Support Conservatives – Not Republicans
October 30, 2009 by Cato
Filed under Conservatism, National, National Politics, Republican Campaigns
Former New York Gov. George Pataki has endorsed Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman over GOP candidate Dierdre Scozzafava in the race for New York’s 23rd Congressional District. Principle over party is now the cry!
As Hoffman narrowly moves into first place in a three way race, we are fast seeing who is willing to take a stand:
- George Pataki
- Sarah Palin
- Tim Pawlenty
- Sen. Jim DeMint
- Fred Thompson
- Steve Forbes
- Dick Armey
- Tom Cole (former RNCC chair)
- Ed Meese
- David Keene
- Al Regnery
- David McIntosh
- Brent Bozell
- Jim Miller
- Richard Viguerie
- Tony Perkins
- Tom Winter
- Ken Blackwell
- Craig Shirley
Who is supporting Scozzafava?
- Michael Steele
- Newt Gingrich
- The RNCC
Gingrich has ceded all ties to the conservative movement with this move. Steele never had any. Their support of liberal Wayne Gilchrest merely made them look foolish. However, this race has the potential to be as meaningful to conservatives as the 1976 GOP presidential primaries. Assuming Hoffman pulls off a victory, Steele’s resignation should be demanded immediately. Those on the RNC who voted for Steele over Ken Blackwell should be ashamed! As for the RNCC, no conservative should donate a dime as long as the House GOP caucus is led by the likes of Boehner and Cantor (see below).
Worst of all – Who is standing on the sidelines?
- John Boehner
- Eric Cantor
- Mike Huckabee
- Mitt Romney
This is merely a warm-up for next year. We are witnessing the GOP elite support statist candidates over true conservatives. We need to support people like Marco Rubio in Florida and Chuck DeVore in California. As Neil Stevens recently reminded us, there are two kinds of Republicans. We know which kind our country needs.
Sphere: Related ContentRed Kettle Drive Kicks Off, Let The Sniping Begin
Is it possible to sap the spirit of giving from Christmas? No, but some Easter Shore residents sure give it a go.
Yesterday the Salvation Army kicked off its annual “Red Kettle Drive” with a breakfast in Salisbury. These giving individuals, and many others, will spend countless hours during the Holiday season ringing a bell in the cold and collecting funds to help those less fortunate than themselves. Sounds great, doesn’t it?
Not on the Lower Shore. Why? SbyNEWS publisher Joe Albero has the unmitigated gall to use Maryland and Delaware’s most popular blog to promote the Kettle Drive and encourage his readers to volunteer their time and money. Shame on you Joe!
Because Albero is none too popular with certain quarters of our community, some will actually encourage residents NOT to contribute. For those who live outside of the confines of our bizarre little “Peyton Place”, I’m quite serious.
Sphere: Related ContentAre Budgets “Moral Documents”?
October 29, 2009 by Cato
Filed under Conservatism, Economics, Fiscal Policy, National, National Politics
As an Anabaptist I’ve been a fan of Jim Wallis and his Sojourners movement for some time. I believe in peace. I believe in justice. However, I do not always agree with Wallis’s beliefs as to how we reach these goals. I believe that peace is best obtained through a strong national defense. I believe that there is no such animal as “economic” or “social justice”, which my Sojourner brethren seem to place so much emphasis on. These are simply nominal substitutes for seizing the property of your fellow for your personal benefit. Doing so in the name of “the greater good of society” is simply a means of making yourself feel better at the expense of someone else.
One of Wallis’s great sound bites is the claim that “Budgets are moral documents”. Ray Nothstine has argued that Wallis is correct, but not in the same way as Wallis would hope:
Currently this country is facing no greater crisis than out of control spending and a mounting federal debt—a moral problem of prodigious proportions.
Nothstine is correct. As our national government continues to spend far more than it receives in taxes we face a genuinely moral crisis. As the government grows and grows, it continues to find more areas of lives to control. We have a word for this – TYRANNY. The continuous battle between liberty and tyranny is a moral issue as surely as it is a political one.
Sphere: Related Content45 Years Later – It’s Still “A Time For Choosing”
October 28, 2009 by Cato
Filed under National, National Politics, Video
Originally broadcast 45 years ago, Reagan’s words are as true today as they were then. Sure, the Soviet Union has fallen (thanks to him). Sure, tax rates are a little lower (again, thanks to him). However, the ideas that an ex-Democrat spoke of 45 years still hold true.
With Barack Obama and a leftist-controlled Congress attempting to control every little part of our lives, NOW truly is “A Time for Choosing”.
Rick Pollitt Takes Dog and Pony Show on the Road
October 27, 2009 by Cato
Filed under Education, Fiscal Policy, Maryland, Wicomico Politics
Wicomico County Executive Rick Pollitt took his anti-revenue cap show on the road this morning. Speaking before a Salisbury / Wicomico Economic Development (SWED) meeting, Pollitt and a member of his finance staff argued that the county’s existing revenue cap is simply unsustainable.
I would agree that the revenue cap is unsustainable without a genuine re-structuring of the county government. This point has been argued for several years by Wicomico Councilwoman Stevie Prettyman.
Sphere: Related ContentWicomico Taxpayers Receive Back Door Tax Increase
October 27, 2009 by Cato
Filed under Fiscal Policy, Maryland, Somerset Politics, Wicomico Politics, Worcester Politics
The arrogance of bureaucrats never ceases to amaze me. They spend the TAXAPAYERS’ money yet act as if it’s from their personal discretionary account.
A current example is the $4 million purchase of the Powerwave campus on the corner of US 50 and Walston Switch Road, east of Salisbury. Almost daily we hear a sad tale of woe from Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley or Wicomico County Executive Rick Pollitt about the said state of either the Maryland’s or Wicomico County’s fiscal situation. There simply isn’t enough money to go around according to these two.
However, a few days ago we learned that the Tri-County Council of the Lower Eastern Shore (TCC) has purchased the Powerwave Campus. According to comments made by several officials, the TCC needs the space. Perhaps they do. I’m certainly in no position to argue that point. However, several points are easily arguable.
With the purchase of this property, the land and building will be going off the tax roles. Based on its current assessment, Wicomico County will be losing approximately $30,000 per year in property tax revenue. This means that county taxpayers will be paying a higher rate next year than they would be otherwise. This isn’t arguable – this is fact. One of the benefits of the county’s revenue cap is that big government advocates such as County Executive Rick Pollitt or Councilman Bill McCain can’t truthfully argue otherwise.
Sphere: Related ContentTragedy Ahead for Virginia?
Voting for Barack Obama in 2008 has proved to be an embarrassment for Virginians. With just over a week to go before Virginia’s statewide elections, voters could be in for a tragedy:
Delaware Legislators Call For More Financial Transparency
October 25, 2009 by Cato
Filed under Delaware, Delaware Politics, Fiscal Policy
Rep.-Elect Ruth Briggs King (R-Georgetown), along with other members of the Delaware House GOP Caucus, has called for more transparency of legislative and judicial expenditures. King (R-Georgetown), along with State Reps. Richard Cathcart (R-Middlewtown) and Dan Short (R-Seaford), recently sent a letter to the Senate Pro Tem Anthony DeLuca and Speaker of the House Robert Gilligan asking them to consider providing online access to the General Assembly’s expenditures in order for the public to review at its convenience.
A similar request was also made to Delaware Supreme Court Chief Justice Myron Steele. Steele quickly replied that the request would be “immediately considered”. No reply has yet been received from either DeLuca or Gilligan.
Sphere: Related ContentMargaret Thatcher’s Birthday
October 25, 2009 by Cato
Filed under Conservatism, Video, World
Today is the birthday of the Right Honourable Margaret Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, LG, OM, PC, FRS; first woman Prime Minister of HM United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; co-architect of the renewal of the UK and British conservatism; hero of the Cold War.
Sphere: Related ContentDesperate AG Candidate Plays Race Card
October 24, 2009 by Cato
Filed under Video, Virginia, Virginia Politics
Democrat Attorney General Candidate Steve Shannon has not only fallen in the polls (he’s running 15 points behind GOP candidate Ken Cuccinelli), he has fallen to the depths of playing the race card. In his last debate with Cuccinelli before the election, Shannon called Cuccinelli a de facto racist for supporting state’s rights.
