Local Democrats reporting sign thefts

This was an item found on the front page of the Bay County Democratic Party page. The Bay County Republican Party does not support the stealing of signs, and there is absolutely no organized effort to steal Democratic signs whatsoever. We need to debate on the issues and not with ongoing theft of our oppositions' signs, which we condemn. If the situation was reversed we would be outraged at these acts. If anyone reading this is involved in the stealing of campaign signs, we ask you to cease these actions immediately.


"Obama yard signs were found destroyed on 27th Street in the Kings Point neighborhood the week of September 8th. There have been frequent accounts of Obama signs stolen from yards.

On Friday September 12th, I observed a silver/white Camaro style two door car with a black roof stop in front of my house. A young white man got out of the car around 9:00 p.m. and removed my Obama sign from the yard and carried it back to his car. Before they could leave, I confronted the young men and told them to give me my sign back. I managed to retrieve the sign from the roof of their car before they could leave. They sped off at a high rate of speed.

Previously, two Obama signs at my office were stolen within about 36 hours of being placed in the yard.

These events are a sickening comment on the level of political discourse in our town. They call out for condemnation. I believe our best response is not to stoop to similar vigilantism but to publicize the tactics of our opponents.(These are NOT our tactics but a few disgruntled individuals.-ed.)

If you have a story of how your yard sign has been treated send us the date, and nature of the theft or vigilantism you experienced. We will add your account to the history of this election."

"Bay Republican Times" Newsletter

by Barry Gibbs
To get a copy contact: 850-258-3899
from the front page...

"Our mission is to provide a cooperative forum for news and commentary, and to keep you up-to-date on significant happenings in the world of politics. Local gatherings, upcoming occasions, a quick reference calendar, photos and news are what we’re all about. We’re counting on you to share photos and write-ups of recent events, notices of things on the horizon, and any tidbits that will be of interest to the devoted Conservative.

This newsletter is not a propaganda tool with which to beat someone over the head. If
you know anyone who would appreciate a copy, please obtain their permission, then send us
their e-address. If anyone should wish to opt out of receiving Bay Republican Times, please let
us know and we’ll remove the e-address immediately, no hard feelings.
Bay Republican Times will be an e-mail publication only. This allows us quickness,
flexibility, and keeps Party costs and environmental impact to ZERO - true Conservative Values.
From now through the November 4 election we will publish as often as needed, so keep an eye on
your Inbox.

Please bear with us as we get our feet on the ground and strive to make this an
informative publication of quality that we can all be proud of. Send us anything that might be
interesting, but remember this - it has to be Fair, it has to be Honest, it has to be Civilized.
Balanced reporting may be dead in the Northeast and on the Left Coast, but Journalistic Integrity is THE INVIOLATE RULE at Bay Republican Times.
We hope you’ll be involved, enlightened and satisfied, and we want to hear from you soon."

RPOF Women’s Leadership Council Statement on Obama Women’s Rally

Tallahassee—Republican Party of Florida Women’s Leadership Council Co-Chairman Linda Ivell and Anne Voss released the following statement today regarding Senator Barack Obama’s “Women’s Rally for Change” in Miami today and Obama’s refusal to take a stand on the most important challenges facing our nation:

“Today’s women are mothers, professionals, small business owners, community activists, but Senator Barack Obama promises not a diverse plan for a diverse community, but one rhetorical catch-all: ‘Change.’

“Women in Florida and across our nation want a real leader who will work for stronger, healthier families, invest in our children’s future from the very beginning, and get our economy back on track so that we can create and keep high-wage, high-value jobs and buy affordable gas and groceries. We don’t want empty promises and we don’t want ‘change’ for change’s sake. We need our leaders to be mavericks who aren’t afraid to bring real change and reform the way business is done Washington, D.C.—and women know that the only two people who can do that are John McCain and Governor Sarah Palin.”

Debate-watching party 9-26

The first presidential debate will be held Friday, September 26th, at the University of Mississippi. This debate is something you won't want to miss and that's why we're asking you to follow this link to host or attend a Debate-Watching Party on September 26th.

As the host of a McCain Nation party, you will receive a packet of resources including a suggested party agenda, campaign information and McCain-Palin gear. We're asking you to register your party before Monday, September 22nd, to receive this packet in advance of your party.

Visit www.JohnMcCain.com/McCainNation to start planning your event.

Sign waving Saturday, 9-20-08

Fellow Republicans,

Just a reminder that sign-waving for McCain-Palin will take place this Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the intersection of 23^rd St. and Hwy. 77. Park in the PC Mall parking lot, or meet us at the Republican Headquarters, 1607 Lisenby Ave., at 10:30 and ride to the site with other Republicans. Phone banking at the Headquarters will continue from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. Also, a group will be doing door-to-door campaigning this Saturday. If you want to join them, be at the Headquarters at 10 a.m.

Thanks for everything you’re doing to get McCain-Palin elected!

Teresa Eaton

Become a Poll Watcher

Poll watchers play a vital role in our elections process, ensuring that every legal, legitimate vote counts. By volunteering to become a poll watcher today, you can be a part of history on November 4!

As a poll watcher, you will observe the voting process at a polling place in order to ensure that every eligible voter has the right to vote. A poll watcher acts as the eyes and ears of the Republican Party of Florida on behalf of all voting citizens, making sure that the election laws are followed, and that all legally registered voters are able to vote and have their vote counted.

For example, you will watch for and report any unauthorized individuals in the polling place, and make sure there is no solicitation or campaigning inside the polling place or within 100 feet of the entrance to a polling place. Poll watchers report any problems in the polling location such as machine failure, extra long lines, shortage of ballots and whether the polling location opens and closes on time.

The right to vote is central to our democracy, and as a poll watcher you will help ensure that all eligible voters have the ability to properly cast their ballots and that those ballots are accurately counted.

Your help is critical to making sure that there is a smooth election in 2008. If you are interested learning more about this important responsibility, please contact Paul Washington at (850) 222-7920 or e-mail pwashington@rpof.org. Please respond by offering to volunteer your time during the early vote period or on Election Day.

The libertarian case for McCain

by Philip Blumel
RLC of Florida

While he is cagey about whether or not he will vote for John McCain himself, Reason magazine editor Matt Welch has published The libertarian case for McCain on the Reason blog.

Welch is author of the McCain biography Myth of a Maverick and knows the Senator inside and out. In his blog, Welch picks through the McCain record and offers McCain’s top seven virtues from a libertarian point of view.

“Lord knows, there is a libertarian case to be made against John McCain,” Welch wrote. “Whether it’s his hyper-interventionist foreign policy, disregard for constitutional liberties and individualism, or his up-front opposition to the leave-us-alone libertarian philosophy that dominated Republican debates in the 1990s, the 2008 Republican nominee has drawn fire from many free-marketeers through (as the Club for Growth has put it), his ‘philosophical ambivalence, if not hostility, about limited government and personal freedom.’”

But then again, there’s free trade, divided government, earmarks, torture, entitlements, immigration and, well, Sarah. Check out Welch’s case and feel free to leave a comment.

Gov. Palin visits Florida Sunday, 9/21

The Republican Party of Florida announced that Republican nominee for Vice President of the United States, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, will join the Florida Ticket for a Road to Victory Rally at the Villages in Central Florida.

Palin hacker son of TN Democratic State Rep.?

The Hacker goes by the name of David Kernell, and is highly speculated to have the on-line alias of "Rubico."

"My name is David Kernell I am 15 a white caucasian male i live in memphis, TN."

This bio was posted in 2003 so now he would be about 20. There is a democrat representative from TN named Mike Kernell. Coincidence?

Other blogs have posited that David Kernell is indeed the son of Democrat Rep. Mike Kernell.

Obama slips on TV

"Let's not play games," Obama stated. "What I was suggesting – you're absolutely right that John McCain has not talked about my Muslim faith. And you're absolutely right that that has not come."
More...

Rep. Allen Boyd's son faces alien smuggling charges

The son of U.S. Rep. Allen Boyd, a Panhandle Democrat, is facing federal charges of smuggling illegal immigrants after being stopped by Border Patrol agents in Arizona.

John F. Boyd, 30, admitted picking up the passengers in the desert, authorities said. He was stopped Sunday at a border checkpoint near Willcox and a search dog indicated people might be hiding in the bed of the white Ford pickup he was driving.

Agents found two people under a piece of plywood, according to a federal complaint obtained by the Buzz, and two more adults lying on the floorboard behind the front seat. A 6-year-old girl was in the passenger seat.

Methamphetamine and a loaded Beretta pistol were found, according to the complaint. It did not indicate who the items belonged to and no drug or weapons charges have been filed against Boyd. He has a preliminary hearing this morning in Tucson. (story here)

4 Friends, 50 Days...

Today marks exactly 50 days until the election on November 4, 2008.

We will work non-stop, day and night, 24/7, over the next 50 days to win Florida for Senator McCain and Governor Palin. But we can't keep Florida red alone--we need your help.

If you donate just $10.00 and forward this email to four of your friends, the $50 you help to raise will enable us to make more calls, knock on more doors, and mail out more campaign literature to more Florida voters. When you donate just $10.00 and forward this email to four friends, the $50.00 you help to raise will make a difference in this historic campaign.

McCain's social networking numbers are on the rise

Whatever anyone thinks of Barack Obama, there's not much question that he mastered online social-networking technologies as a tool to help him eke out victory against Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primary. Is John McCain now catching up?...when it comes to new growth, McCain's numbers are increasing at a faster rate.

from Technology Review via Tech Republican

A Comparison: Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae Donations

Here is a sample of lawmakers who have received donations from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac:

#2 overall, Sen. Barack Obama, $126,349
#3 overall, Sen. John Kerry $111,000
#12 overall, Sen. Hillary Clinton, $76,050
#18 overall, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, $56,250
#62 overall, Sen. John McCain, $21,550
#158 overall, Rep. Allen Boyd, $6,000
#202 overall, Rep. Ron Paul, $3,500

***from OpenSecrets.org

Although there are lawmakers listed from both major parties, it is quite surprising to see Sen. Obama at #2 overall. Is this his idea of change?

Conservatives...

"...are skeptical of abstract theories and utopian schemes, doubtful that government is wiser than its citizens, and always ready to test any political program against actual results."

Wick Allison, former publisher of National Review

Meet Sarah Palin!

Here is your chance to meet Governor Sarah Palin! Click here to volunteer for Super Saturday, September 20, 2008, and you could earn a chance to meet our Republican nominee for Vice President of the United States.

Click here and register to volunteer in an RPOF/Victory phone bank or attend a precinct walk. Volunteers must make a minimum of 500 phone calls, or knock on 100 doors to qualify. The top three volunteers statewide will meet Governor Palin during her next trip to Florida.There are just 50
days until the November Election and we need your help to ensure that Florida’s 27 electoral votes are secured for the McCain-Palin Ticket. Register to volunteer today, and earn your chance to meet the future Vice President of the United States of America, Governor Sarah Palin.

The final push to November 4th is finally here. John McCain and Governor Sarah Palin are traveling the country to take their message of reform, prosperity, and peace to the American people. They are doing their part; now it is time for us to do ours.

Please join us this Wednesday for National Veterans Phone Bank Night! We will be gathering at phone banks across Florida to make phone calls in support of John McCain and Sarah Palin. The campaign has asked the national Veterans organization to produce 100,000 calls this week. Come to your Nearest Victory Office this Wednesday to help us reach this important goal.

The link for phone bank locations is listed below. If you can't make it t his Wednesday, we encourage you to join us next week. From now until Election Day, we will be running Veterans Phone Banks every Wednesday. If there is not a phone bank near you, there is still plenty you can do from your neighborhood -- please email us at florida@johnmccain.com for more information.

Get Your Absentee Ballot

The polls are tightening across the nation, and one thing is clear: this year's presidential election will be one of the closest in history. We know that John McCain and Sarah Palin will change Washington, but before they reform our nation's capital, you have to send them there first.

Now more than ever, your vote is critical. And there's no better way to vote than by voting early, or with an absentee ballot. Voting early, or with an absentee ballot, is the best way to avoid the long line on Election Day and get your vote counted. Many states allow you to vote early by requesting an absentee ballot through the mail.

Your support is extremely important to electing John McCain and Governor Sarah Palin in November, and your vote will matter. I'm encouraging you to visit our website and either register to vote or sign up for early voting or an absentee ballot. Your vote will make all the difference in November.

Our ticket has a record of putting our country first and with your help we'll bring other reformers to Washington with us. We put our beloved country above all else and it is my great hope that you will join us today. Please join us by making a contribution of $50, $100, $250, $500, $1,000 or more to McCain-Palin Victory 2008. With your support, we're going to win this election.

"An American Carol" opens this October

If there is anyone interested in seeing "An American Carol" after it opens October 3rd the party is interested in possibly putting together a group of local Republicans to go see it.

From IMDB..."The American spirit is celebrated in the outrageous and totally irreverent comedy An American Carol from David Zucker, the master of questionable taste (Airplane!, The Naked Gun, Scary Movie 3 and 4).

In An American Carol a cynical, Anti-American Hollywood filmmaker sets out on a crusade to abolish the 4th of July holiday. He is visited by three spirits who take him on a hilarious journey in an attempt to show him the true meaning of America."

For more information please contact Teresa Eaton

Obama on Bill O'Reilly

Bill O'Reilly: Why won't the Germans fight against the Taliban?

Senator Obama: You know, part of the reason. . .

Bill O'Reilly: What?

Senator Obama: Part of the reason is that we soured our relationship with
the
Europeans after Iraq . . . [followed by some comments about his speech in
Berlin] In his answer, Senator Obama proved to be woefully ignorant of the
limited role of German military engagement post-World War II. He also showed
that he is ignorant of another fact that any true foreign policy expert
should know if he served in the Senate from 2005 onwards, namely that the Germans
progressed the farthest in their modern history toward approving a
quasi-combat role after the Iraq invasion -- indeed after the war turned sour in 2006.
Thus, Senator Obama was wrong in both the general and specifics of his answer to
Bill O'Reilly.

In Article 87A, the German Basic Law or Grundgesetz (the nation's defacto
Constitution), expressly limits the nation's military to defensive purposes.
Over time, the German Supreme Court defined participation in NATO exercises
as consistent with the Basic Law and authorized the first foreign expeditionary
deployments in 1994 to the former Yugoslavia. Under the law, the military
mission had to be expressly approved by the German Bundestag, and was
limited to peacekeeping and supporting functions. Here's a summary from the Christian
Science Monitor:

In 1994, Germany's Constitutional Court ruled that German forces could
deploy beyond the NATO area if the security of Germany or its allies' was at stake,
and if the parliament approved. But German sensitivity to its militant Nazi
history has held it back, with German forces taking mostly peripheral positions
abroad.

This same arrangement was followed in the deployment of German forces to
Afghanistan in 2002. The German Parliament approved a limited peacekeeping
and supportive role for German troops consistent with the Basic Law. It was in
this role that the German military served in a peacekeeping capacity in
relatively quiet areas in the Afghan north.

In 2006, however, something remarkable happened. The German government
issued a new policy that broadened the military's ability to work in an integrated
capacity with a multinational force when deployed on a foreign expedition.
The new policy, which put German forces as close as ever to combat missions with
NATO allies, was issued in 2006 -- long after the invasion of Iraq and long
after the war had begun to go badly.


Within a year, with Iraq more controversial than ever, the German government
deployed six Tornado reconnaisance jets to Afghanistan to provide direct
support to ground troops. As Reuters reported on February 7, 2007:
BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany's cabinet agreed on Wednesday to send six Tornado
reconnaissance jets to Afghanistan as requested by NATO to help boost
intelligence gathering ahead of an expected spring offensive by Taliban
insurgents.

About 500 crew and maintenance staff will accompany the aircraft to
Afghanistan where Germany already has about 3,000 troops stationed, mainly in Kabul and
the relatively stable northern region, as part of the NATO-led peacekeeping
mission.

Although the spy planes are not directly used in combat, they are used to
support combat operations by NATO allies. The decision was not without
controversy as the German Supreme Court had to issue a ruling to say the
deployment was not inconsistent with a defensive mission and the Basic Law.

As shown above, Senator Obama's answer to Bill O'Reilly's question was wrong
in almost every respect. Antipathy toward the war in Iraq has nothing to do
with the German unwillingness to engage in direct combat with the Taliban. The
German Basic Law and the Bundestag authorization are the reasons why. Moreover, if
anything, the Germans' ability to engage in Afghanistan has only increased
since the Iraq war.

Republican Party News, 9/14/08

Fellow Republicans,

The momentum for the McCain-Palin ticket continues! The past week at the Republican Headquarters was just like the week before—constantly busy with phone calls and visitors looking for McCain-Palin stuff and offering to help with the campaign. 19 new volunteers signed on and are ready to roll. The big thrill of the week was an unexpected but greatly appreciated donation of $1,000 from a friendly Republican who visited HQ. McCain-Palin bumper stickers (2,500 of them) did arrive Friday afternoon. Yard signs and buttons are expected to arrive next Friday (9/19).

Super Saturday (9/13) packed HQ with 28 energetic volunteers who phone banked and sign waved for McCain-Palin. Over 700 calls were made on behalf of our great ticket! Sign wavers worked the eastern end of the Hathaway Bridge from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and the response from motorists was enthusiastic. You may have seen the news story that featured them on WJHG news at 6:00 that night. Video of HQ activity was also aired, and McCain-Palin Co-Chair Melissa Hagan was interviewed.

Many, many, many thanks to all our Super Saturday volunteers and to the old faithfuls who help us keep HQ open. You all are the best team ever!

The Republican HQ will be open every day this coming week from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. If you’d like to make phone calls for McCain-Palin at HQ, just reply to this email and I’ll get in touch with you to set up a short training session. If you’ve already learned the ropes of phone banking, please feel free to visit HQ and make calls for the Republican ticket at your convenience.

We’ve had requests for evening hours at HQ, so this Tuesday it will be open until 8:00 p.m. for phone banking. If you plan to phone bank on Tuesday night, please reply to this email so that we’ll know how many to prepare for. Thanks!

Next Saturday, September 20, the phone banks at HQ will continue. If you like door-to-door campaigning, a group will be walking Precinct 28 ( Kingswood area), which is full of friendly and energized voters. Sign-waving this Saturday will run from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the intersection of 23^rd Street and Hwy. 77. Meet us there or come to HQ around 10:30 and ride to the site with some of us. Homemade signs are encouraged—just keep them positive. Saturday hours at HQ are 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. As last Saturday’s volunteers learned, you will not go hungry if you give up some of your Saturday to volunteer at HQ.

Finally, the Republican Party will have booths at three upcoming events:

Central Panhandle Fair: Mon., 9/29 – Sat., 10/4

Oktoberfest: Fri., Oct. 3 – Sat., Oct. 4

PCB Seafood, Wine & Music Festival: Fri., 10/10 – Sun., 10/12

If you can help man the booth at any of these events, please reply to this email or sign the sign-up sheets at HQ, 1607 Lisenby Ave., Panama City.

Thanks again, everyone, for everything you’re doing to get McCain-Palin elected to the White House!

Teresa Eaton

Volunteer Coordinator

McCain on Ethics Reform

The American people have been alienated from the process of self-government by the overwhelming appearance of their elected leaders having sold-out to the big-moneyed special interests who help finance political campaigns.

As John McCain has said, "Americans believe that political representation is measured on a sliding scale. The more you give the more effectively you can petition your government." It is no coincidence that the most influential lobbyists with the greatest access in the nation's Capitol are also the most prolific political fundraisers, and that incumbents attract money in far greater volumes than most challengers.

Most Americans understand that competitive elections in a free country require money. Since campaigns require spending funds to communicate with voters, they know we can never take money completely out of politics, nor should we. Americans have a right to support the candidates and the parties they endorse, including financially if they so choose.

But what most Americans worry about profoundly is corporations or individuals with huge checks seeking the undue influence on lawmakers that such largesse is intended to purchase. That is why John McCain has fought to enforce long-standing prohibitions on corporate and union contributions to federal political parties, for sensible donation limits, disclosure of how candidates and campaigns are funded, and the diligent enforcement of these common sense rules that promote maximum public participation in the political process and limit opportunities for corruption.

John McCain understands that in America the people are sovereign, and deserve a political process worthy of the sacrifices that have been made by so many to keep us free and proud. As President, John McCain will see to it that the institutions of self-government are respected pillars of democracy, not commodities to be bought, bartered, or abused.