Nikki Tsongas, MA 5 Is Up For Reelection in 2010 – Candidate Profile Jon Golnick (Republican) Running Against Tsongas

Niki Tsongas Puts Pelosi Before Constiuants - image Daily Life


Massachusetts Congressional District 5 Representative Niki Tsongas, who has previously run unopposed will face Republican Challenger, Jon Golnik, in the upcoming mid-term, November 2, 2010. Tsongas, who narrowly won a special election in 2007, to fill the 5th district seat which was held until 1997 by her late husband, Paul Tsongas – she defeated Ogonowski on the message of “Change” against former President George W. Bush, and a year into the 2006 Democrat takeover of the Congress.

That message of change was first used by Governor Deval Patrick, then Tsongas and of course, Obama in 2008. Tsongas, when one looks at the roll call votes from the 110th and 111th Congress is a “rubber-stamp” or reliable Democrat, voting straight party line. So much so, that, as a woman, she threw Hillary Clinton, who won the Massachusetts 2008 Democrat primary by a landslide, under the proverbial bus to support then candidate Obama as early as June of 2008. Which, all things considered was a slap in the face to the Clintons, who avidly supported her bid for election in 2007.

From Health Care Reform to defending ACORN, Tsongas has kept the priority of the DNC Progressives first - meanwhile the Massachusetts 5th District is at 9.6 percent according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

So the question is how well will this “dynasty” rubber-stamp Democrat candidate do against Opponent Jon Golnik? If the special election Tsongas won is any indication not so hot - it featured as somewhat low turnout for Tsongas. In the current economic climate, and her anti-Clinton, pro-Obama progressive voting pattern, one would be hard-pressed to give her positives odds of being sent back to Washington on after the mid-term.

Who is Jon Golnik? According to his website Jongolnick.com, he is not a politician, rather a small business owner in the district. He is a graduate of Dartmouth, (History), John Hopkins (Masters international studies) and Wharton School of Business (MBA), which said educational history should satisfy those who would berate higher education that does not stem from Harvard or Yale.

How desperate are the Democrats in the Massachusetts elections? Across the board, they are putting every GOP candidate under the microscope, and digging up “dirt”, specifically personal records, in order to find the least little straw upon which to grasp. The find on Golnik was a 2001 DUI, which he has asked and answered. It is apparently shocking when a Republican has one blot on his or her record, however, that particular charge is rampant on Beacon Hill, (Democrat State House), as well as in Washington. Consider the plea deal made by one Kennedy Congressional Representative who had gone on a drunken rampage with his vehicle when Congress was in session – business as usual.

Therefore, Jon Golnik is human and has made a mistake, once, almost 10 years ago –that’s all Tsongas Campaign has. Point of order – two wrongs don’t make a right, however, when it is decidedly uneven – as is 200 wrong versus 1 wrong, one might think that one wrong is forgivable (speaking of equal “wrongs” here). This is especially true, when one finds oneself out of a job, in the Fifth district, and can look forward to Nikki Tsongas voting reliability on every tax increase, every spending measure that Obama can possibly dream up – and there appear to be no limits.


Jon Golnick, 5th District Candidate Against Niki Tsongas - image:MassGOP

John Golnik, in his own words:

My decision to run is a long story but I hope an interesting one.

I had been actively involved in politics since I was a child. My mom's father (my maternal grandfather) was the longest serving/elected city official in Hartford, CT (City Treasurer). His name was John 'Bud' Mahon and came from Hartford's Irish section of town called 'Frog Hollow'.

As a kid I used to spend my summer days with him driving around Hartford to the different precincts. On election years he would ask people for their vote and on off years he would problem solve. My father's side of the family were Republicans. He was a delegate at the 1956 and 1960 Republican conventions. As family we were involved in elections, most active in Nixon's 1972 race and Ford and Reagan's races in 1976 and 1980. We did a lot of stuffing of envelopes and in 1980 I organized the high school kids for push
card distribution for our entire town.

I went to Dartmouth and was active there and then after graduating became very active in the Romney/Kennedy Senate race. Though I didn't live in MA but I came up on the weekends to
help my cousin get signatures etc. I wasn't as excited about Dole but did my share and then worked my fingers to the bone for George Bush. However, after 2000 I stopped 'cold turkey'. What makes a young activist go from one extreme to the other? I felt betrayed. I felt that the party I had worked so hard for my entire life ceased representing the ideas that drove me to volunteer, deficit spending, expansion of the federal government via No Child Left Behind.

I don’t’ want to bore you - I have more about this on my website


Anyhow, after the 2008 elections, while I was disturbed by Obama's election, I did feel his election was historic. However, I was more troubled by Niki Tsongas' running unopposed. Though I lived in Carlisle, a relatively liberal town on MA 5, most of the people I spoke with are right of center. So in January 2009, I went down to Sec State Galvin's offices and pulled all the election returns since 1980 (in MA-5). After inputting them into a
spreadsheet and taking a look I realized that MA-5 is a moderate district with 55% unaffiliated voters, and republicans ran well in the district.

I went back home and talked with my wife. Both of us were extremely concerned about the direction of the country and that our children (10 and 8) wouldn't inherit a country that was better than the way we found it with more opportunities than we had ourselves. Based on this fear and the fact that no one was stepping up, we decided that Niki Tsongas should not run unopposed. In August I hired a general consultant and we started putting things in place. We announced November 22.


I hope I didn't bore you. It is along story but I hope a little
interesting.

Jon Golnik is far from boring, and is a formidable opponent going forth to do battle with one “dynasty, rubber stamp, incumbent; Nikki Tsongas.

Therefore, expect to see more tags put on Jon in the District media as the race heats up – as well as the national press. In fact, every candidate running against an incumbent Democrat in MA, has already been painted with the liberal “Tea Party Brush”. Which, considering that Massachusetts does not move to sound bites, rather the electorate moves to what it sees happening in their own homes - continued employment, and a lack of concern for the citizens by some representatives. Representatives like Tsongas, who just don’t think the people know better than she does. Given her career, first as a wife of a politician and then on her own, forming close ties to ACORN and Obama. Tsongas would do best in this election by running ad denouncing her affiliation with the above, and running to the right of Jon Golnik, like so many of her Democrat Counterparts are doing now, however, it appears it may be a too little too late even for that ploy.

To find out more about Jon Golnik visit his website: jongolnik.com and help him send Niki Tsongas back to the private sector – which, having spent no time there, may give her quite the shock.

Tsongas Points to keep in Mind:
1.Threw Clinton under the Bus against the wishes of her own political party constituents by supporting Obama
2.Threw the district, the Commonwealth and America under the bus by rubber stamping every bill Pelosi and Obama put before her.

Although hardly an “entrenched politician” she has shown no loyalty to anyone, with the exception of the DNC progressive. Is this blog partisan, yes, somewhat, but more tired of those who think that a political office is “owned” and that “they are above the people they represent”.

In the 5th District, you have a choice, visit Jon Golnik’s website and donate, whatever you can, time and treasure –yes we can, in Massachusetts, take our country back and insure that the Congress will be returned to the people - one district at a time, in fine Bay State form.

Health Care Reform Before Congressional Budget Committee – How They Voted on Health Care Motions – The Details and the Disgust

An empty House Budget Committee Hearing Room - Image Rep. Spratt

As Obama’s extremely unpopular Health Care Reform bill has been pushed to the House, and members are being asked to sign onto a major overhaul of our Health Care System, sight unseen, the Budget Committee in hearings took a look at certain items thatmay or may not be included in the package. The Republican’s introduced several motions, all of which were summarily declined by the Democrat controlled Committee. These motions and how members voted are as follows:

1. Prevent Government from Interfering with Doctor-Patient Relationship
Mr. Hensarling moves that the Committee on the Budget direct its Chairman to request, on behalf of the Committee, the rule to be reported by the Committee on Rules of the House of Representatives for the consideration of the Reconciliation Act of 2010 provide that the legislative text to be included in that Reconciliation measure that amends H.R. 3590, the Senate-passed health care bill, prohibit the use of comparative effectiveness research or other measures to restrict medical professionals from providing and/or prescribing the care they believe to be medically necessary.

Defeated: Straight Party Line

2. Put the Federal Government on a Sustainable Fiscal Path First
Mr. Campbell moves that the Committee on the Budget direct its Chairman to request, on behalf of the Committee, the rule to be reported by the Committee on Rules of the House of Representatives for the consideration of the Reconciliation Act of 2010 provide that the legislative text to be included in that Reconciliation measure that amends H.R. 3590, the Senate-passed health care bill, delay the implementation of both legislative measures until Congress has enacted legislation to put the Federal budget and U.S. economy on a sustainable fiscal path.

Defeated: Straight Party Line

3. No Medicare Cuts to Pay for a New Entitlement
Mr. Ryan moves that the Committee on the Budget direct its Chairman to request, on behalf of the Committee, the rule to be reported by the Committee on Rules of the House of Representatives for the consideration of the Reconciliation Act of 2010 provide that the legislative text to be included in that Reconciliation measure that amends H.R. 3590, the Senate-passed health care bill, prevent Medicare cuts from being use to offset or fund a new entitlement program, reduce new government spending in such legislation by that amount, and direct all Medicare savings to the Medicare program to make that program fiscally sustainable.

Defeated: With Two Democrats Voting Aye: Boyd, FL, and Edwards, TX

4. Prevent Government from Limiting Choice and Competition
Mrs. Lummis moves that the Committee on the Budget direct its Chairman to request, on behalf of the Committee, the rule to be reported by the Committee on Rules of the House of Representatives for the consideration of the Reconciliation Act of 2010 provide that the legislative text to be included in that Reconciliation measure that amends H.R. 3590, the Senate-passed health care bill, prohibit the government from controlling health plan choices and restricting competition among health plans and delete any provision, including section 124 of H.R. 3590, that gives the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services and a new Health Benefits Advisory Committee unprecedented power to create and change the requirements for “acceptable coverage.”

Defeated: Straight Party Line

5. Prohibit Federal Funding of Abortions
Mr. Jordan moves that the Committee on the Budget direct its Chairman to request, on behalf of the Committee, the rule to be reported by the Committee on Rules of the House of Representatives for the consideration of the Reconciliation Act of 2010 provide for legislative text that amends H.R. 3590, the Senate-passed health care bill, by adding the language of the amendment offered by Representative Bart Stupak, offered on November 11, 2009 and numbered as House Amendment 509 to H.R.3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act, to prohibit federal funding of abortions.

Defeated: Democrats Voting Aye: Kaptur (OH), Berry (AR) & Langevin (RI)

6. No Raising Taxes During a Recession
Mr. Nunes moves that the Committee on the Budget direct its Chairman to request, on behalf of the Committee, the rule to be reported by the Committee on Rules of the House of Representatives for the consideration of the Reconciliation Act of 2010 provide that the legislative text to be included in that Reconciliation measure that amends H.R. 3590, the Senate-passed health care bill, protect American jobs and families by striking tax increases and mandates in both legislative measures that would hinder job creation and reduce workers and families income during a period of high unemployment and economic weakness

Defeated: Edwards (TX) Voting Aye

7. Health Care Reform Must Bend the Cost Curve
Mr. Garrett moves that the Committee on the Budget direct its Chairman to request, on behalf of the Committee, the rule to be reported by the Committee on Rules of the House of Representatives for the consideration of the Reconciliation Act of 2010 provide that the legislative text to be included in that Reconciliation measure that amends H.R. 3590, the Senate-passed health care bill, make the provisions of both legislative measures contingent upon the Centers on Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Office of the Actuary issuance of a report that such measures will not increase national health care expenditures or increase the federal commitment to health care, and that such measures will succeed in bending the “health care cost curve” downward by lowering the projection of such expenditures.

Defeated: Straight Party Line

8. Require Up-to-Date Estimate on Full Cost of Bill
Mr. Simpson moves that the Committee on the Budget direct its Chairman to request on behalf of the Committee that the Committee on Rules not make in order consideration of the Reconciliation Act of 2010 or H.R. 3590, the Senate-passed health care bill, until a Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimate of both measures relative to its March 2010 baseline, including estimates of the budget impact of authorization of appropriations in such measures, and the text of such reconciliation legislation are made available to Members and the public at least 72 hours before being considered on the House floor and that there be separate votes on each measure.

Defeated: Edwards (TX) voting Aye

9. No Raising Health Insurance Premiums
Mr. McHenry moves that the Committee on the Budget direct its Chairman to request, on behalf of the Committee, the rule to be reported by the Committee on Rules of the House of Representatives for the consideration of the Reconciliation Act of 2010 provide that the legislative text to be included in that Reconciliation measure that amends H.R. 3590, the Senate-passed health care bill, ensure that the Federal mandates in both legislative measures do not cause an increase in projected health care insurance premiums.

Defeated: Edwards (TX) voting Aye

10. Eliminate New Bureaucracies Devoted to Expanding the Federal Government
Mr. Latta moves that the Committee on the Budget direct its Chairman to request, on behalf of the Committee, the rule to be reported by the Committee on Rules of the House of Representatives for the consideration of the Reconciliation Act of 2010 provide that the legislative text to be included in that Reconciliation measure that amends H.R. 3590, the Senate-passed health care bill, eliminate the creation or expansion of government bureaucracies in such measures.

Defeated: Straight Party Line

Therefore, in the last week of the latest Deadline imposed by the President on the Congress to pass a bill that will ensure his Party’s defeat in 2010 and 2012, certain members in the budget committee, feel that there is no time to discuss options, that the American Taxpayer is more than capable of taking on more in this economy and that their Senior Citizens do not merit protection (although most of these members are eligible for social security, Medicare and Medicare Advantage, no data on who is actually receiving checks and or benefits). Apparently, a few, but very few, do understand that the nation is not ready to move forward with this particular bill, and although reform is essential, would prefer more of a bi-partisan effort, one where everyone’s ideas are brought to the table – and a well crafted bill can be produced. Listed below are the members, their state and their district. It is easy enough to send a note of thanks to those who have the courage to stand up for the American people (speaking to those Democrats that voted Aye on some extremely sensible Motions, while the others should be summarily thrown out with the bathwater – for playing party politics over the needs of their constituents. A note stating such might be in order.

Where to find the addresses: congress.org – contact your officials

The members of the Committee Include: (Designation by Party, State and Congressional District)

John Spratt, SC - Chairman (D-SC 5th)
Allyson Schwartz, PA - Vice Chair (D-PA 13th)
Marcy Kaptur, OH – (D-OH 9th)
Xavier Becerra, CA (D-CA 31st)
Lloyd Doggett, TX (D-TX 25th)
Earl Blumenauer, OR (D-OR 3rd)
Marion Berry, AR (D-AR 1st)
Allen Boyd, FL (D-FL 2nd)
James McGovern, MA (D-MA 3rd)
Niki Tsongas, MA (D-MA 5th)
Bob Etheridge, NC (D-NC 2nd)
Betty McCollum, MN (D-MN 4th)
Charlie Melancon, LA (D-LA 3rd)
John Yarmuth, KY (D-KY 3rd)
Rob Andrews, NJ I(D-NY 1st)
Rosa DeLauro, CT (D-CT 3rd)
Chet Edwards, TX (D-TX 17th)
Robert "Bobby" Scott, VA (D-VA 3rd)
Jim Langevin, RI (D-RI 2nd)
Rick Larsen, WA (D-WA 2nd)
Tim Bishop, NY (D-NY 1st)
Gwen Moore, WI (D-WI 4th)
Gerald Connolly, VA (D-VA 11th)
Kurt Schrader, OR (D-OR 5th
Paul Ryan, WI - Ranking Member (R-WI 1st)
Jeb Hensarling, TX - Vice Ranking Member (R-TX 5th)
Scott Garrett, NJ (R-NJ 5th)
Mario Diaz-Balart, FL (R-FL 21st)
Michael Simpson, ID (R-ID 2nd)
Patrick McHenry, NC (R-NC 10th)
Connie Mack, FL (R-FL 14th)
John Campbell, CA (R-CA 48th)
Jim Jordan, OH (R-OH 4th)
Devin Nunes, CA (R-CA 21st)
Robert Aderholt, AL (R-AL 4th)
Cynthia Lummis, WY (R-WY – At Large)
Steve Austria, OH (R-OH 7th)
Gregg Harper, MS (R-MS 3rd)
Robert E. Latta, OH (R-OH 5th

Massachusetts – No longer the Bluest State - Boston Globe Headlines: Mass. Democrats Brace for Republican Candidates in 2010

Dr. Jay Fleitman - Candidate 2nd Hampden photo 2bpblogspot

Earl Sholley running against Barney Frank, MA 4th District - photo Sholleyforcongress.us

TheBoston Globe article on the Democrats who hold a stranglehold on Congressional seats in the Commonwealth being concerned they may be at risk due to Scott Browns win of the Senate Seat is of interest, although the main point is an error. Brown won the seat on his own merits, in a campaign which was executed by grassroots efforts with impeccable precision. This was mainly due to his overall appeal to the general population; one which is currently sick and tired of those who would be “rock stars”. Brown appeared to be “one of us” not one of them and was humble in his approach. (It is no surprise, however, that the media has taken Brown’s talents and turned him into a “celebrity” – virtually overnight. Nevertheless, Brown’s focus will be the will of the people, although pundits are busy trying to marginalize Brown’s win, as it relates to Obama, it is truly a rejection of the entire progressive approach to government – one to which Brown does not subscribe.)

That said, the article errs mainly due to the fact that Brown’s rise has nothing to do with the fact that Congressional Democrats are at risk and have been, long before Brown announced his candidacy. There is a new sense in Massachusetts that enough is enough. This antipathy towards the Democrats began with Deval Patrick, and the almost daily corruption on Beacon Hill. This angst has been aided by news reports of Barney Frank (Massachusetts 4th District), Richard Neal (Hampden Second), Niki Tsongas (Massachusetts 5th), James McGovern, (Massachusetts 3rd) and William Delahunt (Massachusetts 10th), all of whom are up for re-election in 2010, getting behind the President one-hundred percent, and voting straight party line, for years, not just since Obama became president.

With each budget in the red, with each new tax, with each new major program, the same old group can be seen in nightly newscasts or daily papers pounding home the message that they have a) experience due to the length of time they have held a certain seat, and, b) as a result they know better. Nothing brought this home more than the Town-Hall meetings held during the Health Care debate this past summer. With Massachusetts Congressional Democrats holding meetings where they were visibly uncomfortable facing their constituents. It was so difficult that Neal and McGovern had to team up to face the music, yet they went back to Washington oblivious of what they had heard from their constituents. The end result was a wake up call to the majority of the electorate. This was not the first time that the electorate started to take a close hard look at all elected officials in Massachusetts and the length of time they held an office and how they vote - it began to take shape immediately after Deval Patrick’s first year as Governor and it has snowballed ever since.

Republican candidates have been there all along, however, in the world outside the Bay State, any Republican (or someone running as a Republican) was basically pooh-poohed as spitting into the wind, so to speak, because Massachusetts votes Democrat. Then, about a year ago, (while the outside world was not watching) individuals began to form campaigns to run against those entrenched, lockstep Democrats who still feel the public has no other choice. In fact, every Congressional Seat mentioned above cannot be considered “safe Democrat” because there are several where campaigns are already well established, with grassroots organizations in place. Now, with 2010 here, the level of interest in retiring entrenched Massachusetts politician’s and replacing them with “citizen legislators” is extraordinarily high. These are not mentioned in the Globe article.

Richard Neal now faces two contenders for his seat, one of which, Dr. Jay Fleitman, another independent thinker, has had a campaign in place for the past year. Fleitman is one of those citizens one meets and instantly understands that it is not about “position” it is about the people. In other words, he has stepped forward, to offer himself to the service of the Commonwealth and the nation, in order to challenge a Congressman, who the district hears from every two years. Each election Neal recycles mailers proclaiming an impending social security crisis, should he not be reelected. The people are not buying this anymore. Nor will they fall for the “change of heart” tactic; the seat in the Hampden 2nd is far from safe. Jay Fleitman's website is www.jayfleitman.com, those Unenrolled, Republican and yes, even Democrats are already aware of Dr. Fleitman, and what he has to say about a range of issues, without making excuses or sounding like a “cookie cutter” party-line elitist (referring to Republicans). He’s another “one of us”.

The "big kahuna" of the Commonwealth’s Democrat Congressional Delegation, Barney Frank, is perhaps the one who is most at risk - this besides the fact that every single political pundit sees him as holding his seat, until such time as he feels the need to retire. Think again. In fact, Frank is facing challenges from his own party, let alone those running as Republicans. The most likely to give Frank the proverbial boot is a man who has run against Frank in the past. One who does not necessarily fit the Republican model, (or any model), one who looks to the Constitution and has a keen grasp of that document. Earl Sholley, www.sholleyforcongress.us, is an individual, somewhat quirky, not terribly charismatic, but sound, sensible and with an ideological approach to governing that he has held fast to for decades. Sholley, of all the candidates, does have some baggage (in political think), however, the candidate he faces has more, and as this man goes door to door throughout the 4th district, he finds discontent and volunteers. This did not happen overnight, or as a result of another candidates rise, but due to hard work and an unshakable belief in the Constitution, the public and the need for reform. Both of these candidates are the least likely to be called “rock stars”, yet, that’s precisely their appeal.

The fact that both candidates outlined above have been able to energize volunteers based on their own ideals, and, in equal measure, the candidate they are opposing, speaks volumes about the change that is going to reshape Massachusetts into a Commonwealth that is less “blue”, and more evenly representative of all the peoples of the Bay State. Yes, the Democrats of Massachusetts have hard campaigns ahead of them, perhaps much harder than the Coakley campaign, due to the fact that those who would run have had more time to prepare than did one Scott Brown. It is going to be a wild 2010 in Massachusetts politics. One can watch the “safe Democrat” stay pretty much the same on the pundit’s websites, until say, mid-October, when the handwriting on the wall becomes abundantly clear.

Note:
The number one search on this blog: Who is running against Barney Frank, has been joined by Who is running against Richard Neal, with a majority of those inquiries coming from within Massachusetts in the past two weeks, prior to that, they were coming from all corners of the nation, with a few hits here and there inside the Bluest State. Barney Frank inquiries average about 100 unique hits per day. (Which grew exponentially over the past week, to 300), which means that an investment, in time, talent and that all important cash needed to brand a candidate, is already in the “bank” so to speak.