The fight didn’t stop yesterday. Take it to the state capitals


Last night was an epic victory for conservatives and Republicans. We pushed back against the arrogant, over-spending Congressional Democrats and, by proxy, President Barack Obama. Much of the commentary has talked about the coming gridlock in Washington. For example, The Economist has described “two years of nothing.” But that’s not true. Even if there is little agreement on jobs and other policies, Congress and state governments will have to pass budgets and spending bills.  That provides us an opening to continue to channel our activism, especially at the state level to have profound impact in actually reducing the size of government.

But first, let’s talk about the scope of the victory last night in the state capitals. This afternoon I spoke with GOPAC Chairman Frank Donatelli about the scope of our victories. Republicans picked up 23 chambers of state legislatures and the most Republican state legislators since 1928. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, Republicans now control both houses of the state legislature in 25 states. Many of these states are in fiscal crisis. Obama and Congressional Democrats bailed out the states — and their public employee unions — twice. And much of that money was turned around and spent attacking Republicans. Recall that the Wall Street Journal found that AFSCME — the largest public employee union — was the largest spender of the cycle.

But bailouts from Washington should not happen again. House Republicans can stop it from even coming to the floor. We have to continue pressure to make that happen, but we can and will win that fight. The next step is the states. With Republican control of so many state legislatures, we can now force states to reform and their services while cutting government employees. Mitch Daniels did it in Indiana, and with both chambers of the state legislature, they are likely to do more. If our new conservative leaders do this, we can get better service, smaller government, and less union money fighting for more spending in the future. That’s a virtuous circle.

So here’s what we have to do. We have to continue to be involved at the local level. We have to find out what is happening in our state legislatures. And we have to find out who is spending the money and who wants to raise taxes. And we have to fight back and stop them. The next nine months will be critical in wounding Leviathan. If we do, the unions will have less money to spend in 2012 when we defeat Barack Obama.


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. . . and your local party structures.

scorpio0679 (Diary) Wednesday, November 3rd at 6:04PM EST (link)

Remember, it is redistricting time. In Florida, with the passage of amendments 4 and 5, things are liable to get very interesting, very quickly.

Run for precinct committeeman in your local county party, keep them accountable! Now is the time to STAY TUNED IN. That way, they will know we are serious.

 

A great day for conservatives, but that was yesterday.

Dr. Botkin Wednesday, November 3rd at 7:42PM EST (link)

Today the ringmasters at the un-audited Fed announced QE2, a disastrous 600 billion dollar treasury buying spee that few of the blogs and probably none of the talk shows have been in an uproar about, The dollar is in danger of losing 20% of its value, IF THE SCHEME is successful. But I guess everybody is too busy rehashing yesterday to pay any attention to the potential collapse of the dollar because of what happened today.

 

Our new friends in the state legislatures need to be

The_Rebel (Diary) Wednesday, November 3rd at 8:35PM EST (link)

aware that a small army of NPR journalists will be fanning out to spread their biased lefty messages about what we will be doing to cut the costs of state government and their bloated budgets and pension plans. All thanks to one of Soros’ front groups and its grant of almost $2 million to NPR:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/18/business/media/18npr.html?_r=1&src=busln

That NYT article never even mentioned Soros by name. It’s all part of the stealth attack they have planned. We have to fight back at these people, too, and stop them. We can start by passing legislation in the House that defunds not only NPR, but also PBS.

 

Might I add...

conservativemountaineer Wednesday, November 3rd at 8:45PM EST (link)

We need to keep the pressure on our ‘safe’ Representatives, such as mine.. Tim Murphy R-18, PA. Tim is one of the good guys who won 66%-33%. However, he has (supposedly) flirted a little bit with Card Check.

As for State Reps and Senators, again, I’m represented by 2 very strong Republicans (Mustio & Pippy, respectively)… Pippy met with us, the Republican Committee of our Township. He was asked some really difficult questions.. hopefully, he gets it.

BTW, I became politically active for the first time in the 38 years I’ve been eligible to vote by joining our Republican Committee. I’m going to try to find a way to get on the Allegheny County Committee and, hopefully, be a delegate.

Just because the cloud has a silver lining doesn’t mean it’s not going to rain.

 

Is It Time?

michigan Wednesday, November 3rd at 8:58PM EST (link)

In this very blue state, last night both houses of the Michigan Legislature and the Governorship went GOP. We have a supermajority in the Senate as well. Perhaps the first piece of legislation should be making Michigan a “Right to work” State. Some of us are starting a write your legislator campaign.

That is an excellent idea

izoneguy (Diary) Wednesday, November 3rd at 9:00PM EST (link)

A similiar push should get underway in any red state that does not have “Right to work” laws. Dilute the power of the unions and you dilute the power of democrats.

15 million unemployed workers would probably help in that effort.

The point cannot be made often enough: Modern liberalism, as embodied in the Obama presidency, is the defender of the status quo. And the status quo is a road to economic ruin. Political forces cannot redistribute the wealth that the economic system does not produce.

 

Just sent to my friend and new MI State Senator Dave Robertson....

audax (Diary) Wednesday, November 3rd at 11:00PM EST (link)

….asked that it be his first bill!

Audeamus pro audere est facere

 
 

You're spot on, Soren!

flamerock Thursday, November 4th at 5:46AM EST (link)

On 10 November 1942, Winston Churchill spoke at a Lord Mayor’s luncheon in London. His words referred to the panicked retreat of Rommel’s Afrika Korps after their mauling at El Alamein, but they speak to we conservatives today:

“Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. but it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.”

Take it to the several states – We, America’s owners, have spoken and we will this time be listened to and obeyed. Take the word to the lame ducks who will convene in D.C. in a couple weeks – do NOTHING outside the bare minimum (extending the 2001/2002 tax cuts for at least 3 years, passing yet another continuing resolution running through, say May 2011, so that the adults of the 112th Congress can have time to clean up the mess left by the children of the 111th) and then get the hell out of town, as your continued presence is an affront to all decent folks.

Then, get on the backs of the 112th Congress and keep reminding them of exactly why they are there until they for once get it right!

And keep right on reminding them after they get

davesinsanantonio (Diary) Thursday, November 4th at 6:40AM EST (link)

it right!!! If we are not constantly in their ears, the Left and their media lap dogs will be. We have to help them keep getting it by constant reminders, polite when they listen, more forcefully if they forget.

 
 

But, who are they?

eldstenorge Thursday, November 4th at 9:17AM EST (link)

I hope they are not like my new State Representative. He is a Vice President of a college. Everything he campaigned on was more money for education. He said almost nothing else. And, the NRA came out with their ratings. He was the second lowest candidate in the State of Utah on their ratings, with a “D”. Can you imagine a Republican candidate getting a “D”? And, he is pro-amnesty, though he will not call it that. He says he is for school choice, but that he opposed the voucher initiative our State Legislature passed and the UEA forced onto the ballot only to be defeated in the election. This man is not a conservative. I find it hard to vote for a Democrat after what Obama and the Democrats have done in Congress, but in a District which votes 80% Republican, it was a no brainer. The Democrat was more conservative than the Republican. I can count on both hands the number of Democrats I have voted for in my life, and I am over 60 now, so that is a lot of years. So, I hope those we have elected will stand up for what we believe in.

 

Wisconsin had . . .

methodius Thursday, November 4th at 12:11PM EST (link)

. . . one of the most dramatic turn-arounds. As everyone knows Feingold is gone after 18 years and we have a solid conservative as govenor. Our national representation went from 5-3 Democratic to 5-3 Republican. Our State Assembly and Senate flipped from Democratic majorities to Republican majorities which will make redistricting beneficial. We are one of the most taxed states in the union and we do not have a state that honors the meaning or intent of the Second Amendment (in that we are one of two states that has no form of concealed carry). It was a great night and I hope we are able to hold these newly elected officials to why they were elected. I just hope that the lame duck session does not force through any bad laws, but I won’t hold my breath given the character of those who are going to be present.

 

I

gunslingr45 Thursday, November 4th at 6:36PM EST (link)

will be there to get them to re-draw my district so I don’t have to be saddled with that stinking commie Carson year after year after year,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,after 8 stinking years.

GENTLEMEN PREPARE TO DEFEND YOUR SELF!
Sam Elliott in We Were Soldiers

 

Geniune Union democracy

exDemo Thursday, November 4th at 8:53PM EST (link)

The Unions Chiefs tried for a naked power grab of Card Check.

I propose we offer some genuine union democracy for union members.
I would propose a Bill that would merely require a union to conduct a secret ballot of what proportion of union political spending ought to go to each political Party.

Then the Union leadership needs to contribute that percentage,as voted.. If 60% want to go to Democrats so be it. If 35% want to go to Republicans than 35% of union political spending must go there.. If 5% wants to give to the Libertarians, so be it. The Libertarians get 5% of the union’s political giving.,etc. The leadership could still pick and choose specifically to donate to Pro-labor members of both Parties.

I would attach this rider to every authorization Bill and appropriation Bill and dare the White House to veto it.

I’d like to do the same for other lobbying organizations who spend in the behalf of the membership, as determined by the leadership. For example the AARP ought to have to get a vote from members on the same basis, as the Union leadership, I bet there would still be a lot of double dealing; but it would probably be a lot cleaner and more balanced..