Saturday, July 31, 2010
Billy Long Breaks Campaign Promise Not to Go Negative: First to Play Politics as Usual With Unique Mud Slinging
At the Missouri Republican Assembly debate earlier this month, Billy Long promised he would not go negative. As we now know, Billy Long is the only candidate to fund and approve negative advertisements and campaign materials. Long, who claims he isn't a 'career politician' is clearly playing the role of the career politician following the advice of his career politician producing machine that runs his campaign.
It should be no surprise to the people following this race that a desperate Billy Long broke his promise not to go negative in this campaign against following republicans. Billy Long's campaign has never been about ideas, is short on substance, and his rhetoric has continuously contradicted his past actions. Obviously, looking at the Joplin Globe, it's not hard to see the spin coming out of the Long campaign. To further Mr. Harris' comment, Billy Long, the man who claims not to be the politician in this race, is playing politics as usual by instigating the frivolous attacks against Senator Gary Nodler and Senator Jack Goodman.
Never in the 30 years I have been interested in politics (following the election of my personal hero Ronald Reagan) have I seen a candidate attack two opponents who are not on the same ticket in one attack with the same lies. Consider that before you make the case Billy Long is above politics and has your best intent in mind to represent you. He clearly will become a divisive force in the Republican party, and this is the warning shot. You have been warned.
Caleb Harris, who is the communications director for Jeff Wisdom's campaign, issued the following statement today, "This race has mostly been civil up until this point, but it is sad to see that so close to the election, some of the candidates have chosen the route of political business as usual. The people of the Seventh District expect and want our campaigns to be about ideas and substance, not rhetoric and spin."
It should be no surprise to the people following this race that a desperate Billy Long broke his promise not to go negative in this campaign against following republicans. Billy Long's campaign has never been about ideas, is short on substance, and his rhetoric has continuously contradicted his past actions. Obviously, looking at the Joplin Globe, it's not hard to see the spin coming out of the Long campaign. To further Mr. Harris' comment, Billy Long, the man who claims not to be the politician in this race, is playing politics as usual by instigating the frivolous attacks against Senator Gary Nodler and Senator Jack Goodman.
Never in the 30 years I have been interested in politics (following the election of my personal hero Ronald Reagan) have I seen a candidate attack two opponents who are not on the same ticket in one attack with the same lies. Consider that before you make the case Billy Long is above politics and has your best intent in mind to represent you. He clearly will become a divisive force in the Republican party, and this is the warning shot. You have been warned.
Does Billy Long Profit From Programs Like St. Louis Revitalization Funding Which He Attacks Nodler and Goodman For?
At the Missouri Republican Assembly debate earlier this month, Billy Long promised he would not go negative in this campaign and live by Ronald Reagan's Eleventh Commandment. It's interesting that Billy Long is the first and only candidate to approve and fund negative campaign materials against both Gary Nodler and Jack Goodman, proving once again that Billy Long is not a man Southwest Missouri can trust.
There is something more amazing hidden deeply in Billy Long's broken campaign promise. Billy Long's negative campaign material includes attacks that lie about a $100 million inner city revitalization project which Long's own campaign strategist James Harris lobbied for. As I got to thinking about the negative attack ads, I began to wonder how many times over the years Billy Long has benefited financially as a small businessman heavily involved in real estate, whether it be from Billy Long Auctions, Murney and Associates, or other real estate deals, putting hundreds of thousands of dollars in his pocket thanks to bad government policy.
Long attacks Goodman and Nodler for a program that would have helped revitalize the city of St. Louis, and the commercial he runs contains many half truths and lies about the actual legislation. Let's forget about all that and think about a federal revitalization project that gained recent attention. The project Billy Long speaks of is similar in some regards to the Community Reinvestment Act under Bill Clinton that promised loans to people who shouldn't have qualified in hopes of revitalizing inner cities and other communities that needed help. You may be familiar with this program since Fannie May and Freddie Mac oversaw much of the lending that led to many of the real estate foreclosures.
While Billy Long Auctions currently lists no foreclosure auctions, reliable sources have discovered Billy Long has auctioned many foreclosed homes in Southwest Missouri and taken advantage of the federal foreclosure real estate mess. You also need to ask how much real estate has Billy Long acquired at bottom of the barrel prices thanks to bad government policy? How much has Billy Long profited from similar programs that he attacks his opponents with? Since Long Auctions does do foreclosure auctions, it's reasonable to suspect some of these homes were purchased by people who would not have qualified for loans had the federal government created a program, and once again, we see Billy Long with his hands in the cookie jar talking from both sides of his mouth. More than likely, Long profits from programs he attacks in his political ads.
There is something more amazing hidden deeply in Billy Long's broken campaign promise. Billy Long's negative campaign material includes attacks that lie about a $100 million inner city revitalization project which Long's own campaign strategist James Harris lobbied for. As I got to thinking about the negative attack ads, I began to wonder how many times over the years Billy Long has benefited financially as a small businessman heavily involved in real estate, whether it be from Billy Long Auctions, Murney and Associates, or other real estate deals, putting hundreds of thousands of dollars in his pocket thanks to bad government policy.
Long attacks Goodman and Nodler for a program that would have helped revitalize the city of St. Louis, and the commercial he runs contains many half truths and lies about the actual legislation. Let's forget about all that and think about a federal revitalization project that gained recent attention. The project Billy Long speaks of is similar in some regards to the Community Reinvestment Act under Bill Clinton that promised loans to people who shouldn't have qualified in hopes of revitalizing inner cities and other communities that needed help. You may be familiar with this program since Fannie May and Freddie Mac oversaw much of the lending that led to many of the real estate foreclosures.
While Billy Long Auctions currently lists no foreclosure auctions, reliable sources have discovered Billy Long has auctioned many foreclosed homes in Southwest Missouri and taken advantage of the federal foreclosure real estate mess. You also need to ask how much real estate has Billy Long acquired at bottom of the barrel prices thanks to bad government policy? How much has Billy Long profited from similar programs that he attacks his opponents with? Since Long Auctions does do foreclosure auctions, it's reasonable to suspect some of these homes were purchased by people who would not have qualified for loans had the federal government created a program, and once again, we see Billy Long with his hands in the cookie jar talking from both sides of his mouth. More than likely, Long profits from programs he attacks in his political ads.
World Poker Tour Professional Billy Long Attacks Jack Goodman With Images of "Downstream"
World Poker Tour Professional and Republican congressional candidate Billy Long should know without any doubt, you can't bring a camera into a casino and begin photographing. Interestingly enough, Billy Long, who claims to be an average guy who lays down $15,000 just to play in a World Poker Tour tournament, is now attacking Jack Goodman with lies and a casino theme.
We all know Billy Long has spent part of the campaign lying about his involvement in the World Poker Tour and high-stakes poker games, and now he's using his love of gambling to attack his opponent with lies.
Long continues his negative attack ads against his Republican challengers, obviously dreaming and possibly mad at the fact that Jack Goodman hasn't dropped out of this race so he could be spending more time at the Downstream Casino. In Long's negative attack are blatant lies. The funniest of the misrepresentations in this ad is simply Billy Long's own campaign manager lobbied for the same money he blames Goodman of voting to pass.
We also know Billy Long has never been a good steward of federal money like he wants you to believe as we know he sought federal money for the Billy Long bus terminal to nowhere at the old Springfield Branson airport terminal. Billy Long's campaign has lied about Long's involvement with the earmark/grant while misrepresenting the $100 million.
Southwest Missouri needs to understand Billy Long's love of gambling and they need to be sure they don't rob Billy of any of his time spent "Downstream" and vote for someone who is actually qualified to be a Congressman on August 4.
We all know Billy Long has spent part of the campaign lying about his involvement in the World Poker Tour and high-stakes poker games, and now he's using his love of gambling to attack his opponent with lies.
Long continues his negative attack ads against his Republican challengers, obviously dreaming and possibly mad at the fact that Jack Goodman hasn't dropped out of this race so he could be spending more time at the Downstream Casino. In Long's negative attack are blatant lies. The funniest of the misrepresentations in this ad is simply Billy Long's own campaign manager lobbied for the same money he blames Goodman of voting to pass.
We also know Billy Long has never been a good steward of federal money like he wants you to believe as we know he sought federal money for the Billy Long bus terminal to nowhere at the old Springfield Branson airport terminal. Billy Long's campaign has lied about Long's involvement with the earmark/grant while misrepresenting the $100 million.
Southwest Missouri needs to understand Billy Long's love of gambling and they need to be sure they don't rob Billy of any of his time spent "Downstream" and vote for someone who is actually qualified to be a Congressman on August 4.
ASTROTURF! Billy Long, the True Political Outsider?: Billy Long is Part of the Establishment
I was in a discussion earlier this morning about the tea party influence on Tuesday primary. There seems to be little talk about the tea party turnout and what it means for candidates running for Roy Blunt's seat when the votes are tallied on Tuesday night. Then I came across this letter with the feel of astroturf written by a woman claiming to be a student from Springfield to the Joplin Globe. (Be sure to read the last paragraph.)
Alice Haseltine claims she is a politically conscious student; however, it appears she hasn't been too observant in this year's Republican primary for the Seventh District seat. She obviously doesn't know the person who she says she is voting for, or she does know the candidate very well and this could be a conscious attempt by the Long campaign to continue the lie that Billy Long isn't part of the political establishment.
Haseltine writes (as you read your letter, ask why a student from Springfield is writing letters to the Joplin Globe):
SPRINGFIELD, MO. — I’m a young, politically conscious student and a native of Springfield. I’ve watched the 7th District congressional primary election unfold with grave concern.
With countless Republican candidates claiming to be Washington “outsiders,” a recent ad attacking candidate Billy Long has left me skeptical and confused. I worry that I’m not the only young voter who feels this way.
On Monday, I watched as KY3 aired an advertisement attacking Billy Long’s stance on earmarks. While the ad began with a seemingly accurate statement, suggesting that “politicians and insiders are at the trough” of our nation’s economic deficit, the ad proceeded with confusing accusations, accusing Billy Long (who is anything but a Washington insider) of a vote he made while serving on the Springfield Airport Board.
This ad was apparently paid for by Americans for Job Security, an advocacy organization that protects the identity of its donors. The viewers of this ad are not at liberty to know the source of these claims. I can only deduce that this is an attempt by true Washington insiders and perhaps other 7th District candidates — some of whom are career politicians — to protect the exclusivity of Washington, with a false slam of Billy Long, the only front-running candidate who is not a career politician.
This propaganda, stemming from Washington D.C., was obviously intended to discredit Long. Instead, I think it frames the choice that faces the voters of Southwest Missouri on Tuesday. It’s a choice between business as usual and an earnest attempt for true change. My vote is going to the candidate who hasn’t spent the majority of his years in Jefferson City and Washington, D.C. I want a congressman who has felt our nation’s hardship from the standpoint of a small-business owner. My vote is for Billy Long, the true Washington outsider.
Alice Haseltine
Springfield
Alice, you have been duped by a man who is hungry for power. So hungry for power, he promised to run a grassroots campaign when he announced his candidacy and then hired the insider team of Jeff Roe and James Harris, a career politician producing team known not to play a nice game of politics. So much for grassroots, eh Alice.
Not to mention, Billy talks tough on earmarks and wasteful government spending, however, the commercial you speak of Alice is truthful. In March, shortly after launching this site, I began looking at Billy Long's record which is detailed in the voting history of the Springfield Branson Airport board Long served on. Now you can claim Billy Long is the victim of a vicious attack if you want Alice, but the truth is Billy Long should be explaining to voters why he didn't stand up to the wasteful spending in the form of an earmark or grant that was given to the airport. Rather, he voted yea and agreed to accept the federal money and use it for a wasteful spending project. For being politically conscious Alice, you should be able to see the problem here, that is if you aren't part of an astroturf campaign designed to save Billy's fat political ass.
You claim Long is an DC outside, yet he made numerous trips to Washington DC begging for the approval of Washington interest and Washington insiders during his run leading up to this primary. Long also used a Washington DC political media machine sending over $100,000 outside our district rather than using local media companies to produce his campaign commercials.
Alice, it's not hard to point out the political contradictions of what Billy Long says and what Billy Long does. If you really believe you are going to get something different out of Billy Long, you are sadly mistaken. He has already sold his political soul to the highest bidders and the Washington machine. For someone who says they are politically conscious, I feel you have either been duped or pay to run a letter campaign for a disgraceful candidate who doesn't have your best interest in mind, but is going for his own interest and ego.
After I wrote this blog, I decided to call the the 88FEDUP number and find out if Alice Haseltine is part of a astroturf campaign. Once again, Emily answered the phone, and yes Alice Haseltine works at the Billy Long campaign headquarters. Alice wasn't in at the moment, but as usual, Emily was willing to take a message, just like she was for Andrew Bruner who filed an FEC ethics complaint against a 17 year old child for Billy Long.
Billy Long Sinks to New Low With "Pro-Choice" Lies About Gary Nodler and Jack Goodman
If Billy Long was an honest man, which this week we have determined he is not, he wouldn't even be bringing up abortion as a campaign issue in the Republican primary. All the candidates running in the primary are pro-life, including Democrats Tim Davis and Scott Eckersely. That hasn't stopped Billy Long to sinking to a new low with new lies.
Billy Long is now making the case that Gary Nodler and Jack Goodman aren't pro-life candidates with a mailer that was probably billed out to a Kansas City mailing company tied to a Long strategist with questionable ethics who makes many ashamed of the G.O.P. label. In the ad, Billy Long claims Nodler and Goodman have failed to take a hard line stance on the issue of life, which is entirely not true. Both Senator Nodler and Senator Goodman have a strong pro-life voting records, and they have both fought hard for pro-life issues.
Billy Long believes because he has the endorsement of Missouri Right for Life, a group that calls itself pro-life led by Dave Plemmons, which has a questionable record of rating pro-choice candidates with high marks, that he can get away with nearly labeling Nodler and Goodman as pro-choice. Of course, we aren't going to let Billy Long get away with another lie about his opponents as Billy Long obviously decided to play dirty politics in the final days of the primary.
There needs to be a reminder that Missourians United for Life, a strong pro-life group didn't endorse Billy Long. They endorsed Nodler, Goodman, Michael Wardell, and Mike Moon. Missourians United for also doesn't have the questionable record of rating pro-choice candidates with high marks like Missouri Right to Life. I want to remind Mr. Long, as he distorts the record in a desperate attempt to save a campaign that is laughable at best, about the truth of the matter.
Beware of Missouri Right to Life's Endorsement of Billy Long: MRL Has a Record of High Marks for Pro-Choice Liberals
Billy Long is touting his endorsement from the Missouri Right to Life like it's the new Mel Hancock. Really, in true conservative circles, the endorsement is quite meaningless. The endorsements coming from Missourians United for Life carries much more weight for pro-life voters.
Billy Long represents the big money in politics today. He is a millionaire with the ability to raise a huge campaign war chest, and according to Dave Plemmons from Missouri Right to Life, it may be money that eventually won the endorsement from MRL. Despite Billy Long's frequent praise of Claire McCaskill during his KWTO radio days Plemmons commented on this very blog, "Billy Long is endorsed because he is the only viable candidate (name ID, money, and wide support) that takes a pro-life position, and has for several years."
Yes, he used the money word. We still don't really know what Billy Long did prior to being a Congressional candidate to support pro-life causes. I guess the money is more important than record for Plemmons.
Since we brought up record, it's hard to argue that both Senators Gary Nodler and Jack Goodman have an outstanding record in the Missouri Senate on pro-life issues. Apparently, their political opponents are making the case because they appropriated funds to a state university for a life science building they some how disgraced their pro-life record. That's total nonsense.
A closer look at Missouri Right to Life shows they gave a pro-choice liberal who openly supports taxpayer-funded abortions higher marks than Nodler or Goodman. You would think someone that open about their support for abortion wouldn't receive a high grade at all, but that's not the case with the Missouri Right to Life.
Missouri Right to Life's grade card graded St. Louis state Senator Joan Bray with higher marks than Nodler or Goodman. They agree with her votes nearly 70% of the time, yet like I mentioned earlier, she supports taxpayer-funded abortions. They scored Nodler and Goodman much lower despite having a 100% pro-life voting record.
Oh, but it gets better. On the floor of the Missouri Senate, Senator Bray angered many conservative male law makers by "criticizing the “men” who control the abortion debate for disrespecting women." (Yes, this is an elected official the Missouri Right to Life gives high marks to.)
The following is Bray's speech on the Senate floor:
“After multiple years on this issue, I’m sick of it. I’m totally sick of it.
I’m sick of women being treated like they are so stupid that they can’t make their own decisions regarding their reproductive rights and their bodies.
I’m sick of women having no options, and being coerced to give birth.
I’m sick of a bunch of men around here, year after year after year, piling up restriction after restriction after restriction on women who found themselves in a very unhappy, unpleasant circumstance of an unwanted pregnancy.
Missouri has the most restrictive abortion laws in the country and, as a result, Missouri’s women are put in danger when they finally do ever get to have an abortion — they’re later and they’re tougher abortions to have because there are so many barriers to Missouri women getting to have a safe and legal abortion.
I am sick of the disrespect for women who come to the Capitol defending a woman’s legal right to choose an abortion.
I am sick that they’re being treated dismissively and rudely.
I’m sick of the ethic around here that men are pro-life for their wives and pro-choice for their girlfriends.
I’m sick of the failure to take steps that would, in fact, reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies, through sex education, contraception, family planning and emergency contraception.
No man in this body will ever have an unwanted pregnancy.
But, mark my word, your daughters, your wives, your sisters, your granddaughters, your nieces will.
And your actions here tonight will disrespect and diminish them.”
It turns out, Jack Goodman took the floor after Bray's disgraceful comments.
Goodman called Bray’s remarks “highly offensive” and “slanderous.”
Goodman said Bray had insulted “decent, committed families” and Senate spouses who shoulder the job of being a single parent during the week when the Legislature is in session. (From St. Louis Today)
So, it appears to me one of the endorsements Billy Long is now wearing as a badge of honor comes with much controversy and doesn't seem as pro-life as the name suggests. Both Gary Nodler and Jack Goodman have solid pro-life records, which is far more than a few soundbites on KWTO. You have to remember, these soundbites are scarred based on Billy Long's positive comments towards pro-choice liberal Claire McCaskill and his attacks on pro-life conservative Matt Blunt.
Billy Long is now making the case that Gary Nodler and Jack Goodman aren't pro-life candidates with a mailer that was probably billed out to a Kansas City mailing company tied to a Long strategist with questionable ethics who makes many ashamed of the G.O.P. label. In the ad, Billy Long claims Nodler and Goodman have failed to take a hard line stance on the issue of life, which is entirely not true. Both Senator Nodler and Senator Goodman have a strong pro-life voting records, and they have both fought hard for pro-life issues.
Billy Long believes because he has the endorsement of Missouri Right for Life, a group that calls itself pro-life led by Dave Plemmons, which has a questionable record of rating pro-choice candidates with high marks, that he can get away with nearly labeling Nodler and Goodman as pro-choice. Of course, we aren't going to let Billy Long get away with another lie about his opponents as Billy Long obviously decided to play dirty politics in the final days of the primary.
There needs to be a reminder that Missourians United for Life, a strong pro-life group didn't endorse Billy Long. They endorsed Nodler, Goodman, Michael Wardell, and Mike Moon. Missourians United for also doesn't have the questionable record of rating pro-choice candidates with high marks like Missouri Right to Life. I want to remind Mr. Long, as he distorts the record in a desperate attempt to save a campaign that is laughable at best, about the truth of the matter.
Beware of Missouri Right to Life's Endorsement of Billy Long: MRL Has a Record of High Marks for Pro-Choice Liberals
Billy Long is touting his endorsement from the Missouri Right to Life like it's the new Mel Hancock. Really, in true conservative circles, the endorsement is quite meaningless. The endorsements coming from Missourians United for Life carries much more weight for pro-life voters.
Billy Long represents the big money in politics today. He is a millionaire with the ability to raise a huge campaign war chest, and according to Dave Plemmons from Missouri Right to Life, it may be money that eventually won the endorsement from MRL. Despite Billy Long's frequent praise of Claire McCaskill during his KWTO radio days Plemmons commented on this very blog, "Billy Long is endorsed because he is the only viable candidate (name ID, money, and wide support) that takes a pro-life position, and has for several years."
Yes, he used the money word. We still don't really know what Billy Long did prior to being a Congressional candidate to support pro-life causes. I guess the money is more important than record for Plemmons.
Since we brought up record, it's hard to argue that both Senators Gary Nodler and Jack Goodman have an outstanding record in the Missouri Senate on pro-life issues. Apparently, their political opponents are making the case because they appropriated funds to a state university for a life science building they some how disgraced their pro-life record. That's total nonsense.
A closer look at Missouri Right to Life shows they gave a pro-choice liberal who openly supports taxpayer-funded abortions higher marks than Nodler or Goodman. You would think someone that open about their support for abortion wouldn't receive a high grade at all, but that's not the case with the Missouri Right to Life.
Missouri Right to Life's grade card graded St. Louis state Senator Joan Bray with higher marks than Nodler or Goodman. They agree with her votes nearly 70% of the time, yet like I mentioned earlier, she supports taxpayer-funded abortions. They scored Nodler and Goodman much lower despite having a 100% pro-life voting record.
Oh, but it gets better. On the floor of the Missouri Senate, Senator Bray angered many conservative male law makers by "criticizing the “men” who control the abortion debate for disrespecting women." (Yes, this is an elected official the Missouri Right to Life gives high marks to.)
The following is Bray's speech on the Senate floor:
“After multiple years on this issue, I’m sick of it. I’m totally sick of it.
I’m sick of women being treated like they are so stupid that they can’t make their own decisions regarding their reproductive rights and their bodies.
I’m sick of women having no options, and being coerced to give birth.
I’m sick of a bunch of men around here, year after year after year, piling up restriction after restriction after restriction on women who found themselves in a very unhappy, unpleasant circumstance of an unwanted pregnancy.
Missouri has the most restrictive abortion laws in the country and, as a result, Missouri’s women are put in danger when they finally do ever get to have an abortion — they’re later and they’re tougher abortions to have because there are so many barriers to Missouri women getting to have a safe and legal abortion.
I am sick of the disrespect for women who come to the Capitol defending a woman’s legal right to choose an abortion.
I am sick that they’re being treated dismissively and rudely.
I’m sick of the ethic around here that men are pro-life for their wives and pro-choice for their girlfriends.
I’m sick of the failure to take steps that would, in fact, reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies, through sex education, contraception, family planning and emergency contraception.
No man in this body will ever have an unwanted pregnancy.
But, mark my word, your daughters, your wives, your sisters, your granddaughters, your nieces will.
And your actions here tonight will disrespect and diminish them.”
It turns out, Jack Goodman took the floor after Bray's disgraceful comments.
Goodman called Bray’s remarks “highly offensive” and “slanderous.”
Goodman said Bray had insulted “decent, committed families” and Senate spouses who shoulder the job of being a single parent during the week when the Legislature is in session. (From St. Louis Today)
So, it appears to me one of the endorsements Billy Long is now wearing as a badge of honor comes with much controversy and doesn't seem as pro-life as the name suggests. Both Gary Nodler and Jack Goodman have solid pro-life records, which is far more than a few soundbites on KWTO. You have to remember, these soundbites are scarred based on Billy Long's positive comments towards pro-choice liberal Claire McCaskill and his attacks on pro-life conservative Matt Blunt.
World Poker Tour Professional Billy Long Attacks Jack Goodman With Images of "Downstream"
World Poker Tour Professional and Republican congressional candidate Billy Long should know without any doubt, you can't bring a camera into a casino and begin photographing. Interestingly enough, Billy Long, who claims to be an average guy who lays down $15,000 just to play in a World Poker Tour tournament, is now attacking Jack Goodman with lies and a casino theme.
We all know Billy Long has spent part of the campaign lying about his involvement in the World Poker Tour and high-stakes poker games, and now he's using his love of gambling to attack his opponent with lies.
Long continues his negative attack ads against his Republican challengers, obviously dreaming and possibly mad at the fact that Jack Goodman hasn't dropped out of this race so he could be spending more time at the Downstream Casino. In Long's negative attack are blatant lies. The funniest of the misrepresentations in this ad is simply Billy Long's own campaign manager lobbied for the same money he blames Goodman of voting to pass.
We also know Billy Long has never been a good steward of federal money like he wants you to believe as we know he sought federal money for the Billy Long bus terminal to nowhere at the old Springfield Branson airport terminal. Billy Long's campaign has lied about Long's involvement with the earmark/grant while misrepresenting the $100 million.
Southwest Missouri needs to understand Billy Long's love of gambling and they need to be sure they don't rob Billy of any of his time spent "Downstream" and vote for someone who is actually qualified to be a Congressman on August 4.
We all know Billy Long has spent part of the campaign lying about his involvement in the World Poker Tour and high-stakes poker games, and now he's using his love of gambling to attack his opponent with lies.
Long continues his negative attack ads against his Republican challengers, obviously dreaming and possibly mad at the fact that Jack Goodman hasn't dropped out of this race so he could be spending more time at the Downstream Casino. In Long's negative attack are blatant lies. The funniest of the misrepresentations in this ad is simply Billy Long's own campaign manager lobbied for the same money he blames Goodman of voting to pass.
We also know Billy Long has never been a good steward of federal money like he wants you to believe as we know he sought federal money for the Billy Long bus terminal to nowhere at the old Springfield Branson airport terminal. Billy Long's campaign has lied about Long's involvement with the earmark/grant while misrepresenting the $100 million.
Southwest Missouri needs to understand Billy Long's love of gambling and they need to be sure they don't rob Billy of any of his time spent "Downstream" and vote for someone who is actually qualified to be a Congressman on August 4.
Friday, July 30, 2010
"Billy Long is a Liar": Billy Long's Negative Ad Backfires and Contains at Least Four Lies Against Opponents
Billy Long wants the Republican party to come together on August 4th and back the nominee. Unfortunately for Billy Long, the bridges he has burned this week as he has been reduced to lies against his opponents may make it hard for those same men to support Billy if he is the candidate. Long has weakened the Republican party with his lies, providing he is the candidate, and I don't forsee enthusiastic support for him if he is the nominee after the series of lies Billy Long unleashed this week.
We already know Billy Long's own campaign strategist, James Harris, had his fingers all over the $100 million they have attacked Gary Nodler and Jack Goodman with during this week. Now Gary Nodler is fighting back against the lies.
Gary Nodler issued the following press release addressing the lies in Billy Long's negative ad. To date, Billy Long is the only candidate to go negative in Missouri's Seventh District Republican primary:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact Information:
Brooke Hobbs (417) 818-6874
PRESS RELEASE
During the last few days candidate Billy Long has abandoned both honesty and decency. He is running a totally false attack ad accusing me of two things that are untrue. First he has charged that Americans for Job Security, an organization that is running an ad critical of Long’s vote in favor of a wasteful federal earmark, are my “buddies”. Mr. Long is lying. I have never met anyone from the organization, I have never communicated with anyone from this organization. Long’s claim is a lie, pure and simple.
The second problem with the ad is that it attacks me for voting for $100 million for a single developer. The problem is that the Missouri legislature has never appropriated $100 million for a single developer in the form of an appropriation or in the form of a tax credit; there is no $100 million dollar program that I know of.
The only program that I am aware of involving development is a tax credit for development of property in St. Louis Missouri. That credit does not reach $100 million over its entire multi-year lifetime. It could not possibly be what Mr. Long is referring to, because the lobbyist for that effort is James Harris of the Billy Long campaign.
Billy Long should stop spending the last few days of this campaign lying about his opponents and try to find one good reason for a voter in this district to support him!
For further information contact Gary Nodler at 417-437-5162.
Yes, Senator Nodler, we agree, Billy Long should find one good reason a voter in this district should support him. Every argument he has made in this election of why he should be the next Congressman has been easily defeated from earmarks, which he sought on the Springfield Branson airport board, to being a small businessman, while forgetting, which David Catanese pointed out on the radio yesterday, small businessmen were partially responsible for the bailout mess. One thing Billy Long has proven in this election is he is not a man of character.
Now we are hearing from the western side of the district, Billy Long is lying about Senator Nodler and Senator Jack Goodman's pro-life record. I hate to remind Billy Long, but even the two Democrats waiting to possibly oppose Billy, God forbid if he actually wins, are pro-life.
The Long campaign looks desperate going into the final weekend of the campaign, and it's showing as supporters like Gordon Kinney are throwing more money at Billy in the final hours using the name of his young son. Mr. Kinney, considering Mr. Long's huge advantage with 'OPM' (other peoples' money) which he has obviously mismanaged as he continues to embarrass his supporters, do you really believe it's going to help? Billy Long is on life support. The death rattle has begun.
We already know Billy Long's own campaign strategist, James Harris, had his fingers all over the $100 million they have attacked Gary Nodler and Jack Goodman with during this week. Now Gary Nodler is fighting back against the lies.
Gary Nodler issued the following press release addressing the lies in Billy Long's negative ad. To date, Billy Long is the only candidate to go negative in Missouri's Seventh District Republican primary:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact Information:
Brooke Hobbs (417) 818-6874
PRESS RELEASE
During the last few days candidate Billy Long has abandoned both honesty and decency. He is running a totally false attack ad accusing me of two things that are untrue. First he has charged that Americans for Job Security, an organization that is running an ad critical of Long’s vote in favor of a wasteful federal earmark, are my “buddies”. Mr. Long is lying. I have never met anyone from the organization, I have never communicated with anyone from this organization. Long’s claim is a lie, pure and simple.
The second problem with the ad is that it attacks me for voting for $100 million for a single developer. The problem is that the Missouri legislature has never appropriated $100 million for a single developer in the form of an appropriation or in the form of a tax credit; there is no $100 million dollar program that I know of.
The only program that I am aware of involving development is a tax credit for development of property in St. Louis Missouri. That credit does not reach $100 million over its entire multi-year lifetime. It could not possibly be what Mr. Long is referring to, because the lobbyist for that effort is James Harris of the Billy Long campaign.
Billy Long should stop spending the last few days of this campaign lying about his opponents and try to find one good reason for a voter in this district to support him!
For further information contact Gary Nodler at 417-437-5162.
Yes, Senator Nodler, we agree, Billy Long should find one good reason a voter in this district should support him. Every argument he has made in this election of why he should be the next Congressman has been easily defeated from earmarks, which he sought on the Springfield Branson airport board, to being a small businessman, while forgetting, which David Catanese pointed out on the radio yesterday, small businessmen were partially responsible for the bailout mess. One thing Billy Long has proven in this election is he is not a man of character.
Now we are hearing from the western side of the district, Billy Long is lying about Senator Nodler and Senator Jack Goodman's pro-life record. I hate to remind Billy Long, but even the two Democrats waiting to possibly oppose Billy, God forbid if he actually wins, are pro-life.
The Long campaign looks desperate going into the final weekend of the campaign, and it's showing as supporters like Gordon Kinney are throwing more money at Billy in the final hours using the name of his young son. Mr. Kinney, considering Mr. Long's huge advantage with 'OPM' (other peoples' money) which he has obviously mismanaged as he continues to embarrass his supporters, do you really believe it's going to help? Billy Long is on life support. The death rattle has begun.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Sarah Steelman's Comical Endorsement Letter of Billy Long
As you know, last week Billy Long received another endorsement from an established politician. This time it was Sarah Steelman, which furthers the question, can Billy Long stand on his own two feet if he gets to Washington, or will these established politicians attaching their name to this simpleton control Billy Long. The big career politician producing machine of the Republican party has come out in full force to support Billy Long, the candidate who on the campaign trail curses their very nature. Even today, we find out how Billy Long has looked away from James Harris big spending lobbyist days to bring him on as a key staff member and strategist. The Billy Long on the campaign trail looks much different than the Billy Long who stands in front of Joe Six Pack claiming to be a self-made man who will represent the average guy.
I think it's important we look at Sarah Steelman's rhetoric the Long campaign posted in form of a letter on their Web site.
Dear Friend:
Ronald Reagan said, “They say we offer simple answers to complex problems. Well, perhaps there is a simple answer — not an easy answer — but simple.”
I think it's important we look at Sarah Steelman's rhetoric the Long campaign posted in form of a letter on their Web site.
Dear Friend:
Ronald Reagan said, “They say we offer simple answers to complex problems. Well, perhaps there is a simple answer — not an easy answer — but simple.”
Notice, like Billy Long quickly name drops in his stump speeches, Steelman name drops Ronald Reagan's name immediately. While Reagan's words are admired and I hold them dear to my heart, Billy Long is no Ronald Reagan. With Billy, a simpleton stands before Southwest Missouri, influenced by insiders as we see with today's story of lobbyist and Long strategist James Harris lobbying for $100 million in tax credits for the city of St. Louis.
The truth is we knew who Ronald Reagan is, and he proposed simple answers to complex problems that worked. With Billy Long, he says one thing to the people but behind closed doors, he is everything he claims he isn't. This is why he has run a big money campaign, used a career politician producing machine to get elected, cursed earmarks even though he has sought them in the past for wasteful spending projects, and even cursed other Republicans like Matt Blunt while on the radio for his 2005 Medicaid spending spot. I wonder if Steelman even knows the real Billy Long or if she's just been promised a job or knows she will have great influence over this simple man and political dunce.
Steelman goes on to write:
The country’s total federal debt is at $13.2 trillion and rising. Stop spending. The government is too big. Cut red-tape and needless regulations, spending and programs. There are millions of illegal immigrants streaming into our country. Secure our borders. Our unemployment rate is over 9 percent for the last year. Cut tax rates and let small business invest and expand their own business. Uncertainty in the economy is stifling growth. Quit passing new laws and regulations that include tax and fee increases, mandates for healthcare and who knows what else are in those 5000 page bills ! Simple answers that have eluded Congress. But in less than a week you will have a chance to help change the direction of our Great Country.
If you believe Billy Long has the ability to change this think again. We already know Billy Long is addicted to other peoples' money just by looking at his outrageous campaign spending, which last quarter sent over 75% of his total spending outside of the Seventh District. Steelman talks about jobs, but Billy Long didn't care about Southwest Missouri jobs when he decided to use a Washington, DC, media company to develop his television ads rather than look at local companies like the other candidates did.
What about the $3 million earmark Billy Long sought to build the SGF bus terminal for the old terminal that would soon be closed down? Long has no record of standing up against wasteful government spending. Like I said earlier, he attacked Governor Blunt on KWTO for cutting Missouri Medicaid and eliminating fraud. Long's promises are just rhetoric based on the political temperature of the day, but he has no history of actually standing up against federal spending. Just words. That's all Long has given us. As you know, words are easier than actions.
Steelman continues:
I hope you will consider voting for Billy Long for Congress. The way I see it is we need someone who is not part of the political establishment. We need someone who loves his country and is willing to put his country before himself; before his party; before politics as usual; before special interest groups; before lobbyists; and before his colleagues in Congress. We need someone who will put YOU before money and power and influence.
With all due respect Ms. Steelman, if Billy Long isn't part of the political establishment, would you please explain all his trips to Washington, DC, over the recent months. Do you really want us to believe he went out there to enjoy the grand opening of the "social Safeway?" Then would you also explain to me why Billy Long promised voters he would run a grassroots campaign and then went and hired James Harris and Jeff Roe, who are in the business of building the same career politicians Billy Long curses. Do you have any integrity Ms. Steelman when you try to pass this idea Billy Long isn't a part of the political establishment when all signs point to Billy Long seeking direction from the political establishment?
Ms. Steelman, if you want a candidate who isn't part of the political establishment, then you need to look at Jeff Wisdom, Michael Wardell, or Mike Moon. This idea Billy Long is an outsider, especially now since we see the political cronyism of Jeff Roe's ties in yours and Mike Huckabee's endorsement of Long is laughable at best. By the way Sarah, why should we listen to someone who is part of the political establishment tell us we shouldn't be voting for the political establishment? Obviously, this wouldn't be the case had you decided to run for Roy Blunt's seat.
We need someone who will stand strong and have the courage of his convictions. Who won’t cave into the pressure from special interest groups begging for more taxpayer money or lobbyists needing special exemptions or tax breaks for their clients. We need someone who has the guts to CUT government programs and spending and reduce the debt. We need someone who is willing to consult with the people of the 7th district to find answers and solve problems. I have talked to 6 of the seven candidates running on the republican ticket for Congress in the Seventh Congressional District, and there are several I admire. But I don't think any of the other candidates have shown the independence or the spirit of Billy Long.
Courage Ms. Steelman? You mean courage like hiring a Columbia lobbyist to run his campaign only to attack his opponents with the same $100 million tax credit James Harris sought and influenced state legislators for? Courage would have been telling Harris to go find a new job because he doesn't represent what Billy Long stands for.
Courage would have been not spinning the earmark Billy Long sought and approved to spend while on the airport board. Courage would have been yes, I sought and approved to spend that federal money whether it was an earmark or grant, and I was wrong in doing so and it opened my eyes. Rather, the Long campaign chose to play with words and not call it an earmark but a federal grant despite it being wasteful government spending.
Courage would be engaging me in a Constitutional conversation rather than run off in front of the Gilioz during the Claire McCaskill healthcare town hall meeting last August, and then come begging me to take this site down, even going as far as promising me a job in his campaign if I was to remove this site.
No politician on the ballot is responsible for this site. It was the fact Billy Long ran way from my Constitutional question while he was out slapping stickers on people in front of the Giloz that led to the creation of this site Ms. Steelman. Yet, you claim this man has courage.
Other's have gotten this treatment as well as Long is often the first candidate out the door at forums to avoid the tough questions the voters have this election cycle. Yet, you promise us Long will listen to us if he gets the chance to. At the last Greene County Pachyderm club, Billy Long gave us my dad was a furniture salesman and I flunked out of Mizzou to go to auction school. Long didn't take questions from the Pachyderms, which I hear is customary after you are invited to speak in front of the group. He rushed off the stage.
An attendee went up to ask him a question, and he told the man he wasn't taking question there and that he needed to e-mail him. Why is that Ms. Steelman if Billy Long is truly the man with the simple answers Ronald Reagan was blessed with? Where are the answers coming from?
Billy Long loves our country and I believe he has the courage to stand up to the establishment to pursue those simple but hard answers in order to restore individual freedom. His experience outside of politics will give him a different perspective than the current Congressional vision. The people of the 7th Congressional District represent the Best of America – hardworking, God fearing people who take care of each other; People who understand the blessings of freedom and the power that comes from letting individuals pursue their dreams; People who understand what is at stake in this election. Please consider casting your very important vote for Billy Long for Congress.
Sincerely,
Sarah Steelman
Billy Long loves our country, well Barack Obama says he loves our country to. That's obviously not a reason to get a vote. Billy Long never laced up combat boots like I have and was willing to put his life on the line like Jeff Wisdom, Michael Wardell, and myself as well as thousands of veterans in Southwest Missouri and in our country. While I understand we have an all-volunteer force, that willingness to give your life for country is the greatest sacrifice one can make for their country. In Steelman's letter, it's really meaningless rhetoric. Like I said, how many times have you heard Barack Obama say he loves our country.
Where was Billy Long in recent years standing up against big government? As a tea party member, I never saw Billy Long at the first tea parties in February and April. On KWTO, he often praised Claire McCaskill while attacking Matt Blunt, even when Blunt cut state spending.
There are other candidates far more educated and ready to deal with our nation's issues than Billy Long who also haven't been involved in politics. They offer solutions while Billy Long sits at candidate forums lost, just like when Billy Long didn't have an answer for the question on Afghanistan in Joplin, even though declaring war is a duty of Congress, or Long's clueless response on education in Ozark, which Long had no idea what 'Race to the Top' meant, which is Obama's plan to replace George W. Bush's 'No Child Left Behind."
I just don't understand this fascination with Billy Long as a candidate. He has given the same stump speech adding names like Mel Hancock, Mike Huckabee, and Missouri Right to Life in it over the election cycle, but I just don't hear these solutions you speak of Ms. Steelman. Maybe you could elaborate before your credibility is totally flushed down the drain. As a conservative, I am not impressed with you Ms. Steelman.
Billy Long Campaign Strategist Lobbied for $100 Million Tax Credit Long Attacks Goodman and Nodler For
Dishonest smear campaign may be the words to best describe Billy Long's desperate attempt to run from a $3 million earmark he sought while on the airport board to build the Billy Long bus terminal to nowhere. Yesterday, Long launched the first negative attack ad of the campaign pointing fingers at Gary Nodler and Jack Goodman for voting for a $100 million tax credit to improvements for the inner city of St. Louis.
It turns out, James Harris, a key strategist to the Long campaign, perhaps Billy Long's main man who sent Curtis Trent packing to other duties and ended the grass roots feel of Long's campaign, lobbied state senators like Nodler and Goodman to pass the tax credit. Now, Long's campaign attacks these very men.
Eli Yokely writes in the Politicmo:
Billy Long’s congressional campaign released an ad, attacking his main opponents, Jack Goodman and Gary Nodler, for their votes for a $100 Million tax credit to revitalize inner-city areas in St. Louis.
“[They're] big spenders who oppose eliminating earmarks,” a female narrator says, to the tune of ominious music. She alleges Nodler and Goodman “voted to spend $100 million of your tax dollars on one St. Louis developer.”
The developer, Paul J. McKee Jr., hired four lobbyists to push the proposal that would have given tax credits to developers hoping to revitalize the area of downtown St. Louis. That list of lobbyists included James Harris.
Long’s campaign has paid Harris’ firm over $37,000 since October, 2009, for campaign consulting. The firm has also has produced Long’s campaign ads.
Senator Nodler disagrees with the ad’s depiction of the tax credit. “He’s referring to a land assemblage program for the City of St. Louis which authorizes tax credits for a redevelopment of a certain area. The assumption is it will return revenue to the state when the zone is revived.” He says there is “no appropriation to any individual developer.”
The City of St. Louis later rejected the proposal, after it was passed by the State Legislature and signed by former Governor Matt Blunt.
This is important. Yes it's easy to say but Billy Long had nothing to do with this. You have to understand who Billy Long will turn to to advise him,God forbid Southwest Missouri actually nominate this political dunce to Congress. Billy Long will turn to people like James Harris and Jeff Roe for advice, even possibly hiring them as staff members to work in his office.
Once again in this, we see Billy Long not really addressing the real issue and standing up against big government spending. Long has rewarded Harris with over $37,000 paid for his consulting duties rather than take a stand against Harris and his big spending ways Long says he opposes. Why didn't Long tell Harris directly to your face you are part of the problem in government and, in his best impression of Donald Trump, "Mr. Harris, you're fired."
I will tell you why. Because like the earmark Billy sought when he served on the airport board, Long isn't who he claims he is on the campaign trail, which is why he attacked Matt Blunt for cutting Medicaid spending, uses Obama bundler Nadia Cavner to fund raise, and receives praise in the Daily Kos.
It turns out, James Harris, a key strategist to the Long campaign, perhaps Billy Long's main man who sent Curtis Trent packing to other duties and ended the grass roots feel of Long's campaign, lobbied state senators like Nodler and Goodman to pass the tax credit. Now, Long's campaign attacks these very men.
Eli Yokely writes in the Politicmo:
Billy Long’s congressional campaign released an ad, attacking his main opponents, Jack Goodman and Gary Nodler, for their votes for a $100 Million tax credit to revitalize inner-city areas in St. Louis.
“[They're] big spenders who oppose eliminating earmarks,” a female narrator says, to the tune of ominious music. She alleges Nodler and Goodman “voted to spend $100 million of your tax dollars on one St. Louis developer.”
The developer, Paul J. McKee Jr., hired four lobbyists to push the proposal that would have given tax credits to developers hoping to revitalize the area of downtown St. Louis. That list of lobbyists included James Harris.
Long’s campaign has paid Harris’ firm over $37,000 since October, 2009, for campaign consulting. The firm has also has produced Long’s campaign ads.
Senator Nodler disagrees with the ad’s depiction of the tax credit. “He’s referring to a land assemblage program for the City of St. Louis which authorizes tax credits for a redevelopment of a certain area. The assumption is it will return revenue to the state when the zone is revived.” He says there is “no appropriation to any individual developer.”
The City of St. Louis later rejected the proposal, after it was passed by the State Legislature and signed by former Governor Matt Blunt.
This is important. Yes it's easy to say but Billy Long had nothing to do with this. You have to understand who Billy Long will turn to to advise him,God forbid Southwest Missouri actually nominate this political dunce to Congress. Billy Long will turn to people like James Harris and Jeff Roe for advice, even possibly hiring them as staff members to work in his office.
Once again in this, we see Billy Long not really addressing the real issue and standing up against big government spending. Long has rewarded Harris with over $37,000 paid for his consulting duties rather than take a stand against Harris and his big spending ways Long says he opposes. Why didn't Long tell Harris directly to your face you are part of the problem in government and, in his best impression of Donald Trump, "Mr. Harris, you're fired."
I will tell you why. Because like the earmark Billy sought when he served on the airport board, Long isn't who he claims he is on the campaign trail, which is why he attacked Matt Blunt for cutting Medicaid spending, uses Obama bundler Nadia Cavner to fund raise, and receives praise in the Daily Kos.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Billy Long Goes Negative Attacking Nodler and Goodman After Long's Earmark Hypocrisy Exposed
The Billy Long campaign launches the first negative ad of the campaign in response to a commercial showing Long's hypocritical stand on earmarks. The Long campaign has accused both Nodler, Goodman, and their Washington friends of the ad exposing Billy Long's participation in a $3 million earmark to build the Billy Long bus terminal to nowhere. Here is that ad showing Billy's earmark love:
It appears to me the Billy Long campaign knew Billy Long would be exposed for the earmark fraud he really is. You see, as we know from Billy Long's huge war chest and now this earmark, Billy Long is addicted to OPM--other peoples' money. In less than two days after the ad exposing the truth about Billy Long comes out, the Long campaign goes negative--the first campaign to do so. I expected as much.
Now the Long campaign may accuse Nodler and Goodman of being responsible for the ad exposing the Billy Long earmark that built the Billy Long bus terminal to nowhere, but their campaign has produced no conclusive proof any of these candidates were responsible for this ad, and Long has the nerve of attacking his opponents claiming they are sending out half truths. Notice the ad notifying voters cites the Springfield Business Journal as the source of the earmark, and voting records from the SGF airport board meetings further prover Billy's grubby little fingers were all over this money.
In the ad, Billy Long's campaign attacks both Nodler and Goodman as career politicians. Let's set something straight. Billy Long touts the endorsements of career politicians like Mike Huckabee and Mel Hancock, who both served much longer than Jack Goodman's brief career in Jefferson City. Not only that, but what Billy Long is really attacking in this commercial is their voting records. Isn't it funny Billy Long is trying to draw attention away from his own voting record on the SGF airport board.
Long's campaign may call the earmark commercial a negative ad, but a voting record is a solid piece of evidence of what a politician like Billy Long believes in. If Billy Long voted to seek and use an earmark rather than stand up against the use of that federal money, then the voting record is not a negative attack but a truth voter should know before they put all their trust that Billy Long will go to Washington to fight wasteful spending. According to his resume, Billy Long hasn't done so so far, and that's something voters need to know.
I expect a mailing in the next day or two paid for by the Long campaign with further negative attacks. Look out for it in a mailbox near you.
It appears to me the Billy Long campaign knew Billy Long would be exposed for the earmark fraud he really is. You see, as we know from Billy Long's huge war chest and now this earmark, Billy Long is addicted to OPM--other peoples' money. In less than two days after the ad exposing the truth about Billy Long comes out, the Long campaign goes negative--the first campaign to do so. I expected as much.
Now the Long campaign may accuse Nodler and Goodman of being responsible for the ad exposing the Billy Long earmark that built the Billy Long bus terminal to nowhere, but their campaign has produced no conclusive proof any of these candidates were responsible for this ad, and Long has the nerve of attacking his opponents claiming they are sending out half truths. Notice the ad notifying voters cites the Springfield Business Journal as the source of the earmark, and voting records from the SGF airport board meetings further prover Billy's grubby little fingers were all over this money.
In the ad, Billy Long's campaign attacks both Nodler and Goodman as career politicians. Let's set something straight. Billy Long touts the endorsements of career politicians like Mike Huckabee and Mel Hancock, who both served much longer than Jack Goodman's brief career in Jefferson City. Not only that, but what Billy Long is really attacking in this commercial is their voting records. Isn't it funny Billy Long is trying to draw attention away from his own voting record on the SGF airport board.
Long's campaign may call the earmark commercial a negative ad, but a voting record is a solid piece of evidence of what a politician like Billy Long believes in. If Billy Long voted to seek and use an earmark rather than stand up against the use of that federal money, then the voting record is not a negative attack but a truth voter should know before they put all their trust that Billy Long will go to Washington to fight wasteful spending. According to his resume, Billy Long hasn't done so so far, and that's something voters need to know.
I expect a mailing in the next day or two paid for by the Long campaign with further negative attacks. Look out for it in a mailbox near you.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Billy Long Blames Washington, Goodman, and Nodler for His Own Earmark Mess
Why wasn't Billy Long fed up when he served on the airport board? We now know now Billy Long approved $3 million dollars in federal spending to build a bus terminal at the old Springfield Branson airport terminal that was shut down just a few short years later meaning the bus terminal was basically useless. Now the truth about Billy Long's love of the earmark has been exposed, the Long campaign is quick with the damage control quickly pointing fingers at Gary Nodler and Jack Goodman.
Long spokesman Royce Reding says, “It’s false – [a] negative ad that’s paid for by Jack Goodman and Gary Nodler’s buddies in Washington.” He says, “The ad is false on its face. Billy voted for the lowest bid for the contactor – it wasn’t even an earmark – it wasn't a grant.”
Wait a minute Mr. Reding. If Billy Long has a history of being fed up over wasteful government spending, why didn't Long stand up against taking the money in the first place and send a clear message to Washington that the fiscal security of the nation is more important than a bus terminal at an airport slated to be useless in a few short years? Why didn't Mr. Long go on record and say we don't need your federal money in earmark or grant form to build our bus terminal here in Southwest Missouri. We can build it on our own!
I guess it wasn't advantageous for Long to stand up against it and upset the other members who voted along with Billy Long on the airport board at the time. Now, it is advantageous for Billy Long to say he stands up against earmarks because it's popular. The bottom line is, Billy Long has no backbone.
Let's hope Southwest Missouri doesn't have to watch Billy Long stick his finger to the wind for the next two years and then run from the truth.
Long spokesman Royce Reding says, “It’s false – [a] negative ad that’s paid for by Jack Goodman and Gary Nodler’s buddies in Washington.” He says, “The ad is false on its face. Billy voted for the lowest bid for the contactor – it wasn’t even an earmark – it wasn't a grant.”
Wait a minute Mr. Reding. If Billy Long has a history of being fed up over wasteful government spending, why didn't Long stand up against taking the money in the first place and send a clear message to Washington that the fiscal security of the nation is more important than a bus terminal at an airport slated to be useless in a few short years? Why didn't Mr. Long go on record and say we don't need your federal money in earmark or grant form to build our bus terminal here in Southwest Missouri. We can build it on our own!
I guess it wasn't advantageous for Long to stand up against it and upset the other members who voted along with Billy Long on the airport board at the time. Now, it is advantageous for Billy Long to say he stands up against earmarks because it's popular. The bottom line is, Billy Long has no backbone.
Let's hope Southwest Missouri doesn't have to watch Billy Long stick his finger to the wind for the next two years and then run from the truth.
One Week Left, One More Tournament
Just 7 days away from primary day, the news continues to overflow with surprising events. However, I will be gone again this weekend for the last baseball trip of the year, to the University of Iowa. But I will be back late Sunday and will be able to cover Tuesday's results.
As we near the day of truth, campaigns are planning election night watch parties and setting up last minute yard signs. Some claim they are in the lead or that the momentum has shifted their direction, and still others continue to smear their opponents. But as I have said many times, we have no idea which way the ball will roll on August 3.
There have been so many different people and circumstances that have impacted this primary, it would be impossible to recount them all. It would also be impossible to describe everything I have learned in the past month. While it's been great experience (nearly all of which has been enjoyable), I have also gotten a taste of the pressure that can come from being part of a primary that some have put their livelihood into.
As I earnestly await the results and look at my schedule for this fall and winter, I have decided to shift my focus to my schoolwork and will be taking a break from blogging.
Watch for my election day coverage on Tuesday and my closing comments on Wednesday, August 4.
As we near the day of truth, campaigns are planning election night watch parties and setting up last minute yard signs. Some claim they are in the lead or that the momentum has shifted their direction, and still others continue to smear their opponents. But as I have said many times, we have no idea which way the ball will roll on August 3.
There have been so many different people and circumstances that have impacted this primary, it would be impossible to recount them all. It would also be impossible to describe everything I have learned in the past month. While it's been great experience (nearly all of which has been enjoyable), I have also gotten a taste of the pressure that can come from being part of a primary that some have put their livelihood into.
As I earnestly await the results and look at my schedule for this fall and winter, I have decided to shift my focus to my schoolwork and will be taking a break from blogging.
Watch for my election day coverage on Tuesday and my closing comments on Wednesday, August 4.
The Liberal Daily KOS Defends Billy Long: Anonymous Cowards Who Attack Candidates, That Sounds Like...
The Daily KOS, the infamous liberal blog that attacked Sarah Palin with lies, is defending Billy Long. After it was found out that Billy Long wasn't so fed up with earmarks as he wants you to believe, as Long voted to accept a $3 million earmark while on the SGF airport board to build a bus terminal with plans for the new airport facility not far in the works, the KOS is outraged by anonymous cowards who attack candidates.
This morning we were slapped in the face with a reminder of why so many people have become disenchanted with politics as usual in the United States. The rumors spread over the weekend that an attack ad would be launched today against the presumed Republican front runner, Springfield auctioneer Billy Long, who has propelled into the lead with the help of an anti-Washington approach, punctuated with the catchphrase "I’m fed up."
I saw the ad for the first time and it was everything the rumors indicated it would be- it was low, it was dirty, it was negative, and most of all it was misleading. And, of course, the source of the ad cannot be traced to any of Billy Long's opponents.
It was paid for by Americans for Job Security. Sounds good, doesn't it. What Americans wouldn't be for job security? If Americans who want job security think Billy Long is bad, we must have all been asleep and failed to notice his red horns and tail.
Americans for Job Security was started several years courtesy of a $1 million donation by the American Insurance Association. According to documents filed today with the Federal Election Commission, Americans for Job Security spent $44,100 against Billy Long. That amount will undoubtedly increase between now and August 3.
Billy Long is the front runner and apparently he must be doing something that has the people in Washington, D. C. worried- or there is a candidate the special interests would much prefer to have as Seventh District Congressman. No way of knowing just who those special interests are. They are not required to submit their names to the FEC. They can feel free to hide behind patriotic sounding names like Americans for Job Security and make claims that no one will have the time or the money to refute.
I am laughing at this. This is nothing new in American politics, and it's perfectly legal. The bottom line here is Billy Long isn't as fed up about earmarks as he wants you to believe. Behind his name to accept and begin construction on what has been dubbed the Billy Long bus terminal to nowhere is a yea vote. If Billy Long was so fed up with government spending, why didn't he stand up when he had the opportunity to fight government pork spending and tell Washington he was fed up? I guess Billy Long is addicted to other people's money as well.
I find it even more amusing the KOS ignores a little anonymously run Web site that may have Billy Long's fingerprints, either directly or indirectly on it. The purpose of the site was to launch attacks against Gary Nodler on of all things, earmarks and government spending. The deeper we have gotten into the primary season, the less focus the site placed on Nodler and the more the focus turned on other candidates with the exception of Billy Long. The site has even gone as far as attacking a not so anonymous site explaining why Billy Long would be a disaster in Congress.
This site went to great lengths to remain anonymous, including having the domain registration hidden from public view to where even the mainstream media couldn't figure out who is running it. At least with Americans for Job Security, you can trace who is behind it.
So in the world of politics there is justice. What seems like calculated political moves in the Billy Long camp with anonymous cowards who attack candidates and bloggers have been met by something more successful that draws attention away from the anonymous coward efforts that with each passing day seem more and more coming from the Billy Long camp. This attempt by the Daily KOS to make Billy Long a victim is laughable at best considering the details that have emerged over at the other site.
By the way, can we consider the Daily KOS piece defending Billy Long an endorsement? It sure seems that way.
Ever since I saw cowards, hiding behind the cloak of anonymity, attempting to hijack this election, you can count me as being fed up, too.
Billy Long now endorsed by the same people who brought you the Sarah Palin lies, your friends at the Daily KOS.
This morning we were slapped in the face with a reminder of why so many people have become disenchanted with politics as usual in the United States. The rumors spread over the weekend that an attack ad would be launched today against the presumed Republican front runner, Springfield auctioneer Billy Long, who has propelled into the lead with the help of an anti-Washington approach, punctuated with the catchphrase "I’m fed up."
I saw the ad for the first time and it was everything the rumors indicated it would be- it was low, it was dirty, it was negative, and most of all it was misleading. And, of course, the source of the ad cannot be traced to any of Billy Long's opponents.
It was paid for by Americans for Job Security. Sounds good, doesn't it. What Americans wouldn't be for job security? If Americans who want job security think Billy Long is bad, we must have all been asleep and failed to notice his red horns and tail.
Americans for Job Security was started several years courtesy of a $1 million donation by the American Insurance Association. According to documents filed today with the Federal Election Commission, Americans for Job Security spent $44,100 against Billy Long. That amount will undoubtedly increase between now and August 3.
Billy Long is the front runner and apparently he must be doing something that has the people in Washington, D. C. worried- or there is a candidate the special interests would much prefer to have as Seventh District Congressman. No way of knowing just who those special interests are. They are not required to submit their names to the FEC. They can feel free to hide behind patriotic sounding names like Americans for Job Security and make claims that no one will have the time or the money to refute.
I am laughing at this. This is nothing new in American politics, and it's perfectly legal. The bottom line here is Billy Long isn't as fed up about earmarks as he wants you to believe. Behind his name to accept and begin construction on what has been dubbed the Billy Long bus terminal to nowhere is a yea vote. If Billy Long was so fed up with government spending, why didn't he stand up when he had the opportunity to fight government pork spending and tell Washington he was fed up? I guess Billy Long is addicted to other people's money as well.
I find it even more amusing the KOS ignores a little anonymously run Web site that may have Billy Long's fingerprints, either directly or indirectly on it. The purpose of the site was to launch attacks against Gary Nodler on of all things, earmarks and government spending. The deeper we have gotten into the primary season, the less focus the site placed on Nodler and the more the focus turned on other candidates with the exception of Billy Long. The site has even gone as far as attacking a not so anonymous site explaining why Billy Long would be a disaster in Congress.
This site went to great lengths to remain anonymous, including having the domain registration hidden from public view to where even the mainstream media couldn't figure out who is running it. At least with Americans for Job Security, you can trace who is behind it.
So in the world of politics there is justice. What seems like calculated political moves in the Billy Long camp with anonymous cowards who attack candidates and bloggers have been met by something more successful that draws attention away from the anonymous coward efforts that with each passing day seem more and more coming from the Billy Long camp. This attempt by the Daily KOS to make Billy Long a victim is laughable at best considering the details that have emerged over at the other site.
By the way, can we consider the Daily KOS piece defending Billy Long an endorsement? It sure seems that way.
Ever since I saw cowards, hiding behind the cloak of anonymity, attempting to hijack this election, you can count me as being fed up, too.
Billy Long now endorsed by the same people who brought you the Sarah Palin lies, your friends at the Daily KOS.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Billy Long Not So Fed Up With Earmarks: Long's 100% Earmark Approval Voting Record
Billy Long loves to joke that politicians are addicted to OPM (other peoples' money.) The more we learn about Billy Long, the more we learn Long is addicted to OPM. First it was his wild spending spree in the second quarter that sent over $150,000 outside of Southwest Missouri for campaign expenses.
To add insult to injury, Long looks desperate for money as his campaign manger James Harris made a $2400 donation to the campaign going into the home stretch. Now the most damning news has come out against Billy Long. We have been suggesting it for weeks, and now there is an official campaign commercial citing Billy Long's 100% voting record for earmarks.
Oh you just gotta laugh at Billy Long one more time. The main theme of his campaign has been the battle against earmarks. Billy Long is fed up, but he wasn't very fed up when he served on the Springfield Branson airport board. Just watch...
The Billy Long bus terminal to nowhere--now that's funny stuff. The bus terminal Billy Long voted to spend earmarks on was to the old Springfield Branson terminal, which was closed down a few short years later for the new modern terminal, which truly makes this a bus terminal to nowhere.
Billy Long looks like he is sweating in the video and he should be. His whole campaign appears to crumbling to the sound of a $3 million dollar earmark, and I have heard, Citizens United Against Government Waste cited the bus terminal as a huge waste of money. What makes this even funnier, Billy Long's name appears the the Citizens United Against Government Waste no-earmark pledge. Way to go Billy! Billy Loves having his cake and eating it too. This guy is a career politician in sheep's clothing.
To add insult to injury, Long looks desperate for money as his campaign manger James Harris made a $2400 donation to the campaign going into the home stretch. Now the most damning news has come out against Billy Long. We have been suggesting it for weeks, and now there is an official campaign commercial citing Billy Long's 100% voting record for earmarks.
Oh you just gotta laugh at Billy Long one more time. The main theme of his campaign has been the battle against earmarks. Billy Long is fed up, but he wasn't very fed up when he served on the Springfield Branson airport board. Just watch...
The Billy Long bus terminal to nowhere--now that's funny stuff. The bus terminal Billy Long voted to spend earmarks on was to the old Springfield Branson terminal, which was closed down a few short years later for the new modern terminal, which truly makes this a bus terminal to nowhere.
Billy Long looks like he is sweating in the video and he should be. His whole campaign appears to crumbling to the sound of a $3 million dollar earmark, and I have heard, Citizens United Against Government Waste cited the bus terminal as a huge waste of money. What makes this even funnier, Billy Long's name appears the the Citizens United Against Government Waste no-earmark pledge. Way to go Billy! Billy Loves having his cake and eating it too. This guy is a career politician in sheep's clothing.
Americans For Job Security TV Ad Exposes Billy Long's Broken Earmark Promise
Americans For Job Security at savejobs.org, a conservative organization, has released a new TV commercial exposing Billy Long of breaking his own no-earmark pledge. The broken promise was first reported on this blog just four days ago. Here is the video:
Many times when candidates receive national attention it is a good thing. Not in this case. Billy Long's face will soon be seen across America on this commercial that shows he has already broken a campaign promise. How can we trust a man like that in Washington DC?
Many times when candidates receive national attention it is a good thing. Not in this case. Billy Long's face will soon be seen across America on this commercial that shows he has already broken a campaign promise. How can we trust a man like that in Washington DC?
Poll Puts Icet Ahead of Schweich
From Allen Icet's state auditor campaign website:
"Hard work is paying off.
With just over a week to go before the August 3rd primary elections, a new public opinion poll gives conservative candidate Allen Icet a five percentage point lead in his match-up with Tom Schweich in the Republican race for State Auditor.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch/KMOV-TV survey, conducted July 19-21, puts Allen ahead with 28 percent support among decided voters, compared to 23 percent for Schweich.
Allen is in front despite being outspent by a more than three to one margin during the recently concluded quarterly reporting period. It is through the efforts of grass-roots conservatives who have been working tirelessly on Allen’s behalf that the campaign is overcoming Schweich’s excessive spending.
While we take comfort in the poll results this is no time to rest on our laurels. There is no doubt the Schweich campaign will be buying plenty of radio and television time in the coming week and we must be ready to counter his message.
Keep spreading the word, talking up Allen’s record of accomplishment as House Budget Chair in the General Assembly, and convincing undecided friends and colleagues to back the true fiscal and social conservative in this race. We are entering the homestretch of the primary campaign and victory is within reach."
What this article doesn't mention is that "the survey of 300 likely Republican primary voters was done by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research July 19-21. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 6 percentage points, which means there is a 95 percent probability the results would fall within that range if the entire population were polled."
I understand Mr. Icet is attempting to spread the word that he is in the lead, as any candidate would do. I don't believe it is a wrong thing to do, either. But I must continue to bring reality to this blog by making sure the facts are known.
This is a Republican primary that has really disappointed me. On one hand, we have a candidate that has run a smear campaign in Tom Schweich. On the other hand, we have a candidate who has admitted to filing false reports with the FEC in Allen Icet.
"Hard work is paying off.
With just over a week to go before the August 3rd primary elections, a new public opinion poll gives conservative candidate Allen Icet a five percentage point lead in his match-up with Tom Schweich in the Republican race for State Auditor.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch/KMOV-TV survey, conducted July 19-21, puts Allen ahead with 28 percent support among decided voters, compared to 23 percent for Schweich.
Allen is in front despite being outspent by a more than three to one margin during the recently concluded quarterly reporting period. It is through the efforts of grass-roots conservatives who have been working tirelessly on Allen’s behalf that the campaign is overcoming Schweich’s excessive spending.
While we take comfort in the poll results this is no time to rest on our laurels. There is no doubt the Schweich campaign will be buying plenty of radio and television time in the coming week and we must be ready to counter his message.
Keep spreading the word, talking up Allen’s record of accomplishment as House Budget Chair in the General Assembly, and convincing undecided friends and colleagues to back the true fiscal and social conservative in this race. We are entering the homestretch of the primary campaign and victory is within reach."
What this article doesn't mention is that "the survey of 300 likely Republican primary voters was done by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research July 19-21. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 6 percentage points, which means there is a 95 percent probability the results would fall within that range if the entire population were polled."
I understand Mr. Icet is attempting to spread the word that he is in the lead, as any candidate would do. I don't believe it is a wrong thing to do, either. But I must continue to bring reality to this blog by making sure the facts are known.
This is a Republican primary that has really disappointed me. On one hand, we have a candidate that has run a smear campaign in Tom Schweich. On the other hand, we have a candidate who has admitted to filing false reports with the FEC in Allen Icet.
YouCut: Week 8
"House Republicans have already offered more than $120 billion in common-sense spending reductions, backed by over 1.3 million votes from the American People.
This week's YouCut winner, proposed by Rep. Mac Thornberry of Texas, highlights a particularly egregious example of government waste - taxpayer subsidized "sleeper car" Amtrak service. Right now, people are enjoying first-class travel complete with evening turn-down service, complimentary movies, meals and access to first-class lounges thanks to over $100 million a year in taxpayer subsidies.
Is it really fair to ask taxpayers, many of whom are struggling to pay their own bills, to subsidize these luxuries? We brought this YouCut item to the House floor and forced an up-or-down vote on ending this wasteful spending, so that you could see where your Representatives stood on that question.
The next five cuts are already up on the website - will you vote for cutting the $1 billion in paycheck subsidies under a program where most recipients don't even meet the program's self-defined requirements? Or perhaps you will vote to cut the millions of your tax dollars going to pay for election campaigns in other countries?
Each week, it is your voice that enables the YouCut program to keep the spotlight on wasteful spending - click here to cast your vote on the next five YouCut proposals. Together, we are changing the culture of spending that dominates Washington into a culture of savings."
This week's YouCut winner, proposed by Rep. Mac Thornberry of Texas, highlights a particularly egregious example of government waste - taxpayer subsidized "sleeper car" Amtrak service. Right now, people are enjoying first-class travel complete with evening turn-down service, complimentary movies, meals and access to first-class lounges thanks to over $100 million a year in taxpayer subsidies.
Is it really fair to ask taxpayers, many of whom are struggling to pay their own bills, to subsidize these luxuries? We brought this YouCut item to the House floor and forced an up-or-down vote on ending this wasteful spending, so that you could see where your Representatives stood on that question.
The next five cuts are already up on the website - will you vote for cutting the $1 billion in paycheck subsidies under a program where most recipients don't even meet the program's self-defined requirements? Or perhaps you will vote to cut the millions of your tax dollars going to pay for election campaigns in other countries?
Each week, it is your voice that enables the YouCut program to keep the spotlight on wasteful spending - click here to cast your vote on the next five YouCut proposals. Together, we are changing the culture of spending that dominates Washington into a culture of savings."
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Small Businessman Billy Long Sending Mixed Signals About Free Market Economies in Congressional Race
I wonder if Billy Long would enjoy the federal government telling him who and who he couldn't auction real estate to and setting rules for pre-existing conditions. Recently in the Springfield News-Leader, Billy Long was asked, "did you support the president's health care reform? Why or why not? "
Long answered, "We need real reform, not more government, to solve the health care problem. We should allow for the sale of insurance plans across state borders, make insurance portable from job to job, pass real tort reform, and require that insurance cover pre-existing conditions once again."
Insurance companies will cover pre-existing conditions providing the person with the condition will pay higher premiums to be covered. Obviously, insurance companies know if they insure someone with a condition like diabetes, the long-term costs will be higher than a healthy person. The real problem here is whether or not the person with the pre-existing condition can afford the coverage. To afford coverage, the average person often must make sacrifices--like canceling cable TV and other luxuries. Many times we see stories of people who claim they are suffering with signs of luxuries in their life in the background.
Long takes the liberal view while ignoring the Obama healthcare plan covers pre-existing conditions. He says we don't need more government and then he says we need more government to insure pre-existing conditions are covered. What is it Billy? I am confused. More government or less government? And weren't you one of the first ones complaining with Matt Blunt cutt the Medicaid budget--signaling the need for more government anyway?
I got to thinking about this. What if the government held auctioneers to standards that ensure pre-existing conditions are covered for auctions to even the playing field to those who bring more issues into the auction but still want the hope of walking away with real estate or a bargain.
Let's describe a pre-existing condition that could very well walk into a Billy Long auction and look at some ways the government could level the playing field for the pre-existing condition. The person who hopes to walk away with a house after placing the bid was raised in the inner city and has an equivalent of a seventh grade education. They can only find work in low-paying jobs, and they have some medical problems.
Let's say the government says that auctioneers must cover people with pre-existing conditions that give them a disadvantage in life. For instance, once one of these bidders makes a bid, Long cannot make one dime of commission from the auction to keep costs down for the disadvantaged bidder. He must also accept the bid and close bidding at below a fair market price so the person with the pre-existing condition can benefit. Something tells me Billy Long wouldn't be too happy about it.
Isn't that what Billy Long is saying the insurance companies should be held to with his answer? Of course it is. Long is saying in his answer the free market should be done away with in the health insurance world and the government should force insurers to cover all pre-existing conditions with basic policies despite the added costs to the insurance companies.
I guarantee you Billy Long would be the first one in line complaining if the government forced auctioneers to play by these rules, so why is he promoting this and then claiming he is a friend of business?
Long answered, "We need real reform, not more government, to solve the health care problem. We should allow for the sale of insurance plans across state borders, make insurance portable from job to job, pass real tort reform, and require that insurance cover pre-existing conditions once again."
Insurance companies will cover pre-existing conditions providing the person with the condition will pay higher premiums to be covered. Obviously, insurance companies know if they insure someone with a condition like diabetes, the long-term costs will be higher than a healthy person. The real problem here is whether or not the person with the pre-existing condition can afford the coverage. To afford coverage, the average person often must make sacrifices--like canceling cable TV and other luxuries. Many times we see stories of people who claim they are suffering with signs of luxuries in their life in the background.
Long takes the liberal view while ignoring the Obama healthcare plan covers pre-existing conditions. He says we don't need more government and then he says we need more government to insure pre-existing conditions are covered. What is it Billy? I am confused. More government or less government? And weren't you one of the first ones complaining with Matt Blunt cutt the Medicaid budget--signaling the need for more government anyway?
I got to thinking about this. What if the government held auctioneers to standards that ensure pre-existing conditions are covered for auctions to even the playing field to those who bring more issues into the auction but still want the hope of walking away with real estate or a bargain.
Let's describe a pre-existing condition that could very well walk into a Billy Long auction and look at some ways the government could level the playing field for the pre-existing condition. The person who hopes to walk away with a house after placing the bid was raised in the inner city and has an equivalent of a seventh grade education. They can only find work in low-paying jobs, and they have some medical problems.
Let's say the government says that auctioneers must cover people with pre-existing conditions that give them a disadvantage in life. For instance, once one of these bidders makes a bid, Long cannot make one dime of commission from the auction to keep costs down for the disadvantaged bidder. He must also accept the bid and close bidding at below a fair market price so the person with the pre-existing condition can benefit. Something tells me Billy Long wouldn't be too happy about it.
Isn't that what Billy Long is saying the insurance companies should be held to with his answer? Of course it is. Long is saying in his answer the free market should be done away with in the health insurance world and the government should force insurers to cover all pre-existing conditions with basic policies despite the added costs to the insurance companies.
I guarantee you Billy Long would be the first one in line complaining if the government forced auctioneers to play by these rules, so why is he promoting this and then claiming he is a friend of business?
More Bloggers Questioning Billy Long's Abilities to Lead Southwest Missouri in Congress
Billy Long opened up the door for more questions about his leadership ability and his knowledge of issues when he failed to answer a question about the war in Afghanistan declaring he didn't have a grasp on the issue. I hope Long does know it's the job of Congress to declare war, so he should at least know something about our troops and where they are fighting.
As Billy Long left the last round of big debates before the August primary, more and more people began asking the question. Is Billy Long qualified. More blogs came out examining if Billy Long is truly the best choice in Missouri 7. Many of those bloggers figured it out very quickly. Billy Long doesn't have the knowledge on issues and is not prepared to go to Congress even after more than a year and a half running for the job.
Anson Burlingame writes, Now for our prospective “citizen legislator”, Billy Long. That is the key point of his campaign that I have heard that sets him aside from his main opponents. He calls for term limited business men to represent us in Congress. That is not a bad idea in my mind IF those business men have a deep and abiding knowledge of government both at the levels of principles as well as specifics.
Billy has not shown me such knowledge. I won’t challenge him on his attempt to bring in new blood with an honest attempt to make a difference. But as such “new blood” there are some basic ingredients needed to sustain life, in this case the life of legislation for the good of all Americans, not just businessmen.
I also wonder exactly what political machine is behind Billy and how he got so much money to run the “richest” of the 8 campaigns for this seat. Not challenging him ethically, just wondering. I sent his headquarters an email asking to speak with someone on that and other issues and they have not bothered to get back in touch. Guess Joplin takes a back seat to his more important campaign in Springfield which is a political calculation that is his right to make.
Hey Anson, does it really set him apart considering Mike Moon, Jeff Wisdom, and Michael Wardell have never sat in an elected office either? It's funny that Billy Long's headquarters are keeping hush they are using James Harris and Jeff Roe to run their campaign. Jeff Roe loves to get dirty in races going as far as digging through garbage of political opponents as written many times on the internet. As for the "richest" of the campaign, Billy Long looks more like a career politician not only because of Roe and Harris, but also because he plays the same big money politics Americans are sick of.
In the first couple months of Long is Wrong, I also examined how weak and how contradictory Billy Long's actions have been on helping get a fairer tax system in the United States. Now Straight Up American makes many of the same points only to leave out Long's campaign contributions to candidates who wish to kill the Fair Tax like the Springfield mayor. Here's what Straight Up American writes:
Billy Long seems to be leading the pack of the Republican candidates so I decided to take a look at his position first. Mr. Long seems like a strong candidate in most respects, but unfortunately when it comes to the FairTax his position is a little weak and muddled. In his ads online and in print he indicates that he is in favor of “Fair Tax” (with the space between the two words). There’s a big difference between “Fair Tax” and the FairTax plan. Everyone claims to be in favor of “Fair Tax.” That is not specific support of the FairTax plan. In fact, Mr. Long’s stance on the issue of taxes states, “Billy is open to either a flat tax or a fair tax as a way to fix our tax system.”
This is like saying, “I’d be happy to take more poison or the antidote as a way to recovery.” The tax on income is the fundamental problem, and no amount of tinkering with it is going to fix it. Mr. Long’s openness to a flat tax indicates that he either doesn’t truly understand the problem, or he wants to ride the wave of support for the FairTax into a Congressional office.
I placed a call to the offices of ‘Billy Long for Congress’ to confirm his position on the issue, and was told that although his first choice would be the FairTax he is also open to a flat tax on income because of the difficulty of getting the FairTax passed. I’m sorry, but this is exactly the kind of wishy-washy stance we do not need in Washington.
There is no ‘either, or’ in the issue of tax reform. This Country will crumble under the weight and corruption of the income tax system, and we need representatives that understand that and are eager to fight for a new future. Accepting more of the same just because something is better than nothing isn’t going to cut it any longer. The only solution to our Country’s fiscal woes is to rid ourselves of taxes on income. Anything less is just politics. I wish Mr. Long all the best, but at this point I couldn’t vote for him.
As Billy Long left the last round of big debates before the August primary, more and more people began asking the question. Is Billy Long qualified. More blogs came out examining if Billy Long is truly the best choice in Missouri 7. Many of those bloggers figured it out very quickly. Billy Long doesn't have the knowledge on issues and is not prepared to go to Congress even after more than a year and a half running for the job.
Anson Burlingame writes, Now for our prospective “citizen legislator”, Billy Long. That is the key point of his campaign that I have heard that sets him aside from his main opponents. He calls for term limited business men to represent us in Congress. That is not a bad idea in my mind IF those business men have a deep and abiding knowledge of government both at the levels of principles as well as specifics.
Billy has not shown me such knowledge. I won’t challenge him on his attempt to bring in new blood with an honest attempt to make a difference. But as such “new blood” there are some basic ingredients needed to sustain life, in this case the life of legislation for the good of all Americans, not just businessmen.
I also wonder exactly what political machine is behind Billy and how he got so much money to run the “richest” of the 8 campaigns for this seat. Not challenging him ethically, just wondering. I sent his headquarters an email asking to speak with someone on that and other issues and they have not bothered to get back in touch. Guess Joplin takes a back seat to his more important campaign in Springfield which is a political calculation that is his right to make.
Hey Anson, does it really set him apart considering Mike Moon, Jeff Wisdom, and Michael Wardell have never sat in an elected office either? It's funny that Billy Long's headquarters are keeping hush they are using James Harris and Jeff Roe to run their campaign. Jeff Roe loves to get dirty in races going as far as digging through garbage of political opponents as written many times on the internet. As for the "richest" of the campaign, Billy Long looks more like a career politician not only because of Roe and Harris, but also because he plays the same big money politics Americans are sick of.
In the first couple months of Long is Wrong, I also examined how weak and how contradictory Billy Long's actions have been on helping get a fairer tax system in the United States. Now Straight Up American makes many of the same points only to leave out Long's campaign contributions to candidates who wish to kill the Fair Tax like the Springfield mayor. Here's what Straight Up American writes:
Billy Long seems to be leading the pack of the Republican candidates so I decided to take a look at his position first. Mr. Long seems like a strong candidate in most respects, but unfortunately when it comes to the FairTax his position is a little weak and muddled. In his ads online and in print he indicates that he is in favor of “Fair Tax” (with the space between the two words). There’s a big difference between “Fair Tax” and the FairTax plan. Everyone claims to be in favor of “Fair Tax.” That is not specific support of the FairTax plan. In fact, Mr. Long’s stance on the issue of taxes states, “Billy is open to either a flat tax or a fair tax as a way to fix our tax system.”
This is like saying, “I’d be happy to take more poison or the antidote as a way to recovery.” The tax on income is the fundamental problem, and no amount of tinkering with it is going to fix it. Mr. Long’s openness to a flat tax indicates that he either doesn’t truly understand the problem, or he wants to ride the wave of support for the FairTax into a Congressional office.
I placed a call to the offices of ‘Billy Long for Congress’ to confirm his position on the issue, and was told that although his first choice would be the FairTax he is also open to a flat tax on income because of the difficulty of getting the FairTax passed. I’m sorry, but this is exactly the kind of wishy-washy stance we do not need in Washington.
There is no ‘either, or’ in the issue of tax reform. This Country will crumble under the weight and corruption of the income tax system, and we need representatives that understand that and are eager to fight for a new future. Accepting more of the same just because something is better than nothing isn’t going to cut it any longer. The only solution to our Country’s fiscal woes is to rid ourselves of taxes on income. Anything less is just politics. I wish Mr. Long all the best, but at this point I couldn’t vote for him.
Friday, July 23, 2010
The Media Has Ford All Wrong
Why does it seem the media can't get anything right? Today Ford Motor Company announced it earned $2.6 billion in the second quarter and says it will have more cash than debt by the end of 2011. The media just can't explain how Ford is making a profit in such a deep recession, seeing as how it didn't take any federal emergency aid.
First of all, it is easy to explain why Ford is doing well without government aid. The companies that took aid are now being controlled by Pay Czar Kenneth Feinberg, who just today announced his audit of 17 businesses and will force them to pay back billions in loan from the government.
Second of all, just because Ford didn't take any "federal emergency aid," doesn't mean they didn't receive aid at all. For example, you, the Missouri taxpayer, gave Ford $15 million over the next ten years to keep its Claycomo production line open. Unluckily, Missouri Republican lawmakers wouldn't stand up to block the measure (with the exceptions of Purgason, Goodman, and Bartle, who worked courageously).
So why is it that the media hides these facts? Instead of reporting that the free market is doing better than the businesses that received government aid, they could be reporting that because of the aid received in Missouri, Ford has posted massive gains. It all comes back to one reason: the state-controlled media is even unable to make a point that would support their own agenda.
First of all, it is easy to explain why Ford is doing well without government aid. The companies that took aid are now being controlled by Pay Czar Kenneth Feinberg, who just today announced his audit of 17 businesses and will force them to pay back billions in loan from the government.
Second of all, just because Ford didn't take any "federal emergency aid," doesn't mean they didn't receive aid at all. For example, you, the Missouri taxpayer, gave Ford $15 million over the next ten years to keep its Claycomo production line open. Unluckily, Missouri Republican lawmakers wouldn't stand up to block the measure (with the exceptions of Purgason, Goodman, and Bartle, who worked courageously).
So why is it that the media hides these facts? Instead of reporting that the free market is doing better than the businesses that received government aid, they could be reporting that because of the aid received in Missouri, Ford has posted massive gains. It all comes back to one reason: the state-controlled media is even unable to make a point that would support their own agenda.
Missouri's Challenge to Obamacare
Written by: Bryan Ridenour
Last Summer, Tea Parties sprang up nationwide, warning Americans about the impending government healthcare takeover. Citizens from “sea to shining sea” rallied, expressing outrage over Obamacare. For months, Congressmen debated the policies’ pros and cons, and after political arm-twisting and clandestine backroom deals, Congress rammed through a healthcare behemoth despised by a majority of the American people. So much for the consent of the governed.
Every night now, for weeks, network news agencies have steered clear of the Obamacare debacle, their broadcasts focusing primarily on the Gulf oil spill. When the environmental nightmare reared its ugly head, it’s probable that supporters of the President’s health initiative collectively breathed a sigh of relief, hoping the Country’s attention and outrage against government run healthcare might be swept under the proverbial rug. Most news sources conveniently ignore the fact that several state agencies stand ready to fight the President’s health plan. Soon, voters in Missouri intend to reveal to the White House Administration their true feelings on the new healthcare reforms.
On August 3rd, Missouri voters go to the polls to cast ballots on Proposition C, also known as the “Health Care Freedom Act." ... To read more, click here.
Last Summer, Tea Parties sprang up nationwide, warning Americans about the impending government healthcare takeover. Citizens from “sea to shining sea” rallied, expressing outrage over Obamacare. For months, Congressmen debated the policies’ pros and cons, and after political arm-twisting and clandestine backroom deals, Congress rammed through a healthcare behemoth despised by a majority of the American people. So much for the consent of the governed.
Every night now, for weeks, network news agencies have steered clear of the Obamacare debacle, their broadcasts focusing primarily on the Gulf oil spill. When the environmental nightmare reared its ugly head, it’s probable that supporters of the President’s health initiative collectively breathed a sigh of relief, hoping the Country’s attention and outrage against government run healthcare might be swept under the proverbial rug. Most news sources conveniently ignore the fact that several state agencies stand ready to fight the President’s health plan. Soon, voters in Missouri intend to reveal to the White House Administration their true feelings on the new healthcare reforms.
On August 3rd, Missouri voters go to the polls to cast ballots on Proposition C, also known as the “Health Care Freedom Act." ... To read more, click here.
August Sales Tax Holiday
This August 6 through 8 we will be blessed by the government with a sales tax holiday, on certain items, of course. School supplies, clothing, and computers are featured in the holiday and you will not be charged with a state sales tax between the days mentioned above.
The cities and counties throughout Missouri have the option not to participate in the holiday. If they choose to give you a break for those few days, then you could save up to 9% on your purchases. Visit the Department of Revenue's website here to see which cities opted out of the holiday.
Every year we have this holiday it makes me wonder. If I were considering buying any of the items on this list, I would wait until the holiday and then stock up. I believe that enough people would do that, too that would allow the Department of Revenue to actually make a profit. This is simple supply-side economics on display for all to see. The less businesses have to pay, the less they charge you. The less they charge you, the more you buy and the more the government makes. Everyone ends up better off than before.
If we had taken half of the bailout or stimulus money and INVESTED (contrary to popular belief, you do not pay for tax cuts, you invest in them) it in tax cuts, we would have allowed businesses to create double the amount of jobs our all-knowing government did.
The cities and counties throughout Missouri have the option not to participate in the holiday. If they choose to give you a break for those few days, then you could save up to 9% on your purchases. Visit the Department of Revenue's website here to see which cities opted out of the holiday.
Every year we have this holiday it makes me wonder. If I were considering buying any of the items on this list, I would wait until the holiday and then stock up. I believe that enough people would do that, too that would allow the Department of Revenue to actually make a profit. This is simple supply-side economics on display for all to see. The less businesses have to pay, the less they charge you. The less they charge you, the more you buy and the more the government makes. Everyone ends up better off than before.
If we had taken half of the bailout or stimulus money and INVESTED (contrary to popular belief, you do not pay for tax cuts, you invest in them) it in tax cuts, we would have allowed businesses to create double the amount of jobs our all-knowing government did.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Long Broke No Earmark Pledge
Billy Long enjoys joking that politicians are addicted to spending other people's money. That joke comes from a candidate that has spent over $100,000 outside the district on his campaign. If that's not enough to turn you away, I have received reports that say Billy Long broke his no earmark pledge.
I don't agree with no earmark pledges, but I do not like it when candidates go back on their word. These reports show that Long voted in favor of receiving an earmark while he was on the board of the Springfield Branson airport. The funding that he supported was an earmark to start construction on the bus terminal at the airport. Maybe he doesn't mind spending other people's money, just like the politicians he claims to despise.
With Long's history of gambling large sums of money and now the evidence here that says he voted for an earmark, I must question his sincereness in each of his other stances on the issues. How do we know that he is sincere in any of his opinions that he has displayed?
If the voters of Missouri's Seventh District elect Long this August and in November, how do we know that he will stay true to his word? Because evidence has been piling up for a while now that shows Long doesn't always do as he says he will.
I don't agree with no earmark pledges, but I do not like it when candidates go back on their word. These reports show that Long voted in favor of receiving an earmark while he was on the board of the Springfield Branson airport. The funding that he supported was an earmark to start construction on the bus terminal at the airport. Maybe he doesn't mind spending other people's money, just like the politicians he claims to despise.
With Long's history of gambling large sums of money and now the evidence here that says he voted for an earmark, I must question his sincereness in each of his other stances on the issues. How do we know that he is sincere in any of his opinions that he has displayed?
If the voters of Missouri's Seventh District elect Long this August and in November, how do we know that he will stay true to his word? Because evidence has been piling up for a while now that shows Long doesn't always do as he says he will.
While Fun, Polls are Unreliable
This is a point I've been making my entire career (almost a year!). There is a poll being run on newstalkkzrg.com asking who you would vote for in MO7 right now. While this kind of poll is all good and fun, I refuse to put much validity into it.
Polls that are run unscientifically or by the candidates themselves are unreliable. A perfect example is the wide variety of polls that have been run in this primary. Depending on who runs the polls and how, determines the leaders.
Another aspect that needs to be added to this article is the way candidates try to use polls to their advantage. They think that if enough voters see they are in the lead or are near the top, they will vote for the hopeful winner.
What isn't taken into account in such polls, is the uninformed vote that continues to tell me it ain't over 'til it's over. Even with multiple blogs covering this race as closely as possible, there are a multitude of people out there that have never read any of the opinions posted on the Internet.
In fact, if I was a voter and had only seen what the News-Leader and the local TV stations have covered, my vote may very well go towards the wrong candidate.
But in the meantime, go to newstalkkzrg.com and vote!
Polls that are run unscientifically or by the candidates themselves are unreliable. A perfect example is the wide variety of polls that have been run in this primary. Depending on who runs the polls and how, determines the leaders.
Another aspect that needs to be added to this article is the way candidates try to use polls to their advantage. They think that if enough voters see they are in the lead or are near the top, they will vote for the hopeful winner.
What isn't taken into account in such polls, is the uninformed vote that continues to tell me it ain't over 'til it's over. Even with multiple blogs covering this race as closely as possible, there are a multitude of people out there that have never read any of the opinions posted on the Internet.
In fact, if I was a voter and had only seen what the News-Leader and the local TV stations have covered, my vote may very well go towards the wrong candidate.
But in the meantime, go to newstalkkzrg.com and vote!
Steelman Endorses Long, More Political Favors
Former KY3 reporter Dave Catanese announced on Twitter yesterday that Sarah Steelman is breaking her silence in the Seventh District Republican primary, by endorsing Billy Long. Here is the Tweet:
davecatanese "At a fundraiser tonight @Sarah_Steelman breaks anti-endorsement streak to endorse @auctnr1 Billy Long in the #MO7th. about 2 hours ago via UberTwitter"
Many points are to be made on this announcement. First, you need to know that the same man that got Mike Huckabee's endorsement for Long, has done work for Steelman in the past. That is any easy connection to make, as it is obvious that Steelman will gain from a favor for Roe.
Steelman may also believe that being connected to Billy Long will help her down the road. If Long wins the nomination and the race, he would have the ability to help Steelman in 2012 in whichever race she chooses to run in. Despite growing opposition, there is still a chance that the uninformed vote will go towards Long. If enough of the uninformed voters go for name recognition, watch out! Because I don't think enough people have heard of the "Long" list of reasons not to vote for him.
With only 12 days until primary day, the hard work so many have done to educate the voters, will be put to the test.
davecatanese "At a fundraiser tonight @Sarah_Steelman breaks anti-endorsement streak to endorse @auctnr1 Billy Long in the #MO7th. about 2 hours ago via UberTwitter"
Many points are to be made on this announcement. First, you need to know that the same man that got Mike Huckabee's endorsement for Long, has done work for Steelman in the past. That is any easy connection to make, as it is obvious that Steelman will gain from a favor for Roe.
Steelman may also believe that being connected to Billy Long will help her down the road. If Long wins the nomination and the race, he would have the ability to help Steelman in 2012 in whichever race she chooses to run in. Despite growing opposition, there is still a chance that the uninformed vote will go towards Long. If enough of the uninformed voters go for name recognition, watch out! Because I don't think enough people have heard of the "Long" list of reasons not to vote for him.
With only 12 days until primary day, the hard work so many have done to educate the voters, will be put to the test.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Best TV Campaign Ad?
Here are the TV ads from Missouri's 7th Congressional District primary, U.S. Senate primary, and the State Auditor primary. Which is your favorite or least favorite? Did any change your opinion of a candidate?
Billy Long - Fed Up
Gary Nodler - Control Spending
Jack Goodman - Words From The Past
Jeff Wisdom - Released This Morning
Allen Icet - Joe The Plumber
Tom Schweich - Front Line Ad
Chuck Purgason - Spending
Roy Blunt - Robin Carnahan
Billy Long - Fed Up
Gary Nodler - Control Spending
Jack Goodman - Words From The Past
Jeff Wisdom - Released This Morning
Allen Icet - Joe The Plumber
Tom Schweich - Front Line Ad
Chuck Purgason - Spending
Roy Blunt - Robin Carnahan
Beware of Confusing Language in Proposition C
Today, I heard a local talk radio show host discussing the August 3 ballot item entitled Proposition C. He said that he had just heard about the proposal two weeks before and had no idea what it was. It then struck me: Way too many people have no clue what "Propostion C" means.
So, for those of you who don't know, here's my shot simply explaining it . When President Obama and the Democrats in Congress passed the health care takeover, they mandated that every American citizen buy health insurance or face a fine (it will fade in). On August 3, voters from across Missouri will have the chance to exempt ourselves from this mandate.
But, it's not quite that easy. Leave it to the government to complicate things! We finally have the chance to reach a great accomplishment, but they had to make the ballot language complicated.
Here is the explanation on Secretary of State Robin Carnahan's website:
"The following ballot measure has been certified for the August 3, 2010 election.
Official Ballot TitleProposition C
[Full text]
[Proposed by the 95th General Assembly (Second Regular Session) SS SCS HCS HB 1764]
Official Ballot Title:
Shall the Missouri Statutes be amended to:
Deny the government authority to penalize citizens for refusing to purchase private health insurance or infringe upon the right to offer or accept direct payment for lawful healthcare services?
Modify laws regarding the liquidation of certain domestic insurance companies?
It is estimated this proposal will have no immediate costs or savings to state or local governmental entities. However, because of the uncertain interaction of the proposal with implementation of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, future costs to state governmental entities are unknown.
Fair Ballot Language:
A "yes" vote will amend Missouri law to deny the government authority to penalize citizens for refusing to purchase private health insurance or infringe upon the right to offer or accept direct payment for lawful healthcare services. The amendment will also modify laws regarding the liquidation of certain domestic insurance companies.
A "no" vote will not change the current Missouri law regarding private health insurance, lawful healthcare services, and the liquidation of certain domestic insurance companies.
If passed, this measure will have no impact on taxes."
Simply stated, you should vote YES for Proposition C on August 3rd in order to secure your right to choose whether you have health insurance or not.
So, for those of you who don't know, here's my shot simply explaining it . When President Obama and the Democrats in Congress passed the health care takeover, they mandated that every American citizen buy health insurance or face a fine (it will fade in). On August 3, voters from across Missouri will have the chance to exempt ourselves from this mandate.
But, it's not quite that easy. Leave it to the government to complicate things! We finally have the chance to reach a great accomplishment, but they had to make the ballot language complicated.
Here is the explanation on Secretary of State Robin Carnahan's website:
"The following ballot measure has been certified for the August 3, 2010 election.
Official Ballot TitleProposition C
[Full text]
[Proposed by the 95th General Assembly (Second Regular Session) SS SCS HCS HB 1764]
Official Ballot Title:
Shall the Missouri Statutes be amended to:
Deny the government authority to penalize citizens for refusing to purchase private health insurance or infringe upon the right to offer or accept direct payment for lawful healthcare services?
Modify laws regarding the liquidation of certain domestic insurance companies?
It is estimated this proposal will have no immediate costs or savings to state or local governmental entities. However, because of the uncertain interaction of the proposal with implementation of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, future costs to state governmental entities are unknown.
Fair Ballot Language:
A "yes" vote will amend Missouri law to deny the government authority to penalize citizens for refusing to purchase private health insurance or infringe upon the right to offer or accept direct payment for lawful healthcare services. The amendment will also modify laws regarding the liquidation of certain domestic insurance companies.
A "no" vote will not change the current Missouri law regarding private health insurance, lawful healthcare services, and the liquidation of certain domestic insurance companies.
If passed, this measure will have no impact on taxes."
Simply stated, you should vote YES for Proposition C on August 3rd in order to secure your right to choose whether you have health insurance or not.
Utility Only Bill Still Must Be Stopped
Democrat Senator Jeff Bingaman from New Mexico is quietly escalating his version of Cap and Trade. His proposal is what they call a"utility only" bill. It would only cap one source of emissions: power plants. Before you congratulate Congressmen for blocking Cap and Trade, the proposal from Bingaman will be equally as devastating to our economy.
Energy costs would rise, costing customers between an estimated $36 billion and $64 billion and countless jobs would be in jeopardy due to rising overhead costs. The utility-only bill has already passed the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.
America's Power released a new TV commercial yesterday, warning viewers of the new proposal:
There are many ways that ordinary people can become involved in politics. You can start a blog and become hated by many politicians (like me), or you can simply pick up your phone. A very easy way that you can become involved and make a difference right now, is by calling your local Representative and Senator to express your concern over this new job-killing bill.
Energy costs would rise, costing customers between an estimated $36 billion and $64 billion and countless jobs would be in jeopardy due to rising overhead costs. The utility-only bill has already passed the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.
America's Power released a new TV commercial yesterday, warning viewers of the new proposal:
There are many ways that ordinary people can become involved in politics. You can start a blog and become hated by many politicians (like me), or you can simply pick up your phone. A very easy way that you can become involved and make a difference right now, is by calling your local Representative and Senator to express your concern over this new job-killing bill.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Kagan Addition to Historic, Athletic, and Inexperienced Administration
The Senate Judiciary Committee confirmed Supreme Court Nominee Elena Kagan today by a vote of 13-6. Only one Republican crossed the aisle to support Kagan, South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham(nesty).
"No one spent more time trying to beat President Obama than I did, except maybe Senator McCain," Graham said, in explaining his decision. "But I understood we lost. President Obama won and I've got a lot of opportunity to disagree with him. But the Constitution in my view puts a requirement on me as a senator to not replace my judgment for his, not to think of the 100 reasons I would pick somebody differently, or pick a fight with Miss Kagan. It puts upon me a standard that stood the test of time, is the person qualified? Is it a person of good character? Are they someone that understands the difference between being a judge and a politician? And, quite frankly, I think she's passed all those tests."
If confirmed by the Senate as expected in August, Kagan will become the newest addition to a very historic administration. The Supreme Court will have four of nine Democrat-appointed justices for the first time since 1971. In addition, three of the justices will be women, none of which are Protestant.
Now I could go on to talk about Ms. Kagan's shady view of the military and her dangerous pro- late abortion stances. But I think that there is only one real point that needs to be made: She has never been a judge before. Here we have a far-left nominee that has no experience and we are promoting her to the highest court in the land?
Not only will Kagan be an addition to a very historic and athletic (she enjoys softball)administration, she will fit in very well when it comes to experience.
"No one spent more time trying to beat President Obama than I did, except maybe Senator McCain," Graham said, in explaining his decision. "But I understood we lost. President Obama won and I've got a lot of opportunity to disagree with him. But the Constitution in my view puts a requirement on me as a senator to not replace my judgment for his, not to think of the 100 reasons I would pick somebody differently, or pick a fight with Miss Kagan. It puts upon me a standard that stood the test of time, is the person qualified? Is it a person of good character? Are they someone that understands the difference between being a judge and a politician? And, quite frankly, I think she's passed all those tests."
If confirmed by the Senate as expected in August, Kagan will become the newest addition to a very historic administration. The Supreme Court will have four of nine Democrat-appointed justices for the first time since 1971. In addition, three of the justices will be women, none of which are Protestant.
Now I could go on to talk about Ms. Kagan's shady view of the military and her dangerous pro- late abortion stances. But I think that there is only one real point that needs to be made: She has never been a judge before. Here we have a far-left nominee that has no experience and we are promoting her to the highest court in the land?
Not only will Kagan be an addition to a very historic and athletic (she enjoys softball)administration, she will fit in very well when it comes to experience.
Financial Reform Becomes Law
This week President Obama is expected to sign the financial reform package passed by Congress last week. I have done my best to warn you of the dangers of such a bill, but Senate Republicans Scott Brown, Olypmia Snowe, and Susan Collins didn't help, as they each voted for the measure that gives the Treasury Department the ability to take over any business "deemed to pose a risk to the entire system."
What does this mean? It means that Secretary of the Treasury Timothy Geithner can take over any business he wants. That's right! The same guy that cheated the government out of $36,000. The same man that didn't pay his due taxes back when he discovered his "mistake." He waited until he became President Obama's nominee for the Secretary of the Treasury.
Republicans have already expressed their intentions to repeal and replace the finance reform. This is a disastrous bill that I believe is worse than health care reform, but much less-known. Repeal and replace must happen, but just as health care, it will be at least 2012 until it is accomplished.
What does this mean? It means that Secretary of the Treasury Timothy Geithner can take over any business he wants. That's right! The same guy that cheated the government out of $36,000. The same man that didn't pay his due taxes back when he discovered his "mistake." He waited until he became President Obama's nominee for the Secretary of the Treasury.
Republicans have already expressed their intentions to repeal and replace the finance reform. This is a disastrous bill that I believe is worse than health care reform, but much less-known. Repeal and replace must happen, but just as health care, it will be at least 2012 until it is accomplished.
In-Depth Look at WH Response to Oil Spill
Foxnews.com has piled up an in-depth look at the White House's response to the Gulf Oil Spill Disaster. Below is a brief look at the article, along with the link to the rest:
"The Obama administration claims it has been on top of the Gulf oil spill disaster since "day one." Here's a look at what the president and administration have been doing every day since the Deepwater Horizon rig exploded April 20, triggering the massive spill. The following daily updates are based on a review of White House schedules, news releases and news coverage and do not cover every activity in the Gulf or in Washington:
July 19
In the Gulf: After detecting possible seepage near the blown-out well on the Gulf floor, the federal government on Monday allowed BP to keep its new well cap in place for another day. Retired Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen said the firm is monitoring for any new leaks at the site.
At the White House:
President Obama, in a morning statement to the press, urged Senate Republicans to support a jobless benefits extension coming up for a vote. He later was hosting the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury in honor of the team's 2009 championship.
July 18
In the Gulf: BP said it wants to keep using a new well cap to prevent any more oil from leaking into the Gulf of Mexico. However, administration pointman Thad Allen said the day before that the plan was to use the cap to continue pumping oil to the surface after testing is complete. Allen will make the final call.
At the White House: The Obama family returned to Washington after their vacation in Bar Harbor, Maine.
July 17
In the Gulf: Engineers kept vigil Saturday over the massive cap holding back oil from BP's busted Gulf well, their eyes glued to monitors in a faraway control room that displayed pressure readings, temperature gauges and underwater images. Their round-the-clock work deciphering a puzzle of data from undersea robots and instruments at the wellhead is helping BP and the government determine whether the cap is holding tight as the end of a critical 48-hour testing window approaches. Signs so far have been promising but inconclusive.
At the White House: President Obama is on a family vacation in Maine."
Read more: click here.
"The Obama administration claims it has been on top of the Gulf oil spill disaster since "day one." Here's a look at what the president and administration have been doing every day since the Deepwater Horizon rig exploded April 20, triggering the massive spill. The following daily updates are based on a review of White House schedules, news releases and news coverage and do not cover every activity in the Gulf or in Washington:
July 19
In the Gulf: After detecting possible seepage near the blown-out well on the Gulf floor, the federal government on Monday allowed BP to keep its new well cap in place for another day. Retired Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen said the firm is monitoring for any new leaks at the site.
At the White House:
President Obama, in a morning statement to the press, urged Senate Republicans to support a jobless benefits extension coming up for a vote. He later was hosting the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury in honor of the team's 2009 championship.
July 18
In the Gulf: BP said it wants to keep using a new well cap to prevent any more oil from leaking into the Gulf of Mexico. However, administration pointman Thad Allen said the day before that the plan was to use the cap to continue pumping oil to the surface after testing is complete. Allen will make the final call.
At the White House: The Obama family returned to Washington after their vacation in Bar Harbor, Maine.
July 17
In the Gulf: Engineers kept vigil Saturday over the massive cap holding back oil from BP's busted Gulf well, their eyes glued to monitors in a faraway control room that displayed pressure readings, temperature gauges and underwater images. Their round-the-clock work deciphering a puzzle of data from undersea robots and instruments at the wellhead is helping BP and the government determine whether the cap is holding tight as the end of a critical 48-hour testing window approaches. Signs so far have been promising but inconclusive.
At the White House: President Obama is on a family vacation in Maine."
Read more: click here.
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