In The News 9/30/08

The Bailout went down

Sovereign Bank ousts their CEO

And the National Review has an amazing article on the whole thing.

Barney Frank.

Thomas Sowell writes a clear and persuasive argument for free markets, and rightfully labels Barney Frank as one of the major problems in Congress.

Five years ago, Barney Frank vouched for the “soundness” of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and said “I do not see” any “possibility of serious financial losses to the treasury.”

Moreover, he said that the federal government has “probably done too little rather than too much to push them to meet the goals of affordable housing.”

If Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were free market institutions they could not have gotten away with their risky financial practices because no one would have bought their securities without the implicit assumption that the politicians would bail them out.

It would be better if no such government-supported enterprises had been created in the first place and mortgages were in fact left to the free market. This bailout creates the expectation of future bailouts.

In The News 9/29/08

The Bailout Looks like it's almost done.

Barney Frank is feeling the heat

And we hope this doesn't hurt us in the postseason.

Five Things to Like About the Republican Effect on the Deal

From the corner.

1. No ACORN money: All money goes to debt reduction

2. No blank check: Treasury is required to develop an insurance program

3. No union power grab: Dodd-Frank permitted unions to force themselves into the board room. This proposed compromise eliminates that.

4. No “cram down” bankruptcy provision (aka, trial bar giveaway):

5. No tax hikes: The proposed compromise simply requires a proposal to Congress to recoup any potential losses.

Herald slams Benson, Dykema

Ouch - that's gotta hurt.

The State House has never exactly been a refuge for Mensa members - remember Barney Frank’s old joke about how one state rep’s IQ was so low that he was at risk for contracting Dutch elm disease?

If anything, the solons are getting dimmer. This morning, let us consider two candidates, one of whom seeks to represent a MetroWest district full of commuters who use the Turnpike. Yet this Democrat openly states that “tolls are good” - and by the way she’d also be “open” to raising the gas tax too, in case those $8 tolls at the tunnel don’t get the job done.

Then we have another candidate, in Lunenburg, who believes that women were granted the right to vote by the Supreme Court. Let’s start with this rocket scientist, one Jen Benson, who is actually on the Lunenburg School Committee. What an example her erudition (look it up, Jen!) sets “for the children.”

She’s running for the seat being vacated by moonbat Rep. Jamie Eldridge of Acton, and her Biden-esque grasp of history has been posted on YouTube by her Republican opponent, Kurt Hayes.

She’s talking, I think, about gay “marriage,” which she says should not be “left up to the tyranny of the majority of the state.”

No, it should be left up to the tyranny of five unemployable lawyers who gave money to politicians so they could retire to judgeships. But I digress. The Lunenburg loony starts talking about women’s suffrage in 1920, or, as she puts it, “80 years ago.”

“Now considering that men were the only voters, if men had been left to choose whether or not women should be allowed the right to vote, what would the outcome of that be? No, it was left to the Supreme Court.”

Jen, your ignorance is astounding. Women got the right to vote through the 19th Amendment, Jen, and believe it or not the Supreme Court cannot (yet) add amendments directly to the Constitution. Please take good notes, Jen, because there will be a quiz on this. In 1919, Congress approved the women’s suffrage amendment, on votes (mostly by men) of 304-89 in the House and 56-25 in the (predominantly male) Senate.

Then it had to be approved by three-quarters of the state legislatures, which, I hasten to repeat, were made up almost exclusively of men. It took 15 months to get the 36th legislature (Tennessee). Are you following me here, Jen?

“Women won the right to vote by a vote of the Supreme Court,” she repeated, idiotically, “and actually many women were tortured and lost their lives in order to get that right.”

Whatever you say, Jen.

Next, come on down Carolyn Dykema. She’s running for the MetroWest seat held by retiring Rep. Paul Loscocco. Dykema, a moonbat’s moonbat, went to Wellesley College and as a child she spent summers on “a lake in rural Maine,” where she learned “a respect for nature and the environment.”

And what better way to protect the environment than by forcing those nasty non-Prius-driving commuters she’d like to represent on Beacon Hill to pay more tolls?

At a candidate’s forum last month, she was asked about the endless toll increases. After first proposing more tollbooths on the western Pike and at the New Hampshire border, she says:

“Tolls are good for a number of reasons, one I think environmentally. I think encouraging getting rid of the tolls would actually encourage more driving which is not, I believe, in our long-term interests. We should be looking at more public transportation.”

Gotta get to Logan? Just catch the 5:30 a.m. T bus from Holliston, right?

It’s amazing, that a MetroWest candidate could endorse the idea of beggaring her own neighbors on behalf of paying for a new road for another bunch of motorists who aren’t worrying about paying an extra $20 a week in January to get to their jobs, because they have never paid a dime in tolls.

I’m sure that Carolyn is now shocked, shocked to learn that the Pike hacks are floating trial balloons about $8 tolls at the tunnels. But as her opponent Dan Haley said, “If tolls are good, to quote her own position, then higher tolls must be better.”

Every year, you don’t think it can get any worse at the State House, and every year it does. I think the building needs a good spraying - for Dutch elm disease.

Link.

New York Times - Mass Income Tax Repeal

Our very own, State Representative George Peterson from Grafton, was quoted in the New York Times this weekend regarding Question 1 and the push to join 7 other states without an income tax.

At issue is Question 1, which would eliminate the state income tax. It would save the average taxpayer about $3,600 a year. Annual revenue from the tax is about $12.5 billion, roughly 45 percent of the state’s budget of about $28 billion.

Some voters who wanted taxes lowered to 5 percent have decided to support Question 1 to show their anger at the state, said Barbara Anderson, director of Citizens for Limited Taxation, which advocated 5 percent but is now producing bumper stickers that read “Hell Yes! Question 1.”

“It’s the only game in town, it’s the only question on the ballot, it’s the only chance for us to express our outrage,” Ms. Anderson said. “The more we looked at it and realized that other states get along very well without an income tax, like New Hampshire, you start dreaming.”

State Representative George Peterson of Grafton, a Republican who voted for repeal in 2002, declined to say how he would vote this time.

“If we lose $12.5 billion, can I build a responsible budget with that loss in revenue?” Mr. Peterson asked. “No, I can’t.”

But he suggested that if the repeal passed, even though it is technically binding, the Legislature might be forced to find a way around it and pass a new law setting taxes at the 5 percent rate voters asked for eight years ago. “I’m telling my constituents, if you want to send a message that we have a budget that is out of control, send me that message.”

ACIVATE '08

leave school, quit your job, and get a (campaign) life...

...I did both in 2000.

After the New Hampshire primary, I got a phone call while at work asking me if I could work on the campaign around the country. I thought about it for 10 minutes and then told my boss I was leaving - "what?" he said. "When are you leaving?" "Tomorrow morning, I'm driving to Delaware." There was really nothing he could do or say on that cold Saturday night in January.

On a sunny, Sunday morning I had my rental mini-van jam packed with campaign signs, stickers, push cards, and other campaign materials and headed south on highway 95 to the state that is home of serious wind energy.

It was the start of my second semester that year and I called my school from the road to let them know I was leaving. They then recommended that I at least try to get credit from the campaign experience (great idea since I ended up getting 12 credits).

It was an amazing experience working for your values and a cause greater than yourself. It was risky at the time but it certainly turned out to be a worth while experience. I was not part of any program or group within the campaign - I was a solo campaign mercenary and my payment was a victory of my values. I had an agenda and I wanted to advance it.

A lot has evolved in 8 years within the campaign world. The McCain-Palin campaign is now offering Campaign Deployment to facilitate those that want to advance their values. Time is running out, are you able to give yourself to the movement? Become a McCain Marshal or a McCain Maverick today.

McCain Palin Yard Signs Have Arrived

Finally - the yard signs have arrived and we will be sending them out to regional pick-up locations around the state.

If you want to be on the email list to be alerted about the regional locations to get your sign, you can sign up here.

Socialism, Not Capitalism.

The Worcester County Freedom Trail has an excellent post about the financial meltdown.

"Get government out of the capital markets and let the markets do what they do best."

Biden vs Obama.

Take Biden's word on Senator Obama - when it comes to funding the troops, Obama is playing politics.

Democrat Negative Ad On McCain Health

The Democrats have stooped to a new low with a negative attack ad on John McCain for having.... melanoma.

What Caused Our Economic Crisis?

Drudgereport just linked to this video on YouTube.

In The News 9/26/08

A Toll Hike? Thanks for Nothing Beacon Hill...

Barney Frank said some pretty stupid things about Fannie Mae.

The Budget went up by $1.4 Billion Dollars, and surprise! We Have To Make Cuts.

Sam Adams: Brewer, Patriot, Biden-Dunker

Late on Dec. 16, 1773, American colonists met at Boston's Faneuil Hall before proceeding to the Boston Tea Party, an exercise in freedom that still reverberates 235 years later.

Don't you wish Joe Biden had been there? Picture him, sneaking in behind Sam Adams, still flush from his appearance on Good Morning British Empire, reaching the front and admonishing the crowd in full bluster: "It's time to be patriotic… time to jump in. Time to be part of the deal."

Upon realizing that Biden's test of patriotism requires paying higher taxes, the Sons of Liberty would have no doubt decided that it wasn't time to "jump in" but to dump in, as in Joe Biden into Boston Harbor along with the tea.

With no such modern-day fears, Biden cut loose last week. In his run-up to the "time to be patriotic" pronouncement, he succinctly summarized the Obama-Biden economic plan: "We wanna take money and put it back in the pocket of middle class people." At least now we all know The Biden Doctrine.

If he hadn't put down his political roots in D.C., Joe Biden would have been perfectly at home in Massachusetts, home to the only legislature in the country where a bill requiring taxpayers to put their hands over their hearts and sing My Country 'Tis of Thee while the Department of Revenue digs in their pockets might actually pass.

But there is hope. On Oct. 4, Faneuil Hall will once again welcome a rally of anti-tax patriots, this time not against the imperial acts of Parliament but in favor of Question 1, a citizens' initiative for the elimination of the Massachusetts income tax.

Question 1 bears watching nationwide. It aims at the heart of political arrogance, on full display among the neo-imperialists in the Massachusetts Legislature. Their trail of abuse is long.

In 1989, the Legislature promised from its Beacon Hill bunker that its Dukakis-era income tax hike to 5.85 percent was "temporary," but then Democratic lawmakers simply decided they liked the higher confiscation better. Voters responded in 2000 by passing an initiative to restore the income tax to 5 percent. Beacon Hill decided it didn't want to and stalled the mandated rollback at 5.3 percent, where if sits today. Hence, Question 1.

In the aftermath of the Boston Tea Party, British Prime Minister Lord North warned that, without reassertion of imperial control over Boston's unruly patriots, "All is over." Today, Beacon Hill pols confront their own British-like horror in the form of mere working taxpayers demanding accountability from their overlords.

So, like Lord North, the Legislature and its union and interest group beneficiaries warn of the end times. Gov. Deval Patrick says Question 1 is dumb, irresponsible and foolish. The Massachusetts Teacher's Association says Question 1 would devastate Massachusetts' economy and quality of life and that the consequences would be dire.

Here's what's dumb, irresponsible, foolish, dire and devastating to Massachusetts' economy and quality of life: being the 48th worst state in population retention. What is the one thing that would reverse this exodus in the quickest possible time? How about an average pay raise of $3,700 per Massachusetts worker? That's what Question 1 would accomplish.

Multiplied by today's 3.4 million workers, this equals nearly $12.6 billion dollars, the amount now confiscated by the Massachusetts income tax. Question 1 is really about who would do a better job spending this money. The answer is easy: People spend their own money more productively and profitably than politicians do.

Is there middle ground? No. The Statehouse cannot be trusted on taxes. Beacon Hill makes up the rules as it goes. For example, it currently says it has until 2014 to decide if it will finally obey the people's vote of 2000 to restore the 5 percent rate. What next?

The people of Massachusetts need to say "enough." And it might be the last best chance. No state can lose 550,000 people to other states, as the commonwealth did from 1991 to 2007, and continue to prosper.

Faced with this mass exodus, and a legislature that spends the people's money like drunken sailors anticipating state pensions, Question 1 provides voters with the only political tool they have to make Massachusetts a miracle once again.

Beacon Hill and its assortment of well-fed hangers-on have aimed all the guns of demagoguery at Question 1. If they are successful, you can bet that more families will find better places to live than Massachusetts.

But Joe Biden—he would be right at home.

Matt Kinnaman

In The News 9/25/08

McCain Presses Pause To Deal With Economy

The Democrats Pick A New Register of Probate, Who Hopefully Won't Steal From The Registry

And Troy Brown Retires

AP Story On Sen. McCain

McCain seeks to delay debate amid economic crisis

By Beth Fouhy

Associated Press

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D93D9N1G0&show_article=1


NEW YORK (AP) - Republican John McCain said Wednesday he wants to delay Friday's debate with Democratic rival Barack Obama and temporarily put aside their partisan campaign to resolve the nation's financial crisis.

McCain's announcement came after the two candidates held private talks about joining forces to address the Wall Street meltdown. The Obama campaign said the Democrat initiated the talks, but McCain beat Obama to the punch with the first public statement calling for the two to rise above politics in a time of crisis.

McCain said the Bush administration's plan seemed headed for defeat and a bipartisan solution was urgently needed.

McCain said he would put politics aside and return to Washington Thursday to focus on the nation's financial problems after addressing former President Clinton's Global Initiative session in New York. McCain said he wants President Bush to convene a leadership meeting in Washington that would include him and Obama.

"It has become clear that no consensus has developed to support the administration's proposal," McCain said. "I do not believe that the plan on the table will pass as it currently stands, and we are running out of time."

McCain said he has spoken to Obama about his plans and asked the Democratic presidential nominee to join him.

Obama's campaign did not immediate say whether he supported a delay of the debate or would also stop campaigning.

The Obama campaign said in a statement that Obama had called McCain around 8:30 a.m. Wednesday to propose that they issue a joint statement in support of a package to help fix the economy as soon as possible. McCain called back six hours later and agreed to the idea of the statement, the Obama campaign said. McCain's statement was issued to the media a few minutes later.

"We must meet as Americans, not as Democrats or Republicans, and we must meet until this crisis is resolved," McCain said. "I am confident that before the markets open on Monday we can achieve consensus on legislation that will stabilize our financial markets, protect taxpayers and homeowners, and earn the confidence of the American people. All we must do to achieve this is temporarily set politics aside, and I am committed to doing so."

McCain said if Congress does not pass legislation to address the crisis, credit will dry up, people will no longer be able to buy homes, life savings will be at stake and businesses will not have enough money

"If we do not act, ever corner of our country will be impacted," McCain said. "We cannot allow this to happen."

McCain also canceled his planned appearance Wednesday on CBS' "Late Show With David Letterman" program.

McCain Suspends Campaign Work On Financial Crisis

In order to address our nation's financial crisis, Senator McCain has suspended his campaign and returned to Washington. He is directing his campaign to work with the Obama campaign and the commission on presidential debates to delay Friday night's debate until we can address the problems in the financial industry.

Stay tuned for more info...

In The News 9/24/08

Dianne Delivers A Recount, And A Sticker Campaign - This Time Without Deval's Support

Warren Buffet Drops $5 Billion In Goldman Sachs

and The NYPost Wonders about Friday's debate TV Ratings

Ron Davy Commercial

are joining the team?

McCain-Palin Phone Bank Locations

Boston Victory HQ: 145 Tremont St., Boston
5:00-:830pm, Mon-Fri
10:00-6:00pm, Saturday & Sunday
RSVP: (617) 338-2008 jgreene@massgop.com

Plymouth (Victory HQ): 62 Court St., Plymouth (free parking in rear)
5:00-:830pm, Mon-Fri
10:00-6:00pm, Saturday & Sunday
RSVP: 508-747-JOHN (5646) kclarkeson@massgop.com

Springfield (Victory HQ): 1915 Wilbraham Rd (Fresh Acres Plaza, next to Walgreen’s)
5:00-:830pm, Mon-Fri
10:00-6:00pm, Saturday & Sunday
RSVP: 413-782-1010 alamontagne@massgop.com

Methuen (Merrimack County): TA Sullivan Insurance, 369 Merrimack St. Methuen, MA
Every Tuesday and Wednesday from 5:30pm to 8:30pm
RSVP: John MacDonald (603) 380-2313 johnformccain@yahoo.com

New Bedford (Bristol County): Shawmut Diner, 943 Shawmut Ave. New Bedford, MA
Every Monday and Tuesday from 5:30pm to 8:30pm
RSVP: Brock Cordeiro (508) 264-1600 BNCordeiro@comcast.net

Quincy: Cedrone Law Offices, 21 Mayor Thomas McGrath Hwy, Suite 306, Quincy, MA
Every Wednesday from 5:30pm to 8:30pm
RSVP: CedroneLaw@aol.com

Beverly (Essex County Victory HQ): 194 Cabot St., Beverly (near the Beverly Depot)
Every Monday and Tuesday from 6-8pm
Every Saturday from 10am-2pm
RSVP: 978-973-4522 BeverlyMassGOP@gmail.com

Sturbridge (Central MA): Southbridge Savings Bank (rear entrance), Main Street, Sturbridge, MA
Every Wednesday from 5:30pm to 8:30pm
RSVP: 413-244-8827 mikevalanzola@charter.net

Westford: Paul Avella Campaign HQ, 3 Meadowview Lane, Westford, MA
Monday-Thursday 6-9pm
RSVP: 617-338-2008 or Alan.S.Rubin@gmail.com

Weymouth: 122 Washington St., Weymouth Landing, MA
Every Tuesday from 5:30pm to 8:30pm
RSVP: 617-338-2008 norfolk4mccain08@gmail.com

Framingham: Framingham, MA
Every Tuesday & Thursday from 7:00pm-9:00pm
RSVP: 508-397-0649 mcgrathed@rcn.com

Michael Graham Tomorrow

The GOP8 will be hosting an event tomorrow with Michael Graham.

To attend, click this link. It's going to be a great event.

McCain Outside Good Morning America In Springfield!

Wherever Good Morning America goes - The Mac Attack will follow...

Jeff Beatty Kicks Off Run Against Kerry

http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2008/09/beatty_takes_ai.html

Republican challenger Jeff Beatty took aim today at US Senator John F. Kerry, chiding him as an "elitist" who is "worried about becoming the secretary of state instead of worrying about the secretaries in our state."

The attack came less than 24 hours after Kerry shook off a primary challenge from Gloucester Lawyer Edward O'Reilly. Beatty, a counter-terrorism consultant and former CIA agent, reached out to the 31 percent of Democratic primary voters who cast ballots for O'Reilly.

"There's a significant number of people, even among the Democratic base, that hard-working base that John Kerry has abandoned in favor of illegal aliens, who are ready to make a change," Beatty said at a lightly attended news conference in front of Financial District office tower that includes offices of the troubled mortgage giant Fannie Mae.

Borrowing a line of attack used by Democratic presidential nominee Senator Barack Obama, Beatty said voters had had "enough" of the 24-year incumbent.

"We've had enough of a senator who puts special interests ahead of the public interest," Beatty said. "We've had enough of a senator who will go on a five-week paid vacation when citizens in Massachusetts are filling their oil tanks paying nearly twice what they paid last year."

Kerry's re-election campaign dismissed Beatty's attempts to present himself as an ally of blue-collar voters.

"John Kerry has a proven track record of fighting for the interests of everyone in Massachusetts -- secretaries, fishermen, firemen, school teachers -- you name it," spokeswoman Brigid O'Rourke said in an e-mail. "And he’s going to continue fighting for issues that are important to our state for the next six years."

DartmouthGOP Phonebank for Victory!

Here are two mobile photos from the first phone bank here on the south coast for McCain tonight. Special thanks to Phil Paleologos for his diner and Amber Hillman and Brock Cordeiro for their coordination in getting this phone bank operation off the ground (every Mon and Tue night until election night from 5:30-8:30pm.)
Contact boston@johnmccain.com for more info.


UMD College Republicans phone banking for McCain

Scott Brown Event

TED & VALERIE SCHENSNOL
request your presence at a fundraising event
for
SENATOR SCOTT BROWN
with
“Special Guest”
WTKK 96.9 FM RADIO TALK SHOW HOST
and
AWARD WINNING AUTHOR
MICHELE McPHEE

SHE WILL DISCUSS HER NEW BOOK - HEARTLESS
a true story about the
Neil Entwistle Murders

Date: Sept. 28, 2008
Time: 6-8 PM
Where: 75 Tilting Rock Road,
Wrentham, MA
Cost: $65.00 per person, $100 per couple

RSVP requested, but not required
To confirm – call
508-384-1358 (Val & Ted)
508-384-6200 (Scott)

Come and enjoy some light refreshments
with friends and meet Sen. Brown and
Michele

The first 100 guests will receive an
autographed copy of Michele’s best-
selling book - Heartless

If you can’t attend, you can still support Sen. Brown
by mailing a check to P.O. Box 566, Wrentham, MA
02093 or go to www.scottbrown4senate.com and
make a payment online.

MANCHESTER GOP CHILI CHOWDER

Question: What is better than Chili Chowder in Manchester on a cool September day?

Answer: Chili Chowder in Manchester on a cool September day with Jay Severin!

SEPTEMBER 27, 6:00-9:00pm

MANCHESTER COMMUNITY CENTER

$20 per person.

The Community Center is located off Beach Street next to the T Station.

RSVP to gopbythesea@hotmail.com or send check payable to Manchester Republican Town Committee c/o Rich Renehan, 10 Norwood Avenue, Manchester, MA 01944.

New Ad "Lipstick On a Pig"

Palin Bridge To Nowhere?

The Wall Street Journal has this today about Palin's position on the bridge to nowhere.

Yes, Palin Did Stop That Bridge
By Jim DeMint, Wall Street Journal,
September 10, 2008; Page A15

"But, you know, when you've been taking all these earmarks when it's convenient, and then suddenly you're the champion anti-earmark person, that's not change. Come on! I mean, words mean something, you can't just make stuff up." -- Barack Obama, Sept. 6, 2008

In politics, words are cheap. What really counts are actions. Democrats and Republicans have talked about fiscal responsibility for years. In reality, both parties have a shameful record of wasting hundreds of billions of tax dollars on pork-barrel projects.

My Senate colleague Barack Obama is now attacking Gov. Sarah Palin over earmarks. Having worked with both John McCain and Mr. Obama on earmarks, and as a recovering earmarker myself, I can tell you that Mrs. Palin's leadership and record of reform stands well above that of Mr. Obama.

Let's compare.

Obama Calls Palin a Pig?

At a rally today, Barack Obama called Sarah Palin a pig.

"You can put lipstick on a pig,... it's still a pig"

You can check out the Obama lipstick pig video here.

UPDATE:
Our very own, Governor Jane Swift has stepped up to defend Sarah Palin against Barack Obama's pig comment.

From Boston.com

Jane Swift went quickly to work this evening as a leader of a brand new "truth squad" defending GOP vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin, excoriating Barack Obama for a comment he made while campaigning in Virginia today.

Obama told voters that they shouldn't believe John McCain and Palin's talk about reforming Washington. "You can put lipstick on a pig," Obama said. "It's still a pig."

"You can wrap an old fish in a piece of paper called change. It's still gonna stink," Obama added. "We've had enough of the same old thing."

Republicans took offense, saying that was a personal attack on Palin, who during the GOP convention speech last week, asked delegates if they knew the difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull. Pointing to her mouth, she exclaimed, "Lipstick."

Swift told reporters on a conference call that Obama's comment was "disgraceful" and that "he owes Governor Palin an apology."

Challenged about how she could be sure that Obama was referring to Palin, Swift replied, "She's the only one of the four presidential or vice presidential candidates who wears lipstick."

Swift also said Obama's remark was different than McCain comparing Mitt Romney to a pig during their free-for-all before the New Hampshire primary. "Never get into a wrestling match with a pig. You both get dirty -- and the pig likes it," McCain said then.

Swift said Obama's comment was gender-specific.

The Obama campaign, however, pointed out that McCain used the same phrase while criticizing Hillary Clinton's healthcare plan, saying it was the same as the one she pushed as first lady. "I think they put some lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig," he said of her proposal.

The former Massachusetts governor said it's only the latest in a series of offensive comments from Obama and his supporters. She said that after going up against Hillary Clinton in the primaries, Obama's campaign "would have figured out how to respectfully" debate a female candidate.

"This is just the same old low road," Swift said.

Republicans also blasted Obama for describing Palin in Michigan on Monday as a "mother, governor, moose shooter."

The McCain campaign issued a statement today from Walter Morse, co-chairman of New Hampshire Sportsmen for McCain: "What Barack Obama dismisses as a 'moose shooter' we in New Hampshire call a 'sportsman' or a 'moose hunter.' Senator Obama has demonstrated once again that he doesn't understand rural America -- and after suggesting that many of us 'cling' to religion and guns, he also doesn't seem interested in learning. Although the sportsmen's community knows Barack Obama is no friend, this comment reinforces the critical need for hunters and anglers to mobilize behind our allies John McCain and Sarah Palin."

New Beverly GOP Office Grand Opening

This Saturday - Seats Are Being Filled Fast

Jeff Perry = Grassroots

NY Post Endorses John McCain

HE Post today enthusiastically urges the election of Sen. John S. McCain as the 44th president of the United States.

McCain's lifelong record of service to America, his battle-tested courage, unshakeable devotion to principle and clear grasp of the dangers and opportunities now facing the nation stand in dramatic contrast to the tissue-paper-thin résumé of his Democratic opponent, freshman Sen. Barack Obama.

McCain has been in Washington for many years now, but he is not of Washington. He knows where the levers of power are located - and how to manipulate them - but he is not controlled by them.

McCain's selection of the charming, but rock-solid, outsider Sarah Palin as his running mate underscores the point.

Neither plays well with others.

And this is an unalloyed asset at a time when special interests - lobbyists, lawyers and organized labor chief among them - wield enormous influence in the nation's capital.

McCain's Democratic opponents, Obama and Sen. Joseph Biden, lead a party constructed of special interests - public-employee unionists in particular.

There are many reasons to support the McCain-Palin ticket. Here are but a few:

* National security: The differences between McCain and Obama are especially stark.

McCain says 9/11 represented a two-decade "failure . . . to respond to . . . a [growing] global terror network." He understood that Iraq is a critical front in the war on terror - and he urged perseverance even in the dark days that preceded the success of "the surge."

Obama backed policies that would have abandoned Iraq to its fate, he bitterly opposed the surge, and once insisted that US forces invade Pakistan in search of Osama bin Laden - seemingly without regard for the potential consequences of attacking a nuclear-armed nation, ally or not.

Regarding a nuclear Iran, McCain has pushed for the strongest possible international sanctions and diplomatic pressure. Obama opposes sanctions.

And, when Russia invaded the former Soviet republic of Georgia, threatening a return to the Cold War, McCain reacted with stern disapprobation: "We must remind Russia's leaders that the benefits they enjoy from being part of the civilized world require their respect for the values, stability and peace of that world."

Obama called for UN action - unaware, apparently, that Russia's Security Council veto would have prevented any.

* Taxes: McCain knows that when government absorbs ever-larger shares of national income, the economy suffers.

High tax rates diminish investment, killing jobs and stunting growth.

And while Obama promises tax cuts for "95 percent" of Americans, what he actually is proposing is some $650 billion in tax-credit-driven hikes in entitlement and other spending, to be paid for with heavier imposts across the board, but especially on investment - like a sharply higher capital-gains tax.

This is bad news for the millions of ordinary Americans who own stocks, either personally or through pension funds or who plan someday to sell their homes or other real property.

McCain, wisely, vows to keep capital-gains taxes at 15 percent and to keep the Bush-era tax cuts in place - understanding that new growth will boost revenue, and promising to make up the rest with spending restraint.

And he's called for a one-year freeze on most discretionary spending and an end to pork-barrel giveaways.

* Trade: "I object when Senator Obama and others preach the false virtues of economic isolationism," says McCain - noting that "globalization is an opportunity" for US workers. He adds that while emerging economies like those of China and India are worrisome, the answer is competition informed by education and innovation - not protectionism.

* Energy: On the economic issue most vexing Americans today - energy prices - McCain is aggressive

He is a strong convert to offshore drilling: "We have trillions of dollars' worth of oil and gas reserves in the US at a time we are exporting hundreds of billions of dollars a year overseas to buy energy."

He also strongly backs nuclear power - a carbon-free form of energy that America can produce relatively cheaply.

Obama, meanwhile, hews to the Democratic Party line on energy: no nukes, no drilling and no comprehension of the consequences of such policies.

None of this implies an iota of disrespect toward Obama. It took a formidable candidacy to defeat Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton - a candidacy, by the way, which we strongly supported earlier this year.

And the intelligence, the organizational skills and the ability to communicate that Obama demonstrated from the beginning dramatically underscore the history that is being made by the first African-American to head a major-party presidential ticket.

He should be around for a long time, and we hope that he is.

In the end, though, sound security, economic and energy policies - plus allegiance to principle - are critical to keeping America safe and strong.

On all counts, John McCain and Sarah Palin understand this - and that's why we're in their corner to the finish.

Why We Love Newt

Back from Convention

The Massachusetts delegation had a great time in St. Paul Minneapolis, Minnesota at the 2008 Republican National Convention.

Our delegation had supporters of Mitt Romney, Ron Paul, Mike Huckabee and others - but, the delegation voted unanimously for John McCain. It was all about unity and I want to thank our entire delegation!

This picture sums it up - smiles, cheers, and a red sox hat for the McCain Pailin ticket!


Here is a picture of Lt. Governor Kerry Healey, Chairman Torkildsen and State Representative Paul Loscocco.

I saw Jeff Beatty chatting with some of America's bravest and snaped this picture. The security team was fantastic and they really did an amazing job! Jack Roy from Haverhill on the right is a great activists for the GOP!


Jeff Beatty speaking to reporters about the convention and how he will take out John Kerry!


House Minority Leader Brad Jones, volunteering to assemble care packets for the hurricane relief effort. Thank you to Target for donating all the supplies.


Here is Peter Torkildsen with his sleeves rolled up volunteering for the care packages.


Here is Maggie our intern along with Representative deMaced and Loscocco volunteering.

Here is Frank Donatelli, former Chairman of the RNC addressing the Mass delegation.


The Massachusetts post.


Many members of the Massachusetts delegation.

GOP Saves Democrat Flags

Remember the Obama rally at Invesco Field with thousands of American flags? It looks like thousands of flags were tossed in the garbage only to be collected for a McCain rally in Colorado Springs.

According to the Denver Post:

"This morning, Republicans tell me that a worker at Invesco Field in Denver saved thousands of unused flags from the Democratic National Convention that were headed for the garbage. Guerrilla campaigning. They will use these flags at their own event today in Colorado Springs with John McCain and Sarah Palin.

Before McCain speaks today, veterans will haul these garbage bags filled with flags out onto the stage — with dramatic effect, no doubt — and tell the story."

Jack Roy on the Economist!

Jack Roy, a delegate from Haverhill, talks about his experience and why he is a republican.