Peter Torkildsen’s, resignation as Massachusetts State GOP Chairman, has brought two candidates (that can be verified), forward that want to tackle the job of moving the Massachusetts Republican Party in a positive direction. Massachusetts Republicans actually lost seats in the last election – in a state where over 50% of the voters are registered as “unenrolled” – is mind-boggling - from a statistics standpoint.
Will new leadership address the issues of conservatives in the Bay State, garner enough press (outside of New England Cable News) to brand both the party and any candidates, and, most importantly, act like (tired but appropriate analogy) Reagan Republicans?
(Ronald Regan won the Bay State twice - by sticking to his conservative principals, while having the sense to include all peoples, into the party (including Union Democrats, all ethnicity and genders). In other words, he did not win the Bay State by declaring himself pro-choice.)
The Candidates in brief: Mike Franco , of East Longmeadow, has not held public office, and ran two failed campaigns for Governors council (neither should be held against a candidate), Franco who is a fathers-rights activist is also unapologetically pro-life and pro-family.
Jennifer Nassour, a mother, wife and long-time Republican activist, is referred to as “a breath of fresh air” by State Senator Scott Brown (one of the few Bay State Republicans to hold an office)
(Being a "party insider" should not be held against anyone.)
A comment responding to an article in the Boston Herald regarding Scotts endorsement of Nassour was blatantly sexist, suggesting that Nassour stick to her present employment as a “mom”. (Making her even more qualified in the mind of a Conservative Feminist.) Nassour has a hefty resume, especially as a fund-raiser, a quality badly needed should the Republican Party hope to regain ground in Massachusetts - they will need to consider branding and a paid media blitz, as they face a less than friendly press. Therefore, someone with the ability to multi-task ("mom"), is an aggressive fundraiser and who understands how to use the media (including social media)may be the ticket.
That said, be it Franco or Nassour who is chosen on the 27th by members of the State Committee, ignoring the grassroots, failing to push conservative Republican candidates by aggressive branding, and most importantly, acting like Democrats, will assure that the status qua remains the same.
Note: Jeff Beatty, Republican candidate for Senate 2008, had little press outside of the New England Cable News Network and the Cape – that said Suffolk University Polls conducted at various points in the campaign showed a specific increase in approval for Jeff Beatty, consistent with the percentage of those polled on “name recognition”.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Friday, January 09, 2009
Obama Budget Proposal - the “Middle Class” Tax Cut Under Fire from Democrats
The Associated Press is reporting that there is some dissension amongst the rank and file Democrats (and some fiscally horrified Republicans) over the President-Elects proposed stimulus plan. Of interest are the proposed tax cuts –
Although an extra $20 per week appears to be a drop in the bucket, Conrad (D-ND) is following Liberal form in decrying tax cuts; while the President Elect’s path to the Oval Office was paved with promises of “Middle Class Relief”, bought hook, line and sinker by most “independent minded” voters, that $20 bucks could speak volumes in 2010. What will continue to be on the minds of those who cast their vote for $20, will be the big-business bailouts that were shoved down the throats of the Taxpayer, initially proposed to salvage the government run mortgage giants, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the list of those lining up for a piece of the taxpayer funded pie include, not only any industry associated with a mortgage or credit designation – but those industries who made bad business decisions, as well as those who are suffering as a result of loss of consumer confidence.
Newspapers in Connecticut are asking for relief. (Although some insist it selective tax relief, rather than a true “bailout”, newspapers failed to understand that editorializing the news and alienating 50% of their audience, in an age where that 50% can go elsewhere to find news that is not “biased”, resulted in a drop in subscriptions. (Note: not all newspapers are experiencing steep declines, The Wall Street Journal, for instance.) Although the press has consistently blamed the decline on the “Internet”, a new source for decline in subscriptions appears to be literacy! (Possible cause of new scapegoat: Online advertising revenues not as expected.
The latest industry to line up at the “bailout trough” is the Porn industry. Given the make-up of the current legislature, it would not surprise most conservatives should Larry Flint receive more than a $20 check in the mail. Conrad, who was one of the earliest proponents of the subprime bailouts (some self-interest may have applied) , should look long and hard at those proposed tax cuts and consider those colleagues who might want to stay competitive in 2010.
About $300 billion of Obama's package would be for tax cuts or refunds for individuals and businesses.
One tax provision would provide a $500 tax cut for most workers and $1,000 for couples, at a cost of about $140 billion to $150 billion over two years. The individual tax cuts may be awarded through withholding less from worker paychecks, effectively making checks about $10 to $20 larger each week.
Democrats emerging from a closed-door meeting of the Senate Finance Committee had little positive to say about the tax cut proposals. Conrad was critical of the proposed break for workers and their families.
"Twenty bucks a week. How much of a lift is that going to give?" he said.
Nor did he sound positive about a proposed tax break for businesses to create jobs — a $3,000 tax credit for companies that hire or retrain workers.
"If I'm a business person, it's unlikely if you give me a several thousand dollar credit that I'm going to hire people if I can't sell the products they're producing," Conrad said.
Although an extra $20 per week appears to be a drop in the bucket, Conrad (D-ND) is following Liberal form in decrying tax cuts; while the President Elect’s path to the Oval Office was paved with promises of “Middle Class Relief”, bought hook, line and sinker by most “independent minded” voters, that $20 bucks could speak volumes in 2010. What will continue to be on the minds of those who cast their vote for $20, will be the big-business bailouts that were shoved down the throats of the Taxpayer, initially proposed to salvage the government run mortgage giants, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the list of those lining up for a piece of the taxpayer funded pie include, not only any industry associated with a mortgage or credit designation – but those industries who made bad business decisions, as well as those who are suffering as a result of loss of consumer confidence.
Newspapers in Connecticut are asking for relief. (Although some insist it selective tax relief, rather than a true “bailout”, newspapers failed to understand that editorializing the news and alienating 50% of their audience, in an age where that 50% can go elsewhere to find news that is not “biased”, resulted in a drop in subscriptions. (Note: not all newspapers are experiencing steep declines, The Wall Street Journal, for instance.) Although the press has consistently blamed the decline on the “Internet”, a new source for decline in subscriptions appears to be literacy! (Possible cause of new scapegoat: Online advertising revenues not as expected.
The latest industry to line up at the “bailout trough” is the Porn industry. Given the make-up of the current legislature, it would not surprise most conservatives should Larry Flint receive more than a $20 check in the mail. Conrad, who was one of the earliest proponents of the subprime bailouts (some self-interest may have applied) , should look long and hard at those proposed tax cuts and consider those colleagues who might want to stay competitive in 2010.
Thursday, January 08, 2009
Senate Democrats follow the Letter of the Law – Burris to be Seated
Roland Burris Photo Wall Street Journal
In a change of face, Senate Democrats, with prodding from President-Elect Obama, have relented and will seat Roland Burris. Burris, chosen by embattled Illinois Governor Blagojevich, to fill Obama’s vacant senate seat, has faced a battle from Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid.
Reid, who had allegedly spoken to Blagojevich regarding his preferences for the vacant seat, has excluded specific individuals, all of whom we’re African American. Republican Senator Cornyn is asking that, if the tape exists, , it should be released.
One must understand that should a tape appear which clearly shows Harry Reid playing fast and loose with the Constitution (see 9th Circuit Court), with racist undertones, it would have no bearing on his current status. Somehow, scandals in the “people’s party” don’t call for action, unless of course it is at the hands of constituents (see Louisiana Congressman “Freezer” Jefferson, replaced by Joseph Cao (R) in a heavily Democrat district).
There should have been no drama surrounding the Burris selection, considering he was legally and constitutionally selected by the Governor of Illinois (who, although arrested, and facing charges, is still the acting governor). Reid, who has made some interesting statements regarding the President Elect is up for reelection in 2010.
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