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Bay County Republican: the truth about what is going on in GOP local politics

Saturday, October 25, 2008

Special Weekday Sign-wave near the bridge


We are planning a special weekday morning sign wave for McCain~Palin on Thursday, October 30th from 6:30am – 8:00am.

We will be setting up on the east side of the Hathaway Bridge (the town side).

You make think sign waves don’t really have an effect but you are mistaken…
What events like sign waving do is get folks energized and excited. Both the folks driving by and the folks waving.
It sure is an encouragement to both sides.
With all the negative and biased coverage in the news – it helps to get some local down home excitement & energy brewing.


If you come in the back-way to GCCC ( Collegiate Drive ) and go into Carl Grey Park go as far west as you can towards the bridge.

We will be set up down there with signs, etc. It will be chilly that morning.

You can bring & make your own home made signs if you want – just keep them positive!

Please let me know (contact info below) if you are planning to attend – we want to make sure we will have at least 20 or so folks.

Also – don’t feel like you have to stay the whole time. COME WHEN YOU CAN – LEAVE WHEN YOU MUST – BUT PLEASE COME!
Regards,

Jonathan Hayes

hayesjh@gmail.com

# 785-2857

Sign Waving 10-25


The Bay County Republicans had a big presence in Lynn Haven today. We had about 70 people there in addition to the Bill Kinsaul crew, who were there with us. Once again we topped all previous sign waves. I didn't think it was possible to have more enthusiasm then last week, but we did. The amazing thing is that this was a week that we also manned a booth at the Festival of Nations in downtown PC and our teens were tied up with an activity at school, yet we still had a great turn out. All of us enjoyed lunch at GOP HQ afterwards.

Thanks to the many great Republicans who showed up today.

Next week will be everyone's last chance to join the fun. Melissa Thompson is organizing a mega sign wave for next Sat. (Nov 1st). We will be meeting at the Walmart parking lot near the Suncoast Bank at about 10AM-10:30AM. We are hoping to cover as many corners of 23rd St. as possible. If you have any questions contact :
Melissa Thompson
melissa@efileamerica.com
850-763-1040

Richard Plantec

Friday, October 24, 2008

Congressman Joe the Plumber??






Joe "the Plumber," Wurzelbacher said Friday he may consider running for Congress in 2010, challenging longtime Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D) in the Toledo-area district.
"I'll tell you what, we'd definitely be in one heck of a fight," Wurzelbacher said during an appearance on the Laura Ingraham show Friday, "but, you know, I'd be up for it."
"There is a movement afoot to draft you to run for Congress," Ingraham said. "Joe, let me tell you something: you decide to run for Congress, and I'll help you with your PR, I'll help you do your ads, I mean, I'll volunteer to help you."
Ingraham's producer, Brad Feldman, said that during the break after the segment, Wurzelbacher told Ingraham that his statements today represent the first time he has acknowledged considering a bid for Congress in public.
Wurzelbacher said he did agree with Kaptur's vote against the bailout, and touted his support for a flat tax on income.
A Springfield, Ohio native, Wurzelbacher became a target of fame and scrutiny after Republican candidate John Mccain referenced the plumber during his third presidential debate against Barack Obama. Wurzelbacher confronted Obama during a campaign spot in northwest Ohio preceding the debate to ask Obama about his tax plan.
Supporters launched a website following Wurzelbacher's rise to prominence encouraging him to run for the seat.
Kaptur has represented Ohio's 9th congressional district since being elected in 1982, and has easily secured reelection in years since. She is expected to easily defeat Republican opponent Bradley Leavitt next month.
Listen to a clip of Wurzelbacher's appearance in which he discusses a potential bid below.
-Michael O'Brien

Unofficial Poll on WMBB


Vote on the WMBB poll, and check the progress of our Republican candidates!!!

At 10 am 10/24 it is:
McCain/Palin 53% other guy 45%
Mark Mulligan 57% "Bailout" Boyd 43%
Glenn Hess 53% Steve Meadows 47%
Bill Kinsaul 83% John Caylor 17%

A Message from Governor Sarah Palin to Military Families



Take a moment to listen to Blue Star mom and Governor Sarah Palin's message for America's military families. Throughout a distinguished career, Senator McCain has always been a friend to veterans, service members, and their families.

The McCain-Palin Team needs your direct help in sending this message out to the voting public. Forward this message to all your friends and others who would be interested. We are moving forward in Florida with great support and it is critical that we get this message out.

It is also very important to get out the vote in the last days of this campaign. Please consider volunteering for the final victory phase of our campaign. The volunteer link is below.

Please pass this IMPORTANT MESSAGE from Governor Palin to others.

John McCain and Sarah Palin need your help. Click here to volunteer for a three hour shift between October 30th - November 4th.

Thursday, October 23, 2008

RPOF responds to accusations foreclosed homeowners will be disenfranchised


Tallahassee–Republican Party of Florida Chairman Jim Greer released the following letter today upon receiving a letter from Florida Democrat Party Chairman Karen Thurman that accused the Republican Party of Florida of attempting to disenfranchise voters facing home foreclosure.

Dear Chairman Thurman:

I received your letter and appreciate your concern for Floridians suffering through a home foreclosure. I share both your empathy for our fellow Floridians and concern for maintaining the integrity of Florida’s election process; therefore, I thoroughly reject any and all insinuations that the Republican Party of Florida is engaging in any type of voter suppression effort. Your allegations are in no way grounded in fact.

With all due respect, I find it deplorable that you would engage in this type of blatant scare tactic designed to cast doubts in the minds of Florida voters, especially given the fact that there is still an injunction in effect against the Florida Democrat Party and the Democrat National Committee for scare tactics used to threaten Republican poll watchers in 2004.

Before you deploy another political stunt aimed at discrediting the Republican Party of Florida’s ballot integrity program, I wonder if FDP lawyers are still instructing poll watchers to “assist” voters at the polls, a clear violation of Fl. Stat. § 101.131 which strictly prohibits poll watchers from “interact[ing] with voters.”

The Republican Party of Florida has received reports from several counties noting that Democrat lawyers from across the county have descended on Florida polling places, under the guise of Democrat poll watchers, wearing paraphernalia that distinguishes these attorneys, who are unlicensed in the state of Florida, as Florida Elections Counselors. I kindly remind you that “counseling” voters is no different from “assisting” voters and both are prohibited by Florida law.

In favor of a free and fair election process, I implore you to use your authority as the leader of your party to not only encourage those affiliated with the Florida Democrat Party to act within the constraints of the law, but first and foremost to immediately cease from precipitating these unfounded and completely inaccurate accusations against the Republican Party of Florida. I would be happy to meet with you to discuss this matter at your earliest convenience. Please contact me at (850) 222-7920 and I will gladly work with you to set a time and location for this important discussion.
Respectfully,

James A. Greer
Chairman

A message from Rudy Guiliani

Your immediate support today of RNC Victory 2008 is critical to electing John McCain and Republican candidates all across the country who are committed to restoring America's prosperity and keeping our nation secure.

There's no doubt Americans are facing hard and challenging times right now. Our economy has been rocked by a housing and credit crisis. We are fighting two wars abroad. But America has a long history of rebounding from tough times -- and it's commonsense Republican policies that will once again lead us forward.

From keeping spending low, to allowing American families to keep more of their hard-earned money to winning the war against radical Islamic extremism, John McCain and Republicans have the right agenda for a more secure and prosperous future.

But the Obama-Biden Democrats have other plans on how to spend your money and protect our country.

Barack Obama has called for higher income taxes, higher Social Security taxes, higher investment taxes, higher taxes on small businesses, as well as massive new domestic spending totaling over $800 billion. In fact, even before the election has taken place, Obama has talked with Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi about passing $150 billion in new spending. And the Obama-Biden Democrats have made clear they will wave the white flag of surrender in Iraq.

The Obama-Biden Democrats' liberal policies would be devastating to our economy and our security. Now more than ever, America needs the reform and fiscal discipline McCain-Palin Republicans would bring to Washington.

By making a secure online contribution of $2,000, $1,000, $500, $250, $100, $50 or $25 to RNC Victory 2008 today, you will be helping to get this message out and providing the resources our Republican candidates need to win on Election Day. The maximum an individual can contribute this year is $28,500.

This is an election our Party must win -- our country's future prosperity and security is at stake. Please give as generously as you can to support RNC Victory 2008.

Sincerely,

Rudy Giuliani

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

59% Would Vote to Replace Entire Congress



Congress was front and center in the national news last week and the American people were far from impressed. If they could vote to keep or replace the entire Congress, 59% of voters would like to throw them all out and start over again. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that just 17% would vote to keep the current legislators in office.

Today, just 23% have even a little confidence in the ability of Congress to deal with the nation’s economic problems and only 24% believe most Members of Congress understand legislation before they vote on it.

Last week, the House of Representatives initially rejected a financial bailout bill proposed by the Bush Administration. Later, after the Senate added a number of items that some call “pork” and others call “sweeteners,” the measure eventually passed. While the bill survived Washington, it did so at a time when just 30% of voters favored it and 45% were opposed.

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls).

Only half (49%) believe that the current Congress is better than individuals selected at random from the phone book. Thirty-three percent (33%) believe a randomly selected group of Americans could do a better job and 19% are not sure (see crosstabs).

A separate survey found that just 11% of voters say Congress is doing a good or an excellent job. (see crosstabs and recent trends).

Despite these reviews, more than 90% of Congress is likely to be elected this November due to an electoral system designed to benefit incumbents. The biggest advantage offered those in the House of Representatives is a process known as Gerrymandering where Congressional Districts are loaded with friendly voters from Representative’s own party. In effect, Members of Congress—working through their state legislature--get to choose their voters rather than letting voters choose their Congressman.

Also aiding incumbents is high name recognition from news coverage, large staffs funded by taxpayers, and other perks. While the staff positions are technically excluded from politics, the constituent services they provide in a Congressman’s name are among the most effective of all campaign techniques.

Forty-nine percent (49%) of all voters believe Members of Congress are paid too much while just 5% believe they are paid too little. Thirty-seven percent (37%) say Congressional pay is about right.

While unhappiness with Congress cuts across partisan and demographic lines, Democrats are a bit less unhappy than other voters. Seventy-four percent (74%) of Republicans would vote to throw out the entire Congress as would 62% of unaffiliated voters. Only 43% of Democrats go along. Still, just 25% of those in Barack Obama’s party would vote to keep the entire Congress even though it’s controlled by Democrats.

However, there is agreement across party lines when it comes to whether or not most Members of Congress understand legislation before they vote on it—25% of Democrats say yes along with 24% of Republicans and 24% of unaffiliated voters.

Democrats currently enjoy a nine-point advantage in the Generic Congressional Ballot.

When the Constitution was written, the nation’s founders expected that there would be a 50% turnover in the House of Representatives every election cycle. That was the experience they witnessed in state legislatures at the time (and most of the state legislatures offered just one-year terms). For well over 100 years after the Constitution was adopted, the turnover averaged in the 50% range as expected.

In the twentieth century, turnover began to decline. As power and prestige flowed to Washington during the New Deal era, fewer and fewer Members of Congress wanted to leave. In 1968, Congressional turnover fell to single digits for the first time ever and it has remained very low ever since.

from Rasmussen Reports

Concealed Weapons Course 11/8


To my fellow defenders of the 2nd Amendment:

The Gulf County Republican Party will host a Concealed Weapons Course on Saturday, November 8.

Classroom instruction will begin at 9 a.m. at the Gulf Coast Community College Franklin Center.

The range session will be in the afternoon at the Gulf Rifle Club on Hwy. 71 in Port St Joe.

Cost per person is $40. If you aren’t a gun owner, a gun will be provided for you during the class at an extra fee of $10.

Deadline for registration is November 1
.

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Governor Crist Ranked Most Fiscally Conservative Governor


Governor Crist Ranked Most Fiscally Conservative Governor
Tallahassee–Republican Party of Florida Chairman Jim Greer today congratulated Governor Charlie Crist on earning an A rating by the Cato Institute for his conservative taxing and spending principles.

“Congratulations Governor Crist on being named the most fiscally conservative governor in the United States.” said Chairman Greer. “Once again, Governor Crist has demonstrated that when you put the people first and partisan politics aside, great things can be accomplished. Less taxing, less government and less spending is what the people want.”

The Cato Institute ranked Governor Crist the most fiscally conservative governor in the United States. The Governor was one of three state executives to earn an A rating, and scored more than 15 points higher than the next Governor in the A category.

The Cato Institute noted Governor Crist’s advocacy for major property tax cuts, including signing a measure that requires local governments to roll back a portion of recent property tax increases, while capping future tax increases for some types of property. The Institute also commented on Governor Crist’s support for Amendment 1, which expanded homestead exemptions and established other property tax breaks including portability, saving Florida taxpayers billions of dollars. Finally, CATO mentions that the State Budgets signed by Governor Crist demonstrate restrained spending including use of the line item veto to eliminate many pork barrel projects.

The Cato Institute is a libertarian non-profit public policy research foundation focused on increasing understanding of public policy.

Todd Palin appearance Cancelled


Sorry folks, but please don’t be too disappointed. The Todd Palin schedule has been reworked and his visit to Panama City is CANCELLED. The final determination ( probably by the Secret Service ) is that it was too difficult on short notice to make it all work out.

Keep working and praying for the Republican Team. Thanks to all of you, the Panhandle is ROCK SOLID for McCain+Palin and it’s far more important that they campaign in weaker regions right now.

We can hope that soon after the election that President-elect McCain and Vice President-elect Palin will make a VICTORY swing through our town!!

Thank you for your great work,

Ted Haney
Bay County Republican Chairman

Ribbon Cutting 4pm Friday, 10-24


You are Invited:

Our Bay County RPOF have just become members of our Panama City Beach Chamber of Commerce and are having a "Ribbon Cutting" on Friday, October 24th at 4 p.m.

We invite you to join us on Friday to quite a crowd with news reporters and food.

We have Allen Bense and Jimmy Patronis and are waiting to hear back from Marti Coley and Don Gaetz.

All of our local Republican candidates running for election (and re-election) on Nov 4th are invited.

Please let us know if you can make it.
The following is posted in today's "Monday Morning Report" for all Beach Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors.
10-24-08 Friday

4:00 PM, Ribbon Cutting
Bay County Republican Organization
1607 Lisenby Ave., Panama City

Allen Boyd and his 1.2 million in Farm Subsidies


...from the Market Ticker

We all know that farmers get tremendous subsidies in America, right?

Well how would you like it if you discovered that the family of a sitting Congressman - and perhaps the congressman himself - was getting subsidies that he passed on himself? What if that Congressman sits on the Agricultural Committee and the Approrpriations Committee?

Is that crooked?

You decide:


"Boyd Family Farms Inc received payments totaling $1,230,607 from 1995 through 2006"
And who owns Boyd Family Farms?

Stephanie R Boyd
Monticello, FL 32344

0.00 %

F Allen Boyd Jr
Monticello, FL 32344

51.00 %

F A Boyd And Sons Inc
Greenville, FL 32331
49.00 %
Hines F Boyd
Monticello, FL 32345

30.00 %

Fred A Boyd
Greenville, FL 32331

5.00 %
F Allen Boyd Jr
Monticello, FL 32344

30.00 %

Nancy B Bryant
Tallahassee, FL 32312

30.00 %

Elizabeth F Boyd
Greenville, FL 32331
5.00 %

You gotta be kidding me.

From Allen Boyd's (D-FL-2) web site:

"A fifth generation farmer, Boyd graduated from Florida State University in 1969, and served his country in Vietnam. To this day, he continues to oversee the family farm operations on land that has been in his family for five generations. He and his wife, Cissy, reside on their farm in Monticello, FL, with their youngest son, David. Their older children, John and Suzanne, are also Florida residents."

Cissy eh? As in a "pet name" for Stephanie?

And what does Allen say about his work in Congress? In part:

"Throughout his tenure in Congress, Boyd has worked to protect Florida's military community and bring much-needed aid to the agriculture industry."

You mean "bring much needed money to your own bank account", right?


Same Allen Boyd? I can't be sure but how many Boyd's are there in Monticello Florida anyway?

Allen, I think you got some explaining to do for the voters, and I'd like to know why in the HELL anyone would vote for someone who appears to be siphoning off taxpayer money while sitting in Congress for his own personal and family benefit!

Monday, October 20, 2008

Early Voting begins 10-20-08


Early Voting will take place at three locations:

* Bay County Election Center, 205 Mosley Drive

* Parker City Hall, 935 W. Park Street

* Panama City Beach City Hall, 110 South Arnold Road

Early Voting Dates/Times

* October 20, 2008 - November 1, 2008
* 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.
* Monday through Saturday


Precinct 11 has moved from the 180 Center to Sleep Inn located on Thomas Drive. Precinct 11 information could be found here. All registered voters from Precinct 11 will receive a new voter information card.(All GOP Precinct Leaders should vote early or absentee to work their individual precinct on Election Day-ed.)