House GOP’s fate tied closely to McCain
By Aaron Blake of THE HILL
11/03/08

Facing double-digit losses on Tuesday, Rep. Tom Cole (Okla.) said Monday that House Republicans will rely heavily on presidential candidate Sen. John McCain (Ariz.), adding: “We certainly won’t do well if he doesn’t.” The chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) said on MSNBC that recent polling has given the GOP some optimism, but that it needs McCain’s help. “We’re linked pretty closely to John McCain,” Cole said, according to a transcript. “He rallied a little bit last week, closing the polls in a lot of places. That’s extraordinarily helpful to us. We certainly won’t do well if he doesn’t.”

The NRCC has relied on McCain at the top of the ballot, because it hasn’t been able to spend nearly as much money on individual races as its Democratic counterpart.
The vast majority of those races are being contested in districts that went for President Bush in 2000 and 2004.

The head of the Republicans’ Senate campaign committee, Sen. John Ensign (Nev.), has been critical of the McCain campaign for its handling of economic issues and its usage of vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin.

Weekly Opinion/Editorial

STATEMANSHIP & MANNERS
by Steve Fair

(Written on Monday 11/3/08 for 11/5/08 editions)

The 2008 election cycle is over! Congratulations to the winners of yesterday’s election. Now it’s time for those elected to office to begin the job of representing “all” of us. Too often elected officials, on both sides of the aisle, forget they represent all the electorate, not just those that supported and voted for them. It’s human nature to be bitter and angry toward those who didn’t support you, but it’s wrong. In Romans 12, and many other passages, Christians are told to love their enemy. While no candidate would admit publicly their political opponent is their “enemy,” no process creates more hard feelings than the political arena.

All Christians in the country should be praying for all elected officials that won yesterday, regardless of their party affiliation. Romans 13:1 says, “ Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.” A sovereign God is in control and that should comfort, humble and challenge Christians who are involved in the political process. They should recognize it isn’t about them. Christians must be gracious in victory and defeat.

Forgiving and forgetting is a hard thing to do when you have gone through a political campaign. When your opponent has tried to “define” you as someone you’re not. When they have deliberately misrepresented your accomplishments and exaggerated their own. When your character has been attacked so effectively it has those who know you best questioning whether they really know you, it’s hard to let bygones by bygones.

Some elected officials can’t let go of what happened in the campaign. They can’t make the conversion from candidate to representative of the people, but if they want to be the best representative they can be, they have to. Once the votes have been counted, elected officials should take off the campaign hat and put on the representative hat. They should work to represent all the people. While it’s nice to be important, it’s also important to be nice.

A major reason that some elected officials can’t make the transition is the constituents who supported their opponent in a political race. These are the people who ignore the results of an election and treat the person who won the race with no respect. They attempt to undermine their work and render them ineffective. They could care less if their actions hurt the whole district the elected official represents. They are bitter because “their” candidate didn’t win. They simply endure the term of the winner until the next election. If they do have contact with the elected official, it’s to criticize or beret them. They use poor manners and are disrespectful when they talk to the elected official.

They attempt to intimidate elected officials into agreeing with their position. These people are in constant confrontational mode. They believe they can “nag” the elected official to accept their ideas and their lobbying is nothing short of out and out harassment. If these tactics were used in any other part of society, a protective order would likely be issued against them, but this is politics.

Some constituents harass the elected officials they didn’t vote for just for sport. They call them to complain in the middle of the night. They think it’s fair game and acceptable to heckle elected officials or poke fun at them at public events or forums. They try to embarrass elected officials with trick questions. They ambush elected officials with their pet issues at public forums. That behavior is inexcusable and childish and “defines” the constituent as immature and pathetic.

No matter our party affiliation, we should respect the office and recognize that any rebellion we exhibit towards an elected official is really rebellion against God- see Romans 13.

Elected officials who will not communicate with constituents who supported their opponents are being rebellious toward God as well. They are not being good stewards of their office. Elected officials and constituents who supported their opponents are often on opposite sides of an issue. If a Democrat is elected, it’s likely most Republicans are not going to agree with what the Dem will do while in office. But many times, they do agree and when they cooperate, everyone benefits. While it’s tempting to “pay back” those who didn’t support you in your election, it’s not the best strategy. Barry Goldwater said, “To disagree, one doesn't have to be disagreeable.” Some irrational people can not bring themselves to a place where they can agree to disagree.

Abraham Lincoln said, “Honest statesmanship is the wise employment of individual manners for the public good.”

REASONS TO VOTE FOR MCCAIN!

9 of 10 reasons

By Tom Welge

REASON #1 America, especially now, needs a President that will support and grow our economy. The recent weeks have made us all concerned about our personal finances and the financial strength of America in general. We need a President who will grow and repair our economy, not grow and extend our government. Free markets drive our economy, not government. John McCain understands America’s economic engine. It does not appear that his opponent does.

REASON #2 Senator McCain values liberty, not the power of government. Senator McCain has a long record of supporting and upholding personal liberty, all the way back to his military service and 5 and ½ years in a Vietnamese prison camp. He and Governor Palin are committed to reforming government and reducing its negative impact on our lives. When listening to the proposals of his opponent, one thing is clear, most of what he wants in government will come with some loss of our personal resources (taxes), our right to choose (schools, medical, etc.), or other cherished personal liberties.
When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty. - Thomas Jefferson

REASON #3 John McCain will appoint judges that strictly interpret and apply the law, not ones that attempt to make law. We all know that in the Constitution the Founding Fathers established 3 distinct branches of government. Only the legislature, the Senators and Representatives that we elect, are allowed to make laws. Judges (who are appointed, not elected) should not have the power to interpret the laws of our country in ways that allow them to “legislate from the bench”. Our next president will appoint many Federal judges, likely even one or more Supreme Court Justices. Only Senator McCain has committed to appointing judges who will strictly interpret our Constitution and the laws that our elected representatives have established.

REASON #4 The McCain-Palin campaign is the first in history to advocate for the rights of special needs children and their parents. Everyone of us likely knows a family which includes a child with special needs. It might even be your own family. Whatever the condition, it is clear that the earlier a child receives the right therapies and services, the better the outcome for this child throughout his or her life. Concerned parents everywhere search desperately for information and assistance. Unfortunately, many of these opportunities for improvement are missed because sufficient help is not available. Just this week Governor Palin unveiled the McCain-Palin plan for Special Needs Children. Their administration will increase resources for therapies and treatments, allow choice for parents in seeking services, and put a focus on the needs of these children like never before.

"And what's been confirmed in me is every child has something to contribute to the world, if we give them that chance. You know that there are the world's standards of perfection, and then there are God's, and these are the final measure. Every child is beautiful before God, and dear to Him for their own sake. And the truest measure of any society is how it treats those who are most vulnerable." – Governor Sarah Palin

REASON #5 Senator McCain fully understands the critical issues of national defense and foreign policy facing America and is prepared to deal with them from his first day in office. While we all hope for peace for ourselves and our children, the world is still a dangerous place. John McCain will support the men and women in the armed forces and ensure they have the best materials and support available. He understands what will be needed to transform our military as we deal with new threats. Knowing very well the horrors of war, he will only commit our military serivce personnel to action when absolutely necessary and with the support that will guarantee their success. Senator McCain understands how to strengthen relationships with our allies. He also knows how to send a clear message to our enemies.

With so much at stake, we can not afford to put our leadership in the hands of the inexperienced. You may recall, when Russia recently invaded the Republic of Georgia (a strong US ally), our junior Senator from Illinois, suggested action by the UN Security Council. Unfortunately, Russia has veto power over all actions of the UN Security Council................

Reason #6 America Needs John McCain: Only Senator McCain will deliver true energy independence for America. John McCain understands that in order to provide both energy independence and sufficient energy to grow our economy, we must fuel our nation from many sources. Three of the most important options are additional drilling of our own oil reserves, more nuclear energy, and clean coal technology. These are all programs which the Democratic party has either continually opposed, or in the least, sent mixed messages on through the years. We should expect no less from them if they gain control of both the Congress and the White House. We must also pursue wind, solar, tidal, natural gas, electric vehicles, and other technologies, and Senator McCain is committed to investing in these industries. "In recent days I have set before the American people an energy plan, the Lexington Project -- named for the town where Americans asserted their independence once before. And let it begin today with this commitment: In a world of hostile and unstable suppliers of oil, this nation will achieve strategic independence by 2025." John McCain, June 25, 2008

Reason #7 America Needs John McCain: Senator McCain's Tax Plan Redistributes
Opportunity, Not "Wealth". By this time, everyone knows Senator McCain's
opponent has openly called his tax plan a redistribution of wealth. An
increase-taxes-and-grows-government plan will ultimately cause severe damage to
our economy and a further loss of jobs. After a review of both plans, the
Heritage Foundation concluded that Senator McCain's Tax policies will grow our
Gross Domestic Product nearly 3 times more than that of his opponent over a 9
year period. Which plan do you think is right for America today? (I'd
encourage you to read the entire Heritage Foundation Review at
http://www.heritage.org/Research/taxes/cda08-09.cfm.)

Reason #8 America Needs John McCain: Senator McCain will reform and revitalize
our education system, not be held back by bureaucracies and unions. Senator
McCain and Governor Palin believe that we must give families the power of choice
when it comes to education. We must provide our schools all the tools they need
to succeed for the sake of all children. However, parents should be free to
change schools if the students are suffering due to a failed administration,
waste, or poor teachers. Schools should be able to compete for the best
students and the best staff. Schools (both administration and teachers) must be
held accountable for failures as well. All this means major changes, changes
that will not be easy or looked upon kindly by teachers unions (a major
contributory to the campaign of our Jr. Senator from Illinois). Only John
McCain has the independence and determination to do what needs to be done.

Reason #9 America Needs John McCain: We can not afford P.O.R. (Pelosi - Obama -
Reid) government in Washington, DC. At a time when America needs to fuel its
economy, the agenda of a Democratic controlled Congress and White House are
extremely dangerous for both our short-term recovery and our long-term growth as
a nation. Americans need to be very concerned about the liberal polices that
could be advanced and the growth in government spending, taxes, and the defecit
that will certainly occur. John McCain will stand up to Pelosi and Reid to
make sure that our governent acts wisely and responsibly.

Tom Welge is a residence of Chester, Illinois-the home of Popeye. He is a political activist and attorney. He is an executive in a food processing company.

Weekly Opinion/Editorial
REDISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH IS NOT A GOOD IDEA!
by Steve Fair

"Joe the Plumber" has come to define the 2008 Presidential campaign. Unless you have been asleep the past week, you know that Barack Obama’s conversation with Joe Warzelbacher dominated the last presidential debate and much of the political discussion the past week.

At a campaign stop, Joe asked Obama about his tax plan. Joe, who is trying to buy the small company from his employer, said it looked like Obama’s plan would tax his small plumbing business and hurt the company. Obama didn’t deny his plan would tax Joe, but told him he wanted not only Joe to prosper, but also all those standing behind him. "We need to redistribute the wealth," Obama said. When Obama used that phase, bell, whistles and alarms sounded. Was he advocating socialism or worse communism? Karl Marx, the founder of communism said, "The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles." While anyone who has been paying attention knows that most liberals are socialist in varying degrees, what Obama was really advocating was "Statism" which is state intervention in personal, social and economic matters.

Here are the problems with socialism/statism and the whole concept of redistribution of wealth.

First, redistribution of wealth rewards people with no ambition or sense of responsibility. If you plan to re-distribute the wealth to everyone, regardless of their work habits, productivity or ambition, no incentive is provided for a person to work hard or put forth any extra effort. The "American Dream" has always been to work hard, save your money, and get ahead. The chance to "get ahead" draws millions across our southern borders each year. The reason we have an illegal immigration problem in the United States is because our economic system rewards ambition and responsibility. You take that incentive away and you will have less productivity and poor morale.

Second, redistribution of wealth is not a biblical principle. Scripture calls for private ownership and private rewards. It calls for the accumulation of good things tempered with the giving from those things to help other people. Scripture calls for diligent individuals to work and be fruitful. Christians are to exercise love, mercy, and charity according to their faith towards God. We have already delegated a majority of the work of the church to government- i.e. welfare programs. As that continues, government gains more and more control of our lives and groups rights opposed to individual rights, commonly seem in an atheistic government prosper.

Some socialists use the parable of the workers in the vineyard in Matthew 20 as an example the Bible teaches socialism. I must admit this passage always seems unfair to me. Why should folks who have worked different hours be paid the same wages? We live with a very strong sense of what is "owed" to us and that is the spirit that Jesus challenges with this parable. What we should see in this parable is that we should simply serve and leave everything up to Him. He is not teaching socialism- he is teaching faith.

Third, redistribution of wealth places the power in the hands of government, not the individual. That’s what statism is. Government already has more control than it should. Decentralized economic activity at the level of individuals and private organizations in a free market produces superior economic results. If socialism, statism and communism work, then why was it that the USSR had similar class divisions as capitalist countries? Free markets work when they are allowed to function in their purest sense. Granted capitalism- in and of itself- is not a charitable system, but the most generous people in the world live in capitalist countries.

I support a fair tax http://www.fairtax.org/site/PageServerand not just because of the name. The FairTax plan is a comprehensive proposal that replaces all federal income and payroll based taxes with an integrated approach. The components include a progressive national retail sales tax, a provision that would allow the poorest among us to pay not federal tax, and the repeal of the 16th amendment. That’s the one that created the IRS. Sometimes known as a "consumption" tax, this national sales tax would be revenue neutral, meaning it would not disrupt the services government currently provides for the citizens. It’s simpler and has the support of a number of lawmakers in Congress.

Not surprisingly, Obama does not support the Fair Tax plan, but it is surprising Obama does not support the free market system. He has personally benefited from capitalism. Obama is living the American dream- from rags to riches- so why is he trying to keep others from living it? Because he’s a liberal and the liberal’s creed is to tax the rich and give the money to the less deserving. Under Obama’s plan, he will enslave a people that will look to the government for prosperity. They will look to the government for advancement. A fundamental principle that must be understood is that government produces nothing- government consumes.

Voter rolls grow across Oklahoma

BY JULIE BISBEE and PAUL MONIES
Published: October 23, 2008 in The Oklahoman

In Stephens County, the Republican Party’s annual chili cook-off seems to be paying off. Republicans in the southern Oklahoma county increased their rolls by 18 percent, or 1,393, according to preliminary voter registration information analyzed by The Oklahoman. At the same time, the number of independent voters grew, while Democrats saw a loss of about 1,218 local registered voters. Stephens is one of a handful of counties seeing an increase in the number of people who are registered as Republicans or independents.

Republican leaders say good local candidates are helping their cause. Democratic leaders say their new voter efforts have been focused on younger voters in all counties. It’s been a little more than 10 days since voter registration closed for the Nov. 4 election. County election boards are still entering new voter information, but preliminary numbers show that Oklahoma’s voter rolls are growing, said Michael Clingman, state Election Board secretary.

The state has 2,179,603 voters as of Wednesday evening. Of that number, Democrats account for 1,077,984. Republicans add 857,834 voters and there are 243,785 registered independents. Since November 2004, the state has added 35,625 voters to the rolls, figures show.
Democrats still make up about half of all registered voters, but counties that were once Democratic strongholds are seeing small changes in their party affiliation.

"We’ve had a lot of people change,” said Steve Fair, chairman of the Stephens County Republican party. "A lot of people have always been aligned with the Republican Party morally, now they’re finally changing. I haven’t seen this much excitement for a national election in Oklahoma since Ronald Reagan.”

Fair said the Republican Party in Stephens County has spent the last five years educating voters about the differences in the parties, whether it be at chili cook-offs or fish fries.
"It’s finally paying off,” he said. Read the entire story at: http://newsok.com/voter-rolls-grow-across-oklahoma/article/3314508

BATTLEGROUND POLL SHOWS

PREZ RACE A DEAD HEAT!

Oklahoman and fellow Cameron Aggie Ed Goeas(Republican) along with Celinda Lake (Democrat) conduct the Battleground Poll which has been remarkably accurate through the years. The latest results shows Obama at 44% and McCain at 42%- a statistical dead heat. The details can be viewed at http://www.tarrance.com/files/10.23-Presentation-graphics.pdf

ARE THE POLLS ACCURATE!

By Michael Barone- Wall Street Journal

Can we trust the polls this year? That's a question many people have been asking as we approach the end of this long, long presidential campaign. As a recovering pollster and continuing poll consumer, my answer is yes -- with qualifications. Read more at: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122463210033356561.html

Oliver Stone:

‘Are we alone? Are we alone?’

By Betsy Rothstein from THE HILL

Filmmaker Oliver Stone has been on the media circuit promoting “W.,” the new film starring Josh Brolin as President Bush. Stone convened a conference call Monday morning from Paris with American reporters.


Stone seemed shaky on the details of a conference call. He said he didn’t know where to begin and remarked, “I’m here on a European press tour, just started in Paris. It’s 4 in the afternoon.”
Stone declared his film more important than the upcoming presidential election: “It overshadows the election, in my opinion,” he said. “I frankly think [President Bush] is one of the greatest stories of the last 40 years, bigger than Reagan, bigger than Nixon.”

Stone was asked repeatedly about the authenticity of Brolin’s depiction of Bush, since many quotes were taken out of context. “These quotes are strung over years,” he said. “As a dramatist we have to simplify and condense and I don’t think we crossed the line of what happened in that administration. They said these things.”

After insisting that the Bush family has no desire to look inside themselves psychologically, Stone offered the Bushes a private screening of the film, saying, “If they would like to screen the film with me, I’d be most gracious. It’s very hard, I know, to see a film about yourself. Neither Freud nor Darwin meant a lot to them.”

When the interview came to a close, Stone kept asking the call’s organizer, “Are we alone?” No, hang up, he was told. “Are we alone?” he repeated. No, hang up, he was told again. We’ll call back, he was told. “OK, please do,” he said. You can read the entire story at:

http://thehill.com/in-the-know/etheridge-to-host-fundraiser-for-kucinich-2008-10-21.html