RTC Conference

In about 30 minutes we will be starting the RTC conference in Westborough at the DoubleTree hotel. People are coming in and I just took this picture of Kurt Hayes, candidate for State Representative. Check out Kurt's website here.

Kerry's Gaffes

In case you've forgotten - here are some famous ones we reminded the Press about today...

Kerry's History of Gaffes:

In 2006, Kerry said that if you don't do well in school you'll wind up "Stuck in Iraq": "According to the Pasadena Star-News: "Kerry then told the students that if they were able to navigate the education system, they could get comfortable jobs - "If you don't, you get stuck in Iraq," he said to a mixture of laughter and gasps.'' (Boston Globe, 10/31/06)

• Kerry initially refused to apologize for his statement: "My statement yesterday, and the White House knows this full well, was a botched joke about the President and the President's people not about the troops," Kerry said at a press conference in Seattle. "The White Houses attempt to distort my true statement is a remarkable testament to their abject failure making America safe. Kerry continued: "I'm sick and tired of a whole bunch of Republican attacks, most of which come from people who never wore the uniform and never had the courage to stand up and go to war themselves." (Boston Globe, 10/31/06)

In Philadelphia, Kerry Asked For Cheesesteak With Swiss; “Was Caught Nibbling Daintily At His Sandwich.” “If Sen. John F. Kerry’s presidential aspirations melt like a dollop of Cheez Whiz in the sun, the trouble may well be traced to an incident in South Philadelphia on Monday. There, the Massachusetts Democrat went to Pat’s Steaks and ordered a cheesesteak -- with Swiss cheese. If that weren’t bad enough, the candidate asked photographers not to take his picture while he ate the sandwich; shutters clicked anyway, and Kerry was caught nibbling daintily at his sandwich -- another serious faux pas.”(The Washington Post, 8/13/03)

Kerry also called Green-Bay's Lambeau field "Lambert Field": "Forget soccer moms and NASCAR dads. The most important demographic in these parts transcends gender and geography -- it's Green Bay Packers fans. Both candidates are targeting them with the ferocity of a Brett Favre bullet, but only John F. Kerry has fumbled the name of the hallowed grounds on which the Packers play, the frozen tundra of Curly Lambeau Field. At a campaign event last month, the Democratic presidential nominee called it Lambert Field -- a slip of the tongue carried on television, in papers throughout the state and on ESPN's Web site." (Washington Post, 9/14/04)

Friday Update!

Reason # 1,834 to vote for John McCain

From drudgereport.

North County GOP Meeting!

The North County GOP is having a regional meeting on Thursday, June 12 2008 at 7:00pm. The meeting will be held in Room 9a at the Leominster Campus of Mt. Wachusett Community College. It is in the same area as the Registry of Motor Vehicles. The parking and entrance to the building is on the side facing BJ's Wholesale Club. Please make an effort to join us as we will be discussing and organizing "A Tribute to the Honorable Mary Padula", an event that will be taking place on Oct 5.

Republicans Full Of Optimism

Read About It Here:

"Dover - There may be only 19 Republicans sitting in the Massachusetts House of Representatives and a mere five in the state Senate, but don’t tell local GOP members their party is in trouble. Come this November, they think they will be just fine."

Summer Intern Spotlight

Richard Baker For Congress

Click Here To Donate - Invite Below:

Please join us in celebrating the start of our campaign for Congress from the Massachusetts 6th Congressional District

Thursday, June 12, 2008

7-9 PM

Sylvan Street Grill

12 Sylvan Street

Peabody, MA

Light Dinner and Cash Bar

Tickets: $35 Adults, $20 Children

Order tickets online or send payment to:
Richard Baker for Congress
Middle Street
West Newbury, MA 01985-1610

Dan Haley's Website

Is awesome - check it out!

Stretching the Facts

Democrat Congressman Kanjorski: "That if we won the Congressional elections, we could stop the war. Now anybody was a good student of Government would know that wasn't true. But you know, the temptation to want to win back the Congress, we sort of stretched the facts...and people ate it up."

Obama Willing To Meet Ahmadinejad, But Not Petraeus?

Read about the latest ridiculousness from the Obama campaign here.

GOP Town Committee Conference!!!

This weekend, Town Committees from across Massachusetts will be attending the GOP Conference in Westboro.

If you want to transform your members into activists, then this is the conference for you. Learn how to build your committee and to promote the GOP in your community!

For more information, click here.

You Can Join the RNC Convention!

How Can We Help You?

New Style

Team McCain has come out with a new sticker design. It sort of reminds me of the old Tab soda can. This sticker you have to donate $5 to get one. Or, you could always get another version at no cost here.

JSM on SNL

Friday Update!

What Is This Guy Doing?

Boston Herald has this article about Deval Patrick increasing his office budget by 80%.

“We know the governor had a goal of creating 100,000 new jobs in his first term, we just didn’t know he was going to create them all in the Corner Office,” said Sen. Michael Knapik (R-Westfield).

Added State Sen. Scott Brown (R-Wrentham): “People in my district are asking, ‘What is this guy doing?’ They get 1 to 2 percent increases for their schools, and he gets almost 80 percent? How do you explain that?”

Still, Republicans succeeded in winning approval of a measure in the overwhelmingly Democratic Senate that would force Patrick to post online the job titles and duties of all employees in his office.

Come Join Us

Welcome Chatham GOP Online!

The Chatham GOP has just launched a blog-esque website ChathamRepublicans.com. Pay them a visit!

Cutting Government

From the state house news service:

DEMS DEFEND PATRICK D.C. OFFICE FROM GOP ATTACK

Senate Republicans sparred with Democrats Wednesday night over funding for Gov. Deval Patrick’s administrative operations, pointing to an increase of 78 percent, putting the governor far ahead of previous administrations. “You guys would be screaming bloody murder if there was a Republican governor and he escalated the budget by nearly 100 percent,” said Sen. Michael Knapik. Senate Ways and Means chair Sen. Steven Panagiotakos said about $3 million of the roughly $9 million in Patrick’s line item came from the Commonwealth Corps volunteer initiative that Patrick touted early in his first year. The GOP ridiculed Patrick’s $453,000 filing for his Washington D.C. office, questioning why Patrick kept adding jobs to his administration. “They’re hiring new people from everywhere,” said Senate Minority Leader Richard Tisei. Democratic senators defended Patrick’s D.C. operation, saying the office had helped with funding for fisheries, Medicaid, and small businesses, among others. The GOP effort to strike funding for the office was defeated on a 5-33 roll call. Later, Republicans succeeded in adding an amendment they said would promote transparency within the administration, requiring the online posting of a detailed organizational chart. Senate Democrats also turned back the minority party’s effort to strip the Lottery Commission of its $10 million advertising budget, pointing to shortfalls in Lottery funding and the prospect of creating more gambling addictions. Panagiotakos defended the account, pointing to the Lottery’s success relative to other states’ systems. Sen. Marc Pacheco (D-Taunton) voted against the amendment, but said he thought the state should re-examine the way the Lottery distributes the money.

new JohnMcCain.com

Have you seen the new 2.0 version of JohnMcCain.com? Check it out.

Dan Haley Kickoff Announcement!

Norwood Republican Town Committee Wine Tasting!

Norwood Republican Town Committee invites you to

WINES OF SUMMER A WINE TASTING
EVENT

at The Historic Fiddlehead Theater
109 Central Street - Norwood Center
Thursday - June 12, 2008 - 7:00 pm

Hors d'oeuvres - Entertainment - Taste the Wine costumes of the period
Tickets: $10 in advance - $12 at the door To purchase tickets call:

Patricia Sterritt (857) 719-8018
Barbara Martin (781) 254-2485
Marion Gaw (781) 762-6064

Saugus RTC Event!

Left to right: John Blaisdell, candidate State Representative Eighth Essex District, Jeff Beatty, U.S. Senate candidate, Paul VanSteensburg Sr., Chairman SRTC, Richard Baker, candidate U.S. Representative 6^th Congressional District, Jim Ogonowski, U.S. Senate candidate, Holly Robichaud, Boston Herald columnist “The Lone Republican”, and State Senator Scott Brown.

Lonnie Brennan Fundraiser!

Sen. Brown and Rep. Polito honored for efforts on Jessica's Law

Last week, State Senator Scott Brown (R-Wrentham) and State Representative Karyn Polito (R-Shrewsbury) were honored for their efforts to try to pass "Jessica's Law" in the legislature. The two law makers were officially recognized by V.O.I.C.E.S. (Voices of Involved Citizens Encouraging Safety) an advocacy group that promotes educating families on the dangers of sexual predators and reforming laws pertaining to sex offenders.

In photo - (l-r) Debbie Savoia of North Andover, Laurie Myers of Chelmsford, Rep. Polito, Sen. Brown, Rachel Eaton of Halifax, Sandy DiBacco of Norfolk.

http://www.communityvoices.net/

New Nathan Bech Website

Friday Update!

2013

New Matt Kinnaman Column

Getting it Right

May 15, 2008

By Matt Kinnaman

Governor Deval Patrick said it’s “a dumb idea.” He called it “irresponsible” and “foolish.” Massachusetts Teachers Association President Anne Wass labeled it “wacky” and “wrong-headed.” What is it? It’s a ballot initiative to eliminate the Massachusetts income tax, on track for a statewide up-or-down vote on Election Day, November 4.

In 2002 a similar initiative attracted 45 percent of the vote. This time taxpayers just may be in a mood to go all the way, especially if they remember how the legislature has treated them in the past on taxes.

Background: In 2000, the citizens of the Commonwealth passed a ballot question reducing the income tax rate to 5 percent. After the initiative passed, House Speaker Thomas Finneran said, "The voters have spoken. We'll abide by it. There won't be any attempt to cushion it, modify it, tailor it in any way. I respect their grasp of issues and I respect the position they take on an issue like that. There won't be any problem with us. We'll implement it."

Sounded great. Didn’t happen. The legislature blockaded it, and the best that voters can hope for now is for a 5 percent rate by 2014, if “economic triggers” defined by Beacon Hill kick in. Or, taxpayers can take more immediate and dramatic action, and eliminate the income tax altogether.

Would it be a catastrophe? Or would it be the most powerfully transformative event in Massachusetts politics since tea first went into the harbor? What would it mean to the Massachusetts economy if three million Massachusetts taxpayers received an average annual raise of $3,600 each? (That’s the amount they’d keep via elimination of the income tax). What would it mean if people suddenly found the Bay State a more attractive place to live, work, invest, and raise families? What would happen to the fortunes of Massachusetts if the Commonwealth became a nationwide magnet for opportunity-seekers?

“The most valuable natural resource in the 21st century is brains,” says tech-savvy Rich Karlgaard, publisher of Forbes Magazine. “Smart people tend to be mobile. Watch where they go. Because where they go, robust economic activity will follow.”

They don’t go to Massachusetts very often. From 1991-2007 more than 550,000 people moved out. This is what the US Bureau of Census calls “net domestic migration,” which in plain English means a vast disappearance of jobs, families, companies, inventions, enterprises, schools, teachers, entrepreneurs, doctors, young people…and revenue. In population loss measurements, the Commonwealth is the 49^th worst among the 50 states.

The cost of this exodus is incalculable, but when human capital is appreciating faster than any other resource, it’s something no state can afford when 49 competitors are lined up at the door. Especially when most of those states are much friendlier to taxpayers than Massachusetts is.

What about the numbers? Income tax receipts in Massachusetts currently account for 39 percent of overall state revenue, approximately $11 billion a year. Removed from the proposed 2008 state budget of $29 billion, legislators would be left with about $18 billion to spend.

Is it enough? Let’s go to the historical data. In 1986, before the “Massachusetts Miracle” gave way to the Tax-achusetts exodus, "We were on top of the world," said Michael J. Widmer, president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation. "The economy was booming and spending growth was in double digits." According to a Boston Globe retrospective on those bright economic times, “The Bay State was Silicon Valley before there was a Silicon Valley.”

At that point, the Massachusetts budget was $8.8 billion. Adjusted for inflation and population changes since 1986 (including increases by births and an influx of foreign immigration), Massachusetts’ 2008 budget ought to be $18.7 billion, almost $11 billion less than what the legislature and the governor’s office are asking for, and enough of a cushion to absorb the projected $11 billion dollar revenue reduction from the elimination of the income tax. And that doesn’t count the floods of new revenue that will be created by new economic activity, a phenomenon that occurs most powerfully in states with people-friendly, low-tax, pro-growth policies.

Nine states—Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming—have no income tax. As a group they are attracting population, and in multiple surveys of economic climate, performance, and prospects, they leave Massachusetts in the dust. Without an income tax, all nine states have figured out how to run budget surpluses. Are they “dumb.” Are they “foolish.” Are they “irresponsible?” Are they “wacky?”

Or is it just us?

Barack

Candidate Forum - Saugus

Sponsored by the Saugus Republican Town Committee
May 15, 2008
7-11PM
Hilltop Steak House
Route One South, Saugus

Guest Speaker Holly Robichaud
Columnist, "The Lone Republican" Boston Herald

Special Guest Candidates::

State Senator Scott Brown

Jim Ogonowski for US Senate

Richard Baker for US Representative

Ticket Donations $50.00 Includes Buffet, Door Prize, Cash Bar
Benefits: The Candidates, Local Scholarships. Civic Organizations

Whoops

New McCain Gear

A Crumbling Economy, A Commonwealth In Crisis

And Governor Patrick is...

WGBH, Channel 2

Chairman Peter Torkildsen will be on Greater Boston tonight discussing the recent news stories surrounding Speaker Sal.

Ted Kennedy on the Estate Tax

Matt Kinnaman on Free Speech

New Article by State Committeeman Matt Kinnaman on free speech (or lack thereof) at Smith College.

Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts is a top-tier school with a remarkable story. It was founded as an all-women's college in 1871, one year before Susan B. Anthony was arrested for attempting to cast a ballot in the 1872 presidential election.

Nearly a half-century before they were guaranteed voting rights by the 19th Amendment, women were blazing a trail to first-class citizenship at Smith College.

It's no surprise that Smith describes itself as "empowering" and transforming." According to its promotional material, the college is "heady, nervy, intellectually exciting." With its history of promoting civil rights even under hostile circumstances, this is clearly not a campus that would blatantly crush free speech.

But on April 29, that's exactly what happened after guest speaker Ryan Sorba arrived to address an audience in the Smith College library. Sorba is the author of "The Born Gay Hoax," which challenges the premise of genetically-based same-sex attraction.

This turned out to be too much for today's Smith College community. Early in Sorba's presentation, student protesters stormed the library, waved signs, shouted him down, chased him from the podium and commandeered the microphone. The speech was canceled. But was the premise of Sorba's presentation outside the bounds of constitutionally-protected expression? Was it outside the bounds of legitimate academic inquiry?

Not according to Simon LeVay, a gay neuroscientist, and one of the world's foremost voices promoting the paradigm of biologically-based homosexual attraction. Even so, LeVay points out that the scientific community is unsettled on the "gay gene" debate, and in a current PBS report about the nature v. nurture controversy, he asks, "Are the positions taken by researchers merely the expression of their own personal attitudes and prejudices -- whether pro- or anti-gay -- that have been dressed up in academic language?"

This is precisely the type of question students at an "empowering, transforming, heady, nervy, intellectually exciting" college ought to confront at a presentation like Sorba's. Instead, they shut it down, violating the spirit of inquiry and academic integrity on which Smith was founded.
In the cacophony after Sorba was driven from the library, an attendee captured the floor for just a moment: "You guys are all cheering and that's great. I understand you're excited. You won. But what did you really win?"

Excellent question. In August of 1814, the desperate British military burned the Library of Congress. In the aftermath, Thomas Jefferson wrote, "I learn from the newspapers that the vandalism of our enemy has triumphed at Washington over science as well as the arts."
The British book-burning rampage was no worse than what happened at Smith last week, because at Smith College the underlying principles of all liberal democratic institutions were trampled in the very halls where they ought to be most protected.

And did it escape the censors' notice that Ryan Sorba's book is still in draft form? His presentation offered the perfect opportunity for listeners to expose flaws in his book through rational critique, prior to its publication. But rational critique has been chased out by a dangerous form of political correctness that threatens the foundations of free inquiry and ordered liberty.

On April 28, the day before Ryan Sorba was silenced at Smith, the American Psychiatric Association provided a foreshadowing when it pulled the plug on a Washington, D.C., conference session titled "Homosexuality and Therapy: The Religious Dimension."

David Scasta, the gay psychiatrist and former APA president coordinating the symposium, said, "It was a way to have a balanced discussion about religion and how it influences therapy. We wanted to talk rationally, calmly and respectfully to each other."

Then the panel's headliner, New Hampshire's Episcopal Bishop V. Gene Robinson, boycotted and forced the event to be canceled. Robinson, who is also gay, claimed that the APA, by including two evangelicals on the panel, was being manipulated by Focus on the Family. Bishop Robinson is quoted as saying, "just my showing up and letting this event happen" would give "credibility" to views he disagrees with.

But isn't "showing up" for the debate integral to our civil liberties? Isn't the guarantee of free speech inseparable from the full enjoyment of first-class citizenship? And isn't censorship of ideas other than one's own a hallmark of totalitarianism?
The answers are powerfully obvious.

Matt Kinnaman's "Getting it Right" column appears every Thursday in the North Adams Transcript.

Message From Jeff Perry

Deval and Obama, One and the Same?

Come Meet Senator Scott Brown!

Follow Us

Sal To Speak?

Speaker Sal said he would soon talk about the ethics investigations. Watch the video here. Apparently, Sal can't talk to the media without an appointment.

Vitale finally registers as a lobbyist. He said previously that he was paid to be a "strategist" on behalf of the ticket brokers. Looks like his "strategy" is to become an official lobbyist.

Protest Cam

Fox News has a stationary camera set up streaming the site where radical Code Pink protesters are out against an USMC Recruiting Station.

Click Here

Meet Dan

Meet Dan Haley and learn about him here. He is a great candidate.

Grover Norquist

Grover Norquist is in his home state of Massachusetts speaking with the Friday Morning Group.

Next Right Is Now

The Next Right has Arrived. Click the logo to sign up.

CanWeAsk.com

Secrecy of State Budget Talks

From the Gloucester Daily Times:

Our view: There's no excuse for shameful secrecy of state budget talks

"The region's state representatives claim to do what their title implies — represent the people of their districts.

But they obviously want we, the people, just to take their word for it, since they don't want us looking on as they make some of the most critical decisions of the year — how to spend the money they take from us in taxes.

As documented by Statehouse reporter Edward Mason (The Times, Monday, May 5), House lawmakers have crafted the coming year's $28-billion budget largely out of public view. The real debate over spending occurred in private rooms, and even the orchestrated "debate" for public consumption has been taken off of television and moved only to the Internet.

This may not break any law — the Legislature, even though it is obviously a governmental body, has conveniently exempted itself from the Open Meeting Law. But it remains a blatant violation of the spirit and principle of open government. As Common Cause Executive Director Pamela Wilmot told Mason, "The state budget allocates the ... public's resources. It's absolutely essential it be transparent from soup to nuts."

There is, of course, no transparency in either soup or nuts at the Statehouse. The decisions are made out of public view, in a room off the House lobby manned by guards. There is eventually a public debate, but its outcome is never in doubt. The whole exercise is little more than a teleplay.

This is a travesty, and what makes it even more shameful is that some North of Boston region representatives defend it. Rep. Barbara L'Italien, D-Andover, says it is the Legislature's "prerogative" to have more "internal" discussions.

Clearly, it is not necessary to be in San Francisco, listening to presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, to find elitism. It is rampant at the Massachusetts Statehouse. Members of the Great and General Court must not be distracted by the little people watching them.

Then there is James Eisenberg, an aide to Rep. Robert DeLeo, D-Winthrop, one of the Legislature's top budget officials. He says that having debates in private gives legislators a stronger voice and brings more order to what would otherwise be a chaotic process.

If legislators want order and privacy, they should move to the private sector. This is supposed to be a democracy, where deliberations on how to spend public money are conducted in public. And a strong voice is what they all claim they will bring to the Statehouse if we will elect them. Why can't they demonstrate that strong voice in public?

But this is the way it will remain, as long as the House remains overwhelmingly under the control of one party and there is no public outrage. If lawmakers thought they might actually lose their seats over this — yet another example of their obvious disdain for the public — those doors would open.

If voters want change, they need to exercise their own prerogative — throwing out the defenders of this corrupt system."

Just Words?

Deval Patrick has a cute story about how he contributed the maximum amount to Barack Obama back when he was running for State Senate.

"Nonetheless, Patrick said he remembers writing a $5,000 check to Obama in the mid-1990s, a hefty sum that would have jibed with the punch line of his story, most recently — and most publicly — recounted in a four-paragraph testimonial he penned for Obama in last week's Time magazine. The issue proffered a list of the world's 100 most influential people, including Obama.

'When at last he decided to run for the Illinois Senate, he called to ask for my help and I was eager to give it," Patrick wrote. ''I'll contribute at the max,' I pledged. 'Deval,' he said, 'in Illinois there is no max.' I said, 'Brother, I'm sorry, there has to be a max.' "

The undocumented donation is not the first contribution controversy involving Patrick.

This story is spreading far and wide.



Just words.

Dalton Republican Social!

You are invited:

DALTON RePUBlican Social

Thur., May 15^th, 5-7 PM

Jacob’s Pub

51 Daly Ave., Dalton

Free, fun, & informal – Bring like-minded friends

Contact Dawn Taylor-Thompson BerkshireChiltonHouse@yahoo.com or 464.4450

Sponsored by the Dalton Republican Town Committee

Opening Day

These were taken last Saturday at the opening day for the South Attleboro Girls' Softball League. Rep candidate George Ross got a great reception along with Rep. Lepper and Senator Brown.


John Lepper, George Ross, and Scott Brown.


George Ross and Scott Brown


George Ross at the Parade

Behind Closed Doors

A great look at how Beacon Hill Democrats spend your tax dollars is in the Eagle-Tribune from yesterday.

Check it out here

It's Time For Action

Friday Update!

Tisei Goes After Deval - Go Get 'Em!

Tisei calls for release of April revenue figures

Accuses DOR, Governor of withholding numbers to influence tax vote

BOSTON – Senate Minority Leader Richard R. Tisei is calling on the Department of Revenue to release April tax revenue figures, saying the Patrick Administration is purposely withholding crucial information from legislators on the eve of a scheduled Senate vote on a $500 million tax increase on businesses.

Noting that monthly tax revenues for the current fiscal year to date have consistently topped original projections, Tisei accused the Administration of dragging its feet on releasing April revenue figures because the numbers – which are expected to again top earlier benchmarks – might sway some legislators into voting against the governor’s proposed tax increases for Massachusetts businesses.

“For the past 10 years, DOR has consistently released the April revenue figures on the first or second day of the month,” said Tisei. “It stretches credibility for DOR to claim that, for the first time in a decade, they won’t have the figures ready until next week.”

Tisei said the unusual delay in releasing last month’s figures appears to be driven by an ulterior motive.

“By withholding information that will clearly show the state does not have a revenue problem but a spending problem, DOR is attempting to influence the debate on a major tax bill,” Tisei said. “DOR is keeping these figures a closely guarded secret because, if word were to get out that state revenues are continuing to come in above projected benchmarks, it would be very difficult for the Governor to justify his tax increase proposal.

“A number of people have noted that DOR, rather than acting as a neutral arbitrator and providing information, has been taking an aggressive lobbying approach throughout the tax debate and is being used by the Governor in a way it has never been used before,” he added. “My question is, when did DOR go from being an agency that enforces tax policy to one that actually tries to influence and set tax policy?”

Total tax revenues for Fiscal Year (FY) 2008 to date have exceeded original benchmarks by nearly $800 million, and April’s numbers will add to that figure. At the same time, state spending is growing at a rapid pace.

Over the past four years, state revenues increased by an average of 7.1 percent annually. In FY07, the state collected $19.736 million in revenues, a 6.8 percent increase over the previous year, which far exceeded the state’s original benchmark.

For FY08, the state initially anticipated taking in $19.879 million in tax revenues, but that figure has been revised upwards twice, and is now $20.225 million. Based on the latest benchmark, FY08 revenue collections will rise by 2.5 percent compared to last year, but projected spending is expected to grow by nearly double that rate, or 4.41 percent.

“This is the same type of tactic we saw employed during the Dukakis Administration, when Dukakis was doing everything he could to fudge the numbers and hide the truth from the Legislature and the public and almost led the state into bankruptcy,” Tisei said. “Governor Patrick campaigned on a promise to make state government more transparent, but he has been doing exactly the opposite in order to further his own tax and spend agenda.”

Barack Obama's Top Ten

Ahead of his Letterman appearance tonight, the RNC’s Top 10 reasons Barack Obama isn’t ready to be commander-in-chief:

10. Thinks our enemies will be peaceful if only we invite them over for coffee.

9. Yes? No? Present.

8. $1.52 gas? Vote to suspend the gas tax. $4 gas? Support the gas tax.

7. MoveOn.Org & Howard Dean = Obama’s “New Politics”

6. Chairman of the Senate Foreign Affairs Subcommittee in name only.

5. Guns are something voters “cling” to because they’re bitter.

4. Religion is something voters “cling” to because they’re bitter.

3. Withdraw from Iraq now, but return if al Qaeda in Iraq takes hold in Iraq.

2. “Friendly” with unrepentant terrorists like Bill Ayers.

1. Would rather eat a waffle than answer tough questions.

Sources:

10. http://www.abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=3409544&page=1

9. http://www.gop.com/media/PDFs/050307Research.pdf

8. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120900047323640215.html

7. http://www.gop.com/images/research/042908Research3.pdf; http://www.gop.com/images/research/043008Research2.pdf

6. http://www.gop.com/images/research/022808Research2.pdf

5. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mayhill-fowler/obama-no-surprise-that-ha_b_96188.html

4. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mayhill-fowler/obama-no-surprise-that-ha_b_96188.html

3. http://www.gop.com/media/PDFs/032007Research3.pdf

2. http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0208/Ax_on_Ayers.html

1. http://www.gop.com/images/research/042108Research.pdf

Scott Brown in the News

Our own Scott Brown recently received a 100 percent rating from the Massachusetts Audubon Society. Congratulations Scott!

Click here to read the story.

Man in the Arena

Beacuse it's raining out today - here's the next President of The United States:

Peter Tokildsen On News Night

Republican Party Chair Peter Torkildsen was on Newsnight with Jim Braude on NECN last night, discussing our Press Conference from yesterday and the continuing ethics and civil rights violations of the Democrat Party.

Part 1: Click Here

Part 2: Click Here

Training in the Berkshires

Last night I was in Pittsfield meeting with the Berkshire County Republican Association. What a great group! Peter Giftos, the Executive Director and Chairman Jim Bashour are doing great things in western mass.

Speaking of western mass, did you know we are having a training in Ludlow tomorrow (Saturday)? Details here.

Here is Nathan Bech, collecting signatures to run for U. S. Congress in the 1st Congressional District. At 33 years of age, Nathan has a great biography. Get to know Nate.

Torkildsen Press Conference

UPDATE: NECN at 12:30 - Click Here

UPDATE #2: The Boston Herald Reports

UPDATE #3: The Boston Globe Reports

UPDATE #4: The Associated Press Reports

UPDATE #5: NECN at 5:00 - Click Here

Minutes ago, Chairman Torkildsen and the Massachusetts Republican Party held a conference outside of the State House calling on Martha Coakley to launch two investigations.

Click here for audio.

This Is Getting Out Of Hand

Again?

Boston Globe reports here

"Just months after House Speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi killed a bill that was designed to block a controversial liquefied natural gas project from being built on 73 acres in Fall River, the landowner, Jay Cashman, sold the property to the terminal developers and made a $14.2 million profit, according to a Globe review of real estate and legislative records."

'Relationships, money, and influence is what it is all about,' said state Representative David B. Sullivan, a Fall River Democrat who, along with other local officials, has strongly opposed the LNG terminal. He said the personal connections between DiMasi and Cashman tainted the terminal legislation: 'It smells bad.' "

Ever see the movie Groundhog Day?

Today, we are taking some action. More to come.