Lonoke County Republican Committee

Beebe to Arkansans: You want your roads fixed, vote for tax increases!

2010-12-02T19:04:00.000-08:00

That's right Arkansas!

The governor the press repeatedly told you was a conservative during the months leading up to last month's elections says he'll "fight any attempt" to pay for necessary road repairs without raising taxes. However, he is offering Natural State voters the opportunity to hand over more of their money to the state if they want their potholes filled.

Beebe's demand that Arkansans pay more in taxes comes in the wake of the final report released by the Blue Ribbon Highway Commission. The report is the culmination an 18 month study to find ways to fund repairs of Arkansas' crumbling highways. But, Americans for Prosperity--Arkansas points out the commission offered one suggestion that would not involve the confiscation of more taxpayer dollars by the state.

One of the five recommendations to pay for fixing Arkansas' roads suggested shifting money from the state's general fund to cover the necessary repairs, instead of raising taxes. According to the Associated Press article linked above, this is the only proposal in the report Beebe has emphatically refused to consider...promising to "fight" any attempt to repair highways without raising taxes.

The supposed "conservative" Democrat governor appears to embrace the very "liberal Democrat" philosophy that any good idea involves raising taxes! Call Governor Beebe and tell him Arkansans can't afford tax increases of any kind in the midst of an economic downturn.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-25T07:26:00.000-08:00

The Lonoke County Republican Committee would like to wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving!

We are thankful to live in the greatest country in the world and we are thankful for all of those who continuously strive to make it and keep it so!

May God bless America and all of you on this day of Thanksgiving!

Which candidate for Cabot mayor is a Republican?

2010-11-18T20:33:00.000-08:00

Today, both candidates for mayor of Cabot are claiming to be Republicans. For one, there's no doubt the title applies. But digging a little deeper makes it appear the other may only be trying to ride the coattails of the recent Republican tsunami to victory by using the moniker.

Stubby Stumbaugh is the current chairman of the Lonoke County Republican Committee. He was elected as a Republican and served a previous term as mayor of Cabot before the City Council voted to make all city elections non-partisan. Stumbaugh passed up the opportunity to seek a second term to lead the city when he opted to carry the GOP banner and challenge then-Democrat congressman Marion Berry in the 2006 race to represent Arkansas' 1^st Congressional District.

As for Bill Cypert, it's hard to find any evidence that he's a Republican. In fact, a Google search for such evidence turns up one recent article in the Cabot Star-Herald that states Cypert claims to be "a 40-year Republican." And that article, with Cypert's claim, only surfaced AFTER the historic GOP victory on election night.

But that's it. An online search of OpenSecrets.org for political donations by Cypert turns up empty. There's no other evidence to support his claim.

So, is Cypert's last minute claim of being a Republican for real? We'll let you decide, but first we'll point to one more piece of evidence that may tell the ultimate tale. A quick peek at the two candidates' Facebook pages makes clear that, at the very least, Cypert isn't as willing to wear the Republican tag as Stumbaugh.

On every member's profile, Facebook offers a place to proclaim one's political affiliation. The following pictures are screenshots of both candidates' Facebook profile pages on 11/18/2010 at 10 PM.

There's one candidate who's been unashamedly a Republican for years and there's another who claims the label only when it's the popular thing to do. When it's politically expedient.

If you want a Republican to fill the mayor's seat in Cabot, Stubby Stumbaugh is the only sure bet. Vote for Stubby Stumbaugh on November 23!

Stubby Stumbaugh for Cabot Mayor

2010-11-13T21:28:00.000-08:00

2010 Elections Not Over Yet!

2010-11-11T22:41:00.000-08:00

It's time to rally the troops again.

Lonoke County came through strong and sent a clear message that conservatism reigns here. Even the local press was forced to concede the local Republican party gave a good old-fashioned beating to its Democrat opposition. But the victory is not yet complete.

GOP candidates defeated Democrats for the offices of County Judge, Sheriff, Assessor, Circuit Clerk, and Prosecuting Attorney. It's safe to say that Lonoke County has now turned red!

But the election isn't over yet. In Cabot, a runoff election will be held to decide the next mayor on November 23. Early voting begins Tuesday, November 16 from 8:30 to 4:30.

There is one Republican candidate in the race, Mickey "Stubby" Stumbaugh. Stumbaugh is the current chairman of the Lonoke County Republican Committee and needs you to be sure and vote in this important race. You can learn more about Stumbaugh and what he will do for Cabot on his website and his Facebook page.

Be sure to help bring true conservative Republican leadership to Cabot and vote Stubby for Mayor in the upcoming runoff!

Boozman, Crawford to Visit Cabot Saturday

2010-05-14T04:31:00.000-07:00

It's the final weekend before the Arkansas primary and candidates want your vote. US Senate candidate John Boozman and candidate for Arkansas' 1st Congressional District Rick Crawford both plan to visit Cabot Saturday.

Boozman's bus tour will stop at the Cabot City Annex from 9:00-9:45 am and Crawford will visit with voters from 4:30-5:00 pm at a location to be determined.

Crawford also plans a campaign stop in the northern Lonoke County city on Monday in a final push for votes before Tuesday's primary election.

John Boozman	Rick Crawford

Tags: Rick Crawford, John Boozman, Cabot, Republican, GOP, Primary Election, Arkansas, Election 2010

Hat Tip: Lonoke County Republican Committee

Vote Early, Vote Now

2010-05-08T07:11:00.000-07:00

The following is a video message from Doyle Webb, Chairman of the Republican Party of Arkansas, encouraging voters to Vote Early, Vote Now!

Tags: Early Voting, Doyle Webb, RPA, Republican, GOP, Primary Election, Arkansas, Election 2010

Hat Tip: Lonoke County Republican Committee

Early Voting Starts Today!

2010-05-03T04:33:00.001-07:00

Early voting starts today for the Republican primary in Lonoke County. There are two locations where voters may cast their ballots prior to the May 18 primary.

Remember, this year we have more Republican candidates than ever before. We have a real shot at sending Republicans to Washington to replace Congressman Marion Berry AND Senator Blanche Lincoln. We need everyone to participate so Lonoke County can help Arkansas nominate the best GOP candidates at the local, state, and federal levels.

Following are the locations for early voting in the Republican primary in Lonoke County:

Cabot dates are 5/3-5/8 2010
Monday-Friday: 10am-6pm
Saturday: 10am-4pm
Location: City Annex on North First Street

Lonoke dates are 5/3-5/17 2010
Monday-Friday: 8am-6pm
Saturday: 8am-5pm
Monday, May 17, 2010: 8am-530pm
Location: County Election Office, 220 Depot Street, Lonoke

Tags: Early Voting, Polling Places, Polls, Lonoke County, Republican, GOP, Primary Election, Arkansas, Election 2010

Hat Tip: Lonoke County Republican Committee

Crawford, Smith square off against Democrat rivals in Lonoke

2010-04-24T12:06:00.000-07:00

On Thursday, April 22, both GOP candidates seeking to replace retiring Congressman Marion Berry joined the six Democrats vying for the seat in Lonoke for a candidates' forum. Rick Crawford and Princella Smith demonstrated why it's time for the 1st Congressional District to send a Republican to Washington for the first time since Reconstruction.

Four of their potential opponents in the general election showed themselves to be polished politicians with their vague, evasive answers to direct questions by moderator Roby Brock. Chad Causey has worked for Berry the past 10 years and served as the Congressman's chief-of-staff during the tumultuous past year that saw Berry help Barack Obama ram through the most radical liberal agenda America has ever seen.

Steve Bryles and Tim Wooldridge have served in the state legislature and their political experience showed as they ducked and dodged hard questions on controversial issues. When asked if they would have voted for things like Cap & Trade or the unpopular health care takeover, responses like "I wouldn't have voted for it in its current form," were common. Eddie Cook has also served in the state legislature and wasn't as equivocating as his colleagues. But Cook was quick to pronounce he would have supported legislation opposed by most Arkansans and supported by the Obama-wing of the Democrat party.

The other two Democrats, Dr. Terry Green and Ben Ponder of Mountain Home, were more colorful and entertaining than their Democrat opponents, but eccentric enough that it's doubtful either will draw a significant number of votes in the May 18 primary.

We won't call a winner between Crawford and Smith, but we will present their responses to all the questions posed to candidates during the forum. The video will be shown in a multi-part series to accommodate YouTube's 10 minute limit for uploads. For those with dial-up or other slow connections, a transcription of each video can be found at the end of this post.

Part I	Part II

Transcription

Part I

Moderator: What's the biggest problem currently facing our country?
Crawford: Certainly we all talk about the deficit, debt.

But one of the things being...I think is being overlooked is the unfunded liabilities that exist. That's the compounding of the debt and the deficit and all those programs that we have implemented but have not funded.

And so as I mentioned in my opening comments, fifty-six and a half trillion dollars in unfunded liabilities.

So how do we move forward?

Well, Congress enacts a brand new entitlement program that we cannot pay for. And so we continue to spend your money.

And I would tell you they're spending money like drunk sailors, but drunk sailors spend their own money. They're spending your money!

And so what we need to do is call on that political class and reel in that spending.

As I said before, we've got to put a stop to it. We've got to dig ourselves out of the hole. And we've got to make sure we never fall back in the hole again.

So I'm a proponent of a balanced budget amendment. And...I'm a constitutional conservative, but I think we need to amend the constitution to force Congress to act fiscally prudent.
Smith: Without a doubt the biggest issue is...uh...is the economy.

It's spending is out of control and we hear everyone saying over and over again...uh...I want to cite a few examples and I don't think there will be too many fans of these big pieces of over reaching legislation that have passed.

One. People are talking about the financial regulatory reform bill that's going to put permanent bailouts for Wall Street.

Before that, we did TARP. And right after that we did the bailout in...uh...or excuse me the...uh...stimulus bill in 2009.

All of these pieces of overreaching legislation do nothing for small business owners. And people always say "Why are Republicans always thinking about small business owners."

Well, I for one, I believe as a legislator I should promote bills that favor people who create jobs. I'm the proponent of putting money back into the hands of the American people and letting them spend it, letting the free market run its course.

And so it's not that I'm about...in favor of the rich man or, or the big business guy. But it's what are we doing to actually create jobs?

That is number one, the biggest problem and then every other piece of the legislation and issues falls under that category, in time.

Moderator: I think I'm going to make an assumption about the

answer to the question, and so my question is two-fold. Number one, do you think the federal government is too big and if so, can you name one or more programs that you would propose eliminating if you're elected to Congress?
Crawford: Answer to your first question, yes government's too big.

We need to shrink the size of government and expand the free market and create jobs in the context of the free market.

What can we do to cut costs?

There are a lot of things we can look at. But the first thing I want to look at is an issue that affects us all today, right here in the first district of Arkansas. It's not an abstract concept, it's something that's going to run your...uh...budget up and cost you more dollars as...as early as eighteen months from today.

And that is FEMA's expansion of the flood zone--the remapping of the flood zone in the first district of Arkansas to include 19 of the 26 counties.

Nineteen of our twenty-six counties are going to be forced to buy flood insurance from FEMA. This is a gross over reach of the federal government.

And what that's going to do is cost homeowners more money. It's going to cost businesses more money. And we're going to start to see housing starts fall. We're going to see the construction industry suffer. And we're going to start to see businesses move from Arkansas as a result.

We can work on that issue on day one.
Smith: The federal government is too big,

and one example of that was the health care bill that just passed.

Now, I know it just passed but one of us is going to Congress and we're going to have to vote on whether or not to fund a lot of these things that they passed. So that's one area.

Another one is that there are too many agencies that have too much power over regulating...a lot of red tape. There's a lot of bureaucracy.

I think currently there's about 16 agencies that regulate food for example. That's another example.

Particularly, and more dear to my heart is education. I think the federal government has entirely too much power over...over the Department of Education...uh...over the state levels of education. I think that we spend too much money. We chunk it down the drain.

In particularly in the Northeast Arkansas, particularly in the Delta, our schools are failing and we've seen over and over again that money is not the answer to this.

I will definitely cut in those areas.

Moderator: Do you think that there should be some cuts made there,

in agriculture, at the federal level?
Crawford: Let me give you a little background on the most

recent address to the United States Department of Agriculture budget.

The Obama administration at the beginning of the year put forth a budget that called for a 50% cut in the Adjusted Gross Income for farmers, 25% cut in the direct payment limitations, at the same time expanding the USDA budget by 10%.

So what are we doing?

We're taking money out of the hands of producers and putting it into the hands of non-producers by expanding an entitlement program. And that hurts our farmers' ability to produce food and fiber.

We have the cheapest, safest, most abundant food supply in the world because we support agriculture.

But I can make the argument that the...uh...that supporting our farmers is in our national security interest. We're already a net oil importer. We deal with countries that...uh...that don't like us very much.

The minute we become a net food importer, we have conceded our national security to folks who don't like us very much.

And so I would also like to add that we need to open up the Cuban markets so that we can get our rice farmers selling more rice.
Smith: No. We shouldn't make those cuts.

There's a lot of things we can cut before we make cuts to farmers.

I'm a proponent of making sure our farmers can remain competitive...uh...particularly family farmers, but...uh...corporate farmers.

I'm definitely a proponent of CRP programs, and I'm a proponent of expanding those. Programs that help prevent erosion, and that help us increase wildlife. All those help our farmers.

[cough]

[gets drink]

I'm sorry, one of the things I wanted to say also...I will definitely, I haven't heard anyone else say this yet, I will definitely ask to be placed on the Agriculture Committee and I will definitely be an advocate for farmers.

Moderator: ...this year is the Employee Free

Choice Act, also known as Card Check. It's a piece of federal legislation that's been discussed at length, particularly this last year. If you're elected to Congress, would you support or oppose this possible legislation?
Smith: I'm opposed to the measure. I'm

definitely a proponent of workers having a right to a secret ballot. And I believe that the unions have too much power.
Crawford: Adamantly opposed to Card Check.

I support the right to a secret ballot. I oppose forced unionization.

It's an economy killer, it's a job killer, and we certainly can't afford that at this time.

Transcription

Part II

In Process

Moderator: How would you have voted on the health
care legislation in Washington?
Smith: I was adamantly opposed to the
health care bill.

I believe that we should present a bill...and this is kind of an argument that's been going on, particularly in our primary. I did sign the pledge to repeal or replace the bill but realistically we should amend the bill to add things that will actually fix the health care issue. And that's the problem with this bill.

No one understood it and it didn't address the real issue.

One of the things we should do first of all is make sure that we're passing a bill that is friendly to small businesses. The bill that just passed is going to force businesses to fire people, the unemployment rate is going to skyrocket, and when you're passing a bill of that magnitude that is the equivalent of something that is going to affect 1/6 of our economy, you have to do better than what we did.

And what we did was just rush a big piece of legislation through that didn't address the issues and thus passed only on partisan lines.

I believe we should be allowed to buy insurance across state lines. I believe in expanding high risk pools for the less than 1% of the people who are deemed uninsurable.

But most of all, I believe that as a Congressman it is our job to go to Capitol Hill and put our heads together for something effective and not the bill that just passed.
Crawford: I absolutely would not have supported or
voted for that bill. I prefer...uh...reforming health care costs in the context of the free market.

I would like to address pre-existing conditions and at the heart of that pre-existing condition argument is creditable coverage. And how do we address creditable coverage?

We allow for portability of that insurance policy between employers. We know in today's economy that employees change jobs frequently. And it is almost impossible to maintain coverage, creditable coverage which is required to avoid pre-existing conditions under COBRA. That is virtually impossible for working families making forty, fifty thousand dollars a year to make the choice between maintaining their COBRA premiums or putting food on the table for their families.

And so we need to address that in the context of the free market; portability for policies, competition across state lines, and uniform...uh...standardizing form claims...uh...claim forms to make the policies easier to make claims on.
Moderator: What do you think needs to happen
to create more bipartisanship? And maybe you can offer me a definition of what bipartisanship would be.
Smith: Well. I like the term non-partisanship...
uh...when you're talking about positions, when you're talking about people becoming public servants.

The title of what we're trying to become is US Representative. That means I'm a representative to Congress on your behalf. It didn't say I'm a representative to Congress on behalf of the Republican Party. It didn't say that they're representatives to Congress on behalf of the Democratic Party. I am a representative to Congress on behalf of Northeast Arkansas.

Particularly on Capitol Hill...and I had some time to work there...the House Rules Committee is a good example of where we can change some things. Right now the party in power...uh...controls what amendment's going to the floor. It controls what amendments are debated.

And...I would say that's extremely unfair considering the fact...especially now that people are highly uncomfortable. There's a story that's often told about a young congressman running to Capitol Hill who was so excited he said, "Where's the Democrats? I want to meet the enemy." To which the senior congressmen says, "The Democrats aren't your enemy. The Senate is the enemy."

And that's a joke that we told, but what's fundamentally true is that, sadly, that time in Washington, DC is passed. And the answer is just to elect new people and bring new people in with fresh ideas.
Crawford: Why can't we all just get along?
We've heard that before. And we've heard some common themes here.

We don't all get along on every fundamental issue. But I ask you this question, "What have we heard tonight?"

Jobs, the economy. We've heard about national security...maintaining national security. We've heard about putting people back to work. We've heard about protecting agriculture.

We can do it. We could sit down here tonight and we could solve a lot of problems.

The problem is you go to Washington and you get Potomac Fever.

And so bipartisanship, non-partisanship, partisanship, he said, she said, it doesn't matter. Statesmanship is the requirement. And we've forgotten that.

And so that's why I think it's...it's so important that your next representative be a citizen-legislator. Be the kind of person that does the same thing you do every day.

That's go to work, work hard to make...to make your money, and take care of your family. That's where it's at.

Tags: Rick Crawford, Princella Smith, Lonoke County Leadership, Lonoke County, Republican, GOP, Primary Election, Arkansas, Election 2010

Hat Tip: Lonoke County Republican Committee

Lying left can't hide from the truth...

2010-04-23T04:29:00.001-07:00

...even with the mainstream media as a willing accomplice in their attempt to mislead the American people.
The Democrat party has long claimed to represent the "common man" while painting conservatives as being "in-the-pockets" of big business, or Wall Street. Liberals and their Jackass party claim to stand for constitutional freedoms. You know, like freedom of the press and free speech. All the while, they claim conservatives constrict the rights guaranteed by our founding documents. And the loony left loves to paint conservatives as rabid, violent, hatemongers filled with rage and always looking for an opportunity to gang up on a smaller, weaker opponent.

Partnering with the mainstream press, liberal Democrats have often been able to convince large blocks of voters to believe all of these things. But recent events are illuminating the absolute hypocrisy of these self-proclaimed peace-loving protectors of American freedom for the little guy. The lack of mainstream media coverage of these happenings shines an even brighter light on the obvious bias of the "4th branch" of government.

Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) recently introduced a bill to reform America's entire financial system. He and his Democrat colleagues have often blamed the entire financial crisis on a lack of regulation spawned by big business' ties with President Bush and other Republicans. Goldman Sachs took billions in bailout bucks from the American taxpayer in 2008. You know...one of those firms that was just too big to fail. But it wasn't Republicans who benefited from the generous political donations of Goldman's people. It was President Obama who received nearly $1 million as the company crumbled.

You might expect that to make the news. Something along the lines of "Obama Coffers Filled by Bailed Out Financial Giant." But don't hold your breath. Lachlan Markay at Newsbusters points out that Time and Newsweek were quick to tie President Bush to the failed energy company Enron when it failed. Bush's ~$150,000 in contributions paled in comparison to Obama's Goldman take. Obama hauled in nearly 7 times as much from Goldman as Bush took from Enron.

Liberals screamed as if their fingernails were being pulled out when they learned the Bush administration was (gasp!) listening in on phone calls between overseas terrorists and their contacts in the US. They acted as if the former President had dropped the US Constitution in the shredder when he set up a prison camp for captured terrorists on a remote base in Cuba.

But Democrats and conservatives usually agree the 1st Amendment protections guaranteed in the Bill of Rights are essential and must be preserved. At least, that's what they all say.

So when the TEA Party started gaining momentum, and Democrat politicians began labeling us un-American, we conservatives were somewhat taken aback. But even Obama's own backers were upset this week when, not once but twice, the President appeared upset by gay rights activists protesting his failure to drop the US military's Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy.

Obama challenged the hecklers who want the policy changed immediately. Apparently quite perturbed by their protest, the President yelled, "Barbara and I are supportive of repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell. So I don't know why you're hollering!" Only a few days later, gay rights activists dressed in military uniforms chained themselves to the fence in front of the White House to draw attention to the President's unkept promise to end the policy. When reporters approached to interview the protesters and cover the story, they were forced to retreat by police officers.

So it appears the President and his liberal supporters only value the constitutional rights of those who agree with their positions 100% of the time. Obama seems to believe those who disagree should keep their mouths shut and have no real right to voice their opinion. Even the mainstream press, arguably his biggest ally in the 2008 campaign and these first 15 months of his tenure, loses their freedom to cover a story that might stain the President's image with his supporters.

And of course you'll recall the demogoguery of the TEA Party protesters in Washington by Democrat congressmen the day the Socialist sheep in jackass clothing voted to drive the final nail in the coffin of the world's greatest health care system. Charges of racism and homophobia were leveled by these elected officials based on their "claims" that protesters hurled racial and anti-gay epithets at black congressmen and Barney Frank.

The mainstream media, always a stalwart ally of the liberal left, ran with the story on the word of these Socialist snakes without a shred of evidence. What the Democrat allies in the press didn't tell the world was that Andrew Breitbart of BigGovernment.com offered $100,000 to anyone with video evidence to back up the claims of the congressmen. None materialized. In a literal sea of protesters packing video cameras, and the congressmen recording the entire event on their own phones and cameras, not even a few seconds of a lone protester were produced to exchange for $100K.

This leads me to believe the entire act was scripted and staged by these ruling Democrats for no other reason than to delegitamize the movement that drew such a large and vociferous crowd to oppose the crowned jewel of the Obama platform. Nancy Pelosi and her Democrat underlings rarely, if ever, enter the Capitol via the front steps. They pranced through the disgruntled crowd hoping to incite them to violence. And when that didn't work, they just lied about it.

The entire debacle was nothing more than a Democrat attempt to undermine the 1st Amendment rights of the opponents of the health care takeover. Pelosi and her pals hoped to instill the fear of being labeled a racist and/or homophobe in the hearts of concerned conservative American citizens for no other reason than to intimidate them into not participating in the rallies.

Now for perhaps the most egregious hypocritical hype from the loons on the left recently.

The Obama administration and other liberal Democrats have been trying to paint conservatives who oppose the President's march to a Socialist America as violent and dangerous. They've tried hard to link them to militia groups planning to overthrow the US government. But the only violence at TEA Parties thus far has been perpetrated by liberal counter protesters.

In St. Louis, SEIU thugs beat down a black TEA Party protester. Last month, more SEIU thugs tried to misdirect conservatives headed for the kickoff of the Tea Party Express III tour in Harry Reid's hometown of Searchlight, NV. When Breitbart stopped, thinking he had arrived at the TPX rally, he found himself amid a throng of SEIU goons who threatened him with violence when he attempted to question them.

Most recently, when the Southern Republican Leadership Conference gathered in New Orleans, the most violent of these liberal attacks occurred. Republican Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal's top fundraiser, Allee Bautsch and her boyfriend were savagely attacked when they left an event at Brennan's Restaurant in New Orleans. Bautsch's leg was broken in four places and her boyfriend suffered a concussion.

Liberal protesters who apparently didn't believe conservatives have a right to hold conferences in New Orleans had gathered outside the restaurant as the fundraiser went on. It's been reported that conservatives (and even some patrons of the restaurant who weren't with the party) suffered verbal attacks much worse than those the Democrats accused conservatives of as they left the restaurant. And now it's come to light that what set the attackers off were "Palin pins" worn by Bautsch and her boyfriend.

A young woman and her boyfriend viciously attacked for their support of a conservative icon while Democrats consistently claim conservatives are prone to violence? You'd think everyone in the US would have heard of it by now. But no, the Democrat allies in the mainstream media won't tell this story.

Contrary to what you see in the MSM, big business is pumping piles of cash into the pockets of liberal Democrats to buy influence and favors. Those seeking to restrict constitutional freedomes wear the brand of the jackass. And the blood on the streets is spilled by the hands of left wing liberals.

Tags: MSM, Mainstream Media, Democrats, Liberals, Violence, Bautsch, Jindal, SRLC, 1st Amendment, Liberal Hypocrisy, Liberal Lies, Nancy Pelosi, Barack Obama, Conservatism, TEA Party

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Register to Vote Now!

2010-04-16T22:38:00.001-07:00

To vote in the May 18 primary election, you must register to vote by April 19. To make it easier for any who haven't already done so, we have partnered with Rock the Vote to create this online registration tool. Click the image below to get started.

After you've completed the web forms, you'll be able to download, print, and sign a completed voter registration form. Then you'll need to mail in the form to address provided. Once you complete these simple steps, you're registered to vote!

You can also sign up for text messages reminding you when and where to vote.

Please encourage all your friends and family to make sure they're registered so they can help us take this country back!

Click on the image below to register now!

Tags: Voter Registration, Rock the Vote, Primary Election, Arkansas, Election 2010

Hat Tip: America, You Asked For It!

Happy Easter!

2010-04-04T08:30:00.001-07:00

Almost 2000 years ago, the only innocent man to ever walk the Earth arose from the grave after being betrayed by one of his closest friends, humiliated by the public, brutally beaten and executed by the Roman authorities. Now he serves as the intercessor between us and God the Father.

He died for my sins, and yours. All he asks in return is that we believe in him.

We give thanks for his sacrifice for all of us. And here are a few songs that celebrate his escape from the grave, and our salvation!

This is Love

Amazing Grace

On the Darkest Day

He Lives/He's Alive

Tags: Easter, Amazing Grace, He Lives/He's Alive, On the Darkest Day, This is Love, Easter Songs, Jesus Christ, Faith, Christianity

Hat Tip: America, You Asked For It!

Central Arkansas, are you ready to TEA Party?

2010-03-28T21:07:00.001-07:00

It's hard to believe it's already been a year since conservative Americans started standing up to the liberal Socialists selling our country into the bonds of a collectivist slavery. But April 15 will be the anniversary of our first Tax Day TEA Party!

To build momentum and support for the upcoming anniversary Tax Day TEA Party, Tea Party Express III has embarked on its "Just Vote Them Out!" tour. Yesterday, thousands (we've seen estimates from 10-20,000) of disenchanted voters descended on the tiny town of Searchlight, NV to kick off the tour in Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's hometown.

The map above shows all the stops along the way, from yesterday's in Searchlight to the final stop on April 15 in Washington, DC. The tour will stop in Little Rock on Saturday, April 3 at 10 AM. We need everyone who can make it to turn out and help us send a message that our elected representatives still don't seem to get.

We're mad as Hell and we're not going to take it anymore!

Let your friends who don't live in our area know about the tour also. They can check the times and dates of the stops nearest them by clicking here: http://www.teapartyexpress.org/tour-schedule-3/

We hope you'll be in Little Rock to show your support Tea Party Express III's "Just Vote Them Out!" tour!

As important as this rally is, remember it's also serving to get the protest juices flowing once again in conservative activists for the upcoming nationwide demonstrations on April 15. If you can't make it on the 3rd, please make plans to attend our anniversary Tax Day TEA Party on the 15th at the steps of the state Capitol from 5 to 7 PM.

Our goal is to make this our largest demonstration yet. Dick Morris, former Clinton adviser turned conservative author and commentator, will be the keynote speaker at this event. This year, there will be no politicians speaking at the event. Our goal is to make them hear our voices at this event!

An interesting twist at the rally this year (and another great reason to attend) will be a straw poll conducted by Arkansas Tea Party, Inc. and Secure Arkansas. Though details are still being hammered out, we're told the poll will include the US Senate race and others. Everyone who votes in the straw poll will be required to dip a finger in a bottle of indelible ink to ensure each person may vote only once.

The mark is intended to remind voters of the first free Iraqi elections after dictator Saddam Hussein was deposed. Though Al Qaeda terrorists threatened to target any who participated in those elections, free Iraqis voted and left the polling places brandishing their ink stained fingers in front of cameras that broadcast the images around the globe. The images of a people finally free and able to have a voice in their government were powerful, and similar images of Tea Party protesters defying a government Hell-bent on trampling our freedoms will hopefully send a message to our elected officials just how serious we are about stopping this train to Socialism.

Even if attendance at the rally is the same as last year, this will be the largest straw poll taken in the state. But we're hoping for a larger crowd this year. In either case, this straw poll will send a clear message to the political establishment and to the media that the Tea Party movement is a force to be reckoned with.

Please join us on April 3 and April 15 to make your voice heard.

It's up to us to let the politicians in Little Rock and DC know we won't lie down and let them destroy our country!

PS: Here's a little video from last year's Tax Day TEA Party to get you in the mood! Enjoy.

Tags: Obama, Tea Party, Tea Party Express, Tour, Anniversary, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, Socialism, USSA, Election 2010, Little Rock, Arkansas, Straw Poll, US Senate, Tax Day Tea Party, April 15, Taxes, Spending, Limited Government

If you share or post to your site, please include the following line:
Hat Tip: Tea Party of Lonoke County

Now they passed it, and we still hate it

2010-03-28T15:49:00.001-07:00

from America, You Asked For It!

The Obama-Pelosi-Reid branch of the Chicago mob now operating in Washington, DC bribed, cajoled, promised, and threatened their weak-kneed Democrat allies in the US House and Senate to convince a razor-thin majority of jackasses to ignore the will of the American electorate and put the locomotive in motion that will carry us on the 10-year journey to a US health care system completely controlled by Uncle Sam.

They celebrated their unpopular victory as conquerors...conquerors of subjects they rule rather than citizens they represent.

From the time the House of Representatives made their first plan public in July of last year, public approval has trended downward as the electorate read the bill and realized just how expansive and intrusive the plan was. Though approval spiked upward from time to time (especially during the President's promotional tours fawned over by the mainstream media), Americans were never fooled for long.

President Obama and his Democrat henchmen (and henchwomen) continued to negotiate behind closed doors, ignore any GOP attempts to influence the negotiations, and campaign for the passage of the bill most American voters found abhorrent. Earlier this month, the President couldn't even answer a reporter's question about what was in the bill and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said, "We have to pass the bill so you can...uh...find out what is in it."

Well, they did pass it and now we're finding out what's in it.

Obama got the expected bounce in the polls that comes with any nearly any political victory, but the bounce was temporary. Today, Rasmussen's Presidential Approval Index is back at the same level as before the Sunday night vote...

For the dimwitted Democrats who believed the Obama-Pelosi-Reid-MSM tripe that we would love the bill once they crammed it down our throats, you were wrong (again)!

We still hate it!!!!!!!!

Tags: Obamacare, Rasmussen, Presidential Approval Index, Polls, Approval, Health Care, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, Socialism, USSA

If you share or post to your site, please include the following line:
Hat Tip: America, You Asked For It!

GOP Candidates Pledge to "Repeal It!"

2010-03-23T22:18:00.000-07:00

UPDATE: Princella Smith has been moved to the "Signed" column in the table below. Thanks Ms. Smith for pledging to repeal it! Now both Republican candidates in Arkansas' 1st Congressional District have signed the pledge. NO DEMOCRAT HAS SIGNED!!!!

The Club for Growth is encouraging all lawmakers, candidates, and citizens to pledge to work to repeal President Obama's government takeover of the US health care system signed into law today. Most Arkansas Republican candidates have already signed the pledge to Repeal It.

In races of concern to Lonoke County voters, the race for Blanche Lincoln's US Senate seat and the race for Marion Berry's 1st Congressional District seat, candidate for Congress Princella Smith and US Senate candidate Kim Hendren are the only two who haven't signed the pledge.

Because Ms. Smith only recently made the decision to file, her campaign was asked if she plans to sign the pledge but we haven't yet received a response. This article will be updated with her response when it is received.

The following table shows all candidates for US Senate and Arkansas' 1st Congressional District who have signed the pledge:

US Senate

Signed?	Yes	No

Candidates	Randy Alexander Gilbert Baker John Boozman Curtis Coleman Jim Holt Fred Ramey Conrad Reynolds	Kim Hendren

1st Congressional District

Signed?	Yes	No

Candidates	Rick Crawford Princella Smith

Candidates Attend AFP's Regulation Reality Tour in Cabot

2010-03-23T20:43:00.000-07:00

From the Tea Party of Lonoke County

On Tuesday, Americans for Prosperity stopped in Cabot along their Regulation Reality Tour. AFP is using the tour to educate voters to the danger of President Obama's Environmental Protection Agency's attempt to impose job killing taxes on American citizens through new regulations.

Arkansas Director of AFP, Teresa Oelke introduces AFP President Tim Phillips

This new regulatory scheme was developed when Obama's infamous Cap & Trade stalled in the US Senate after scandals revealed the dishonesty and flaws in the arguments of scientists who earned their living researching Global Warming. As the alarmists evidence was shattered, the President's legislation ran out of gas in the US Senate.

Now our Socialist President who just effectively nationalized the US health care industry, and previously nationalized large portions of the US financial and auto industries, seeks to impose the same job-killing, tax-raising components of Cap & Trade through regulation instead of legislation.

The turn out was great for the middle of a work day in Cabot. Approximately 50-75 protesters came out to stand against this latest unconstitutional scam. Several running for office showed up to participate, protest, and promote their candidacies as well.

Two US Senate campaigns were represented. Republican Senate candidate Colonel Conrad Reynolds was there and one of his Republican primary challengers, Curtis Coleman was represented by his Scheduling and Press Contact Alex Reed. Reynolds is following the Regulation Reality Tour and visiting with voters at every stop. The retired US Army Colonel said he's making the rounds with AFP because "this is just another way the people of Arkansas are waking up to a government that is overreaching its bounds." Reed said Coleman wanted his campaign represented at the tour's stops because, as a small businessman, he'd "fought the EPA for seven years and spent $27 million navigating their duplicate bureaucracies and turf wars when all he wanted to do was make the world's food supply safe."

Colonel Conrad Reynolds (left) speaks with John Allison of the Tea Party of Lonoke County	Alex Reed (left) with Curtis Coleman's campaign speaks with Trent Eilts, candidate for Lonoke County JP, District 6

Several local Republican candidates were also present. Jack McNally, candidate for Lonoke County Tax Assessor, brought an American flag and worked the crowd telling voters what he hoped to accomplish when he replaces the incumbent double-dipping Democrat Jerry Adams. Chuck Graham, candidate for Lonoke County Prosecuting Attorney was also there listening to voters' concerns. (We thought we had a better picture of Chuck, but it looks like a rally-goer's arm was in the way when we snapped the picture. Sorry Chuck!)

Jack McNally (left),candidate for Lonoke County Tax Assessor visits with Col. Reynolds and another Lonoke County voter	Chuck Graham (center left), candidate for Lonoke County Prosecuting Attorney listens to voters' concerns

And both Republican candidates for Justice of the Peace District 6 were present. Incumbent District 6 JP Alexis Malham arrived with her sign, ready to protest. She also carried with her The Communist Manifest by Karl Marx, and pointed voters to sections in the book that show Obama and his Democrat henchmen are carrying us down the road mapped by Marx. Her Republican challenger, Trent Eilts was also present and spent his time hearing voters' concerns. http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs458.snc3/26193_379598049658_246614274658_3616714_5574610_n.jpg

JP District 6, Alexis Malham (left) with her protest sign	Trent Eilts (right) speaks with Alex Reed

The Regulation Reality Tour continues tomorrow en route to hit 14 Arkansas cities in two and a half days.

Send Free Faxes Now!

2010-03-19T10:55:00.000-07:00

From America, You Asked For It!

Note: As of March 18, David Dayen at FireDogLake has the vote count currently at 191 Yeas, 206 Nays on Obamacare. With leaners, it goes to 203 Yeas, 210 Nays.

Keep up the pressure, emails, phone calls, and faxes! They're working.

Citizens in Action always offers everyone the opportunity to send free faxes to their legislators, but now you can send their "Vote NO!" fax to 30 undecided members of Congress to help convince them we the American people don't want the Obamacare tragedy visited upon us.

Click here to visit the CIA fax center.
Complete the required info and check "Vote NO!" in the fax list.
Click the "Request Fax" button at bottom of form.

And, voila! You just sent the following fax to 30 undecided Congressmen.

TO Representatives Harry Mitchell; Gabrielle Giffords; Ann Kirkpatrick; Jerry McNerney; John Salazar; Jim Hines; Alan Grayson; Bill Foster; Baron Hill; Mark Schauer; Gary Peters; Dina Titus; Carol Shea-Porter; Tim Bishop; John Hall;Bill Owens; Mike Arcuri; Dan Maffei; Earl Pomneroy; Steven Driehaus; Mary Jo Kilroy; Zach Space; Kathy Dahlkemper; Patrick Murphy; Christopher Carney; Paul Kanjorski; John Spratt; Tom Perriello; Alan Mollohan; Nick Rahall; Steve Kagen:

For the past year and a half, we, the American people, have repeatedly told our elected officials that we do not want Healthcare Reform legislation in its present form. For the past year and a half, our pleas have fallen on deaf ears.

PLEASE LISTEN TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE!

Please vote NO on HR 3962!

How you vote on HR 3962 will determine how we, the American people, will vote in November 2010!

VOTE NO ON HR 3962!

VOTE AGAINST HEALTHCARE REFORM!

Thanks and please help spread the word!

All Arkansas Democrats in Congress Vote For Obamacare!

2010-03-19T05:02:00.000-07:00

Oh not directly. But yesterday their "Yea" votes on House Resolution 1190 are, without a doubt, votes for Obamacare. And votes against the will of their constituents in Arkansas!

HR 1190 was a Republican attempt to block Democrats' "Slaughter Solution" (aka "Deem & Pass") that is being considered by Democrats as an end run around the Constitution's Article I, Section 5 requirement for an up or down vote on the Senate's version of Obamacare. Our Democrat Congressmen are so rash, narcissistic, and condescending they believe this unconstitutional tactic to avoid a direct vote on the bill will fool their constituents in Arkansas.

Pelosi and her Democrat allies (all the other 221 Democrats who voted for this resolution) think their constituents are stupid enough to believe yesterday's vote isn't a vote for Obamacare. But voting to avoid a direct vote and consider a bill passed without voting on it can't be considered anything but a "Yea" vote for the bill being avoided. (If that sentence seems a little confusing, it's because we want you to get the idea just how this Democrat play is designed to confound and confuse voters.)

In the last two days calls to Marion Berry's (AR-01)office yielded assurances that he will read the entire bill before voting on it, and no final bill was even out yet. Mike Ross (AR-04) outright lied when he declared his opposition to Obamacare. And Vic Snyder (AR-02) never made any bones about his disdain for his constituents' will. Now this.

Even President Obama admitted yesterday's vote IS a vote for the unpopular Obamacare in his contentious interview with Brett Baier on Wednesday. When asked by Baier if he supported the use of the "Slaughter Rule" he responded,

"What I can tell you is that the vote that's taken in the House will be a vote for health care reform. And if people vote yes, whatever form that takes, that is going to be a vote for health care reform. And I don't think we should pretend otherwise."

*emphasis added

This kind of Democrat shenanigan is exactly the reason we must send a conservative Republican to Congress from the 1st District in November. Doing so will guarantee a vote against Nancy Pelosi for Speaker of the House and put an end to this chicanery.

Rick Crawford, one of two GOP candidates for Berry's seat spoke out against this unconstitutional tactic in his blog post, "Crawford Speaks Out Against 'Deem and Pass'."

On a day where a Fox News poll shows only 35% of Americans favor the health care reform bill, Pelosi is attempting to use a tactic dubbed “deem and pass” to push through the Senate’s health care reform bill, without having members of Congress actually vote on the bill. FoxNews.com reports this plan is being considered because, “…many House Democrats don’t want to cast a vote in favor of the unaltered Senate bill, which they oppose for numerous reasons.”

Republican central Arkansas businessman Scott Wallace, running for Vic Snyder's 2nd District seat says it's time to "unequivocally say NO to government run health care" and put this issue to rest for good. Wallace's primary opponent Tim Griffin, a US Army reservist and former US attorney, called the vote against this "common sense resolution" a vote for Nancy Pelosi, and against the people of Arkansas. From Griffin's press release:

“It is clear Arkansans must elect a new conservative majority to Congress in 2010. More importantly, we need to elect conservative leaders who will represent our values, not Speaker Pelosi’s, and work for the people of Arkansas, not against them."

Garland County Tea Party President and GOP candidate for Mike Ross' seat in the 4th District, Glenn Gallas slammed all three Arkansas Democrat congressmen in his press release. Gallas says,

" [Ross] allowed the bill to go forward to the detriment of his constituents to please Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid. When the Republicans moved to stop the “Slaughter Rule”, Mike Ross, Vic Snyder, and Marion Berry, voted along their party line as they often do, shooting down the chance of stopping the Slaughter rule, thereby permitting the Obama Health Care bill to move forward..."

These Arkansas turncoats can't hide behind the dishonest Democrats' devious tactics.

They voted for the bill, they voted for Obamacare, and they voted against the will of their constituents in Arkansas!

Help us remove Nancy Pelosi's gavel as Speaker of the House by electing conservative Republicans this fall!

1st District Candidates' Q & A with LCRC

2010-03-10T04:27:00.000-08:00

On Monday, both GOP candidates for Arkansas' 1st Congressional District seat addressed members of the Lonoke County Republican Committee. Princella Smith and Rick Crawford were each allotted 15 minutes to address members and answer questions. Because Smith's address took 10 minutes, and Crawford's only 3, the time spent answering questions from members and guests differs. To meet YouTube's maximum video length of 10 minutes, Crawford's Q & A was split into two parts.

Here they are Lonoke County, your GOP candidates for Congress answering questions at this month's LCRC regular meeting.

1st District Candidates Address LCRC

2010-03-09T04:02:00.000-08:00

On Monday, 3-8-2010, both GOP candidates for Arkansas' 1st Congressional District seat addressed the Lonoke County Republican Committee's regular monthly meeting. Each was allowed a total of 15 minutes for their speech followed by a question and answer period. A detailed written report on the content of their interaction will follow tomorrow in another post, along with video of each candidates' Q & A with the crowd. The following videos are the candidates' speeches.

Both 1st District GOP candidates to speak Monday in Cabot

2010-03-05T21:43:00.000-08:00

On Monday, March 8, the Lonoke County Republican Committee will hold its regular monthly meeting. However, this may well prove to be an exciting and extraordinary event because both Republican candidates for Arkansas' 1st Congressional district will attend and address the committee at Grandpa's BBQ in Cabot.

The meeting will begin at 7:00 pm, but those who plan to eat should arrive by 6:30.

Rick Crawford has addressed the committee in the past, but in the early stages of his campaign. Crawford began campaigning in April of last year, long before retiring Democrat Congressman Marion Berry was considered vulnerable. The US Army veteran from Jonesboro has trekked the 1st District for nearly a year building a base of grassroots supporters. He embraced the Tea Party movement and counts many of these grassroots activists among his most ardent supporters. He runs a small business that serves the agriculture industry and therefore has deep ties with a key constituency in the 1st District.

Crawford has received endorsements from several groups and key Arkansas Republicans including former Governor Mike Huckabee, former Congressman Ed Bethune, and former Under Secretary of Homeland Security Asa Hutchinson.

The 1st District race recently drew a challenger to Crawford in the form of a 26-year-old congressional staffer of Congressman Anh “Joseph” Cao from Louisiana. Princella Smith is originally from Wynne, Ar and has also worked as a spokesperson for Newt Gingrich's organization, American Solutions. In 2006, she worked for current Chairman of the Republican National Convention Michael Steele. Smith attracted national attention after winning MTV's "Stand Up and Holla" contest, which led to her inclusion as a speaker at the 2004 Republican National Convention.

Though Smith waited until after Democrat incumbent Marion Berry announced he would not seek re-election this year, she hit the campaign trail running. Gingrich has endorsed her, along with local KARN radio host Dave Elswick. She came out swinging against Crawford in an interview with The American Spectator where she insinuated Huckabee and others may retract their endorsements of Crawford now that she has entered the race.

Both Crawford and Smith support the conservative positions of the GOP platform, but with several Democrats running for the seat being vacated by Berry Republicans need to nominate a candidate who appeals to a majority of voters in the 1st District. Conservative Arkansans cannot risk making an uninformed or ill-informed decision that could result in sending another Congressman to DC who will cast his/her first vote for Nancy Pelosi as Speaker of the House.

Electing a Republican to represent the 1st District will guarantee a vote against Pelosi, and will be the first step in taking our country back.

So, please, come meet Crawford and Smith on Monday, hear them speak, ask them questions, and decide for yourself who will best represent the 1st District in DC.

Seven Candidates to Square Off in GOP Senate Primary

2010-03-05T18:29:00.000-08:00

Though the Republican party failed to field a candidate to challenge Mark Pryor in 2008, seven will battle this spring for the Grand Old Party's nomination to run for the seat currently held by Blanche Lincoln.

Colonel Conrad Reynolds has informed his supporters via email he intends to file on Monday at 11:00 AM. Reynolds is running for the GOP nomination for US Senate to replace Democrat Blanche Lincoln in November. He announced his candidacy on July 20 of last year, before it was obvious Lincoln was in trouble. Since he entered the race, the field of GOP candidates has become extremely crowded.

Four have filed for the seat already, including Curtis Coleman, Fred Ramey, State Senator Kim Hendren, and Congressman John Boozman. Two others, Randy Alexander and State Senator Gilbert Baker, will also file on Monday according to The Tolbert Report.

At one point there were 9 announced candidates running for the Republican nomination. But last month Tom Cox, North Little Rock businessman and co-founder of Arkansas Tea Party, Inc., announced he was withdrawing from the race. Just this week, Buddy Rogers let us know he too had stepped out of the crowded field.

For months polls have shown Lincoln will struggle against whoever wins the GOP nomination, but this week the Senator learned she will also have to win a tough primary battle that will be decided in May. Lieutenant Governor Bill Halter, who's backed by radical leftists in the Democrat party, came out with guns blazing against Lincoln on Monday. And in less than a week, his campaign has received promises of millions in contributions from left-wing organizations like Moveon.org, ActBlue, and the AFL-CIO.

GOP Senate Candidates Stand Up for 2nd Amendment

2010-03-01T21:10:00.000-08:00

Last Saturday, several of the GOP candidates seeking the nomination for US Senate addressed the 2nd Amendment Rally held at Barton Coliseum.

1st District GOP Committee Meeting

2010-03-01T19:09:00.000-08:00

On Saturday, March 20 there will be 1st Congressional District Republican Committee meeting at the headquarters of the Lawrence County Republican Committee. All are welcome, committee member or not, and encouraged to attend.

Republican candidates for US Senate, US House of Representatives, Arkansas Governor, and Secretary of State have already committed to speak at this event. This is an excellent opportunity to meet, greet, and question candidates seeking your vote!

Registration will take place from 9-10:00 am and a $10 registration fee will be charged.

Location:	Lawrence County GOP HQ
	116 W. Main St. Walnut Ridge, AR 72476 Map

Confirmed* candidates to speak:

US Senate

Congressman John Boozman
Senator Gilbert Baker
Senator Kim Hendren
Curtis Coleman
Conrad Reynolds
Senator Jim Holt
Fred Ramey
Randy Alexander

US Congress

Rick Crawford
Princella Smith

Governor

Jim Keet

Secretary of State

Mark Martin

*Invitation to speak is contingent upon candidate filing for office.

Keet to Formally Announce Candidacy in 5-City Tour Tomorrow

2010-03-01T18:26:00.000-08:00

from the Republican Party of Arkansas

Former Republican State Senator and businessman Jim Keet will formally announce his candidacy for Arkansas Governor during a five city tour of Arkansas on Tuesday, March 2 and you're invited to attend!

Tuesday, March 2, 2010 Schedule

8:00 a.m. – Jonesboro: Jonesboro Municipal Airport (Lobby)

10:30 a.m. – El Dorado: Airport – Goodwin Field (Conference Room)

1:30 p.m. – Little Rock: State Capitol, Old Supreme Court Chamber (South End, Second Floor)

4:00 p.m. – Fort Smith: Airport – TacAir (Front Lawn, Weather Permitting)

6:00 p.m. – Bentonville: Benton County Public Services Center

Please spread the word to all your family and friends! Your participation and support is highly appreciated! We hope to see you there!

Jim Keet is the President of Taziki’s Restaurant in Little Rock, Arkansas and former President and CEO of Barnhill’s Buffet. In 1989, Keet was elected to the Arkansas House of Representatives and in 1992 was elected to the Arkansas State Senate. He has been married to Margaret Keet for thirty-eight years and they have four children and two grandchildren.

Please visit http://www.arkansasgop.org to learn more about Jim Keet.

Republican Party of Arkansas - p: (501) 372-7301 | f: (501) 372-1656

Paid for and authorized by the Republican Party of Arkansas
Rockefeller Republican Center, 1201 West Sixth, Little Rock, AR 72201
Not Authorized By Any Candidate Or Committee | © 2009

Keet Challenges Beebe to "Duel of Ideas"

2010-02-28T14:45:00.000-08:00

Saturday, Republican candidate for Governor of Arkansas addressed those attending the 2nd Amendment Rally in Little Rock.

Keets' address targeted the group of gun rights' advocates by emphasizing his status as the owner of numerous firearms and a concealed carry permit holder. He promised those attending that he is and always will be a strong supporter of the right to keep and bear arms.

Keets didn't address incumbent Governor Mike Beebe's position on the 2nd Amendment, but he did challenge the governor to a "pistol shooting match with your choice of a .44 magnum or a .357 magnum. And also, I want to challenge you to a duel of ideas about Arkansas' future."

Jim Keet Announces Run for Arkansas Governor

2010-02-28T06:06:00.000-08:00

from ARRA News Service

Former Republican State Senator and businessman Jim Keet announced today his candidacy for Arkansas Governor. Keet plans to formally announce his run for Governor during a five city tour of Arkansas on Tuesday, March 2nd, where he will visit Jonesboro, El Dorado, Little Rock, Fort Smith and Bentonville. Next week, Keet will also visit Texarkana, Fayetteville, Springdale, Pine Bluff, Hot Springs and West Memphis. Times and locations for the “Jim Keet for Arkansas Governor Announcement Tour” to be released on Monday.

Jim Keet says: “My top priorities for Arkansas include establishing creative methods to develop our state as one of the nation’s leading business-friendly environments, advancing literacy initiatives at every age and reforming Arkansas’ tax structure to fuel job creation.”

“If President John F. Kennedy can start a process which put a man on the moon within one decade, surely together we can accomplish the following:

Reposition the Arkansas literacy rate within the top five states by 2019.
Revise the Arkansas tax code so as to attract both small and large businesses from outside the state’s borders. Encourage existing Arkansas companies to remain here rather than fleeing the state which deprives our businesses of the seed capital they need to grow and prosper.
Continue working on the prevention of drug abuse which has a devastating impact on Arkansas families and contributes to the overcrowding problem within our prison system. The drug problem and high unemployment are inextricably linked to the problems we have with a prison system that is bursting at the seams.
Appoint a bipartisan commission to be styled after the military base reduction effort at the national level. The commission would eliminate waste by looking into the efficacy and need for various boards, commissions and staffing levels within our government.”

"Arkansans are sick and tired of the divisiveness and destructive rhetoric that we see on a national basis. I intend to bring a breath of fresh air to the campaign trail by discussing issues and differences of opinion constructively. I want to create a new day in Arkansas politics where everyday citizens are attracted to the political process rather than disgusted by it.”

Jim Keet worked his way through SMU where he graduated with honors in 1971. He received a bachelor's degree in business administration, majoring in finance and minoring in real estate finance.

Jim Keet is the President of Taziki’s Restaurant in Little Rock, Arkansas and former President and CEO of Barnhill’s Buffet. In 1975, Keet joined Gerald Hamra to bring Wendy’s to Arkansas. During the next eleven years, the company developed, owned and operated twenty-seven Wendy's and Sisters' restaurants in Arkansas and Texas, with more than 1,200 employees. The company received numerous awards from Wendy's International, including the Founders Award as the nations top Wendy's franchise. During that time, Wendy's of Little Rock was recognized by numerous civic organizations for their charitable endeavors.

In 1988, Keet was elected to the Arkansas House of Representatives and was then elected to the Arkansas State Senate in 1992. During his time in the State House and Senate, Keet worked tirelessly to increase literacy rates, fight the exploding drug problem and also authored the strongest “two strikes and you’re out” violent offender statute in America.

Keet has served on more than 20 civic and charitable boards and commissions including Arkansas Children's Hospital, the Arkansas Literacy Commission, Arkansas Easter Seals, the Arkansas Council on Economic Education, and Arkansas for Drug Free Youth Advisory Board. He also served on the boards of the YMCA, Arkansas Literacy Councils, and the United Negro College Fund Advisory Board.

Keet has received various awards and honors including The Arkansas National Humanitarian Award from the National Conference of Christians and Jews, the FBI Community Service Award, the Outstanding Arkansas fund-raiser Award from the National Association of Fund Raising Executives, and an Outstanding Legislator Award from the Arkansas Education Association.

He has been married to Margaret Keet for thirty-eight years and they have four children, Tommy, Chase, Jake and Cassie as well as two grandchildren, Holden Keet and Haskins Crocker.

Obama’s Health Care Summit Backfired!

2010-02-27T07:51:00.000-08:00

from America You Asked For It!

There's little doubt our Socialist President, Barack Hussein Obama, hoped his health care summit would would change Americans' minds.

Remember? After lecturing us all summer last year on all the great things a Socialized system would do for us, Obama remained convinced we didn't know enough about his planned government takeover of another 1/6 of the US economy. After the election of Republican Scott Brown to the Massachusetts Senate seat formerly occupied by Ted Kennedy, President Obama told us we just didn't understand what he's trying to do for (to?) us. So he decided it was up to him to educate us.

Earlier this month, the President told his supporters

“What I’d like to do is have a meeting where I’m sitting with the Republicans, sitting with the Democrats. Sitting with health care experts. And let’s just go through these bills. Their ideas, our ideas, let’s walk thought them in a methodical way so the American people can see and compare. What makes the most sense. And then I think we’ve got to go ahead and move forward on a vote.”

Thursday, he did sit down. He did have his meeting. And the results weren't what our narcissistic Socialist President envisioned.

Yesterday, one day after Obama sat down with Republicans and Democrats, live on CSPAN, the Rasmussen Daily Presidential Tracking poll showed the President's approval rating hit a new low. And today, it's dipped even lower!

Presidential Approval Index = -21%
Total Approve = 43%
Total Disapprove = 55%

Because this poll is based on a three-day rolling average with data collected nightly, two thirds of responses for today's poll were collected after the televised summit. Even though Obama and Congressional Democrats were allowed more than twice as much time to make their case, this poll shows American voters don't like and DON'T WANT Obamacare!

Columnists and commentators from both ends and the middle of the political spectrum seemed to think Republicans landed the most punches in the match on Thursday and this poll confirms their initial calls.

We the people are informed, we are educated, and we understand what Obama and his Socialist pals want. WE DON'T WANT OBAMA'S SOCIALIST SOLUTION!

Candidate Filing Period: 3/1-3/8

2010-02-21T12:14:00.000-08:00

The Lonoke County Republican Committee seeks qualified candidates for ALL local and county offices. Please download and complete the application and Republican Party of Arkansas rules for potential candidates if you are interested in running for elected office as a Republican.

Candidates for municipal, district, and township offices may file at the Lonoke County Courthouse from 12 noon on 3-1-10 until 12 noon on 3-8-10.

LCRC has set the following filing fees for the 2010 election cycle.

Office
Filing Fee

Circuit Clerk
$300.00
City Clerk
$ 75.00
City Treasurer
$ 75.00
Constable
$ 10.00
County Clerk
$300.00
County Committee Member
$ 30.00
County Coroner
$150.00
County Judge
$300.00
County Surveyor
$ 25.00
County Tax Assessor
$300.00
County Tax Collector
$300.00
County Treasurer
$300.00
Justice of the Peace
$ 75.00
Lonoke City Attorney
$ 75.00
Lonoke/England Alderman
$ 75.00
Lonoke/England Mayor
$150.00
Municipal Offices
$ 75.00
Sheriff
$300.00

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Reynolds to host BBQ at RPA's Sarah Palin event

2010-02-14T19:37:00.000-08:00

The following is a press release from Colonel Conrad Reynolds' Campaign

CONRAD CARES
Reynolds to host Blue Collar Republican Barbeque

CONWAY - Republican United States Senate candidate Col. Conrad Reynolds (U.S. Army, Ret.) announced today that he will be hosting a good old fashioned barbeque meet and greet in the west parking lot at the Verizon Arena on Tuesday February 16th just before the Sarah Palin event.

Conrad Reynolds says “Our Republican Party is at a crossroads. We are poised for perhaps the biggest political comeback since the 1994 midterm elections. Americans, Arkansans are frustrated and disillusioned with career politicians and politics as usual. The voters are looking for an brave new alternative vision. The Republican Party must supply that vision. We must provide voters with more than rhetoric and platitudes. Now is the time for twice the action and half the talk, and that's why I am running for US Senate.”

“Reagan, Eisenhower and Abraham Lincoln understood what a great honor and privilege it is to serve the people of this great nation. And so do I, because it’s what I have done with my life for the past three decades and it will be what I will do with my life until the day I die. It's an honor to serve the people of Arkansas. And I want to do just that on Tuesday. These are tough economic times, so I am holding a free barbeque tailgate party before the Sarah Palin event for those everyday folks that might not have the resources to attend the $500 per person reception or the $175 for the dinner but they want to be involved.”

“Service to our fellow citizens is one my core beliefs and I am not afraid to roll up my sleeves to help people. I will do whatever it takes to get the job done, whatever it takes to get this country, this state and this party back on track. You have my word on it.”

Please check out our new YouTube video message to veterans, veteran’s families and active duty military personnel.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBAK9J_Yv00

Give us a call or send us an email if you would like to volunteer or contribute to the campaign.

*LCRC does not endorse any candidate until after the primary election. This post is for informational purposes only and in no way constitutes an endorsement by the LCRC. LCRC will post press releases from any Republican candidate who submits them to email:webmaster@lonokegop.com .

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RPA Newsletter 2-13-10

2010-02-13T06:08:00.000-08:00

The conservative movement taking place in Arkansas is impacting our great state in positive and productive ways. Senator Blanche Lincoln currently has a 62% disapproval rating and today she is seen as the most vulnerable Democrat in the Senate Let’s take a look at her dwindling popularity…

August 26, 2009 - Arkansas Sen. Lincoln's Approval Slump Continues

“Democrat Blanche Lincoln will have to address a serious popularity slump back home as she gears up her 2010 bid for a third Senate term in Arkansas. Lincoln held a 36 percent job approval rating, to 44 percent disapproval, in an Aug. 21-24 Public Policy Polling survey of Arkansas voters. CQ Politics rates the general election race as Democrat Favored.”

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/polltracker/2009/08/arkansas-sen-lincolns-approval.html

January 11, 2010 - New Levels of Vulnerability for Reid and Lincoln

“The decision of Connecticut Sen. Christoper J. Dodd to retire in the face of an increasingly bleak re-election outlook shifted attention to two other Democratic senators fighting for their political lives in 2010 – Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada and Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas. Given these developments, the fact that both senators start the year trailing in general election match-ups in the most recent polls and the deepening political crisis facing Democrats, CQ-Roll Call is changing the race ratings to Tossup, from Leans Democrat, the most competitive ranking in the system.”

http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=news-000003176626

February 12, 2010 - Lincoln: No 1 in Vulnerability?

Sen. Blanche Lincoln appears to be on her way to earning the dubious title of most vulnerable Senate incumbent of the 2010 cycle.

“The moderate Arkansas Democrat has become a top target of national Republicans in 2010, especially after Sen. Christopher J. Dodd (D-Conn.) announced in early January he was not to going to seek re-election. Meanwhile Lincoln’s weakness at home, which has been reinforced by multiple recent polls, has drawn some of the state’s best known Republicans into the race. Given these developments and the worsening of the political mood for Democrats, CQ Politics is changing the rating of the Arkansas Senate race from Tossup to Leans Republican.”

http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docid=news-000003293331&topic=Feature

The people of Arkansas deserve a Senator who is willing to stand up for Arkansans in Washington! Let’s continue working together to help conservatives win in 2010!

“Arkansas Welcomes Sarah Palin” is just days away! If you want to take part in one of the biggest conservative gatherings the state of Arkansas has ever seen, get your tickets now:

http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/1B00442EDF6359DD?artistid=1399963&majorcatid=10005&minorcatid=0

Republican Party of Arkansas - p: (501) 372-7301 | f: (501) 372-1656

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Crawford for Congress Announces Campaign Headquarters Grand Opening

2010-02-09T18:13:00.000-08:00

Headquarters will be located in easily accessible location for public

JONESBORO - First District Congressional candidate, United States Army veteran, and agri-business owner Rick Crawford will be holding the grand opening of the Crawford for Congress Campaign Headquarters this Saturday, February 13th, from 10am until Noon.

The headquarters, which is located at 1920 S. Church Street in Jonesboro, signifies another step forward in the Crawford for Congress Campaign. "I am excited about formally opening our campaign headquarters to the people of the First Congressional District," said Crawford. "I want to extend an open invitation to anyone who is interested in learning more about my campaign to come by and visit with me at anytime."

Crawford, who will also be holding a press conference to discuss the progress his campaign has made since the retirement of Marion Berry, will be on hand to visit with those in attendance and discuss his campaign in detail.

"I would like to invite everyone to come out this Saturday and enjoy some light refreshments as we outline our campaign against Nancy Pelosi and what I want to do for the First District through cutting taxes, smaller government, and a free-market healthcare system," said Crawford.

Parking will be available both immediately in front of the campaign headquarters as well as the adjacent parking lot by Wells-Fargo Mortgage and Gracy's Cafe. Additional parking may be found across Church Street in the Walgreens parking lot.

For more information or directions please call 870-203-0540.

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House GOP Leaders Press White House to Allow Governors, State Legislators to Join Health Care “Summit”

2010-02-09T07:39:00.000-08:00

by House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH)

Noting that legislation to “opt out” of Obamacare has been introduced in 36 states, House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) and Republican Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA) have sent a letter to White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel asking that the invitation to the planned Feb. 25 health care “summit” at the White House be extended to the nation’s governors and state legislators.

“Will the President be inviting officials and lawmakers from the states to participate in this discussion?” Boehner and Cantor asked Emanuel. “As you may know, legislation has been introduced in at least 36 state legislatures, similar to the proposal just passed by the Democratic-controlled Virginia State Senate, providing that no individual may be compelled to purchase health insurance. Additionally, governors of both parties have raised concerns about the additional costs that will be passed along to states under both the House and Senate bills.”

In a statement released Monday night, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs criticized the Boehner-Cantor letter, but did not address the question of whether state officials would be given a role in the Feb. 25 event.

“One of the fundamental problems with the approach the Obama Administration has taken to health care is that it seems rooted in a Washington-knows-best mentality. Excluding the voices of America’s governors and state legislators from the proposed ’summit’ would compound this error,” Boehner said. “There’s a revolt going on in the states right now against the bills Washington Democrats are trying to impose on America. The White House may want to pretend the revolt isn’t happening, but it’s real.”

Boehner and Reps. Devin Nunes (R-CA) and Mike Rogers (R-MI) last year launched the GOP State Solutions project, an initiative aimed at highlighting solutions put forth by reform-minded governors and state officials outside the Beltway. Through the State Solutions project, House Republicans have been working with state officials, the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), and grass-roots activists to advance state-level legislation declaring individual citizens’ freedom against intrusive health care mandates from the federal government.

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LCRC February Meeting 2-8-10

2010-02-07T21:50:00.000-08:00

*TONIGHT's MEETING HAS BEEN CANCELLED*
*Please join us next month*

The Lonoke County Republican Committee will hold its regular monthly meeting tomorrow at 7:00 pm. The meeting will be held at Grandpa's BBQ on 2nd St.

Come early to enjoy some great food and company!

Click below to download a copy of last month's minutes and the agenda for tomorrow's meeting. For a map to the meeting location click here.

January Minutes

February Agenda

Sarah Palin is Coming to Central Arkansas!

2010-02-06T10:00:00.000-08:00

from the Republican Party of Arkansas

The political landscape in Arkansas is rapidly changing right before our eyes. Within the past month, we have witnessed the retirement of two United States Congressmen, the dwindling popularity of Blanche Lincoln and the explosion of conservative movements all across our great state and nation. The Republican Party of Arkansas appreciates your support and hopes you will help us restore transparency, individual liberty and fiscal sanity within our government.

We also don’t want you to miss out on an opportunity to see Gov. Sarah Palin live at Verizon Arena on February 16 at 7:30 p.m.

2010 is an important election year for Arkansas, and purchasing a ticket for “Arkansas Welcomes Sarah Palin” is a contribution to help conservatives win in 2010!

General Admission tickets are $35 and $65 and can be purchased online through Ticketmaster: http://www.ticketmaster.com/Sarah-Palin-tickets/artist/1399963

Tickets may also be purchased by visiting the Verizon Arena Box Office in North Little Rock, AR.

For dinner tickets and tables, please call the RPA headquarters at 501-372-7301!

We thank you for supporting the RPA and hope to see you on Feb. 16 as we welcome Sarah Palin to Arkansas.

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Sen. Gilbert Baker: Washington isn't listening!

2010-02-06T09:54:00.000-08:00

Here's the latest video from State Senator Gilbert Baker, Republican candidate for US Senate:

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Boehner: GOP has better solutions

2010-02-03T20:20:00.000-08:00

House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) tells voters where to find the GOP ideas President Obama has repeatedly stated don't exist. Over and over, the President has lied to the American people because he knows these ideas have been presented to, and ignored by leading Democrats in Congress!

Leader Boehner noted that:

"Last week in his State of the Union, President Obama challenged critics of his trillion-dollar government takeover of health care to show him a better plan. I raised my hand.

"Because the fact is, Republicans have offered common-sense solutions to give Americans the health care reform they want. In fact, weve offered the only health care plan that will lower premiums by up to 10 percent.

"Whether the topic has been on health care, the budget, energy or putting Americans back to work, Republicans have stuck with our principles, listened to the people, and offered better solutions to the challenges families and small businesses are facing every day."

Incredibly, at a town hall meeting in Nashua, New Hampshire just yesterday, President Obama was back to peddling the same old myth that Republicans are the party of “no ideas.” Just days after acknowledging repeatedly on live national television that Republicans have offered alternative solutions on the major issues - and that he has read them - the President stood before a partisan audience and said:

"[W]hat I’ve done is I’ve said to the Republicans, show me what you’ve got. You’ve been sitting on the sidelines criticizing what we’re proposing… So here’s my thing: You got a better idea?"

With all due respect Mr. President, House Republicans do have better solutions. In fact, just last week, at the Republican retreat in Baltimore on January 29, the President said of House Republicans better solutions:

"I suspect I will embrace some of them. Some of them I’ve already embraced….I’ve read your legislation. I take a look at this stuff….Actually I’ve gotten many of your ideas. I’ve taken a look at them….I’ve read it. I can tell you what’s in it."

What accounts for the disconnect between the president’s reportedly off-the-cuff comments last week in Baltimore, and his rhetoric in New Hampshire yesterday? One can only conclude that in the eyes of senior White House partisans, the president had an “off-message” moment last week in acknowledging that the GOP has put forth serious alternatives - and the White House staff is now desperate to get the boss back onto the Democrats’ discredited “party of no ideas” talking points.

Last year, following Leader Boehner’s vow that Republicans “will not just be the party of opposition, but the party of better solutions,” House Republicans formed “solutions groups” in key policy areas, including the GOP Economic Recovery Solutions Group, chaired by Republican Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA), and the GOP American Energy Solutions Group, chaired by Republican Conference Chairman Mike Pence (R-IN). The GOP solutions groups went on to produce detailed legislative alternatives that were presented throughout to President Obama, members of his administration, and the Democratic leadership in Congress over the course of 2009. The summaries of these legislative alternatives are compiled in Better Solutions, a document that which covers GOP reform proposals on everything from jobs and health care to government spending and transparency.

The Better Solutions document and other information on GOP reform alternatives is available at Solutions.GOP.gov.

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Col. Conrad Reynolds message to veterans

2010-01-31T16:19:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends,Supporters and Veterans,

Please check out this new video message to Veterans, Active Duty Military, families of veterans and patriotic Americans from the best US Senate Candidate , Col. Conrad Reynolds.

Here's a link. It's on YouTube. Please watch it and rate it 5 STARS!

You can certainly give money if you like. But a 5 star rating is just fine. Help us send a good honest man to Washington.

We know that many of you would like to help the campaign. You can start by forwarding this video to as many people in your contact lists as possible.

If you would like to volunteer, please call us at 501-205-4900 9am-9pm everyday. We'll be opening the first of many call centers around the state in Mountain Home in a couple of weeks. We're looking for space in NW Arkansas for our next call center. And we have a big list of items that folks can loan us or donate to the campaign. Call us for details.

Thank you,

Roman Schroeder
Operations Officer
Col. Conrad Reynolds for US Senate

*LCRC does not endorse any candidate until after the primary election. This post is for informational purposes only and in no way constitutes an endorsement by the LCRC. LCRC will post press releases from any Republican candidate who submits them to email:webmaster@lonokegop.com .

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Republican Weekly Address 1/30/2010

2010-01-30T14:40:00.000-08:00

Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) delivers the weekly address for the GOP. Collins does an excellent job poking holes in the Obama administration's handling of the Christmas day attempted terror attack on US citizens. The failures of that day illuminate the glaring weaknesses in the President's approach to combating terrorism in general.

A Victory over the Political Machine

2010-01-27T04:18:00.000-08:00

by Newt Gingrich

"If the First Amendment has any force, it prohibits Congress from fining or jailing citizens, or associations of citizens, for simply engaging in political speech."

These are the words of Justice Anthony Kennedy, writing for the majority in a historic Supreme Court decision that began with a man, a movie, and a message that bothered the bureaucratic Washington machine.

In January of 2008, as the Democratic presidential primaries between Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) were raging, filmmaker Dave Bossie set about advertising and distributing his 90-minute documentary "Hillary: The Movie." (Full disclosure: Callista and I host and produce movies with Dave.)

The film offered a critical look at the New York senator then vying for the presidency. But Bossie was stunned when government officials from the Federal Election Commission (FEC) told him the film couldn't be aired or even advertised. Their reason? Sen. Clinton was a candidate for federal office, so Bossie's film was illegal under campaign finance law.

Bossie's production company, Citizens United, sued, claiming its First Amendment right to free speech was being denied by the government. And the Supreme Court decision announced last week was not only a vindication of the free speech rights of all Americans, it was a significant step toward dismantling the incumbent-protecting political machine created by bureaucratic campaign finance "reforms" like McCain-Feingold.

By declaring that government has no business suppressing the political speech of groups like Citizens United, the Supreme Court has begun to make it easier for middle class candidates to take on the rich and the powerful.

The Bureaucratic, Anti-Freedom Model of Campaign Finance Was Wrong

Citizens United v. FEC is one more piece of evidence that the model of bureaucratic campaign finance reform – of government restricting the freedom of Americans to criticize politicians rather than maximizing our freedom to question our leadership – was wrong.

The Founders understood the importance of the unfettered right of citizens to complain about their government. They recognized the danger of politicians controlling or censoring the debate about themselves. That's why they wrote in the First Amendment to the Constitution that "Congress shall make no law...abridging the freedom of speech."

These words and this right have been stunningly perverted by laws like McCain-Feingold, which was explicitly a case of Congress making a law abridging our freedom of speech – of incumbent politicians attempting to censor the people's discussion of whether they should remain in office.

Government Can't Limit the Ability of Associations of Citizens to Spend in Campaigns

Citizens United was a great victory for free speech because it declared that government can't limit the right of corporations and unions – the "associations of citizens" Justice Kennedy refers to above – from spending freely to support or oppose candidates in elections.

It struck down the part of the McCain-Feingold law that censored corporate-funded political ads within 60 days of federal elections and within 30 days of primaries.

Although it left in place the prohibition on corporate donations directly to candidates and on the ability of corporations to coordinate their activities with candidates, it reversed an earlier high court ruling that allowed government to prevent corporations, nonprofits and unions from spending money independently to influence the outcome of an election.

Making it Easier for Middle Class Candidates to Take on Incumbents

The near-hysterical reaction of proponents of bureaucratic campaign finance laws such as big money fund raiser and incumbent Democratic Sen. Charles Schumer (N.Y.) that the decision is "un-American" and "a threat to our democracy" are exactly wrong.

Laws like McCain-Feingold give incumbent politicians in Washington tremendous advantages over middle-class citizen challengers. Incumbents have literally millions of dollars worth of taxpayer-funded staff, traveling and mailing privileges.

And thanks to McCain-Feingold imposed limits on what individuals can contribute to candidates, rich politicians who can spend unlimited amounts of their own money and don't have to worry about raising money in small amounts have a tremendous advantage.

Former New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine (D) used his personal fortune from Goldman Sachs to first buy a Senate seat and then the governorship. And New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg would have been defeated by a virtual unknown last November if he hadn't been able to spend his millions.

Citizens United v. FEC doesn't threaten our democracy. It strengthens it by making it easier for middle-class candidates to compete against the wealthy and incumbents.

Real Reform Would Be Unlimited Donations Posted on the Internet

But as significant as it was, the Court's decision wasn't real campaign finance reform.

Real reform under our Constitution will only come when Americans and associations of Americans are allowed to give unlimited amounts of after-tax money to the candidates and campaigns of their choice.

Donors should be given this freedom and required to post on the Internet every night what they're spending and how they're spending. That way, voters would know who is funding whom, and how much. Armed with that knowledge, Americans can be trusted to make an informed, truly democratic choice.

Predictably, just the prospect of voters making such a free and informed choice has the Washington establishment machine up in arms.

Can We Trust the American People Mr. President? Yes, We Can.

In a breathtaking display of hypocrisy, President Obama used his weekly radio address last week to pledge to work with Congress to reverse the decision and declared: "I can't think of anything more devastating to the public interest. The last thing we need to do is hand more influence to the lobbyists in Washington or more power to the special interests to tip the outcome of elections" (emphasis added).

This, from the president who negotiated back-room deals with special interests in order to force Democratic health care reform on the American people.

This, from a president whose massive expansion of government into the private sector has set off a stampede of lobbyists to Washington to claim their piece of the taxpayers' pie.

But even more glaring than the hypocrisy is the obvious contempt that supporters of bureaucratic campaign finance have for the American people.

Ultimately, the question comes down to one of trust. Can we trust the people, and not the government, to determine our political future? The answer, Mr. President, is a familiar one:

"Yes we can."

Republican Weekly Address 1/23/2010

2010-01-25T20:53:00.000-08:00

WASHINGTON, DC – Delivering the weekly Republican address, House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) provides a prebuttal to President Obama’s upcoming State of the Union address. Boehner says Republican Scott Brown’s victory in the Massachusetts special election gives Washington Democrats a choice: work with Republicans to create jobs and get our economy moving again or double down on the job-killing policies that are making matters worse. Boehner also outlines Republicans’ better solutions to address today’s challenges, including a no-cost jobs plan and the only health care bill that would lower premiums up to 10 percent. The transcript of Leader Boehner’s address follows the video below

“I’m House Republican Leader John Boehner.

“I’m speaking to you from the Capitol, where next week, President Obama will deliver his first State of the Union address.

“This is a fitting time to pause and take stock of where we are.

“Nearly a year ago, the President signed into law a trillion-dollar ‘stimulus’ with promises that jobs would be created ‘immediately’ and that unemployment would stay below eight percent.

“Since then, roughly three million Americans have lost their jobs while red ink and bailouts have piled up as far as the eye can see.

“My home state of Ohio has endured nine straight months of double-digit unemployment. And for the better part of those nine months, Democrats in Washington have been focused on this government takeover of health care that working families just can’t afford and want nothing to do with.

“This is what happens when government overreaches and stops listening to the people. Washington Democrats believe government knows best how to spend your hard-earned money. Democrats believe we’re just one new tax, one more czar, and one giant bureaucracy away from solving all of your problems.

“That’s not the America that I know growing up with 11 brothers and sisters as the son of a bar owner. And as I travel the country, I meet a lot of people who feel the same way.

“For months now, a political rebellion has been brewing – one born from the American people’s opposition to greater government control over our economy and their lives.

“That rebellion propelled Republican Scott Brown to victory in this week’s Massachusetts special election.

“Scott’s win in the bluest of blue states gives us new hope that common sense will prevail. That maybe now, the hard work and entrepreneurship of the American people will no longer be stifled by Washington Democrats’ costly, job-killing agenda, an agenda Republicans have stood on principle and fought tooth and nail against.

“But we know better. We know that Washington Democrats will pull out all the stops to try and shove through this government takeover of health care, with its Medicare cuts and tax hikes. If there’s a sweetheart deal that needs to be cut, Democrats will cut it. And if there’s a vote that needs to be bought, they’ll buy it.

“Haven’t we had enough of government propped up on payoffs and pork-barrel spending? Haven’t we had enough of the same-old, us-vs-them politics that uses yesterday’s battles to distract us from today’s problems? We’re all in this together, and we need positive, forward-looking solutions to bring us together.

“So for families asking ‘where are the jobs,’ Republicans have offered common-sense solutions to help small businesses invest and hire new workers. We’ve also put forward a responsible budget blueprint that makes the tough spending choices that others just talk about.

“And on health care, Republicans have proposed the only bill that would lower premiums by up to 10 percent. And we do this by implementing some smart, common-sense reforms – whether it’s letting families and businesses buy health insurance across state lines or ending the junk lawsuits that contribute to higher health care costs.

“And we get the job done without cutting Medicare or raising your taxes.

“These solutions aren’t being devised behind closed doors with special interests having the final say. We’re soliciting feedback on Facebook and Twitter. We’re working with governors and mayors every day to develop the best ideas. All of the details are available at solutions.gop.gov.

“President Obama and Democrat leaders in Washington now have a choice: work with Republicans to get our nation back on its feet, or double down on the job-killing policies that are making matters worse.

“So at the State of the Union, we’ll listen to what the President has to say. But make no mistake: if the powers that be in Washington keep turning their backs on the people, Republicans will continue to challenge the status quo and offer better solutions.

“Our fight for reform, for freedom, and for common sense is far from over.

“Thanks for listening.”

Coleman wins big in 3rd District GOP straw poll

2010-01-23T17:33:00.000-08:00

With nearly the entire population of Arkansas announcing their candidacy to run against Blanche Lincoln in November, surpising things are going to happen.

According to Curtis Coleman's campaign, today in the only Republican stronghold in the state of Arkansas Coleman won a resounding victory against all opponents. Taking 43% of the 101 votes in the 3rd District Republican straw poll, he received more than twice the votes of his nearest opponent State Senator Gilbert Baker who took 20%.

The following is a press release from the Coleman campaign:

( FAYETTEVILLE , AR – 23 JAN 2010 Conservative Republican U.S. Senate candidate Curtis Coleman was awarded a victory by grassroots workers and party activists at the 3rd Congressional District’s Republican Straw Poll.

Coleman received 43 percent of the 101 votes cast, followed by state Senator Gilbert Baker, 20 percent; and Randy Alexander, 9 percent.

“I am honored by the confidence expressed in me by these leaders of the Republican Party of Arkansas,” Coleman said. “I will not waver, I will not quit and I will not let you down in this fight to protect our fundamentals of freedom.”

Eight of the nine candidates attended the two-day events in Fayetteville , Ark. and participated in a candidate’s forum.

Curtis Coleman is Cofounder and former President and Chief Executive Officer of Safe Foods Corporation. Founded in January 1999, the Arkansas company is helping make food safer on four continents. Coleman stepped aside from his position as CEO of Safe Foods in September 2009 to focus 100% of his time on his campaign to represent Arkansas in the U.S. Senate seat currently occupied by Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D).

Coleman Calls Brown Win Part of "Triple Crown Victory"

2010-01-21T04:26:00.000-08:00

The following is a press release from Curtis Coleman's campaign:

(LITTLE ROCK, AR – 20 JANUARY 2010) Calling it part of a “Triple Crown victory for all Americans”, Curtis Coleman, conservative Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, congratulated Republican Senator-elect Scott Brown on his historic come-from-behind victory in Massachusetts. “Scott Brown’s victory in the Democratic bastion of Massachusetts gives enormous impetus to the snow-balling momentum building across the country to return to elected officials who actually listen to and faithfully represent the wishes and views of their constituents,” Coleman said.

“This is a Triple Crown victory with McDonnell / Christy / Brown. Arkansans will contribute to this celebration on November 2 when they make it a grand slam home run with McDonnell/Christy/Brown and Coleman.”

“We must remember that this is not just about winning elections,” he said. “This is about stopping Washington’s out-of-control spending and reducing the size and cost of government. This is about making healthcare more affordable and more accessible for all Americans while we stop the government’s takeover of our most personal healthcare decisions. This is about creating jobs and lowering taxes for America’s hard-working families.”

“We’ll be winning more elections all over the country in 2010,” Coleman said, “but we must not lose sight of the goal of recovering the liberties we’ve been losing one election, one bill, and one vote at a time. The time for compromise on fundamental freedoms has passed. We must use our victories as conservatives to recover what we’ve lost as Americans.”

Joe the Plumber Campaigning for Col Conrad Reynolds

2010-01-21T04:14:00.000-08:00

The following is a press release from the Reynolds campaign:

Conway- Republican United States Senate candidate Col. Conrad Reynolds (U.S. Army, Ret.) today announced further details regarding his upcoming Arkansas speaking tour with special guest Joe the Plumber.

Colonel Reynolds and Joe the Plumber will tour Arkansas for three days starting in Hot Springs Village on Monday January 25th and ending in Rogers on January 27th. Each event will feature speeches by Col. Reynolds, Joe, and members of the local community, followed by a chance for pictures and personal face time with Col. Reynolds and Joe.

Arkansans have demanded a candidate who not only has a message they can support, but a resume that proves they can get the job done once the elections are over and the real work begins. Please come and take this opportunity to find out more about Col. Reynolds and why he is the best guy for the job.

Monday (25 Jan 2010)

9:00am Hot Springs Village at the Coronado Community Center
150 Ponderosa Way, Hot Springs Village, AR 71909

11:30am Little Rock at the Little Rock Club
Ste 2435—30th Floor, 400 West Capitol Avenue, Little Rock, AR 72201

7:00pm Little Rock at the Whole Hog Café
2516 Cantrell Road, Little Rock, AR 72202

Tuesday (26 Jan 2010)

9:00am Fairfield Bay at the VFW
2531 Highway 330 South Fairfield Bay, AR 72153

12:00pm Mountain Home the VFW
214 West 7th Street, Mountain Home, AR 72653

5:00pm Jonesboro at the Hilton Garden Inn
2840 South Caraway Road, Jonesboro, Arkansas, USA 72401

7:30pm Searcy at the Lightle Senior Center
2200 East Moore Avenue, Searcy, AR 72143

Wednesday (27 Jan 2010)

8:00am Fort Smith at the Holiday Inn
700 Rogers Avenue, Fort Smith, AR 72901

11:45am Rogers at Mad Pizza
2603 West Pleasant Grove Road, Rogers, AR 72758

Quorum Court Meeting Thursday--1/21

2010-01-19T20:58:00.000-08:00

by Mark Edwards, JP District 13

I wanted to pass along the agenda for this months Quorum Court meeting. Please note that we have several areas of importance that will be coming up that all of the county needs to be aware of.
The first order of business is to pass an ordinance to allow the county judge to purchase the right of way from Larry Odom. This will dump traffic from HWY 67 South onto South Rockwood. This road is already a mess and not properly repaired and with heavy trucks exiting, I fear this road will get worse. This was never discussed or looked into by Larry Odom's traffic committee. It was discussed only by Larry and the county judge. The judge has offered to pay $60,000 for 1.59 acres of land which is roughly $40,000 per acre. The truck stop across the street just sold at a price of $25,000 per acre in November 2009. This seems too high a price to pay in my opinion for swamp land. Additionally, there is to be a clover leaf at this intersection in the future and spending the money now may be putting the kart before the horse.
The Leg Audit reported that a person in the sheriff's office was responsible for tracking certain money and about $67,000 is not accounted for. We will be asking questions about this money and procedures.
APERS and county retirement will be discussed as well. This will be Jerry Adams and Karol Depriest that you have all heard and read about in the news lately. This will likely go into executive session. It is our duty of the quorum court to ensure the office is being held constitutionally and if not to declare a vacancy.
These 3 areas of business specifically should be paid very close attention to. There are sweetheart deals being made in the county and what appears to be outright corruption going on by both Democrats in large part fro our County Judge down as well as Larry Odom in our own party. Please help hold our local elected accountable as this is getting more and more widespread.
Thank you all for caring.

AGENDA

LONOKE COUNTY QUORUM COURT

CALL TO ORDER: JANUARY 21, 2010

CSEPP EMERGENCY CONFERENCE ROOM

6:30 P.M.

OPENING PRAYER FOLLOWED BY PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

ROLL CALL

MINUTES OF DECEMBER 2009

TREASURER’S REPORT

OFFICIALS’ REPORT (0%)

OLD BUSINESS:

- None

NEW BUSINESS:

- Ordinance to Authorize Judge to purchase right-away from Quorum Court Member

- Resolution for Right Away for Arkansas Highway Department

- Resolution for Larry and Sandra Odom

- Legislative Audit for 2009

- Health Insurance- Committee Chair

- Sheriff’s Department –Appropriation Ordinance for Seat Belt Safety Fund 01-5020

- Discussion- Apers Retirement for County Officials and Employees

- Appropriation Ordinance – New Cabot Health Department 171-171-87

- Appropriation Ordinance – Brownsville Branch Project 158-158-87

- Appropriation Ordinance – Justice Assistance Grant Fund 173-173-87

ANNOUNCEMENTS

PUBLIC INPUT

ADJOURN

LCRC January Meeting Report

2010-01-19T04:09:00.000-08:00

On Monday January 11, the Lonoke County Republican Committee held its first monthly meeting of the new year. Those in attendance had the pleasure of hearing from several elected officials, including State Rep. Davy Carter, and two of the nine Republican candidates for US Senator, State Senators Kim Hendren and Gilbert Baker.

Several local issues were discussed by local officials present. District 12 Justice of the Peace Henry Lang discussed the "double dipping" that recently hit the news by two county officials, a recent audit report showing a county office lost $67, 000, and a deal to be discussed at the next Quorum Court meeting to purchase property from sitting District 3 JP Larry Odom. The potential land deal seemed shady to several members of the committee and will be addressed in a future article announcing the Quorum Court meeting.

District 13 JP Mark Edwards informed the committee the contract for a new county jail had been awarded to a local contractor, GAG Builders of Cabot. Oak Grove Township Constable Vince Scarlata reported that crime was down across Lonoke County last year and, for the first time he could remember, no arrests for DWI were made on New Year's Eve.

District 48 State Representative Davy Carter reported on the upcoming legislative session. He promised that, because Arkansas voters approved this as a budget session, he would vote against any non-budget resolutions that are brought to the floor. Carter stated it may appear that he's voting against some good bills, but worries that bringing non-budgetary bills to the floor will "open a can of worms" that voters in Arkansas did not approve when they voted to hold annual legislative sessions. Carter also informed the committee the Blue Ribbon Highway Commission will be seeking tax increases that he will not support.

Committee members had the privilege of hearing two of the nine announced Republican candidates for Arkansas' US Senate seat this year, State Senators Kim Hendren and Gilbert Baker.

Senator Hendren spoke first, describing his political career and why he believes he'll make the best US Senator of the announced candidates. He first remarked that he is not a skilled politician. Hendren credited this for his off-the-cuff remarks that sometimes cause him grief. He promised he would serve no more than two terms if elected and said "If you don't take care of business you ought to be fired." Hendren said he's always been conservative, and would carry the conservative colors to Washington.

Baker spoke next, promising to stand against the liberal agenda currently pressed in DC and stressing that he could raise the money to mount a successful campaign against Democrat Senator Blanche Lincoln this fall. He promised to stand against Card Check, Cap & Trade, and the health care bill. Without mentioning any names, Baker insinuated he is the best candidate because Jim Holt ran against Lincoln in 2004 and lost. He slipped in the fact that his campaign has raised $800,000 to promote himself as the most electable of the 9 candidates.

The Lonoke County Election Commission is looking for a place to set up about six machines to accommodate early voting in the county. Apparently, the City of Cabot is unwilling to provide city facilities for this purpose.

Vic Snyder to Retire!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2010-01-15T16:02:00.000-08:00

Liberal heads continue to roll.

Last week, Senators Dorgan (D-SD) and Chris Dodd (D-CT) chose to retire rather than run for re-election in the wake of a conservative uprising in America. Their announcements followed the withdrawal of numerous Democrats who were planning to challenge sitting Republicans in 2010 in the House and Senate.

And today the shock waves of the conservative response to the Obamanation of the United States hit Arkansas. Shortly after the left-wing blog Firedoglake released a poll showing Rep. Vic Snyder (D-AR-02) down 17 points to Republican challenger Tim Griffin, Snyder released a statement saying he would not be seeking re-election this year.

Though it comes as no surprise to conservatives that Snyder is in trouble, the announcement was unexpected. Arkansas blogger Jason Tolbert speculates Democrat State Senator Shane Broadway may be interested in seeking the Democrat party's nomination. And other sources have mentioned Democrat Lieutenant Governor Bill Halter may throw his hat into the ring.

Though the poll cited above mentioned only Griffin as a potential challenger, the Republican field for Arkansas' 2nd District seat includes two others who hope to be the next Congressman to represent central Arkansas.

Army veteran David Meeks has been campaigning for the seat since last spring. He's often been seen shaking hands and speaking with voters at Tea Party events around the state. Known for carrying around a printed copy of the infamous HR 3200, the first of the health care bills made available to the public, he's become ll known to Arkansas' new conservative activists. Of Snyder's announcement Meeks said, "I would like to thank Vic Snyder for his years of service both in Congress and in the Military. This will not change our Constitutional Conservative message we have been campaigning on since the beginning."

Central Arkansas businessman Scott Wallace is the third Republican candidate in the race. The restaurant owner is active in the central Arkansas community, serving on several charity boards and volunteering as a reserve deputy sheriff in Pulaski County. Wallace responded to the news of Snyder's retirement on Facebook. His status update said, "The big news, Vic Snyder is retiring. We will just have to see who wants his spot. This will be interesting!! Let's WIN IN 2010!"

Griffin responded in the video seen here, "“We respect his decision and I thank him for his service both in uniform and in Congress.”

On Snyder's decision, Republican Party of Arkansas Chairman Doyle Webb stated, “We thank Congressman Snyder for his many years of public service and wish him and his family well. The Republican Party of Arkansas anticipates the people of the 2nd district will elect a new representative who will reflect their conservative views and values by voting for private sector job creation, reducing taxes, and preserving personal freedoms. Most importantly the people of Arkansas deserve a representative who is committed to defeating such policies as the proposed Obama-Reid-Pelosi healthcare scheme and working against expanding the role of federal government and thereby reducing the national deficit."

Rep. Pete King (R-NY) Delivers Weekly Republican Address

2010-01-09T14:34:00.000-08:00

Rep King: “We are a nation at war, and we should act like it. We need to pull together, remain vigilant, and send a clear signal – both to our friends and our enemies – that this government will stop at nothing to protect our homeland. That’s how America sets an example for the world.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Delivering the weekly Republican address, Rep. Pete King (R-NY) addresses the Obama Administration’s response to the terrorist plot to bring down Northwest Airlines Flight 253 and the need for a real, comprehensive strategy to fight and win the war on terror. Rep. King is the ranking member of the House Homeland Security Committee; he also serves on the House Intelligence Committee.

Following is the text of Rep. King’s address:

“Hi, I’m Republican Congressman Pete King, I serve as the Ranking Member on the House Homeland Security Committee and I’m also a member of the House Intelligence Committee. I have the privilege to represent New York’s Third Congressional District, on Long Island in the suburbs of New York City.

“Two weeks ago, the terrorist plot to bring down Northwest Airlines Flight 253 in the skies over Detroit was thwarted by a combination of luck and vigilance. But as President Obama has rightly said, it should never have even gotten to that point. Last year, this terrorist’s father, a widely respected member of his community, went to our embassy in Nigeria and shared his concerns that his son was becoming a radical jihadist. That should have been more than enough to trigger a red flag that would prevent this terrorist from ever setting foot on a plane bound for the U.S. with explosives.

“Both parties recognize the need for answers, so bureaucratic reviews will take place and congressional hearings will be held. And while that’s all well and good, this is about much more than whether the no-fly list gets longer or it takes more time to get through the security line at the airport.

“This is about whether we’ve learned our lesson. Terrorists still have innocent people in their sights and the will to murder them. They are always working on the next attack, refining their methods, searching the globe for new recruits. In other words, September 11th is not ancient history – it’s all too real.

“So, the people in my community certainly get it. American families get it. And now it’s time for the Administration in Washington to stop sending mixed messages and get it too.

“One of the first things we need to do is pass the Keep Terrorists Out of America Act, a common-sense bill Republicans have proposed to prevent terrorists from being brought on to our soil. This bill would help stop the misguided plan to put Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and other 9/11 terrorists on trial in downtown Manhattan. It’s an enormous, unnecessary risk, as is housing terrorists at the proposed ‘Gitmo North’ facility near Chicago.

“There’s a good reason why the government has had such a hard time transferring these terrorist detainees to other countries. They are the worst of the worst. No one should want them. That’s why we put in place a process by which these terrorists should be held and tried – as enemy combatants, by military commissions.

“The Keep Terrorists Out of America Act will also help to ensure that we’re treating terrorism as what it is – a war crime, not a law enforcement issue. We can’t gather the intelligence we need to foil future attacks if we are blindly granting terrorists the right to remain silent. But for some reason, we’ve already done that with the terrorist who tried to bring down Flight 253.

“We are a nation at war, and we should act like it. We need to pull together, remain vigilant, and send a clear signal – both to our friends and our enemies – that this government will stop at nothing to protect our homeland. That’s how America sets an example for the world.

“Thank you for listening.”

Editorial Boards Weigh in on Democrats’ Decision to Break the President’s “C-SPAN Pledge”

2010-01-09T05:33:00.000-08:00

From the Republican Leader's Blog
by Kevin Boland

Reports that President Obama and Democratic Congressional leaders have cut a deal to skip a formal Conference on their health care legislation - a flat violation of the President’s promise that such negations would be broadcast on C-SPAN for the American people to see - has provoked outrage across America.

Today, editorial boards from coast to coast weighed in, and - to say the least - they disagree with Speaker Pelosi’s assertion that “There has never been a more open process.”

A roundup of newspaper editorials from this morning’s papers follows:

Boston Herald: “Let Public in the Room”

"This administration - and Democratic leaders - talk a good game about transparency in government. Now they have an opportunity to practice it. If they’re going to throw the legislative rulebook out the window, at the very least they could give congressional Republicans a chance to watch the process on TV."

Investor’s Business Daily: “Let the Sun Shine”

"House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, has called the Democrats’ plan to bypass a conference committee a “shady backroom deal.” An overstatement? Hardly. One House Democratic aide told a blogger that “this process cuts out the Republicans.” The Democrats fear that if they follow the traditional route, the GOP could use the Senate filibuster rule to shut down the process of organizing the committee.

"Bypassing a conference committee also cuts out a public that will suffer losses from whatever monstrosity is produced by the cover of darkness. Americans stand to lose their power of choice over health care decisions and be stripped of a significant portion of their earnings to pay for a plan most don’t want. They deserve to see in an open forum what is being done to them. Instead, they’re likely to get whatever the Democrats want to force on them."

New York Daily News: “Ready for Prime Time”

"Candidate Barack Obama made a straightforward health care reform promise on the campaign trail in 2008: ‘We’ll have the negotiations televised on C-SPAN, so the people can see who is making arguments on behalf of their constituents and who is making arguments on behalf of the drug companies or the insurance companies.’ At the time, he hit all the right notes. Populism. Transparency. Good government. But today, President Obama is not quite with the program."

Las Vegas Review-Journal: “Broken Promise”

"What Americans don’t know — and what they won’t get to see — is how far Sen. Reid and Rep. Pelosi will go to get what they want. Taxpaying voters will be cut off from the decisive debate on a monstrous increase in consumer costs and federal authority. Can senators and representatives defend the economically impossible concepts they embrace — more health care, lower costs — in spontaneous, free-flowing discussions? Or will they simply push forward a slip of paper with the dollar amount needed to secure their support, as Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., already has?"

New York Post: “Dems Against Democracy”

"As DC Democrats slink behind closed doors to craft a final health-care bill — thousands of pages long and sure to sap the nation’s economic future — Americans need to ask: Just what are Dems so ashamed of? ‘We will do what is necessary to pass the bill,’ House Speaker Nancy Pelosi insisted, as she and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid moved to forgo a panel to finalize legislation. Instead, they’ll build their Frankenstein’s monster of a bill in secret, mocking democratic principles all the way."

The Wall Street Journal: “The Tom DeLay Democrats”

"Evading conference has become standard operating procedure in this Congress, though you might think they’d allow for the more open and thoughtful process on what Mr. Obama has called ‘the most important piece of social legislation since the Social Security Act passed in the 1930s and the most important reform of our health-care system since Medicare passed in the 1960s’…Apparently this Congress knows no shame."

2010 Republican Senate Race Heats Up in Arkansas

2010-01-08T00:30:00.000-08:00

Big things are happening in the Republican race for US Senate in Arkansas. Blanche Lincoln's poll numbers are falling like a rock and even the liberal blog DailyKos is now calling on her to resign. According to The Tolbert Report though, Lincoln's organization doesn't seem to be making preparations to throw in the towel. Instead it appears to be digging in for what promises to be a difficult campaign.

Here's a rundown on the GOP field as it currently stands.

Jim Holt

The already crowded field will take one more player next week when Jim Holt formally announces his candidacy. From Arkansas Watch

Former State Senator Jim Holt, who led the GOP ticket in the 2006 statewide elections, will announce his candidacy in the 2010 U.S. Senate race at a series of events to be held January 14^th.

Holt took 44% of the vote in his 2004 loss to Sen. Blanche Lincoln the last time she ran for re-election. Some are tagging him the best chance to beat Lincoln after her vote for Harry Reid's health care bill last month. That vote, combined with the general hostility to the Democrat Party, has many predicting Holt can fare much better in November than he did six years ago

Gilbert Baker

Holt's announcement may cause some Republicans in the state to rethink their positions. Many, like Bill Vickery, have been calling for other candidates to clear out and permit State Senator Gilbert Baker to preserve his cash and energy for a general election slug fest with Senator Lincoln. Vickery says "If the Republican Party doesn't clear the field and make Gilbert Baker the lone nominee, then we are foolish."

Most consider Baker the favorite in the race for now though. After his first place finish in the Republican Party of Arkansas' straw poll last month, and his double-digit lead over Lincoln in the latest Rasmussen poll, Vickery's not the only one who's tagging Baker the man to beat in this race.

Curtis Coleman

Though Vickery and others have placed their bets on Baker, central Arkansas businessman Curtis Coleman isn't showing any signs of throwing in the towel. Coleman remains active on social networking sites and continues to travel the state meeting voters. He continues to hammer away at Lincoln and tackle issues on his blog and has recently added several new members to his campaign team.

Recently, Coleman announced the appointment of Matt Lagrone as his campaign’s statewide Political Director. “I am delighted to have Matt help direct our statewide grassroots efforts. He is an experienced political professional and committed conservative who wants to change the way things are done in Washington,” Coleman said. And today announced the addition of Mike Hudome as media consultant for the campaign.

Colonel Conrad Reynolds

Last month the campaign started with a flurry of press releases demanding Lincoln address several issues, including insulting comments by high ranking Democrats in Arkansas and union attack ads against Gilbert Baker which included the publicizing of his home phone number. Reynolds' campaign demanded Lincoln abandon the secret negotiations to honor President Obama's previous calls for transparency in the health care debate.

Then the campaign went almost silent the latter half of the month after his campaign manager, K. Ryan James, announced he was stepping down to pursue other interests. We'd seen little activity in the news and on social networking sites where Reynolds had been active.

But the Colonel informs us he simply took a little time off and has no intention of bowing out of the race. He assures us he has a busy January planned, including Joe the Plumber coming in later this month to campaign for him. Reynolds also says, "You will notice a slight shift in priorities over the next few weeks -- a strategy that I believe will win me the primary."

Fred Ramey

Fred Ramey continues to travel the state and says "We are finding that a blue-collar conservative candidate with a sincere desire to make a difference for all Arkansans is exactly what many people want." Ramey remains convinced his blue-collar background and farming experience can beat Blanche Lincoln in the general election.

He admits he had hoped the candidate field would have narrowed by now, but says the campaign is making inroads. Not that he thinks the competition is a bad thing. In fact, he reiterates his committment to running a positive campaign and states that if the other candidates do likewise "this will strengthen the party’s hand now and in the future."

Kim Hendren

Kim Hendren points to his lead over Lincoln in the latest Rasmussen poll and claims others show him leading the GOP primary. His committment to the race was recently demonstrated when he pumped $200,000 of his own money into the campaign. Pointing to the fact that some of the money his competition has raised cannot be used in the primary, Hendren says his campaign cash gives him the advantage.

Hendren states he's developing a solid volunteer organization across the state, and says he's "especially honored to have state party vice-chairman Duane Neal serving as one of my key supporters and advisers."

He also tells us the campaign will soon announce upcoming fundraisers in Central Arkansas on February 4 and Northwest Arkansas on February 6.

Buddy Rogers

Buddy Rogers tells us he has no plans of throwing in the towel either. He's continuing to travel the state with upcoming events scheduled across the state. Rogers says his varied background in business, health care, and the military is resonating with voters. He says he's "gratified by increased name recognition and support as I travel the state."

Tom Cox

We were unable to contact Tom Cox for this article, but will include an update on his campaign as soon as it's available.

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CSPAN: Let's make good on Obama's promise of transparency

2010-01-05T20:22:00.000-08:00

by House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH)

Washington-Congressman John Boehner is strongly endorsing a request from the head of C-SPAN that the public have full access to health care negotiations as Democratic leaders continue to indicate they will shut the American people out and write a final bill behind closed doors.

“As House Republican Leader, I can confidently state that all House Republicans strongly endorse your proposal and stand ready to work with you to make it a reality,” Boehner wrote in response to a letter C-SPAN CEO Brian Lamb sent to congressional leaders. “Hard-working families won’t stand for having the future of their health care decided behind closed doors. These secret deliberations are a breeding ground for more of the kickbacks, shady deals and special-interest provisions that have become business as usual in Washington. Too much is at stake to have a final bill built on payoffs and pork-barrel spending.”

President Obama repeatedly promised on the campaign trail that health care reform negotiations would be public and broadcast on C-SPAN.

Transparency issues continue to dog Washington Democrats, who have compiled a troubling track-record of jamming through massive bills that have not been properly scrutinized. Boehner’s letter highlights the GOP’s congressional transparency initiative, a series of reform measures that includes a resolution introduced by Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) requiring that these health care negotiations be made open to the public.

The letter to C-SPAN Chairman and CEO Brian Lamb is available here and follows:

January 5, 2010

Brian Lamb
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, C-SPAN
400 N. Capitol St. NW
Suite 650
Washington, DC 20001

Dear Brian,

Thank you for your recent letter requesting that the American people have full access to health care reform negotiations. As House Republican Leader, I can confidently state that all House Republicans strongly endorse your proposal and stand ready to work with you to make it a reality.

C-SPAN’s role in fostering government transparency is so significant that on several occasions during the last presidential campaign, then-Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) pledged that health care reform negotiations would be broadcast on C-SPAN so the “American people will know what’s going on.”

Unfortunately, the President, Speaker Pelosi, and Senate Majority Leader Reid now intend to shut out the American people at the most critical hour by skipping a bipartisan conference committee and hammering out a final health care bill in secret.

Of course, every issue of national import should be debated by the people’s elected representatives in full public view, but this is especially true with something as personal and important as health care. Clocking in at a combined 4,765 pages, the House and Senate health care bills propose drastic and expensive changes in the way Americans live. Dozens of differences between the two bills have been identified, including fundamental changes to the patient-doctor relationship.

Hard-working families won’t stand for having the future of their health care decided behind closed doors. These secret deliberations are a breeding ground for more of the kickbacks, shady deals and special-interest provisions that have become business as usual in Washington. Too much is at stake to have a final bill built on payoffs and pork-barrel spending.

As you know, congressional transparency has long been a concern of citizens and congressional observers, but never before has the need for reform been more apparent than in the past year under the Democratic majority. Republicans have listened to the American people and are committed to making Congress more accountable to the people it serves. In November, we proposed a congressional transparency initiative, a series of reform measures that includes a resolution introduced by Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) requiring that these health care negotiations be made open to the public. While you await a response from Speaker Pelosi, we will continue to call on her to allow a vote on Rep. Buchanan’s resolution.

Since the first New England town meetings of the colonial era, open government has been a hallmark of American democracy. Over the last 30 years, C-SPAN has helped continue and strengthen that tradition. The American people are well served by your continued vigilance in this matter.

Sincerely,

John Boehner
Member of Congress
Republican Leader, U.S. House of Representatives

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January Monthly Meeting

2010-01-03T18:32:00.001-08:00

The Lonoke County Republican Committee will hold its regular monthly meeting on January 11, 2010 at 7:00 pm at Grandpa's BBQ in Cabot. The committee will be setting filing fees for the upcoming elections and continuing the search for a speaker for the annual Lincoln Day Dinner.

Below are links to minutes from the December Committee meeting and the agenda for the January meeting.

December Minutes

January Agenda

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Terrorism Still a Threat

2009-12-31T23:19:00.000-08:00

by Representative John Boozman

WASHINGTON-–An attempted terrorist attack on Northwest Flight 253 Christmas Day highlights a failure in aviation security and has renewed the discussion of safety in the air.

This breach of security is a serious cause for concern and as a member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Aviation Subcommittee, U.S. Representative John Boozman (R-AR), will work to find solutions that prevent future attacks.

“The Christmas Day act of terrorism proves the national security policies of President Obama and the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano, have not done anything to make our country safer. This is not a time to play political games. Our nation must take the necessary steps to protect the safety of its citizens, but the out of touch priorities of this administration threatens the security” Boozman said.

“Over the last year, it would appear that the Administration and Secretary Napolitano are more concerned about closing Guantanamo Bay detention facility, bringing terrorists to the U.S, and profiling our nation’s veterans and right-to-life advocates as terror threats than they have been with identifying and closing the loopholes that jeopardize the safety of Americans. The war on terror is something we fight every day and we must on stay one step ahead of the bad-actors of the world. We must focus on real threats, adopt proven security tactics, prevent leaks and improve interagency coordination, and stop finger pointing at the Central Intelligence Agency. We are all on the same team and its time that we act like it.”

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Blanche Lincoln Schedule--January 4-8, 2010

2009-12-31T09:51:00.000-08:00

It's no secret by now that Senator Blanche Lincoln has abandoned any pretense of representing Arkansas voters in the Obama Administration's quest to take over the US health care system. She's counting on her traitorous Christmas Eve vote putting the issue to rest, on Arkansas voters to accept defeat and be ruled by the desires of her and her elitist colleagues.

Now is the time to gather our strength. Make sure she returns to Washington with the understanding that Arkansans feel betrayed and will vote accordingly in 2010. She can still stop this madness when the House and Senate present a reconciled bill. She must feel the pressure.

The following is a list of events and locations where voters can find Senator Lincoln during the Senate recess. If at all possible, please make plans to attend one or more of these events to communicate your displeasure with Lincoln's refusal to represent Arkansas voters.

The following is a list of my schedule of events for January 4-8, 2010:

Monday, January 4—Searcy, McCrory, Augusta

1:00 p.m. Tour of Bryce Corporation plant. 500 Benton Avenue, Searcy.
4:00 p.m. Meeting with Mad Butcher employees. 901 N Edmonds Avenue, McCrory.
6:30 p.m. Keynote speaker, Celebrate Augusta dinner. White River Rural Health Center Augusta Wellness Center, 906 N. 4th Street in Augusta.

Tuesday, January 5—Little Rock, Stuttgart

11:45 a.m. Keynote speaker, Downtown Kiwanis Club of Little Rock. The Little Rock Club, Regions Bank building, 30th Floor, 400 W. Capitol, Suite 2435.
6:30 p.m. Keynote speaker, 70th Annual Stuttgart Chamber of Commerce Dinner. Occasions, 2114 South Main Street, Stuttgart.

Wednesday, January 6—Sheridan, El Dorado

9:00 a.m. Keynote speaker, Sheridan High School Assembly. Sheridan High School, 700 West Vine Street.
2:30 p.m. Meeting with poultry growers. South Arkansas Community College, Library, El Dorado.

Thursday, January 7—Little Rock, Conway

12:00 p.m. Keynote speaker, Annual Quality Asphalt Paving Conference. Holiday Inn- Airport, 3201 Bankhead Drive, Little Rock.
4:00 p.m. Press availability following tour Conway Hewlett-Packard facility. Meadows Technology Park, Conway.

Friday, January 8—Gillett

7:00 p.m. Annual Coon Supper in Gillett. Gillett High School cafeteria.

Please try to attend one or more of these events to let Senator Lincoln know she's let Arkansas down.

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Health Care Lies from Senator Lincoln

2009-12-28T12:21:00.000-08:00

For weeks, Senator Blanche Lincoln allowed Arkansas voters to believe she just might save them from the prospect of a government-run healthcare system. It turned out she had no intention of listening to the majority. Senator Lincoln chose to represent the Harry Reid/leftist zealot-wing of the Democrat Party, against the will of the majority of Arkansas voters.

Following her vote to support passage of the final version of Harry Reid's 2,034 page bill, Senator Lincoln sent an "eNewsletter" to those who had previously contacted her about this issue. Following the Democrat game plan that's been used throughout the debate on health care reform, Lincoln's letter is filled with lies, omissions, and misrepresentations.

Senator Lincoln Lies About Her Priorities

Near the end of her newsletter, Lincoln claims "my first priority remains the people of Arkansas and not any political party or partisan organization, and I will not support legislation that does not serve the best interests of our great state." In fact, her vote to support this legislation is a slap in the face to the 64% of Arkansans who oppose the bill.

It was obvious to anyone paying attention as far back as November, and Lincoln would have to have been wearing blinders if she didn't notice. Before she voted for cloture on the bill drafted by the Senate Finance Committee, Zogby released a poll showing the sitting Senator held a slight lead over her potential Republican challengers in next year's election. When asked who they would vote for if Lincoln voted for the health care bill, the tide turned.

But when voters were asked how they would vote in a Lincoln-Baker race if Lincoln voted in favor of the healthcare legislation, the incumbent Democrat fell behind her possible GOP challenger 37-49.

It's quite obvious Lincoln's first priority wasn't with the people of Arkansas when she voted for Reid's government takeover of the US health care system.

Senator Lincoln Lies About Medicare Cuts

Lincoln's newsletter also claims "I have worked hard in this bill to ensure seniors will not see a reduction in the Medicare coverage and benefits they have always relied upon." But that's not consistent with the near $500 billion in cuts to the program that even President Obama's Department of Health and Human Services says is likely to cause fewer doctors to treat medicare patients.

Though she states "I believe in the promise our government made to working Americans - that if we work hard, Medicare will be there to help us in our golden years," she voted for Reid's bill that will, according to Senator Tom Coburn (a medical doctor from Oklahoma), deny treatment for ailing seniors!

For instance, the Reid bill (in sections 3403 and 2021) explicitly empowers Medicare to deny treatment based on cost. An Independent Medicare Advisory Board created by the bill—composed of permanent, unelected and, therefore, unaccountable members—will greatly expand the rationing practices that already occur in the program.

Evidently Lincoln believes in empty government promises to Arkansas' seniors!

Senator Lincoln Lies About Transparency

Lincoln also boasts in her newsletter, "Throughout this process, I have pushed to ensure the Senate is conducting this debate in a public and transparent manner." But her definition of transparent may not be as clear as one would expect.

Though she did set up a health care resources page on her website, Lincoln didn't quite fulfill her promise to post ALL relevant information on the page in a timely manner.

In fact, Lincoln was a participant in closed-door meetings that forged the final version of Reid's bill. The text of that "compromise" apparently wasn't considered a "health care resource" because it wasn't posted on her site for all to see. Even though Harry Reid sent the text to the Congressional Budget Office two weeks before the first vote on the bill, Lincoln agreed to keep it hidden from her constituents in Arkansas!

"[T]he real action on the bill is taking place not on the Senate floor, but in [Majority Leader Harry] Reid's office, just steps away. That's where he's struggling to bring together the liberal and moderate wings of his caucus, in an effort to get the 60 votes he needs to thwart the united GOP front that will otherwise prevent the bill from winning final approval. On Sunday, Obama will address a closed meeting of Senate Democrats, presumably for a pep talk, and also to give them more guidance on just what he wants from a final health bill"

Apparently the Senator grew tired composing her newsletter, because she lumped several blatant lies all in one sentence when she said, "I support the revised Senate health care plan because it will curb rising health care costs over the long term, expand access to quality, affordable, health insurance plans to more than 400,000 uninsured Arkansans, and reduce the federal deficit by $132 billion in the next 10 years-all without a new government plan that places taxpayers at risk."

Senator Lincoln Lies About Bill's Impact on Deficit

First, the $132 billion deficit reduction is a flat-out lie that was exposed the day before Lincoln voted for passage of the Senate bill. Democrats, including our less-than-transparent Senator Lincoln utilized accounting methods that would have been the envy of Bernie Madoff and Enron to come up with their fictitious figure.

Harry Reid had to shift more than $200 billion in costs to a separate "doctor fix" bill to arrive at his contrived figures. Taking that into account instantly puts the net cost of the bill in the red, but there's even more trickery up the sleeves of Blanche Lincoln and Harry Reid. The day before the final vote, the CBO released a statement showing the devious Democrats were inappropriately double counting $300 billion to arrive at their claimed deficit reduction.

Assuming Lincoln, Reid and the rest of their Democrat colleagues didn't take any as yet undiscovered lessons from Madoff and Enron, we're looking at a $370 billion increase in the deficit over the next 10 years. Hardly the deficit neutral bill promised by Lincoln and the other dishonest Democrats.

Senator Lincoln Lies About Bill's Impact on Health Care Costs

According to the Obama Department of Health and Human Services' own Office of the Actuary (OACT), Reid's bill will increase national health expenditures over the next 10 years. The OACT reports that we can expect health care costs through 2019 will be $234 billion more than they will if Congress doesn't pass this bill. OACT states that, if this bill passes, $20.90 of every $100 will be spent on health care in 2019. If Congress does nothing, Americans are expected to $20.80 of every $100 for health care in that year.

Contrary to Lincoln's claim, health care costs will increase under the bill she voted for last week.

Senator Lincoln Lies About Government Plan

Actually Senator Lincoln claimed this bill doesn't have a "a new government plan that places taxpayers at risk." What she actually means is this isn't going to be a taxpayer funded government plan, but a plan that is owned by private industry and run by the government.

The bill calls for the government to dictate to private insurance companies what benefits they must include in their plan, who must be qualified to participate in their plan, and how much they can charge for their plan.

A government-run plan, but privately owned. How long does anyone expect that to last?

At least 64% of Arkansans don't expect it to last, and more likely expect it to turn into a single-payer government system before all is said and done. Senator Lincoln doesn't represent Arkansans, she represents big-government liberals seeking more control of our lives and freedoms.

Blanche Lincoln is perfectly willing to twist the facts and make back room deals behind closed doors to satisfy her wealthy out-of-state donors. With their money, Lincoln believes she can buy your vote. Or spend enough money to hide her allegiance to rich, out-of-state liberals.

In November, Arkansans will have the opportunity to let her know, in no uncertain terms, that we don't believe her lies.

Join our fight to elect a Senator who will represent Arkansas, not the liberal wing of the Democrat Party.

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Weekly Republican Address

2009-12-25T18:24:00.000-08:00

WASHINGTON, DC - Delivering the weekly Republican address, Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) marked the holiday season by paying tribute to the men and women of our Armed Forces. A former Marine, Hunter served three combat tours overseas: two in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. In the address, Hunter also reaffirmed Republicans’ commitment to offering better solutions focused on putting people back to work and helping families address everyday challenges. Audio of the address is available here; video of the address will be available here once the embargo is lifted today at 6:00 p.m.

Following is the text of Rep. Hunter’s address:

“I’m Congressman Duncan Hunter, and I represent the 52nd Congressional District of California, the area around San Diego.

“In this holiday season, I hope we all take time to offer thanks and prayers to the men and women of our Armed Forces. Many of these service members will spend the holidays away from home, on the frontlines in Iraq and Afghanistan, at bases and on ships around the world.

“I understand the sacrifices they are making. Shortly after the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001, I quit my job and joined the Marine Corps. Prior to coming to Congress, I was deployed to warzones on three separate occasions, twice in Iraq and once in Afghanistan. Just last month, actually, I had an opportunity to visit with our troops in Afghanistan.

“I know we all wish everyone could be home for the holidays, but this is not a time for sadness or regret. Thoughts of home remind us of why we serve: because we’re proud to be Americans, because we want to pass on to our children the blessings of liberty that we inherited from our forefathers, and because nothing matters more to us than protecting our homes and our families. Our hope is that as a result of this determination and sacrifice, we will never again see our cities and citizens under attack.

“I hope we also take a moment this year to reflect on those suffering here at home. For too many families, this will be a difficult Christmas. One in ten Americans are unemployed. Nearly six million of our citizens have been looking for work for more than six months – the most on record.

“All year long, Republicans have offered common-sense solutions to put more money back into the pockets of hard-working families and to help small businesses create more jobs. We’ve also outlined a plan to lower health care premiums by up to 10 percent. And we have proposed an ‘all of the above’ energy strategy to create more American jobs, ease the strain on family budgets, and clean up our environment. Just as important, these solutions do not raise taxes, grow government, or add to the already skyrocketing debt burden being placed on our kids and grandkids.

“After all the promises and all the spending we’ve seen out of Washington this year, out-of-work families are right to be asking, ‘where are the jobs?’ Republicans believe our top priority when it comes to the economy should be simple: first, do no harm. So let’s resolve in the new year to end misguided efforts to create new laws that will cost even more jobs, whether it’s the “cap and trade” national energy tax, the government takeover of health care, “card check,” or even more tax increases.

“Working together, we can make the next holiday season even brighter for all Americans. Thank you, happy holidays, and God Bless America.”

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Merry Christmas to All!

2009-12-24T06:36:00.000-08:00

It's time to step away from the keyboard for a few days to spend time with family and friends in celebration of the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

We at America's Best Choice want to wish everyone (yes, even our political enemies) a very Merry Christmas! And we ask that everyone say a special prayer for those who can't be with their families this Christmas, because they're protecting are freedoms.

We Wish You a Merry Christmas	Mary Did You Know?




O, Little Town of Bethlehem	Silent Night

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Tell Blanche Lincoln to "Pick up the phone!"

2009-12-23T09:46:00.000-08:00

Originally posted on America, You Asked For It!

Today or tomorrow, Arkansas Democrat Senator Blanche Lincoln plans to vote again to move Harry Reid's Senate health care bill toward passage. This, in spite of the fact that 60% of her constituents oppose the bill.

With a vote looming on such important legislation, legislation that will impact every man, woman, and child in America, one would expect Senator Lincoln to want to hear her constituents' opinions on the matter. But no!

She won't even take their calls. Her office phone goes unanswered today. But just in case they're reading the emails, please click here to email the link for the video below to Senator Lincoln today. If you're from out of state, use Zip Code "72023", and city "Cabot", street address "112 S. First Street" to be sure the system let's you through. (That's the address of Democrat Representative Marion Berry's Cabot office.)

Tell Lincoln to "Pick up the phone!" by copying and pasting the following link in your message: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Qh7bQ5cocE

You can also try calling her office at 202-224-4843, but good luck getting through.

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2010 GOP Candidates Slam Blanche Lincoln's Dead of Night Vote

2009-12-22T08:16:00.000-08:00

After both Democrat Arkansas Senators voted for the unwanted Socialist "Obamacare" bill, it's obviously time to start thinking about the candidates running for Blanche Lincoln's seat next year.

The following is a list of links to statements made by announced candidates for Arkansas' 2010 Senate race in response to Lincoln and Pryor voting for a bill that most Arkansans have made clear they don't want. This vote was intentionally held at 1:00 AM on the Monday morning when many Americans started their Christmas vacations, so all candidates may not yet have had an opportunity to respond. We will update this list as other candidates release statements on the vote against Arkansas values.

State Senator Gilbert Baker

Baker Calls out Lincoln for her Dark-of-Night Vote for Obamacare

Conway, Ark. – “A bad bill passed in the dark of night is still bad in the light of day. Sen. Lincoln had the power to stop this health care bill that will lead to increased taxes, higher health care premiums, cuts to Medicare, and taxpayer-funded abortions, yet she chose to cast the 60th vote needed for passage. Arkansans are now seeing the light; Sen. Lincoln continues to stand with her

liberal allies, not Arkansans. I will never be a swing vote for government-run health care. I support common sense reforms that are deficit neutral and leave medical decisions in the hands of patients and their doctors.”

...Read More

Curtis Coleman

Coleman Says Lincoln Guilty of “Grievous Dereliction of Duty”

(LITTLE ROCK, AR – 21 DECEMBER 2009) In the wake of Sen. Blanche Lincoln’s midnight vote to move the Senate version of healthcare legislation to final passage later this week, conservative Republican businessman and U.S. Senate candidate Curtis Coleman accused Lincoln of “grievous dereliction of her duty”.

...Read More

Tom Cox

Washington Has Lost It's Way

Last night’s vote solidified for me why I founded the Arkansas Tea Party. These people in Washington have lost their way. They have forgotten why America is the greatest nation in the world. They forgot the principles in which our nation is grounded.

...Read More

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While you slept...

2009-12-21T09:25:00.000-08:00

Early this morning, around 1:00 AM, while most Americans lay fast asleep, the Democrat dominated US Senate voted to move forward on what has affectionately come to be known as "Obamacare." Both Arkansas Senators, Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor, voted for the so-called health care reform that a majority of Americans, including a majority of Arkansans, don't want!

Wheeling and dealing to get some Democrat holdouts to sell out their constituents, Harry Reid used earmarks and President Obama used threats to secure the 60 votes necessary to overcome a Republican filibuster. Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE) was supposedly holding out for a tougher stance against federal funding of abortion, but decided to give up on that principled position when Harry Reid (D-NV) offered him $500 million in earmarks for Nebraska.

Nelson's vote cost the American people five times as much as the $100 million it took last month to get Mary Landrieu (D-LA) to sell out the people of Louisiana. But Nelson may have demanded a bigger bribe after President Obama threatened to jeopardize national security as payback if the Nebraska Senator didn't give up his demands to save the lives of unborn babies.

Barack was apparently willing to close Offutt Air Force Base as retribution for Nelson's lack of support for the President's number one priority on his domestic agenda. Offutt contributes ~$2.4 billion to the local economy of southeast Nebraska, but more importantly serves as a key component of our nation's security. The base is home to the Air Force's 55th Wing, the largest wing in Air Combat Command and the second largest in the Air Force.

55th Wing Mission Statement

"The 55th Wing's mission statement is, "Provides dominant intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, electronic attack, command and control and precision awareness to national leadership and warfighters across the spectrum of conflict any time, any place."

Though Arkansans are overwhelmingly opposed to the bill, Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor put up no resistance. Arkansas received no special earmarks, no special treatment, no money for the votes of two Senators who are supposed to represent citizens of our state. Lincoln and Pryor didn't need to be threatened by the President, they willingly capitulated without resistance.

Two weeks ago, both Arkansas Senators were part of a dubious "compromise" created behind closed doors and without Republican input. But their constituents were denied Lincoln's promised transparency when the text of their deal was kept hidden until this weekend. There's only one reasonable explanation for not allowing the public to examine the text.

Because they knew it wouldn't stand public scrutiny!

Lincoln and Pryor no longer represent their Arkansas constituency!

RPA Executive Director: "Let's make our voices heard."

2009-12-18T14:34:00.000-08:00

Letter from RPA Executive Director Chase Dugger:

As the Democratic healthcare scheme moves closer to a final vote, we have one question for Sen. Blanche Lincoln: how will she vote?

As you all remember, last month Blanche Lincoln was the 60^th vote to advance the healthcare scheme in the U.S. Senate. She said at the time, “I, along with others, expect to have legitimate opportunities to influence the health care reform legislation that is voted on by the senate later this year.” The problem is she has been silent ever since – refusing to stand up for two-thirds of her constituents who oppose this legislation and voice their concerns.

We all know there is a price tag of nearly $1 trillion associated with the bill. Even Democrats like Arkansas governor Beebe shutter at the cost:

Gov. Mike Beebe (D-AR) Says Dems’ Bill Burdens State With $205 Million In Unfunded Mandates While Arkansas Already In Budget Crisis. “The day before the House approved a $1.2 trillion healthcare proposal, Beebe said his office had determined that it would add $205million to the state’s Medicaid budget by 2015 … he said he was definitely opposed to the price tag it would bring the state. ‘We’re running a pretty tight budget now, and I don’t know where we’d get that,’ Beebe said.”(Andrew DeMillo,” Analysis: Beebe Playing Role In Health Care Debate,” The Associated Press,11/15/09)

Time is running out. The Senate is trying to ram this bill down our throats on Christmas Eve and I’m asking for your help.

Let’s make our voices heard. Everyone who receives this email should call Blanche Lincoln’s office at (202) 224-4843. Our goal is to make sure Blanche Lincoln listens to Arkansans and there is no better way than launching a massive call into her office.

In addition, email her office by clicking here and copy me at communications@arkansasgop.org at the state party and ask her to vote no on the healthcare scheme.

A massive grassroots effort is underway and we need your help.

Thank you for all you do.

Chase Dugger

RPA Executive Director

RPA Chairman Call to Action

2009-12-16T17:16:00.000-08:00

Letter from Doyle Webb, Chairman, Republican Party of Arkansas

Friends,

As the debate over President Obama’s healthcare scheme rages on, I’m asking for your help.

Blanche Lincoln will be a deciding vote on whether our country is saddled with another trillion dollars of debt and we need to make our voices heard.

Media reports indicate Sen. Ben Nelson (NE) is the only undecided vote. The thing is Blanche Lincoln has been silent on how she’s going to vote. Don’t you think as a fellow Arkansan you deserve to know how your elected officials are going to vote?

Call Blanche Lincoln today and tell her to vote no on the healthcare scheme and ask her office how she intends to vote.

Don’t delay! Harry Reid and the Democrat leadership want to ram this bill down our throats before Christmas. Call Senator Lincoln today.

Sincerely,

Doyle Webb

Arkansas Republican Party Chairman

Contact Senator Lincolns Offices:

Washington D.C. Office
Phone: (202)224-4843

Little Rock Office
Phone: (501) 375-2993

Dumas Office
Phone: (870)382-1023

Jonesboro Office
Phone: (870) 910-6896

Fayetteville Office
Phone: (479) 251-1224

Texarkana Office
Phone: (870) 774-3106

Thursday: Business Forums on Health Care Reform

2009-12-16T15:44:00.000-08:00

Americans for Prosperity is paying close attention to the health care reform debate in Washington. What do these bills mean for business and what impact will they have on our economy?

The group is holding important strategy sessions on Thursday, December 17. Bring your questions, as they will have policy experts to wade through the details with you. Their guest speaker is Dr. Erick Novack of Phoenix , Arizona. Dr. Novack is an orthopedic surgeon, who has testified before Congress this year on the health care reform bill.

Once again, Senator Blanche Lincoln will be a deciding vote on this issue, making YOUR participation critical Please take the time to forward this invitation to your business contacts as well. Please RSVP to teresa.oelke@afphq.org.

Conway

Join AFP for a free breakfast

When:	7:30 a.m Thursday, December 17
Where:	Nabholz Construction Co. Conference Room 612 Garland Street Conway
Hosted by:	Nabholz Construction Company Americans for Prosperity Arkansas Campaign for Responsible Health Care Reform Association of Builders and Contractors

Little Rock

Join AFP for a free luncheon

When:	11:30 a.m. Thursday, December 17
Where:	Wyndham Hotel 2 Riverfront Place North Little Rock
Hosted by:	Nabholz Construction Company Americans for Prosperity Arkansas Campaign for Responsible Health Care Reform Association of Builders and Contractors

Fort Smith

Join AFP for a free dinner

When:	4:00 p.m. Thursday, December 17
Where:	Holiday Inn 700 Rogers Ave. Fort Smith
Hosted by:	Crossland Construction Company Americans for Prosperity Arkansas Arkansas Progressive Group Campaign for Responsible Health Care Reform Association of Builders and Contractors

Quorum Court Meeting Thursday--12/17

2009-12-15T23:29:00.000-08:00

AGENDA

LONOKE COUNTY QUORUM COURT

Date:	DECEMBER 17, 2009
Location:	CSEPP EMERGENCY CONFERENCE ROOM
Time:	6:30 P.M.

OPENING PRAYER FOLLOWED BY PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
ROLL CALL
MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 2009
TREASURER’S REPORT
OFFICIALS’ REPORT (8%)
OLD BUSINESS:
- None
NEW BUSINESS:
- Health Department – Grant for 01-2500-45
- An Ordinance to Establish the Annual Operating Budget for 2010
- Jail Committee / Judge – Update
- Highway Project / Judge Troutman
ANNOUNCEMENTS
PUBLIC INPUT
ADJOURN

Marion Berry: "We've got to elect Barack Obama"

2009-12-15T14:56:00.000-08:00

Does Marion Berry really represent Arkansas' 1st Congressional District?

He calls himself a Blue Dog (supposedly conservative) Democrat, but votes with ultra-liberal San Francisco House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi 90% of the time. He voted with Barack Obama to bailout Wall Street fat cats and with Obama on his budget-busting, $787 billion "porkulus" package and with the President on his proposed government-run health care!

That doesn't really sound much like a conservative Democrat who represents Arkansas' 1st District. After all, 61% of voters in the 1st District didn't want Barack Hussein Obama's "Hope and Change." Even so, last year Berry told Arkansas' delegation to the Democratic National Convention "We must elect Barack Obama!

Even though the 1st District disagreed, Berry helped get Obama elected. And now we see the results of electing a community organizer with no executive experience, and a history of mingling with far left extremists.

Berry and his President have given us 10% unemployment, a $1.4 trillion deficit, and a national debt that hit $12 trillion and continues to climb. Congress is right now considering raising the debt ceiling to $14 trillion! That's $14 trillion to enslave your children and grandchildren for years to come.

2010 is the year to vote Berry out and get someone who will represent the 1st District.

If you agree, join the Boot Berry Roll Call and help spread the truth about Marion Berry to Arkansas' 1st District voters!

Weekly Republican Address

2009-12-12T05:27:00.000-08:00

This week, Representative Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) explains how the Obama administration's concessions at the Copenhagen climate change (formerly known as Global Warming) conference will wreak havoc on the American economy.

If you have a slow internet connection and would prefer to read Rep. Blackburn's address, the text follows:

“Hi, I’m Congressman Marsha Blackburn, and I have the great honor of representing ennessee’s Seventh District.

“Next week, I and a number of my Republican colleagues in the House of Representatives will head to Copenhagen – Denmark’s capital city – where diplomats and politicians from around the world have gathered in an attempt to try to reach an international, UN-brokered agreement on climate change.

“If President Obama has his way, the Copenhagen conference will produce mandatory emissions limits that would destroy millions of American jobs and damage our economic competitiveness for decades to come.

“To comply with this UN-brokered agreement, Washington Democrats want to impose a ‘cap-and-trade’ national energy tax, a bureaucratic nightmare that would make households, small businesses and family farms pay higher prices for electricity, gasoline, food and virtually every product made in America. This legislation is currently making its way through the Senate after passing the House of Representatives in June.

“President Obama himself has said that as a result of this national energy tax, electricity prices would, and I quote, ‘necessarily skyrocket.’ His own Department of Energy has determined that millions of jobs would be lost.

“Since Democrats in Congress have failed to get a cap and trade bill to the President’s desk ahead of the Copenhagen Summit, President Obama took unilateral action this week to pile more regulation on the backs of families and small businesses in the name of combating global warming. On Monday the President’s EPA administrator, Lisa Jackson, took the first step toward imposing costly new regulations on businesses for emitting carbon. My bill, H.R. 391 would stop the EPA.

“Just think of what will happen to small businesses and manufacturers hit with these skyrocketing energy bills, especially when nations like India and China don’t agree to these mandatory emissions limits. With Americans already facing double-digit unemployment, there could not be a worse time to unilaterally disarm our engines of job creation and economic growth.

“In fact, small businesses are already feeling anxiety and holding off on hiring due to the prospect of this national energy tax, a government takeover of health care, and other costly policies Democrats have in the works. These aren’t issues President Obama, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and Democrats in Congress will talk about when they are in Copenhagen, but Republicans will.

“Also absent from the discussion in Copenhagen is the Climategate scandal. Recently leaked e-mails reveal climate scientists have a long track record of manipulating data to hide scientific evidence that contradicts the global warming establishment. And why? To bully citizens and lawmakers into supporting job-killing energy tax schemes. This scandal raises serious questions about Democrats’ climate control plans, questions that deserve a transparent investigation – not a rush to judgment – by the bureaucrats in Copenhagen.

“Republicans are all for clean water, clean air, and clean energy. We just don't think we have to tax people out of house and home to get there. That’s why we have proposed an ‘all of the above’ energy strategy that says, let’s put every clean, responsible energy option on the table so we can create jobs, ease the strain on family budgets, and clean up our environment.

“This is one of a series of common-sense solutions Republicans have proposed to empower families and small businesses while Democrats have continued to rely on more spending, more regulation, and more government to try and solve every problem.

“Nothing sums this up more than the trillion-dollar ‘stimulus’ of borrowing and spending that has failed to create jobs ‘immediately’ and keeps unemployment below eight percent as promised. Instead, more than three million Americans have lost their jobs and unemployment has risen to double-digits.

“Given the opportunity to try a new approach, President Obama has instead proposed more of the same ‘stimulus’ spending paid for by borrowing from our children and grandchildren.

“It’s time for Washington to learn the hard lesson that families already know: growing debt only cripples freedom and spending more money than you have is no plan for prosperity. Only Republicans have provided a fiscally responsible blueprint for helping families and small businesses weather this economic crisis and get back up on their feet.

“Thank you for listening.”

Desperate Democrat Sinks to New Low

2009-12-08T19:24:00.000-08:00

Letter from Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele

With a shocking speech on the U.S. Senate floor, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid showed just how desperate and divorced from reality the Democrats have become in their unrelenting quest to impose socialism on America's health care.

In bemoaning Republican senators' opposition to the unprecedented Obama Democrat scheme to seize a fifth of our economy, impose hundreds of billions of dollars in taxes and trillions in new debt on our nation, and put Washington bureaucrats between Americans and their doctors, Reid has gone way too far, and I quote:

"Instead of joining us on the right side of history, all the Republicans can come up with is, 'slow down, stop everything, let's start over.' If you think you've heard these same excuses before, you're right. When this country belatedly recognized the wrongs of slavery, there were those who dug in their heels and said 'slow down, it's too early, things aren't bad enough.'"
"When women spoke up for the right to speak up, they wanted to vote, some insisted they simply, slow down, there will be a better day to do that, today isn't quite right."
"When this body was on the verge of guaranteeing equal civil rights to everyone regardless of the color of their skin, some senators resorted to the same filibuster threats that we hear today."

If Harry Reid cared more about real health care reform needs -- like ending his trial lawyer allies' massive fraudulent litigation costs -- than forcing his party's socialist pipe dream upon an unwilling American people, he might be tempted to apologize for his shameless, and false, accusations.

Don't hold your breath.

I'm not surprised that Harry Reid has resorted to such a laughably desperate attack on our Republican senators and the truth.

The Obama Democrats will go to any length to attain their leftist goal of controlling every facet of American life. He knows that the American people don't want to surrender their health care freedoms to Big Government.

Republican senators are on the side of the American people, who adamantly oppose the Obama Democrats' health care takeover -- and with your help, history will prove it.

You and the RNC are all that stand between our sensible Republican plan for real health care reform and the Democrats' scheme to take more of your hard-earned income to pay for two new unsustainable entitlements while making the quality of your health care worse.

You can let Harry Reid know what you think of his poor understanding of history -- and his socialist health care takeover -- by sending him a personalized e-postcard here.

Rally: Don't Let the Feds Bankrupt Our State!

2009-12-07T21:37:00.000-08:00

By now it's certain you've heard about the near trillion dollar health care bill being debated in the Senate. But you may not have heard that Governor Beebe believes the bill will also bust our state budget wide open--to the tune of $205 million!!!

In an effort to educate the public about this under-reported concern by the highest ranking elected Democrat in the state of Arkansas, Tea Parties across the state have banned together and teamed up with Americans for Prosperity to sponsor the 12-12 @ 12:00 rally this Saturday at 12:00 noon.

The focus for Saturday will be to call Arkansas' elected officials' attention to this budget busting bill so they will stand against it and assert Arkansans' interests in this matter.

Nationally syndicated columnist Michelle Malkin will be the keynote speaker, but numerous Arkansas legislators and several Republican candidates for US Senate will be addressing the crowd as well. Several candidates for US Congress will also be present and available to answer questions. This will be an event you won't want to miss if you hope to stop this Obamacare atrocity!

And if you're worried about the weather, don't be. The event will be held inside at the Little Rock Doubletree Hotel Ballroom. It's scheduled to last for an hour and a half. The first 1000 to arrive will be admitted to hear the speakers.

Where	Little Rock Doubletree Hotel 424 W. MARKHAM AND BROADWAY LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS
When	12:00-1:30 pm Saturday, December 12, 2009

Speakers

Todd Sharp
Dr. Carlos Ramon
Jeannie Burlsworth, Chairman of Secure Arkansas
Teresa Oelke, Representative for Americans for Prosperity
Michelle Malkin
State Senator Gilbert Baker
State Senator Kim Hendren
State Representative Mark Martin
State Representative Ed Garner
State Representative Dan Greenburg
State Representative Allen Kerr
Tachaney Evans, Independent Candidate for State Senate, District 4
Curtis Coleman
Col. Conrad Reynolds
Tom Cox
Fred Ramey
Buddy Rodgers
Trevor Drown, Independent

RPA Straw Poll Results

2009-12-06T20:02:00.000-08:00

Prior to this year, most folks would never have guessed there were so many Republicans in Arkansas. The Republican Party of Arkansas' Winter Leadership Summit was held Saturday at the Arlington Hotel Ball Room in Hot Springs. With the capacity to seat 800, it was a standing room only crowd.

The main event was certainly the Straw Poll for the seven announced candidates who hope to defeat incumbent Democratic Senator Blanche Lincoln in 2010. Each of the seven candidates were given approximately seven and a half minutes to address the crowd and then attendees were allowed to vote for their choice to represent the Republican Party in next year's general election.

RPA Chairman Doyle Webb addressed attendees prior to the candidates' speeches and encouraged them to agree on a common goal of defeating Lincoln next year. And while a GOP candidate wouldn't be chosen until the primary next May, Webb hoped everyone would seek to choose the candidate most capable of accomplishing that mission in November 2010. He reminded the crowd, "Any Republican will be a better Senator than one who calls her fellow citizens un-American for expressing their constitutional rights."

All seven announced 2010 candidates for Lincoln's seat participated and their speeches can be heard in the videos below. The top three finishers in the straw poll were:

State Senator Gilbert Baker with 35% of the vote.
Curtis Coleman with 33% of the vote.
Colonel Conrad Reynolds with 23% of the vote.

Please vote in the poll below for your favorite of the candidates.

Tonight's Coleman Fundraiser in Cabot Canceled

2009-11-30T15:38:00.001-08:00

Curtis Coleman has canceled tonight's scheduled fundraiser in Cabot at Crossroads Cafe. His campaign issued the following statement and promised to reschedule at a later date.

We regret to inform you that the meet-and-greet fundraiser for Curtis Coleman tonight at the Crossroads Cafe in Cabot has been rescheduled to a future date to be determined. There was a misunderstanding with the venue, but the rescheduled event will be at the same location.

We apologize for any inconvenience this is to you, and hope that you'll continue with us in our fight to unseat Blanche Lincoln next year.

The campaign has scheduled a fundraiser in Little Rock at Larry's Pizza tomorrow night from 6:00-8:00 pm. Tickets are $25 per person and more information can be found here.

Coleman for Senate Fundraiser in Cabot

2009-11-25T08:43:00.001-08:00

*This post does not constitute an endorsement of any candidate by LCRC. The Committee will be happy to announce events for ANY Republican candidate on this blog in an effort to keep the electorate informed.

On Monday, November 30, Republican US Senate candidate Curtis Coleman will hold a fundraiser in Cabot. Tickets are $25 per person.

Event: Lonoke County Arkansas Coleman for Senate Dinner
What: Fundraiser
Start Time: Monday, November 30 at 6:00pm
End Time: Monday, November 30 at 8:00pm
Where: Crossroads Cafe
3472 Hwy 89 South
Cabot, AR 72023
(501)843-0297

Curtis Coleman is running for the Republican nomination to challenge Democratic Senator Blanche Lincoln (who just voted to move forward with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's version of a government takeover of the US health care system) in 2010.

Download an invitation

RPA Winter Republican Leadership Summit

2009-11-23T11:12:00.000-08:00

The Republican Party of Arkansas has announced its Winter Republican Leadership Summit will be held December 5th at the Arlington Hotel in Hot Springs. The all day events will include the state committee meeting and grassroots training sessions, but the main event is likely to be the Iowa-style Straw Poll for the Party's candidates to replace US Senator Blanche Lincoln in 2010.

Tickets to the event are $15 per person, but will only be sold in blocks of 10. Anyone can purchase a ticket to attend the events at the summit, but only guests with a current Arkansas driver’s license, a current Arkansas College/University ID, or a current voter registration card, and must be at least 18 years old by November 3rd 2010 will be allowed to vote in the straw poll.

Curtis Coleman is actively seeking your vote in the Straw Poll via Facebook. If you can be a delegate or a delegate captain for Coleman, he asks that you please contact Brandon Scaife at BRANDON.SCAIFE@CURTISCOLEMAN.COM as soon as possible.

Arkansas State Senator Gilbert Baker posted a request for support in the Straw Poll on his Facebook wall and Fred Ramey informed us via Facebook he will also be participating.

Colonel Conrad Reynolds is encouraging his Republican supporters to turn out also. “I look forward to seeing all Republican Senate candidates in Hot Springs and the opportunity to speak to thousands of Arkansans about how we can restore our voice in Washington,” said Reynolds in a September 29 press release.

State Senator Kim Hendren is looking forward to the straw poll as well. "I would like to join the other candidates in asking for folks' to turn out and cast their vote. It should be a good learning experience for all of us," he said in response to our query via his website.

Buddy Rogers told us, "I am participating in the December 5 straw poll to be held in Hot Springs. I encourage my supporters to attend. I will not be buying more than the required number of tickets the event because I can better judge my actual support relying on those supporters who are willing to buy their own tickets from their county committees rather than manufacturing 'support' by buying it. Although I don't expect to win the straw poll, a strong showing will be immensely encouraging."

When asked if he'll be participating, founder of Arkansas Tea Party, Inc. Tom Cox said "Yes. We're looking forward to it." Cox also announced he'll be happy to provide tickets for his supporters who contact his campaign and request them.

With a crowded field of 7 announced Republican candidates already in the race, this a great opportunity to get a feel for where each stands and make your voice heard on who will be the Republican nominee to face Blanche Lincoln in 2010.

Since tickets will only be sold in blocks of 10, please complete the form below if you're interested in attending. We'll contact you to collect for your tickets once we have a group of 10 who desire to attend. We'll then make arrangements to collect payment for your tickets, we'll purchase the tickets, then get them delivered to you. Since tickets are only sold in blocks of 10, we'll need to collect payment in advance and assign groups on a first come, first served basis.

LCRC has not endorsed a candidate in the 2010 race for US Senate and purchasing your ticket through LCRC in no way obligates you to vote for a particular candidate, or in a bloc with others in your group. We are providing this service as a means to make it easier for you to participate in the conference and straw poll, not to solicit support for any particular candidate.

Senate Votes for Gov't-Run Health Care Today!

2009-11-21T08:26:00.000-08:00

Today is the day everyone!

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has scheduled a vote tonight at 8:00 pm EST on cloture for his version of Obamacare--a government-run health care system in America. Released late Thursday, only 2 days ago, he's already demanding a vote that will ultimately determine whether this bill passes and we're stuck with professional bureaucrats deciding who gets what medical care and when!

Less than 72 hours for Republican Senators and the American public to scour the 2,074 pages in an effort to discover just what chains Senate Democrats seek to bind us with!

With 60 votes tonight, debate on the bill will be limited to 30 more hours and our hope for a successful filibuster will be avoided. This little trick will also enable Senators like Lincoln and Pryor an opportunity to vote for the bill now and against the bill's passage when 60 votes are no longer needed.

They're betting that ordinary folks don't understand the process and they'll be rewarded for voting against the bill's final passage, after they created that loophole for themselves. Pryor and Lincoln believe we're illiterate idiots who will robotically pull the lever for the incumbent when they're up for reelection!

Please call Senator Lincoln and Pryor today and tell them we know what they're up to--AND WE'RE NOT FOOLED!

Let them know a vote for cloture today will guarantee they're ouster when they're up for reelection...2010 for Lincoln, and 2014 for Pryor.

Please don't sit back and assume everyone else will stop this. Grab your phone, get to your keyboard, and let Lincoln and Pryor know they work for us!

Lincoln, Blanche L. - (D - AR) Class III
355 DIRKSEN SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-4843
Web Form: lincoln.senate.gov/contact/email.cfm

Pryor, Mark L. - (D - AR) Class II
255 DIRKSEN SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-2353
Web Form: pryor.senate.gov/contact/

Please let them know YOU will work to replace them if they vote FOR cloture today!

Here's a sample email you can copy and paste into the Senators' web forms:

Senator Lincoln,

I know (and am informing everyone else I know) that if you vote for cloture tonight, you're giving yourself political cover to vote against this bill when it comes up for final passage.

These types of shenanigans and shell games will no longer work on the American people. We have awakened, we are educating ourselves, and we are beginning to understand how the game in DC is played.

Therefore, if you vote with Reid tonight, I will devote every ounce of available energy to your defeat in 2010.

Please vote with the people of Arkansas tonight, and against Reid's 2,074 page bill.

Thanks,

[Your Name Here]

Senator Pryor,

I know (and am informing everyone else I know) that if you vote for cloture tonight, you're giving yourself political cover to vote against this bill when it comes up for final passage.

These types of shenanigans and shell games will no longer work on the American people. We have awakened, we are educating ourselves, and we are beginning to understand how the game in DC is played.

Therefore, if you vote with Reid tonight, I will devote every ounce of available energy to your defeat in 2014.

Please vote with the people of Arkansas tonight, and against Reid's 2,074 page bill.

Thanks,

[Your Name Here]

Health Care Protest atSenator Lincoln's Office Tonight!

2009-11-20T04:21:00.000-08:00

Tonight the Pulaski County Tea Party will be holding a candlelight vigil outside Senator Lincoln's office in Little Rock.

Time: November 20, 2009 from 6pm to 7:30pm
Location: Senator Lincoln's Little Rock office
Organized By: Pulaski County Tea Party

Event Description:
The Pulaski County Tea Party is holding a candlelight vigil on Friday, November 20th from 6:00 to 7:30 pm at Senator Lincoln's office in Little Rock. Please join us in sending Senator Lincoln a message to vote "no" in the upcoming healthcare vote on Saturday. Arkansas has the power to kill the healthcare reform bill in the Senate if Senator Lincoln follows the will of the people. Candles and hot cocoa will be provided. Senator Lincoln's office is at 912 West Fourth Street in Little Rock.

The Senate plans to vote on this monumental government takeover of the health care system on Saturday, hoping to catch the American people off guard as the US House did when it voted on its companion bill, HR 3962.

Please make plans to ensure Senator Lincoln knows you oppose this legislation tonight!

Dick Morris to Speak Against Obamacare in Arkansas

2009-11-15T17:57:00.000-08:00

Our friends and allies need our help. And we need theirs. This week we have a golden opportunity to join forces with conservatives across Arkansas in standing against the Democrats' intended takeover of our health care system.

Throughout the spring and summer we've seen conservative Americans stand up and stand against the status quo. The Tea Parties and town hall meetings have worked to turn back the tide of radical policy changes pushed through Congress by our Democratic opponents in the wake of last years' elections.

These protests disproved President Obama's hypothesis that his victory, and the accompanying takeover of the US Congress by his party, embodied a mandate for the Socialization of the American economy. Following each unpopular action by the Obama-Reid-Pelosi axis, the crowds increased and their voices grew louder.

Still the Democrats charge ahead with their anti-American agenda.

Last week the US House, with Speaker Nancy Pelosi manning the reins, passed the gargantuan 1,990 page, latest House version of Obamacare--the Democrats' plan for a government takeover of the US health care system. Complete with hundreds of billions in cuts to medicare and hundreds of billions in new taxes, this new bill promises to make the finest health care system in the world less efficient and more expensive for the vast majority of Americans who already have health insurance.

Still, knowing the American people don't want government in charge of the health care system, Democrats in Congress continue to press ahead.

Fortunately, our friends with the Arkansas Tea Party have teamed up with Americans for Prosperity's "Hands of Our Healthcare" bus tour to bring Dick Morris to Little Rock to help build support to stop this unparalleled seizure of private citizens' rights by our government. For those who don't know, Morris is a former adviser to President Bill Clinton who has remained steadfast in his opposition to Obama's plans for Socializing our health care system.

Here is Morris' schedule for stops in Arkansas on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, November 19-21.

Thursday, November 19th

*12:00 noon, Little Rock, State Capitol, 1 Capitol Avenue
Speakers: Dick Morris, Jim Martin Pres. Of 60 Plus Assoc.
Dr. Kathy Chenault, Teresa Oelke

*2:00 -3:00pm Conway, Simon Park, Front Street, Downtown Conway
Speakers: Dick Morris, Jim Martin Pres. Of 60 Plus Assoc. ,Shawn Danko, Teresa Oelke

*4:30 -5:30pm Hot Springs Village, Balboa Pavilion, 480 Ponce De Leon Dr
Speakers: Dick Morris, Jim Martin Pres. of 60 Plus Assoc., Shawn Danko, Teresa Oelke

Friday, November 20th

*8:30am Heber Springs, (Cleburne County) Stone Courthouse Square, 107 W. Main
Speakers: Jim Martin, Pres. of 60 Plus Assoc., Dr. Kathy Chenault, Shawn Danko, Teresa Oelke

*10:30am Batesville, Riverside Park, 1850 Chaney Dr
Speakers: Jim Martin, Pres. of 60 Plus Assoc., Dr. Kathy Chenault, Shawn Danko, Teresa Oelke

*1:30pm Stone Co, Boone County Court House, 100 N. Main
Speakers: Jim Martin, Pres. of 60 Plus Assoc., Dr. Kathy Chenault, Shawn Danko, Teresa Oelke

*4:30pm Harrison, Boone County Courthouse, 100 N. Main Street
Speakers: Jim Martin, Pres. of 60 Plus Assoc., Dr. Kathy Chenault, Shawn Danko, Teresa Oelke

Saturday, November 21st

* 10:00am Rogers
Office Building west of Embassy Suites in Rogers, , 3333 Pinnacle Hills Park,
Speakers: Mayor Steve Womack, Jim Martin, Pres. of 60 Plus Assoc Teresa Oelke

Please take this opportunity to support our allies in this key fight for our conservative principles and join us at one or more of these rallies against Obamacare.

Thank you...

2009-11-11T04:53:00.001-08:00

...to all those who've worn the uniform of the US military services!

Today is veterans day. And although we should be thankful every day for those who serve so that we may be free, this is the day set aside to make certain ALL veterans--those who served four years or thirty plus, those who served in times of peace or times of war, those who came home and those we lost, all those who served in every branch--know they're appreciated and their sacrifice isn't forgotten.

Their reasons for serving are as varied as their backgrounds. They come from every corner of the country--from Los Angeles to New York, from Seattle to Miami, and from all points in between. From all walks of life, they step up to serve--sons and daughters of the poor, the rich, and every step in between. Many come from a long line of veterans and others are the first in their family to answer the call. Some join to get away from something, others join to be a part of something. They are sons, daughters, mothers, and fathers who leave behind everything they know to serve with complete strangers for the benefit of every citizen of these United States of America.

So I ask you this day to thank God for everything you have--your possessions, your family, and your freedom.

Then thank a veteran.

LCRC would like to say a hearty thank you to all veterans! May God bless you and keep you where ever you are.

Flip Flop Blanche Lincoln

2009-11-10T17:18:00.000-08:00

Hat Tip: ARRA News Service

Call and email Blanche Lincoln to tell her she represents us. Not the Democratic Party bosses in Washington, DC!

Contact Senator Lincoln and tell her Arkansans don't want Obamacare!

Email Senator Lincoln

Washington, DC

Phone: 202-224-4843

Little Rock, AR

Phone: 501-375-2993

Where is Marion Berry?

2009-11-07T07:24:00.000-08:00

from Boot Berry!

And why is his office not taking calls from concerned constituents today?

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) has scheduled a vote for 6:00 pm EST today! Not just any vote, but a vote on her 1,990 page "Government Takeover of the US Health Care System" bill, HR 3962. That's right. The bill that...

Permits federal taxpayer funding of abortion services, above and beyond the status quo of current law.
Provides for a "health care czar" called the Health Choices Commissioner, who could forcibly enroll individuals in government-run insurance and whose tasks include requiring random compliance audits on Americans' health benefits plans.
Allows for "community organizations" like ACORN and Planned Parenthood to assist the Health Choices Commissioner in enrolling individuals in the Health Insurance Exchange.
Encourages identity fraud for illegal immigrants seeking to gain taxpayer-subsidized health benefits through inadequate citizenship and legal status verification standards. Page 255, Section 345 of H.R. 3962 includes language requiring verification of income for individuals wishing to receive federal health care subsidies, and while the bill currently does include a requirement for applicants to verify their citizenship, it does not include a similar requirement to verify that person's identity, a key component of effective verification.
Provides for 13 new and different tax increases, including an employer mandate excise tax.
"Grandfathers" out of existence individual health insurance coverage.
Retains the "death panels" by providing for bureaucrats working for a new comparative effectiveness institute funded by a tax on health benefits. The institute could publish the protocols needed to deny patients access to life-saving treatments on cost grounds.
Contains NO ban on federal promotion of assisted suicide and/or health care rationing of treatments.
Facilitates leftist, social engineering policies such as rewriting current tax law to allow domestic partners to be treated as "spouses."
Retains both the individual and employer mandates to purchase health insurance or else face a financial penalty, and compliance to this mandate will be enforced by the IRS.
Imposes a 2.5% tax on an individual's modified adjusted gross income if they fail to purchase "acceptable" health care coverage.
Imposes a surtax, starting in 2011, on "high"-income people - that is, couples with adjusted gross income over $1 million and individuals over $500,000.
Fails to hold Members of Congress to the same health care system requirements that Americans will have to live by under the public health insurance option.
Prohibits states from using tort reform to reduce health care costs.
Mandates that all health insurance companies accept all applicants, that they cannot deny anyone for pre-existing conditions, and that they cannot increase the monthly premiums for less healthy, more costly consumers.
Accommodates "whistleblower" provisions for trial lawyers to bring suit against employers.
Slashes Medicare payments to providers by more than $400 billion.
Creates dozens of new bureaucracies (111 to be exact) including the Health Benefits Advisory Committee and the Health Choices Administration.
Encourages people to drop their insurance in favor of the public option as it provides for underpaying medical providers, who will in turn jack up their rates for those patients who have private insurance, driving more people to the cheaper, government plan.
Authorizes Medicare to pay doctors for providing advice to patients on end-of-life care.
Grants the authority to negotiate drug prices for Medicare beneficiaries to the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
Considers individuals to be treated as "children" up to the age of 26 for the purpose of remaining on their parents' insurance plan.
Imposes an excise tax on medical devices.
Cuts $170 billion from the Medicare Advantage program.
Institutes $729.5 billion in job-killing tax increases on all Americans, fines those who can't afford to purchase government-forced insurance, and cripples businesses by taxing health benefits.

And calls to Marion Berry's DC office [(202) 225-4076] are routed to a full voice mail box! His Jonesboro phone [(870) 972-4600]is answered by a machine that not only explains they're closed, but that they're gone for a 3 day weekend to celebrate Columbus Day! The number [(501) 843-3043] for his Cabot office is also off for a 3 day weekend! The message on his Mountain Home office phone [(870) 425-3510] informs callers it will be closed from November 9 until November 18.

Not one person is available to hear from you, me, us, or any one of his constituents concerned with his position on a bill that will not only affect us all, but our descendants for generations as well. And he's not available. His taxpayer funded staff is off for a 3 day weekend!

Is he there? Will he vote yea, nay, or present? Who knows?

You can still email him, but who knows if he'll listen. We get nothing more than a canned response to every question we've asked over the past several months.

Is this what you expect of your Representative? If not, if you expect your Representative to make himself available and to be more responsive to constituent concerns, then help us Boot Berry next year!

In the meantime, let him know how you feel when he and his staff decide to pick up the phones.

Washington, DC Office--(202) 225-4076

Jonesboro, AR Office--(870) 972-4600

Cabot, AR Office--(501) 843-3043

Mountain Home, AR Office--(870) 425-3510

Health Care Town Halls with John Stossel

2009-10-26T16:53:00.000-07:00

Thursday, October 29 will be an extraordinary opportunity for conservative Arkansans to voice their concerns over the monstrosity of a health care bill being constructed by Democrats in Washington behind closed doors. Americans for Prosperity is bringing John Stossel to Arkansas to conduct three town hall meetings on President Obama's government takeover of our health care system.

Stossel was, until recently, a lonely conservative voice on ABC where he co-anchored the popular news show 20-20. Last month, the conservative correspondent decided to leave the biased network to join Fox News.

On Thursday, Stossel will put in a full day as he travels across Arkansas from the southwest corner to the northeast. The events begin at 7:00 am in Texarkana and end with a 5:00 pm town hall in Jonesboro.

With conservatives being completely excluded from the writing of this bill that is now said to include the increasingly unpopular "public option" and our own representatives sending mixed signals on where they stand, a strong show of conservative angst is critical at this juncture.

Here's the schedule for Thursday. Please do everything you can to attend at least one of these events to help us get the message out.

October 29 – 7:00 – 8:00 a.m.
Texarkana Fair Grounds
Fine Arts Building
3700 E. 50th Street
Texarkana, AR
October 29 – 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Statehouse Convention Center
Lower Level
7 Statehouse Plaza
Near Intersection of Main & Markham)
Little Rock, AR
October 29 – 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Health Care Forum
Statehouse Convention Center
Hilton Garden Inn, Ballroom
2840 South Caraway
Jonesboro, AR

LCRC October Meeting Report

2009-10-15T20:51:00.000-07:00

LCRC held its September meeting on Monday, October 12. Though the weather didn't really encourage folks to leave the house, we still had a pretty good turnout.

Recent events make the importance of our mission even more obvious as congressional Democrats demonstrate they're perfectly willing to run roughshod over the Constitution to ram President Obama's agenda down our throats. Ignoring the will of the people evidenced by the success of the Tea Parties and 912 movements, Senate Democrats (including our own Blanche Lincoln) passed the latest version of the President's government takeover of the nation's health care system.

Now is the time to get involved, and help turn the tide of Socialism pushed by Democrats in DC!

As the 2010 elections approach, our committee is drawing a lot of Republican candidates as speakers so these meetings are a great way to get to know those running for office next year. Over the past several months we've heard from candidates for local, state, and federal office. This month Mark Darr and Colonel Conrad Reynolds addressed our group. Darr is running for Lieutenant Governor next year and Col. Reynolds is vying for the US Senate seat currently held by Lincoln.

Darr is a graduate of Mansfield High School and Ouachita Baptist University. He currently owns his own business, operating Larry's Pizza franchises. He owned his own insurance agency before entering the restaurant business and believes his experience as a business owner provides an excellent background to be a great Lieutenant Governor. Darr and his wife currently reside in Springdale where she is an elementary school teacher.

In his address to the Committee, Darr explained that he chose to run for office because he's "enjoying life, but not enjoying the status quo." He believes Arkansas currently creates an environment that's not business friendly, costing Arkansans jobs and opportunities. With Democrats holding every statewide elected office, he believes we need people in these positions to stand against DC Democrats' efforts to make it even harder for small business owners to create jobs. As it stands now, Arkansas state government is little more than a rubber stamp for the Obama-Pelosi-Reid agenda.

Darr opposes the Arkansas Lottery and considers it a tax on the poor. He believes our state and country need more business owners and veterans running for office and fewer professional politicians. If elected, he plans to push for the creation of a website that tracks where every dollar from the state treasury is spent in an effort to guarantee accountability and responsibility in state government.

Colonel Reynolds graduated from Batesville High School in 1978, but it was the last in a long line of schools he attended in his educational career. His father was an Arkansas State Policeman so the family moved around the state quite a bit during the Colonel's childhood. After high school, he enrolled at the University of Central Arkansas.

His service to the country began when he enlisted in the Army Reserves while still a college student at UCA. He was compelled to enlist by the Iran Hostage Crisis and a feeling that he "had to do something." After receiving his Bachelor's of Science degree from UCA in 1982, he received his commission as a 2nd Lieutenant on active duty. He devoted the next 26 years of his life to the United States Army, working the vast majority of that time in the intelligence field and retiring last January.

Reynolds believes his experience as an intelligence officer in the Army will serve him and Arkansas well in the United States Senate. He pointed out that only 23% of the current members of the US Congress have any military experience, let alone 26 years as an intelligence officer. The leadership and managerial skills developed under difficult circumstances, and often in very fragile situations, provide him an insight that's increasingly scarce in the halls of Congress.

Colonel Reynolds recognizes his military career also provides him with a unique tie to Arkansas veterans. He understands the difficulties faced by today's active duty soldiers, sailors, Marines, and airmen, those faced by deploying reserve and National Guard troops, and veterans who've separated from the service. Reynolds hopes these ties will motivate Arkansas' 270,000 veterans to support his bid for the US Senate, and believes their support will propel him to victory in the Republican primary.

Reynolds claims another strength that none of the other contenders have is his lack of political ties. He stated "not one dime" he's collected for his campaign has come from a political action committee. "I don't owe anything [political favors] to anybody," he said. He believes this isn't the time for more professional politicians in the US Senate.

He also makes the case that he has no skeletons hiding in his closet, nothing for Lincoln to exploit in the general election next year. Reynolds still holds a Top Secret security clearance and his last polygraph was administered by the CIA. In other words, he has no "soft spots" for Democrats to attack. This is a strength rarely ever enjoyed by a prospective politician, and one that may help him greatly in this campaign.

You can visit the websites of Mark Darr and Colonel Conrad Reynolds to learn more about them and their plans to serve our state and country.

Join us next month on November 9 at Grandpa's BBQ in Cabot and help Lonoke County be instrumental in taking our country back in 2010!

*As always, the Lonoke County Republican Committee doesn't endorse any candidate until after the Arkansas Republican primary election. This report is offered only for informational purposes and should not be considered an endorsement for any candidate.

Health Care Action Alert!

2009-10-13T04:47:00.000-07:00

The time is now to let your voice be heard on President Obama's proposed government takeover of the US health care system! The Senate Finance Committee will vote TODAY on Sen. Max Baucus' (D-MT) completely partisan bill!

Chairman Baucus wrote the outline without input from any Republicans on the Committee and Republican amendments put forth during the bill's markup have been repeatedly voted down by Committee Democrats! This bill is completely written from the Democrats' perspective! It's time we let OUR Senators know they represent US and we don't want this bill to pass!

Everyone is needed, Please CALL, fax a letter to our Senator’s district offices today. Can you take a moment now to write a note and mail or fax in?

Also, would you please ask your friends to do the same? Just a simple statement or note asking our Senators to vote NO on Cloture, NO on rules changes to cram a bill through, and NO on the individual mandate which is another first step to the public option.

Their office information follows - email does not work especially with Sen. Pryor. PLEASE CALL or FAX:

Senator Lincoln, Little Rock Office
912 West Fourth Street
Little Rock , AR 72201
Phone: (501) 375-2993 or toll free 1-800-352-9364
Fax: (501) 375-7064

Senator Pryor, Little Rock Office
The River Market
500 Clinton Ave
Suite 401
Little Rock , AR 72201
Phone: (501) 324-6336
Fax: (501) 324-5320

Moderator:	What's the biggest problem currently facing our country?
Crawford:	Certainly we all talk about the deficit, debt.
	But one of the things being...I think is being overlooked is the unfunded liabilities that exist. That's the compounding of the debt and the deficit and all those programs that we have implemented but have not funded. And so as I mentioned in my opening comments, fifty-six and a half trillion dollars in unfunded liabilities. So how do we move forward? Well, Congress enacts a brand new entitlement program that we cannot pay for. And so we continue to spend your money. And I would tell you they're spending money like drunk sailors, but drunk sailors spend their own money. They're spending your money! And so what we need to do is call on that political class and reel in that spending. As I said before, we've got to put a stop to it. We've got to dig ourselves out of the hole. And we've got to make sure we never fall back in the hole again. So I'm a proponent of a balanced budget amendment. And...I'm a constitutional conservative, but I think we need to amend the constitution to force Congress to act fiscally prudent.
Smith:	Without a doubt the biggest issue is...uh...is the economy.
	It's spending is out of control and we hear everyone saying over and over again...uh...I want to cite a few examples and I don't think there will be too many fans of these big pieces of over reaching legislation that have passed. One. People are talking about the financial regulatory reform bill that's going to put permanent bailouts for Wall Street. Before that, we did TARP. And right after that we did the bailout in...uh...or excuse me the...uh...stimulus bill in 2009. All of these pieces of overreaching legislation do nothing for small business owners. And people always say "Why are Republicans always thinking about small business owners." Well, I for one, I believe as a legislator I should promote bills that favor people who create jobs. I'm the proponent of putting money back into the hands of the American people and letting them spend it, letting the free market run its course. And so it's not that I'm about...in favor of the rich man or, or the big business guy. But it's what are we doing to actually create jobs? That is number one, the biggest problem and then every other piece of the legislation and issues falls under that category, in time.

Moderator:	I think I'm going to make an assumption about the
	answer to the question, and so my question is two-fold. Number one, do you think the federal government is too big and if so, can you name one or more programs that you would propose eliminating if you're elected to Congress?
Crawford:	Answer to your first question, yes government's too big.
	We need to shrink the size of government and expand the free market and create jobs in the context of the free market. What can we do to cut costs? There are a lot of things we can look at. But the first thing I want to look at is an issue that affects us all today, right here in the first district of Arkansas. It's not an abstract concept, it's something that's going to run your...uh...budget up and cost you more dollars as...as early as eighteen months from today. And that is FEMA's expansion of the flood zone--the remapping of the flood zone in the first district of Arkansas to include 19 of the 26 counties. Nineteen of our twenty-six counties are going to be forced to buy flood insurance from FEMA. This is a gross over reach of the federal government. And what that's going to do is cost homeowners more money. It's going to cost businesses more money. And we're going to start to see housing starts fall. We're going to see the construction industry suffer. And we're going to start to see businesses move from Arkansas as a result. We can work on that issue on day one.
Smith:	The federal government is too big,
	and one example of that was the health care bill that just passed. Now, I know it just passed but one of us is going to Congress and we're going to have to vote on whether or not to fund a lot of these things that they passed. So that's one area. Another one is that there are too many agencies that have too much power over regulating...a lot of red tape. There's a lot of bureaucracy. I think currently there's about 16 agencies that regulate food for example. That's another example. Particularly, and more dear to my heart is education. I think the federal government has entirely too much power over...over the Department of Education...uh...over the state levels of education. I think that we spend too much money. We chunk it down the drain. In particularly in the Northeast Arkansas, particularly in the Delta, our schools are failing and we've seen over and over again that money is not the answer to this. I will definitely cut in those areas.

Moderator:	Do you think that there should be some cuts made there,
	in agriculture, at the federal level?
Crawford:	Let me give you a little background on the most
	recent address to the United States Department of Agriculture budget. The Obama administration at the beginning of the year put forth a budget that called for a 50% cut in the Adjusted Gross Income for farmers, 25% cut in the direct payment limitations, at the same time expanding the USDA budget by 10%. So what are we doing? We're taking money out of the hands of producers and putting it into the hands of non-producers by expanding an entitlement program. And that hurts our farmers' ability to produce food and fiber. We have the cheapest, safest, most abundant food supply in the world because we support agriculture. But I can make the argument that the...uh...that supporting our farmers is in our national security interest. We're already a net oil importer. We deal with countries that...uh...that don't like us very much. The minute we become a net food importer, we have conceded our national security to folks who don't like us very much. And so I would also like to add that we need to open up the Cuban markets so that we can get our rice farmers selling more rice.
Smith:	No. We shouldn't make those cuts.
	There's a lot of things we can cut before we make cuts to farmers. I'm a proponent of making sure our farmers can remain competitive...uh...particularly family farmers, but...uh...corporate farmers. I'm definitely a proponent of CRP programs, and I'm a proponent of expanding those. Programs that help prevent erosion, and that help us increase wildlife. All those help our farmers. [cough] [gets drink] I'm sorry, one of the things I wanted to say also...I will definitely, I haven't heard anyone else say this yet, I will definitely ask to be placed on the Agriculture Committee and I will definitely be an advocate for farmers.

Moderator:	...this year is the Employee Free
	Choice Act, also known as Card Check. It's a piece of federal legislation that's been discussed at length, particularly this last year. If you're elected to Congress, would you support or oppose this possible legislation?
Smith:	I'm opposed to the measure. I'm
	definitely a proponent of workers having a right to a secret ballot. And I believe that the unions have too much power.
Crawford:	Adamantly opposed to Card Check.
	I support the right to a secret ballot. I oppose forced unionization. It's an economy killer, it's a job killer, and we certainly can't afford that at this time.

Moderator:	How would you have voted on the health
	care legislation in Washington?
Smith:	I was adamantly opposed to the
	health care bill. I believe that we should present a bill...and this is kind of an argument that's been going on, particularly in our primary. I did sign the pledge to repeal or replace the bill but realistically we should amend the bill to add things that will actually fix the health care issue. And that's the problem with this bill. No one understood it and it didn't address the real issue. One of the things we should do first of all is make sure that we're passing a bill that is friendly to small businesses. The bill that just passed is going to force businesses to fire people, the unemployment rate is going to skyrocket, and when you're passing a bill of that magnitude that is the equivalent of something that is going to affect 1/6 of our economy, you have to do better than what we did. And what we did was just rush a big piece of legislation through that didn't address the issues and thus passed only on partisan lines. I believe we should be allowed to buy insurance across state lines. I believe in expanding high risk pools for the less than 1% of the people who are deemed uninsurable. But most of all, I believe that as a Congressman it is our job to go to Capitol Hill and put our heads together for something effective and not the bill that just passed.
Crawford:	I absolutely would not have supported or
	voted for that bill. I prefer...uh...reforming health care costs in the context of the free market. I would like to address pre-existing conditions and at the heart of that pre-existing condition argument is creditable coverage. And how do we address creditable coverage? We allow for portability of that insurance policy between employers. We know in today's economy that employees change jobs frequently. And it is almost impossible to maintain coverage, creditable coverage which is required to avoid pre-existing conditions under COBRA. That is virtually impossible for working families making forty, fifty thousand dollars a year to make the choice between maintaining their COBRA premiums or putting food on the table for their families. And so we need to address that in the context of the free market; portability for policies, competition across state lines, and uniform...uh...standardizing form claims...uh...claim forms to make the policies easier to make claims on.

Moderator:	What do you think needs to happen
	to create more bipartisanship? And maybe you can offer me a definition of what bipartisanship would be.
Smith:	Well. I like the term non-partisanship...
	uh...when you're talking about positions, when you're talking about people becoming public servants. The title of what we're trying to become is US Representative. That means I'm a representative to Congress on your behalf. It didn't say I'm a representative to Congress on behalf of the Republican Party. It didn't say that they're representatives to Congress on behalf of the Democratic Party. I am a representative to Congress on behalf of Northeast Arkansas. Particularly on Capitol Hill...and I had some time to work there...the House Rules Committee is a good example of where we can change some things. Right now the party in power...uh...controls what amendment's going to the floor. It controls what amendments are debated. And...I would say that's extremely unfair considering the fact...especially now that people are highly uncomfortable. There's a story that's often told about a young congressman running to Capitol Hill who was so excited he said, "Where's the Democrats? I want to meet the enemy." To which the senior congressmen says, "The Democrats aren't your enemy. The Senate is the enemy." And that's a joke that we told, but what's fundamentally true is that, sadly, that time in Washington, DC is passed. And the answer is just to elect new people and bring new people in with fresh ideas.
Crawford:	Why can't we all just get along?
	We've heard that before. And we've heard some common themes here. We don't all get along on every fundamental issue. But I ask you this question, "What have we heard tonight?" Jobs, the economy. We've heard about national security...maintaining national security. We've heard about putting people back to work. We've heard about protecting agriculture. We can do it. We could sit down here tonight and we could solve a lot of problems. The problem is you go to Washington and you get Potomac Fever. And so bipartisanship, non-partisanship, partisanship, he said, she said, it doesn't matter. Statesmanship is the requirement. And we've forgotten that. And so that's why I think it's...it's so important that your next representative be a citizen-legislator. Be the kind of person that does the same thing you do every day. That's go to work, work hard to make...to make your money, and take care of your family. That's where it's at.

Office		Filing Fee

Circuit Clerk		$300.00
City Clerk		$ 75.00
City Treasurer		$ 75.00
Constable		$ 10.00
County Clerk		$300.00
County Committee Member		$ 30.00
County Coroner		$150.00
County Judge		$300.00
County Surveyor		$ 25.00
County Tax Assessor		$300.00
County Tax Collector		$300.00
County Treasurer		$300.00
Justice of the Peace		$ 75.00
Lonoke City Attorney		$ 75.00
Lonoke/England Alderman		$ 75.00
Lonoke/England Mayor		$150.00
Municipal Offices		$ 75.00
Sheriff		$300.00

Event:	Lonoke County Arkansas Coleman for Senate Dinner
What:	Fundraiser
Start Time:	Monday, November 30 at 6:00pm
End Time:	Monday, November 30 at 8:00pm
Where:	Crossroads Cafe 3472 Hwy 89 South Cabot, AR 72023 (501)843-0297