Posted by caleb on Aug 26, 2009 in
Local and State Politics Saturday, August 22 was the Second District’s mini-convention in the State Capitol building in Topeka. Conservatives and Republicans from all over the District converged under the Rotunda for a day of workshops and networking. I attended a social networking class taught by Earl Glynn of the Kansas Meadowlark blog and in a crazy twist of events, found out I was sitting next to one of my followers on Twitter. It’s an even smaller world than I expected.
Overall, it was a great day. I listened to speeches from Rep. Lynn Jenkins (R-KS02) and Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS), along with Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R-KS03 and U.S. Senate Candidate). Kris Kobach, candidate for KS Secretary of State, also spoke. Donning my Pitt State CRs Events Coordinator hat, I was able to meet great state legislators like Asst. Maj. Leader Peggy Mast and, the previous evening in Iola, KS, Rep. Bill Otto. I invited both of them to speak at a College Republicans meeting the next time they’re in Pittsburg. We’ve got a great schedule of speakers lining up already for this fall, so hopefully they RSVP soon.
Later that day, I attended the Lynn Jenkins reception. Lynn is one of the few politicians I truly believe in- I pray she keeps that trust.
Once again, Blackberry pictures, so I apologize for the quality.
Rep. Lynn Jenkins in the Kansas House Chambers
Sen. Sam Brownback
Josh Tucker, CR member, and me in the KS House Chambers
Tags: Bill Otto, Conservatives, kansas, kris kobach, Lynn Jenkins, Peggy Mast, Pitt State CRs, Republican, Sam Brownback, Todd Tiahrt
[This is an edited version of this post. I decided I'd tried to stuff too much into one article.]
Last night, Republican from LA-02 Anh “Joseph” Cao, whom I’ve mentioned here by name a few times before, won his bid for election to the U.S. Congress and defeated the indicted Rep. William J. Jefferson. Jefferson is accused of bribery, money laundering, and misuse of office. Cao will be a dedicated conservative, at least according to his campaign web site (See Ethics Reform and Public Safety and Economic Recovery). My biggest congratulations go out to Representative-elect Cao and his campaign staff and family. He’s exactly the type of man we need in Congress, especially from an area so fraught with corruption like New Orleans.
We had another victory last night in Louisiana’s fourth Congressional district. Republican John Fleming beat out Democrat Paul Carmouche with a 48%-47.7% margin. Carmouche has promised a recount, since less than 500 votes separate the two candidates. Provisional ballots have also not been counted, which could, but shouldn’t, tip this in favor of Democrat Carmouche. This win, coupled with Cao’s, was somewhat of a balance of power-swinger: Republicans now hold 6 out of the 7 seats in Louisiana’s Congressional Delegation.
I caught wind of Fleming’s bid for Congress late in the game, but I’m thinking I’m even happier for his election than for Cao’s, a man whom I respect (and whose campaign called me at 9:15 CT Friday night to travel to LA and help out in the office [I live in Southeast Kansas and said, "Sorry... do you have an online phone bank?!]) and admire. The more I look into Fleming, the happier I get. Take a quick look around his “Issues” pages, “National Defense” and “Republican Party & Conservative Values” in particular. The man campaigned on exactly what we have all been saying all along! Someone invite him to #TCOT! He mentions “radical Muslims” as one of the sources of terror in the world, a brave, but very true statement: the media won’t even call them “Islamic” any more. He also says we need to return to our Reagan-esque roots, that we got kicked out of Congress not because we were too conservative, but because once in power, we weren’t conservative enough! He sounds like my kind of Representative!
With Saturday night’s two victories, we have gained one seat in the House of Representatives and held another, bring the Democrats net gain down one.
Main point: Yes, we won two major battles last night in electing two more Conservative members of Congress (at what point do we drop “Republican” and “Democrat” in the U.S.?), and yes, we have reason to celebrate, but we should not think we have reformed the party enough or that we are by any means yet ready for 2010 midterm elections just because we’ve now won three special elections. We still have plenty of work to do, and it begins on the grassroots level, as I have mentioned many times before. The point I’m trying to make is that we can never let down our guard, we can never believe the job is finished, even if we elect a Republican majority in 2010. We must be always reforming, always looking for ways to eliminate pork and government waste. We must protect the helpless and punish those who hurt them. Government must grow smaller. That is the future of the Republican Party, with the Conservative Movement steadily at the steering wheel.
Tags: #TCOT, Congress, Congressional elections, Conservatism, Conservatives, election, Election 2010, John Fleming, Joseph Cao, Louisiana, obama, Palin, Patrick Ruffini, Paul Carmouche, Reagan, Restoring the Conservative Movement, terrorism, William J. Jefferson
Last Tuesday didn’t go as we’d hoped. We all know that, and if you’re like me, you’re sick of hearing about it. In fact, you were probably sick all day Wednesday and half of Thursday. I know I was.
But, the fact is, we were right in the beginning. Those of us that supported Huckabee, Romney, or Thompson knew that McCain wasn’t the best choice, but we soon realized that he was the only one with any chance of fighting the Obama machine. He was the only candidate with the whole package of electable qualities. He had the connections, the reputation, and the experience. He also had (at first) the media’s support, but John McCain was not the perfect candidate: John McCain was our best hope.
Now, before I get blasted for seemingly contradicting myself, let me state the obvious. I was wrong. However, I hope you understand the underlying reasons for my push for John McCain. While in the end I did support him and many (not all) of his proposed policies, it was Sarah Palin whom I really wanted elected. McCain was simply the vehicle to get a true conservative into the White House once again, and therein lies the reason why McCain did not succeed. As others have said, Barack Obama wanted to become President, while John McCain wanted to be nice, congenial, and unassuming. Folks, that’s not the way you win the Presidency. Now, I’m not abandoning John McCain, for I still believe he would have been a better President than Barack Obama could ever dream of becoming, but we must move on.
I believe this (somewhat-resounding) defeat is actually a blessing in disguise. What the Obama victory has given us is something we haven’t had for the past political generation and never though we’d welcome: relative obscurity. The Democrats lived in it throughout the early Bush years, and they used it to their advantage, building their grassroots organizations and spreading the seeds for broad societal change. If you don’t agree that obscurity can be a blessing, look where they are now.
It seems to me we’ve got two choices. We can either stick our tails between our legs and limp away to lick our wounds, or we can fight for what’s right for America, but that process must begin today. If we want to reclaim our nation, we have no other choice. Let us begin grooming tomorrow’s Republican Congressional Candidates immediately. When we finally woke up to the dangers that Obama was proclaiming, we were effective! Just take a look at the National Republican Trust‘s whirlwind fundraising record set in the last two weeks of the campaign. We must continue to fully fund effective PACs, like HuckPAC and National Republican Trust. In order to stop the socialist onslaught, we must regain seats in both the Senate and the House of Representatives in 2010. Let us begin the next Republican Revolution, today!
The Liberals have MoveOn.org to spread their hate and deceit; why aren’t we as effective with using the Internet to spread our message of prosperity, individual liberties, and limited government? This must change. Support conservative bloggers you enjoy reading, like Michelle Malkin or this site. The Left has control of the main stream media, so it’s time for us to take control of the New Media. Instead of heading over to CNN.com for your news, pick it up at FoxNews.com or Pajamas Media. Don’t just keep it to yourself, either: tell your friends about these sites, and talk them up at work. Word of mouth is our best advertising tool.
Another grassroots organizing site to consider was just put up by the RNC, RepublicanforaReason.com. It includes direct links to the GOP platform and an encouraging video about past Republican Presidents.
Also, I do want to point out that although Barack Obama’s win is historic, this election was never about race. You are not a racist for disagreeing with Obama’s policies; it used to be called Free Speech. I encourage you to use that right, respectfully.
I know 2012 seems a ways off, and I also know that many of you don’t even want to think about another Presidential election yet, but folks, the campaigns have already begun. Palin has been dropping hints about a 2012 or 2016 run, and Gov. Bobby Jindal (R-LA) has already started visiting Iowa. Something like 64% of Republicans want Palin in 2012. Gov. Mike Huckabee pulls 12%, and Gov. Mitt Romney, 11%. Me? I’m pulling for a Palin-Jindal ticket. I think Palin has shown that she is the one who can truly bring true reform to Washington, and I’m excited to watch how things play out for her, especially since she’s finally outside of the auspices of John McCain. Jindal is a man to watch in his own right, having brought Louisiana through two major disasters this year, supporting Life, and backing fiscal conservatism (even if he needs some schooling in the use of earmarks).
We can and will prevail, but only our unwavering diligence will bring conservatism back to Washington. You say, “We’ll get ‘em next time?” Show me. Start work today and never give up. Don’t talk of moving to a foreign nation; this is our country, too, and I intend to help put it back on the correct path. Are you with me?
I’ll leave you with this admonition from the great British Prime Minister, Sir Winston Churchill:
“We shall go on to the end, …we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength… whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, … we shall never surrender!“
Tags: Conservatism, Conservatives, election, Fox News, GOP, Huckabee, Jindal, mccain, Michelle Malkin, MoveOn.org, obama, Pajamas Media, Palin, presidential election, Presidential Election 2008, Republicans, Romney, Winston Churchill
