I have started hearing an old familiar phrase on the campaign trail: “I’m a conservative Republican” (emphasis on the ‘conservative). The label “Republican” is polling about as low as it’s ever polled, but its part-time synonym — “conservative” — is the most popular ideological label in american politics.
A Gallup poll found that the number of Americans defining themselves as conservative is at its highest point in 20 years, at 40 percent. That compared to 35 percent saying they are moderate and 21 percent saying they are liberal.
The results track closely with another Gallup poll, from May, which found more Americans defining themselves as “pro-life” than “pro-choice” for the first time since it began asking the question in 1995. And it wasn’t even close — 51 percent to 42.
Is it possible to be a conservative again? I am not sure. Will this trend favor the Republican Party? Not yet. Republicans have not finished paying the price for their lack of fiscal discipline and leadership. The folks in today’s tea party movement are a testiment to the large numbers of conservatives out there who say they are done with the GOP. These folks simply don’t believe in the Republican brand, because in the past what Republicans have said they stand for has not been matched by what they have done while governing in the majority.
It’s time for the Republican party and its candidates to start acting like conservatives and not just telling us they are conservatives. Voters crave the real deal.
A Campaign Tale of Christmas Past
Not an activist was stirring, not even a wonk.
The blogs were all posted by the writers with care,
In hopes that St Margaret soon would read theirs.
While visions of dollar signs danced in their heads.
And Chip in his ‘kerchief, and Matt in his cap,
Had just settled down for a long winter’s nap.
When out on the internet there arose such a clatter,
Chip sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the computer he flew like a flash,
Tore open the browser to see what had past.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the luster of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to his wondering eyes should appear,
But a bomb throwers blog posts from throughout the year.
With a cadence, so lively and quick,
They knew in a moment it must be Sgt. York.
More rapid than eagles his lines of prose they came,
And he piled on with sentences that put politicians to shame!
“Now Cunnigham! now, Costigan! now, Schied and Bounds!
On, Pompeii! On, Stutzmann! , on Patterson and Hanlon!
To the top of Meg County, to the top of the all posts!
Now dash away York! Dash away! Dash away all!”
And then, in a twinkling, I heard in the office
The prancing and pawing of each little minion.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Into the office came St Margaret with a bound.
She was dressed all in fur, from her head to her foot,
And her clothes were all tarnished with blog posts, ashes and soot.
A bundle of cash she had flung on her back,
To hand out to all who would help her keep her campaign on track.
She was miffed and unnerved,
And I knew when I saw her, how her mood got so sour!
A wink of her eye and a twist of her head,
Soon let me know Sgt York’s blog would be dead.
And purchased Meg County, Chip, Matt, then turned with a jerk.
And laying her money on the table with care,
made sure Sgt York was no longer there!
She sprang back to her campaign, and to her team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard her exclaim, as she drove out of sight,
“Vote for me now or disappear in the night!”
Stop the presses – the Yolo County Republican Party decided to endorse Incumbents Wally Herger and Jim Nielsen for Re-Election.
Problem. Charlie Schaupp is running against Nielsen and Colonel Pete Stiglich is running against Wally Herger.
The Irony is that Mark Pruner is the Chairman of the Yolo GOP and is one of the loudest critics of the Placer County Republican Party Endorsement Process.
(To be honest – I had to look at his website to even know what Wally Herger looks like, but I digress. – I am sure those on the Yolo Cent Com feel the same way…)
This blogger received a copy of an email from Mr. Pruner indicating the same sections of the CRP By-Laws with the same vacuous wording as the reason why the Yolo Cent Com needs to reconsider…
Reconsider? Abel Maldonado is in between a rock and a hard place.
First off – his campaign Chairman (Patrick Dorinson – a lifelong Democrat until he latched on to Arnold) attacked the Placer County Republican Central Committee… begging us to endorse Senator Sam, but now Abel has to get confirmed to be Arnold’s (um.) Lt. Gov.
With Sam Blakeslee resigning his post as assembly leader – to run for Maldo’s Senate Seat (that he’d have to vacate if confirmed) – it looks as if the fix is in.
Look at it this way: The Dems don’t trust him – so they will confirm him and then roast him in his attempt to get re-elected.
The Dems also feel that they have a better shot to re-claim the Senate Seat Maldo occupies (it is majority Dem) with him out of the way.
I predict that only Blakeslee, Anthony Adams and a few others on the Rep side vote to confirm… so we’ll be able to safely say that he is the choice of the dems.
Maldo. He could have kept his Senate Seat – now he’ll end up with nothing… and the Dems will be happy and so will the Republicans.
If I remember correctly, he had endorsed Doug LaMalfa previously. I have seen a few other such occurrences recently in that district.
It makes you wonder if it is LaMalfa’s performances or Rick Keene’s that is inspiring this transition – I’d hazard a guess that a lot of Placer’s Local electeds didn’t even know Doug LaMalfa before they endorsed him.
5 months to go folks – and it is getting fun already.
(Chico) - Earning yet another endorsement from an influential North State leader, the campaign of Rick Keene for Senate today announced that Keene has received the endorsement from Del Norte County’s chief law enforcement officer Sheriff Dean Wilson, following a recent campaign visit to the region.
“Rick Keene has demonstrated his commitment to keeping our communities safe and supporting law enforcement and other public safety agencies,” said Sheriff Wilson. ”No one has been better or stronger on our issues than he has. Rick Keene was born in Del Norte County, he fully understands our particular issues as a rural, coastal community. I know he is prepared to be an outstanding advocate for our region.”
In the Assembly, Keene was instrumental in negotiating the essential elements of Proposition 1A the Protection of Local Government Revenues Act of 2004, this significantly curtailed the state’s ability to raid local funds and enforce unfunded mandates – which always resulted in reductions in law enforcement services funding.
Keene stated, “I am humbled to have earned the endorsement and support of respected law enforcement professionals like Sheriff Dean Wilson. I sincerely appreciate the hard work our Sheriffs and the men and women of law enforcement do to keep us safe. I appreciate his support and I will stand strong for Del Norte County in the Senate.”
California Proposition 8 Trial Update – Biased Media Coverage / Witnesses Getting Exposed
Curious isn’t it? Wonder why the media coverage of the Proposition 8 trial has been so scarce?
The only coverage was of some “psychologist” talking about how proposition 8 needs to be struck down ‘for the good of the children’. Funny. The Psychologist – while degreed hasn’t treated patients… in fact Dr. Lamb is pretty much an academic. (facts omitted from the AP wire/LA Times)
Funny – Children raised by two same-sex parents seem to perform just as well as parents raised in a heterosexual household.
In fact – two earlier witnesses, also celebrated by the media were exposed for their long histories of activism. This is significant as it would be like asking a pit boss to testify that gambling is not harmful.
The key part of the trial this week – actually the two key parts were:
1. Aside from badgering the Chinese pastor for words written in Chinese 5-10 years ago – an assault on the Church seems to not be forthcoming. It may yet come as their witnesses thus far are being embarrassed.
2. The defense (yes on 8 ) – quoted Obama’s own book where he wrote that it is possible to support traditional marriage without showing moral disapproval of homosexuals. The ‘expert’ witnesses had to concede that point.
In addition the defense has been repeatedly questioning and gaining witness to admissions that society has grown a lot more tolerant of homosexuals.
These are huge blows to the case…
Now of grave concern – Judge Vaughn Walker is showing in my opinion contempt for the 9th Circuit Court and the U.S Supreme Count in two ways:
1. He has figured out how to get around the 9th Circuit Court staying his order to force yes on 8 to turn over all sensitive campaign data about targeting and strategy. Thus far, the Yes on 8 team has responded by asking the same from No on 8. I expect that the judge will rule against Yes on 8 – continuing his pattern of using his bench to help the No side as much as he can.
2. He is still taping the proceedings even though the Supreme Court stayed his order. Even though the Yes on 8 lawyers said he’d be in contempt of the Supreme Court if the tapes got out – it would not surprise me to see them on Gawker or Qweerty some day.
I still can’t believe we are seeing this in America.