Anyone else reside in Benton County, WA?

I received this on email this morning, encouraging Precinct Committeemen to get involved and run for the position.  This all seems to fit with the kind of grassroots activity that ColdWarrior, et al have advocated.   Hopefully we can get more conservatives involved in the process in our great state!

THE DUTIES OF A PCO

So now for the important part. THIS WEEK, if you want to become an active member of the party and help facilitate fair and accessible elections, healthy debate, and growing participation then you must become a PCO. A PCO is responsible to provide access and information to the people that live in the precinct and to help them have an effective voice in the workings of the party and in the government. You will represent your precinct at Republican meetings (held about 8 times a year). You can volunteer to help at fundraising events and fairbooths. There are also many positions within the party that you can volunteer for. You will vote on party leadership (chair and vice chair). These people will appoint others to committees to write by-laws, manage website, event planning, etc. You will also vote on State Committee chair and chairwoman. These people go to state meetings and vote for State leadership and rules. All of these important things are initiated by power held by the PCOs. This is what you have to do.

FIND YOU NEW PRECINCT
http://www.bentonelections.com/Election_Maps.html

FILE TO BE A CANDIDATE

http://www.bentonelections.com/Candidate_Filing_2.html

(legislative type: PCO)

CONFIRM YOUR CANDIDACY

http://www.bentonelections.com/Candidates_Who_Have_Filed.html

Thanks for reading through this! I really really hope you will become a PCO. I want to see hundreds of people on the ballots! Run against each other, run against the current PCO in your precinct, I want people to run against me because the more people that are active, engaged and working the better off we will be as a party and a country. If you have any questions or need help please send me an email.

Thanks again!

“The left would love for the Tea Party to get distracted, start talking about immigration, abortion, gay marriage, all this other stuff, because right now the chief vulnerability faced by Obama and the Democrats is the economy.  Jobs, stimulus spending, federal regulations, those are the three things that are killing this country.  Those are the three things that every Republican needs to focus on.”

– The Rush Limbaugh Show, Sept 2, 2011

How prophetic he was.

Two weeks earlier, America’s Jobs Governor had announced his candidacy for President of the United States.   He immediately shot to the top of the polls, mostly on the basis of his jobs record in Texas.  Since the beginning of 2008, Texas has outperformed the United States in just about every major category of employment[1].   Since President Obama was inaugurated in January of 2009, the percentage of unemployed Americans has hovered around 9%.    The left knew that as long as voters were focused on Governor Perry’s jobs record, Barack Obama would stand ZERO chance of being re-elected.

So, one by one, the distractions came out.   Texas’ in-state-tuition law was labeled a state version of “The DREAM Act”.  Gardasil then took center stage, even if only long enough for Michelle Bachmann to make herself irrelevant by it.   Then came more immigration talk.  Then debates became the focus.  Then Herman Cain’s women.  Then Newt’s past infidelities.   Somewhere in there came a discussion about the size and scope of the Federal Government.   Lately, it has been social issues and faith.

Don’t get me wrong.  Just because I describe these issues as distractions doesn’t mean they aren’t important – they are – it is just that none of these issues will beat Barack Obama.

Regrettably, many of the candidates and voters have taken the bait.   There are currently two governors on the ballot whose jobs record alone would trounce Barack Obama, but these two governors are near the bottom of the polling.  How can this be?

Some blame lies on the candidates themselves.  Jon Huntsman has been making too many bad jokes and running away from conservatives instead of talking about his jobs record.  Rick Perry has been too busy trying to get voters to look at him again after some poor debate performances that he seems to have forgotten what his calling card is – jobs.

And some blame lies with the voters of the GOP.  We want so badly to make Obama a one term president that we’ve been searching for the perfect candidate to run against him – one who would be unbeatable in the general election.  At the same time, we’re also keenly aware of the myriad problems facing our nation today and we want to see these problems solved immediately.   But these two desires on our part have caused us to major on the minors.  We spend all of our time talking about the best way to secure the border instead of the best way to get the economy going again.  We debate the importance of debates instead of directing attention back to jobs.

Consider:  What kind of questions occupy most of the Q&A sessions that our candidates have?  Questions about illegal immigration, about individual mandates, about the future of social security, about you name it.  What’s missing?  Jobs!  Now all of the above are connected to jobs in some form – and jobs are the common thread that runs through all of those issues.   Yes, each one impacts jobs in one way or another.  Therefore if we are going to discuss them, we need to do it in the context of jobs and only in the context of jobs.

Barack Obama’s jobs record is abysmal, even Jimmy Carteresque.   If the GOP can make the 2012 election a jobs election, our chances of winning increase exponentially.  If the GOP can do this AND actually nominate a candidate with a record of job creation, we WILL win this election.

God Bless America!

Jobs, Jobs, Jobs

In the wake of a 5^th place Iowa finish, the Perry campaign seemed to be teetering in the brink of irrelevancy.   He finished lower than a senator who lost his last election by a staggering margin and a sitting congressman who many consider to be a loon.  Today marks a major reality check for Rick Perry and his campaign staff.

But all is not lost.  The Governor heads to South Carolina to continue the marathon.  Good for him.  But if he wants to have a shot at the nomination, here’s what this humble writer thinks he needs to do.

 Make this nomination about the economy and jobs. 

Conservatives and republicans have been very distracted during this primary season.   Yes, closing the border and solving illegal immigration and moving power back to the states are all important issues, but they all take a back seat to jobs.  Barack Obama isn’t going to lose to a republican because the republican has a better plan to close the border.  As much as James Madison cringes in his grave at this, Barack Obama is not going to lose to a republican because the republican wants to return rightful authority to the states and to a constitutional federal government. 

But Barack Obama will lose to a republican who can convince the American people that he knows how to get the job market to grow, how to actually reduce the number of unemployed people rather than reducing the number of people seeking work.

Jobs are Rick Perry’s wheelhouse.  His four principles of job creation need to be repeated again and again ad nauseam.   As he himself said when he announced his candidacy at the RedState Gathering:

One is don’t spend all of the money. Two is keeping the taxes low and under control. Three is you have your regulatory climate fair and predictable. Four is reform the legal system so frivolous lawsuits don’t paralyze employers that are trying to create jobs.

I would add that he needs to explain how each of these allows for a growing economy

• Don’t spend all the money, because if you do, people are smart enough to figure out that their taxes are going to go up.
• Keep taxes low and under control, because taxes discourage activity.
• Keep regulations fair and predictable because if starting or expanding a business is a pain in the rear, people aren’t going to want to do it.  This includes both paperwork and environmental compliance.
• Reform the legal system against frivolous lawsuits.  Outside of property and equipment, insurance is the largest overhead expense of a business.  If lawsuits are limited, so are insurance costs.

No one who will face Rick Perry on a debate stage whether in the primary or the general election has his record of jobs under his governorship.  So don’t be distracted by Gardasil, DREAM Acts, Gays in the Military and Prayer, and other lesser points.   Perry’s mistake up until today is that he’s allowed himself and his campaign to get distracted by all these important, but lesser points at the expense of the major point.  This election is about J O B S and will be won or lost on jobs.

Bring up jobs at every opportunity in the debates:

Every one of Rick Perry’s platforms does connect to jobs in some way, but often the connection is loose or unnoticed by the casual viewer and voter.   I know it’s hard to do in 30 seconds or less, but every point needs to be connected to jobs:  cutting spending needs to be connected to jobs, increased energy needs to be connected to jobs, repeal Obamacare = jobs.  It can be done, it needs to be done.  Nothing will set him apart from the others more than jobs.

Form an alliance with Newt Gingrich:

As long as Newt and Perry are both in the race, neither will win.  Since Governor Perry has a stronger record as an executive, somehow he and Newt need to get on the same team so that they unite the Anti-Romney vote rather than divide it.    Newt would make a great chief of staff or senior advisor to a President Perry.  On the primary trail, Newt would chew up Mitt Romney and spit him out like bad tasting liver.   Having Newt on his side would convince many conservatives who want someone who is more rhetorically capable as the nominee that he does want to champion the conservative message both to the common man and to the intellectual.

Pray, Pray, and Pray:

“Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain” – Psalm 127:1

Nothing will be accomplished apart from God’s will or apart from His action.  Keep praying that he use your work and you as he sees fit.

Thanks for reading.  God Bless and Go Rick Perry!

Last night I thought the world was coming to an end.  Today, I’ve walked myself back from the cliff, taken a deep breath, and decided to take a fresh look at the GOP primary.

Since things are always changing in politics, here’s where I see the race standing as of today.  I’ll give each candidate’s qualifications for office, detractions, and some general comments.  My comments will be a mix of my opinion and prognostication.

Mitt Romney:

Qualifications:  Experience as governor of MA, Success in the private sector, success in running the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics.

Detractions:  Was only a one-term governor, allowed MA to keep moving to the left, Romneycare, perceived as a flip-flopper.

Comments:  As much as I don’t like it, Mitt looks like he’ll be the nominee this year.  If that’s the case, I hope he proves my gut feeling about his candidacy against Obama wrong.

I’ve been amazed this whole cycle at the power of the GOP machine and their “its his turn now” mindset.  Obviously, you can tell that I’m not a Romney guy but I look at him and wonder who decided that of all the GOP governors, he would be a good candidate for president.

That said, I don’t think he’s moved to the left since 2008.  The fact that he’s a “moderate” in this race is more indicative of the liberality of the 2008 field.  Looking back at the pack leaders from 08, its easy to see how he was branded as the conservative.

I think that Mitt will quite easily carry the New England states, perhaps with competition from Jon Huntsman, depending on how New Hampshire shakes out.  But he’ll struggle to win states across the south, where people value things like honesty, integrity, fidelity, and the like.   His success in the south depends on how long the other candidates – Perry, Newt, and Santorum stay in the race.  If all three stay in, he can win in the south.  But if two of the three drop out, I don’t think he has a chance.

Rick Santorum:

Qualifications:  Experience as a Senator and Representative of PA.

Detractions:  No executive experience, lost his last election by a sizeable margin, went along with big-government conservatism under Bush 43.

Comments:  Rick Santorum almost always sounds good in a radio interview.  He’s a good speaker, he’s clear and articulate in his points, and he did really well in Iowa.

That said, he’s never had the guns pointed at him, as every other candidate but Romney has.  I don’t think he’ll do so well in the spotlight, since he’s never really been in it before.   If he wants to continue in the front, people will examine his record for flaws for the first time.  They’ll probably discover that one social issues, he’s solidly right.  But on fiscal issues, he’s gone along with the big-government Republican agenda more often than not.

Add to that the fact that he’s invested so much in Iowa that now he’s bound to be incredibly behind in NH, SC, and FL.  I wouldn’t be surprised if he drops from 2^nd in Iowa to 5^th in SC and FL.   He’s someone that I could support only if he became the nominee.  It seems to me that there are better choices in this primary process.

Ron Paul:

Qualifications:  long standing member of congress, experience in the medical field

Detractions:  truther-tendencies, been running for president for how many consecutive elections and hasn’t won?

Comments:  I don’t think too many voters know the real Ron Paul.  They like what he says about constitutional government.  They like what he says about not sticking our military nose in places where it doesn’t belong and not fighting a war unless congress declares it.  They like what he says about the fed.

But they don’t seem to know the depth of his positions on those things.   They don’t know that going back to the gold standard would kill us if we did it today.  They don’t know the depth of his isolationist ideology, which makes him sound very much like a truther.  They don’t know about the newsletters, the anti-Israel position that occupies and shapes so much of his policy.  They don’t know the left-of-Obama position on just allowing Iran to have nukes.  IF these positions come out in the open, and if he’s top three, they will, he’s not going to last long among republicans.

I don’t see a way that he can be the nominee.  But his constitutionality would still make him better than Obama.  He might do okay in NH, but will lose all traction in SC and FL.

Newt Gingrich:

Qualifications: served as congressman and speaker of the house.  Has political leadership skill evidenced in the reforms passed by the 1994-96 congress.  Excellent and articulate speaker.

Detractions: personal baggage leads many to question whether he can be trusted, others have claimed he has too many ideas and not enough accomplishments, the couch with Pelosi and other environmental issues, support for that “individual mandate”.

Comments:  There are some myths propagated about Newt and the individual mandate.  The mandate that he supports isn’t a mandate to buy insurance per se, but a mandate to pay for your own health care, whether it be through insurance or not.  There is quite a difference between the two.  I don’t have a problem with saying that everyone has to pay for their health care.  I do have a problem with being mandated to buy health insurance.

At any rate, the person with the best shot at being ABR is either Newt or Perry.  Since Newt currently polls higher than Perry, he might have the best shot of the two.  For him to win, he needs to gain all of Bachmann’s support and he needs Perry to drop out and endorse him.   It seems that many who have Perry as a first choice have Newt as their second.  But I don’t think Perry will drop out any time before SC and FL vote.

If current trends keep, the longer he has the guns pointed at him, the more he will drop in the polls.  He has a good shot of carrying SC and FL, but after that, who knows what will happen.

Rick Perry:

Qualifications:  11 year governor of one of the largest states in the USA, proven track record of conservative government, actually moved TX to the right during his time as governor, displays strong personal character.

Detractions:  struggled in early debates, talks like a southerner, sometimes misspeaks.

Comments:  Even before he entered the race, I was hopeful that he would.  I wasn’t very enamored with the field as it was, since I didn’t see anyone who would stand and fight the Obama agenda.  But then Erick shared rumors that Perry was getting in.  I read every post on Rick Perry from early August on, and was excited when he formally announced.  I thought, “He’s the guy for the job.”  A few debates later, I was wondering what happened.  I started looking for another candidate to support – Herman Cain, Newt, Bachmann, but I couldn’t get over Perry’s record of governance and his willingness to stand up to the Obama agenda whether it be Obamacare or the EPA.  I decided to stick with my man, even as he fell in the polls.   And I don’t regret that decision, not one bit. I will support him until he either wins, drops out of the race, or loses.

His 5^th place finish in Iowa was disheartening.  I was hoping for 4^th or 3^rd and was praying for a late night surprise top two.  But all is not lost for Perry.  Consider Iowa’s poor record of “picking the winner” over the past 20 years, and  along with that, I can’t see how Rick Santorum and Ron Paul will account for 45% of the votes in any other state.  That leaves an open door for the governor.  He needs to gain all of Bachmann’s support to have a chance moving forward.  I think that is a realistic possibility because even though Michelle pointed her arrows at him the most, their policy positions aren’t that different from one another.

The second thing he needs is help from Newt.  If I’m Rick Perry, I’m on the phone with Newt today devising a plan for both of them to be on the same team going forward.  The only way that either of them will beat Romney is if the other is out of the race.  Of course, my preference is that Newt drop out and support Perry, since I feel that Perry would be a more viable president than Newt.

He’s got a tough road ahead.  He’s wise to all but skip out on NH, minus the debate this weekend, and focus his attention on SC.   He needs a better showing there and in FL to have any hope of winning the nomination going forward.   He doesn’t need to win there, just improve and hope the other candidates start to drop out before he does.

Jon Huntsman:

Qualifications:  a record of conservative governance in Utah, foreign policy experience, energy experience in Utah.

Detractions:  seems to struggle with reading audiences and people (evidenced by his bad jokes), position on global warming, trying to run to the left of Romney.

Comments: I find myself agreeing with many on this site that whoever told Huntsman to run to the left of Romney should be fired and never hired again as a political consultant.    He has many good conservative platforms and a good conservative record, but the fact that early on he chose to give the finger to conservatives has led many to simply ignore him.

We could do much worse than Jon Huntsman (see: Romney, Mitt).   Perhaps when Santorum fades, Huntsman will get a look from conservatives.  Who knows?  If he’s going to go anywhere in this election, he needs to do well in NH, top two to be exact.  If he can’t get at least 2^nd in a place where he’s spent a ton of time and energy, he has no shot across the country.

I think he’ll stick in the race through FL and then if he hasn’t gained any traction, will drop out at that time.

I’m in many ways a political newbie, but I can’t imagine a primary season where there so many variables going forward.  At this point, it wouldn’t surprise me if Romney was the nominee, nor would it surprise me if Jon Huntsman was the nominee, and of course, I hope that Rick Perry is the nominee.

I hope that people find this helpful.  Thanks for reading!