tool

Here is a great too which provides for online collaboration, sharing of documents, event organization and backup storage so that ANYONE on your campaign can access them from anywhere.  It’s secure, quick and easy to use.  It’s also a great tool for backing up any of your working documents, proposals or pictures.  Check out Microsoft’s Office Live Workspace at  http://workspace.officelive.com/en-us/ .

Microsoft has launched an online effort knows as “Campaign Ready” which combines many of their software products and service that can be specifically used for running political campaigns.  Most of the products are free and every campaign should take advantage of the services being offered.

You can get more information at http://www.microsoft.com/CampaignReady

Weekly Top News & Analysis Growing

I’ve also started a new feature that will be available on my blog every week.  Each Monday, I will start a new post and add interesting articles and analysis that I come across each week.  You can find those links at “That’s Saul Folks” blog at http://www.thatssaulfolks.com/ .

Weekly visits have grown steadily…hopefully provided interesting analysis and articles you can share with your fellow activists.

Keep the faith!

Top News & Analysis I thought you would find of interest.

For full stories follow the links.

.

Michael Barone: More Anti-Democrat than Anti-Incumbent

While Democratic spin doctors have been arguing that this is an anti-incumbent rather than an anti-Democratic year, Cook argued that both anti-incumbent and anti-Democratic winds are blowing this year.

Conclusion: it’s more perilous for an incumbent to be a Democrat than a Republican this year, in primaries as well as in the general election. Democratic incumbents without primary opposition in states where the filing deadline has passed have good reason to heave a sigh of relief—at least until the fall campaign period begins.

http://american.com/archive/2010/may/more-anti-democrat-than-anti-incumbent

.

.

He Was Supposed to Be Competent -

The spill is a disaster for the president and his political philosophy.

I don’t see how the president’s position and popularity can survive the oil spill. This is his third political disaster in his first 18 months in office. And they were all, as they say, unforced errors, meaning they were shaped by the president’s political judgment and instincts.

There was the tearing and unnecessary war over his health-care proposal and its cost. There was his day-to-day indifference to the views and hopes of the majority of voters regarding illegal immigration. And now the past almost 40 days of dodging and dithering in the face of an environmental calamity. I don’t see how you politically survive this.

The president, in my view, continues to govern in a way that suggests he is chronically detached from the central and immediate concerns of his countrymen. This is a terrible thing to see in a political figure, and a startling thing in one who won so handily and shrewdly in 2008. But he has not, almost from the day he was inaugurated, been in sync with the center. The heart of the country is thinking each day about A, B and C, and he is thinking about X, Y and Z. They’re in one reality, he’s in another.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704269204575270950789108846.html

.

.

Poll Finds Americans Pessimistic, Dissatisfied with Washington

Americans are frustrated with nearly everyone in Washington – including President Obama, Congress, and the Democratic and Republican parties – and have become increasingly pessimistic about what the future holds, according to a new CBS News poll.

Seven in ten Americans are dissatisfied with the way things are going in Washington, including 22 percent who say they are “angry” about the situation. Just 15 percent overall approve of the job being done by Congress.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20005953-503544.html

.

.

The gathering revolt against government spending

It has long been a maxim of political scientists that American voters are ideologically conservative and operationally liberal. That is another way of saying that they tend to oppose government spending in the abstract but tend to favor spending on particular programs. It’s another explanation of why the culture of appropriators continued to thrive after the Republican takeover of Congress in 1994 and during the eight years of George W. Bush’s presidency.

In the past rebellions against fiscal policy have concentrated on taxes rather than spending. In the 1970s, when inflation was pushing voters into higher tax brackets, tax revolts broke out in California and spread east. Ronald Reagan’s tax cuts were popular, but spending cuts did not follow. Bill Clinton’s tax increases led to the Republican takeover and to tax cuts at both the federal and state levels but spending boomed under George W. Bush.

The rebellion against the fiscal policies of the Obama Democrats, in contrast, is concentrated on spending. The Tea Party movement began with Rick Santelli’s rant in February 2009, long before the scheduled expiration of the Bush tax cuts in January 2011.

What we are seeing is a spontaneous rush of previously inactive citizens into political activity, a movement symbolized but not limited to the Tea Party movement, in response to the vast increases in federal spending that began with the Troubled Asset Relief Program legislation in fall 2008 and accelerated with the Obama Democrats’ stimulus package, budget and health care bills.

The Tea Party folk are focusing on something real.

Read more at the Washington Examiner: http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/politics/The-gathering-revolt-against-government-spending-94603774.html#ixzz0os8pn7IZ

Graduation Day! Congrats Vytis!

Today our third son, Vytis, graduates from Lansing Catholic High School.  Congratulations to Vytis and the Class of 2010.  Vytis is off to Central Michigan University looking at a pre-law program.  Go get ‘em!

Michigan Republicans Smell Blood

I have had a chance over the last few weeks to hold dozens of meetings and discussions with party leaders, candidates and donors from around the state.  In my 30+ years of political activism, I can’t say I’ve ever felt a more energized and commitment Republican, conservative and Tea Party base.  Folks want to take our country back and taking Michigan back, is a big part of it!  Focus, unite and keep working for your favorite candidates…EVERY effort helps and will help make a difference!

Personal Democracy Forum – NY

I’ve been invited to participate on the closing panel with Arianna Huffington and several others at this years Forum in New York June 3-4. Personal Democracy Forum is the world’s leading conference exploring and analyzing technology’s impact on politics and government.

http://personaldemocracy.com/pdf-conference-2010

Michigan Taxpayers Should Be Pissed – Again!

Governor Granholm and the Democrats are at it again.  One time fixes, floating federal funds and accounting gimmicks to AVOID making any structural changes.  Revenues are down, unemployment up and the Democrats in Michigan just keep spending more.  We’re looking at a $1 BILLION dollar deficit next year!?!  Where is the outrage?!?

http://detnews.com/article/20100522/POLITICS02/5220365/1024/POLITICS03/State-revenue-fund-deficit–$244M

The Bell is Tolling for Michigan!?!

Here is a great editorial from the Detroit News that makes the point that the Michigan Democrats have left Michigan in horrible shape and we’re running out of time…no more accounting gimmicks…no more one time fixes.  Michigan needs new leadership, a Republican Governor and the political will to do the right thing!

http://www.detnews.com/article/20100520/OPINION03/5200336/The-bell-is-tolling-for-Michigan

GOP’s Djou wins Hawaii Special Election

A good sign, Honolulu City Councilman Charles Djou has won the special election in urban Honolulu’s 1st Congressional District, the first Republican sent to Washington, D.C., to represent the Islands in two decades.

http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20100522/BREAKING01/100522028/GOP+s+Djou+wins+Hawaii+special+election+for+Congres

Tuesday’s Election

As POLITICO reported: …for Democrats…“The playbook from the Pennsylvania special election isn’t complicated: Make the election a choice between two local candidates and not a national referendum on the Democratic Party or the state of the nation; savage the Republican from the outset and don’t let up; keep the focus on jobs and core economic issues; most important, separate yourself from your national party’s policies and politicians as necessary.”

Read more:

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0510/37473.html#ixzz0oODcQZyy

A Great Analysis: Was PA-12 A Bellwether

As the article above points out some of the concerns for Republican candidates nationally, this analysis dives into the actually numbers and makes it clear that folks shouldn’t over analyze these results to somehow mean it won’t be a good year for Republicans.   Quite the contrary, the various 2010 elections and continuing Gallup polling shows an increasingly “wave election” ahead…we just need to be prepared!

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/horseraceblog/2010/05/is_pa12_a_bellwether.html

Democrat’s Trojan Horse

BEWARE….the Democrats will run against the Pelosi Washington Democrat Machine politics that currently dominates the Obama Administrations gameplan.  They will oppose certain programs, take politically “correct” positions for their districts…but in the end, they are still Democrats who will vote for their leadership, procedures and ultimately help push their radical agenda.  Don’t be fooled…make sure your neighbors understand how dangerous this “Trojan Horse” candidate will be.

MRP State Convention Reminder

The Michigan Republican’s Nominating Convention will be held Saturday, August 28th at the Breslin Center on the campus of Michigan State University in East Lansing.  There, we will be nominating our Lt. Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State plus a variety of other statewide board seats for this fall election.

MI Leadership Summit: Solving Michigan’s Fiscal Crisis

This last Monday, I attended the Summit as several hundred leaders from across the state came together to discuss the fiscal crisis facing Michigan.  There was some interesting information presented, but the simple solution too often “hinted” to was the “need” to increase revenues, i.e. TAX increases.

Michigan is at a crossroads.  The Democrats have used every accounting gimmick to balance the budget over the past 8 years with virtually NO structural reforms.  There will be some tough decisions that will have to be made…are we ready?

BEWARE: IMPOSTER “Tea Party Group” Launches Third Party Petition Drive

As reported by Wendy Day – We learned today that a group called “Tea Party” has launched a petition drive to add a third party to the ballot in Michigan.  Petitions are being circulated in the Metro Detroit area using paid signature gathers.  This story was first reported by www.outsidelansing.com

“This effort is in no way tied to the Tea Party groups that I’m aware of,” says Wendy Day, President of Common Sense in Government. “This sounds like a liberal Democrat effort to split the conservative vote in Michigan.”

Microsoft’s  Office Live Worth Exploring

Here is a great tool which provides for online collaboration, sharing of documents, event organization and backup storage so that ANYONE  on your campaign can access them from anywhere.  It’s secure, quick and easy to use.  It’s also a great tool for backing up any of your working documents, proposals or pictures.  Check out Microsoft’s Office Live Workspace at  http://workspace.officelive.com/en-us/ .

Microsoft has launched an online effort knows as “Campaign Ready” which combines many of their software products and service that can be specifically used for running political campaigns.  Most of the products are free and every campaign should take advantage of the services being offered.

You can get more information at http://www.microsoft.com/CampaignReady

Weekly Top News & Analysis Growing

I’ve also started a new feature that will be available on my blog every week.  Each Monday, I will start a new post and add interesting articles and analysis that I come across each week.  You can find those links at “That’s Saul Folks” blog at http://www.thatssaulfolks.com/ .

Weekly visits have grown steadily…hopefully provided interesting analysis and articles you can share with your fellow activists.

Keep the faith!

Top News & Analysis I thought you would find of interest.

For full stories follow the links.

.

America’s new culture war: Free enterprise vs. government control

I call this a culture war because free enterprise has been integral to American culture from the beginning, and it still lies at the core of our history and character. “A wise and frugal government,” Thomas Jefferson declared in his first inaugural address in 1801, “which shall restrain men from injuring one another, shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned. This is the sum of good government.” He later warned: “To take from one, because it is thought that his own industry and that of his fathers has acquired too much, in order to spare to others, who, or whose fathers, have not exercised equal industry and skill, is to violate arbitrarily the first principle of association, the guarantee to every one of a free exercise of his industry and the fruits acquired by it.” In other words, beware government’s economic control, and woe betide the redistributors.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/21/AR2010052101854.html

.

.

Gallup: Satisfaction With U.S. Historically Low for Midterm Year

Satisfaction with the way things are going is a key indicator to watch leading up to Election Day in November. Low satisfaction ratings have typically been associated with greater net seat change between parties in Congress in midterm election years, as was the case for the 1982, 1994, and 2006 elections. In each of those years, the average satisfaction rating was no higher than 33%. In 1994 and 2006, as is the case this year, the same party controlled the presidency and Congress heading into the elections, and party control of Congress changed hands after Election Day.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/128120/Satisfaction-Historically-Low-Midterm-Year.aspx.

.

.

A great Analysis: Is PA-12 a Bellwether?

Yet that doesn’t change the bottom line, which is this. The political demographics, the effect of the Senate primary, and the anti-Obama/Pelosi tone of the Democratic candidate were all uniquely favorable to the Democrats last night. Control of the House of Representatives is going to turn on districts that are much less Democratic than PA-12, on a day when the net effect of television advertising is not so heavily tilted toward the Democratic Party, and on the fate of incumbent Democrats who cannot so easily hide from their national leaders.

And let’s not forget the view from 30,000 feet. Last night we saw two Democratic incumbent senators – Blanche Lincoln and Arlen Specter – mired in the mid-40s in their primaries. In PA-12, we find a candidate who positioned himself as an old time Democrat winning 53% of the vote in a union district where 62% of the voters were registered Democrats. How does this “contradict” “all the evidence” of a very good Republican year?

See complete article here:  http://www.realclearpolitics.com/horseraceblog/2010/05/is_pa12_a_bellwether.html

.

.

Democrats Face Threat From Their Own Base

NANTICOKE, Pa.—Democratic leaders have long expected a challenging election year, with polls showing an energized Republican base and rising voter anxiety over President Barack Obama’s agenda. Now, the Democratic Party also faces a brewing rebellion among the white, working-class voters within its ranks—people it needs to form a national governing majority.

Lloyd Briggs said he is “fed up” with Washington over the Wall Street bailouts. Peggy Cendarski frets that the Democrats’ “unfair” health-care overhaul will punish those who already have good insurance coverage.

These and other Democratic voters in this blue-collar town said they are ready for a change in Washington. Some are open to backing Democratic challengers to lawmakers the party has supported for many years, and some said they may leave the party entirely come November.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704314904575250774029394474.html?mod=WSJ_WSJ_US_PoliticsNCampaign_4

.

.

Angry Voters, but How Many?

Consider the 2010 evidence to date:

Just 17 percent of registered voters cast ballots in the Texas primary for governor, which was a much-publicized battle between the incumbent Republican, Rick Perry, and Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison.

Just 22 percent showed up in Illinois for contests for governor and for the Senate seat once held by President Obama. That turnout was the lowest in two decades.

“No groundswell of voters so far,” concluded Rhodes Cook, an expert on voting patterns. Nor does history suggest that one is likely in November.

Polls show that Republicans are at least poised to erode the Democrats’ House and Senate majorities. But as with the Democrats’ midterm gains four years ago, the uprising will almost certainly be narrow and targeted — not a mass movement.

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/05/16/angry-voters-but-how-many/

By Popular Request
I was asked by several of our readers to increase the size of the font to make it easier to read our newsletter.  I hope this helps!

MRP State Convention

The Michigan Republican’s Nominating Convention will be held Saturday, August 28th at the Breslin Center on the campus of Michigan State University in East Lansing.  There, we will be nominating our Lt. Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State plus a variety of other statewide board seats for this fall election.

BEWARE: IMPOSTER “Tea Party Group” Launches Third Party Petition Drive

As reported by Wendy Day - We learned today that a group called “Tea Party” has launched a petition drive to add a third party to the ballot in Michigan.  Petitions are being circulated in the Metro Detroit area using paid signature gathers.  This story was first reported by www.outsidelansing.com

“This effort is in no way tied to the Tea Party groups that I’m aware of,” says Wendy Day, President of Common Sense in Government. “This sounds like a liberal Democrat effort to split the conservative vote in Michigan.”

RNC Meeting A Great Success

This week the RNC held it’s quarterly meeting in Maryland.  It was great to be back with so many old friends.  I had a chance to meet with former Speaker Newt Gingrich, Senator John Thune, Governor Bob McDonnell and pollster Frank Luntz.  GOP electoral opportunities continue to expand nationally and as I listened to various reports and information shared from around the country, you can’t help but feel energized and excited by our prospects.

Newt will be coming to Michigan in June and doing events with the 4th Congressional District in Mt. Pleasant and then to the Detroit Regional Chamber event on Mackinac.  Sen. John Thune agreed to come to Michigan in August or September and do several events for our Michigan Republicans.  I invited Governor McDonnell as well, who is coordinating his trips through the RGA.

Appointed to RNC Rules Committee

Every state gets one member on the RNC Rules Committee, which reviews and draft the rules and bylaws of the RNC for each national Convention.  Chairman Ron Weiser and National Committeewoman Holly Hughes signed my “letter of recommendation” and Chairman Steele confirmed the appointment.  I”m looking forward to serving!

WKAR’s Off The Record

Some of you missed the show last week and have asked me for the link…here are two options for different viewing formats for the show.

I taped  ”Off The Record” last week with Tim Skubick which is available online at:
http://red-cedar.wkar.msu.edu:8080/otr/otr-100507.mp4

We discussed party politics, the Governors race, RNC and more. Click here for viewing options:

http://wkar.org/offtherecord/program.php?num=3945

Presidential Nominating Rule Revisions Submitted

Our Temporary Delegate Selection Committee submitted our proposed rules changes for the 2012 presidential nomination process.  They changes consisted of three major provisions:

1) Start date for primaries & caucuses was moved from Feb to March.

2) Four states were given “carve outs” to go early: Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada.

3) Any states going before April 1, must have some form of “proportionality” in the delegate selection process.

These proposed rule changes were intended to move the process out of the Christmas holidays, give geographic balance and match the Democrats “carve outs”, and provide for ample opportunity for our potential candidates to prove themselves to our primary electorate and yet not prolong the process to put us at a competitive disadvantage.

The RNC as whole will vote on this proposal at the summer meeting in August.  A 2/3 vote is required to adopt the proposed rules changes.

2012 National Convention

The RNC Committee on Site Selection recommended Tampa, FL as the site of our next National Convention.  This recommendation will be voted on by the RNC as a whole at the summer meeting in August, at which time that vote would finalize the selection.

Microsoft’s  Best Tool is FREE – A Must Have

Microsoft has launched an online effort knows as “Campaign Ready” which combines many of their software products and service that can be specifically used for running political campaigns.  Most of the products are free and every campaign should take advantage of the services being offered.

You can get more information at http://www.microsoft.com/CampaignReady

My favorite new tool is FREE (one of my favorite words:) which provides for online collaboration, sharing of documents, event organization and backup storage so that ANYONE  on your campaign can access them from anywhere.  It’s secure, quick and easy to use.  It’s also a great tool for backing up any of your working documents, proposals or pictures.  Check out Microsoft’s Office Live Workspace at  http://workspace.officelive.com/en-us/ .

Weekly Top News & Analysis Growing

I’ve also started a new feature that will be available on my blog every week.  Each Monday, I will start a new post and add interesting articles and analysis that I come across each week.  You can find those links at “That’s Saul Folks” blog at http://www.thatssaulfolks.com/ .

Weekly visits have grown steadily…hopefully provided interesting analysis and articles you can share with your fellow activists.

Weekly Mailing List Grows by THOUSANDS!  Thanks!!!

Thanks for sending me so many email lists and forwarding my email to others…I added thousands of new emails the last few week to my list!  Thanks to those local clubs and county organizations which sent me their email list to add.

If you are interested in receiving this weekly newsletter…do nothing and I’ve got you on my list from one place or another.

If you do NOT want to receive this email weekly, please “unsubscribe” below and you will be removed from my email list.  Just click on the “unsubscribe” tab below and follow the instructions.

Please feel free to forward this to other like minded conservatives and Republicans in your area and those who have never been politically active because this might be the year to get them engaged?!?  Shoot, we might even sway some Democrats this year!

I’m more than happy to add their email to our list.

Keep the faith!

Top News & Analysis I thought you would find of interest.

For full stories follow the links.

.

George Will: European Union: A coalition of irresponsibility

Greece represents a perverse aspiration — a society with (in the words of Wisconsin Republican Rep. Paul Ryan) “more takers than makers,” more people taking benefits from government than there are people making goods and services that produce the social surplus that funds government. By socializing the consequences of Greece’s misgovernment, Europe has become the world’s leading producer of a toxic product — moral hazard. The dishonesty and indiscipline of a nation with 2.6 percent of the eurozone’s economic product have moved nations with the other 97.4 percent — and the United States and the International Monetary Fund — to say, essentially: The consequences of such vices cannot be quarantined, so we are all hostages to one another and hence no nation will be allowed to sink beneath the weight of its recklessness.

Recklessness will proliferate.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/14/AR2010051404279.html?wpisrc=nl_cuzhead

.

.

The Welfare State’s Death Spiral

WASHINGTON — What we’re seeing in Greece is the death spiral of the welfare state. This isn’t Greece’s problem alone, and that’s why its crisis has rattled global stock markets and threatens economic recovery. Virtually every advanced nation, including the United States, faces the same prospect. Aging populations have been promised huge health and retirement benefits, which countries haven’t fully covered with taxes. The reckoning has arrived in Greece, but it awaits most wealthy societies.

Americans dislike the term “welfare state” and substitute the bland word “entitlements.” The vocabulary doesn’t alter the reality. Countries cannot overspend and overborrow forever. By delaying hard decisions about spending and taxes, governments maneuver themselves into a cul de sac.

To see full story goto:  http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2010/05/10/the_welfare_states_death_spiral_105503.html

.

.

Happy Mother’s Day!!!

Michigan Republicans Ready

This week I held a number of meetings with our various staff directors and reviewed our strategy, plans and staffing for the 2010 elections.  Chairman Weiser has put together a top notch operation and programs to prepare for November elections, and just as importantly, has exceeded all our previous fund raising efforts.  Michigan Republicans are ready and energized to help turn Michigan around!

WKAR’s Off The Record

I taped this week’s edition of “Off The Record” with Tim Skubick which is also available online at:   http://red-cedar.wkar.msu.edu:8080/otr/otr-100507.mp4

We discussed party politics, the Governors race, RNC and more. Click here for viewing options:  http://wkar.org/offtherecord/program.php?num=3945

Off to RNC State Chairman’s Meeting This Week

This week I’m off to Maryland, just outside of DC, for the RNC State Chairman’s meeting.  RNC members from around the country will gather to discuss our strategy for the fall and our TDSC Rules Committee will present it’s report.

I’m excited to meet up with old friends, some of whom I haven’t seen since I left the committee last year.  I look forward to representing Michigan Republicans and conservative principles at the national level.

RNC 2012 Rules Committee Proposal

This week our committee, formally known as the Temporary Delegate Selection Committee (TDSC), approved the final language of our proposal that we will submit to the RNC for full consideration.  We will unveiled the actual language this week and the final vote on approving the proposal will come at the summer meeting, which is scheduled for early August in Detroit.

Our proposal approves certain state “carve outs”, moves back the calendar and provides for some form of proportionality for early states in the process.

Our committee reviewed many plans, dozens of proposals and ideas before coming up with our final recommendations.  We also consulted with and watched what the Democrats were doing, to allow for as much coordination on the non-partisan practical aspects of the timing and exemptions or carve outs.

I think this proposal makes sense, is an improvement over the current system, and will insure Republicans nominate the strongest candidate possible for the 2012 presidential cycle.

RNC Tech Summit II

The New Media Team at the RNC is preparing a second national tech summit sometime at the end of June.  The idea is to roll out some of the new tools the RNC has developed for state and local parties, as well as for candidates.

RNC’s New Media Director Todd Herman will be announcing the details for the summit at the upcoming RNC State Chairman’s meeting this coming week.

Microsoft’s “Campaign Ready” online campaign Tools

Microsoft has launched an online effort knows as “Campaign Ready” which combines many of their software products and service that can be specifically used for running political campaigns.  Most of the products are free and every campaign should take advantage of the services being offered.

You can get more information at http://www.microsoft.com/Campaign Ready

My favorite new tool is FREE (one of my favorite words:) which provides for online collaboration, sharing of documents, event organization and backup storage so that ANYONE  on your campaign can access them from anywhere.  It’s secure, quick and easy to use.  It’s also a great tool for backing up any of your working documents, proposals or pictures.  Check out Microsoft’s Office Live Workspace at  http://workspace.officelive.com/en-us/ .

Michigan Senate & House GOP Majorities?

I’ve met with and talked to Republican leaders in both the House and the Senate as they prepare for this fall’s election.  We have a strong crop of recruits and a very competitive political environment that has created a great opportunity for Michigan Republicans to help turn Michigan around.

I encourage you to get to know your local candidates running for the Senate and the House, pick your favorites and get involved.  We can make a difference at every level, but ONLY if you do your part.

Weekly Top News & Analysis

I’ve also started a new feature that will be available on my blog every week.  Each Monday, I will start a new post and add interesting articles and analysis that I come across each week.  You can find those links at “That’s Saul Folks” blog at http://www.thatssaulfolks.com/ .

Going Forward

Thanks for sending me so many email lists and forwarding my email to others…I added hundreds of new emails this last week to my list!

If you are interested in receiving this weekly newsletter…do nothing and I’ve got you on my list from one place or another.

If you do NOT want to receive this email weekly, please “unsubscribe” below and you will be removed from my email list.  Just click on the “unsubscribe” tab below and follow the instructions.

Please feel free to forward this to other like minded conservatives and Republicans in your area and those who have never been politically active because this might be the year to get them engaged?!?  Shoot, we might even sway some Democrats this year!

I’m more than happy to add their email to our list.

Keep the faith!

.

.

http://red-cedar.wkar.msu.edu:8080/otr/otr-100507.mp4

or the main page for more viewing options:

http://wkar.org/offtherecord/program.php?num=3945

.

Top News & Analysis I thought you would find of interest.

For full stories follow the links.

.

Ranking Those 99 House Races by Degree of Difficulty for GOP Challengers

Here are my 99 races, grouped into five levels of difficulty. I’ve used three different measurements – the Department of Homeland Security’s old color-code alert system, a comparable degree of difficulty to beating NFL teams, and a quick assessment.

http://www.nationalreview.com/campaign-spot/47049/ranking-those-99-house-races-degree-difficulty-gop-challengers

.

.

Karl Rove,

Republican Party secretly plot vast network to reclaim power

The Republican Party’s best-connected political operatives have quietly built a massive fundraising, organizing and advertising machine based on the model assembled by Democrats early in the decade, and with the same ambitious goal — to recapture Congress and the White House.

The new groups could give Republicans and their allies a powerful campaign apparatus separate from the Republican National Committee. Karl Rove, political architect of the Bush presidency, and Ed Gillespie, former Republican Party chairman, are the most prominent forces behind what is, in effect, a network of five overlapping groups, three of which were started in the past few months.

The operating assumption of Rove, Gillespie and the other organizers is that despite the historical dominance of Republican fundraising and organizing, the GOP has been outmaneuvered by Democrats and their allies in recent years, and it is time to strike back.
Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0510/36841.html#ixzz0n9CtHSKN

.

.

PBS Newshour:

Republicans Hope to Maintain Social Media Edge into Midterm Elections

As part of a look at how both political parties are connecting with constituents on the Web, Ray Suarez reports on how Republicans and their allies are looking to harness new media in advance of this year’s elections.

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/politics/jan-june10/gop_05-04.html

.

.

Republicans in Resurgence:

A new poll brings good news to the Right.

A new poll by Resurgent Republic, a conservative group, confirms the trends that other political observers have been seeing: This year’s electorate leans to the right, with most independents seeing eye to eye with Republicans on the major issues. But the survey also includes some warning signs for conservatives.

Republican strategist Ed Gillespie and pollster Whit Ayres founded Resurgent Republic one year ago to do for the Right what James Carville, Stanley Greenberg, and Bob Shrum had done for the Left with Democracy Corps: provide opinion research helpful to the cause and available to the public. Its latest survey of 1,000 likely voters yielded a by-now-familiar picture of the current political scene.

http://article.nationalreview.com/433351/republicans-in-resurgence/ramesh-ponnuru

.

.

Democrats at Ramming Speed:

Obama wants to pass as much legislation as possible before losing its big majorities

President Reagan had a sign on his desk that said, “It’s amazing how much you can accomplish if you don’t care who gets the credit.” If President Obama had a sign, it would say, “It’s amazing how much you can accomplish if you don’t care what the public thinks.”

Washington has never been held in lower esteem by Americans than it is today. Yet those in control of Washington—President Obama and congressional Democrats—are bent on enacting a series of sweeping domestic policy changes this year that have one thing in common: They are unpopular, in whole or in part.

This is unprecedented and a bit weird too. A revival of civility and an end to the ugly political polarization in Washington—goals stressed by Mr. Obama in his presidential campaign and again last Saturday in a speech at the University of Michigan—won’t be furthered by passage of an unpopular agenda. A more likely result is years of partisan resentment and bitter fighting over efforts by Republicans to repeal the unwanted policies.

To read full story in Wall Street Journal:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704423504575212150317543616.html

.

.

Federal Govt Outpaces Private Sector in Job Creation

Gallup’s Job Creation Index for April reveals significantly more hiring within the federal government than in the private sector. Both show a substantially more positive picture than state and local governments, where firing far eclipses hiring.

Gallup’s Job Creation Index clearly indicates that state and local governments are in the midst of significant downsizing, no doubt reflecting budgetary issues resulting from recessionary pressures on the tax (and other) revenue that funds these governments.

Hiring at the federal level has apparently to date escaped these same fiscal pressures. Indeed, the federal government appears to be significantly outpacing the private sector in terms of the relative number of jobs created.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/127628/Federal-Government-Outpaces-Private-Sector-Job-Creation.aspx

.

.

GOP expands political playing field; Dems slipping

Republicans are on offense in scores of House and Senate races as persistent economic woes and lukewarm support for President Barack Obama continue to weaken Democrats’ hold on Congress.

The president and his party are determined to minimize the losses six months before the November elections. But Democrats privately acknowledge the economy and support for Obama must improve before then to avoid the defeats that could cost them control of the House and possibly the Senate.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2010/May/02/gop_expands_political_playing_field__dems_slipping.html

.

GOP Rallies Behind Doster

A Michigan Republican Party (MRP) committee that passed a resolution Wednesday calling into question actions by the party’s general counsel changed course 180 degrees today.

The MRP Policy Committee reconsidered its former resolution that Eric DOSTER not handle any more MRP business based on his involvement with a rogue campaign group called Eagle Strategies that created negative radio advertisements against two Republican gubernatorial candidates.

Today, the Policy Committee threw out that resolution and, instead, passed a measure reading, “We . . . affirm our full faith and confidence in Mr. Eric Doster and his ability to carry out the duties and responsibilities as our elected General Counsel with integrity and competence.”

The State Committee, the MRP’s official governing body, also unanimously passed the resolution shortly afterwards.

The resolution’s passage came after MRP Chair Ron WEISER called Policy Committee members over the last few days and argued that Doster was only the “resident agent” for Eagle Strategies, a campaign organization responsible for negative advertisements against Republican gubernatorial candidates Pete HOEKSTRA and MikeBOUCHARD.

His role with the group was merely clerical. He provided Eagle Strategies with a service by filing paperwork and giving the state a point of contact in which the group could be reached. He is not a member of Eagle Strategies, Weiser told Policy Committee members. He contended Doster did nothing wrong.

Weiser sternly addressed the 117 state committee members present at today’s meeting in a roughly 20 minute, off-the-cuff speech about his disappointment that members of the MRP would go after someone who has given so much to the party as Doster.

He estimated that Doster, in his 18 years of service to the party, has donated at least a $1 million in legal services to the party, GOP candidates and causes.

“Eric Doster has been a dedicated member of the Michigan Republican State Committee for nearly 20 years,” Weiser said. “He is the second-longest serving member of the Committee and has given of himself time and again in support of Republican values through the years.”

Without mentioning them by name, Weiser dressed down 14th District Committeeman Bill BEDDOES and 9th District Chair, Glenn CLARK, the chair of the Policy Committee, with not coming to him first with their concerns and letting the issue leak into the media.

He spent time reading the headlines and lead paragraphs of every story published about the situation, including the story that ran in MIRS on Wednesday (See “Committee Wants MRP To Shelf Attorney,” 4/28/10).

The MRP should be focusing its attention on coming together and winning elections in 2010 and not diving into inter-party bickering that only helps Democratic candidates in November, Weiser said.

The situation caused him to spend time putting out the Doster fire instead of allowing him to make fundraising calls, which he wasn’t pleased about. He also felt that the stories unjustly harmed Doster’s professional reputation.

“Despite inaccurate reports that unfairly attacked his character, the Republican State Committee stands by Eric Doster and is proud to have him as our general counsel,” Weiser said in a prepared statement to the media.

One source told MIRS that the initial Doster resolution did not come out of concerns that he was working with a rogue organization that was attacking fellow Republicans, as Beddoes told MIRS on Wednesday. Rather, that it was inter-party political retaliation.

Doster is associated with the established MRP leadership that was looking into claims that a political candidate supported by Clark, Beddoes, Chuck YOB and JohnYOB may have done something improper. Nothing ever came of that complaint, but this, allegedly, was a counter-shot, according to this source.

Asked about the situation, Republican activist Greg McNEILLY would only say that the initial Doster resolution was nothing but “political bullying” advanced by a section of the party that misused the system.

Contacted today, Beddoes declined comment.

Doster was not present at today’s meeting. He was in Washington D.C. taking part in redistricting meetings as a MRP advocate.