PoliticalAction.com Blog

Texas Straight Talk – A weekly column
Rep. Ron Paul (R) – TX 14

Last week politicians in Washington made a few things clear about how they really feel about the state of the union. First, they are beginning to hear the growing discontent with the size and scope of government and the broken promises that keep piling up. Certain events in Massachusetts recently made that statement loud, clear and unavoidable. In the face of those events, the powers that be made the determination that some populist rhetoric was in order, and the idea of a spending freeze in Washington was proposed, albeit with several caveats. These caveats to the proposed spending freeze ensure that we are not at any real risk of actually doing anything about spending.

First of all is timing. It wouldn’t go into effect until 2011, which allows plenty of time to increase spending levels quite a bit before they are frozen. If the administration really understood and cared about our spending problems they would not freeze spending a year from now, but cut spending immediately and significantly. But, spending cuts almost never happen in Washington, and they are not likely now or a year from now – if the politicians have anything to say about it.

The second caveat is the huge areas of the budget that are shielded from this freeze. The entire State Department budget is exempt, as are all entitlements, all military industrial spending and almost all foreign aid. Fully 7/8 of federal spending is excluded from this freeze, and some areas to be frozen were actually set to decrease, which means a freeze actually guarantees a higher level of spending.

Especially insulting is the idea that in spite of our own fiscal problems at home, taxpayer dollars will continue to be sent overseas in the form of foreign aid where it often does more harm than good. When need is demonstrated to Americans and they can afford it, they can be counted on for a tremendous outpouring of private, voluntary charity to worthy aid organizations, as we recently saw in Haiti. By contrast, government-to-government aid is taken from the poor by force and too often enriches the corrupt. It is counterproductive and wasteful. But the idea of eliminating, freezing, or reducing foreign aid is not up for serious debate any time soon.

The third caveat is what is included in the freeze that would make it politically impossible to pass Congress, for example air traffic controllers salaries, education, farm subsidies and national parks.

I do not necessarily want a cut in spending in this country – I just want to change who does the spending. The spending should be done by the people who earn the money, if they choose, and on what they choose, without any government interference. That is what makes the economy work. Politicians should stick to the very limited roles given them by the constitution instead of allocating such a sizeable portion of our capital and intervening through regulations and tax policy. But because politicians have disregarded the constitution, and the people have no idea what rule they will break next, there is already a very real spending freeze underway in this economy, by the people. If government would stick only to what it was authorized to do, and leave the rest to the people, most of these problems would resolve themselves.

Part 2 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yhm7UELPsSA

Part 3 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpyJbWlPGfs

This man looks very presidential, in fact sounds more presidential than
ever too.

By DAVE MONTGOMERY

dmontgomery@star-telegram.com

AUSTIN — After months of being largely dismissed in a race dominated by the state’s two Republican heavyweights, Debra Medina is making her presence felt with an anti-establishment message that has evidently struck a chord among a segment of Republican voters.

Buoyed by her performance against Gov. Rick Perry and U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison in last week’s televised debate, the conservative activist has climbed to 12 percent in the latest Rasmussen Reports poll, up from 4 percent in November, a showing that prompted organizers to include her in a second debate Jan. 29.

“Her performance in the debate made her the legitimate and credible ‘none-of-the-above,’ ” said Harvey Kronberg of the Austin-based Quorum Report, an online political newsletter.

More…

Dear Friend:

If Scott Brown’s victory in Massachusetts last night shows us one thing, it is that nothing in politics can be taken for granted. In the most liberal of states, the people have spoken, and the tide of reform continues to sweep through the country!

Here in Connecticut, we are facing and uphill battle. Like Scott Brown, we are facing a popular attorney general who has started the campaign with a big lead in the polls. National pundits are writing us off, and even here in Connecticut, people are treating Dick Blumenthal’s victory as a foregone conclusion. They ignore us at their peril. We will prove them wrong, and we will win! There’s a movement building across this country, and I feel it every day when I campaign.

We need solutions to the problems facing our country, not more government bureaucracy and empty promises from career politicians! We need a return to the free-market policies that made this country great, that will get Americans back to work and turn the tide on the failed policies in Washington, DC.

I know that we can shock the establishment, just like Scott Brown did last night. With you on my team, we can accomplish anything! Sunday some of our friends organized a money bomb. We raised just over $30,000 dollars from 377 people who donated an average of $80 each. While I want to thank everyone who participated in that money bomb, I also want to issue a challenge to the rest of you who sat it out.

This email is going out to over 150,000 people. Just imagine if everyone matched the contributions given during the money bomb. Instead of raising $30,000 we would raise 12 million. Combine that war chest, with my message and the current political environment, and we can’t lose.

I can win this race, but I cannot win it alone. I need everyone’s help. Together we will not fail. The stakes are just too high. We can take back our nation from the politicians who hold it hostage. We can restore limited government, embrace capitalism, and unleash the entrepreneurial spirit that made this nation great.

Do not assume that someone else will donate for you. We are in this fight together and we all need to contribute to prevail. Don’t think your contribution will be too small to make a difference. Remember we have strength in numbers. Small contributions add up as long as enough people make them (of course larger donations are welcome too).

So go to my web site www.schiffforsenate.com and make your contribution today. Every contribution counts, and if everyone makes one, the tally will be huge.

Let’s send a message so loud that it will resonate from Hartford to Washington D.C. Let’s show our critics that we mean business. Let’s show them that this campaign is real and that we will not be stopped for lack of funds.

Thank you so much for your continued support.

Yours in liberty,

Peter Schiff, US Senate Candidate
schiffforsenate.com

Please support the Mad As Hell Money Bomb TODAY Jan 7th 2010.

LAKE JACKSON, Texas — Congressman Ron Paul today endorsed John Dennis in his Republican bid for United States Congress. Mr. Dennis, a successful entrepreneur and longtime liberty-minded GOP activist, is running to unseat Nancy Pelosi in California’s 8th district.

Said Dr. Paul, “John Dennis is truly committed to Liberty, personal freedom, fiscal discipline and a more sensible foreign policy. I am very happy that John has decided to run for Congress and wholeheartedly endorse him.”

For more information on John Dennis, please visit www.JohnDennis2010.com.

Congressman Paul’s endorsement comes through his Liberty PAC, a Republican leadership PAC committed to supporting Liberty minded candidates across the country.

Said Liberty PAC director Jesse Benton, “John Dennis is a terrific candidate who is going to ask tough questions like: ‘Why is Nancy Pelosi running up crushing budget deficits?’, “Why has she allowed President Obama to expand the war in Afghanistan?’, and, ‘Why has Nancy Pelosi refused to support transparency and accountability at the Federal Reserve.’ The constituents of California’s 8th district deserve answers to these questions. John Dennis will hold her accountable.”

by Nelda Carrizales Skevington on Jan 06, 2010

WHARTON, TX, Wednesday, January 6, 2010 – Debra Medina is a true contender in the Texas Gubernatorial election and KERA has realized the validity of her campaign. On January 5th, KERA extended an invitation to Debra Medina, asking that she join Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison and Governor Rick Perry on the stage for the Republican Primary Gubernatorial debate. The Medina campaign has accepted the invitation that the supporters and staff fought so hard to earn.

“KERA has made the right decision. Every Texan deserves the right to hear Medina’s message of fiscal responsibility, limited government, and freedom. Now, many more Texans will have the opportunity to make a well informed decision when they vote on March 2nd,” said Penny Langford Freeman, Medina Campaign Manager.

There was a storm of publicity surrounding the debate invitation. When news arrived that Medina may not be invited to the live debate that will air statewide on January 14th, there was a public outcry. The invitations to Perry and Hutchison were publicized on November 20, 2009 and the delay of the invitation to Medina caused a firestorm of attention from not just supporters of Medina, but average citizens across the state. KERA vowed to review the criteria and send an invitation if the Medina campaign met all the guidelines. Now, with the debate only 8 days away, Debra Medina can finally announce that she’ll be taking part.

“We’ve had an amazing amount of support from all over Texas. My campaign has fought tirelessly to secure this invitation, but it wouldn’t have been possible without the strength and support of so many volunteers and true Texans. This campaign is rooted in equal justice under the law and based on the ideals set forth in our Constitution. This win proves that Texans will still fight for freedom. Now, we intend to not only win this debate, but to win this election,” said Medina.

The KERA Gubernatorial debate will air live on January 14th statewide from the University of North Texas campus in Denton. It can be viewed on KERA-TV, TXA-21 (KTXA-TV), and heard on KERA-FM. KERA news director, Shelly Kofler will be the debate moderator. With so many Texans making noise over Medina’s inclusion, it’s safe to say all eyes will be on Medina as she aims to go head to head with not just one, but two opponents, Gov. Perry and Senator Hutchison. (END)

—
Nelda Carrizales Skevington
Press Secretary
Debra Medina for Governor of Texas Campaign
210-416-0418
www.MedinaforTexas.com

Dear Friends:

Your support has been tremendous, and I greatly appreciate it. Together we sent the message that we don’t want politicians like Chris Dodd in Washington. Today many of your voices were heard when Chris Dodd announced that he will not be running for re-election in Connecticut. Here is the statement that I released this afternoon:

“While Chris Dodd has come to represent all that is wrong with Washington, his decision not to seek re-election is not the solution to the problems the people of Connecticut or the United States face. The problems we face are systemic in Washington and the fight to fix our broken system of government is more important than ever.

We will not fix the problems created by Chris Dodd by sending his protégé to replace him.

From the beginning, our campaign has been about putting our state and country back on the right track. Connecticut families deserve a government that stops spending our money like it is their personal bank account. We need pro-growth policies that cut taxes, drastically cut government spending, and put an end to the bail-outs and buy-offs that have become business as usual in Washington, D.C.

The problems every American faces today are serious and we need courageous leaders who are willing to fight for what they believe and not accept the status quo because it is the politically expedient path. I look forward to continuing to visit with Connecticut voters from across the state to share my vision for economic prosperity and a return of government that truly is of, by and for the people.”

We will win this campaign, and together, we will return our country to greatness.”

With Dodd out of the race, we need your help now more than ever. The Democrats are ready to annoint another liberal, Attorney General Mark Blumenthal, to be their nominee. We must stop them!

Please contribute $25, $50, $100 or even $250 to my campaign, so we can bring our common-sense, conservative vision to Washington.

Thank you,
Peter Schiff
Republican US Senate Candidate
schiffforsenate.com

On January 7th, a mass fund-raising effort will take place to rally awareness and media attention around the John Dennis’ candidacy. The goal of this event is to raise as much money possible in a twenty-four hour period, shocking the nation with the plausibility of a legitimate challenge to Nancy’s reign.

With Speaker Pelosi’s dismal approval ratings, and John Dennis’ swelling support in the Bay Area and around the country, this event will be a huge success. Strong fund raising numbers will thrust John into the national spotlight and force Speaker Pelosi onto the defensive.

The elitists and special interests will do everything they can to keep us under their thumbs. It is up to US to make a stand. It is up to US to take our country back. It is up to US to tell this government, “We are mad as hell, and we are NOT going to take it anymore!”

Help us spread the word about John Dennis, the money bomb on January 7th, and this historic congressional race.

The January 7th “Mad As Hell” Money Bomb

by Nelda Carrizales Skevington on Dec 07, 2009

There have been many invitations to participate in debates and forums coming through our office (Deborah Medina – Candidate for Governor of Texas 2010). The public certainly deserves to hear from each of the candidates. Unfortunately, we’re receiving multiple reports that each time we confirm, the governor cancels. It seems that Rick Perry has learned, over the years, that in order to protect his incumbent status he must be in total control of who he is on stage with and holds the media hostage to his demands.

University of Houston students planned a huge Texas gubernatorial forum. Sixteen Republican and non partisan conservative organizations came together to host the event. They rented the theatre and called the media. Production took months. They called Rick Perry’s office to make sure they scheduled it on a day when he could attend. In the end, after months of planning and selling tickets to cover the cost, Perry would not show. The students and other groups had to return ticket money in disappointment.

In early November, the Texas Press Association scheduled a gubernatorial debate in Galveston. “We thought it would be great for the city of Galveston to have the publicity surrounding such an event,” stated Ed Sterling of the Association. The city would have benefited economically and since the devastation of Hurricane Ike they have undergone a tremendous amount of hardship. The invitations were sent and Rick Perry and Kay Bailey were confirmed. Debra Medina was confirmed and two days later we were told the event was canceled as the demands of Rick Perry were not being met. The sponsor had invited all the candidates.

KERA, a public broadcasting station in Dallas, is publicizing that Rick Perry and Kay Bailey will be debating on January 14th. During an interview earlier in the year, they had assured us that Debra would be included as she had already met the criteria of the station. “When I called on November 19th, Shelley Kofler, News Director for KERA let me know that Debra is not invited to debate at this time, even though we meet their criteria,” said Penny Langford Freeman, Medina’s campaign manager. “There are demands by the other candidates, even to where the mic and the seating is placed. So much cost goes into the production that we can’t risk having the two front runner candidates canceling.” Kofler stated.

This is how fat cat incumbents perpetuate their political career: holding the media hostage to their demands thus preventing open and transparent debate by all the candidates.

“I have been a grass roots activist for a long time. I have seen this type of thing go on and voters deserve to know about it. Governor Perry has taken on the attitude of arrogant aristocracy. This sort of behavior is why the public trust in our elected officials is at an all time low and the word “politician” has become synonymous with “cheat and liar,” said challenger Debra Medina.

“We know that it is not against the law for Rick Perry to cancel but the arrogant demands that he be allowed to dictate who else is on stage is a tragic abuse of power that ultimately harms the very public he is sworn to serve,” Medina added.

Why does Rick Perry have so little respect for the voters and the rule of law? Why doesn’t he want to have healthy debate with all of the candidates? “I will tell you why” said Langford Freeman, “Not only is he arrogant. He does not want you to hear what is really going on in this state and he knows that Debra Medina is dedicated to telling the truth.”

The Debra Medina campaign will press on all fronts to insure that the people are given the opportunity to hear from all the candidates. “If Rick Perry wants what is best for Texas, he will stop these aristocratic power plays and show up to debate ALL candidates. Texans deserve to hear that debate,” said Medina.

“We are demanding that he come down off of his royal high horse and talk to the people who pay his salary,” Langford Freeman said.

Dear Fellow Libertarian/Fan of Freedom,

The strength of our movement is deafening to the powers which fear our ability to fund candidates and help them get elected.

This year alone, we helped to make viable the campaigns of Peter Schiff and Rand Paul. Our donations are helping them to be competitive as they fight for our constitutional rights.

Now, another candidate deserves your consideration – Bruce Poliquin, who is running for Governor of Maine.

Bruce Poliquin stands for limited government, and for giving citizens more control over the size and reach of their state beaurocracy. He demonstrated this during the past few months by helping to fund the Taxpayer Bill of Rights movement in Maine that requires the voters to approve increases in state spending or taxes. No other candidate for Governor except Poliquin committed his own personal money to help our movement.

Bruce Poliquin believes that the best government is the smallest government. When we help elect him, he will audit and reduce the size of one of the most bloated state governments in the United States. He will fight for the voice of the people. He will be one of us!

Just as we helped Peter Schiff, Rand Paul, and his father before him, we need to help Bruce Poliquin win! The best way to do that is to donate $25, $50, or even $750 (the limit) before Christmas.

Visit his website www.BruceForMe.com to learn more about Bruce Poliquin, candidate for Maine Governor. Don’t delay your contribution to another deserving candidate who will help reshape our great country!

Respectfully,

Robert Newman
MaineLiberty@yahoo.com