Sign Waving Report, 10-11

We had a Great sign waving session. about 25 people were there. We had old and young men and women,there were little kids and teenagers and college kids as well as every age in between old and young.

The public gave us a great reception. Several other people were at the light at 23rd and 98
with Max, our mavericks for McCain/Palin cowboy.

I couldn't get over there to take their picture because my car was blocked in by all our wavers.
We owe Coram's a big thanks for the lunch they sent over.
Next Sat. we will be at 15th and Lisenby. We are hoping for a bigger turnout, so everyone is invited.
By Richard Plantec

Interview with Bay County McCain-Palin 2008 Co-Chair, Melissa Hagan

1. How do you feel that the campaign is going in Bay County?

I think we have a strong campaign in Bay County. Our volunteer numbers have grown tremendously since June, and with the announcement of Sarah Palin as the Vice Presidential nominee, our conservative base is now fully energized! We are currently hosting a Super Saturday every weekend at our Victory Office with phone bankers, sign wavers, and precinct walkers. In October, the Bay County Republican Party promoted McCain/Palin as well as our local Republican candidates in booths at the Bay County Fair and Oktoberfest. This weekend we will be hitting the beach to promote our campaign at the Seafood Festival at Frank Brown Park. All in all, I think we have great momentum and look forward to victory in November.

2. Did you attend the Palin rally in Pensacola? If so, what were the highlights for you? How many tickets were given away?

I was unable to attend the Palin rally in Pensacola due to school schedules for my daughters, but many of our volunteers and supporters from Bay County were able to attend. I heard she did a fantastic job! However, a few of our faithful supporters were unable to get in due to limited seating at the venue, which is extremely unfortunate. They had waited several hours in the rain and wind and were very disappointed. I have relayed our concerns to RPOF and the state chairs to ensure that this type of thing does not happen at future events. I believe our local victory office distributed between 750 - 800 tickets in Bay County.


3. Have you been able to meet the goals set for the local party from RPOF? About how many phone calls have been made?

The goals set for the local party from RPOF are extremely ambitious! We are being asked to make 55,000 phone calls, recruit 1200 volunteers, and get 52,000 votes for McCain. Even though we have not met all of our targets, we have a dedicated group volunteers who working hard to help us achieve victory in November. We average between 700-900 phones calls per week and will be asking our organized coalitions to help us increase these numbers each week. As we get closer to the final weeks of the campaign, every phone call we make and every door we knock on will make a difference in our grassroots campaign!

4.Has communication improved between RPOF, McCain 08 "National" and your operation? Are you getting the supplies you need, or is the local party still paying for them?

Communication has improved between RPOF, McCain 08, and our local campaign. In fact we have a weekly conference call with our state chair to get campaign updates, event information, and status on campaign supplies and materials. We got a couple of large shipments of collateral this week, including over 800 signs and a large supply of bumper stickers. The only problem is that shipments have very erratic, which makes planning a challenge. Our local party has met our cap on campaign contributions under current campaign laws. However, we have been very fortunate that private individual donors have stepped up and purchased materials on their own including signs, t-shirts, buttons, etc... to ensure that everyone who walks into our victory office leaves with something.

5. What were your impressions of the second McCain-Obama debate, compared to the first one?


I personally preferred the format of the first debate, as well as the moderator, Jim Leirer, better than the second. Even though the town hall format is usually my first choice, I have to say that I felt the exchange between the candidates and the moderator was better in the first one. I felt that John McCain showed his strengths in foreign policy and reduced spending/earmarks quite effectively in both debates. I also liked the fact that he was more specific on his economic policies as well those on energy independence and healthcare reform in the second.

6. How has the reaction been from undecided voters in your opinion?

The reaction from the undecided voters in our county has been mixed. In fact, I believe most are leaning toward one candidate or the other at this point. Since we call all undecided voters, no matter their party affiliation, most tend to be leaning toward their registered party candidate.

7. What has been the response among younger voters to McCain-Palin 2008?

I am thrilled to see more and more young voters come into our offices every day looking for a way to help with the campaign. I have also had the opportunity to participate in Project Democracy through the Supervisor of Elections office that encourages voter registration in the local high schools. Through my visits to area high schools, I have seen a great deal of momentum change to our side since the announcement of Sarah Palin. More young voters are now signing up to volunteer and we have many who are helping us distribute materials at both GCCC and FSU-PC. In fact, I have young volunteers who are helping us establish Republican clubs at both campuses. We also have a faithful group of young voters who wave signs for us every weekend at various locations. So, with these efforts, as well as the establishment of blogs and networking sites from my eCampaign Coordinator, Eric Wall, I feel that we are doing a much better job of reaching more young voters who want to get involved.(I really appreciate that-ed.)

8. Do you have access to any internal Republican polls, locally or state-wide? If so, what are they indicating?

Although I do not have access to any state-wide polls, our local data shows that we are doing very well. In fact, I think we can win Bay County and Northwest FL. My biggest concern is the I-4 Corridor, which is where elections are won or lost in this state. Therefore, the campaign is concentrating a bulk of their efforts in this area and targeting each of those counties to ensure victory in November.

9. Do you have a chance to talk with campaign leaders in other area counties, such as Washington, Walton, Gulf or any others?
Our Regional Victory Representative, Anthony Pate, keeps me informed about the various activities in surrounding counties. We also try to coordinate with them when making collateral orders and organizing local events to increase efficiency and lower costs. It is also nice to get a variety of new ideas to reach voters and increase grassroots activities. Our local leaders will be attending the Quarterly RPOF meeting in Orlando on October 17. This is also a great time to meet with other county leaders and discuss best practices for coordinating the final weeks of the campaign.

10. What has been the response among women voters?
We have had a phenomenal response among women voters after the announcement of Sarah Palin. She has certainly energized our base and infused excitement into the campaign. We have also had a large number of former Hillary supporters come into our office proclaiming their support for Sarah Palin. In fact, we can't keep enough Palin materials on hand to satisfy the never-ending demand! I guess that is a good problem to have! So, yes, the response has been extremely positive and we have been able to sign up numerous new women for the Women for McCain Coalition and as new volunteers.

11. For people considering volunteering, what is your most pressing need at this time as we head into the final stretch of the election?

Our most pressing need at this point as we head into the final stretch of the election is for phone bankers. The state is currently making about 200,000 phone calls per week. This week they raised our statewide goal to 250,000 phone calls, which means they will be calling on our local victory offices to increase our call numbers.

Many people may not be comfortable making cold calls. However, we have a great script that is easy to deliver and equip callers with cell phones and bubble sheets to record their responses. The phone lists consists of voters from Bay County only! In fact, we can pull off a list of voters from individual precincts, if callers are more comfortable calling people in their own neighborhoods. Our Victory Office Day Managers will provide phone bank orientations to anyone wishing to help us with this vital campaign function.

Another pressing need in the final weeks of the campaign is for precinct walkers. In order to get the vote out, we must conduct our campaign door-to-door to reach as many voters personally as possible. It is a proven fact that people are more likely to vote when they are contacted personally and asked for their vote. I believe this is true in small towns as well as large cities. You can not discount the effectiveness of personal contact with the voter. So, I ask all precinct leaders and volunteers to consider canvassing their precincts as we approach early voting and election day.

If you have any further questions concerning the campaign, please feel free to contact me at (850) 774-6705 or via email at mrsak1995@aol.com

Melissa Hagan
McCain/Palin Co-Chair (Bay County)

A message from Campaign Manager Rick Davis

Fellow McCain Supporters,

I want to echo our campaign's Director of Volunteers, Bill Bloomfield's call to sign up and volunteer for the final days of the campaign.

Today, we are 25 days out from Election Day. You have an opportunity to make a direct impact on this election by volunteering your time for John McCain and Sarah Palin.

The McCain-Palin ticket is ready to lead our country during these trying times. They bring experience and a record of reform that Washington and America desperately need right now. But they'll never get elected without your help.

So, please take a few minutes to sign up as a volunteer for the McCain-Palin campaign today. I can't stress enough that your direct involvement will make all the difference on Election Day. We're counting on your support now more than ever.(From Real Clear Politics: Obama up on average 3.8 % in Florida-ed.)

Thanks-
Rick

Rick Davis
Campaign Manager
McCain-Palin 2008

Cindy McCain Grand Marshal at Charlotte Motor Speedway for NASCAR race

The McCain campaign has scheduled another NASCAR appearance, this time in North Carolina, according to Fox News.

Cindy McCain plans to serve as grand marshal at the NASCAR Bank of America 500 in Concord, N.C., on Saturday.

Cindy and John McCain last hit up a NASCAR track in mid-September, when they chatted with racing stars and fans at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway. McCain won New Hampshire in the GOP primary, but polls show Barack Obama now well ahead in the state.

In North Carolina, a traditionally Republican state, Obama has also been gaining ground on McCain in the polls, some of which show the Democratic candidate leading by a few points.

Cindy McCain's appearance Saturday will be at the Lowe's Motor Speedway.

(Cindy, make sure to say hello to my favorite driver, 2-time defending NASCAR Champion # 48 Jimmie Johnson-ed.)

Gov. Palin to drop puck at Philadelphia Flyers NHL game

...from The Sarah Palin Blog
No question, Sarah Palin is one tough Hockey Mom.

No question, Philadelphia Flyers fans are one tough Hockey mob.

What will happen when the two forces meet on Saturday?

Sarah Palin has agreed to drop the ceremonial first puck at the home opener of the Philadelphia Flyers Hockey game.

When Palin was in Philadelphia two weeks ago to attend a private debate watching party at the Irish Pub in Center City Philadelphia, Flyers owner Ed Snider was one of those in attendance.
Now on the face of it, it is a cute idea. The self-proclaimed Hockey Mom, who has captured the attention of the world, dropping the first puck at a Hockey Game. Or as Ed Snider said, "We are very excited she has accepted our offer and we are very proud of the publicity she is generating for hockey moms and the sport of hockey."

The big question is how will the Philadelphia Flyers fans react?

Philadelphia Fans, you may have heard, are a vocal bunch. They have thrown batteries, pelted Santa Claus with snowballs and booed the Easter Bunny. In fairness, they were not at a Flyers game. But in an emotionally divisive political year, boos are always possible in Philadelphia.

Philadelphia and the state of Pennsylvania will be getting a lot of attention from both campaigns over the next few weeks. It is the one big state that went Democrats in the last two elections, that McCain/Palin think they can steal this year.

Obama did not help himself by calling the working class people of Pennsylvania, "bitter people who cling t their guns and religion."

The polls show the race is a dead heat in Pennsylvania.

Barack Obama will be in Philadelphia again tomorrow. He was in the suburbs over the weekend. Springsteen held a free concert for Obama on the Ben Franklin Parkway on Saturday. And McCain and Palin were in the steel town of Bethlehem yesterday. That was McCain's 14th visit to the state.

Hillary and Bill Clinton will be in Scranton on Saturday and Joe Biden will campaign twice in the Philadelphia area on Monday.

But Palin at a Hockey game?

It is unusual for a team to show support for a candidate. Flyers management claims they are not, even though Snider gave $25 thousand to the McCain campaign.

Some Flyers season ticket holders have already expressed displeasure at making their game a political event.

Lets just hope they don't take it out on Sarah. Because I have been at the Wachovia Center and when they boo, it can be deafening.

My guess is that most fans will be polite and applaud. At worst, some will sit on their hands. The boos will be few and drowned out.

By the way, it is ironic that Wachovia Bank, one of the banks in trouble in the current financial crisis, has the naming rights to the arena.

Maybe it is an appropriate place to bring a campaign after all.

Business Week: Florida a state with one of the "worst budget shortfalls"

Budget gap (as a % of the total budget): 19.9%
Gap: $5.1 billion

The Florida housing slump is one of the worst in the nation and only appears to be getting worse. The $66 billion Florida budget for the coming year is about $6 billion less than the one approved the previous year. It includes a $332 million reduction in public school spending and cuts to state hospitals, nursing homes, and various social programs.

Gov. Palin to appear on Saturday Night Live 10-25

Palin also to Appear on SNL

...from the Political Wire
Cindy Adams: "Sarah Palin is doing Saturday Night Live. Not Tina Fey doing Sarah Palin doing Saturday Night Live. But the Sarah Herself. She has already OK'd it. She's booked. It's confirmed. Done deal. Sketches are being sketched as we speak. She -- eyeglasses, haircomb, designer jacket and trunkful of gosh-darns, golly-gees and gol-dangs -- will be on SNL Saturday night, Oct. 25. Sarah's rehearsal time has already been penciled in for Friday the 24th. And it's because she wants to do it. "

Where has Allen Boyd been? Gainesville!!!

Two former Gators who have risen to political power addressed the impact a new president would have on Florida.

Florida Reps. Adam Putnam and Allen Boyd spoke to an audience of about 150 people in the Ocora Room in Pugh Hall at 7 p.m. on Tuesday(in Gainesville). The event was part of the Bob Graham Center for Public Service’s lecture series “The Path to the White House.”

The discussion was moderated by Brendan McLaughlin of ABC Action News, who polled the audience to show about 60 percent John McCain supporters and 40 percent Barack Obama supporters.(No mention was made of who if anyone Rep. Boyd actually endorsed. Hedging your bets, Congressman?-ed.)

Both legislators keyed in on major issues of the election, such as the American financial crisis. Boyd, the House of Representatives’ chairman of agricultural appropriations sub–committee, said even economists still could not understand the enormity of the problem because of unregulated financial markets.(Yet he understood it well enough to support the Wall Street bailout TWICE-ed.)

“The policy of current government is that we can buy, buy, buy and spend, spend, spend and tell the American people they don’t have to pay for it,” Boyd said....from The Independent Alligator

Editor's note: Aren't you a part of that "current government", Congressman? If you spent more time in your district and actually campaigned, you would know we ARE paying for it and we will continue to with you in office.
His son's arrest has made few political waves. Is the media even covering it?

Democrats' Get Out the Vote Strategies revealed

Democratic Strategies in Florida 2008

Getting Out The Vote is a key component."Here in Florida, it's already Election Day.

People have started voting by mail and in less than two weeks, Early Voting will begin, too.

So even though our Get Out The Vote (GOTV) efforts wouldn't normally start until three or four days before November 4th, this time around, we have to get to work much sooner.

We're holding GOTV strategy sessions all across the state for supporters like you to find out what you can do to make an impact and help us win Florida.

Find a GOTV strategy session near you and get involved today.

With less than 30 days left in the election, the need for change grows greater by the day. Unfortunately, John McCain's attacks continue to increase as well.

That's why we're pursuing the most aggressive voter turnout program in history.

It will only work if you and the people you know take a few hours to volunteer and help us Get Out the Vote.

We can't do this without you."
Current Democratic strategies feature the Neighbor-to Neighbor program, which includes calling undecided women, as well as targeting lists of undecideds by category including the economy, environment, education, health care, veterans, space policy(!!)and lists focusing on Asian voters. They also have programs called "Seniors Calling Seniors", "Nurses to Nurses" and their canvassing/phone banking campaign called the "Florida Campaign for Change". The calls are tracked online and each person is assigned 50 people to call. If the people are not called in 3 days, the lists are given to different volunteers to finish.

(The Republican Party will have to equal these efforts to ensure victory for McCain-Palin 2008-ed.)

Super Saturday 10-18

In this pivotal election year, your support is needed to ensure that Republican candidates across the country secure victory on November 4th.

On Saturday, October 18, your local Victory Center will be hosting a "Super Saturday" to increase its volunteer efforts to full capacity in order to prepare for Election Day.

With three weeks left before one of the most important elections in our nation's history, we need your help. By visiting www.gop.com/volunteer, you can locate your local victory center on our interactive map, and find out how you can get involved today!

Your first hand efforts on both October 18th and in the days leading up to the election will put Republicans, not only in your state, but nationwide, on the path to victory in November.

Thank you and we look forward to celebrating with you on Election Day!

Robert M."Mike" Duncan
Chairman, RNC

Boyd pleads Guilty to Human Smuggling

The son of a Florida congressman arrested near Willcox, AZ on Sept. 14 pleaded guilty Thursday to conspiracy to transport and/or harbor illegal aliens for financial gain, said Sandra Raynor, public affairs officer for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Phoenix.

John Finlayson Boyd, 30, will continue to reside at a residential drug treatment center until he is sentenced by Chief Judge John Roll in Tucson on Dec. 18 at 9:05 a.m. The felony is punishable by up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both, Raynor said.

U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Charles R. Pyle ordered Boyd released and into the drug treatment program on Sept. 17. He had been arrested at a Highway 191 U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint near Willcox on Sunday, Sept. 14, when a "Border Patrol K-9 alerted to the possible presence of aliens in the bed of the truck," stated the criminal complaint from U.S. District Court.

He is the son of U.S. Rep. Allen Boyd (D-Fla.), of Monticello, Fla. in District 2. His web site states that John also resides in Florida.

The criminal complaint stated that Boyd, driving a white Ford pickup truck, stopped at the primary inspection area, where the K-9 alerted to the vehicle. An agent saw an individual hiding under a piece of plywood in the bed of the truck and asked Boyd to exit the truck for further inspection.

Agents found an unaccompanied six-year-old female in the passenger's seat who was not wearing a seat belt, two other individuals lying on the floorboard behind the front seat and two more under the plywood in the bed of the truck. The four individuals admitted that they were in the U.S. illegally, the complaint said.

Further inspection revealed two plastic bags that contained several rocks of crystal methamphetamine, four unopened syringes, a spoon with white residue and burn marks on the bottom, and three knives. Also found was a Beretta 22LR pistol, loaded with eight rounds of ammunition, and a spare magazine loaded with eight rounds of ammunition in a suitcase in the bed of the truck, the complaint said. The complaint did not state to whom the narcotics, paraphernalia, pistol and ammunition belonged.

It was determined that the six-year-old's parents had already passed through the checkpoint when Boyd arrived, and agents were able to contact the girl's mother using Boyd's cell phone, with his consent. An hour later, the parents returned to the checkpoint to pick up their daughter.

Two of the individuals in the truck, Francisco Vasquez-Santiago and Juan Carlos Vasquez-Santiago, told agents that their group had walked across the U.S. border through the desert and not through the port of entry. They walked to a trailer where they stayed until they were picked up by Boyd two days later. They said the defendant told the group to get into the vehicle, and they were going to pay $3,000 each to be smuggled into the U.S. and transported to their final destination, the complaint stated.

Boyd admitted to picking the group up in the desert and knowing they had entered the U.S. illegally. He said he had instructed two of the illegal immigrants to get into the bed of the truck and two to get into the cab of the truck behind the seat.

In a statement sent Sept. 16, Congressman Boyd said, "On Sept. 14, 2008, my 30-year-old son, John Boyd, was arrested in Arizona, and at a preliminary hearing yesterday, he was charged with alien smuggling."

"This is a family matter that my family and I will be dealing with privately. John is a grown man and must face the consequences for his actions, but he has the love and support of his family," says the elder Boyd.

The Democratic congressman, who is seeking a seventh term this November, is being challenged by Panama City Republican Mark Mulligan.

eMail Our Military

E-Mail Our Military and show your support for our troops!!

"Honor, Duty, eMail is the official blog of eMailOurMilitary.com and we appreciate that you've taken the time to read a little more about us. We support our troops so, we'll blog about all the things eMOM is doing to support our troops and we'll blog about all this military.

We've got troop support projects and campaigns that you can do right from the comfort of your computer chair. We'll always have tons of good stuff for you to read too. So take a minute and add Honor, Duty, eMail to your feedreader, visit often and comment regularly. We'd be lonely if you didn't stop by.

About The Organization

eMail Our Military (eMOM) is a charitable organization supporting U.S. military service members through morale boosting email, letters, cards and care packages. Troop supporters can take part in a number of support projects ranging from sending eMail to a service member on a one-on-one basis to year round support projects. eMail Our Military was created in 2001 as a response to the DoD's cancellation of the "Any Service Member" and "Operation Dear Abby" mail programs. As a safe alternative, eMOM picked up where these programs left off.

eMOM's founder is a military wife, the daughter of a veteran and an avid troop supporter. The organization is composed of volunteers from all walks of life who understand that regardless of our political views, our military service members deserve our respect, support & encouragement.

How eMail Our Military Works

Using eMail, eMOM provides a safe way for people to continue the tradition of "Any Service Member" mail with a much more personal touch. Service Members register with us for support and are matched with civilians who have registered to send and show their support to our troops.

Why Choose eMail Our Military

eMOM is original! We were the 1st organization to step in after 9/11 when force protection concerns threatened to keep the support from getting to our troops. Our Code of Ethics and the security measures we have in place help us to support our troops safely. We require all of our participants to register with us, we work directly with many military commands and we never publicize the names and addresses of our service members, ships or units on the web.

Many of our military service members overseas have limited or no web access. Therefore they may never see messages posted on internet websites. They do however, have eMail and look forward to hearing news from home.

What's New

To keep up with what's new with eMOM and what troop support projects we're working on, be sure to add Honor, Duty, eMail to your feedreader, subscribe by email, visit often and comment regularly.

McCain Wins Second Debate

Tallahassee–Republican Party of Florida Chairman Jim Greer released the following statement today regarding the second presidential debate between Senator John McCain and Senator Barack Obama:

“Tonight, John McCain provided the American people with straight talk about the economic challenges confronting our country and the world. The difference between John McCain and Barack Obama is that John McCain provides more than talk. McCain provides a record of action that makes him the leader to get our economy back on track and secure the peace for future generations.

“On the other hand, Barack Obama talked about tax cuts while time and time again he has voted for higher taxes—much like his 2004 Senate race when he talked about tax cuts, but never actually introduced any legislation to cut people's taxes. We also heard Barack Obama talk about leadership during an economic crisis, when he actually stood on the sidelines.

“The one thing we didn’t hear Obama talk about tonight was a reasonable explanation for the depth and longevity of his relationship with an unrepentant domestic terrorist, or the fact that he was aided in the purchase of his home by a convicted felon. Tonight’s debate showed Floridians that Barack Obama is just as dishonest about his associations as he is about his record and policies.”

Gov. Palin Draws Huge Crowds

Thousands await Sarah Palin's arrival in Jacksonville
...from Ft. Myers News Press
Florida Republican Party Chairman Jim Greer told cheering GOP supporters this morning that the presidential race will be decided by a close, tough campaign for Florida's 27 electoral votes… Greer expressed continued confidence that Sen. John McCain will carry the state and win the White House. Greer spoke at a rally prior to vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin's appearance at the Jacksonville landing. He also warned Republicans to be wary of media "spin" on the McCain-Palin message. "I am confident as your chairman that when the media obstructs the message of less taxes and less government and more freedom, when they try to spin our words, when they try to mischaracterize what they have to say, you as Floridians will get the message right," said Greer. "You will tell your neighbors, you will tell your friends, you will tell your family."

Palin’s down-home charm thrills local folks
...from Naples Daily News
Republican Vice Presidential candidate and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin packed Germain Arena with a frenzied crowd Brush estimated to be close to 8,000 people for a 20-minute speech

Local Republicans in frenzy over Palin appearance
...from Northwest Florida Daily News
The flow of people and phone calls didn't end until closing time. Folks were registering to vote, collecting signs and bumper stickers and, in great numbers, signing up for tickets to see Palin, the vice presidential candidate, in Pensacola… “Boy she really nailed Obama over the weekend,” gushed Donald McFadden of Mary Esther. “I think she's brilliant. She has a lot of charisma, a level head and she's pro-life.”

Sarah Palin wows crowd of 9,000 in Estero
...from Ft. Myers News Press
The candidate, as promised, turned on the heat - reiterating an attack on Obama's affiliation with William Ayers, a former member of the radical anti-war group The Weather Underground that claimed responsibility for bombings in the 1960s and 1970s. Ayers is now a professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago… “Wait a minute, he didn't know he launched his career in the living room of a domestic terrorist?” Palin asked.

Palin gets warm welcome in Boca
...from Palm Beach Post
They stood with signs in hands, hugging the front of the room like groupies at a concert. They were waiting for the woman who has caused such a stir, her supporters say, that more people have registered to vote and Democrats will vote Republican… "Just think about it, he's built his career on building up tax dollars ... raising taxes as a senator," Palin said. "He's committed to almost a trillion dollars in new government spending and he doesn't bother to explain where that money will come from and no one seems to want to ask him how he's going to pay for this."

Your help is needed!!

REC Members,

To those of you who have helped with the McCain-Palin campaign and are continuing to help, THANK YOU! To those of you who haven’t been able to help yet,WE NEED YOU!

Maybe you’ve been waiting for someone to call and ask you to help. That’s part of my job as volunteer coordinator, and I apologize for not doing it. Obviously, I’m stretched too thin, or I’d be calling you right now instead of sending this email.

The truth is that we do have some great volunteers working this campaign, but not nearly enough. All of them are doing double and triple duty trying to keep all the bases covered. This past weekend, those bases included manning the headquarters, manning the county fair booth, manning the Oktoberfest booth, sign waving, and phone banking.

Today a handful of volunteers is dealing with hundreds of visitors to HQ wanting Sarah rally tickets, yard signs, bumper stickers and other stuff. The phone rings constantly. There honestly is not enough time for a single one of the volunteers to make a single phone call to one of you or to anyone else.

When someone says to us, “Call me if you need me,” we just smile and say thanks. What’s needed is self-evident. What’s missing is people who see the need and jump in to help.

I know you feel as strongly as I do about this election. I also strongly feel that the leaders of the Bay County Republican Party —the members of the REC—should be out in front leading this campaign.

Most of the volunteers who have been so faithful during the last several weeks have no idea the REC even exists. They need to know the Republican Party in Bay County has leaders who are grateful for their service and anxious to support them in their efforts to get McCain-Palin elected.

If you can’t staff HQ, walk precincts, make phone calls, or sign wave, there are many other ways you can help.

**You can take snacks to the volunteers at HQ.

**You can donate a little cash so that more McCain-Palin stuff can be bought to give out to our voters.

**You can help set up a booth at a festival.

**You can help take down a booth at a festival.

**You can man a booth at a festival.
**You can put wires on yard signs.

**You can visit HQ and tell the volunteers there what a great job they’re doing!!

**You can write a letter to the editor.

**You can post an encouraging word on the REC’s blog spot.(Amen to that!!)

**You can cover the last hour at HQ (4:30-5:30) so that the volunteers who have been working all day can go home a little early.

**You can cover HQ during the noon hour so that a volunteer or two can go get some lunch.

I’m sure you can think of many more ways to be supportive than I can. The point is just to BE supportive. A little gratitude and encouragement goes a long, long way with our volunteers.

Thanks so much for staying with me this far and for everything you’re doing to help get McCain-Palin elected!

Teresa Eaton

Editorial: Change Congress

To my fellow hard-working Americans,

Life is tough these days for Americans like you and I.

Mark Mulligan was cited in the Tallahassee Democrat this morning saying "...he opposes what he called "the bailout," saying the market will
correct itself if left to investors outside government.

"Bigger government is not a solution to the crisis on Wall Street and
can only lead to more problems," he said. "It appears that more power
has been granted to the people who caused the problem to occur in the
first place."


People everywhere across this great nation are feeling the pinch of higher prices at the pump and at the supermarket. It's affecting all of us here in Northwest Florida. Teachers, police officers, restaurant owners and employees,truckers,landscapers,anyone that provides a valuable product or service that makes our lives better as Americans, we're all hurting.

Unless you happen to be a member of the United States Congress,that is. They're too busy stuffing their pockets with campaign cash from the financial industry to bother paying attention to the real needs of the average American. With the US Congress having a 9% approval rating, you would think that our Congressman would understand that:

1. We don't like Congress very much.

2. Adding at least an extra $700 Billion dollar bill to our growing tax burden by voting for the Wall Street bailout not once, but TWICE, is outrageous and just plain wrong.

I was raised to believe that crime doesn't pay, but in the financial world and in Congress these days it pays BIG TIME.

Mark Mulligan opposed this un-American bailout and as your Congressman he will work to CHANGE CONGRESS and its culture of earmarks, pork-barrel projects and political corruption. The people of Northwest Florida deserve better. They deserve someone who has walked in their shoes and who understands the tough situation they face every day. That man is Mark Mulligan.

Mark needs your help today. Please send this e-mail to everyone you know, text message your friends, join the Mark Mulligan for Congress group on Facebook, and tell everyone that is fed up with the situation in this country today and mad at their leaders that they can make a difference. Send our leaders a message by voting for Mark Mulligan for the US Congress.

Eric Wall
Panama City, Florida

A message from Governor Charlie Crist

Dear Friends,
Today is the last day to register to vote before the 2008 Presidential Election. By helping a friend register to vote, you can make sure that we elect Republican leaders like Senator John McCain and Governor Sarah Palin.
By casting your own ballot, and encouraging unregistered friends to register and make their own voices heard, you can help ensure that we elect a strong Republican ticket, not only at the national level, but state and local leaders as well.
Registering to vote is easy. Visit the Republican Party of Florida’s online voter action center to download a voter registration form today. If you are already registered, you can search by county to find out how to vote from the privacy of your own home by requesting an absentee ballot from your local supervisor of elections.
The right to vote is the foundation of our democracy. It is a right that oppressed peoples around the world can only dream of, and one that American troops have fought and died to protect. This is the most important Presidential election most Floridians have seen in their lifetimes. Please encourage your unregistered friends to register to vote today.
Warmest Regards,

Charlie Crist