2008 RNC UPDATE!

Greetings from beautiful Bloomington, Minnesota! Right now I’m sitting in the lobby eagerly awaiting the arrival of our delegates and alternates. My fellow interns and I have spent the weekend stuffing gift bags with republican paraphernalia, organizing and distributing credentials and planning the Massachusetts’ itinerary to get our delegation excited about their participation in the convention! Tonight is a very special night because our delegation has been invited to attend Civic Fest. Civic Fest features exhibits and audio tours about our past presidents and there is even a replica of the White House! Our plan is to get some great candids of the delegates and alternates inside “Air Force One” and enjoying the company of republicans from all across the nation. Keep checking back for more updates and the inside scoop about what’s going on at the 2008 Republican National Convention.

The interns putting their blood, sweat and tears into those lovely little things we call SWAG bags.

Ron Davy who is running for Plymouth County Commissioner is here with Jim Braude from NECN and 96.9 FM talk radio.

Maggie, Liz and Nicole are here to Welcome You!

Obama Speach

ARLINGTON, VA -- Tonight, the McCain campaign issued the following statement from Tucker Bounds, McCain 2008 spokesman, on Barack Obama's acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention:

"Tonight, Americans witnessed a misleading speech that was fundamentally at odds with the meager record of Barack Obama. When the temple comes down, the fireworks end, and the words are over, the facts remain: Senator Obama still has no record of bipartisanship, still opposes offshore drilling, still voted to raise taxes on those making just $42,000 per year, and still voted against funds for American troops in harm's way. The fact remains: Barack Obama is still not ready to be President."

The Difference Is Clear

About the Republican National Convention Podium Design:
Headline: "A stage where speakers, audience can see eye to eye..." (Star Tribune [Minneapolis, MN], August 15, 2008)

"...On convention podium, intimacy replaces grandeur." (St Paul Pioneer Press, August 15, 2008)

"'You can feed off the crowd. It'll be more visually interesting and provide a more intimate feel,'said Steven Schier, a political science professor at Carleton College." (St Paul Pioneer Press, August 15, 2008)

About the Democratic National Convention INVESCO Podium Design:
Headline: "Barack Obama To Address Supporters From God-Like Setting" (Telegraph [U.K.], August 28, 2008)

Headline: "'O' My God - Dems Erect Obama Temple" (New York Post, August 28, 2008)

"Democrats will kneel before the 'Temple of Obama' tonight. As if a Rocky Mountain coronation were not lofty enough, Barack Obama will aim for Mount Olympus when he accepts his party's nomination atop an enormous, Greek-columned stage..." (New York Post, August 28, 2008)

"Senior Democratic officials are expressing serious concerns about the political risks posed by Barack Obama's acceptance speech at Invesco Field at Mile High tonight." (The Denver Post, August 28, 2008

Boston Victory Office

Obama, Biden's Son Linked By Earmarks

Obama, Biden's Son Linked By Earmarks

From The Washington Post

By James V. Grimaldi and Kimberly Kindy

August 27, 2008

PDF Format

Sen. Barack Obama sought more than $3.4 million in congressional earmarks for clients of the lobbyist son of his Democratic running mate, Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr. of Delaware, records show. Obama succeeded in getting $192,000 for one of the clients, St. Xavier University in suburban Chicago.

Obama's campaign has taken a hard stance against the world of lobbying in the nation's capital. Obama said he limits his own efforts to get money for pet projects -- a process known as earmarking -- to those that benefit the public. He has posted his earmark requests on his presidential campaign Web site to encourage transparency.

Since Obama announced his selection of Biden on Saturday, attention has focused on Biden's lobbying connections as well as his son's lobbying activities. R. Hunter Biden is one of many relatives of members of Congress who work as lobbyists.

The younger Biden started his career as a lobbyist in 2001 and has registered to represent about 21 clients that have brought in $3.5 million to his Washington firm, according to lobbying disclosure forms.

Sen. Biden has collected more than $6.9 million in campaign contributions from lobbyists and lawyers since 1989, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. ...

Hunter Biden, a 38-year-old Georgetown graduate and Yale-trained lawyer, is a name partner in the firm Oldaker, Biden & [sic] Belair, founded by William Oldaker, an election lawyer and lobbyist who worked on Sen. Edward M. Kennedy's 1980 presidential campaign and has been a fundraiser and campaign adviser for Sen. Biden.

An analysis for The Washington Post by Taxpayers for Common Sense of Hunter Biden's firm's lobbying business found that its clients collected $2.7 million in earmarks in the last fiscal year.

One of those clients was St. Xavier University, a four-year, 5,600-student institution run by the Roman Catholic Sisters of Mercy in Orland Park, Ill. Steve Murphy, vice president for university advancement, said Hunter Biden approached him in 2005 offering to secure congressional earmarks.

Hunter Biden and his colleague, Eric Schwerin, told Murphy they were "working with a number of clients, institutions like yours, and we would like to help you identify earmarks, federal support and grants."

Murphy said he found Biden's parentage a selling point. Murphy then accompanied Biden to the offices of the Illinois delegation, including Obama's. ...

Since Hunter Biden signed St. Xavier as a client in December 2005, the firm has earned $320,000 from the university.

In 2006, Obama also asked for $2 million for a cancer research treatment center at Chicago's Thorek Memorial Hospital, according to an Obama letter requesting the money posted on Obama's campaign Web site. Hunter Biden was the registered lobbyist and his firm was paid $120,000 for representing Thorek, which has not received funding. ...

In addition to his work for universities, Hunter Biden has done consulting work for MBNA, the largest employer in Delaware.

At the time, Sen. Biden led a successful, high-profile battle in the Senate for a bankruptcy bill that ultimately benefited credit card companies. The law makes it more difficult for people to file for personal bankruptcy protection under Chapter 7.

Over the past two decades, MBNA employees have given more than $200,000 to Biden's Senate campaigns, more than workers from any other company. ...

Hunter Biden also lobbied for Napster, the music-sharing Web site that ran afoul of intellectual-property laws. Sen. Biden at the time was a senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which oversees laws governing intellectual-property rights. ...

To View The Entire Article, Please Visit: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/26/AR2008082603894_pf.html

Brad Hill Re-Election Reception

Brad Hill, who is a candidate for re-election to the Massachusetts House of Representatives. Brad represents the 4th Essex District, is a hard-working, constituent services focused, true man of the people. Come to his re-election reception!

Bradford R. Hill

Massachusetts State Representative

4th Essex District

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

5:30-7:30pm

The Clam Box

246 High Street

Ipswich, MA 01938

For more information, please-

Call: 978.356.9008 or

Email: committee@bradhill.org or

Visit: http://www.bradhill.org/

This is the one to attend.

If you have to miss a training in 2008, don't let it be this training. This is a must attend event for anyone that is serious about winning.

September 13th in Lexington, MA. You can't find a better education for only 5 bucks.

RSVP to info@massgop.com and more details are below. Come meet Chris Faulkner and get the training of your life.

Biden's Speach

Peter Wehner's post on The Corner:

"I have now watched and read Senator Biden's speech in Springfield earlier today. From the perspective of the craft of speechwriting, it was quite a thing to behold. In a speech of just over 16 minutes, Biden used, by my count, the phrase 'ladies and gentlemen' 18 times. (Apparently 'ladies and gentlemen' is to Biden what 'my friends' is to Senator McCain). Biden's speech was filled with the predictable hackneyed phrases. We were told the American Dream is both 'slipping away' and dropping off a cliff. And 'the future keeps receding further and further and further away as your reach for your dreams.' Biden feels things with 'ever fiber of my being.' Barack Obama possesses 'steel in his spine.' And so forth. Biden also made silly claims, such as this being the 'last chance to reclaim the America we love, to restore America's soul.' But what was particularly (if unintentionally) humorous was Biden using the phrase 'literally' at least seven different times -- including several times when Biden meant to say figuratively. For example, Biden said we have an opportunity 'literally to change the direction of the world.' Really? Is Obama so all-powerful that he can actually make the world travel in a different direction? We also learned that on day one in the Senate Obama 'literally' reached across the aisle and passed legislation to secure the world's deadliest weapons? Wow; Obama not only figuratively but literally reached across the aisle and, on day one, passed legislation? That would be impressive. It would also be impossible. For those of us who have watched Biden over the years, especially during Judiciary Committee hearings, this is nothing new. But for the uninitiated, it is something to enjoy. As my 10-year-old son put it to me after hearing Biden's speech, 'This is going to be like Get Smart.' Indeed. We'll be watching Biden closely -- and loving it."

new ad

The Road To Denver

1st District Candidate Nathan Bech a Leader on Gerogia

Nathan Bech, who is running to replace John Olver in the 1st Congressional District, appeared on CBS-Springfield to talk about his experience with the conflict in Georgia.

MoveOn Stopped By!

We were greeted by MoveOn today at the MassGOP office.

We were happy to present them with these checks.

Western Mass. GOP Picnic!

Lot's of fun in the sun for GOP candidates - here are some pics from the event. Story is below the pictures.




Republicans look ahead with hope:
Saturday, August 16, 2008
By PATRICK JOHNSON
pjohnson@repub.com

WEST SPRINGFIELD - Although skies were overcast and rain began plinking on the tin roof of the Elks Club picnic pavilion, area Republicans looked ahead to sunnier tomorrows.

More than 200 people turned out for the 25th annual Western Massachusetts Republicans summertime family barbecue at the West Springfield Elks Club.

With McCain for President signs leading the way to the picnic grounds down behind the main club on Morgan Road, people noshed on burgers, rubbed elbows with state and local politicians and expressed optimism about the outcome in November.

Though many national prognosticators predict the Republican Party is being dragged down by the unpopularity of President Bush, picnic-goers opined that the party is neither down nor out.

Western Massachusetts Republican Chairman Kevin A. Jourdain, of Holyoke, said the turnout this year was higher than it has been in recent years.

He said he believes McCain could surprise a lot of people and win Massachusetts. The latest polling showed him down by only eight points in Massachusetts, which in a Democratic-dominated state is pretty close.

Peter G. Torkildsen, chairman of the state Republican Party, agreed. "In Massachusetts, it's very close."

In the last three presidential elections, the Democrats have carried Massachusetts by no less than 25 points.

He also said he expects the Republicans to pick up a few seats in the state Legislature. Both houses of the Legislature are overwhelmingly Democrat by a combined 140-19 margin.

"If people didn't realize it two years ago, they realize it now: A one-party Legislature is not good for the commonwealth," he said.

Torkildsen, who said he attends local party functions throughout the state a couple of times each week, said he never misses this event.

"This is a big one. It's got Republicans from all over Western Mass.," he said.

Nathan A. Bech, of West Springfield, who is challenging incumbent John W. Olver, D-Amherst, for the 1st Congressional District, was on hand.

Also present was William G. Scibelli, of Longmeadow, who was running for the 2nd Hampden District held by Mary S. Rogeness. Rogeness, the longtime incumbent, is not running for re-election.

Scibelli said he was pleased that Rogeness gave him her endorsement.

1 year of free gas

Mansfield Republicans 2nd Annual "Dual on the Diamond "

Mansfield Republicans 2nd Annual "Dual on the Diamond "
Saturday, August 23 at 1pm

The Mansfield Republican Town Commitee will again take to the softball field to not only take on local Democrats but raise a little money for their local food pantry.

The second annual "Duel on the Diamond," will see the Mansfield Republican and Democratic Town Committees put their differences aside for an afternoon of fun to benefit the Mansfield Food Pantry and a local veterans' group.

"We want to do something good for the community and have some fun at the same time," said Olivier Kozlowski, chairman of the Republican committee. The game will take place on Aug. 23 at 1 p.m. at the Qualters Middle School softball field (Mansfield). In the event of rain, the game will be pushed back to Aug. 24.

Last year Mansfield Republicans won and raised over $250 for the Mansfield Special Olympics.

This year's game will have a little added drama as both candidates for the Bristol and Norfolk District seat in the state Senate will be participating, Republiccan State Senate candidate Jon Rockwood will play against opponent incumbent James Timilty. State Rep. Jay Barrows, R-Mansfield, and State Committeewoman Danielle Fish of Mansfield will also take the field.

Those looking to donate can make a contribution to the team or charity of their choice by contacting Kozlowski at 508-261-9254. Donations also can be made at the field on game day or through any participating town committee members. visit www.mansfieldgop.com for more information or field location.

Tonight - you coming?

Reed Hillman Intro Post on MassRoots

Hello fellow Massachusetts GOP'ers,

I hope you're all enjoying your summer. Things have certainly been more relaxed for me this summer than they were as I was crisscrossing Massachusetts on the campaign trail back in August of 2006!

I've been enjoying the season here in Sturbridge with my wife, Therese. There have been plenty of projects around the house, and I recently finished helping my son, Ethan, renovate an antique house on the Sturbridge Town Common. I've still had time for politics, though - and one of my main projects has been recruiting support for, and working hard on behalf of John McCain. Now that my daughter, Amber, is on board as the MA State Director for the McCain campaign, I've become even more involved.

I'm reaching out to you today to invite you to join the McCain campaign Saturday, August 23rd, for a "Super Saturday." Rob Willington and the folks at MassGOP have been doing a great job working with the McCain team. But they need more help!

It would mean a great deal to me - and Amber - if you came out on August 23rd (either 9-12, 12-3 or 3-7 pm) and spend some time helping John McCain at the new McCain headquarters in Boston. I've been told there will be plenty of good food, and good company.

If you can’t make it to New Hampshire, Amber will also be hosting a Boston Super Saturday at the new McCain Campaign headquarters at 145 Tremont St. I know she’d really appreciate it if you came out and gave a few hours of your time to make some calls in Boston on the 23rd.

Thanks for your continued support of Republican Party in Massachusetts. It's because of active volunteers such as yourselves that we're able to keep a strong red presence in this blue state - and I'm looking forward to sending a Republican to the White House in November.

I hope to see you out on the campaign trail over the next 80 days!

Thanks,
Reed

P.S. Mark your calendars for Wednesday, August 27th from 5:30-8:30pm at 145 Tremont Street. Please join some of our great Republican dignitaries, along with myself, to celebrate the official grand opening of John McCain’s Boston office! More details will be coming your way shortly.

Summer Fun In Duxbury.

You’re Invited! 2nd Annual Summer Family Cookout to benefit the Duxbury Republican Town Committee.

Sunday, August 17
4:00 – 6:00 pm

The Beachfront Home of Ryan Boehm 67 Elder Brewster Road

Suggested Donation $30/person (Kids are FREE)
Please make checks payable to Duxbury Republican Town Committee

Cookout Food & Drink, Beach, Music & Fun Casual New England Cookout Attire

Please park on the street and not on lawns. If Elder Brewster is full, please park on Marshall Street. Visit www.duxburygop.org for more information and directions.

Please RSVP to Ryan Boehm at info@duxburygop.org or 617.610.4139

Amber Hillman

Phew, I'm finally wrapping up another busy day here on the campaign trail... I'm so thrilled with the volunteer response we've been getting from Massachusetts - but it's certainly keeping me busy crisscrossing the state.

I spent Monday afternoon running a cell phone bank at Old Sturbridge Village - the 1800's tavern, hand painted murals on the wall, and 25 volunteers making calls on behalf of John McCain!

Last night, we had a great turnout over at MassGOP Headquarters for our regular weekly phone bank. We have a lot of regulars who come in on commuter rail every Tuesday and Thursday - but we always have some new faces in the mix. The Boston Glove even stopped by to see what we had going on. Fingers crossed that we'll have a great story on the front page in the coming weeks.

Today I joined some strong GOP supporters in Methuen to help them kick off their first phone bank. They'll be taking the reigns after tonight and running this phone bank from a local real estate office twice weekly now through Election Day. I'm so grateful for proactive volunteers like these guys - they sure make life easier for me!

The energy is great here in Massachusetts, and I have no doubt that we'll continue to gain more momentum, turn out more volunteers, and show Washington DC what our Republicans here in Massachusetts can accomplish.

I can't emphasize enough the great feeling I have about the support, excitement and momentum I've been witnessing across Massachusetts. I hope you'll come out and join us at an upcoming event, or stop in to make this important phone calls in the coming weeks.

With your help, I have no doubt that we can win this for John McCain!

You can always reach me at ahillman@mccain08hq.com.

Thanks for reading!
-Amber

New Matt Kinnaman Column

http://www.thetranscript.com/columnists/ci_10126398

Ben & Jerry's, Big Oil, Dead Heads and World Peace
By Matt Kinnaman
Liberals are so mad about the biggest of Big Oil profits they seem ready to maim the nearest pro-profit conservative. And I'm sitting here peacefully, wondering, can't we all just get along?

After all, anyone who takes an honest look at the stats will arrive at a beautiful realization: ExxonMobil is one of humanity's greatest benefactors.

Before you go completely ballistic, get yourself calmly into a lotus position and think it over. ExxonMobil surrenders almost three times as much to government tax collectors as it keeps in profits, making it one of history's biggest funders of liberal social welfare programs. Moreover, for every dollar of revenue in Q2, ExxonMobil kept only 8.5 cents in profit. Its profit margin is 36 percent less than that of the company that owns Ben & Jerry's, our favorite socially-conscious ice cream makers.

This might be an unwelcome surprise to Lollapalooza leftists, screaming for Bush's impeachment while sucking on Peace Pops. But even worse, this profit disparity could make things mighty uncomfortable at the "Bed-in-for-Peace," a fest scheduled for Sept. 21.

It's billed as a joint effort of Ben & Jerry's, The Lennon Estate and an organization called Peace One Day. Picture it. There they all are, in bed for peace, thinking happy thoughts of world harmony. But cognitive dissonance lurks. While eating high-saturated-fat ice cream confiscated from the personal assets of poor cows and innocently poring over their guru's recent financials, they suddenly discover -- curdling scream -- "Our guys made way more money per dollar than Big Oil!" Fest over.

What next? Maybe we should bring a class action suit against Big Oil. But profit margins in the legal profession are routinely three times larger than ExxonMobil's. This is especially interesting because law practices serve as training grounds for an inordinate percentage of congressmen, who then go to Capitol Hill to penalize oil companies for their profit margins. And it's not just happy hippies and lawyers cashing in. It's the providers of wholesome lunches for suburban soccer moms and senior citizens, too. Exxon Mobil's profit margin is 174 percent lower than Campbell Soup's.

What we really need is a hearing on behalf of rational reality. When Ben & Jerry conceptualized great ice cream, they learned it couldn't be manufactured without fat-laden milk products and high-calorie sugars, even when marketing with a vegan vibe to a health-conscious crowd. Visualizing world peace is cool and all, but Ben & Jerry were also visualizing higher profit margins. It's enough to blow your mind.

Like good old Dead Heads burning gasoline to propel their gypsy caravans on cross-country road trips, the vibrant pursuit of freedom takes energy. It takes fuel. Carbon-based fuel. There is no greater current enabler of human prosperity. And ExxonMobil, the leading provider of this enabling energy, brings BTUs to both leftist insurrectionists and right wing nuts, without prejudice. And it gives them jobs, too.

ExxonMobil employs almost 81,000 people, a group of individualist humans almost assuredly comprising every possible viewpoint on the global political spectrum. In its personnel practices, the company provides an incomparable model of worldwide, multi-racial inclusion. Who's against that?

And logically, intelligently, rationally, who's against profits? Are oil company profits too high? Ice cream profits? Attorney's profits? Soup profits? Is profit bad? While ExxonMobil was making $11.7 billion last quarter, General Motors was losing $15.5 billion. Is that better?

At their Web site, Ben & Jerry's invites visitors to "upload you message of peace." I did. It says, "At this moment, when billions worldwide lack food, shelter, income and education, I envision a better tomorrow in which we will achieve greater peace through lower priced crude. Immediately opening up access to our vast, untapped domestic oil deposits will increase the standard of living of all Americans, especially the poor, and will have a positive global impact, characterized by enhanced international stability, improved prospects for economic growth and the increased generosity which flows from expanding prosperity. These are the critical elements of geopolitical peace, and the liberating catalysts of shared human well-being. Let's do it."

My message is currently under review by Ben & Jerry's "in-house Peace-Message-Keeper."

In the meantime, let's remember that "A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality." That's what John Lennon said. It brings to mind a dream we can dream together, of a day when politicians quit gobbling on about green consciousness and allow American companies to drill for the oil we need. Human beings everywhere would profit.

Imagine that.

Matt Kinnaman's Getting it Right column appears every week in the Transcript.

MassGOP Calls for Wilkerson To Be Disbarred

The Massachusetts Republican Party called on the Massachusetts Board of Bar Overseers late Monday to initiate disbarring proceedings for state Sen. Dianne Wilkerson.

The move comes on the heels of news last Friday that Wilkerson (D-Boston) had reached an agreement with Attorney General Martha Coakley (D-Medford) that included paying $10,000 to settle several campaign finance violations dating back to 2000. By taking part in the agreement, Wilkerson acknowledged violations had been made.

"Sen. Dianne Wilkerson has violated the law numerous times," Rob Willington, executive director of the Massachusetts GOP, said in a statement. "This most recent agreement to pay a $10,000 fine for violations of campaign finance law is further proof that she should no longer practice law."

Full Story Here

MassGOP Goes After Obama on Energy

We took Sen. Obama to task recently for his "tire gauge" comments:

Chatham GOP Rocks!

If you haven't yet, check out their website - it's one of the best in the state.

The One