February 2008
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Past editions
By Valerie Richardson, Washington Times
Montana officials are warning that if the Supreme Court rules in the D.C. gun ban case that the right to keep and bear arms protects only state-run militias like the National Guard, then the federal government will have breached Montana's statehood contract. Nobody is raising flags for the Republic of Montana, but nobody is kidding, either. So far, 39 elected Montana officials have signed a resolution declaring that a court ruling of the Second Amendment is a right of states and not of individuals would violate Montana's compact. "The U.S. would do well to keep its contractual promise to the states that the Second Amendment secures an individual right now as it did upon execution of the statehood contract," Montana Secretary of State Brad Johnson said in a Feb. 15 letter to The Washington Times.
Oregon Legislature wraps up, sends crime measure to the ballot
By the Oregonian
The Oregon Legislature ended its experimental annual session Friday with a 12-hour day that included a spat among Democrats, a vote to ask Oregonians to toughen criminal sentences and kind words for retiring lawmakers. Senate President Peter Courtney and House Speaker Jeff Merkley gaveled the session to a close at 9:41 p.m. The two spent much of the day in a disagreement over which bills would be allowed to move forward in the last hours -- including a mortgage reform proposal that was important to Merkley, a Portland Democrat who is running for the U.S. Senate.
Rep. Shadegg changes mind, will run again
By Michael Clancy, Arizona Republic
Congressman John Shadegg announced Thursday that he will run for re-election, reversing a surprise decision he made last week to retire. Shadegg said he was moved by an outpouring of encouragement, including a letter signed by 145 of his Republican colleagues in Congress, a second letter signed by 33 leaders of conservative organizations, and thousands of calls to his home and office. He said the reaction to his retirement decision "stunned and deeply humbled me." Congressman Mike Pence of Indiana, who came up with the idea for the congressional letter, said Thursday night, "Conservatives across America are breathing a sigh of relief."
Governor says Young owes public answers
Voters should know about mounting legal fees, she asserts
By STEVE QUINN, Anchorange Daily News
Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin said Thursday that U.S. Rep. Don Young owes the public some answers for his campaign spending more than $850,000 on legal fees last year. Palin's assertion came a day after Young, R-Alaska, defended the mounting legal fees while declining to elaborate on why he's retained the lawyers. Young is the subject of a federal investigation that includes his campaign finance practices and for his ties with Veco Corp. He has repeatedly denied wrongdoing. Still, Palin wants Young to shed more light on his legal expenses. "I think residents of Alaska, voters who have elected him in the past, they are not only curious, but they are deserving of answers as to where campaign contributions are being spent," Palin said. Now in her second year in office, Palin has never been afraid to take on the Republican Party's old guard. Last summer, the governor called on U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens to offer the public more information on the federal probe he faces. Federal law enforcement officials are investigating the remodeling of his Girdwood home, south of Anchorage. Palin received no satisfaction from Stevens, who has remained mum on the investigation based, he said, on his lawyers' advice.
Now this is funny...
By WesternPR.com
Recently our anonymous tipline received the message which follows.
This should be helpful for people who wonder why the California GOP has taken up permanent residency in 'Loserville.' Party activists actually think their efforts have meaning and impact -- on politics, in California. Now this is funny.
Thanks to the sideshow going on at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and thanks to the efforts of the 12 year pork fest the GOP enjoyed in Congress it's come to this. Who is this guy Tim Morgan anyway..? Have a look, and a laugh (our notes are embedded -- we couldn't resist.)
Dear
Fellow California
Republican,
Last week, our President delivered his final State of the Union address to our nation. As he spoke, we were all reminded of the serious environment we now find ourselves in and how critical it is that a Republican candidate is returned to the White House later this year.
Editor's note: a Republican won't be going to the White House, it will either be a Democrat, or Senator McCain.
Fundraising, resource deployment, volunteer coordination, and other election efforts will be crucial for the success of our Republican candidate. California will lead the charge; we will put it on our shoulders to carry our candidate into the Oval Office.
Editor's note: The only Republican in California that can raise money is Governor Schwarzenegger.
The first step is to make sure California has the right leader at the Republican National Committee. We need a leader with the seniority, success, and integrity to ensure that what we put into this election is wisely spent and returned to California.
Editor's note: Why? What? Huh...?
Tim Morgan is the kind of steady, mature and wise leader that we must have as our representative to the Republican National Committee.
Mr. Morgan, who also serves as the RNC Treasurer, has been at the RNC since 1996. Over that time, he has become a unifying force within the RNC, able to build coalitions and win support for the issues that matter for California and the Nation. His seniority and respect at the RNC has few rivals.
At a time when we are facing enemies of the most serious nature: Islamic Fascists, Economic Downturn, A Do-Nothing Congress, and an Invasion from South of the Border, the loss of California’s position at the head table would be devastating.
Editor's question: What table would that be?
It is obvious that the Democrats are unwilling or unable to deal with these problems. A Republican must retain the White House and Tim Morgan is the first step to organizing California’s efforts to do this.
Editor's question: Why would Democrats want to lead? The current president has grown the size of government fast enough to please any red-blooded liberal; our borders have been wide-open for the last 7 years, and the Army, Navy, Air Force and our beloved Marines have doing the Sandi's bidding in Iraq in order to keep the price of oil as close to $100 per barrel as possible.
Democrats just love all this, they could never have pulled this all together the way President Bush has been able to.
Please take the first step with us by supporting Tim Morgan.
Protection against foreign invaders, Islamic terrorists, and economic calamity begins with California and begins with Tim Morgan as our RNC Committeeman.
Editor's note: See the above re: 'wide open borders for the last 7 years...and the $100 per barrel price of crude oil. Seems like those two calamities blew right past Mr. Morgan and his pals.
Thank you,
Bob Naylor, Former CRP Chairman John Herrington, Former CRP Chairman Duf Sundheim, Former CRP Chairman
Editor's note: Bob Naylor is actually a good guy and should not be lumped in with the rest of the aforementioned gibberish. We don't have a clue who those other two guys are.
Last week, our President delivered his final State of the Union address to our nation. As he spoke, we were all reminded of the serious environment we now find ourselves in and how critical it is that a Republican candidate is returned to the White House later this year.
Editor's note: a Republican won't be going to the White House, it will either be a Democrat, or Senator McCain.
Fundraising, resource deployment, volunteer coordination, and other election efforts will be crucial for the success of our Republican candidate. California will lead the charge; we will put it on our shoulders to carry our candidate into the Oval Office.
Editor's note: The only Republican in California that can raise money is Governor Schwarzenegger.
The first step is to make sure California has the right leader at the Republican National Committee. We need a leader with the seniority, success, and integrity to ensure that what we put into this election is wisely spent and returned to California.
Editor's note: Why? What? Huh...?
Tim Morgan is the kind of steady, mature and wise leader that we must have as our representative to the Republican National Committee.
Mr. Morgan, who also serves as the RNC Treasurer, has been at the RNC since 1996. Over that time, he has become a unifying force within the RNC, able to build coalitions and win support for the issues that matter for California and the Nation. His seniority and respect at the RNC has few rivals.
At a time when we are facing enemies of the most serious nature: Islamic Fascists, Economic Downturn, A Do-Nothing Congress, and an Invasion from South of the Border, the loss of California’s position at the head table would be devastating.
Editor's question: What table would that be?
It is obvious that the Democrats are unwilling or unable to deal with these problems. A Republican must retain the White House and Tim Morgan is the first step to organizing California’s efforts to do this.
Editor's question: Why would Democrats want to lead? The current president has grown the size of government fast enough to please any red-blooded liberal; our borders have been wide-open for the last 7 years, and the Army, Navy, Air Force and our beloved Marines have doing the Sandi's bidding in Iraq in order to keep the price of oil as close to $100 per barrel as possible.
Democrats just love all this, they could never have pulled this all together the way President Bush has been able to.
Please take the first step with us by supporting Tim Morgan.
Protection against foreign invaders, Islamic terrorists, and economic calamity begins with California and begins with Tim Morgan as our RNC Committeeman.
Editor's note: See the above re: 'wide open borders for the last 7 years...and the $100 per barrel price of crude oil. Seems like those two calamities blew right past Mr. Morgan and his pals.
Thank you,
Bob Naylor, Former CRP Chairman John Herrington, Former CRP Chairman Duf Sundheim, Former CRP Chairman
Editor's note: Bob Naylor is actually a good guy and should not be lumped in with the rest of the aforementioned gibberish. We don't have a clue who those other two guys are.
District judge upholds employer-sanctions law
The Legal Arizona Workers Act gives the state authority to suspend or revoke the business license of any employer found to have knowingly or intentionally hired an illegal immigrant
By Mary Jo Pitzl, Arizona Republic
A federal judge upheld the merits of Arizona's landmark employer-sanctions law saying it does not overstep the federal government's authority to regulate illegal immigration. U.S. District Judge Neil Wake dismissed arguments by a coalition of business and Latino civil-rights groups that the law unconstitutionally gives the state controls over immigration. Wake noted that the state law controls business licenses and does not determine who should be admitted into the United States. The Legal Arizona Workers Act gives the state authority to suspend or revoke the business license of any employer found to have knowingly or intentionally hired an illegal immigrant. The 15 county attorneys have the power to enforce the law but have said they have no intention of bringing any enforcement actions before March 1.
2 Democrats put in names to replace Garcia
By Tim Hoover and John Ingold, Denver Post
At least two Arapahoe County Democrats have expressed interest in filling the seat vacated by state Rep. Michael Garcia, an Aurora Democrat who resigned Friday amid allegations of sexual misconduct that he has denied. Mike Hamrick, Arapahoe County Democratic Party chairman, said Karen Middleton, who sits on the state board of education and who was planning to run for Garcia's seat after his term ended this year, will seek the vacant House seat. Another local Democrat, Carlos Estrada, has expressed interest in the seat as well, Hamrick said. Now the matter of who will succeed Garcia to represent the 42nd House District is up to a 35-member vacancy committee.
Permits to carry guns held by 9 lawmakers
By JENNIFER McKEE, Billings Gazette
State Rep. Ed Butcher has been packing heat for 30 years. "I carry at all times," the Winifred Republican said in a recent interview. Today, Butcher carries a .38-caliber pistol, but back in 1979 it was a .22 handgun that he says saved his life. A man was coming at him intending to kill him, Butcher believes. "He didn't think I carried a gun," he said. Butcher pulled out his .22 pistol and held it to the man's forehead. You've never seen eyes get so big so fast, Butcher said. The man backed down. "It's one of those things where I'd probably be dead in that situation if I hadn't had it," said Butcher. "It saved my life once, and I'm a firm believer in it." Butcher has never again drawn his concealed pistol. He is one of nine state lawmakers with a concealed-weapons permit, a Gazette State Bureau investigation shows, and the only one to ever brandish the firearm. Most of the nine lawmakers said they seldom carry a concealed weapon but like the freedom of being able to do so. Since 1991, state law has allowed Montanans to pay $50 and apply for a permit to carry a concealed handgun. County sheriffs issue the permits after conducting a background check and requesting proof of some kind of gun training.
Arizona House Speaker's seat looks safe; vote fund is $119,250
After the employer-sanctions law was signed by the governor last summer, some members of the business community vowed to work against his re-election
By Mary Jo Pitzl, Arizona Republic
House Speaker Jim Weiers has a $119,000 campaign war chest that he's banking on to help him avoid a repeat of the close call he had in his 2006 legislative bid. The Phoenix Republican is the top legislative fundraiser for 2007, according to reports filed with the Arizona Secretary of State's Office. He raised $140,602, with most of it coming from individual contributions and $12,000 from political-action committees. After the employer-sanctions law was signed by the governor last summer, some members of the business community vowed to work against his re-election. That doesn't appear to be the case, given the amount of money the speaker has amassed. However, his reports don't show any obvious contributions from members of the fast-food industry, which was the first to criticize Weiers.
