99 Days Left Until the General Election!!!

Focus on Winning in November

I received more positive and encouraging emails and calls about my opening commentary last week suggesting civility in primaries and focusing on our end goal…defeating liberal Democrats in November – more than anything else I have every written.  We Republicans get it!

We’re down to the final stretch as Republicans pick THEIR nominees to face off against the Democrats and their disastrous policies that have driven America into endless debt, mounting deficits, unfunded liabilities and more government programs…all charged to our children and grandchildren.

Michigan and America deserves better.

Any Republican Would beat Obama in 2012

July 21, 2010 – Obama Approval Drops To Lowest Point Ever

A year after President Barack Obama’s political honeymoon ended, his job approval rating has dropped to a negative 44 – 48 percent, his worst net score ever, and American voters say by a narrow 39 – 36 percent margin that they would vote for an unnamed Republican rather than President Obama in 2012, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released this week!

http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x1295.xml?ReleaseID=1478

A Primer on the 2010 House Midterm Elections

The best case scenario for Democrats at this point is a nominal majority where the median member is not a terribly reliable ally of the party’s liberal leadership. Something similar is set to occur in the Senate, where a Republican gain of at least five seats will push the filibuster to more conservative ground.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/horseraceblog/2010/07/a_primer_on_the_2010_house_mid.html

Michigan Republicans New Web Page

Have you checked out the new web page…it’s great!  Lots of great information and “how to” links to help you help us win in November!

http://migop.org/

Dems Start to Panic As Midterm Reality Sets In

“Under pressure, the Democrats are cracking. On both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue, there is a realization that Nancy Pelosi’s hold on the speakership is in true jeopardy; that losing control of the Senate is not out of the question; and that time, once the Democrats’ best friend, is now their mortal enemy…

Evidence of the pervasiveness of this view: Sunday’s New York Times op-ed page, which featured a series of short essays from leading Democratic and Republican strategists about how Obama could go about staging a political comeback, focused not on November’s midterms but on 2012 — an indication that Washington conventional wisdom has already written off prospects of Democrats sustaining a majority in the legislature.”

http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,2004646,00.html#ixzz0uBcuoo7O

POLITICO: Watch the Obama reelect numbers – Obama loses by 5%!

“By far, the most alarming numbers this poll presents for President Barack Obama are the reelection figures; against a generic Republican candidate, he loses by 5 points, 37-42. In general, when an incumbent’s reelect numbers fall below 50 percent, it’s a sign of trouble to come — and Obama’s inability to break even 40 percent may be the most telling indicator to come out of these data.“

http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=DC3632C6-18FE-70B2-A8A4383F8DA0FFDA

“The Forgotten Man”

He works, he votes, generally he prays — but he always pays.  The Taxpayer!?!

For Democrats, “Keynesianism is merely a justification for what they want to do anyway: Spend as much money as possible, raise taxes, increase regulation, grow entitlements and subsidize favored industries….Forget The uncertainty created by massive changes in The regulatory environment. Forget The overhang of debt everyone knows will exact its eventual price in new taxes or inflation. Forget The specter of a president hectoring business. Forget The new costs to hiring. Forget all The people who may pray, but assuredly will pay.”

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2010/07/20/the_high_cost_of_dems_policies_106385.html

Michigan Republicans Launch Win in 10!

With so many new activists joining our ranks as Republicans and conservatives smell blood…we have put together a simple program of 10 things every precinct delegate or activists can do.  Simple.  MRP eCampaign Director Allan Filip has been traveling the state presenting this program to delegates and activists far and wide!

How are you doing?!?

-Recruit 10 Friends to sign up at www.MIGOP.org

- Recruit 10 Fans for facebook.com/MIGOP

-Walk your precinct

- Make calls to ID voters and GOTV in your precinct

-Find 10 yard sign locations in your area

-Take Election Day Off & help

-Help a friend commit to “10 in 10”

-Vote Absentee

-Attend an Event

-Register 2 more Republican s in your precinct

An Interesting Analysis: For Some, Our Challenge – The GOP Message Box: The Missing “Us on Us”

“a referendum, or a choice?”

“There are only two kinds of elections: Elections in which an incumbent is running for reelection, and elections for an open seat, with no incumbent.

So until and unless the GOP congressional leadership decides to take up the challenge of crafting an alternative governing vision, you, as a GOP House challenger, are stuck. You get the downside of the tainted GOP brand without any of the upside of a unified team effort and messaging operation.”

http://nevadanewsandviews.com/2010/07/19/the-gop-message-box-the-missing-us-on-us/

Chet Zarko, RIP

A great American and patriot who believed in limited government, transparency in government and the base rule of law…our Republic.  Here is a nice tribute done by the Mackinac Center.

http://www.mackinac.org/13212

Michigan’s “Drudge” like News Source

The Michigan View is a great web site that provides original content as well as links to the top news, political analysis and commentary.

http://themichiganview.com

Thanks for all you do!!!

Keep the faith!

Primaries Are Getting HOT! Think Party Unity.

With only several weeks left and many tightly competitive races all over our state, the worst in some is coming out.  I’ve had reports of name calling, rumor mongering, petty shots at activists and personal attacks that will only make it harder to unite and beat the Democrats this fall.

We have some great candidates running from County Commissioner to Congress!  They will all need our help in the fall and we ALL need to pull together to help turn Michigan and our country around.

I encourage you to take a step back, think of the opportunities our party will have, if united, in our cause – as we all work together to elect conservatives.

I would hate to have so many win various battles in different races and then only to lose the war because we created too many hard feelings and tossed out petty, personal attacks.  Agree to disagree and focus on the goal.

Fight the fight, support your favorite candidate with all you have…but remember, this is ONLY the primary and the real challenge comes November 2^nd as we all “hope for change” – for the better!

Obama Visits Michigan – Thanks – I Guess?!?

I’m glad he was here.  I’m sorry he didn’t get a chance to visit some of our great golf courses; even he would have been impressed.

In Michigan, it’s all about Jobs.  I’m not a big fan of corporate welfare and I’m particularly amused that we gave MILLIONS to a “foreign” company from Korea (I guess they’ll say at least it wasn’t a Chinese company?:) to locate here after all the “bashing” Michigan Democrats constantly do of “foreign business”.  But if Obama is “re-distributing” our tax payer debt, we might as well get our fair share.

“Building rich toys for rich boys was hardly how Obama’s Recovery Act was sold to the public, which believed the emergency funding would be used to break the falls of the suddenly unemployed”.

http://detnews.com/article/20100714/MIVIEW/7150328/Obama-comes-bearing-stimulus-for-fat-cats

Obama faces growing credibility crisis

Reality is sinking in for the American voter: “In private, informal advisors to Mr Obama are almost as negative. According to one, the US public’s loss of confidence in Mr Obama’s leadership is a factor above and beyond their dissatisfaction over the state of the real economy”.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/434315b2-8ea6-11df-8a67-00144feab49a.html

The Democrats’ middle-class problem

Voters, according to recent polls, are increasingly alienated from the Obama administration. Reasons include slow economic growth, high unemployment among blue- and white-collar workers and a persistent credit crunch for small businesses.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0710/39675.html

How the Expiring Bush Tax Cuts Affect You –

What the Democrats Won’t Tell You.

The so-called Bush tax cuts are scheduled to expire at the end of the year. Although some of the cuts retain bipartisan support in Congress and may yet be extended, as of now, Washington has some severe changes in store for you and your family. Grab a scotch and sit down.

http://www.smartmoney.com/personal-finance/taxes/how-the-expiring-bush-tax-cuts-affect-you/#ixzz0tgzmHRmO

Michigan Talk Radio Radio w/Michael Patrick Shiels

I was a guest on Michael Patrick Shiel’s show this week discussing state and national issues before us.  Check it out here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4yiJUCOWrY

Representation Without Taxation Bad for Democracy

TAXPAYERS BEWARE: When people can vote them selves something for nothing, they will – in 2009 47% of households owed no income tax!

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2010/07/10/representation_without_taxation_bad_for_democracy_106264.html

Congratulations to Katie & Alex!!!

This weekend I attend the wedding of some very good friends – and pretty well known political operatives – Katie Packer and Alex Gage.  It was a great affair in northern Michigan on Lake Charlevoix.  Congratulations and all the best!

Thanks for all you do!!!

Keep the faith!

Michigan GOP Fired Up!

Everywhere I go, everyone I talk to…it’s all about November 2^nd as we look to help turn Michigan around.  A new Governor with a Republican backed legislature will insure fiscal sanity returns to Lansing.

And across Michigan, our activists, volunteers and candidates are taking our message to the voters!

Stay focused, help your local candidates, let your neighbors know…help is on the way!

Oakland County Precinct Delegate Training

I was please to join a great group of new and “old” precinct delegates from Oakland county as they prepare for this falls elections.  Training is taking place statewide as Michigan Republicans get ready for one of the most important elections in our lifetime.

Get involved…help make a difference!

The Rout of Obamanomics:

The results of “Reaganomics v. Obamanomics”

“The Obama economic team ignored past history. The two most successful fiscal stimulus programs since World War II — under Kennedy-Johnson and Reagan — took the form of permanent reductions in corporate and marginal tax rates.”

http://spectator.org/archives/2010/07/07/the-rout-of-obamanomics

America: Why we must be free to fail

The social-promotion movement has turned much of our nation’s educational system into a global joke. Instead of demanding that students meet academic requirements that will prepare them for college or the workforce, today’s educrats find it easier just to pass little Johnny along, even when he is illiterate. When Johnny gets bigger and still can’t read, they pass him along again, sending him out into the world, which usually finds it has no use for him.

All this is done, of course, in the name of compassion. Armies of psychologists and other captains of the self-esteem movement wail that holding Johnny back until he is actually ready for the next grade will destroy his psyche. In the real world, self-esteem comes from mastering new skills and achieving goals. But the anti-failure forces have turned the idea on its head: They think they can give Johnny self-esteem first, and only later ask him to earn it.

This disastrous egalitarianism is now so entrenched that many of Johnny’s teachers are themselves products of the same social-promotion disaster. Naturally, flunking bad teachers — and booting them out of the schools where they don’t belong — runs afoul of ironclad union protections. Better that all students should just be passed along so teachers can keep their jobs.

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/opedcolumnists/why_we_must_be_free_to_fail_zBkv0U1ZWVhUqxdKn2SeCK#ixzz0svyExh5C

Election 2010: Senate Balance Of Power:

Ten States Are Toss-Ups As Rasmussen Reports Launches Senate Balance of Power Rankings

Rasmussen Reports Balance of Power projections show that Democrats can probably count on having at least 49 Senate seats after Election Day, while Republicans will hold a minimum of 41. In play, however, are 10 Toss-Up races that are likely to be the major storyline of Election 2010.

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2010/election_2010_senate_elections/election_2010_senate_balance_of_power

The new frontier: ‘Covering’ conservatives

One solution, offered by The Washington Examiner’s Byron York: Hire a lot more openly ideologically committed — and fair-minded — reporters, but with one caveat: Have the conservatives cover the liberal beat and the liberals cover the conservatives. York rightly notes that a little ideological distance tends to temper the cheerleading. It’s a good idea.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/forum/2010-07-06-column06_ST_N.htm

CBS News Reports TSA to Block “Controversial Opinion” on the Web.

Controversial Opinions? “Obama-speak” ONLY?  Welcome to 1984!  An outrage we should all be concerned about.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-31727_162-20009642-10391695.html

Spence Abraham’s new book: LIGHTS OUT!

Ten Myths About (And Real Solutions To) America’s Energy Crisis.

Drawing on the very latest thinking from experts in industry and academia, as well as his own time spent as Secretary of Energy in the Bush Administration and as a United States Senator, Spencer Abraham offers a fresh look combining myriad energy sources including nuclear, clean coal, solar, wind, natural gas, biofuels and conservation measures to help solve one of the most pressing problems facing America today: our looming energy crisi

http://www.spencerabrahamlightsout.com/

Are Changing Demographics in the U.S. Favoring Democrats?

Back in 2002, John Judis and Ruy Teixeira wrote The Emerging Democratic Majority, which argued that demographic trends over the next several decades were set to heavily favor the Democratic Party. In a new report by Teixeira, “Demographic Change and the Future of the Parties,” he revisits the trends he first described in 2002 and predicts an advantage for Democrats.

This is an important paper that should be shared with our activists and leadership.

http://www.americanprogressaction.org/issues/2010/06/pdf/voter_demographics.pdf

RNC Rules of 2012 Nominating Process

The RNC Temporary Delegate Selection Committee has proposed a rule change for consideration of the RNC as a whole at the August meeting in Kansas.  I was one of 15 members nationwide appointed to serve on this committee over the last year.

I have posted a copy of the rules change on my blog for your review.  In summary, it moves the start date for the early primaries in IA, NH, SC & NV to February and all the other states are scheduled for March – June.  It also states that any states that go before April MUST have some form of proportionality in their delegate allocation process.

There will be a lot of discussion and analysis of this proposal before the August meeting, so your comments and suggestions are appreciated.

http://www.thatssaulfolks.com/2010/07/01/rnc-2012-proposed-rule-changes/

Please Share

Yes, feel free to forward and share this weekly newsletter with anyone who you think might be interested.  I’ve been adding email addresses weekly and am more than happy to add any of your friends, family and fellow activists…just send me the list or have them send me a note.

Thanks for all you do!!!

Keep the faith!

On July 6, 1854, a state convention of anti-slavery men was held in Jackson to found a new political party. “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” had been published two years earlier, causing increased resentment against slavery, and the Kansas-Nebraska Act of May, 1854, threatened to make slave states out of previously free territories. Since the convention day was hot and the huge crowd could not be accommodated in the hall, the meeting adjourned to an oak grove on “Morgan’s Forty” on the outskirts of town. Here a state-wide slate of candidates was selected and the Republican Party was born. Winning an overwhelming victory in the elections of 1854, the Republican party went on to dominate national parties throughout the nineteenth century.”

Happy 4th of July Weekend
First, as we enjoy this weekend with our families and friends, let us not forget the men and women of our armed services that make this weekend possible.

Today, July 4th, we celebrate our nation’s founding, marking the day in 1776 that the Continental Congress formally adopted the Declaration of Independence.

Thomas Jefferson said the Declaration was “intended to be an expression of the American mind.”

To quote Newt Gingrich “The core contention of the Declaration of Independence and the principle of natural rights upon which America was founded is that there is a higher moral order upon which the laws of man must be based. The Declaration asserts the existence of “the Laws of Nature and Nature’s God,” which had a clear meaning in 18th Century England and America. It referred to the will of God as displayed by the natural order of the world. “

John Locke, wrote in his Second Treatise on Government: “Thus the law of nature stands as an eternal rule of all men, legislators as well as others. The rules that they make for other men’s actions, must…be conformable to the law of nature, i.e., to the will of God.”

Our government’s power comes from God, to you, which is then loaned to government. Thus, the Declaration states, “That to secure these rights governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”

God Bless America.

RNC Rules of 2012 Nominating Process
The RNC Temporary Delegate Selection Committee held it’s final meeting this week and reported a proposed rule change for consideration of the RNC as a whole at the August meeting in Kansas. I was one of 15 members nationwide appointed to serve on this committee over the last year.

I have posted a copy of the rules change on my blog for your review. In summary, it moves the start date for the early primaries in IA, NH, SC & NV to February and all the other states are scheduled for March – June. It also states that any states that go before April MUST have some form of proportionality in their delegate allocation process.

There will be a lot of discussion and analysis of this proposal before the August meeting, so your comments and suggestions are appreciated.
http://www.thatssaulfolks.com/2010/07/01/rnc-2012-proposed-rule-changes/

Stratfor: The 30-Year War in Afghanistan
An Excellent Analysis
“The Afghan War is the longest war in U.S. history. It began in 1980 and continues to rage. It began under Democrats but has been fought under both Republican and Democratic administrations, making it truly a bipartisan war. The conflict is an odd obsession of U.S. foreign policy, one that never goes away and never seems to end…What the United States has never tried to do is impose a political solution through the direct application of American force. This is a new and radically different phase of America’s Afghan obsession. The questions are whether it will work and whether it is even worth it.”

http://www.stratfor.com/weekly/20100628_30_year_war_afghanistan?utm_source=GWeekly&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=100629&utm_content=readmore&elq=6b7a11470f06425dbd5910f76e182834

Inside the Black Panther case Anger, ignorance & lies
DOJ’s attorney’s Christian Adams shocking story.
“The New Black Panther case was the simplest and most obvious violation of federal law I saw in my Justice Department career. Because of the corrupt nature of the dismissal, statements falsely characterizing the case and, most of all, indefensible orders for the career attorneys not to comply with lawful subpoenas investigating the dismissal, this month I resigned my position as a Department of Justice (DOJ) attorney.”

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/jun/25/inside-the-black-panther-case-anger-ignorance-and-/

Former Justice Department Lawyer Accuses Holder of Dropping New Black Panther Case for Racial Reasons

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/06/30/justice-dept-lawyer-accuses-holder-dropping-new-black-panther-case-political/

Why Obamanomics Has Failed
The administration’s stimulus program has failed. Growth is slow and unemployment remains high. The president, his friends and advisers talk endlessly about the circumstances they inherited as a way of avoiding responsibility for the 18 months for which they are responsible.

But they want new stimulus measures—which is convincing evidence that they too recognize that the earlier measures failed. And so the U.S. was odd-man out at the G-20 meeting over the weekend, continuing to call for more government spending in the face of European resistance.

The contrast with President Reagan’s antirecession and pro-growth measures in 1981 is striking. Reagan reduced marginal and corporate tax rates and slowed the growth of nondefense spending. Recovery began about a year later. After 18 months, the economy grew more than 9% and it continued to expand above trend rates.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704629804575325233508651458.html

Please feel free to cut & paste or forward this entire email to other activists that you think might find some of the information of interest.

Thanks for all you do!!!

Keep the faith!

See pdf of full proposed rules here:

Memo on TDSC Proposed Recommendation

See National Journal’s Hotline article about the rules changes here:

http://hotlineoncall.nationaljournal.com/archives/2010/07/rnc_aims_to_dra.php

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