BCRW @ Blogspot

Presidents' Message

2011-09-07T14:42:00.000-07:00

The Benton County Republican Women have a great purpose and that is to help the people in our county. We encourage and educate each other and the general public. We are in a battle in the United States between liberal and conservative ideas. We can all make a difference. Each person and each vote is important. We need to be wise and seek the truth from speakers on radio, television, in books and in person. The past is important so we don’t repeat errors.

I think that we can safely say that America has departed from the constitutional principle of limited government that made us great and prosperous.

Liberty is seldom lost all at once, but rather bit by bit. Taking liberty from Americans is like the story of cooking a frog. It can’t be done quickly because the frog will feel the heat and escape. But put a frog in cold water and heat it slowly, and by the time the frog grasps the danger, it is too late. Some Americans have been deceived by the media and ignorance into believing that their freedoms are not threatened. It is our job as conservatives to wake them up before our liberty and freedoms are lost and we are all cooked.

Every election is important and each one seems more important than the last one. The next two years will be very important times in our county, state and nation. I am happy to be working with each one of you on important issues.

Please contact us with any questions you might have.

Carolyn Webb
BCRW President 2010-2011

Franklin: "It's a Republic, Ma'am, if you can keep it."

2011-09-06T22:00:00.000-07:00

Jane & Lou support the troops despite the wind and driving rain

2011-09-06T21:00:00.000-07:00

(Click image for larger view)

On Thursday, March 11th, Jane Newton (left), Support the Troops & Freedom Rally organizer, and Lou Copes (right), Co-First Vice President of the Benton County Republican Women, braved the wind and chilly rain at Philomath Blvd. and 53rd Street in Corvallis to support our troops who voluntarily defend the privilege of freedom that we American's enjoy. Their effort was met with honks and waves from patriotic drivers and the frequent 'big blasts' from freedom-loving truckers.

The Oregon Chapter of Operation Homefront sponsors these rallies, which are open to everyone as a non-partisan show of support for the troops.

Let us know about the "Made in USA" products you recommend!

2011-09-06T15:20:00.000-07:00

Benton County Republican Women and friends are invited to make recommendations on products they've found that are "Made in USA." Please use the comment box at the bottom of this page to enter your patriotic finds. This page was inspired by an email sent out by Carolyn Webb, BCRW President.

Note: We realize that many products contain components that are made elsewhere. We don't expect you to do endless research on products, just that the end product you recommend is produced in America, hopefully, by American workers.

Email: Made in the USA

2011-09-05T14:42:00.000-07:00

I have been doing more checking labels and have also found this following to be true.. I found myself shocked that often the USA made is less money... when did this happen?

ONE AT A TIME
This probably sounds crazy, but just yesterday I was in Wal Mart looking for a wastebasket. I found some made in China for $6.99. I didn't want to pay that much so I asked the lady if they had any others. She took me to another department and they had some at 2.50 made in USA. They are just as good.

Same as a kitchen rug I needed. I had to look, but I found some made in the USA and they were 3.00 cheaper. We are being brain washed that everything that comes from China and Mexico is cheaper. Not so. That is also why I don't buy cards at Hallmark
anymore. They are made in China and are expensive. I buy them at Dollar Tree....50 cents each and made in USA.

One Light Bulb at a Time
A physics teacher in high school, once told the students that while one grasshopper on the railroad tracks wouldn't slow a train very much, a billion of them would. With that thought in mind, read the following, obviously written by a good American.

Good idea... one light bulb at a time...
Check this out. I can verify this because I was in Lowe's the other day for some reason and just for the heck of it I was looking at the hose attachments... They were all made in China. The next day I was in Ace Hardware and just for the heck of it I checked the hose attachments there. They were made in USA. Start looking...

In our current economic situation, every little thing we buy or do affects someone else - even their job. So, after reading this email, I think this lady is on the right track. Let's get behind her!

My grandson likes Hershey's candy. I noticed, though, that it is marked made in Mexico now. I do not buy it any more.

My favorite toothpaste Colgate is made in Mexico... now I have switched to Crest. You have to read the labels on everything...

This past weekend I was at Kroger... I needed 60W light bulbs and Bounce dryer sheets. I was in the light bulb aisle, and right next to the GE brand I normally buy was an off-brand labeled, "Everyday Value." I picked up both types of bulbs and compared the stats. They were the same except for the price. The GE bulbs were more money than the Everyday Value brand but the thing that surprised me the most was the fact that GE was made in MEXICO and the Everyday Value brand was made in - get ready for this - the USA in a company in Cleveland, Ohio.

So throw out the myth that you cannot find products you use every day that are made right here...

So on to another aisle - Bounce Dryer Sheets... yep, you guessed it, Bounce cost more money and is made in Canada. The Everyday Value brand was less money and MADE IN THE USA! I did laundry yesterday and the dryer sheets performed just like the Bounce Free I have been using for years and at almost half the price!

My challenge to you is to start reading the labels when you shop for everyday things and see what you can find that is made in the USA - the job you save may be your own or your neighbors!

If you accept the challenge, pass this on to others in your address book so we can all start buying American, one light bulb at a time! Stop buying from overseas companies!

(We should have awakened a decade ago)

Let's get with the program and help our fellow Americans keep their jobs and create more jobs here in the USA.

New American Christmas Tradition

2011-09-05T14:40:00.000-07:00

As the holidays approach, the giant Asian factories are kicking into high gear to provide Americans with monstrous piles of cheaply produced goods -- merchandise that has been produced at the expense of American labor.

This year will be different. This year Americans can give the gift of genuine concern for other Americans. There is no longer an excuse that, at gift-giving time, nothing can be found that is produced by American hands. Yes there is!

It's time to think outside the box, people. Who says a gift needs to fit in a shirt box, wrapped in Chinese produced wrapping paper?

Everyone -- yes EVERYONE gets their hair cut. How about gift certificates from your local American hair salon or barber?

Gym membership? It's appropriate for all ages who are thinking about some health improvement.

Who wouldn't appreciate getting their car detailed? Small, American-owned detail shops and car washes would love to sell you a gift certificate or a book of gift certificates.

Are you one of those extravagant givers who think nothing of plunking down the Benjamin’s on a Chinese made flat-screen? Perhaps that grateful gift receiver would like his driveway sealed, or lawn mowed for the summer, or driveway plowed all winter, or games at the local golf course.

There are a bazillion owner-run restaurants -- all offering gift certificates. And, if your intended isn't the fancy eatery sort, what about a half-dozen breakfasts at the local breakfast joint. Remember, folks this isn't about big National chains -- this is about supporting your home town Americans with their financial lives on the line to keep their doors open.

How many people couldn't use an oil change for their car, truck or motorcycle, done at a shop run by the American working guy?

Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mom? Mom would LOVE the services of a local cleaning lady for a day.

My computer could use a tune-up, and I KNOW I can find some young guy who is struggling to get his repair business up and running.

OK, you were looking for something more personal. Local crafts people spin their own wool and knit them into scarves. They make jewelry, and pottery and beautiful wooden boxes.

Plan your holiday outings at local, owner-operated restaurants and leave your server a nice tip. And, how about going out to see a play or ballet at your hometown theater.

Musicians need love too, so find a venue showcasing local bands.

Honestly, people, do you REALLY need to buy another ten thousand Chinese lights for the house? When you buy a five dollar string of light, about fifty cents stays in the community. If you have those kinds of bucks to burn, leave the mailman, trash guy or babysitter a nice BIG tip.

You see, Christmas is no longer about draining American pockets so that China can build another glittering city. Christmas is now about caring about US, encouraging American small businesses to keep plugging away to follow their dreams. And, when we care about other Americans, we care about our communities, and the benefits come back to us in ways we couldn't imagine.

THIS is the new American Christmas tradition.

(Hat tip: Deborah Barrett)

2009-06-15T00:23:00.000-07:00

Minutes

General Meeting Minutes of the Benton County Republican Women
Monday, March 22, 2010

Printer Friendly

Call to Order

BCRW President Carolyn Webb welcomed the members and called the meeting to order at 11:30 am. The meeting was held at the Meadow Park Estates in Corvallis. Theme of the meeting was Hats Off to the Republican Women and several people wore and/or brought an eclectic group of hats to decorate the tables.

First Vice President Lou Copes led the Invocation and Carolyn led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

Speakers

The first half of the meeting afforded two GOP candidates the opportunity to speak to the BCRW membership about their respective campaigns and we appreciate their commitment.

Mrs. Rose Cook is running against Mrs. Sara Gelser for a seat in the Oregon House of Representatives from District 16 (Corvallis, Philomath). Mrs. Gelser is the Democratic incumbent.

If you were not able to attend the meeting or would like to know more about Mrs. Cook and what she sees as the future of Oregon, please visit her website at: www.rosecookfororegonrep.com

Mr. Rex Watkins is running in the May GOP primary for the office of Governor of Oregon. If you were not able to attend the meeting or would like to know more about Mr. Watkins and what he sees as the future of Oregon, please visit his website at: www.rexwatkinsforgovernor.com/

Business Meeting & Officer's Reports

The second half of the meeting was the general business meeting of the group.

President Carolyn Webb presented a short report on her attendance at the GOP Dorchester Conference in Seaside on March 5-7, 2010 and the OFRW Spring Board Meeting also at Seaside.

Carolyn noted that one interesting result of the Gubernatorial Straw Poll was that Mr. Allen Alley was the winner. [Mr. Allen Alley – 225, Mr. Chris Dudley – 165, John Lim – 47, and Bill Sizemore – 1]. If you would like to have more details about the Dorchester Conference and its history, please visit the Benton County GOP website at: http://bentongopnews.blogspot.com/2010/03/history-of-oregons-dorchester.html

Treasurer Nancy Davis presented the March financial report to BCRW members.

Recording Secretary Pat Dysart read a recommendation from the BCRW Exec. Board to approve the final version of the BCRW by-Laws.

Recommendation was read as follows: The by-laws for the BCRW have been reviewed for four months. The changes that have been made have basically brought our by-laws into closer conformity with the Republic Women’s by-laws at the State and National Level, which would take priority over the BCRW by-laws if there is a discrepancy.

The board’s recommendation makes the first and second motion. The current version of the by-Laws had been available for review since November 2009. President Carolyn asked for a vote of those in favor and opposed.

The By-Laws were approved unanimously by the membership.

First Vice President Lou Copes stressed to the group that BCRW membership dues were due and encouraged more folks to join the BCRW. There was a drawing for people who joined and paid at the meeting and Mrs. Margaret Lewis won the strawberry-rhubarb diffuser provided by First Vice President Lou Copes. Annual due for a Regular (voting) membership is $30 and $25 for an annual Associate (non-voting) membership. Only Regular members can vote on business issues. Membership dues are valid from January-December of each year. Dues must be paid each January no matter when you join. Lou is the Membership Chairperson and is doing an excellent job trying to recruit and maintain members of all ages and interests.

The new BCRW Newsletter was mailed out prior to the general meeting and will become a quarterly publication for the group.

We wish a very Happy Birthday to Mrs. Dorothy Hawkins and we thank her very much for allowing us to use the Common Room at the Meadow Park Estates for our BCRW general meetings and a big thanks also to her daughter for helping with table and chair set up.

It should be noted for the future should we have any more meetings at Meadow Park Estates that Dorothy told Carolyn by phone that flyers cannot be posted at Meadow Park Estates.

Adjournment

Meeting was adjourned at 1 pm.

Respectively submitted
Pat Dysart 5-3-10

Minutes Archive
Printer Friendly Minutes: March 22, 2010 BCRW General Meeting
No minutes for February 2010 - The Lincoln Day Celebration took the place of the February General Meeting
Printer Friendly Minutes: January 25, 2010
Printer Friendly Minutes: November 26, 2009
Printer Friendly Minutes: October 26, 2009
Printer Friendly Notes: May 21, 2009 OFRW's Day at the Legislature (counted as the BCRW meeting for May)
Printer Friendly: April 27, 2009 Abridged Minutes (members may request full minutes).
No Minutes for March 2009 - The March 14th Lincoln/Oregon Dinner took the place of the General Meeting.
Download Feb. 2009 Minutes (Word.doc)
Download Jan. 2009 Minutes (Word.doc)
No Minutes for December 2008 - Meeting was canceled because of snow and ice.
No Minutes for November 2008 - Meeting cancelled because of broken pipes at Republican Headquarters.
Download Oct. 2008 Minutes (Word.doc)
Download Sept. 2008 Minutes (Word.doc)
No Minutes for August 2008 - Members manned the Republican Booth on Aug. 3 in place of the General Meeting.
No Minutes for July 2008 - Summer Potluck Picnic & Membership Drive held.
Download June 2008 Minutes (Word.doc)
No Minutes for May 2008 - The OFRW Day at the Legislature was held in place of the General Meeting.
Download April 2008 Minutes (Word.doc)
Download Mar. 2008 Minutes (Word.doc)
Download Feb. 2008 Minutes (Word.doc)
Download Jan. (Feb.) 2008 Minutes (Word.doc) - The January meeting was rescheduled for February due to snow.
Download Dec. 2007 Minutes (Word.doc)
Download Nov. 2007 Minutes (Word.doc)
Download Oct. 2007 Minutes (Word.doc)
Download Sept. 2007 Minutes (Word.doc)
No Minutes for August 2007 - Members manned the Republican Booth on Aug. 3 in place of the General Meeting.
No Minutes for July 2007 - Summer Potluck Picnic & Membership Drive held.
Download June 2007 Minutes (Word.doc)
No Minutes for May 2007 - The OFRW Leadership and Day at the Legislature was held in place of the BCRW General Meeting.
No Minutes for April 2007 - The OFRW District IV Director's Meeting was held in lieu of the BCRW General Meeting.
Download Mar. 2007 Minutes (Word.doc)
Download Feb. 2007 Minutes (Word.doc)
Download Jan. 2007 Minutes (Word.doc)
Download Dec. 2006 Minutes (Word.doc)
Download Nov. 2006 Minutes (Word.doc)
Download Oct. 2006 Minutes (Word.doc)
Download Sept. 2006 Minutes (Word.doc)

2009-06-15T00:15:00.000-07:00

* Announcements *

Added 12/7/2011 - Ladies,
I had a phone call today from OFRW Treasurer CiCi Roshon. She is asking for our prayers. She has been to a specialist and he told her she had Lymphoma. They did a biopsy and will get the results on Friday or Monday. She is asking for our prayers to help her and her family through this stressful and worrisome time. Her husband is also going through a heart issue which is also worrisome. Let’s help her the only way we can right now and that is prayer.
God bless all of you,
Joyce Waggoner
[OFRW President]

Added 9/25/2011 - WASH THE TOPS OF CANS AND BOTTLES BEFORE USE. Between production, warehouse and store shelf, they can become contaminated with germs and bacteria and may be toxic. So wash them with water before putting them to the mouth to avoid any kind of fatal accident. It makes sense. Re: email pertaining to Leptospirosis from rat urine. (Hat tip: Linda W.)

Added 8/30/2011 - Support the Troops & Freedom Rallies are temporarily on hold until we get better organized. Please watch for updates.

Added 7/31/2011 - There are a few shifts left to fill in the BCRW and Benton GOP booths at the Benton County Fair, Wed., Aug. 3 thru Sat., Aug. 6. Volunteers get a free ticket for the Fair on the day they work. Thurs., Aug. 4th is "BCRW Day at the Fair." The Club hopes to fill all the shifts for the day! To volunteer, call Stella at 541-929-5382 or contact her by email. Thank you very much to those who have already signed up. It should be fun! --PJ

Added 7/25/2011 - The Support the Troops & Freedom Rallies are starting again on Thursdays from 12 Noon to 1PM at Philomath Blvd. & 53rd St. We'll have extra flags and signs for those who need them. The first one is Thursday, July 28th. There will be no rally on Aug. 4th during the Benton County Fair but rallies will resume on Aug. 11th and continue for the rest of the summer and into the fall. We hope to see you there!

Added 6/25/2011 - Announcements from Carolyn Webb, BCRW President

June 27 BCRW meeting at King Tin, 11:30am -1:00pm
June 28 AFP meeting at King Tin
July 2 Republican float and food booth at Adair Village 4th of July Parade & Celebration
July 4 GOP breakfast buffet at HQ 8-11 am, $10 adult, $5 for 6-17 and under 6 free
July 7 GOP Central Committee meeting
July 9 Philomath Frolic parade
July 11 board meeting 11 a.m. HQ
July 25 BCRW picnic at Patricia Robidart, 1440 Grandridge Ave NW, Albany
July 26 AFP meeting
July 29-31 Republican Food Booth at Oregon Country Music Jamboree in Sweet Home
August 1 board meeting 11 a.m. HQ
August 4 GOP central meeting
August 3-6 Benton Co Fair
August 19-21 Republican food booth at Western Oregon Country Music Festival in Brownsville
August 20 GOP picnic Wheeler Farm, Kiger Island

Added 3/27/2011 - Announcements from Carolyn Webb, BCRW President:

April 4 board meeting 11 am HQ
April 14 Friends of the Family Spring Fundraiser dinner at CH2M Hill Alumni Center, 6 pm. RSVP by April 4 call 541-757-1761 (healthy relationships & healthy homes.)
April 16 ROAR Rendezvous at State Capitol from 11-2
April 18 next BCRW meeting at King Tin at 11 am., Joel Hirsch and John Detweiler will speak about the Corvallis levy. Someone from Cascade Policy Institute will speak on Oregon bills.
April 24 “EASTER”
April 28 OFRW Day at the State Legislature. Registration 8:20 meeting at 9. Wear your red jacket or red blouse. Cost $20 includes lunch.
May 2 board meeting 11 am HQ
May 23 BCRW speaker on Water Riparian in Benton Co and DVD film “Iranium”. Place to be announced later.
May 25 Dist IV meeting 11-2, place to be announced later.
June 6 board meeting 11 am HQ
June 27 BCRW Julie Parrish will speak on education in Oregon
July [25?] BCRW Summer Picnic

Think about donating money to Youth for Christ workers in Japan, Youth for Christ International, PO Box 4555, Englewood, CO 80155

Added 1/3/2011 - Mon, January 24th is the last day to donate items for the Feb. 12th Lincoln Day Dinner oral and silent auctions. Please clear out the cupboards, empty the boxes that are stored under the bed, in closets and storage units. All Silent Auction donations need to be in our possession no later than Jan 24th unless you deliver them to us before basket preparations, which will be held Jan 26th and 27th (Wed/Thur). Great additives to the baskets are gift certificates for things like a day at the spa, salon haircut, a night at a hotel, dinner for two somewhere, etc. Talk to the owners of small businesses where you shop. Items that are in their "End of Year Sales" are good possibilities. If someone has a Vacation Hideaway that they are willing to include in the Oral Auction, that would be FANTASTIC! Anything donated past Jan 24th can be stored for 2012's event. Thank you, Stella Guenther

Added 1/2/2011 - The January 3rd BCRW Executive Board meeting has been rescheduled for Monday, January 10th, 11am, at Republican HQ.

Added 9/28/2010 - NEEDED! The Benton GOP needs volunteers to walk the precincts to get doorhangers out BEFORE the ballots arrive. Ballots are to be released/mailed on October 15th.

Added 9/28/2010 - Please volunteer to stuff campaign literature doorhangers at HQ or take some home to stuff. Call HQ at (541) 754-9155 to make arrangements to pick up literature.

Added 9/28/2010 - Do you have your Republican candidates' lawn signs up? Pick them up at HQ today!

Added 7/8/2010 - Dear Republican Friends, Jim Coffin, former Marine and longtime faithful "Support Our Troops" member will realize his wish to be buried at sea. He has been greatly missed by those who have continued to have flag rallies every Thursday. Jim was a young 81 year old gentlemen with a gentle manner. Services will be held in his memory at Demoss Durden Garden Chapel, 815 NW Buchanan at 10:00 am July 15th. We hope that you can join his friends and family for a final farewell. God bless his family. --Members of the "Support Our Troops" Rallies (sent by Stella Guenther)

Added 6/30/2010 - [From Joyce Waggoner, President of Oregon Federation of Republican Women (OFRW)/75th Diamond Jubilee]: Ladies, I hope all of you will have a safe 4th of July. Please remember our service men and women and their families is your prayers and in your thoughts of freedom and this wonderful country we live in. We are fast approaching the 75th Diamond Jubilee. Make sure your calendars are marked for August 14, 2010 and plan to be there. We are planning a wonderful night of music, fellowship, fantastic food, our National President will be the guest speaker, and we will hear from various other history making Republicans. We will have some of our Senators, House Republicans, and Candidates running for office with us to help celebrate. What a fantastic legacy we have to offer to Republican women, our children, and our grandchildren across the state of Oregon. We have an abundance of talented women, especially the Past-Presidents of the Federation. They are the puzzle piece that has held us together and moved us forward and created this wonderful successful legacy. Come celebrate with all of us. We need everyone to help us celebrate this history making occasion. Any questions, please don’t hesitate to call. We need to know who among your memberships has been with the Federation for 25 years or more and the date they joined. They are indeed our special treasurers. You will be receiving your invitation. Please plan to attend. God bless you all, Joyce

Added 6/14/2010 - Details and Agenda for the OFRW District IV Meeting on Thursday, June 17th, at the Yaquina Bay Restaurant in Albany. Sorry, the deadline has passed to register for this meeting, which takes the place of BCRW's regular 4th Monday meeting for June.

Dist. IV Meeting Invitation/Registration Form

Dist. IV Meeting Agenda

Added 6/14/2010 (corrected) - PETITIONS: There are currently TWO DIFFERENT petitions that we 1) need signatures on and 2) need workers to gather signatures. There is a State petition #50 (redistricting) and a County petition (term limits for Benton County Commissioners). We need 1000 signatures by July 2 for the State and 3200 by July 14 for the County petition. Please make sure to sign both (only once) and if possible consider helping us to get our quotas. Please contact HQ (541) 754-9155 or Stella h:(541) 929-5382, c:(541) 602-1737 to volunteer. GOP HQ: - Now thru July 15th, the Benton County Republican Headquarters Office must be open Monday through Saturday to get these petitions signed. If you can fill-in some gaps with a few hours of your time, please call HQ at (541) 754-9155 to volunteer. Here is what the schedule looks like now:

Mon. 10am-2pm Tue. Wed. 10am-2pm Thu. 9am-1pm Fri. Sat. (am hours needed)Thank you!

Added 5/30/2010 - (Moved from front page notice of 5/21/2010) Republicans! CHECK YOUR SNAIL MAIL - see if your County Clerk wants you to go in and verify your signature! See why here. Added 5/27/2010 - The registration deadline for the June 17th OFRW District IV Meeting in Albany is June 10th! Click, then download to print your registration form to mail to Eleanor Boese with your check for $20. All the details are on the form. Added 3/30/2010 - On Thursday, April 1st, you are invited to join us for the "Troops Support and Freedom Rally" on Philomath Blvd. and 53rd. Reece Hrizuk is planning to participate and we will go out to lunch after the rally. Also, the Central Committee meets on this date at King Tin Restaurant on 9th St. Victoria Taft of KPAM radio and Scott Bruun, candidate for U.S. Congress/5th District, will speak. If you want to order dinner, please come early. The meeting starts at 7pm.

Added 3/24/2010 - A message from Carolyn Webb: [On Monday, April 5th,] I would like to have our next BCRW board meeting at the Firehouse #5 Cafe, 6002 Northeast William R Carr Street, Adair Village, OR‎ - (541) 745-3038 (MAP), at 1:30 pm. The cafe has a salad bar, soup, plus menu. The waitress said she would reserve a place for us. Please bring any info copies that you need. I will send an agenda out later.

Added 3/16/2010 - A message from Lou Copes: - Operation Homefront is now located in Heritage Mall. They have a really nice space and furnishing donated to meet the troops, for training on budgeting, shopping, and just surviving. ∴ Today I stopped by to see how contributions were going and received an SOS request for needed items. It appears that [the largest deployment of National Guard Troops in Oregon's history is coming to an end and troops will be returning from Iraq], many without jobs. This will put an added load on the food supply at Operation Homefront when the food closet is already low. ∴ It would be wonderful if everyone could bring one or more items to the BCRW meeting on March 22nd. Financial contributions are also welcome. I will be glad to take the donations to Operations Homefront the next day. For a list of needed items, please visit our Troops Support page.

Added 3/2/2010 - From Lou Copes: I would like to invite any of you who would like to participate in the "Support Our Troops" rally to come out each Thursday, from 12:00pm-1:00pm on Philomath Blvd. & 53rd. We have extra signs and flags, or you can bring your own. You can park in the Bi-Mart lot, near the street on the northeast end. If the wonderful truck horns bother your ears, you may want to bring ear plugs.

Added 2/24/2010 - From Carolyn Webb, President: ~~"If you have not done so, please e-mail or call your representatives immediately to vote NO on House bill 3661. It will place severe restrictions on water wells on your property."~~ ~~See Representative's contact information HERE (opens in new window/tab)~~ Rep. Gelser sent this response to Carolyn, "You will be glad to know that this bill did not pass out of committee for further consideration this year." Thank you to all who contacted your representatives.

Added 2/24/2010 - Ladies! Stella Guenther is going to Dorchester, March 4-7. She's looking for someone to go along and share a hotel room. Call (541) 929-5382.

Added 1/24/2010 - Members! Please bring items for the Lincoln Day Celebration Auction Baskets to the BCRW Meeting tomorrow. You don't have to take them downstairs, but please let Stella or PJ know that you have items and they'll make sure to meet you in the parking lot before or after the meeting to transfer your items to to their cars.

Added 1/20/2010 - Get your tickets now for the Feb. 12th Linn and Benton County Republican Lincoln Day Celebration! (Visit event webpage)

Added 12/31/2009 - Best wishes to all BCRW members and their families for a wonderful New Year!

Added 12/31/2009 - We extend our thanks to all 2008-2009 Officers and Committee Members for their outstanding service to the Benton County Republican Women's Club and offer our very best wishes to the new officers for 2010-2011.

Added: 12/8/2009 - Information update from Jean Nelson: Please volunteer for Thursday, December 10 beginning at 10 a.m. to prepare a mailing. Be at Headquarters, 1760 SW Third Street in the Millrace Center to stuff envelopes, put on stamps and labels. Sandra Hickey, mailing coordinator, is having difficulty with her cell phone and asked us to change her contact telephone. Please call 745 5073 if you can help with this mailing. Thank you.

UPDATED: 12/7/2009 - A new time/place for Support the Troops Flag Rallies has not been determined as yet. Please keep checking back for an announcement as to when and where flag rallies will resume (no rallies planned for December).

Added: 11/16/2009 - Please note that the Nov. 23rd BCRW General Meeting location is The Regent Retirement Residence, 440 NW Elks Dr., Corvallis, OR.

Added: 11/14/2009 - Action Item: Call your Senators and tell them to oppose cloture on Judge Hamilton

Added: 11/6/2009 - Order your Christmas Wreaths & Swags from the BCRW! Download Order Form (pdf).

Added: 11/2/2009 - There will be NO Support the Troops Rally on Thursday, November 5th or 11th.

Added: 10/28/2009 - From PJ regarding the "Support the Troops" rallies: Daylight Saving Time ends on Sunday, Nov. 1st so it's going to get dark out for our regular 4:30-5:30pm Thursday rallies. We'll hold the 10/29 rally at the regular time but will change the date/time and possibly place after that. Please check back for an update. Suggestions??? Contact PJ.

Added: 10/25/2009 - Email Virus Warning: See UPS/FedEx/DHL Delivery Failure (Snopes.com). Delete email... DO NOT OPEN ATTACHMENT. This is an older computer virus but it reappears with new features making it difficult for virus protection programs to manage and assure 100% safety.

Added: 10/24/2009 - From Jerry Jackson (twitter): Benton County Republicans can contact me at 541 250-9654 to sign my nomination petition for Benton County Commissioner - Action needed now!!!

Added: 10/22/09 - Do not miss the Monday, October 26th BCRW meeting and luncheon with Bane Ashley speaking. Mr. Ashley is an expert on gun rights and the 2nd Amendment. Go to the Events Calendar for more details.

Added: 10/21/2009 - There are lot's of great events coming up! Check out the Events Calendar. (1) For details, click on the event and to see a mini-window with all the information you'll need or; (2) Scroll down below the calendar to the event date/title that you are looking for.

Added: 10/20/2009 - 2009 OSU Fall Music Schedule HERE (legal size to print). Stella Guenther thought you might like this!

2009-06-14T00:30:00.000-07:00

Membership

Membership in the Benton County Republican Women’s Club (BCRW) is available to all registered Republican women. Associate Membership’s are available to Republican men (and women if they so select) on a non-voting basis. Associates may serve on committees but may not hold a Club office or be counted in the Club’s delegate determination process. The membership year runs from January 1 through December 31. 2012 Dues for a Regular (voting) Membership is $30 and an Associate (non-voting) Membership is $25.

Download the BCRW 2012 Membership Application (google docs) or here (pdf).

2009-06-13T00:42:00.000-07:00

Benton County Republican Headquarters

The Benton County Republican Headquarters is located at 1760 SW 3rd Street, Suite A, Corvallis, Oregon 97333

The Benton County Republican Party wishes to thank members and associates of the Benton County Republican Women's Club for volunteering to help man Republican Headquarters. "Your efforts are invaluable to the local party. If you'd like to volunteer a few hours or so a week, please call Stella Guenther, Office Manager, at (541) 754-9155.

Office Hours
Monday: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Tuesday: 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Wednesday: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Thursday: 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

View Larger Map

Sat. March 14: Lincoln Day/Oregon Celebration Dinner

2009-03-06T04:40:00.000-08:00

You're invited to celebrate with Linn and Benton County Republicans for Lincoln’s 200th Birthday & Oregon’s 150th Birthday on Saturday, March 14, 2009 with honorary guest speakers Oregon's U.S. Representative Greg Walden and Oregon House Republican Leader, Bruce Hanna. For all the details, please click our LINCOLN DAY DINNER page!

Republican defender of the slave Dred Scott

2009-02-11T00:26:00.000-08:00

"On this day in 1856, Montgomery Blair, one of the founders of the Republican Party, argued before the U.S. Supreme Court in defense of the slave Dred Scott, who was suing for his freedom. Blair later served in the cabinet of President Abraham Lincoln. Sadly, all 7 Democrat Justices on the Supreme Court would vote against Mr. Scott, decreeing that "a black man has no rights a white man is bound to respect." Both Republicans voted for him, in the infamous 7-2 Dred Scott decision." --Michael Zak, Grand Old Partisan Blog

The Money Quote

2009-02-10T15:44:00.000-08:00

"A billion here and a billion there. Pretty soon we're talking about real money." --Senator Everett Dirksen (R-IL), 1896-1969

Senator Dirksen was instrumental in writing and passing the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Open Housing Act of 1968.

Health: Frightening stuff in stimulus bill

2009-02-10T14:28:00.000-08:00

Reading list from Rush Limbaugh, 2/10/08 - Outrage Over Socialized Healh Care Hidden Inside Porkulus Bill

Bloomberg: Ruin Your Health With the Obama Stimulus Plan - Betsy McCaughey
• Wall Street Journal: Despite Daschle, Health Reform To Be a 'Central Focus' of Obama Budget
• WT: Democrats using 'Stealth' to Re-Engineer Society with 'Stimulus' Package - Ed Koch
• Heritage.org: Comparative Effectiveness in Health Care Reform: Lessons from Abroad
• National Review: 50 De-Stimulating Facts

GOP fundraiser celebrates Lincoln, Oregon birthdays

2009-02-10T12:20:00.000-08:00

Gazette-Times, COMMUNITY, February 10, 2009

Republicans in Linn and Benton counties are planning a celebration of two birthdays on Saturday, March 14: the 200th birthday of President Abraham Lincoln (Feb. 12, 1809 to April 15, 1865); and Oregon’s 150th birthday, Feb. 14, 1859. The event is scheduled to take place at the Teen Challenge Willamette Valley Training Center, 31700 Fayetteville Drive in Shedd. The public is invited. The event includes the presentation of the colors and the Pledge of Allegiance and the Star Spangled Banner, with a social hour at 5 p.m. followed by a sitdown dinner with a choice of entrée, beverage and dessert. The Teen Challenge Choir will perform patriotic music and auctioneer Reece Hrizuk will preside over verbal and silent auctions. Reece will be assisted by Miss Oregon USA and Miss Oregon Teen USA.

U.S. Rep. Greg Walden and Oregon House Republican leader Bruce Hanna will be the honorary speakers.

Tickets are $30 a person or $225 for a table of eight. RSVPs are needed by March 6 because seating is limited. Donations of items for auction are being accepted through March 1. The event is a fundraiser for the Republican committees in both counties. Proceeds will be used to support GOP candidates, community service projects and upkeep Republican headquarters.

For more information, contact Benton County Republican Headquarters, 754-9155, Stella Guenther, Benton County Republicans, 929-5382 or Deborah Barrett in Linn County at 541-818-0171.

Battle Hymn of the Republic

2008-12-03T23:34:00.000-08:00

HISTORY - In 1861, after a visit to a Union Army camp, Julia Ward Howe wrote the poem that came to be called "The Battle Hymn of the Republic." It was published in February, 1862, in The Atlantic Monthly.

Howe reported in her autobiography that she wrote the verses to meet a challenge by a friend, Rev. James Freeman Clarke. As an unofficial anthem, Union soldiers sang "John Brown's Body." Confederate soldiers sang it with their own version of the words. But Clarke thought that there should be more uplifting words to the tune.

Howe met Clarke's challenge. The poem has become perhaps the best-known Civil War song of the Union Army, and has come to be a well-loved American patriotic anthem. Read more about the anthem here.

Listen to a beautiful student rendition here (Hat tip: Lou Copes).

A gentleman from Texas

2008-11-05T19:31:00.000-08:00

Ripped For Being Out of Touch, He Chose Just The Right Touch
Wednesday, November 05
By Neil Cavuto, FOXnews.com

He was classy.
Magnanimous.
A gentleman.
Ripped for being out of touch, he chose just the right touch.
A man who critics say only mangled his words.
Conjured just the right ones.
I'm not talking about John McCain yesterday.
I'm talking about President Bush today.

McCain gave a classy speech.
The President made a classy gesture.
Offering only good words for the man who repudiated his run of the White House.
But going one better - - inviting Barack and Michelle Obama to the White House.
To see the place, and talk about the place, and the pressures of the place, in private.

These were not empty words. The President took care months ago to put a transition team in place so that a smooth transfer of power could take place.
President Bush wasn't so lucky when he was coming in.
Maybe things were different then. A lot of ill will then. Lots of hurtful words then.
He wasn't even running this year but it seemed everyone, including his own party's nominee, was running against him all year.

If he minded, he didn't show it.
"Does it all bug you?," I asked.
"Nah," he said, shrugging his shoulders and adding simply "I understand."
A man at peace with a nation seemingly at war.with him. Some for good reason, others apparently lacking reason.
He took nothing personally, always handling himself with dignity.
Not by what he said, but precisely what he did not.

I've read that the President is as kind to the elevator operator at the White House as he is to a visiting head of state to the White House.
I've seen it myself. Every time I've interviewed with him he sticks around and personally shakes the hands of each member of my crew, and then hangs out for pictures. Lots of pictures.
I know, little things. But to me, big things. That bespeak of a man far bigger than the petty things I see in the press.
Or hear in a harsh campaign year.
That ended today, with a quite gesture today.
From a President who'd be in his right to wag a finger.
But instead, simply offered his hand.

My comment: A truly great man who has been falsely maligned by those who should thank him for protecting them from terrorists for the past seven years. God help this country for the next four years.

Peggy sees the change 'she wants' in Obama

2008-11-01T16:31:00.000-07:00

From Obama 2.0:

I’ve got to give this to Barack Obama - he sure is a good salesman. Despite the reality that his increased spending, promised tax cuts and welfare checks are simply not feasible, he’s sold his story to lots of people who think he’s going to give them a free ride. One woman, Peggy Joseph, took her daughter out of school early to attend an Obama rally and she couldn’t contain her joy about what would be in store if Obama were to be elected.
“I won’t have to worry about putting gas in my car. I won’t have to worry about paying my mortgage. You know, if I help him, he’s going to help me.”
Poor Peggy, she is in for a surprise.

Hundreds vote on goals at town hall

2008-10-11T17:07:00.000-07:00

Corvallis Gazette-Times, October 9, 2008, by Matt Neznanski, Reporter

Rod Lawlor put aside a competing interest in Tuesday’s [10/7/08] presidential debate to instead engage in a discussion of sustainability in Corvallis. Lawlor came to Tuesday’s town hall as a professional in the housing and architecture industry, as both a student and a concerned citizen. “I’ve got questions, definitely,” he said. “I’m mostly interested in housing issues. Anything that increases housing density, I’m for.” Lawlor could take comfort in the fact that 450 other residents made the same choice and filled Oregon State University’s CH2M Hill Alumni Center’s main hall to take action on big ideas.

During the third and final town hall meeting, the Corvallis Sustainability Coalition unveiled the work of 12 groups formed to tackle specific topics such as energy use, transportation, education and housing. The groups created broad goals and a host of specific actions designed to move the community toward meeting them.

The coalition is a network of more than 130 organizations and individuals in Benton County dedicated to creating a community in which resources are renewed at the same rate as they are used. Partner organizations include nonprofits, businesses, churches, schools and local government.

Mayor Charlie Tomlinson praised the meeting’s participants and everyone who had pitched in over the summer to create a roadmap for sustainable efforts in the city. “We live in challenging times,” he said. “With optimism for the future, (however), we come here tonight because we believe in making positive contributions and we believe in our call to action.”

City leaders are banking on the idea. This year, the City Council invested $30,000 in the town hall meetings and has promised to use the plan to develop city policy. They have also promised to take the coalition’s findings into account when crafting city policies promoting sustainability next year.

John McEvoy was part of the group that tackled water-related issues. After eight meetings over the past five months, he said, the group was able to reach consensus on a difficult topic. “It wasn’t easy,” he said. “People have written books on water, and to distill it down into outline form, I feel we’ve gotten to the essence of the problem.” The group suggested reducing the amount of water required in the city and reviving its watersheds to support native fish. Both ideas met with approval from the larger group. “I think everyone has the sense that it’s a good effort,” McEvoy said. “Hopefully what happens is people say ‘Boy, I can do that,’ and if a lot of us do that we can get to goals that seemed far-reaching.”

The coalition will now craft a citywide plan for sustainability and present it to the City Council before the end of the year.

Matt Neznanski can be reached at 758-9518 or matt.neznanski@lee.net.

The following goals were deemed worthy of being made top priority by the hundreds in attendance at Tuesday’s town hall meeting. The coalition plans to conduct a more scientific survey in January to gauge broader public appeal. Percentages with each goal are the number of participants who chose that to be the top priority in its category.

Community inclusion - Describe who is in Corvallis and start talking to each other. (53 percent)
Economic vitality - Encourage 50 percent of residents, organizations, government and business to buy local first. (47 percent)
Education - Integrate sustainability concepts into local school curricula and facilities. (70 percent)
Energy - Reduce per capita energy consumption by 50 percent. (48 percent)
Food - Produce 60 percent of food consumed in Benton, Linn, Lincoln or Lane County. (51 percent)
Health and Human Services - Eliminate discharge of and exposure to toxic pollutants. (63 percent)
Housing - Make all housing energy efficient. (52 percent)
Land Use - Create compact, pedestrian-friendly, mixed-use neighborhoods over 80 percent of the city’s area. (34 percent)
Sustain 50 percent of the city with products produced within 100 miles. (34 percent)
Natural Areas and Wildlife - Manage all public and private natural areas to optimize ecological integrity and resilience. (35 percent)
Transportation - Reduce per capita gasoline consumption by 50 percent. (46 percent)
Waste and Recycling - Cut per capita weight of landfill disposal in half. (48 percent)
Water - Cut municipal water usage in half. (51 percent)

GT Reader Comments
The comments below are from readers of gazettetimes.com and in no way represent the views of the Gazette Times or Lee Enterprises.

CarpeDM wrote on Oct 8, 2008 5:26 PM:
" What a bunch of utopian crap ! Why not call for world peace and an end to hunger by 2025 also. "

Ellie wrote on Oct 8, 2008 10:49 PM:
" Carpe, if you weren't there you really have no idea about what was truly involved. It was an impressive array of community members, including academics, business leaders, politicians and educators among others. I'm sure you can contact someone on the committee to get you the details on the goals and steps to reaching those goals. I agree that some of the goals are pie in the sky, but heck, if you're going to dream why not dream big? It sure beats sitting on the sidelines naysaying while other people move on. "

CarpeDM wrote on Oct 9, 2008 8:17 AM:
" Ellie...I was more involved than you know. Its another grab at property rights, anti growth rhetoric , and a diversion of funds/excuse for [more] taxes....to "implement"....spare me. "

A message to Mr. Obama from one of America's finest

2008-09-06T14:14:00.000-07:00

(Hat tip: Linda Bartcher)

"No" to Immigrant Bashing

2008-08-01T17:03:00.000-07:00

Message from Roy Beck, Executive Director, Numbers USA

The chief difficulties that America faces because of current immigration are not triggered by who the immigrants are but by how many they are.

The task before the nation in setting a fair level of immigration is not about race or some vision of a homogenous white America; it is about protecting and enhancing the United States' unique experiment in democracy for all Americans, including recent immigrants, regardless of their particular ethnicity.

Nothing about this website should be construed as advocating hostile actions or feelings toward immigrant Americans; illegal aliens deserve humane treatment even as they are detected, detained and deported. Unfortunately, to write about problems of immigration is to risk seeming to attack immigrants themselves. Even worse is the risk of inadvertently encouraging somebody else to show hostility toward the foreign-born as a group.

I encounter too many immigrants and children of immigrants in daily affairs where I live in northern Virginia to take those risks lightly. From five continents, members of immigrant families have passed through my home, especially in the persons of friends of my sons. They are among the physical therapy patients of my wife; they are participants in youth activities which I lead; they are friends at my church, which has received national recognition for creating local service to new immigrants; they are neighbors; they are business clerks and owners where I trade.

Thus, as is the case for millions of other Americans, I have a very personal stake in not wanting to provoke hostility or discrimination toward the foreign-born who already are living among us.

But our kindly feelings toward immigrants must no longer stifle public discussion about the effects of immigration numbers.

To talk about changing immigration numbers is to say nothing against the individual immigrants in this country. Rather, it is about deciding how many foreign citizens living in their own countries right now should be allowed to immigrate in the future.

None of this is to suggest that no immigrants are scoundrels or contribute to problems of immigration because of their bad personal behavior. It is not unfair, nor does it constitute immigrant bashing, to criticize the behavior of specific immigrants who violate our laws or otherwise behave in a manner unworthy of guests who have been invited into this country.

It IS immigrant bashing, however, to ascribe those bad characteristics to whole groups of people based on their ethnicity or foreign-born status. All of us should be careful of the language we use so as not to inadvertently appear to be making such negative generalizations.

Not only is it ethically wrong to engage in such stereotyping, it is tactically short-sighted. There is much to suggest that most immigrants already among us would support reductions in immigration numbers. The reasons are not surprising. Virtually any reduction designed to help native-born Americans would be even more beneficial to foreign-born Americans. That is why so many immigrants are supporters of NumbersUSA.com.

Perhaps the greatest "immigrant bashers" are those Members of Congress who refuse to look at the abysmal conditions of so many immigrant Americans and who every year insist on adding more than a million more immigrants into their occupations, schools and communities.

--Based on an essay first published by W.W. Norton & Co. (1996)

U.S. is a suicidal superpower

2008-06-12T04:47:00.000-07:00

"What country that cares about its future would do what the U.S. has to its food and fuel supply, two of the most critical things that any civilization needs to survive?
" --Glenn Beck

Europe's New Pro-American Direction

2008-06-12T01:20:00.000-07:00

American Enterprise Institute, May 7, 2008 by John R. Bolton

Excerpt: But look today at Europe's political leadership: Nicolas Sarkozy in France has replaced the bitterly anti-American Jacques Chirac. In Germany, Angela Merkel has replaced the dyspeptic and anti-Iraq war Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder. Prime Minister Gordon Brown in Britain now once again speaks about the US-UK "special relationship." And now, Berlusconi will soon return to the Chigi Palace. How times change. Read full article at AEI...

4th of July: BCRW Patriotic Quilt Drawing

2008-06-12T00:25:00.000-07:00

The Benton County Republican Women are offering a beautiful red, white & blue patriotic handcrafted quilt as a prize for a drawing which will be held at the Benton County Republican Central Committee's Annual 4th of July Pancake Breakfast and Yard Sale, 12 Noon, at Republican Headquarters. Accomplished quilter, Dr. Juanita Lamley heads the quilting project. Tickets are $2 each or 3 for $5. Please contact Maureen Russian, (541) 752-8244, to purchase tickets or download a mail-in Order Form (MSWord.doc)-- winner need not be present.

Photo shows quilt in progress.

Oil Prices: Who's to Blame?

2008-06-11T23:50:00.000-07:00

U.S. Senate Floor Journal, Senator Larry Craig (R-ID), posted June 6, 2008

An email has been circulating that contains some of the floor charts Sen. Craig has used in his addresss to congress. Sen. Craig aggressively opposes the Climate Security Act. He champions drilling in ANWAR and the outer-continental shelf while supporting 'responsible' conservation efforts, realistic forest management and so forth until new technologies ease our energy needs for oil. He blasts Congress for caving to the pressures of environmentalists and their unrealistic demands for the past 30 years. Watch Sen. Craig’s floor speech (four-part streaming video):

Part 1: Who Should You Blame? (2:36)
Part 2: Blame Your Congressman (1:05). Transcript: America, blame your congress. Blame your friendly congressman or friendly senator. Ask them how they voted. Ask them how they’re going to vote on ANWAR, on outer continental shelf, on new development or on new refinery capacity. Oil is not the answer for 50 years from now but oil is the bridge that gets us from where we are to where we need to be with new technology. But our lack of foresightedness, our rush to be green, our rush to deny the realities of the marketplace have produced the problems we have today. And there are people to blame. And we ought to start right here with a congress that would not listen year after year, year after year while I and others brought ANWAR to the floor for a vote, while we tried to get into the outer continental shelf and politically, it was simply an unpopular th... [end of stream]
Part 3: The China-India Economic Stimulus Act of 2008 (2:27)
Part 4: The Second Largest Emitter of Carbon (2:30)

Ben Stein on oil & gas (2 years ago)

2008-06-11T23:41:00.000-07:00

(A good understanding of the oil and gas markets)Who's to Blame for High Oil and Gas Prices?Yahoo FINANCE, Posted March 17, 2006 - by Ben Stein

Executives of the big oil companies have been hauled before the U.S. Senate recently to defend their industry's recent mergers and record profits as American consumers face high oil and gasoline prices. I'm going to defend the big energy companies in this case, since I think they're not the reason for high prices.

Before you write me angry e-mails, dear reader, let me first lay down some street credibility. Yes, I'm a gray-haired guy now. But I've spent a lot of time in my life as an antipoverty lawyer in New Haven, Conn., and in Washington, D.C., helping very poor people with their legal woes. I also spent years as a lawyer working on prosecuting false and deceptive advertising.

Probably the lion's share of my adult life was spent writing about financial fraud for financial publication Barron's, and I helped put a number of fraudulent entities out of business. I also testified against a number of fraudulent managements in lawsuits, both state and federal, and I still often write about injustice in the boardroom.

That being said, I also know how a lynch mob operates. After all, if there's a problem, some cause has to be found. And it's really lovely if the cause can be someone rich and powerful so that we can work off our envy and also take the intoxicating drug of anger. Anger organizes our emotions, lines them up, removes ambiguity, and feels good.

Urge to Crack Down
So, the mob goes after someone to lynch, even if that person is innocent. After all, as the immortal Bob Dylan sang long ago, "A lot of people have knives and forks, and they don't have nothing on their plates, and they have to cut something."

This comes to mind because of the recent actions in the U.S. Senate that attempt to "crack down" on energy companies because the price of oil is so much higher than it used to be and because one large oil concern, Exxon (XOM), is reporting very large profits (after many years of modest earnings).

The crackdown takes the form of preventing oil companies from merging or at least making it much harder for them to merge. The idea is that the energy companies have been fixing prices at artificially high levels, and if they merge, they'll just do it more.

This idea is apparently backed even by someone as wise as Senator Arlen Specter (Rep.-Pa.), Chairman of the Judiciary Committee and a fellow graduate of Yale Law School.

No Conspiracy
The only problem with this idea is that it's based on a totally false premise. The energy companies don't set the price of oil or of gasoline. The prices you pay for heating oil or gasoline aren't set in boardrooms in Texas but in trading rooms at commodities markets all over the world.

Gas prices aren't set in shadowy conferences in shooting lodges, but in rooms of people shouting or punching computer keys in London, New York, and Tokyo. Oil is a world commodity like tin or copper or rubber or coffee. The price is set by traders anticipating supply and demand.

Rumors of war in the Mideast, terrorism against oil platforms in Nigeria, warmer weather in New England, bitter cold in London -- these are what set energy prices. Even the biggest U.S. energy companies are tiny pawns in the game compared with the world market, flotsam and jetsam in the ocean of world oil trading.

So, when prices go up or down, it's not a conspiracy. It's panic or confidence in the market. It's just like what happens on the stock markets every trading day -- greed or fear at work, not at the companies being traded but on the exchanges. The oil companies can either lose or gain from this trading.

Hobbling the Oil Companies
I know this is hard news to digest because who do we hate then? Well, some think we solve the problem by just hating and blaming the innocent -- in this case, the oil companies, dragging them from their beds, and lynching them. So what if they're innocent? Someone's got to pay.

The only problem is that if we keep punishing the companies that in good faith give us the energy we need to power our lives at market prices -- which sometimes give them a big profit and sometimes give them a small one -- eventually, they'll go away. Or they won't have the ability to do their jobs as well because of all the restrictions we've put on them.

Never mind, some think. A lot of people have knives and forks, and they don't have nothing on their plates, and they have to cut something.

An issue for the immigration reform debate

2008-06-11T23:36:00.000-07:00

Watch testimony on the unpaid costs to a hospital in Martin County Florida for care given to undocumented immigrants. The area is known to be fairly affluent and includes extensive property dedicated to agriculture. See video at Immigration Watchdog.

RFK: 1948 dispatches from Palestine

2008-06-11T23:32:00.000-07:00

Robert Kennedy's 1948 Reports from Palestine
JCPA U.S. Policy, June 2008 by Lenny Ben-David

In April 1948, one month before Israel declared independence, Robert Kennedy, then 22, traveled to Palestine to report on the conflict for the Boston Post. His four dispatches from the scene were published in June 1948. The newspaper closed in 1956, and for decades the reports were virtually forgotten. Read the dispatches...

A ghastly figure

2008-06-11T23:29:00.000-07:00

Just heard on the radio: The cost estimate for reducing the effects of Global Warming worldwide by 50% is... $45 trillion.

Fast Forward To Obama's America In 2012

2008-06-11T23:24:00.000-07:00

National Review Online, May 15, 2008 - by Michael Novak

One of the wisest American former officials I know asked me a few nights ago: “Michael, put on your thinking cap, and tell me where the United States will be four years from now, if Barack Obama is president.” Continued...

Senate to raise energy prices?

2008-06-11T23:18:00.000-07:00

Update: NO VOTE TAKEN
Freedom's Watch, June 5, 2008 - By Joe Eule, Chief of Staff

At $4 a gallon, Americans are hurting at the gas pump. Higher gas prices are affecting every part of our life. We’re paying more for food, milk, clothes, and cooling our homes. Even summer vacations are in jeopardy.

Yet the Senate is about to vote on a bill (S. 2191) that would make things worse by raising gas prices, increasing home energy bills, and slowing the economy, and we need your help to stop it. Send an email to your Senators and sign our petition today!

Sponsors say their bill will reduce the greenhouse gases that cause climate change. They call their plan "cap and trade," but it is really a huge hidden carbon tax on our economy that will have devastating consequences.

This bill could not come at a worse time. Last week General Motors announced it was closing four plants, putting nearly 5,000 Americans out of work. Thousands more in supporting industries will also lose their jobs.

Meanwhile, United Airlines announced it was slashing 1,600 jobs, idling older planes, and cutting routes - all because of skyrocketing gas prices.

Is your job next?
Incredibly, the bill before the Senate is estimated to raise the price of gasoline $1.10 a gallon, raise taxes, and increase your home energy bills (to find out what these higher costs will be where you live, click here).

This bill is so bad the Wall Street Journal called it “the largest income redistribution scheme since the income tax.” That’s saying something.

So please help us stop this bill from becoming law. First, click here to send your senators an email opposing S. 2191. Second, sign our petition opposing this bill that we can deliver to the Senate on your behalf.

With your help, we can stop this liberal assault on the paycheck you work so hard to earn. Please act NOW!

Why did America Abandon Its Constitutional Republic?

2008-06-11T23:16:00.000-07:00

Posted by Richard Owl at Gathering - This is a good article but the authors' remark in the comments section is surprising. See what you think.

Don Young Embodies What's Wrong With the GOP

2008-06-07T02:39:00.000-07:00

Opinion Journal, Page A13, June 6, 2008 - By Pat Toomey

Today, the Club for Growth Political Action Committee endorses Alaska Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell in his bid to unseat Republican Rep. Don Young in the state's August primary.

The reason for the endorsement is simple. Mr. Parnell is a solid conservative who led the fight for lower taxes and spending in the state legislature, and joined Gov. Sarah Palin in pushing for reform in the state. The man he is hoping to replace isn't economically conservative in the least. Mr. Young is actually a poster child for what has gone wrong with the Republican Party in Washington.

Over his 35 years in Congress, Mr. Young made himself into the most powerful Republican on the House Transportation Committee. But instead of using his power to steer Republicans down a principled, conservative track, he helped derail the GOP train in 2006.

Mr. Young spends taxpayer money so wastefully he could make a liberal Democrat blush. As chairman of the Transportation Committee (from 2001 to 2007), Mr. Young was directly responsible for one of the biggest boondoggles of the Republican majority – the 2005 highway bill. With a price tag of $296 billion, the highway bill contained a record 6,371 pork projects.
One of those projects was the $223 million Bridge to Nowhere, inserted by Mr. Young. The notorious bridge was meant to connect the city of Ketchikan, Alaska – population 8,000 – to an airport on Gravina Island – population 50. Instead, it came to symbolize Republican excess, and helped cost the GOP its majority.

But the bridge isn't Mr. Young's only earmark to draw negative attention. It seems the veteran lawmaker inserted a $10 million earmark into the 2006 transportation bill for a road project in Florida.

Of course, Florida is not exactly next door to Alaska, so more than a few people have wondered why Mr. Young pushed to fund the pork-barrel project. Among those inquiring into the matter is the Justice Department, which is looking at the fact that a Florida real estate developer, Daniel J. Aronoff, who stands to benefit from the federal earmark, has raised some $40,000 for Mr. Young's campaign coffers.

It's not just on spending that Mr. Young abandons Republican principles. Recently, he has joined with Democrats in voting to increase the minimum wage, increase income taxes on top earners, and to pass a bloated farm bill. Mr. Young also voted for "card check," which would allow unions to organize without holding secret ballot elections.

He has a history of voting against important free-trade agreements and, just a couple of weeks ago, proposed a $1 per-gallon tax increase on gasoline. He must not have had to fill up at the pump lately.

During his time in Congress, Mr. Young has come to represent the worst of a Republican Party that became too comfortable in power. In 1995, a Republican majority passed a budget that actually cut spending. Today, only 40 Republicans out of 248 GOP senators and representatives have sworn off earmarks, despite overwhelming support for earmark reform among the party's base and the general public.

Just 12 years ago, the Republican Caucus, including Mr. Young, voted for a bill to phase out farm subsidies. Three weeks ago, Mr. Young and many of those same members voted for a farm bill that exemplifies everything the GOP once stood against. Somewhere between then and now, many congressional Republicans abandoned their former commitment to limited government, fiscal discipline and economic freedom.

There is no question that the Republican Party is in trouble. Faced with staggering losses in 2006 and what might be an even worse election cycle this year, GOP congressmen are finally acknowledging the dismal state of the Republican brand. What are they doing about it?
Not much. The reason is that Mr. Young and many other members are not willing to change. They don't want to give up their pork projects, their subsidies and their favorite big-government programs. And those members with the temerity to challenge the broken system are berated as disloyal and threatened.

"Those who bite me will be bitten back," Mr. Young warned New Jersey's Republican Rep. Scott Garrett last July. Mr. Garrett had tried to remove a $34 million earmark inserted into an appropriations bill by Mr. Young.

The Alaska primary represents a crossroads for Republicans. Will party leaders line up behind Mr. Young, even as the Justice Department is looking into his earmarks? Or will they tell him they cannot support a member who has flagrantly disrespected taxpayers and abandoned Republican principles?

If Republicans want to start winning again they need to return to the principles of fiscal responsibility and limited government that won them control of Congress in 1994. This is no easy task. But the GOP can start by showing Mr. Young the door.

Mr. Toomey, a former Republican congressman from Pennsylvania, is the president of the Club for Growth.

See all of today's editorials and op-eds, plus video commentary, on Opinion Journal.

Sportsmanship and Character

2008-06-03T23:21:00.000-07:00

A home run, adversity, and a moment like no other -- when Central Washington met Western Oregon on the softball field in early May 2008.

Touching Them All

Words of warning to the West

2008-06-03T23:08:00.000-07:00

Hat tip: ACT for America, June 3, 2008
World Net Daily, May 19, 2008 - By Joel Richardson

The United States is about to be tried. At stake are the very freedoms that we all hold so dear. On March 27, the United Nations Human Rights Council voted to adopt resolution 7/19 on "Combating defamation of religions." In one of the most Orwellian resolutions ever passed, this so-called "Human Rights Council" condemns "Islamophobia," which includes any, "attempts to identify Islam with terrorism, violence and human rights violations."
Think about this for a moment. Suppose that I tell you Continued...
© 2008

When Oregon unions flex, candidates win races

2008-06-03T22:51:00.000-07:00

The Oregonian, June 1, 2008 - by Harry Esteve

Labor muscle scored a total victory May 20, when all of its endorsements won. Organized labor -- public employee unions in particular -- spent hundreds of thousands of dollars and uncounted volunteer hours on Oregon's May 20 primary elections. It all paid off. Most candidates with union backing won. Candidates in union doghouses lost.

The net result was a monster victory for labor groups that helped solidify their role as one of the state's top power brokers.

Unions played key roles in statewide victories for secretary of state candidate Kate Brown, attorney general candidate John Kroger and U.S. Senate candidate Jeff Merkley. But they also got involved locally, helping Sam Adams win the Portland mayoral contest, Democrat Michael Dembrow win the House District 45 primary in Northeast Portland, and Dennis Doyle oust Beaverton Mayor Rob Drake.

The outcome left Republicans grumbling about the increasing influence of unions in state government. And it left little doubt that labor's agenda will get red-carpet treatment when the 2009 Legislature meets in January. Continued here.

Also, talk radio host, Todd Feinburg refers to this article in an interesting blog titled How much has America changed?.

Petitions

2008-06-03T22:48:00.000-07:00

American Solutions Petition: Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less
According to American Solutions' tri-partisan research, 73% of the American people agree that with appropriate safeguards to protect the environment, we should drill for oil off America's coasts to reduce our dependence on foreign oil.

Online Initiative Petition #112: Respect for the Law Act
Circulated by Oregonians for Immigration Reform (OFIR), this initiative requires specified documentation to: 1) get an Oregon Driver license; 2) register to vote in Oregon and; 3) eliminates statutes/regulations that prohibit law enforcement from cooperating with immigration authorities.

Primary Election Results

2008-06-03T22:44:00.000-07:00

Find Oregon's May 20, 2008 results:
Benton County Elections Office
Oregon Secretary of State

31,000 Signatures Prove ‘No Consensus’ About Global Warming

2008-06-03T22:36:00.000-07:00

AIM Briefing May 22, 2008 - By Melinda Zosh

“Half the world will be hungry.”

Presidential candidate Barack Obama said on Monday that “we have to get used to the idea that we can’t keep our houses at 72, drive our SUVs and eat all we want.” Arthur B. Robinson, president and professor of chemistry at the Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine, has a different response.

“I don’t want to give up eating all I want because of a failed hypothesis,” said Robinson at the National Press Club here on May 19. Robinson said global warming is not a threat to America. He said that the global temperature increased by just .5 degrees in the last century.

Robinson spoke about his petition signed by 31,000 U.S. scientists who reject the claims that “human release of greenhouse gases is damaging our climate.”

“World temperatures fluctuate all the time,” said Robinson. “The temperature of the Earth has risen many times, far more times than carbon dioxide could drive it. There is no experimental evidence that humans are changing the environment…”

Robinson said that in recent years the U.N. and a group of 600 scientists, representing less than one percent of the scientific population, reached a “consensus” that global warming is happening. This has never been done before, Robinson insists.

Dennis Avery, Director for the Center of Global Food Issues at the Hudson Institute, agrees with Robinson. “Nobody can do science by a committee. You do science by testing,” said Avery. “To me it is appalling that an international organization of the stature of the U.N. would ignore the evidence of past climate changing.”
The signers of Robinson’s petition, including 9,000 Ph.Ds, all have one thing in common. They believe that human rights are being taken away. Continued...

McCain Veepstakes: Bobby Jindal

2008-06-03T22:32:00.000-07:00

Human Events, May 22, 2008 - by John Gizzi

Here’s an important pointer for anyone planning on interviewing Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal: Before sitting down with the 36-year-old Republican, clear your schedule all around the time of the interview, because you ask Jindal something, he will always get a detailed answer -- and then some.

When we spoke recently, I reminded Jindal of how I last heard him when he was a U.S. House member two years ago, telling a luncheon audience about how people volunteering their services on relief efforts after Hurricane Katrina found they were thwarted by federal regulations. What particularly moved me, I told him, was his story of how a doctor from Pennsylvania was not permitted to treat patients in parts of Louisiana ravaged by the worst natural disaster in American history until he filled out several forms.

“They told him he literally had to mop floors, if you remember, at an airport that he was in where there were people dying.” Jindal told me, “There are thousands of these stories. I talked to a sheriff in an area where they had people with boats that were ready to go in the water and rescue people and they were turned away because they didn’t have proof of registration and insurance, they didn’t bring the right paperwork. The bureaucracy was just awful.”

The 36-year-old governor then proceeded to tell more sad sagas of Americans from other states who were trying to help Louisianans in their worst hour and kept running into a bureaucratic brick wall. Barely stopping for a breath, Jindal vividly contrasted the horror stories of dealing with government bureaucracy in attempts to help Katrina victims to successful relief efforts by non-governmental sources -- Wal-Mart, Ford Motor and churches. Continued...

Mandates costly? Who knew?

2008-06-03T22:24:00.000-07:00

Want To Reduce Health Insurance Costs? Eliminate Mandates
Say Anything (Blog), May 20, 2008, posted by Rob

Or, in other words, make the health insurance market truly free. Or freer, at least.

A 2005 study by the Commonwealth Fund illustrates how insurance rates for young people are far higher in states with guaranteed issue and community rating than in states that do not have them. For instance:
A healthy 25-year-old male could purchase a policy for $960 a year in Kentucky but would pay about $5,880 in New Jersey.
A similar policy, available for about $1,548 in Kansas, costs $5,172 in New York.
A policy priced at $1,692 in Iowa costs $2,664 in Washington and $4,032 in Massachusetts. . . .
Forcing insurers to cover benefits that many consumers may not want (or need) also drives up premiums. For instance, New Jersey is one of only four states to mandate coverage for chiropody. And it is one of only 13 states that mandate coverage for in vitro fertilization — adding 3 percent to 5 percent to the cost of premiums. Proponents often argue that their particular mandate costs little; but when all 42 of New Jersey’s mandated benefits are added together the costs are significant. Nationwide, as many as one-quarter of the uninsured may have been priced out of the market by costly mandates.
What’s troubling is how many politicians want to solve this problem which was created by too much government interference with more government interference in the form of expanded government-provided health care.

It's official... Polar Bears are Endangered...

2008-06-03T22:18:00.000-07:00

May 15, 2008 - Heard on the radio today that polar bears have been put on the endangered species list... well... sort of... kind of. They may not be exactly endangered since there were reported to be 5,000 polar bears in the 1970's and there are 25,000 today... but... the AGW proponents' applied enough pressure so here we are. The door is open... stay tuned for more and beware!

Jobs pay for our quality of life

2008-06-03T22:14:00.000-07:00

Corvallis Gazette-Times, LETTERS, May 13, 2008

When I read about the choices for Corvallis City Council Ward 7, my humble opinion is that Jeannie Raymond couldn't be more wrong for Corvallis.

Her idea that we need to worry about Corvallis' "carbon footprint" seems entirely irrelevant given Hewlett Packard Co.'s pending layoff of 300 people.

We're all concerned about our "carbon footprint," but we need to put first things first.

The bottom line, at least to me, is that a high quality of life is not possible unless people have jobs.

In order to have a thriving arts community, a tax base that supports sustainability initiatives, clean water, paved roads, bridges that dont fall into the river, and so forth, people first have to be employed.

I appreciate Rick Schroffs more balanced approach. As a service-oriented businessman who is conscious about sustainability, I think hes going to be able to make the necessary intelligent tradeoffs that can help us retain the high quality of life that perhaps too many of us take for granted, while helping Corvallis keep and attract high-quality jobs.

That's my theory and I'm sticking to it.
Jeff Limon, Corvallis

Republican for a Reason... (button)

2008-05-18T13:02:00.000-07:00

"REPUBLICAN FOR A REASON... Free People & Free Markets, Strong National Defense, Limited Government, Personal Responsibility, Low Taxes"

Designer's note: Many thanks to Robert M. "Mike" Duncan, Republican National Committee Chairman for the "Republican for a Reason..." idea (published in the RNC's Rising Tide, Summer and Fall 2008 editions). --PJ

Write-in for Oregon AG

2008-05-09T02:30:00.000-07:00

A Republican Candidate for Attorney General After All...
Write Idea (Blog), Saturday, May 3, 2008

Those registered Republican voters in Oregon who have received their ballots may have noticed that no Republican filed to run for Attorney General.

If a candidate gets enough write-in votes in a primary election, they can still appear on the ballot in November if they are qualified and accept the nomination. Normally when no candidate from one party files to run for an office, a candidate of the other party organizes a write-in campaign to win the nomination for both parties. This year however, in the Oregon Attorney General’s race there is a tough primary between two Democrats, Greg Macpherson a far-left Legislator, and Professor John Kroger who has taken HUGE donations from unions, making it difficult to run a write-in campaign as well. Also, a lot of usual RINO's, who would typically write in one of the Democrats, will be voting in the important Democratic Presidential primary.

All this leaves an opening for a Republican candidate. Enter Ron Saxton , a former attorney and School Board Chairman who ran for Governor in 2002 and 2006, winning the nomination, but failing to win the general, in 2006.

After the 2006 election Saxton said he was unlikely to seek public office again. However, if he is nominated by write-in votes, he would likely accept the nomination. Saxton has the qualifications, high name-recognition, and fairly moderate positions on the issues that it will take to win the general election.

Republicans should consider writing-in Ron Saxton (that's R-o-n S-a-x-t-o-n) for Attorney General as they vote in the next few weeks (don't forget to fill in the bubble as well). He will need the support of many Republicans to stave off any write-in efforts by the Democratic candidates, so anybody interested in voting for him should tell all their friends, too.

England's Call to Repeal Our Declaration of Independence

2008-05-09T02:24:00.000-07:00

Eagle Forum.org, April 30, 2008 by Phyllis Schlafly

It's a good thing that British Prime Minister Gordon Brown's U.S. visit was upstaged by the dramatic reception Americans gave Pope Benedict XVI. Brown might have been booed if he hadn't delivered what aides called his "signature" speech within the cloistered walls of Harvard's Kennedy Center. Brown's tedious, hour-long speech impudently demanded that we issue a "Declaration of Interdependence" in order to submit to global governance. That's another way of calling on us to repeal our Declaration of Independence.

No thanks for the advice, Mr. Brown. Brave Americans rose up and rejected Britain's royalist rule in 1776, and we've gotten along mighty well without transatlantic interference in our government for more than two centuries. We certainly don't want to reinstate any foreign supervision today.

The redundancy of Brown's outrageous semantics was oppressive. His speech used the word global 69 times, globalization 7 times, and interdependence 13 times. He referred to Kennedy 19 times, lavishing fulsome praise on John F. ("his influence abides everywhere"), Robert (he sent forth "ripples of hope"), and Ted ("one of the greatest Senators in more than two centuries").

Brown rejected the traditional concept of national sovereignty, which means an independent nation not subservient to any outside control, telling us to replace it with "responsible sovereignty," which he defined as accepting what he calls our global "obligations." Hold on to your pocketbook.

Brown admitted that his "main argument" is that we must accept "new global rules," "new global institutions," and "global networks." Brown's global rules include massive U.S. cash handouts and opening U.S. borders to the world.

Brown's use of well-known American political phrases was tacky. He tried to morph FDR's New Deal into a "New Global Deal," and JFK's New Frontier into "the New Frontier is that there is no frontier."

Brown even slipped in an attempt at thought control: "Americans must learn to think inter-continentally." He declaimed, "We are all internationalists now."

Using the rhetorical device of inevitability, Brown warned us that his vision of the globalist future is "irreversible transformation." He wants to "transcend states" and "transcend borders" as he builds the "architecture of a global society."

Brown peddled the nonsense that the peoples of the world "subscribe to similar ideals." He tried to tell us that all religions (Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists) have "common values" and "similar ideals." No, they certainly do not.

Brown wants to increase the power of the United Nations to become the source of "an international stand-by capacity of trained civilian experts, ready to go anywhere at any time," and even be able to exercise "military force." Americans do not intend to cede such authority to the corrupt UN.

The silliest part of Brown's ponderous speech was his claim that "a global society" is "advancing democracy widely across the world." In fact, he doesn't even practice democracy in his own country.

Brown refused to allow the British people to vote on whether or not they want to accept the European Union (EU) constitution. He acquiesced in the plot of the constitution's author, Valery Giscard d'Estaing, to put the EU constitution into effect by calling it a treaty so it did not have to be voted on by the people.

Brown was chicken about the treaty subterfuge and did not permit a photographic record of his participation. He sent his Foreign Secretary to perform the official treaty signing in front of cameras.

The EU constitution, now called the Treaty of Lisbon, requires all signers to surrender their sovereignty and democracy to unelected bureaucrats in Brussels and judges in Strasbourg. The EU constitution takes away England's right to pass its own laws, forces England to surrender more than 60 UK vetoes of EU decisions, and gives the EU bureaucracy and tribunals total control over England's immigration policy.

Instead of a self-governing nation whose democratic system was developed over centuries, England is now ruled by what Margaret Thatcher called "the paper pushers in Brussels."
Brown made his globalism speech emphatic by repeatedly invoking the words "New World Order." The New World Order Brown tries to con the United States into accepting would mean taxing Americans for foreign handouts so immense they would make the Marshall Plan look puny, global warming rules to drastically reduce our standard of living, and putting American workers in a common labor pool with the world's billions who subsist on less than $2 a day.

Gordon Brown invited us to march forward to globalism "where there is no path." He's correct that there is no path on which we can expect globalism to lead us to a better world; in fact every path toward global government is a surrender of our liberty and our prosperity.

Gordon Brown should go back home and study up on how Americans refused to accept orders from King George III.

Benton Co. Voter Registration

2008-05-09T02:19:00.000-07:00

Corvallis Gazette-Times publishes Voter Registration numbers
Tuesday, April 29, 2008

As of January 1:

Total: 44,873
Democrat: 18,259
Republican: 14,650
Non-Affiliated: 10,673

As of April 28th:

Total: 47.145
Democrats: 21,357
Republicans: 14,511
Non-Affiliated: 9,926

Republicans outlawed the Ku Klux Klan

2008-04-20T17:19:00.000-07:00

Grand Old Partisan, April 20, 2008, by Michael Zak

For decades after the Civil War, the Ku Klux Klan was the terrorist wing of the Democratic Party. Klansmen murdered hundreds of Republican activists and office- holders, including U.S. Representative James Hinds (R-Arkansas).
On this day in 1871, the Republican-controlled 42nd Congress passed and the Republican President, Ulysses Grant, signed into law the Ku Klux Klan Act. The law banned the KKK and other Democrat terrorist organizations. President Grant then deployed federal troops to crush a Klan uprising in South Carolina.
Eleven years later, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned most provisions of the Act. Though legalized, this original version of the Ku Klux Klan soon faded. Why? Because as Democrats regained control over southern state governments, they could oppress African-Americans openly, without need of sheets.
Republicans today would benefit tremendously from appreciating the heritage of our Grand Old Party.
Michael Zak is a popular speaker to Republican organizations around the country. He is the author of Back to Basics for the Republican Party, the acclaimed history of the GOP cited by Clarence Thomas in a Supreme Court decision. Hundreds more articles are available on the Grand Old Partisan blog -- each day celebrating 154 years of Republican heroes and heroics. See www.republicanbasics.com for more information.

Clemens clamp down

2008-04-20T16:35:00.000-07:00

Tuition grants will only be for second-generation students, certain schools
Covallis Gazette-Times, Archives, April 11, 2008 by Kyle Odegard

The Clemens Foundation — which since the 1960s has paid college tuition for thousands of high school graduates from Philomath, Eddyville and Alsea — has changed its grant criteria, severely limiting who it will help starting this fall.

To receive Clemens grants, students must now be a second-generation resident of one of these communities, and attend a conservative private college from an approved list or a trade, vocational or medical school. Students attending public colleges or universities are no longer eligible for the grants, with the exception of some students who enroll in trade or vocational courses. Veterinary or medical schools that are part of a public university may be considered on an individual basis.

“The world is changing,” said Clemens Foundation Board of Directors treasurer Fred Lowther, when asked for reasons behind the new rules. “There’s new criteria. It’s all in the paperwork the kids pick up. That’s all they need to know. We have the right to change it.” The Clemens Foundation awarded $1.75 million worth of college tuition grants in 2006, according to federal nonprofit mandatory paperwork. The foundation’s net value at that time was $30 million.

Philomath Schools Superintendent Pete Tuana said he was surprised by the change when he learned about it on Thursday, and said students have expressed their frustration to him. “I’m disappointed for kids,” he said.

“For some students, it will make a difference on whether they can immediately attend school. But it is their money,” said Philomath High School Principal Kent Sherwood.

“It’s ridiculous,” said Philomath High School senior Joe Gates, 17, who plans to go to Linn-Benton Community College in the fall. “They had this grant forever. I’ve been going here since I was 5. I’ve been looking forward to it for the last 12 years. Then they take it away.”

“I’ll just have to take out more loans,” said Adam Schreiner-McGraw, a senior who plans to attend the University of Oregon.

Other students said they think the intent of the grant program has been warped.
Now, instead of providing aid to a small town, it’s being used as leverage to guide the community’s politics and beliefs, said Kasra Azizian, 17, who will attend the University of Oregon in the fall. [Emphasis added]

Grant application paperwork says that a list of acceptable colleges can be found at yaf.org, the Web site of the conservative political organization the Young America’s Foundation.

The Clemens Foundation was created by the late Rex and Ethel Clemens, who owned a saw mill and timber land. They made a fortune in the logging industry, and donated land, athletic fields and millions of dollars worth of tuition grants to the community. Though they shunned the spotlight, the town’s football field, swimming pool and primary school are named after them.

The Clemenses didn’t have children of their own, and their nephews Fred, David and Steve Lowther now are in key leadership spots with the philanthropic foundation the couple created. They have made significant changes to its grant program in the last five years.

For years, the Clemens Foundation provided a grant equivalent to tuition at Oregon State University for any high school graduate from Philomath, Alsea, Eddyville or the Eastern Oregon town of Crane who wanted to attend college.

In 2003, the Clemens Foundation made national headlines when it issued an ultimatum to Philomath School District officials to make administrative changes, claiming the local schools had become too “politically correct.” The scholarship program’s eligibility requirements were altered to reflect the foundation’s values.

Favored status was given to students who were members of such groups as 4-H and Boy Scouts and a requirement was added that students have a family background in timber, ranching, farming, mining, manufacturing or occupations in support of those industries.

The foundation continued to provide scholarships to most who applied, but some were turned down.

In 2005, the Clemens Foundation suspended its grants for students attending Oregon State University, saying there was a decline in ethics at the school and its quality of education. About 150 recipients were enrolled at OSU at the time.

Kyle Odegard can be contacted at kyle.odegard@lee.net or 758-9523.

Additional articles:
Corvallis Gazette-Times, April 14, 2008 by Kyle Odegard Retired Educator: Clemens mission lost.
April 19, 2008 - GT Editorial and Comments: Foundation seems short-sighted, within rights

McCain's response to Obama's "bitter" comment

2008-04-20T16:22:00.000-07:00

A Message from John McCain's Campaign Manager, Rick Davis
National Federation of Republican Women
Political Briefing: Week of April 14, 2008

We've all said things that we've regretted. Sometimes they result from a mere slip of the tongue and sometimes they reveal deeply held beliefs that you'd rather not communicate to the world.
A few days ago, at a San Francisco fundraiser, Barack Obama described Americans who live in small towns or other areas that have experienced a loss of jobs as "bitter" people, adding that it didn't surprise him that they, "..cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations."
These words are revealing on a number of levels, and expose the out-of-touch beliefs to which John McCain offers stark contrast. Today, John McCain offered a different account of small town America:
"During the Great Depression, with many millions of Americans out of work and the country suffering the worst economic crisis in our history, there rose from small towns, rural communities, inner cities, a generation of Americans who fought to save the world from despotism and mass murder, and came home to build the wealthiest, strongest and most generous nation on earth.

They suffered the worst during the Depression, but it did not shake their faith in, and fidelity to, America. They did not turn to their religious faith and cultural traditions out of resentment and a feeling of powerlessness to affect the course of government or pursue prosperity. On the contrary, their faith had given generations of their families' purpose and meaning, as it does today."
These hard working men and women aren't "bitter". They love their country, their faith, their family and their traditions. They are the heart and soul of this country, the foundation of our strength and the primary authors of its essential goodness - Barack Obama should get to know them.

If Barack Obama is the Democrat nominee in the general election, the American people will have a clear choice between two different visions - Senator Obama's liberal, elitist philosophy and John McCain's faith in the small town values that continue to make America great. John McCain will not forget them or write them off. Neither should Barack Obama.

Bill Bradbury fails to follow his own election rules

2008-04-20T16:21:00.000-07:00

Oregon Catalyst, Wednesday, April 16, 2008, by Dave Hunnicutt

HEY BILL, IF YOU DON'T FOLLOW YOUR OWN RULES, THEN WHY SHOULD WE?

As the state's top election official, you'd think Secretary of State Bill Bradbury would understand and obey all election laws and rules, wouldn't you?

After all, Bradbury never seems to have a problem "interpreting" the rules when it comes to imposing fines on unsuspecting chief petitioners or political action committees, and he sure can come up with clever "interpretations" when it comes time to knock out a few hundred signatures to keep a conservative measure off the ballot. Continued...

Movie Trailer: EXPELLED

2008-04-20T16:20:00.000-07:00

Ben Stein's movie, EXPELLED No Intelligence Allowed opens Friday, April 18th. Rated: PG

Property Rights hero Dorothy English Passes Away

2008-04-20T16:16:00.000-07:00

Friday, April 11, 2008 by Oregonians In Action
Posted at Oregon Catalyst.com by In the news

Dorothy English, the "poster child" for property rights in Oregon, passed away Thursday at the age of 95.

Mrs. English gained statewide notoriety for her long battle to regain the rights to use her property that were taken by the State of Oregon and Multnomah County. She served as a spokesperson for Ballot Measure 37 (2004), the landmark property rights measure approved by Oregon voters in 2004, and was the first person to file a Measure 37 claim. Eventually, Mrs. English secured a $1,150,000 judgment against Multnomah County for the loss to the value of her property caused by Multnomah County regulations. Continued...

Local couple share Huckabee Campaign experience

2008-04-20T15:46:00.000-07:00

As published in the March 2008 BCRW Newsletter

On the Presidential Campaign Trail 2008 with Irma and Pat Canan

From December 2, 2007 when we boarded Amtrak’s Empire Builder in Portland, Oregon and headed for New Hampshire, until February 22nd when we rolled back into Corvallis in the used car we purchased in New England, we experienced the presidential primary “up close and personal.”

Hey -- who is this guy?
Sometime in early January 2007, we stumbled across Mike Huckabee on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart on the Comedy Central television channel. Having just completed ten and a half years as governor of Arkansas, he was traveling the book circuit promoting his sixth book, From Hope to Higher Ground. Mike Huckabee had not yet announced his intention to seek the Republican presidential nomination, but he did not deny that he was considering it. As the interview progressed, we became fascinated. There was something fresh about this fellow -- smart, quick-witted, eloquent, gracious, candid, accessible. He seemed different. We researched his career, both in public service and in the pastorate, and we became increasingly impressed.

He emerged as a man of deep personal faith, quiet strength and courage, and thoughtful, creative leadership. There was no silver spoon, no inheritance, no ivy league education, no golf course conversations leading to employment opportunities -- simply a bright mind, kind heart, buoyant yet humble spirit, and a generosity in the way he shared his abundant talents and gifts.

Wouldn’t it be fun if...?
While driving from Corvallis to visit relatives in California in October of 2007, we joked about how if we simply took a left turn we could head out toward Iowa and participate in what was beginning to look like an unusually robust primary. Our conversation quickly transitioned from, “wouldn’t it be fun if...” to “let’s call and find out if we can be helpful, somehow.” As soon as we arrived at our relatives’ home, we phoned Huckabee national campaign headquarters in Little Rock, Arkansas, and were given the Iowa contact information we sought. Things were looking good in Iowa for Huckabee, and so we reconsidered where we might invest our best effort. What about New Hampshire? We phoned Little Rock again and asked for the phone number in New Hampshire. Once more, they provided us with the information we sought and we immediately placed the call. Bingo -- New Hampshire welcomed our offer to volunteer. We thanked them and said we’d join them in New England right after Thanksgiving.

Details, details!
We needed to get there, we needed a place to live, and we needed to stay within our very limited budget. But, we also knew we needed to go. We decided to take the train and booked all the way across the country to Concord, New Hampshire where the only Huckabee office in the state was located. Craigslist came through for housing. We found a wonderful apartment -- the first floor of a two-story Victorian home in a beautiful neighborhood just a few blocks from the historic state capitol building and the Huckabee headquarters. We were set!

What if?
Time flew by, and December 2nd arrived. We were on our way! As our fantasy began turning into reality, we began wondering, “What if...?” What if we found out that Mike Huckabee wasn’t who we thought he was and we could not, in good conscience, support his candidacy? What if we would be asked to participate in ways that did not sit comfortably? What if the whole thing was an ill-fit for us, and there we would be -- more than three thousand miles from home? We talked it over and decided that, as volunteers, we were free to leave the campaign if we felt we had made a mistake. Giving ourselves that permission relieved the pressure and allowed us to begin our adventure with unmitigated enthusiasm.

All aboard!
We left Portland on a bleak and blustery afternoon and chugged our way across the Columbia River and along the Washington side of the Gorge. We woke up in snow-covered western Montana and headed east through an amazingly beautiful winterscape. Even the Mississippi River was frozen over, and the entire route was decked in white, making the tiny towns of West Virginia and Pennsylvania look like villages in a model railroad. We changed trains in Chicago and again in Washington, D.C. where we had enough time to take a little walk and to have dinner in Union Station with our son who lives in the nation’s capital. In Boston, we transferred to an Amtrak bus that took us to Concord, New Hampshire -- our home for the next five weeks.

Home is where the heart is
We picked up a rental car we had reserved and found the Huckabee headquarters first and then our apartment, where we felt immediately at home. It was fully outfitted and our only purchase was a crockpot. We quickly developed routines in our new home, and within a few days we found an old, cheap car to buy, again thanks to craigslist.

Concord looked like a Currier and Ives print of wintertime in New England. Icicles taller than we were decorated homes and businesses, and everything was covered in deep snow. It remained that way, with new snow falling, sometimes a foot or two in a single day. On Christmas Eve day, we drove through the White Mountains, through Bethlehem, and over into Vermont. It was an unusual and beautiful Christmas in our home away from home.

We managed to squeeze in some special, personal events that were meaningful for us but were unrelated to the Huckabee campaign activities in which we were engaged. We attended the opening sessions of both the New Hampshire House and the Senate, and we met William Gardner, Secretary of State. We visited old friends of Irma’s and old friends of Pat’s mother. We were twice guests in the beautiful home of Steve and Kit Reno, friends of our friends, John and Shirley Byrne, who suggested we contact the Renos once we reached New Hampshire. Steve had been president of Southern Oregon University in Ashland (overlapping with John who had been president of Oregon State University) and was now serving as chancellor for the New Hampshire system of higher education. On one occasion, they invited us to meet with a few friends of theirs and with Betsy Myers, Chief Operating Officer of Barack Obama’s presidential campaign (and sister of DeDe Myers, former Press Secretary in the Clinton administration). On the second occasion, we were invited to attend a breakfast in their home, along with other guests and fifteen diplomats representing a wide array of nations who were visiting New Hampshire to observe the primary process and become familiarized with the candidates. There were two television journalists there, as well, who gave informal presentations and shared their perspectives on the history, process, and current status of the role of New Hampshire in American politics. They were Carl Cameron of Fox News and another, whose name escapes us, from ABC news. Joining us at this event was Pat’s brother, Mike, who flew up from Florida for the weekend just prior to the primary to share in the excitement. Our son from Washington, D.C., along with a friend of his, also joined us during the final week while they volunteered on Barack Obama’s campaign. We all five shared our cozy apartment, our experiences, and our observations on the campaign trail. It was a special time.

HHQ
Aside from a small team of paid employees, the work at Huckabee’s headquarters, like his entire New Hampshire campaign, was accomplished by volunteers. We were the eldest and the only volunteers who were there on a daily basis which sometimes meant we engaged in unanticipated troubleshooting and problem solving. The most important task we were asked to perform was to represent Governor Huckabee at the “First in the Nation” luncheon, a New Hampshire Republican event at which prominent state leaders gather. In addition, Duncan Hunter, Ron Paul, Lindsey Graham (on behalf of John McCain), Michael Steele, and Massachusetts’ Lieutenant Governor (serving as Mitt Romney’s surrogate) were there as guest speakers. Age (ours) has its privileges and its responsibilities!

In general, we spent all day, nearly every day, for the first four weeks at Huckabee headquarters except for a couple of days where the streets were too treacherous to drive or to walk. Our tasks were mostly basic ones such as phoning; putting lawn signs together; writing, addressing, and stamping mailings; doing literature drops (on icy streets); composing phone scripts. We learned about the local customs of sign waving and election day “pole standing” where supporters of candidates take places just outside of polling stations, holding up signs as visual reminders and encouragement to the voters arriving to cast their ballots. We served as poll standers at two sites. At the first one, Pat was interviewed for Rhode Island radio and Irma was interviewed by an Arizona newspaper and a Brazilian television station, and it was there that she ran into, and spoke with, Pat Buchanan. We reached our second polling site at the end of a long day of voting, and as we stood there in the dark of nightfall, Mike and Janet Huckabee arrived and came up to greet all the poll standers, regardless of which candidate or party they represented. They recognized us and greeted us warmly, and we chatted briefly.

Our entire experience with the people of the Granite State was infused with a shared sense that, regardless of party or candidate, we were all working on the same team, the team of democracy in America. New Hampshire was a deep and emotional experience for us, affirming how our citizen government works and why this inspired experiment has endured.

Face Time
Earlier in the campaign, Janet and Mike Huckabee came to New Hampshire, accompanied by Chuck and Gena Norris and Ed Rollins. When they arrived at headquarters, Janet walked up to us and asked, “Are you the folks who came by train from Oregon?” and she gave us a big hug. We chatted briefly with her, with Governor Huckabee, and with Chuck Norris who has martial arts and political ties to Oregon. They all were so warm and down-to-earth, it was a genuine pleasure. Having worked in the office, having become more acquainted with Mike Huckabee’s record as governor and the sort of people he and Janet were, we had no further concerns about whether we had made a good decision in volunteering on the campaign. We saw the Huckabees a couple more times in New Hampshire -- once when we assisted at a rally where Mike Huckabee played the bass guitar with a local rock band, and then at the celebration on the night of the New Hampshire primary.

The medium is the messageDuring our last week in New Hampshire we spent most of our time in Manchester, a town about twenty miles south of Concord. The tiny downtown of Manchester was crawling with candidates, press, and regular folks -- mostly, but not all, from New Hampshire.

Just walking down the street, having a meal at a restaurant, or walking through a hotel lobby to attend a political talk of some kind we would see and meet candidates or would be stopped by an interviewer asking if we would mind being asked some questions. We always agreed, and as soon as we assented, bright lights would snap on, a microphone would be shoved toward our faces, and the questions would begin. “Which candidate are you supporting? What led you to that decision? What is your opinion about (some other candidate?)” and so on. Among others, we were interviewed by Belgian Public Radio; Rhode Island Public Radio; two French television networks; Japanese television, a major Arizona newspaper; Boston’s CBS television affiliate; a radio talk show host; Tim Russert of Meet the Press; and Obama Girl (we did not know who she was at the time). In every case, we introduced ourselves as being non-evangelical supporters of Mike Huckabee. This was an important detail to state at the beginning of any interview because the media was so wedded to the notion that Governor Huckabee had no support from outside of that demographic, and they assumed that because we supported his campaign we must, therefore, be evangelical Christians. With the exception of Tim Russert, our being different from the media’s uniformly crafted stereotype of a Huckabee supporter led to deeper, more insightful and penetrating questions. Tim Russert did not follow up with any other questions of us, and a day after he engaged us in conversation on the street, he participated in yet another televised pundit roundtable and restated the evangelical narrative.

Most of our interviewers expressed genuine surprise to learn that non-evangelical people found Mike Huckabee to be worthy of their consideration. We were able to point out that it was our experience that we were not the only ones, and that the media was missing an important part of the story by overlooking the secular, public service accomplishments of Mike Huckabee and the broad band of supporters he attracted. We were able to cite New England Democrats we met at headquarters who were not only planning on voting for Mike Huckabee but who were volunteering their time to assist with his campaign. We mentioned the Jewish legislator who was publicly supporting Huckabee, as well as moderate, secular Republicans who were running his campaign. We appreciated the opportunity to share the compelling -- and sometimes amazing -- accomplishments of Governor Huckabee during his ten and a half years as Arkansas’ chief executive. We were delighted to be able to mention that he had been elected the chair of the National Governors’ Association by his gubernatorial colleagues, a testament to their recognition of his outstanding leadership, and to inform our interviewers that he was identified as one of America’s top five governors by Time magazine. We shared his creative and successful initiatives regarding education and healthcare; his rebuilding Arkansas’ roads and bridges; his environmental leadership; his humanitarian outreach to Katrina victims from neighboring states; and his having entered office inheriting a $200 million dollar deficit and completing his term with a nearly $1 billion dollar surplus. We spoke about how he unexpectedly ascended to the governorship when, as lieutenant governor, the incumbent Democrat governor, Jim Guy Tucker, was convicted in the White Water case and left office. Mike Huckabee became the second Republican governor of Arkansas since Reconstruction, and he faced a legislature that was 91% Democrat. In fact, when he won his first election as lieutenant governor, his office in the state capitol was nailed shut from the inside -- for two months. Ultimately, because of his natural good nature and innate leadership ability, he was able to bring to the table legislators who had been adversarial and together they developed innovative and effective public policy, some of which have become templates for other states. His deep decency and his ability to bring diverse perspectives together and to work comfortably across the aisle to problem-solve on behalf of the greater good of the people of Arkansas was one of the key elements of his leadership that led us to want to help out in his effort to seek the nomination. It was both easy and pleasurable for us to sing his praises to people who wanted to know why we had traveled more than 3,000 miles to slog through ice and snow on his behalf.

Wherever we went, we seemed to be singled out for interview even when there were many other people from whom to choose. We couldn’t figure out if it was because we looked distinctly ordinary or extraordinary. We decided that it had to be because of our appearing ordinary -- senior Mr. and Mrs. America (aged 60 and 63), albeit with a bounce in our step.

During our time in Concord and Manchester, in addition to meeting the Huckabees, we met Barry Goldwater, Jr.; Mike Gravel; Duncan Hunter; Dennis Kucinich and his wife; and, John McCain. We visited the campaign offices of Hillary Clinton; John Edwards; Barack Obama; Ron Paul; and, Mitt Romney.

Contribution in kind
When all was said and done in New Hampshire, we felt that the value we added to the Huckabee campaign was not so much in the routine campaign activities in which we dependably participated, but rather in the conversations in which we engaged from the moment we boarded the train in Portland. Trains lend themselves well to conversation. Rail passengers are as interested in the journey and in their fellow travelers as they are in arriving at their destination. The dining car operates in family style -- filling up the tables as people arrive for their meals, thus affording a natural setting for conversation with folks from here, there, and everywhere.

In New Hampshire, these moments of opportunity to share our enthusiasm about Mike Huckabee expanded, particularly during the last week of our stay during which time we were in Manchester much of the time. It was our feeling that by talking with people we met and with the media representatives, we enhanced the presence of Mike Huckabee. By being different from the profile created by the media, we were able to increase the circle of people who would take another look at Mike Huckabee before casting a ballot. And, that was what we hoped we would be able to do.

Not ready, yet...
Our original plan was to return to Oregon immediately after the New Hampshire primary, but we realized we were not yet ready to leave the campaign. Our respect for both Mike and Janet Huckabee had developed to a degree that led us to want to help out more, if we could be useful. So, once again, we phoned the folks in Little Rock and asked if they could use us there for a little while before we headed home. They phoned back the next day and asked if we might consider going to Florida where they were just getting ready to open up the local headquarters in anticipation of their upcoming primary. We asked where in Florida, and when they said, “Orlando,” we said “Sure!” We have family there, and that added an unanticipated and priceless dimension to the journey for us. We headed south as fast as we could go. We headed down the eastern seaboard, pausing overnight in North Carolina to visit with a niece and nephew along the way. As we drove, truckers honked in sympathy with our Huckabee bumper sticker -- a relief, since we first thought we were being honked at for other reasons...

Back in the saddle
We arrived in Orlando raring to get back onto the campaign trail. We showed up at headquarters, located in a large storage unit. Activity was underway to set up for a grand opening and we threw ourselves into the effort and ended up, along with a local volunteer, setting up the space in a format that worked as multiple venues -- for events, for daily volunteer activities, and for media backdrop. Typically, we worked with no budget and, in fact, spent our own money on cookies, table coverings, paper plates, etc.

As was the case in New Hampshire, there were very few paid staff, and we became bulwark volunteers in Florida and in a much more substantive way than we had been in New England. Irma served as the volunteer coordinator for the Florida Huckabee headquarters and Pat served as the data processor.

The atmosphere in Florida was exuberant, in contrast to the staid New Hampshire office. This seemed to reflect the cultural and demographic differences between the two regions. Florida was teeming with activity. There was lots of energy and lots of laughter. The level of volunteerism was impressive, with meetups that carried much of the work of the campaign throughout the many diverse regions of Florida. We worked hard and consistently for the entire campaign and, as in New Hampshire, enjoyed getting to know the people.

When Mike Huckabee arrived to campaign in the state, he spotted us and said, “How did you get here? Did you take the train down here, too?” We explained that we bought an old car and drove it down to which he replied, “This is getting to be quite a story!”

After Governor Huckabee’s disappointing second in South Carolina, we did not have high expectations for the Florida outcome, and our expectations were met. The campaign event on primary night was held in a room dominated by a huge screen television, some tables holding large containers of water and coffee, a PBS crew, and some staff and volunteers, including Florida State Senator Daniel Webster, the most publicly supportive legislator of Mike Huckabee and a direct descendent of Daniel Webster. He and his entire family were dedicated workers on the campaign, including 13 year old Victoria, one of our most effective phone volunteers.
Quite a story, apparentlyTwice during the Florida campaign, PBS visited headquarters -- the evening of the grand opening and then, with an entirely different crew, the day of the primary. In both cases, they were interviewing for different episodes of the series, Religion and Ethics. In both cases, they asked if they could interview us. The latter interviewer is continuing with his interview of us via email now that we have returned to Oregon and he to New York. He expects his segment to air shortly before the November election, whether or not Mike Huckabee is the nominee.

Taking a breather
Once again, we had planned to leave Florida for Oregon with a quick stopover in Little Rock right after the Florida primary. But, we learned that a shuttle launch was scheduled at Cape Canaveral, and we decided that this was an opportunity we would regret missing, plus, we had some other family-related projects we hoped to pursue before leaving the state. One of the staff of the campaign wanted to express thanks for our work on behalf of Governor Huckabee, and she asked if we would be interested in VIP seating for the upcoming shuttle launch. We surely were! So, thanks to Katy Halley and Senator Mike Haridopolos, we had seats as close to the launch as was allowed. And, on a beautiful Florida day, replete with sightings of alligators and indescribably beautiful birds, we watched a perfect launch that included astronaut Mike Love from Eugene, Oregon.

We drove to Miami Beach and to Tallahassee in search of clues about Irma’s father who died young, before she knew him, and who left a legacy of artwork and arts administration in Florida. We visited childhood friends of Irma’s in Gainesville. We hung out with Pat’s brother, Mike, and our sister-in-law, Sally, watched the Super Tuesday election returns together, and had a wonderful time. And then, it was time to go.

Arkansas traveler
By this time, we had been gone about ten weeks. We were ready to get back home to family, friends, and the Dorchester Conference! We debated about whether to go to Little Rock on the way. It would add miles and time and expense to the trip but, ultimately, we knew that, given the reason for our trip in the first place, we would forever regret not making the stop. So, with a map and a marking pen, we plotted out our route -- up through the Florida panhandle, through Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and into Arkansas and on to Little Rock. Our departure from Tallahassee was at 7:00 a.m. on the morning of the “Potomac primary” -- Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia.

Hits and misses
On the road, we expressed to each other that it would be nice if we could get together with some of the people from the Huckabee campaign in Little Rock to watch the returns, just as we had in New Hampshire and in Florida. We phoned from the road, somewhere in southern Mississippi to ask if this were a possibility. The young man who answered the phone said there was an event scheduled, but it was by invitation and he would have to check and call us back. A couple hours later, he called back and said he was sorry that he had been unable to secure us a place. Not knowing what sort of event this was, we naively -- and somewhat brazenly -- called back an hour later to see if it might be possible to be placed on a waiting list. The person who answered the phone this time was Gay White who had, weeks before, asked if we would be able to go to work on the campaign in Florida. She explained that the event was a dinner with the Huckabee family and their closest friends and colleagues in Arkansas. Hearing this, we appreciated that this was an entirely different gathering than the previous two we had attended, even though the Huckabees had been at the New Hampshire event. We apologized and thanked Gay for having given us the opportunity to be in Florida with the campaign and, told her we were looking forward to meeting her in person in the office the next day, and said good-bye. A little later, the phone rang, again. It was Gay informing us that we were invited and welcome to join the dinner and she gave us directions. We hung up, disbelieving our good fortune! We looked at the time and calculated that we would make the dinner with no time to spare, and that we would have to change clothes in a gas station when we fueled up en route. Two things we did not factor in to our calculation: that we would run smack into a string of tornadoes further up the road in Mississippi and that we would miss the turnoff to Little Rock once we were in Arkansas. The storm was by far the single most terrifying part of the entire trip, and we still feel fortunate to have gotten through safely.

We stopped at a gas station to fuel up and to change clothes. Our clothes were in the trunk of the car, the temperature was below freezing, and the wind was howling. It was miserable in the cold, rummaging through our suitcases, trying to find proper clothing buried deeply because we thought we would not need them again until we returned home. We managed, alternately shivering and laughing at the absurdity of the scene. That day, we made it through five states, a band of tornadoes, and were on our way to Little Rock to celebrate with the Huckabees and their friends. It was like Cinderella heading for the ball.

Our dance card is full
We followed Gay’s perfect directions and found a parking spot right in front of the tallest building in Little Rock, the top floor of which was the site of the dinner. We dashed inside, past an encampment of news people and equipment on the ground floor, rode the elevator to the 23rd floor, and entered the dinner party as though we had been preparing for weeks.

The room had an air of festivity about it, and we actually recognized some of the people there. Unobtrusively stationed around the room were television monitors silently displaying the incoming primary returns. We went through the buffet and found seats at one of the tables. Our table mates were all friendly, interesting people, most of whom had held positions of high responsibility in the Huckabee administration. We enjoyed getting acquainted and hearing their stories. Janet Huckabee saw us and came by to greet us. Janet is a remarkable woman who, like her husband, came from humble beginnings in Hope, Arkansas. Overcoming cancer of the spine when she was 20 years old and with a poor prognosis, she went on to have three children and to lead an exuberant, public spirited life. She is no shrinking violet! In addition to serving as First Lady of Arkansas for ten and a half years, she works for the American Red Cross and not only serves on the Habitat for Humanity International board of directors, she has helped to build houses in at least twenty states. She has also slept under bridges with Arkansas homeless to learn more about how their lives took such a turn (and how to address the issue of homelessness), she hunted a bear, jumped out of an airplane, and assisted a flood of Katrina refugees, invited by the governor, into Arkansas to restart their lives. But, we digress.

At the dinner Governor Huckabee rose to thank those gathered for the support and friendship they had shared. He was eloquent, humble, amusing, and gracious. He said he had just phoned John McCain to congratulate him on the outcome of the primaries although he quipped he really would rather have not had to do so. And, he explained that he soon would be going downstairs to meet with the media and give his post-concession interview. Then, looking around the room, he asked, “Are Pat and Irma here?” We looked at each other and nearly fell off of our chairs. He asked if we would stand, and then he proceeded to tell our story. After he left, Janet brought her best friend over to meet us. Several of his childhood friends came by to thank us for our dedication. One dear man who still lives in their hometown of Hope, Arkansas -- yes, the same hometown as Bill Clinton’s -- gave us a dozen and a half of his fresh aracuana eggs (raw) as a gift from the heart. We met Mike Huckabee’s sister, Pat, who is a 7th grade English teacher and who is as unassuming and sunny as her brother. We spoke with Janet, again, before leaving. We met so many wonderful people that night. We still remark to each other what a generous act it was to include us in such a truly special occasion. The friendliness, kindness, and generosity of these people was, for us, yet another example of the kind of people Mike Huckabee tends to attract.
We left the dinner and checked into a hotel a few blocks away, falling into bed in Little Rock after having wakened that morning in Tallahassee, Florida, having driven through tornadoes, and having dined with the Huckabees and their friends. We slept like rocks.

The party’s over
Early the next morning, we walked the few blocks from our hotel to headquarters to put in a day at the office. We were just about the first ones there. We toured the unassuming office and looked at the photos of Mike Huckabee that decorated the walls -- different situations, different people, and different years. All of them depicted his warmth and accessibility. Some were truly touching.

Staff began to arrive and we received assignments for the day. Pat went through the mail and answered letters that had been sent to Governor Huckabee, and Irma listened to and transcribed over half of 1,500 stacked up telephone messages on the answering machine. At lunch time, Chip Saltsman, Huckabee for President national campaign manager, arrived. We had met him briefly in New Hampshire on primary night there and had been as impressed by him in person as we had been when we had seen him interviewed or serving as an informed observer on various news programs. When he saw us, he asked how we had been since he had last seen us in New Hampshire. These people are truly amazing, and their recognition is an asset more than strategy; they are caring people and this makes them responsive to their constituencies. Chip joined the staff -- paid and volunteer -- for lunch in the conference room and, with his overview of the campaign, explained that the Governor planned to go the distance; to remain in the race until someone had 1,091 pledged delegates. Chip went on to answer questions in an environment that encouraged candid and comfortable conversation.

The day came to a close, we said our good-byes, and returned to our hotel via Central High School, now an historic monument in addition to being a functioning school. It was a reminder not only of a major historic moment in our lives -- the integration of public schools in the south -- but also of something we learned from one of Mike Huckabee’s lifelong friends, David Uth, who is now the pastor of one of the largest churches in Orlando. David Uth’s father, also a pastor, had unsuccessfully attempted to integrate the Little Rock Baptist church for which he served as pastor. His successor in the pastorate of that church was determined to succeed. He did. Mike Huckabee was that pastor.

We expected the next day to be fascinating, and we weren’t disappointed.

Giving Hope a second chance
In May of 2006, we had visited Hope, Arkansas knowing it was the birthplace of former President Bill Clinton, but not realizing it was also the birthplace and home of then Governor Mike Huckabee. At that time we met a man who was the founder and director of the town museum. We have phoned him a couple of times since then to ask him about Mike Huckabee and about how, from his perspective, Arkansans were viewing the race of Mike Huckabee and also of former Arkansas First Lady, Hillary Clinton. We stopped by the museum on this trip and were pleased to see an expanded exhibit on the Huckabees of Hope. We walked over to the thrift shop that supports disabled citizens of the area, and there, unbelievably, we found a book illustrated by Irma’s father in the 1930s. After a brief stop at the former Huckabee home (the address of which had been given to us by Mike Huckabee’s sister, Pat), and another at the memorial garden dedicated to Bill Clinton’s mother, we drove and walked around this little, economically depressed town and, once again, marveled at the larger-than-life people it has produced. And then it was time to get back on the road to see how far into Texas we could get.

Deep in the heart of Texas
We got to Weatherford, just west of Ft. Worth. The weather forecast was not good, and we wanted to try to beat the storms. Mississippi had been enough. We took off early the next morning with a hopeful goal of El Paso. We stopped in Midland to fuel up and to touch the ground again. In 2006 we had overnighted in the Wal-Mart parking lot and visited the boyhood home of George W. Bush. The stop brought back our recollections of our visit and stay in Midland, but we had miles to go and did not want to fall short of our goal. We made it past El Paso and stopped for the night in Las Cruces, New Mexico. The next night was in San Bernardino, California followed by Paso Robles and then a few days in Pacific Grove with family. Then, more family and friends in the Bay Area and up the coast back to Newport and Corvallis.

Home Sweet HomeWhat a fabulous time we had, and how nice it was to be back. We arrived in Corvallis in time to welcome and host relatives from out of state. Just prior to their arrival, we went shopping for some much-needed food, so we stopped at the market which is in the same commercial center as the Benton County Republican headquarters. We thought we’d drop by to see if Stella Guenther was in and to say hello. She was there, and so were many others. It turned out that we had stopped by just prior to the Benton County Republican Women’s monthly luncheon meeting! Talk about timing... It was so good to see Stella and others whom we had not seen for a long time, but we felt a bit awkward. Stella, always two steps ahead, had just learned that their guest speaker, Senator Jason Atkinson, would not be able to speak due to a family emergency and she asked if we would be willing to step in and share our experience with those gathered. We said okay, and found ourselves recounting some of our tale for the first time and without preparation. In the sharing of the story, we further realized what a joyful journey it was -- and continues to be -- and how kind and attentive our audience was in listening to our unpolished, unprepared story.

After a fun visit, our relatives left and we headed for the Dorchester Conference in Seaside where we set up a booth on behalf of Mike Huckabee. It was well received, and people came by to chat and to acknowledge their appreciation of him as a person and as a candidate. We were pleased by the warm reception for him and a significant number of bumper stickers made it out the door.

Finale
We learned so much. We met so many wonderful people. This is an amazing country. We encourage anyone who really wants to have the American experience at primary time, to think seriously about traveling to New Hampshire and staying awhile. It remains America’s town hall and it is there you can feel where our process of government of the people, by the people, and for the people comes from. This noble experiment of democracy is in its most authentic form there, and the experience of it will bring an even deeper appreciation for who we are as a people.

Epilogue: March 4, 2008
As this narrative about our trip is being completed, Mike Huckabee is giving his concession speech. As he promised, as soon as a candidate received the requisite 1,091 committed delegates, he would withdraw. That benchmark passed just moments ago, with John McCain having been declared the winner in all of the day’s four primary states: Ohio, Rhode Island, Texas, and Vermont. Governor Huckabee pledged his support for Senator McCain. Just months ago, Mike Huckabee was an unknown former governor of a small, southern state. He ran a remarkable campaign and he influenced significantly the tone and tenor among his colleagues and rivals. He ran a campaign that defied conventional wisdom in many ways and he demonstrated that big money, big machinery, and a disinterested media could not easily squelch an indomitable spirit. We feel some sadness this evening, but also a great joy at having been able to participate in this uniquely American story.

The authors, Pat and Irma Canan, may be reached at (541) 753-4762. (Download text of this article in MS Word format)

Republicans passed the first-ever Civil Rights Act

2008-04-20T15:43:00.000-07:00

Grand Old Partisan Blog, April 8, 2008 - Michael Zak wrote,

On this day [April 8th] in 1866, the Republican-majority 39th Congress overrode a veto by the Democrat president, Andrew Johnson, to enact the 1866 Civil Rights Act. Every Democrat in Congress voted against it.

The purpose of the 1866 Civil Rights Act was to defend African-Americans from their Democrat oppressors in the post-Civil War South. There, Democrats had enacted black codes to impose near-slavery on African-Americans who had just been emancipated by the Republican Party's 13th Amendment.

Senator Lyman Trumbull (R-IL) wrote the 1866 Civil Rights Act, which conferred U.S. citizenship on former slaves and other African-Americans. The law granted African-Americans "full and equal benefit of all laws and proceedings for the security of person and property, as is enjoyed by white citizens." Republicans thereby accorded African-Americans the right to own property, engage in business, sign contracts and file lawsuits.

This was the first time Congress overrode a veto of a significant bill. Also, the 1866 Civil Rights Act contradicted the notorious Dred Scott decision, in which the seven Democrat Justices on the Supreme Court decreed that black people did not have constitutional rights. To prevent Democrats from someday repealing the Act, Republicans later enshrined its provisions as Article I of the 14th Amendment.

Sadly, Democrats defied the 1866 Civil Rights Act and other Republican reforms. Democrat oppression of African-Americans would not be overcome until the 1960's civil rights movement.

Jihad Comes to Wall Street

2008-04-20T15:40:00.000-07:00

National Review, April 3, 2008, by Alex Alexiev

"Sharia finance" does exactly what it promises, financing the spread of sharia — and terror.
If you’ve seen Geert Wilders’s film Fitna, you may not have noticed a single headline amongst all the bombings, beheadings, and earnest expressions of Islam’s eventual world domination: Halal-fund: investments for Muslims. But the investment vehicles referenced are an essential part of radical Islam’s efforts to insinuate itself into Western societies in order to destroy them from within. And Wall Street, barely out of the woods from its disastrous run-in with sub-prime mortgages — and having lost one of its historic investment houses, Bear Stearns, in the process — is now chasing the very kind of “sharia finance” against which Wilders's movie warns, a business line that may eventually wind up being even more calamitous than the subprime-mortgage fiasco. Continued...

2 Republicans run for Oregon State Offices

2008-04-20T15:36:00.000-07:00

Finally, two Republicans to challenge for Treasurer and Secretary of State
The Executive Club, April 2008

In their meeting announcement, the Executive Club supplies interesting background information on their guests (our candidates for state offices) along with a not so gentle kick in the pants for Republican past performance.

After the 1994 election was over, the decline of Republican party in Oregon had started. Even though they had shockingly won a majority in both houses of the legislature, a parade of clueless legislative leaders failed to take charge. They left Democrats in important posts which should have been filled by Republicans and worse, they failed to enact Republican principles when they had the chance.

The ‘94 election marked another shift in power in Salem and while not as remarkable, at the time, has since proven at least as damaging to the conservative cause. From that point on, no Republicans have been elected to the principle executive offices of Governor, Attorney General, Treasurer or Secretary of State! Well, now, that could change and Republicans can begin the long-march back with the election of the two fine men who will be our featured special guests.

[Allen Alley (R) for State Treasurer]
A lot of eyebrows were raised when the deputy chief of staff for Gov Ted Kulongoski filed to run for State Treasurer as a Republican! A closer look, however, makes it easier to understand. Allen Alley was asked by the Governor in 2007 to keep the state aware of the concerns of Oregon businesses. Alley has a tremendous experience in business and engineering, at Ford and Boeing and a in a joint venture with Motorola. He has been a part of growing international multi-million dollar companies, including being the lead investor at In Focus Systems and was a co-founder of the semi-conductor company, Pixelworks, which has offices in Portland, San Jose, Tokyo, Taipei and Shanghai. Alley’s incredible résumé in engineering, marketing, venture capital, entrepreneurship and now, public service should make him a formidable candidate for the role as Oregon’s top investment officer.

[Rick Dancer (R) for Secretary of State]
After many years as a popular reporter and news anchor for KEZI-TV in Eugene, Rick Dancer has decided to leave the bright lights to run as a Republican for Secretary of State. Ironically, it was his work that led him to miking the change. Time after time as a reporter he kept hearing how Oregonians felt disconnected from the government and eventually, he put together a 1/2-hour special on political apathy. That’s when he started to think about running for public office.
Rick wants to be a force for openness and fairness in government, and there couldn’t be an office that needs those principles more than Secretary of State. Dancer, naturally, is very comfortable in the public eye and has a style that will make him a serious contender to put the first Republican in the office since Norma Paulus!

Ten Things a Candidate Might Promise

2008-04-20T15:34:00.000-07:00

Works & Days, March 26, 2008 by Victor Davis Hanson

"What we want to hear." Go see... I think you'll like what you read on this list.

Environmentalists disdain 'voluntary' clean-up

2008-04-20T15:26:00.000-07:00

Trading in clean-ups : Cap-and-trade system for carbon exchange may point way for U.S.
Corvallis Gazette-Times, March 31, 2008
By Les Blumenthal
McClatchy Newspapers

WASHINGTON — For nearly 50 years, Rocky Reach Dam on the Columbia River has been quietly producing enough low-cost electricity to power two cities the size of Seattle. Now the Washington state dam is on the front lines of the nation’s effort to control greenhouse-gas emissions and curb global warming.

The owner and operator of the dam, the Chelan County Public Utility District, figures that recent improvements it’s made mean that 700,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide won’t be pumped into the air. And it registered these “carbon offsets’’ on the Chicago Climate Exchange for sale to companies that need to reduce their emissions.

Other exchanges trade pork bellies, gold, Treasury bonds or wood pulp. But on the Chicago Climate Exchange, carbon offsets or credits are traded in what could be a precursor to a new national effort to slow climate change.

The players range from Fortune 500 companies to California’s Sacramento County, Florida’s Miami-Dade County and the Kentucky Corn Growers Association.

The system is called cap and trade. Early this summer, Congress is expected to consider legislation that would make it the cornerstone of U.S. efforts to reduce greenhouse gases.
Congress already is involved. Late last year, the House of Representatives purchased $98,000 worth of offsets on the Chicago Climate Exchange to offset greenhouse-gas emissions from its office buildings, including the U.S. Capitol. Among the offsets that the House purchased was one that involved farmers in North Dakota tilling in a way that preserved the carbon in the soil.

Other offsets for sale on the exchange include dairy methane reduction, reforestation, wind and biomass projects, not just in the United States but around the world, in such places as India, Germany, China and Brazil.

Rocky Reach Dam is the first hydroelectric project listed.

“It’s never been done before,’’ said Gregg Carrington, the director of external affairs for Chelan PUD. He said that of the 700,000 metric tons of carbon offsets the utility had for sale, about 160,000 had been sold.

The idea is simple, but a cap-and-trade system could be enormously complicated to implement.
In a nutshell, federal law would cap greenhouse gas emissions at a certain level, and the cap would be reduced over the years. Manufacturers, utilities, state and local governments and others have to reduce their emissions if they exceed certain levels, either by installing equipment to lower the emissions or buying offsets or credits from other entities. If they’re below their caps, they have offsets or credits to sell.

A similar program helped significantly reduce sulfur dioxide emissions in the 1990s, which were causing acid rain.

Formed in 2003, the Chicago Climate Exchange, known as CCX, doesn’t have a trading floor with traders yelling orders in a frenzy of bidding. Everything is handled electronically.

The exchange has nearly 400 members, including large industrial companies, utilities, local and state governments, universities and nonprofit organizations.

Some, such as the Chelan PUD, just offer carbon offsets for sale. Others undergo thorough audits of their emissions and then sign an agreement to start reducing them. The members have reduced their emissions, on average, by 12 percent below their commitments, representing more than 180 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions. Credits, or offsets, are selling at about $5.50 per metric ton, though the price fluctuates daily.

Similar exchanges have been established in Europe, where a mandatory cap-and-trade system is already in place, and in Canada.

“Through CCX and its affiliated exchanges, the financial, capital and regulatory structures needed for an internationally linked carbon-trading system are well-advanced," CCX chief executive Richard Sandor told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee late last year. “The environmental and economic benefits being generated are of national and global significance."
If Congress does establish a national, mandatory cap-and-trade system, Sandor expects CCX to play a leading role in implementing it, he said in an e-mail. “We will operationalize whatever the government mandates, and as the first mover we expect to dominate the market," he said.

Some environmental groups urged municipal governments, states and others not to get involved with CCX because it was voluntary, there were too many loopholes and it would preclude them from becoming involved in other programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. [Emphasis added]

Henry Henderson of the Natural Resources Defense Council said his environmental organization supported a national cap-and-trade system. “We won’t get to where we need to with a voluntary program like CCX," he said. [Emphasis added]

On Capitol Hill, interest is growing in a cap-and-trade system for greenhouse gas emissions, though the details are far from being resolved. There’s also a certain cautiousness among lawmakers, even among those who support the system.

“While tackling climate change is the most urgent and important environmental challenge facing our generation, any greenhouse-gas reduction strategy has to be efficient, effective and put consumers first,’’ said Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash.

For more information on the Chicago Climate Exchange: http://www.chicagoclimatex.com/

HOW ONE CAP-AND-TRADE PROGRAM WORKED: In the 1980s, acid rain resulting mostly from sulfur dioxide emissions from coal-fired power plants was devastating forests, lakes, streams and wildlife in the Northeast and elsewhere across the country. As part of the 1990 Clean Air Act, Congress adopted a cap-and-trade system for sulfur dioxide emissions that could become a model for greenhouse gas emissions.

Under the system, sulfur dioxide emissions must be reduced by 50 percent from 1980 levels by 2010. Utilities and other companies either could install pollution-abatement equipment or purchase credits from companies that were below their emissions caps.

So far, sulfur dioxide emissions have dropped 40 percent from earlier levels. The government’s new goal is to reduce emissions to 20 percent of 1990 levels by 2015.

There are signs that the forests, lakes and rivers have started to recover.

Some members of the Chicago Climate Exchange include: Ford Motor Co., DuPont, Bank of America Corp., Sony Electronics Inc., Intel Corp., IBM, Safeway Inc., International Paper, Cargill Inc., Sacramento County, Calif., King County, Wash., Miami-Dade County, Fla., University of Idaho, The state of Illinois, The state of New Mexico, The city of Portland, Ore., The city of Chicago, The city of Berkeley, Calif., San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission (Calif.), Kentucky Corn Growers Association.

Complete list of members: http://www.chicagoclimatex.com/content.jsf?id=64

Oregon House Republicans Review 2007 "By the Numbers"

2008-04-20T15:21:00.000-07:00

Issued December 27, 2007 - (A report on these figures was given to the BCRW by Rep. Linda Flores on Monday, March 24th)

SALEM - The Oregon Legislature broke the bank in 2007, increasing government spending by 20 percent and saddling Oregonians with $923 million in new state debt. Here's a look at 2007 state government spending, by the numbers:

20 Percent - Increase in state government spending
$620 Million - New taxes and fees (despite record state revenue)
$923 Million - New state debt (again, despite record state revenue)
1,178 - New state employees added to state payroll
$12 Million - Pay reises to Gov. Kulongoski's political appointees
$20 Million - Pay raises to appease the unions-- who were upset about the political appointees' pay raises
30 - Number of House Democrats who opposed HB2550, the plan to hire a legislative auditor to review the performance of state agencies and increase fiscal responsibility in state government.

It's no surprise a majority of Oregonians polled rated the Legislature's performance as "unfavorable." (Governor, Lawmaker's Get Their Lumps in New Poll, The Oregonian, 12/8/07)

Patriotism, Freedom and the American Dream

2008-04-20T15:16:00.000-07:00

Democracy Project, Mar. 30, 2008 by Phil Orenstein

What a month. America’s college basketball fans have been riveted to their TV screens as the NCAA tournaments roar into the Final Fours during the month of March Madness. But what has recently been inundating the scene in the world of politics, religion, academia, the economy and international call-girls rings should be dubbed March Madness as well.

This March, we’ve seen our share of madness from the pulpit as Barack Obama’s radical pastor Rev. Jeremiah Wright vilified America and Israel and cursed the white race in venomous sermons played relentlessly over the internet and cable TV. In March we also witnessed three governor’s sex scandals exposed, leading off with former New York Governor Spitzer’s escapades with hookers which brought him down with such a loud thud that the stock market rallied over 400 points the next day, as brokers on the exchange floor celebrated the fall from grace of the arrogant king with no clothes. Their good cheer soon faded as the sudden collapse of Bear Stearns threatened to spread havoc throughout US and world markets. Professors got into the act as well bringing anti-American and anti-Republican politics and the cult of Obama into the classroom. The content of a business ethics class at Loyola Marymount University recently featured the screening of the Obama recruitment video “Yes I Can,” as the professor likened him to Martin Luther King.

In contrast to the madness and all the hollow rhetoric about change, there was an inspiring message of real change and empowerment from Curtis Sliwa, founder of the Guardian Angels, who spoke to a packed room of Queens Village Republicans and friends at the March club meeting at St. Anne’s Post of the Catholic War Veterans. It was a stirring speech to fight for the Republican principles of patriotism, freedom and the American dream, with the faith that the American people can make the change themselves by empowering citizens with more freedom, lower taxes, and keeping the government out of the people’s business.

He used his own example of positive community spirit and activism to fight crime, youth gangs and drug abuse, early on in his career. During the 1970’s when criminals were running rampant in the streets and subways of New York City, Sliwa worked as the manager of a McDonald’s restaurant in the Bronx. When he finished work late at night, he took the “Muggers Express” down to his home in Brooklyn where pickpockets, drug addicts and youth gangs ruled the subways and bullied the riders, while the understaffed New York Police Force seemed to be AWOL. Fed up with the violence, and believing that as an American each person can make a difference, he saw a problem and determined to do something about it. So he began a personal campaign to promote positive civic values and community spirit with likeminded youth that he encountered, encouraging them to act as a positive force to protect citizens in their communities.

The Guardian Angels was born when Sliwa led a group of multi-ethnic teenagers from a Bronx High School, out of a drug and crime ridden environment, down into the subways on safety patrols in order to combat the widespread crime and violence and to make citizen’s arrests. The Angels, dressed in trademark bright red jackets and berets grew into an international volunteer organization with chapters in over 100 cities around the world. With a solid grounding in civics education and community service, which is presently absent from public schools, Sliwa also brought the Angels into the classroom to present drug prevention, civics and safety programs.

Today, while Democrats concentrate on getting our troops out of Iraq, we have real problems and issues here at home. Youth gangs and drug abuse are festering not only in our housing projects and poor communities, but the Bloods and Crips are recruiting in our public schools as well. According to Sliwa, we have a crisis of broken homes and families leading to 70% of black, 36% of hispanic, and 32% of white children born out of wedlock. The three R’s are no longer taught in our schools and the fourth R, respect is no longer taught in the home. Respect for parents, teachers and country is generally lacking in our youthful generations X and Y. Academic campuses try to tear down our country and degrade our military forces in the classroom. They blame America first for all the inequities and conflicts in the world and poison the minds of our youth with ingratitude and contempt for our lofty heritage.

Democrats like Clinton and Obama, employ positive sound bites such as “hope,” “a new America” and “change we can believe in,” to mesmerize young people and sway the gullible among us. In reality they are beseeching us to elect them to fix all the problems with healthcare, education, poverty and the economy by taxing wealthier citizens in order for the state to provide cradle-to-grave care for all Americans since in their minds, we are too faint and frail to take individual responsibility for our own lives. However, increasingly bigger government and an emasculated populous ever more dependent on an elite class to govern all their affairs is not the answer. The best solution is always more freedom, individual liberty and smaller government, and Republicans are the ones who have to carry that message out to citizens in the streets and communities just as Sliwa did in the late 1970’s. [Emphasis added]

Massive Oil Deposit Could Increase US reserves by 10x

2008-04-20T15:14:00.000-07:00

Next Energy News, February 13, 2008 [posted here March 29]

America is sitting on top of a super massive 200 billion barrel Oil Field that could potentially make America Energy Independent and until now has largely gone unnoticed. Thanks to new technology the Bakken Formation in North Dakota could boost America’s Oil reserves by an incredible 10 times, giving western economies the trump card against OPEC’s short squeeze on oil supply and making Iranian and Venezuelan threats of disrupted supply irrelevant. Continued...

March 26, 2008: Rep. Richardson's Newsletter

2008-04-20T15:08:00.000-07:00

[Representative Dennis Richardson serves Oregon's Fourth District]

Recession, Depression & Knowing How To Sleep When the Cold Winds Blow

I will start this month’s important message on the economy with a story. It is about a farmer who desperately needed a good farmhand to help with the harvest. One young man came and interviewed for the job. The farmer asked, "What are your qualifications?" The shy young man quietly answered, "I can sleep when the cold wind blows." The farmer didn't know what to make of the young man's curious reply, but since the farmer had no other options, the young man was hired. Throughout the harvest season the farmer was puzzled by his worker's answer on that first day they met. Nevertheless, the young man worked hard and that was enough for the farmer.

Unexpectedly, one evening when the Autumn leaves were falling, a cold northerly wind began to blow. It came suddenly, the first major winter storm. The farmer had been in town and as he rushed back to the farm the harsh winds were starting to howl. The farmer was in a panic. He quickly pulled on his heavy boots, grabbed his work coat and, as he rushed out the door, called to the young man, who was already in bed and fast asleep. As the farmer ran to the field where the tractor had been left to rust, it angered him that his young farmhand would sleep when there was so much to be done and so little time to do it.

The farmer cursed himself for not fixing the hole in the barn’s roof, knowing full well the rain and snow would soon come. He wished he had called ahead to tell his young worker to herd the animals into the barn when it was still light. On he trudged, in the dark with his coat pulled tightly and his head bowed into the wind.

Not finding the tractor in the field where he had last seen it, the farmer slogged his way to the barn. There he found inside, the animals all safe and secure. He found each stall supplied with clean hay; the leaky roof had been patched. In the shed was parked the tractor, dry and protected from the elements.

The farmer took off his hat and scratched his head in amazement. "Who could have done it?" Then, in an instant, he understood the young man’s curious answer, "I can sleep when the cold winds blow."

The winter winds of America’s economy are blowing. On Friday, March 14, 2008, Bear Stearns, one of the largest stock and securities companies in America announced it was essentially insolvent. The stage was set for a stock market sell-off the following Monday that could have escalated into a panic not witnessed since the crash of 1929. Over the week-end, while Wall Street insiders held their breath, the Federal Reserve arranged for JPMorgan, Chase & Co., the U.S. banking giant, to offer a token $2 per share for Bear Stearns stock that would be paid in the form of a stock transfer--thus, JPMorgan would assume Bear Stearns, at a fraction of its book value, and for no cash. To enable JPMorgan to rescue Bear Stearns, a huge line of credit ($30 Billion), was promised by the Fed. and backed indirectly by U.S. taxpayers. Bear Stearns and JPMorgan accepted the week-end deal, and, after the take-over announcement was made, government economists joined the Wall Street insiders in holding their breath to see how the market would react on Monday's opening.

When the opening bell rang on Monday morning, the Dow Jones Industrials quickly dropped 155 points; later, with the realization that the Federal Reserve and the federal government had no intention of allowing the sub-prime fiasco to take down the U.S. economy, the market rallied, and by the end of the day, instead of a crash, the Dow closed up 21.16 points. The following day, Tuesday March 18, 2008, the Fed primed the credit-availability pump by lowering its lending rates to banks by a whopping 3/4% (to 2.25%, which is 3 full percentage points lower than it was only seven months earlier). The stock market reacted by skyrocketing upwards by more than 420 points in one day.

To me, the Federal Reserve's aggressiveness in propping up Bear Stearns and knocking down interest rates confirms that the private bankers and economists who control the Federal Reserve System, in concert with the federal government, are determined to allocate any amount of money and do everything in their power to avoid a threatened economic crash and a worldwide Depression (with a capital "D"). Their quick thinking--by arranging the JPMorgan assumption of Bear Stearns--showed investors the federal government was willing to spend whatever it takes to keep the house-of-cards from collapsing. Investors rewarded such actions with the largest jump in the Dow in five years. Since that fateful week-end, to avoid a Bear Stearns stockholder revolt, JPMorgan has increased its price for Bear Stearns from $2 to $10 a share; such negotiations have occurred after the crisis was past, and do not lessen the severity of the circumstances that nearly crashed the stock market on March 17th. In sum, a panic was avoided and time will tell whether such strategies will work when the next major Wall Street firm makes its “Bear Stearns announcement.” It would be wise to remember, although the government and the Federal Reserve can react to negative economic situations they cannot necessarily avoid them.

When the stock market opens on one day with a 155 point drop and closes the next day with a 420 point spike, and when Gold has soared to an all-time intra-day high of $1,033 per ounce on Monday, then drops $113 to $920 by Thursday, investors are frenetic and the markets are unpredictable.

Now is the time for fact-based analysis, not rumor-based investing. As I stated in last month’s newsletter “Oregon, like the rest of America, is in a recession.” Housing, credit availability and auto sales are down, unemployment and the costs of gas, food and utilities are up. We all know how much gasoline has climbed in the past year, but think what it means worldwide for poor families around the globe to have grains increase 42%, oils increase 50% and dairy products increase 80% in just one year. As you read this newsletter hungry workers are rioting over food price increases. Millions of people are desperate for meager supplies of food that can no longer be afforded, and there is no end in sight. With India and China’s growing appetites and economies bidding up the price of most commodities, and with biofuel subsidization resulting in the loss of thousands of acres of American corn and grains from food production, it will take years for the markets to adjust.

What does all this mean for Oregon and for America? For one thing, the effects of declining investment returns, increasing credit costs and overly-generous annuity calculations will likely result in another PERS crisis. For another, I believe we will see severe ramifications from the drastic and unexpected price increases for gasoline, food and utilities. The Fed may have, at least temporarily saved the stock market, but most of us are more concerned about price increases that have drained each of our budgets. These price increases have impacted our budgets like sudden tax increases, yet, American consumers, in a stunned state of sticker-shock, have remained paralyzed like deer caught in the headlights. I believe that is about to change.

For instance, on March 24th, a breaking story brings to light the desperation of America's independent long-haul truckers who are being bankrupted by escalating fuel costs. It is naïve to think America’s truckers will merely sit back and watch their incomes burned up with $4.00 a gallon diesel. Plans for a nationwide trucker's strike are spreading across the country. Using the Internet and their C.B. radio network more than a thousand truckers, so far, have vowed to shut down their rigs on April 1st for a week-long wildcat truckers’ strike. If the idea of a national truckers’ strike catches on, there is no telling what the consequences will be to our fragile economy—including the stock market. With so much uncertainty, the economy's future is precarious at best. The difference between a Recession and a Depression is the magnitude of economic decline. Whether we are heading into a deeper Recession or a Depression, one thing is certain, we would all be wise to assess our own situations, and lessen our personal vulnerabilities in case things get really ugly. This is a great time to (1.) stop incurring additional consumer debt, and pay off credit cards (when in a hole, stop digging), (2.) set aside a personal cache of cash (preferably 1-3 months of living expenses), (3.) store at least a 72 hour kit of food and water for every family member (preferably a 3 month supply or more). Now is the time to open our eyes, reassess our spending habits and, like the farmhand, learn how to sleep when the cold winds blow.

Sincerely,
Dennis Richardson
State Representative

"The Journey from Fate to Freedom"

2008-04-20T15:06:00.000-07:00

NRCC HONORS VETS IN CONGRESS - On March 12, 2008, the National Republican Congressional Committee held its annual President's Dinner, featuring President George W. Bush. The evening, which raised more than $8 million for House Republican candidates, paid tribute to the more than 50 GOP members of congress who've served in the U.S. Armed Forces.
The event featured a video tribute to these men and women titled, "The Journey from Fate to Freedom."

Happy Birthday GOP!

2008-04-20T15:01:00.000-07:00

March 20, 2008, from Michael Zak

Today [March 20], Republicans celebrate -- or should celebrate -- the 154th anniversary of our Grand Old Party.

At the time, the Democrats in control of Congress were moving toward passage of their Kansas- Nebraska Act, allowing slavery to expand into the western territories. The Democrat President said he would sign the bill into law.

VDH: Forces of Division

2008-04-20T14:47:00.000-07:00

“The forces of division have started to raise their ugly heads again."
The Corner, March 16, 2008 by Victor Davis Hanson

Today a news item reported on Sen. Obama’s recent take on the current status of education:
"He said schools should do a better job of teaching all students African-American history 'because that's part of American history,' as well as women's struggle for equality, the history of unions, the role of Hispanics in U.S. and other matters that he suggested aren't given enough attention.”

"I want us to have a broad-based history" taught in schools, he said, even including more on "the Holocaust as well as other issues of oppression" around the world.”

But anyone familiar with the historical illiteracy of today’s college student understands that more of the “oppression” history that Sen. Obama is advocating is precisely the problem, not the solution. Our high school students already know who Harriet Tubman is, but not U.S. Grant or Shiloh. They have been introduced to Crispus Attucks, but not Alexander Hamilton. They know World War II largely as the Japanese internment and Hiroshima (cf. Reverend Wright on that), but have not a clue about the Bulge or Okinawa or the Munich travesty.

In other words, it is precisely this pick-and-choose therapeutic curriculum of "oppression" history presented as a melodrama of winners (white male Christian capitalists) and losers (women, people of color, the working classes) that has ensured an entire generation of historical illiterates, who can’t distinguish between the profound and trivial, or identify basic names, dates, and places to ground even their politically-correct views. They are told to remember and repeat that Hiroshima is bad, but not why or how it occurred, what were the alternatives, and what were the consequences in a war of bad and worse choices.

Instead the sins innate to mankind—war, oppression, slavery, bias, etc.—are nearly always presented as sins unique to the West in general, or to America in particular. We hear always of commission, never of the remediation, always of our terrible past, never of the pretty awful present that goes on outside the United States.

What we need from a healer at this late date is not advocacy for more gripe-history that tries to portion out equal victim status to various competing constituencies under the guise of multicultural brotherhood, but rather tries, in holistic and inclusive fashion, to explain both the noble and tragic history of the United States, an experiment that was and is not perfect, but still very good and preferable to all the alternatives.

What continues to be so disturbing about the Obama rhetoric is that in the abstract he always talks of utopian brotherhood and idealism, but whenever he devolves into the concrete, we learn that he promotes victimhood, identity politics, and subsidizes both by his presence and his purse racial intolerance and invective.

More disturbing still is that even to mention this disturbing contradiction is to incur the charge of being racist, or—in Obama’s own self-serving formulation—to confess that “the forces of division have started to raise their ugly heads again.”

FYI: Amy Langdon

2008-04-20T14:45:00.000-07:00

Amy Langdon has left the Oregon GOP to be the Campaign Chairman for Kevin Mannix's run for the Fifth Congressional District US Representative seat which is being vacated by Darlene Hooley.

Rep. Linda Flores: SCOTUS Gun Case

2008-04-20T14:38:00.000-07:00

Oregon Catalyst, March 18, 2008
PRESS RELEASE from State Representative Linda Flores

U.S. Supreme Court Gun Case Could Impact Oregon

(Salem) The U.S. Supreme Court hears oral arguments today on the strictest gun ban in the country, and the outcome could have implications here in Oregon. “Whatever the decision by the high court, it could be the most significant Second Amendment case in our nation’s history,” said State Representative Linda Flores (R-Clackamas). She and State Representative Kim Thatcher (R-Keizer, Newberg, St. Paul) put their names on a brief supporting a challenge to Washington, D.C.’s 32-year old ban on handguns.

The pair joined 120 other women legislators from across the country on a special amicus brief filed by the National Rifle Association. The brief reads in part, “the District’s current prohibition against handguns and immediately serviceable firearms in the home effectively eliminates a woman’s ability to defend her very life and those of her children against violent attack.”
“Oregonians have always been very protective of their second amendments rights,” noted Thatcher. “However, I fear if the high court doesn’t rule in our favor, opponents of gun owner rights will be out in full force trying to change Oregon law.”

This is only the second time in the past 70 years that a firearms case has reached the U.S. Supreme Court. In 1976 the District of Columbia outlawed handguns, carrying firearms within the home and possession of a loaded or operable firearm. A security guard named Dick Heller challenged the law, claiming it violated his constitutional right to keep and bear arms. He won at the lower court level but the city appealed. A decision by the Supreme Court could come as early as this summer.

Representatives Flores and Thatcher have both served on the House Judiciary Committee and have both sponsored legislation in recent years to preserve gun owner rights in Oregon. END

Visit Oregon Catalyst to read or add COMMENTS on Rep. Flores' stand.

NFRW endorses McCain

2008-04-20T14:26:00.000-07:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:March 15, 2008
CONTACT: Lisa Ziriax 703-548-9688 or lziriax@nfrw.org

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Federation of Republican Women (NFRW) unanimously endorsed Senator John McCain for president during its spring board of directors meeting on March 15.

More than 300 Republican women leaders from across the nation attended the meeting, held in the Washington, D.C., area March 14-15.

In addition to unanimously approving a resolution endorsing McCain, board members heard from a diverse line-up of Republican officials and leaders regarding the upcoming elections, including House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH); U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao; Jo Ann Davidson, co-chairman of the Republican National Committee; and, Judy Black, Women for McCain.

“We are energized and enthusiastic about Senator McCain,” NFRW President Shirley Sadler said. “Our members are committed to his presidential campaign and are working at the grassroots in every state to turn out voters to the polls for him and our other Republican candidates in November.”

Founded in 1938, the NFRW is one of the largest women’s political organizations in the country with more than 1,800 local clubs in all 50 states and in the U.S. territories. The grassroots organization recruits and elects Republican candidates, advocates the Party’s philosophy and initiatives, and empowers women in the political process.

-30-

NATIONAL FEDERATION OF REPUBLICAN WOMEN

124 N. Alfred Street Alexandria, VA 22314-3011 P: 703.548.9688 F: 703.548.9836

mail@nfrw.org www.nfrw.org

Pork Barrel Foes Gain Backers in Senate

2008-04-20T14:23:00.000-07:00

GOP USA, March 13, 2008 by Julie Hirschfeld Davis (AP)

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The foot soldiers in this week's push to abolish pork-barrel politics -- a campaign whose most prominent champion is John McCain -- are two rookie Republican senators whose scrappy tactics have drawn the ire of lawmakers in both parties. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma and Jim DeMint of South Carolina, both conservative transplants from the House, have stalled and stymied their way to notoriety over the past two years by going after home-state projects, known as ''earmarks,'' that other senators try to slip into legislation. Continued...

Dr. Wafa Sultan Debates Egyptian Islamist

2008-04-20T14:19:00.000-07:00

MEMRI, Special Dispatch Series - No. 1864, March 7, 2008
Note: Editing for their audience?

Arab-American Psychiatrist Wafa Sultan Clashes with Egyptian Islamist Tal'at Rmeih, Program Host on Al-Jazeera TV

On an Al-Jazeera TV program on March 4, 2008, Arab-American psychiatrist Wafa Sultan debated Egyptian Islamist Tal’at Rmeih on Western-Islamic relations, the Danish cartoons, Islamic teachings, the situation in Gaza, freedom of expression in the West, and the Holocaust. Read excerpts from the debate which aired on Al-Jazeera TV (Qatar) here.

Filing Report

2008-04-20T14:13:00.000-07:00

Benton GOP News [email], Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Republicans,The 2008 filing deadline for candidates is just one week away. March 11 is the deadline, and candidate voters' pamphlet submissions must be in by March 13.

Here is a rundown on offices up for election this year, along with Republicans who have filed:

Benton Co. Commissioner, position 2 [incumbent--Jay Dixon (D)] No Republican has filed
Benton Co. Commissioner, position 3 [incumbent--Annabella Jaramillo (D)] Chris Nusbaum, former Mayor of Philomath, has filed.

Oregon House of Representatives, District 16 [incumbent--Sarah Gelser (D)] No Republican has filed

We encourage those who are interested in running for public office to call our Republican Party chair, John Bell (758 4939). John will help interested Republicans make this important step forward toward better government in Benton County and in Oregon.

P.S. Remember: Kevin Mannix will speak on Thursday evening, March 6 at 7 p.m. at the Corvallis Public Library. Come early (6:30 p.m.) for social hour. Everyone is invited.

Two will vie for Ward 7 council post

2008-04-20T13:44:00.000-07:00

Corvallis Gazette-Times, February 29, 2008, by Matt Neznanski

Jeanne Raymond and Rick Schroff will appear on May 20 ballot to fill empty position
By the end of Friday’s filing deadline, two candidates emerged to seek the vacant City Council position in Ward 7. It’s official: The names of retired educator Jeanne Raymond and local insurance agent Rick Schroff will appear on the May 20 ballot.

The Ward 7 seat on the City Council became vacant in December. Councilor Scott Zimbrick died Dec. 6, shortly after being diagnosed with acute leukemia. Zimbrick, who had served on the council since 2002, represented Witham Hill and parts of the Timberhill neighborhood.

Raymond said she would like to see the council balance social, economic and environmental issues as the city grows. Schroff said that he intends to continue the business-focused approach that was the hallmark of Zimbrick’s leadership.

Before taking over Schroff Insurance Agency from his father four years ago, Schroff spent 25 years with the Houston, Texas-based Smith International, a supplier of products and services to the oil industry.

“I know I can provide direction that promotes a thriving business environment while honoring the exceptional livability of our community,” he said.

Schroff is a member of the Greater Corvallis Rotary Club and the Corvallis-Benton Chamber Coalition, where he served as an ambassador and a past member of the Government Affairs Committee.

Raymond was an educator for 30 years, including 10 years with the Corvallis school system. She has lived in Ward 7 for nearly two decades, and she said she takes a long-term perspective to leadership.

“We can have sustainability by meeting the needs of this generation and future generations by finding solutions that address the social, economic and environmental aspects of a healthy, prosperous city,” she said.

Raymond has been an active Democrat for more than 40 years. Her volunteer endeavors include helping to organize the first student exchange program with sister-city Uzhgorod in Ukraine. She also is a member of the Benton County Bill of Rights Defense Committee.

Mayor Charlie Tomlinson has scheduled a Ward 7 candidate forum for 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 8, in the Walnut Community Room at Corvallis Fire Station 5, 4950 N.W. Fair Oaks Drive. Tomlinson will moderate the discussion, which will feature statements from each candidate. Voters will have the opportunity to ask questions.

Matt Neznanski can be reached at 758-9518 or matt.neznanski@lee.net.

Exxon Mobil Needs a Hug

2008-04-20T13:34:00.000-07:00

New York Times - BUSINESS, March 3, 2008 by Ben Stein
[...]
As usual, Senator Obama gave a fine oration, with thunderous applause from the audience as his reward. But then I was beguiled by a series of gifts he was going to give the American people (of course, with their own money): universal health care, antipoverty programs, large grants to college students in return for community service (a darned good idea) and other goodies.

Then he talked about the country’s energy policy and how he planned to change our dependence on oil. And he took aim at Exxon Mobil, which had almost $12 billion in earnings last quarter, and said that good old Exxon Mobil wouldn’t part easily with its profits.

Now, I know it’s primary season. I know Democratic candidates have to make obeisance to the populist, antibusiness wing of their party, just as the Republican front-runner, Senator John McCain, has to make bows and curtsies to the supply-side part of his (and my) party.

But Mr. Obama’s comments about Exxon Mobil are, as folks used to say, fightin’ words.
Mr. Obama is clearly an intelligent man. So it may not be too early to start a small process of education about Exxon Mobil and other oil companies and why attacking them is not smart.

First, Exxon Mobil, like all the other gigantic integrated energy companies in this country, is owned not by a cabal of reactionary businessmen holding clandestine meetings in a lodge in the Texas scrublands (as Oliver Stone so brilliantly illustrated in “Nixon”).

Exxon Mobil, in fact, is owned mostly by ordinary Americans. Mutual funds, index funds and pension funds (including union pension funds) own about 52 percent of Exxon Mobil’s shares. Individual shareholders, about two million or so, own almost all the rest. The pooh-bahs who run Exxon own less than 1 percent of the company.

When Exxon Mobil earns almost $12 billion in a quarter, or $41 billion in a year, as it did in 2007, that money does not go into the coffers of a few billionaire executives quaffing Champagne in Texas. It goes into the pension and retirement accounts of ordinary citizens. When Exxon pays a dividend, that money goes to pay for the mortgages and oxygen tanks and in-home care of lots of elderly Americans.

So, Mr. Obama, which union pension plans — and which blue-collar workers who benefit from them — will be among the first you would like to deprive of the income that flows from Exxon’s rich dividends? Continued...

Candidates speak to Benton GOP

2008-04-20T13:02:00.000-07:00

Gazette-Times, Friday, March 7, 2008 - by Matt Neznanski, G-T Reporter
Mannix seeks Hooley’s spot - Philomath mayor, Salem Republican meet Benton GOP

Benton County Republicans had a look at two candidates Thursday night. Philomath Mayor Chris Nusbaum is hoping to move into a Benton County commissioner’s office, while campaign veteran Kevin Mannix is seeking U.S. Rep. Darlene Hooley’s spot in Oregon’s 5th Congressional District.

Democrat Hooley recently announced that she will not seek re-election, and Republicans said it is a seat they can win.

“Why not run where the district fits like a glove?” said Mannix, who represented Salem in the state Legislature. Mannix has been unsuccessful in his two runs for state attorney general and two gubernatorial attempts. However, Salem and rural areas support him, he said Thursday.
Oregon’s 5th Congressional District includes a small part of Benton County, significant portions of Clackamas and Multnomah counties as well as all of Marion, Polk, Tillamook and Lincoln counties.

Mike Erickson, a wealthy businessman from Lake Oswego who ran against Hooley in 2006, already has entered the 5th District Republican race.

Mannix is known for sponsoring several tough-on-criminals initiatives, including Measure 11, which imposed mandatory-minimum prison sentences and led to increases in Oregon’s prison population and budget.

During his talk at the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library, most supported Mannix’s most recent initiatives, especially Initiative 40, which demands mandatory prison time for property offenses.

John Frohnmayer, an Oregon State University history professor who is running his own independent campaign for Senate, disagreed.

“What do you say to the idea that higher education gets less priority than prisons?” Frohnmayer asked.

Mannix said voters have broadly supported his initiatives. He cited their response as proof of support for the idea.

“I say, with democracy, to put it to the voters. Let them decide,” he said.

Democrats seeking the 5th District seat will decide a primary contest between state Sen. Kurt Schrader and political consultant Steve Marks. Jim Hill, the former state treasurer who ran for governor in 2006, has hinted that he, too, may enter the race.

Voter registration in the 5th District slightly favors Republicans, although the many nonaffiliated voters in the region have been siding with Democrats in recent elections.

In Benton County, the range is a bit wider. Democrats outnumber Republicans by 9 percent of registered voters, according to the county elections office. The disparity was not lost on Nusbaum.

“It’s going to be a tough, uphill battle,” he said. “I’m sure going to give it a heck of a try.”
Nusbaum is challenging incumbent Democrat Annabelle Jaramillo, who has been a Benton County commissioner since 2001. Jaramillo took office in 2000 with less than a 3 percent margin in the vote, but she won easily in 2004.

“The goal, of course, is to win,” Nusbaum said. “I think with a lot of hard work, we can finally break that glass ceiling in Benton County.” Nusbaum has served six years as mayor of Philomath.

The deadline to file for the primary is March 11. Ballots will be sent out about May 3.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Howard Zinn’s fairy tale

2008-03-16T22:28:00.000-07:00

The New Criterion, February 2008
EXCERPT: Some projects are born fatuous, some achieve fatuousness, some have fatuousness thrust upon them. Which melancholy comedy best fits the news that A People’s History of the United States, Howard Zinn’s anti-American fantasy masquerading as history, is—finally, at last, after so many failed attempts—going to be turned into a television show? Somehow the crowning glory of the farce was the news that the actor Matt Damon (who grew up next to Zinn) would perform in the four-hour miniseries titled “The People Speak.” “Matt Damon, Matt Damon”: the squeaky-voiced puppet playing Damon in the movie Team America offered the perfect epitome of his ostentatious, self-regarding political childishness. And here he is helping to dramatize a book whose message is that the New World, once a paradisal playground instinct with benevolence and creativity when Columbus met the gentle Arawaks, was ruined when rapacious, war-mongering white men overran the continent.

Ho-hum, you say. Another anti-American history of America: what else is new? Isn’t this just business as usual for academic historians? Yes, it is. But Howard Zinn’s book is not just any left-leaning diatribe. Published in 1980, it instantly became a bestseller; even today, more than twenty-five years later, it is number 88 on Amazon. It has gone through innumerable editions and updates. And it is, we’re told, the most widely assigned American history book in high schools across the country. In other words, it is a major source—in many cases, the major source—for students’ understanding of the history of their country. [Emphasis added]

NFRW: 1941 Martin Letter (pg. 1)

2008-03-16T05:00:00.000-07:00

(Click image for larger view)

This letter was found on eBay and a search for the subsequent page(s) is ongoing with the help of eBayers.

About Marion E. Martin [NFRW]
Bangor Daily News, Friday, March 07, 2008 - BDN Staff

By Jo Freeman
Special to the NEWS

The woman most responsible for creation of the National Federation of Republican Women in 1937 was Marion E. Martin of Maine. In 1944 she estimated that she could mobilize 1 million Republican women through the clubs in her federation. At its height the NFRW had 400,000 members, which made it the largest women’s political organization in the country

Martin spent her life in politics, where she was known for her thorough preparation and distinctive hats. She inherited her commitment to public service from her mother, who had worked for numerous causes and thought her daughter would make a fine legislator. In 1930 Martin was elected to the Maine House. She served two terms in the House and two in the Senate.

To better do her job, Martin took courses at the University of Maine between legislative sessions. When she found herself chairman of the Senate’s Legal Affairs Committee — the first nonlawyer to do so — she commuted to Connecticut to take law classes at Yale Law School. There, one of her professors recruited her to work for the Republican National Committee.

After the 1936 Democratic landslide there were only 89 Republicans in the U.S. House, 16 in the U.S. Senate, and six Republican governors. In only a few years the Republican Party had gone from the majority party to one that could barely qualify as serious opposition. The new RNC chairman, John D. M. Hamilton, decided to rebuild it into a "loyal opposition," with regular funding, professional staff and an ongoing program. In 1937 he asked the new national committeewoman from Maine to become the assistant chairman for women’s activities with the task of organizing Republican women.

Republican women’s clubs had been campaigning for their party for more than 50 years, but they went their own way and did not coordinate their work. After meeting with the other national committeewomen, Martin put together the National Federation of Women’s Republican Clubs with herself at its head and invited the existing clubs to join. Within a year clubs with 100,000 members had affiliated.

For the next 10 years Martin nursed the Federation, traveling widely, writing pamphlets and creating a structure through which every Republican woman who wanted to work could find a place in the party. She saw the clubs as a training ground for Republican women, teaching them political skills even while it put them to work for Republican candidates. She also used her position to lobby for women, urging Republican governors to appoint them to state offices, pushing state parties to give them more seats at national conventions, and urging women to run for office. By 1946, her federation had 400,000 members in its constituent clubs.

In the November elections that year the Republican Party gained control of both houses of Congress for the first time since 1928. The new RNC chairman, Carroll Reece, fired Marion Martin. According to one report he "walked into Miss Martin’s office" and said: "You have enemies on the committee. I want harmony here; I will appreciate it if you would sever your connection with us as rapidly as possible." While Martin never publicly gave a reason for her sudden departure, she appeared to be a casualty of the GOP’s factional fights.

After Martin was fired, the NFWRC began to cut the umbilical cord to the RNC. In 1952, it reorganized and renamed itself the National Federation of Republican Women, with its own elected president and board of directors.

Respected in both parties, Martin was proposed to President Harry Truman for appointment to the Federal Communications Commission, which had to be bipartisan. However, the director of the Democratic Women’s Division, India Edwards, vetoed her because she didn’t want Truman’s first female appointee to be a Republican.

Instead Martin returned to Maine, where she served as commissioner of labor from 1947 until her retirement in 1972. She earned a reputation for her innovative approach to labor problems, and for championing programs to benefit women.

This piece is Chapter 8 of Jo Freeman’s new book, "We Will Be Heard: Women’s Struggles for Political Power in the United States," which will be published March 28 by Rowman & Littlefield. It is printed with her permission. Freeman is author of "A Room at a Time: How Women Entered Party Politics," "The Politics of Women’s Liberation," and "At Berkeley in the Sixties." She is the coeditor of "Waves of Protest" and editor of "Social Movements of the Sixties and Seventies" and five editions of "Women: A Feminist Perspective." For more information about the author, see www.jofreeman.com.

The World in 2009

2008-03-11T01:33:00.000-07:00

Townhall.com, February 28, 2008 - by Victor Davis Hansen

When President George Bush leaves office, will America once again be liked by most of the world? Not necessarily, since most current problems are either already getting better or not our fault.

When the next president takes office in January 2009, he or she will be confronted by a world that either understandably appreciates America or for self-interested reasons will challenge it.

On the positive side, the new president will see a Middle East without the Taliban in charge in Afghanistan or Saddam Hussein ruling Iraq. A stabilizing constitutional Iraq should result in a steadily diminishing American presence there.

In Europe, the French under Nicolas Sarkozy and the Germans under Angela Merkel will remain pro-American. But they will also expect continued American leadership. Both may talk grandly of the Atlantic Alliance, but in real terms they do little to help us in Afghanistan or elsewhere.

Most of Africa likewise is already friendly to the United States. And why not? President Bush extended more humanitarian aid to combat African hunger and disease than any president in our history.

But what of our enemies? Won't adversaries back off when the Christian cowboy George Bush rides back to Texas -- and we have a kinder, gentler commander-in-chief who offers hope, or at least change, to the world?

Hardly.

There are plenty of problems that both antedated George Bush and are likely to continue well after he's left office.

For starters, continued...

Revolution against the West

2008-03-11T01:25:00.000-07:00

Muslim's hand out flyers in NYC calling for 'revolution against the West.
Act for America (E-mail notice), Febuary 13, 2008

An ACT! for America supporter in New York recently came across a group of Muslims who were handing out flyers. She got in line to take one and alerted us to what was being distributed.
We direct you to RevolutionMuslim.com ACT! for America was founded by Brigitte Gabriel, a Lebanese immigrant who came to the United States after losing her country of birth to militant Muslim fundamentalists during the Lebanese Civil War. Gabriel is now an American citizen and urges Americans to be aware of and "to "act" regarding these current issues:

FBI discrimination against Christians and Jews who apply to be Arabic translators.

The existence of Islamic paramilitary camps operating on American soil.
Radical Muslims posing as "refugees" and gaining entrance to the United States under the Humanitarian Refugee Act.
The need for First Amendment protection for journalists who report on militant Islamic activities.
Increasing pro-Islamist and anti-American and anti-Israeli bias in high school and college courses and textbooks.
The growing number of Madrassas (Islamic schools) proliferating in the United States, schools that frequently teach hatred of Christians, Jews, Americans, and non-Muslims. Anti-American, anti-Christian and anti-Jewish hate speech in mosques in America.
Islamic radicals posing as Hispanic immigrants to enter the United States across our southern border.
Islamic radicals teaming up with illegal immigrant gangs in illicit activities, such as drug smuggling, to provide funding for terrorist organizations.
Iran's nuclear weapons program.
Islamic charities that serve as conduits for funding of Islamic terrorist organizations.
The existence of terrorist sleeper cells in the U.S.
The need to reduce American independence on Middle Eastern oil.
Defeating al-Qaeda in Iraq.
Purveyors of political correctnesss: How the political Left in America denies, apologizes for, or blames America for the rise in Islamic extremism and terrorism.

Oregon colleges fail to make rankings

2008-03-11T01:20:00.000-07:00

Oregon Catalyst, Friday, February 8, 2008, Jerry Dawson wrote,

Oregon Fails to Place in Top 50 in Kiplinger's Best Value in Public Colleges : It would appear that Oregon's poor showing (49th ranking out of 50 states) in the recent Education Week Quality Counts 2008 for K -12 education extends into the arena of higher education as well. Kiplinger's annual report of the Best Value in Public Colleges (in-state) does not have a single Oregon institution in the top 50. Not a single institution in the top 75. Not in the top 85. In fact, you have to get all the way to 86th before you can find an Oregon university (University of Oregon). There are no other Oregon universities that made the list.

Legislative Update: Rep. Linda Flores

2008-03-11T01:17:00.000-07:00

Newsletter, 2008 Volume 1 (January)

Dear Friends,
As we enter 2008 and look to the future, I wanted to give you an update on some of the important things going on in state government. Many of the new laws the Oregon Legislature enacted in 2007 will impact our state in the years to come; many will have a positive effect, some perhaps not so good.

The Legislature also meets for a Special Session in February this year. While I’m not convinced there are 100 emergencies facing our state which justify this session, I’m hopeful it will be brief and the political games will be kept to a minimum. Oregon faces many challenges ahead such as escalating traffic congestion and a growing population of senior citizens. We need to look for creative solutions that don’t always involve raising taxes. There are also opportunities in front of us to enhance public safety and education accountability. I’m proud of some of things we’ve accomplished but also concerned about the future.

Our state budget saw a record level of revenue — up nearly $3 billion — thanks to hard working taxpayers. That’s allowed us to reduce class size, add more police to our roads, and fund other critical services. We now have money set aside for a rainy day, but the legislature diverted tax dollars owed to businesses in order to create that fund. I opposed that move and voted against more than $600 million in new fees. State spending is also up over 20% and I’m concerned cuts will be made if the economy takes a turn for the worse. It’s rewarding to work with residents of my legislative district to solve problems and make Oregon a better place to live for everyone.

My top priority is to work on the issues that matter most to you. I hope you will find this newsletter helpful and you’ll send back the survey on page two. Your comments are always welcome.

Sincerely,
Linda Flores

Romney Quits GOP Presidential Race

2008-03-11T01:14:00.000-07:00

February 7, 2008
Note: Mitt Romney's address at CPAC 2008 was disappointing to many for in it he announced that he was bowing out of the race for president, however, his words regarding America were inspiring, eloquent and very powerful. Read the speech at BentonGOP.org.

Senators Introduce Semper Fi Act of 2008

2008-03-11T01:10:00.000-07:00

Hometown News, Updated: February 6, 2008 (Hat tip: John D.)
OK & TX U.S. Senators Introduce Semper Fi Act of 2008 - Bill Stops Berkeley Earmarks and Transfers Funds to Marine Corps

Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators James Inhofe (R-Oklahoma), Jim DeMint (R-South Carolina), Saxby Chambliss (R-Georgia), Tom Coburn, M.D. (R-Oklahoma), John Cornyn (R-Texas), and David Vitter (R-Louisiana) introduced the Semper Fi Act of 2008. The bill would rescind over $2 million in hidden earmarks for Berkeley, California in the 2008 Omnibus Appropriations bill, and transfer the funds to the Marine Corps. U.S. Congressman John Campbell (R-California) is introducing a companion bill in the House of Representatives.

Last week, the City Council of Berkeley voted to oust Marine Corps recruiters from their downtown office, saying the Marines were "uninvited and unwelcome intruders." Berkeley officials also voted to give the radical protest group Code Pink space outside the recruitment office and urged them to "impede, passively or actively" the work of Marine Corps recruiters.

One earmark provides $243,000 in taxpayer dollars for the organization Chez Panisse to create gourmet organic school lunches in the Berkeley School District. Chez Panisse is dedicated to "environmental harmony" and their menu features "Comté cheese soufflé with mâche salad," "Meyer lemon éclairs with huckleberry coulis," and "Chicory salad with creamy anchovy vinaigrette and olive toast."

Another earmark would spend $975,000 in taxpayer dollars for the University of California in Berkeley Matsui Center for Politics and Public Service, to create a new endowment and cataloging the papers of Congressman Robert Matsui. U.C. Berkeley currently already has a $3.5 billion endowment. Senator DeMint: "Berkeley needs to learn that their actions have consequences. Patriotic American taxpayers won't sit quietly while Berkeley insults our brave Marines and tries to run them out of town. Berkeley City Council members have shown complete ingratitude to our military and their families, and the city doesn't deserve a single dime of special pet project handouts."

Senator Cornyn: "The Berkeley City Council insulted our troops and offended people across the country. If the U.S. Marines are not good enough for Berkeley, neither are taxpayer dollars Congress would have sent there this year. That city closed its doors on the same individuals taking bullets on the front lines while fighting for the safety and freedom of families in Berkeley and throughout America."

Senator Vitter: "The actions of the City Council of Berkeley are in stark contrast to beliefs of the vast majority of Americans who recognize and honor the service and sacrifice of our U.S. Marines. This is simply unacceptable and those funds could be better utilized by the Marine Corps."

Dr. Coburn: "The actions by the city of Berkeley are deplorable and insulting to those who are serving and those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice to protect the very freedoms that are being exercised to insult them. I know I stand with the majority of Americans in thanking our service men and women for their selfless service to our nation."

Senator Chambliss: "We need to send a strong message that our military personnel deserve our strongest support. Georgia is a proud military state, and my constituents will be out outraged to know that during a time of war, their taxpayers dollars have been used to reward folks who have insulted and disparaged those who defend this nation every day."

Berkeley City Council vs. Marines

2008-03-11T01:04:00.000-07:00

Michelle Malkin, January 30. 2008 - Members of the Berkeley City Council showed their opposition to a Marine Corps recruiting office in Downtown Berkeley last night.

Council members supported the two resolutions-one supporting anti-war protests and the other criticizing military recruitment practices-citing opposition to the war in Iraq, deceptive recruitment practices and the right to protest.

“By taking a stand against recruitment we are protecting the health and safety of our youth,” said PhoeBe sorgen, a member of the Berkeley Peace and Justice Commission. “I see the protest as taking a proud and courageous stand.”

Code Pink, a national anti-war grassroots organization, will be granted a parking spot for their regular Wednesday afternoon protests and will not need to apply for a sound permit for the next six months, under one resolution.

The other resolution more directly criticizes the presence of the center in Berkeley. The city manager was directed to send a letter to the U.S. Marine Corps saying they are “uninvited and unwelcome intruders” in the city.

In addition, the city attorney has been directed to investigate whether the city’s anti-discrimination laws can be enforced at the center, based on the military’s consideration of sexual orientation in hiring.

Marine recruiters did not return calls for comment yesterday.------

Melanie Morgan, Chairman of Move America Forward, the nation's largest pro-troops organization, said, “It is disgraceful that in the birthplace of the Free Speech Movement, anti-military activists would attempt to silence the same military men and women who serve this country and give their lives to protect the free speech rights of all Americans, including these ungrateful and despicable people on the Berkeley City Council.”

The Man on Whom Everything was Lost

2008-02-01T16:28:00.000-08:00

[COMMENT MINE: INCLUDING GLORIOUS ELEMENTS OF REPUBLICAN HISTORY]
Commentary Magazine, February 2008, by Joseph Epstein

ABSTRACT - Others have offered a kinder, gentler view of Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr. than the one provided by Edmund Wilson in his diaries. “He was a great historian and an incomparable witness,” said Paul LeClerc, president of the New York Public Library, in announcing the library’s acquisition of Schlesinger’s voluminous personal papers this past November. LeClerc went on to compare Schlesinger, who died a year ago at the age of eighty-nine, with Voltaire—to the latter’s detriment. Voltaire, after all, may have been “the historian of France, but he didn’t get in the inner circle the way Schlesinger did.” The recent publication of Schlesinger’s diaries* is a useful reality check on such claims. The book also provides an account of a career in American liberalism that is, in microcosm, a partial account of the career of the liberal temperament itself over the past half-century. [Full article requires subscription]

Note: A December 2002 Weekly Standard article, Race and Republicans, previously posted on this site attributes the loss of the Republican Party's illustrious history in civil rights achievement in part to left-leaning historians, "the Arthur Schlesingers."

See Michael Zak's Grand Old Partisan Blog for January 31, 2008 for a shining example of one of the GOP's great achievements.

Cutting Taxes Helps The Economy

2008-02-01T16:27:00.000-08:00

Center for Individual Freedom (CFIC), Via Email, January 2007

Excerpt: Pete DuPont wrote about this principle in the Wall Street Journal - "This truth has been proved at both state and federal levels, including by President Bush's 2003 tax cuts on income, capital gains and dividends. Those reductions have raised federal tax receipts by $785 billion, the largest four-year revenue increase in U.S. history. In fiscal 2007, which ended last month, the government took in 6.7% more tax revenues than in 2006. These increases in tax revenue have substantially reduced the federal budget deficits. In 2004 the deficit was $413 billion, or 3.5% of gross domestic product. It narrowed to $318 billion in 2005, $248 billion in 2006 and $163 billion in 2007. That last figure is just 1.2% of GDP, which is half of the average of the past 50 years."

ACU Ratings on 'key' Democrats

2008-02-01T16:19:00.000-08:00

FYI: Out of 100 members of the US Senate, Senator Clinton (D-NY) has a lifetime American Conservative Union (ACU) rating of 9 (83rd place) and Senator Obama (D-IL) has a rating of 8 (86th place). The higher the number the more conservative. Eight and nine are NOT high numbers. Work hard folks!

The Base is Wrong about the Gang of 14 (Interesting perspective)

2008-02-01T16:07:00.000-08:00

American Thinker, January 30, 2008 by Richard Baehr

When conservatives lay out their long list of apostasies committed by John McCain, one of them is always his role in the Gang of 14, the 7 Democrats and 7 Republicans in the Senate who agreed to a judicial compromise in 2005. To put it plainly, the critics of the deal are flat out wrong. Continued...

The Republican Retreat

2008-02-01T16:02:00.000-08:00

Townhall.com, January 29, 2008 by Cal Thomas
Following a Republican retreat at the Greenbriar Inn, WV...

Excerpt: What Republicans need is a dose of Barack Obama, who recently praised Ronald Reagan to the consternation of leading Democrats. Obama correctly noted that "Ronald Reagan changed the trajectory of America in a way that Richard Nixon did not, and a way that Bill Clinton did not." That's because Reagan had core principles from which he rarely deviated.

Instead of standing in front of those silly signs they use to promote whatever it is they are talking about, Republicans should use backdrops that promote some of Reagan's greatest sayings. These include:
"Entrepreneurs and their small enterprises are responsible for almost all the economic growth in the United States"; "Government always finds a need for whatever money it gets"; "Government does not solve problems; it subsidizes them"; "Government exists to protect us from each other. Where government has gone beyond its limits is in deciding to protect us from ourselves"; "Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.
"My personal favorite is: "Man is not free unless government is limited."
That last one should be tattooed on every Republican member of Congress. Have any of these core principles been proved wrong, outdated or unworkable? Did not these ideas promote economic growth and Republican electoral prosperity?

What does the 2nd Amendment mean?

2008-02-01T15:56:00.000-08:00

Question: Does the Second Amendment give individuals the right to bear arms? Vote by clicking the link: USA Today 2nd Amendment Poll

Lincoln Day Dinner

2008-01-26T00:25:00.001-08:00

Download our printable flyer here.

The Benton County Republican Women have a wonderful evening planned to celebrate President Abraham Lincoln’s birthday.

We are delighted to have State Representative Dennis Richardson as our evening’s speaker. Mr. Richardson’s message will give us all good reason to be excited about the upcoming plans our State Republican Legislators have committed to, as well as generating an overall good feeling for being caring and working members of the Republican Party.

During the social hour hors d’oeuvres and beverages will be served and a no host bar will be available. While mingling with friends, you will have an opportunity to look over the beautiful items in our silent auction and place your bids.

After the lovely buffet dinner Rep. Richardson will speak and then our oral auction will take place.

Auction proceeds help support the Benton County Republican Women’s many community service projects, most notably...

BCRW Project #1 is “The Dictionary Project”, a community service effort of Benton Co. Republican Women. Over the past six years, we have provided dictionaries for all 4th grade students in public, private and home schools in Benton County. Additional dictionaries are provided to specialized classes in middle schools and alternative learning centers. These dictionaries are more than a standard reference book. They promote love of country and knowledge of its laws and Constitution. To date, we have served nearly 7,000 children.

BCRW Project #2 is the establishment of the Benton County Constitution Center, in cooperation with the Republican Central Committee. The Democratic Central Committee has been invited to join our effort. We have established the name of the center to be the “Ross Conklin Constitution Center.” Ross was the Republican Central Committee Treasurer, and a Constitution Center in Benton County was his dream and goal. Just imagine a Constitution Center that encourages knowledge of and an appreciation of our country and its unique beginning. Presentations and speakers regarding our Founding Fathers and their goals and challenges will be sought after to enhance the education of our history for both our youth, and the general public.

Presently the Benton County Republican Women have developed a "Constitution Day" program that can be used by any teacher in Benton County. They only need to ask and all props will be made available to them.

For more information and reservations contact:
PJ Hunter – 752-3194 or email
Nancy Davis – 753-6004
Stella Guenther - 929-5382 or email

Make checks payable to BCRW and mail or give to:
Nancy Davis
2976 NW Garryanna Dr.
Corvallis, OR 97330
(Please note on your check names of those who will be attending)

Sen. Smith: Earth's Energy Powering OIT

2008-01-26T00:11:00.000-08:00

An update from Senator Smith (email), January 25, 2008

I was recently in Klamath Falls visiting Oregon Institute of Technology (OIT). Senator Wyden and I were able to secure $1 million for OIT to build a geothermal power plant that will generate enough electricity to power the entire campus. The plant is expected to save the school over-a-half a million dollars a year.

OIT is on the forefront of renewable energy innovation and technology. They are on pace to be the only "all green" campus in the world powered by geothermal energy. In the classroom, OIT is a leader in preparing tomorrow's renewable energy workforce by offering a renewable energy systems degree. The plant will serve as an excellent educational tool to teach and train students.

I commend OIT for their leadership in renewable energy. As other campuses and businesses around the country follow OIT's lead, our nation will be relying more on domestic sources of energy, free from foreign control. OIT's success with geo-thermal energy demonstrates that, with a little innovation and investment, an energy-independent America is possible.

Construction could begin as early as this spring.

HOW GEOTHERMAL ENERGY WORKS (click image for larger view)

On King's 'Great Wells of Democracy'

2008-01-25T04:20:00.000-08:00

January 21, 2008
By Josiah Bunting III
Times-Dispatch Guest Columnist

PLAINS, VA – The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. believed that the highest principles of liberty were enshrined in America's founding documents and that one key to securing equal justice for all was to make certain that Americans remembered -- and remained true to -- their national heritage.
Someone visiting Birmingham, Ala., in 1963, King once wrote, would have seen not only America's most segregated city, but also a place where the municipal leaders had never learned basic lessons of American history.
"You might have concluded that here was a city that had been trapped for decades in a Rip Van Winkle slumber," he said, "a city whose fathers had apparently never heard of Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, the Bill of Rights, the Preamble to the Constitution, the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments, or the 1954 decision of the United States Supreme Court outlawing segregation in the public schools."
When King was jailed in Birmingham in 1963 for marching without a permit, he wrote a letter from his cell that is a supremely logical, yet passionate, defense of civil disobedience in pursuit of civil rights. It was the demonstrators in city after city, not the authorities who imprisoned them, King argued, who were defending America's founding principles.
"One day the South will know that when these disinherited children of God sat down at lunch counters they were in reality standing up for the best in the American dream and the most sacred values in our Judeo-Christian heritage, and thusly, carrying our whole nation back to those great wells of democracy which were dug deep by the Founding Fathers in the formulation of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence," he wrote.
LATER THAT YEAR, when he delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech at the Lincoln Memorial, King returned to this theme. "When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence," he said, "they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir."
As we remember King today, it ought to be obvious that future generations of Americans will not be able to claim this inheritance unless they know what it is.
Unfortunately, a recent survey revealed that American colleges are doing a miserable job when it comes to teaching students many of the basic facts about our founding documents and how the principles they enshrine have -- or have not -- been implemented through the decades.
Last fall, the Intercollegiate Studies Institute surveyed 14,000 randomly selected freshmen and seniors at 50 colleges nationwide. Each student was given a 60-question multiple choice "civic literacy" test that focused on American history, government, international relations, and economics. The average freshman scored 50.4 percent, or an "F." The average senior did little better, scoring 54.2 percent -- also an "F."
The results revealed, for example, that only 45.95 percent of college seniors knew that the line "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal . . . " comes from the Declaration of Independence. Only 47.71 percent knew Fort Sumter came before Gettysburg, which came before Appomattox. Only 61.42 percent knew Abraham Lincoln was elected sometime between 1851 and 1875. Only 42.77 percent knew that the struggle between President Andrew Johnson and the Radical Republicans was over Reconstruction.
THE RESULTS also revealed that our nation's colleges especially disserved self-identified minority students (Asian, black, Hispanic, and multiracial), with minority seniors scoring an average of 48.2 percent on the civic literacy exam, or just eight-tenths of a point higher than the average for minority freshmen. On average, in other words, American colleges teach minority students virtually nothing about America's history and institutions.
The failure to significantly increase civic knowledge among college students has immediate practical consequences: The more civic knowledge a student gains in college, the survey data demonstrated, the more likely he or she is to vote and participate in other civic activities.
It also has profound consequences for the longer term. As King argued, the rights enshrined in the Declaration, protected by the Constitution, and eventually redeemed by all Americans through decades of civil struggle and reconciliation, are universal and irrevocable.
If we forget what they are, we will forget who we are: one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Lt. Gen. Josiah Bunting III, president of the H. Frank Guggenheim Foundation and superintendent emeritus of the Virginia Military Institute, serves as chairman of the Intercollegiate Studies Institute's National Civic Literacy Board.

2008-01-25T04:11:00.000-08:00

Rep. Hanna: Republicans Ready to Lead in February
From the Statesman Journal, January 8, 2008

The 2008 supplemental session isn't just a "test" for implementing annual sessions in the Oregon Legislature. It's a test of leadership in the House and Senate. The Legislature will work within a very limited window of time. The agenda must be narrow in scope, and our time at the Capitol must be well-organized.

Republicans are prepared to come back to Salem and tackle the state's most pressing issues. These are issues the Legislature failed to pass in 2007 and issues that simply can't wait until the 2009 session. To that end, House and Senate Republicans have joined together to advance several critical issues facing our state.

No Excuses: Oregon Needs More Troopers for 24/7 State Police Coverage
In a press conference Monday, House Majority Leader Dave Hunt (D-Gladstone) said Democrats wouldn't fund more State Police Troopers because the agency is incapable of achieving 24/7 coverage this biennium. Deputy Republican Leader Andy Olson (R-Albany) rejected the excuse and said the Legislature must fund 39 additional State Troopers in February.

"The time is now for the Legislature to fund 39 new Troopers to reach 24/7 coverage," said Rep. Olson, a retired State Police member. "Democrat leadership opposed funding 24/7 OSP coverage throughout the 2007 session, and now seem satisfied with the insufficient gains made in new Trooper hires."

In a response to a reporter's question about Democrats' ambiguity on 24/7 coverage, Rep. Hunt said OSP Superintendent Timothy McLain "specifically told us, and has consistently told us, that he can only hire, train and deploy so many Troopers."

In a Jan. 9 letter from McLain to Rep. Olson, the Superintendent writes that "should the Oregon Legislature authorize us to hire 39 addition (sic) troopers this February 2008 Session we would be able to meet that goal."

"Seven in 10 Oregonians want 24-hour State Police coverage to ensure their safety," Rep. Olson said. "Oregonians don't want excuses. It's time for the Legislature to provide the dollars and enable the State Police to hire 39 more Troopers."

Democrats Keep Oregonians Waiting Until Election Year
As Democrats unveiled their policy ideas for the 2008 February Session, House Majority Leader Dave Hunt suggested during a press conference that these were "new issues." With the February session less than one month away, one must ask: Why are Democrats just now addressing them?

In 2007, Republican legislators came up with a plan to fully fund the Oregon State Police - giving Oregonians 24/7 coverage - but Democrats insisted on a tax increase; this week Democrats announced their plans to move the State Police toward 24/7 coverage.

In 2007, the Democrat budget-writers cut General Fund dollars for Oregon Project Independence from the Governor's Recommended Budget; this week they announced it needs to be funded.

In 2007, the Democrats suspending the bipartisan Big Look Commission to update our land use system, suggesting it would confuse voters over Measure 49; this week they suggested they want to take another look at reforms.

In 2007, Republican legislators introduced legislation to increase water storage in Eastern Oregon, a bill that was killed on a party line vote; this week Democrats finally agreed that water supplies in rural Oregon is a priority.

In 2007, Republican legislators introduced the Legislative Audits Office to monitor the performance and spending of state government, and despite record revenues and a 20 percent growth in state spending, the bill was killed; this week the Democrats finally announced that accountability is a priority.

"So why now," asked House Republican Leader Bruce Hanna (R-Roseburg). "Why address these issues in 2008, when Democrats could have joined with Republicans in addressing these issues during the 2007 regular session?"

In Case You Missed It: Oregon Schools Continue to Lack Teacher Development Tools
"School districts need more support from the state and each other to improve the state of professional development in Oregon, according to a study released Tuesday by the nonprofit Chalkboard Project." ("Study Says State Needs to Improve School Aid," The Oregonian, 1/9/08) "Republicans propose creating a statewide network to deliver effective professional development programs for educators. Oregon's kids deserve excellent teachers, and 2009 is simply too long to wait." (House Republican Leader Bruce Hanna, "Republicans are Ready to Address Oregon's Priorities," Salem Statesman Journal,1/8/08)

"A proposal to make sure mandatory professional development courses actually improve student achievement died in the Ways and Means Committee." (School Reform a Slow Process, Medford Mail Tribune, 6/29/07)

During the 2007 session, Democrats failed to pass HB 2614 to coordinate a statewide system for research-based, sustainable, high-quality professional development of teachers.

Zak salutes Mel Martinez

2008-01-25T04:02:00.000-08:00

Mel Martinez, Republican Senator and Hispanic immigrant
Grand Old Partisan, January 24, 2008, Michael Zak wrote,

Grand Old Partisan salutes Senator Melquíades (Mel) Martinez (R-FL). On this day in 2001, Martinez became the first Cuban-American in a presidential cabinet when he became Secretary of Housing and Urban Development in the George W. Bush administration. Continued...

Miracle of the Army-Navy Game

2008-01-25T03:56:00.000-08:00

From Family Security Matters, December 3, 2007, by KT McFarland
Hat tip: Patrick Wills

Every year, something miraculous happens the first Saturday in December - the Army-Navy game. It is one of the most fabled and long-standing rivalries in American athletics. Navy Midshipmen and Army Cadets spend their entire four years of college saying ‘Beat Army’ or ‘Beat Navy’ dozens of times a day. In the weeks leading up to the contest both Academies wage mock war against each other - with pranks, commando raids and high jinx. This year a squad of Army Cadets-turned-Special-Forces sneaked from West Point to Annapolis to kidnap Navy’s mascot, Bill the Goat, then made a hostage video and sent it around the world on YouTube. The day before the game, each Academy sends a game ball hundreds of miles, tucked under the arms of Cadet and Midshipmen marathon runners. On game day the entire Army Corps of Cadets and Navy Brigade of Midshipmen traveled to a neutral city for the battle.

Not only is the Army-Navy game one of the oldest college football competitions in the nation, in many ways it is one of the best. It’s not that the football is great, because it’s usually not. The young men who play for Army or Navy weren’t recruited by the top university teams - they’re too small, or too light. They aren’t semi-professional football stars, living, eating and studying apart from their college classmates. The men who play at West Point or Annapolis major in physics or electrical engineering and spend more time doing homework and marching in drills than at football practice. When they graduate they won’t be drafted by the NFL. It is the last organized football game most of them will ever play. In a few months time, they will be ensigns standing watch on ships in the Persian Gulf, marine lieutenants flying helicopter reconnaissance missions in Afghanistan, and army lieutenants walking the streets of Baghdad.

So why is the Army-Navy game one of the best in college football? Because it is a metaphor for what is best about America. It shows us that we are at our best when we fight ferociously in the game but afterwards, no matter who wins or who loses, we come together as brothers.

The finest moment of the Army-Navy game comes after the whistle blows. Last Saturday [December 1, 2007], Navy won 38-3, in a game that was closer than the final score suggests. At the end, no fans rushed onto the field. Nor did they head for their cars to get ahead of the traffic. They stood at their seats, took off their hats, and put their hands on their hearts. The entire stadium was silent, respectful, alert.

The players don’t do war dances or whoops of victory, either. Both teams walked solemnly across the field and met at the 50-yard line. They shook hands and patted the backs of their opponents. They took off their helmets, tucked them under their arms and walked together to Army’s side and, shoulder to shoulder sang the Army alma mater to the entire 4000 Corps of Cadets.

Both teams then turned and walked to the Navy stands and sang the Navy Blue and Gold anthem to the 4000 Brigade of Midshipmen. If you looked up at the stadium screens you could see that many of the players had tears in their eyes. If you looked at your neighbors in the stands, they did too. Because what everyone in that stadium witnessed was the miracle that is America - that after the fiercest of contests we can rise above the victory or the defeat and come together as one nation. Regardless of our religion, family heritage or political affiliation, we are first and foremost, Americans. As much as our differences matter to us, our shared patrimony matters more.

Within a few weeks Americans will begin our presidential campaign ritual. The contests will be fiercely fought, sometimes honorably, sometimes not. But politics is not for the faint of heart. There will no doubt be plenty of times the ref should throw a flag on the play, but in politics the only referees are the voters.

When this campaign season is over, the ballots cast and counted, and the victor declared we should all remember the sight of the Army and Navy football players standing shoulder to shoulder on their field of battle, paying homage to their opponents in the shared belief that what matters more than our partisanship is our brotherhood.

Wouldn’t it be a miracle if we could follow their example and, after this next election, lay down our rivalries and animosities and suspicions, and realize that we’re in this together - and that what is more important that being a Republican or a Democrat is being an American.

FamilySecurityMatters.org Contributing Editor KT McFarland is a former top Pentagon official in the Reagan Administration and a frequent television and radio commentator on national security issues and foreign affairs.

Canadian comments on US candidates

2008-01-25T03:52:00.000-08:00

Political Commentary on US Presidential Candidates from a Canadian
January 15, 2008

From Theo Caldwell as published in the National Post (Canada) on Wednesday, December 26, 2007 - "An obvious choice can be unnerving. When the apparent perfection of one option or the unspeakable awfulness of another makes a decision seem too easy, it is human nature to become suspicious." For the entire article, read RanchitoD's blog entry at bentongop.com.

The Conservatism of the Future

2008-01-25T03:51:00.000-08:00

The New Criterion, January 2008, by John O'Sullivan

O'Sullivan tackles the left-right divide of the West making some striking observations regarding conservatism in America and the effect that Americans should learn from following the success of the NumbersUSA effort on the recent immigration bill and its failure. One of O'Sullivan's points is that the center right in America is far bigger than party politics. He gives some hints on how to frame exactly what it is that most Americans want. Look for some good nuggets in this article.

A Little Sanity In A Crazy World/election

2008-01-25T03:48:00.000-08:00

Race-4-2008 (from CBS News), January 15, 2008, posted by Tommy OliverFiled under: Issues, Fred Thompson

CBS NEWS - Mixing theology and social issues on the campaign trail is rare for Fred Thompson, but he discussed it today answering a question from a member of the audience. A woman asked him if he would “as a Christian, as a conservative” continue President Bush’s programs to combat global AIDS.

“Christ didn’t tell us to go to the government and pass a bill to get some of these social problems dealt with. He told us to do it,” Thompson said.

“The government has its role, but [on one hand] we need to keep firmly in mind the role of the government, and the role of us as individuals and as Christians on the other.”

Dems thwart MLK, Jr

2008-01-25T03:43:00.000-08:00

Martin Luther King, Jr's struggle was against Democrats
Grand Old Partisan Blog, January 15, 2008, Michael Zak wrote,

On this day in 1901, the Alabama Democratic Party called for a convention to write a new state constitution that would prohibit African-Americans from voting. Despite vocal opposition from Booker T. Washington and other Republican civil rights activists, the Democrat scam succeeded.

Democrats dominated Alabama's 1901 constitutional convention, and its chairman was a Democrat. In his opening address, he said: "If we would have white supremacy, we must establish it by law -- not by force or fraud... The negro is descended from a race lowest in intelligence and moral precepts of all the races of men."

Alabama's African-American citizens would not vote in appreciable numbers again until the 1950s.

It was a Republican federal judge, Frank Johnson, who in 1956 ruled in favor of Rosa Parks and who in 1965 ordered the Democrat governor, George Wallace, to permit Martin Luther King's voting rights march from Selma to Montgomery.

At the 2000 Republican National Convention, Condoleezza Rice said: "The first Republican I knew was my father and he is still the Republican I most admire. He joined our party because the Democrats in Jim Crow Alabama of 1952 would not register him to vote. The Republicans did. My father has never forgotten that day, and neither have I."

Democrats want Americans to forget that Republicans supported the 1964 Civil Rights Act much more than did the Democrats.