Thursday, April 16, 2009

Tea Parties are HUGE Success

Yesterday was Tax Day, but it was also Tea Party Day. Across the country, hundreds of thousands of people attended a Tea Party to protest higher taxes and higher government spending. 

Several parties were held in Iowa. Iowa City had several hundred, and The Des Moines Register is reporting 3,000 people in Des Moines

What does this mean? Some reporters, and Obama Spokesman Robert Gibbs, didn't think much of it. But they don't get it. It means that people are sick of government spending. They are sick of the government acting as an impediment to their abillity to make money to support their family or small business. In general, it means that people are sick of government not listening to them and going on their merry way doing what they want to do. A phrase on many of the flags flown throughout the country yesterday featured a phrase used during the American Revolution--"Don't Tread on Me." 

Will the Democrats in the legislature listen? Maybe. Maybe not. While I lean towards the second option, you can take a page from Obama and always hope. Word on the street yesterday is that the Federal Deductibility bill is dead. House Speaker Pat Murpy is saying he is only one vote short, so don't believe it until every legislator is safely back in their district for the year. But Culver is still pushing his bonding proposals...you know, use the credit card because we can...even though 71% of Iowans, according to a recent DMR poll, don't support that option. It isn't over yet. 

There is a reason my postings are done under the name wideawake. Because people need to stay awake to what is happening in their local, state, and national government. There are several examples of bad legislation at all levels that have been stopped, or at least brought to light, because people were paying attention. This is your government, this is you state and your country. Get involved.

Monday, April 13, 2009

Closing Time is Near

The Legislature is hoping to adjurn this week. The Des Moines Register has a story here about what bills are done and which ones are still alive. 

Republicans have had some impressive victories this session-changes in the Electoral College, labor bills (so far), Federal Deductibility (so far), etc. It isn't over yet, folks. Culver-Gronstall-et.al claim to have a deal on Federal Deductibility, Culver is still pushing on his bonding proposal, and some of those labor bills, particularly doctor shopping and changes in bargaining, are still lurking. 

If you're not on Twitter, join today. It is a great way to keep up-to-date on what is happening, especially if you are at a computer all day. The best ones, but no means the only ones, to follow are: @ReneeSchulte, @NickAWagner, @KentSorenson, @IowaGOPer, @IowaSRC, @IowaGOP, @C_Rants, @charlotte_eby. You don't realize how much information you can get through Twitter until you try it out. 

Keep our Republican legislators in your thougts and prayers as they keep up the good fight for the citizens of Iowa. 

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Couple Odds-n-Ends From the Past Few Days

WATCH YOUR WALLETS!

I'm sure a lot of you have heard the story of the "Capital Purse Snatcher". Marshall Clemons, a custodian from Cedar Rapids, was at the capitol with the SEIU lobbying for the passage of union legislation, when he was busted snatching wallets from two purses. Oops, that can't make you look good in front of all those legislators. I believe that is only one notch up from stealing candy from a baby.

Turns out that then Presidential candidate, now Vice President, Joe Biden, followed Mr. Clemons as part of a "spend a day in my shoes" program during the primaries. Iowa Republican has video for us, as well as links to other stories about written at the time. Clemons was also Vice President Biden's "special guest" at the inauguration and gave him a tour of the White House. The more days go by, the more people associated with this administration get hammered on money issues.



CULVER'S "PAY-TO-SIT" PROGRAM GETS SMACKED DOWN BY THE W.H.

Gov. Culver and the White House are going to host a health care forum in Des Moines to "hear from everyone" as they go about implementing Universal Health Care. While the forum is open to the public, attendees need a ticket to enter, which they can only get through entering a lottery. Culver's office sent out an email seeking sponsors to help pay for the event, offering them guarenteed tickets as part of the package. Well, this got out, and people rightly were concerned. The White House finally put out a press release saying that there will be no sponsorhips or fundraising. Dave Price has the info and the emails. I would think it kind of embarassing if the White House did that to me, but maybe that's just me.


2012 NEWS

Per Iowa Republican, Bob Kraus, the chair of the IDP Veteran's Caucus, is launching an exploratory committee to take on Grassley in 2012. Will anyone else step up? Guess will find out in the coming months.



Thursday, March 19, 2009

Iowan Gentry Collins Named RNC Political Director

Bean Walker has the story here.

Congrats to Gentry, and congrats to Iowa.

Gentry brings a lot of experience to the RNC, with his serving in the past as ED of the state party, Political Director for the Republican Governor's Association, leading the Iowa effort for Mitt Romney's campaign and most recently as the Midwest Regional Campaign Manager for the McCain campaign. With someone like Gentry at the RNC, Iowa should feel more comfortable about retaining our First in the Nation status.

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Stay Awake
Pay Attention
Always Vote

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

We're Back!

After a long hiatus (much longer than I thought), this blog is back! Keep checking back, we'll have more stuff up here soon.

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Stay Awake
Pay Attention
Always Vote