Chris Christie Is a Rockstar
| Gov Christie calls S-L columnist thin-skinned for inquiring about his 'confrontational tone' |
Another Note on the FBI Investigation
Real Republican PAC Announced
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Marty Connors
March 11, 2010 (205)908-6617
CONCERNS OVER SLADE BLACKWELL TIES TO LOWELL BARRON LEAD TO FORMATION OF REAL REPUBLICAN PAC
Birmingham – Former Alabama Republican Party Chairman Marty Connors on Thursday said growing concerns over connections/relations between recently qualified GOP candidate Slade Blackwell and Senate Democrat leadership led him to form the Real Republican Political Action Committee, a group that will lend its support to Sen. Steve French (R – Birmingham) and similar like-minded conservative candidates.
Blackwell is scheduled to announce his candidacy today, Thursday, March 11, 2010.
Connors said Democrats have begun running/encouraging candidates in Republican primaries in districts and areas weighted heavily toward the GOP in hopes that they can capture seats currently held by conservative Republicans.
The long standing relationship between Blackwell and Democratic State Senator Lowell Barron is one of the worst kept secrets in Montgomery.
The tactic was used most recently – and unsuccessfully – in two state school board elections in 2008 and in legislative races such as the 2002 Republican Primary for Senate District 14 currently held by Hank Erwin.
“Steve French has been a solid, conservative Republican who is not afraid to roll up his sleeves to do hand-to-hand combat with Senate Democrats/Liberals,” Connors said. “Now they are retaliating by muddying up the Republican primary. If their efforts are successful, Democrats will maintain control of the Alabama Senate, regardless of party affiliation.
In response to this Democratic tactic, Connors has formed the Real Republican PAC and will raise money for French and other incumbents facing GOP primary candidates who are backed and recruited by the Democrat Party and others working on its behalf.
He will also use funds to educate voters about RINO (Republican In Name Only) candidates competing in primary election contests, such as French’s.
“The Alabama Democrat Party is dying a quick death in most areas of Alabama, and we must ensure that it does not stay alive by reaching its tentacles into the GOP,” Connors said.
Concerned Women of America Endorses Martha Roby
Concerned Women Political Action Committee Endorses Martha Roby for Congress in Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District
Martha will be another much needed voice for the unborn in Congress
Washington, D.C. – Concerned Women Political Action Committee (CWPAC) has announced its endorsement of Martha Roby for Congress in Alabama’s 2nd Congressional district.
Concerned Women PAC, established in 2002 by Founder and Chairman Beverly LaHaye, is affiliated with Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee, the nation’s largest public policy women’s organization with more than 500,000 grassroots members nationwide.
The current Congressman from the second Congressional district is Bobby Bright who is seeking his second term.
“Martha Roby is a strong social and fiscal conservative, with a record to prove it, “said Penny Nance, CEO of Concerned Women Political Action Committee.
“As a private citizen, she dedicates her time and her leadership to pro-life and pro-family causes, serving on the board of Sav-a-Life Montgomery, a local crisis pregnancy center. As a member of the Montgomery City Council, Roby has vigorously fought tax increases and has consistently fought against wasteful spending.
As U.S. Representative, Roby will fight for limited government, strong national security, and pro-family legislation.”
Mrs. Penny Nance and Concerned Women Political Action Committee’s mission is to elect solid pro-family, pro-life conservatives to Congress. Concerned Women PAC sends out a monthly letter to members encouraging them to financially support candidates like Martha Roby. For more information on this race or to set up an interview with Mrs. Nance, please contact Mike Mears at 202-408-4941.
Why I'm Supporting Martha Roby for AL-2
I'm supporting Martha because she believes that the American people know what's best for them, not Washington DC. She supports removing burdensome government mandates that tell you what your health insurance should cover. She supports legislation allowing individuals to purchase insurance across state lines, thereby increasing competition among insurance companies and resulting in lower rates. And because she supports giving individuals and small business owners the same tax credits that employers get for purchasing insurance.
I'm supporting Martha because she believes you can spend your money better than Washington can. She believes Americans are overtaxed and overburdened by the Government. As a Montgomery City Councilwoman she voted against numerous tax increases and supported a balanced budget requirement for the city. I'm supporting Martha because she believes if you can't afford it, you shouldn't buy it.
Some have taken hits at Martha because she is a lawyer. I don't when education became a liability in the conservative movement, but as a fellow law school graduate I can say that being a lawyer helps when making laws. For instance, when Rep. Bobby Bright (then mayor of Montgomery) proposed an immigration bill to the Montgomery City Council, Martha said "wait a minute, let's write a law that will hold up in court." She researched the issue, looked at past precedent, and came up with a way to address illegal immigration that would stand up to any legal challenge.
Now is Martha the perfect candidate? No. Such a thing doesn't even exist. Do I agree with everything she says? Probably not, but I do agree with 98% of it and that's more than I can say for a lot of incumbent members of Congress. Why am I even taking a position on this race when I don't live in the 2nd Congressional District? Because I know Martha, and she believes Washington DC is wasting our money, over-regulating our lives and destroying the American economy; and I believe that anyone who feels like that is the kind of person we need in Congress no matter what district they are from.
Check her out at www.martharoby.com
Why Sarah Palin Should Have Been At CPAC
I have been asked why Sarah Palin skipped CPAC more times than I can count now. The answer is...I don't know. She clearly doesn't have good advisors around her. Between the notes on her hand, her lackluster showing at the Tea Party Convention and her failure to show up at CPAC, Palin has had an awful lot of problems lately. She needs to ensure that she has competent people surrounding her if she wants to continue to be a player in national politics.If there are over 10,000 of the most dedicated grassroots activists for the conservative cause in one place, why would you miss it? That's a rhetorical question. You wouldn't miss it. CPAC was lit up with the energy not of old establishment types but the young, the restless and the politically active. You know those people who knock on doors and persuade? Yeah, that's who was at CPAC. Read more
Where Is Alabama AG Troy King?
Martha Roby Reaches NRCC's Young Guns Status
the top tier of the Committee’s three-level Young Guns recruitment program. These candidates have reached the third and final step by establishing a clear path to victory through their ability to build a formidable campaign structure and achieve important goals and benchmarks.
Other candidates named are:
Steve Chabot (OH-01)
Tim Griffin (AR-02)
Andy Harris (MD-01)
Pat Meehan (PA-07)
Steve Pearce (NM-02)
Martha Roby (AL-02)
Dennis Ross (FL-12)
Steve Stivers (OH-15)
Vaughn Ward (ID-01)
Allen West (FL-22)
Congrats to Martha Roby for all her hard work!!
You can learn more about Martha and or contribute to her campaign by going here: http://www.martharoby.com/
AL House "Indefinitely Postponed" Charter School Bill
Vote was 13-2
Voting to "indefinitely postpone" were: Lindsey, Rogers, Bentley, Boothe, Buskey, Graham, Greeson, Kennedy, McLaughlin, Oden, Spicer, Taylor, and Thomas.
Voting to take a vote on the charter school bill were: Reps. Mac Gipson and Mary Sue McClurkin.
Thanks to Reps. Mac Gipson and Mary Sue McClurkin for standing up to Paul Hubbert and the AEA. Their commitment to bettering education in Alabama is much appreciated.
The only strange vote was Rep. Robert Bentley, who is also a Republican Gubernatorial candidate. It was not a wise move for Dr. Bentley in a republican primary where most voters favor more school choice.
This Girl Rocks!
Varma became intimately acquainted with big government policies in Philadelphia two years ago when the Commerce Department shut down her and a business partner’s green-building proposal to revitalize vacant land in the Kensington. Varma witnessed the mismanagement of taxpayer money first-hand, stating, “I thought the city would welcome a green project, but a taxpayer funded program –The Industrial Empowerment Zone –stood in our way. It has failed to bring industry back, and succeeded only in blocking a project which could have helped the community and supported private business.” For Varma, The Industrial Empowerment Zone program is just another example of how big government impedes progress and hurts ordinary Americans.
You can visit her website at http://votepia.com
Update on Florida Senate Race
Former state House Speaker Marco Rubio has now jumped to a 12-point lead over Governor Charlie Crist in Florida’s Republican Primary race for the U.S. Senate.A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of likely GOP Primary voters in the state finds Rubio leading Crist 49% to 37%. Three percent (3%) prefer another candidate, and 11% are undecided.
Rubio is doing a moneybomb like Scott Brown did. The deadline is Feb. 10, 2010. His goal is $200,000. If you'd like to help him get there visit the website here.
Gubernatorial Candidate Bill Johnson Looking For Alabama's "Dirtiest Jobs"
JOHNSONS LOOKING FOR ALABAMA'S DIRTIEST JOBS
"We want to identify the dirtiest jobs in Alabama and work alongside some of our hardest working families." "Too many public servants have either forgotten what it's like to work their fingers to the bone trying to make ends meet, or they never knew to begin with." Montgomery, AL, Feb 1, 2010 - GOP gubernatorial candidate Bill Johnson and his wife are looking for jobs. Not just any jobs--they want to find Alabama's dirtiest jobs. "Last Friday, Kathy and I spent the night in homeless shelters and recovery centers to better understand the challenges and potential consequences of losing jobs, homes and families. People really are hurting--some through poor decisions they've made, and yet others who simply have hit really hard times and have no where to turn. There is a real misconception of homelessness. Loss of employment, and subsequently losing shelter, can happen to anyone regardless of race, gender, age, intelligence level or socio-economic status. It was an eye-opening experience that will help us better understand the challenges and potential solutions to homelessness. "Having spent a brief amount of time sleeping in homeless shelters and recovery centers, we now turn to address the enormous challenges our working families are facing. Today, we kick off our 'Working with the People-Alabama's Dirtiest Jobs Tour.' "There are hard working people across Alabama that get up every day and make a contribution to their families, their communities and our State," explains Johnson. "We want to identify the dirtiest jobs in Alabama and work alongside them; and, in honor of the contributions they're making to their communities, we will also donate $250 to the selected families' charity of their choice. "Too many public servants have either forgotten what it's like to work their fingers to the bone trying to make ends meet, or they never knew to begin with. "Although Kathy and I have worked the past several years in management positions, we haven't forgotten, nor do we ever want to forget, what true, hard, physical labor is-the kind of work in which our men and women leave work with dirt under their nails and aches in their muscles. That's what tens of thousands of Alabamians do every day in order to support their families. We want to get out there with them and let them know we understand what they're going through." "We truly believe that public officials have forgotten their role. It's to connect with, listen to and serve the people, plain and simple. Kathy and I can relate to the hard-working families of this State, and we want them to know we understand their challenges. We intend to represent all the people of Alabama--not just the elite, and we commit to spending time with, listening to and connecting with people from all walks of life. "One of the things that sets us apart from the other candidates is that we both came from large families where money was tight and pay checks were small. My dad was career military and had six children to feed. Kathy came from a family of five children with a disabled dad. Before either of us ever hit our teenage years, we had jobs, responsibilities and contributed financially to our families. Our hearts will always go out to people who are struggling to balance tight budgets, put food on the table and find a way to educate their children. That's just who we are and what we stand for-hard work and contributing to family, community and country." Anyone who wants to recommend a 'dirty job' for the Johnsons' "Working with the People-Alabama's Dirtiest Jobs Tour" can do so by sending an e-mail with details to anthony@billjohnson.org or by calling the Johnson for Governor Campaign Headquarters at (334) 328-3823. ### Bill Johnson, former director of the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) is a Republican Candidate for Alabama Governor in 2010. Johnson has been a member of Governor Riley's cabinet since 2005 and led Riley's grassroots efforts for his successful races for Congress in 1998 and Governor in both 2002 and 2006. He was the Governor's representative on the Appalachian Regional Authority (a 13-state coalition) and the Delta Regional Authority (an 8-state regional effort). Johnson has worked with state and local-level economic and workforce development efforts; was instrumental in launching the Black Belt Action Commission, of which he was director during the program's initial two-years; was active in launching the Rural Action Commission; and was the impetus for development of the Community Prison Re-entry (CPR) Network. Johnson, the son of a career military and civil servant, is a native of Birmingham. He and his wife, Kathy, live in Prattville and are the parents of three children.
I don't think I've ever seen anything just like this in a campaign before.
Anyone else have any thoughts?
Byrne Wins Lee County GOP Straw Poll
Kudos to Bradley Byrne for winning Lee County GOP straw poll tonight. He had a great debate performance and a much-deserved win. Here are the final numbers:
Byrne: 59%
Bentley: 16%
James: 15%
Ivey: 8%
Here are the actual numbers:
Byrne: 311
Bentley: 86
James: 79
Ivey: 42
Candidate for Attorney General Luther Strange Makes Statement on Houston County Happenings
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 12, 2010
Contact: Jessica Garrison, Campaign Manager 205-568-4371
Luther Strange Commends Houston County Officials, Warns Troy King Will Try to Have it Both Ways on Gambling
BIRMINGHAM, Ala-- Requests by leaders in Houston County for attorney general Troy King to litigate the legality of electronic bingo machines at Dothan's Country Crossing development are commendable calls for King to enforce the laws of the State of Alabama, according to Republican candidate for attorney general, Luther Strange.
“I’ve been calling on the attorney general for months to enforce the laws of the State not only in Dothan but in every city in Alabama where electronic casino style gambling is taking place, something Mr. King has consistently failed to do.
“According to news reports, Troy King has a tangled web of relationships with gambling owners and investors that some suggest have impeded his ability to enforce the law. In fact, Mr. King’s attendance at lavish parties and fundraisers thrown by the very people who he would be investigating certainly raises that question. Unfortunately, I suspect that Troy King will continue his practice of trying to have it both ways on this issue by refusing to enforce our existing laws and then endorsing some sort of legislation to outlaw gambling. “
"The issue of enforcing the laws of the state is not as complicated as Mr. King would like us to think. The answer is for Mr. King to listen to the people of Houston County, the governor, district attorneys, law enforcement officials and others and do the job the people elected him to do. Enforce the law," Strange said.
More on the Democrats' Exodus
The Democrats' Sinking Ship
The back-to-back Senate retirements of Byron Dorgan and Chris Dodd may be just the beginning. The people have seen the future of health care reform and found it doesn't work. Apres moi, le deluge.We don't know what the Mayan calendar says about 2010, but it's starting to look like the end of the world for Democratic electoral prospects. Americans who watched in shock as government tried to step between them and their doctors, may have the last laugh. The tea party isn't over until the angry mob votes.
Conservatives Not Ready To Embrace Party-Switcher
Conservatives Not Ready to Embrace Party-Switcher
Update on the FL Senate Race
Crist’s poll numbers are sinking as Rubio’s are rising. In fact, they are polling evenly now.
Rubio is the true conservative in the race. People are finally realizing that Crist is just another RINO. The picture of him hugged up with Pres. Obama certainly helped.
Rubio needs your help. Go to www.marcorubio.com and say Merry Christmas with a campaign donation!
More on the Griffith Switch
“From my perspective, this clearly shows there is blowback from the Democrat’s legislative overreach in DC. Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama are now having to pay a political price for shoving their agenda down our throats.
“However, what seems to be a GOP victory at first may well become another liberal victory in the long term. Unless Parker Griffith starts voting like a true fiscal conservative, Alabama could be stuck with another entrenched big-government Republican congressman.
“Welcome to the party, Parker. Here’s an electronic copy of the Constitution. Read it well, as you will have to continue to dodge us if you continue to disregard it.”
Here’s what the Club For Growth said:
Alabama is a run-off state, so Griffith will have to go head-to-head against a seasoned Republican if he wants to stay in office (assuming he doesn't get 50% of the vote right off the bat).
Griffith's voting record is far from conservative, too. Granted, he voted against the Big 4 - Obama's first budget, the Stimulus, Cap and Trade, and ObamaCare. However, his vote on the budget is slightly deceptive since he originally voted for 9 of the 12 spending bills that make up the budget. And he voted against all the Stimulus amendments that would reduce its size.
But just a quick perusal of 2009 shows that he voted YES on the 2009 pork-filled Omnibus; YES on Cash for Clunkers, NO on waiving the harmful Davis-Bacon provision, and had a pathetic 0% score on the 2009 RePORK Card.
This party switch signals Griffith's nervousness, but it doesn't signal that his incumbency is safe.
Re: The Parker Griffith Switch
As far as Griffith goes, switching parties doesn’t make him conservative. His voting record stands on its own. Yes, he voted against the so-called “Big Bills” (i.e. Stimulus, Omnibus Budget, Cap and Trade, and Health Care), but he also voted FOR 9 of the 12 appropriations bills in the budget. He voted FOR Nancy Pelosi as Speaker, and FOR cash for clunkers. If Griffith wants to become a Republican his voting record shows he’s going to have a lot of work to do.
My biggest concern with the switch is that we will wind up with another big government Republican who likes to bring pork back to his district and is impossible to get out of office. Both of the Republican candidates in AL-5 are solid conservatives. Unfortunately, Mo Brooks and Les Phillip will both have to raise a lot of money to compete with Griffith’s war chest.