TIMMY!!! GOES HOLLYWOOD!

(Guest Writer: TIMMY!!!)

On Tuesday, September 23 at 7:00 pm, "The Battles of Tim Eyman" will have its movie theatre debut at the Anacortes Cinemas in northwest Washington. The trailer for this documentary by producer Paul Fraser can be viewed here: http://timeyman.info/.

Tim will attend the debut and after the movie will hold a town hall meeting at the theatre, answering questions from the audience and discussing past, current, and future initiative and political efforts. Contact info for producer Paul Fraser: (206) 372-2155, deluxentertainment@yahoo.com

Contact info for Brent Johnson, who is securing other theatre venues: (360) 840-4827, brent@newalbion.org

Contact info for Anacortes Cinemas‎: 415 O Ave, Anacortes, WA - (360) 293-7000‎ Contact info for Washington's Own Schwarzenegger (watch the trailer): tim_eyman@comcast.net, cell: (509) 991-5295

What's not to love about this? Jack, Mike, and I have been doing this political stuff for 10 years. Thanks to our hardworking and loyal supporters, we've accomplished some extraordinary things and learned a lot about what works and what doesn't. But frankly, we feel like we've only recently been hitting our stride and that our most significant, game-changing achievements are ahead of us. Working together with our thousands of supporters throughout the state and with the support of the voters, there's no limit to what we can accomplish together.

When we decided that I-985 was the best vehicle to communicate our no-new-taxes/accountability message in 2008, we knew we had a winner. But we never expected our opponents to figure that out. They're in total disarray. They've raised a whopping $7100 from 3 donors ($5000 from the Sierra Club's Seattle chapter). Their campaign manager who announced in July that he was running things quit, then a new campaign manager was brought on board who was doing such a bad job that the original campaign manager came back. Yikes! Their website (www.no985.org) is put together by a teenager working out of his mom and dad's basement in Redmond as a high school extra credit project. No doubt their on-again-off-again amateur-hour 'leadership' explains why confidence in their operation is non-existent.

Will they get their act together eventually? Probably. But every dollar they spend opposing I-985 is money down a rat hole -- I-985 is just too popular. In these tough economic times, voters will not tolerate higher taxes. They instead demand that state and local governments spend the money they're already taking from us more effectively. That's exactly what I-985 does. Opponents' alternative plans FORCE THE TAXPAYERS to pay more.

I-985 FORCES THE POLITICIANS to spend more effectively the taxes we're already paying. I-985 is a well-thought-out, professional, comprehensive transportation reform proposal; it offers immediate, cost-effective solutions with built-in accountability and oversight by Washington's most trusted elected official. And rather than raising taxes, I-985 instead funds its common sense policies with transportation-related taxes and charges that we, the citizens, are already paying.

Jack, Mike, and I are extremely grateful for the folks who have contributed to our compensation fund. We ask that you continue that support. If you like and appreciate our past, current, and future efforts on behalf of taxpayers, please send us a donation for $10, $25, $50, $100, $250, $500, $1,000 or more (there are no limits on how much can be given). Please consider a monthly pledge from now through December for our fund. We ask you to please help us help taxpayers.

You can go to our website -- http://www.VotersWantMoreChoices.com -- and make a secure PayPal or VISA or MasterCard contribution . Your voluntary contribution to our compensation fund will be divided between the three of us and compensate us for our political work. Congratulations again on getting I-985 on the ballot - we look forward to working with all of you to get it approved by voters. As for our compensation fund, we would be extremely grateful for any financial assistance you can offer. Thanks.

Best Regards,

TIMMYYY!!!

BETTER TO BE PITHY'D OFF THAN PITHY'D ON.

(Guest Writer: Space Ghost)

I read once that every person who writes a letter to the editor represents a thousand people who agree with them, but didn't take the time to write. Using that formula it appears that at least 3000 people read my article and found it of interest. That seems like enough of an imprimatur to me, so I'm sending you several more thoughts!
SG
÷÷÷÷
Living in Poverty?
Support the Democrat Party...
we’ll help keep you there!
÷÷÷÷
The Democrat Party:
Holding progress and true equality
in check for decades!
÷÷÷÷
High Taxes a Burden?
The Democrat Party has something big in store for you: More taxes!
÷÷÷÷
If conservatives are considered as right,
should liberals be considered as wrong?
÷÷÷÷
America is important enough to fight for!
÷÷÷÷
“Change” requires a firm foundation from which to work, and a clearly stated objective to work toward. Fancy words are neither.
÷÷÷÷
“Change” as a campaign slogan has no real teeth... it’s simply gumming the issue.
÷÷÷÷
Bumper Sticker:
United States - Capitalism,
Obama - Socialism,
It’s NOT time for a change!
÷÷÷÷
Women’s Right to Choose
I believe women have a right to choose. The choice is whether or not to engage in unprotected sex.
If they choose not to, and it occurs anyway, that’s called rape. The rapist does not have the right to make this choice, and laws exist for punishment of this choice.
What if the act of rape creates a fetus? It should be delivered full term and given for adoption if the mother does not choose to raise it.
And what about the argument that it was a rape in the first place - that the mother did not “choose” the pregnancy? Life is not always fair, but killing an unborn infant is way less than fair. It’s murder.
However, if women choose to engage in unprotected sex, then nothing in that decision gives them a further right to choose to take away the life of a living fetus.
In fact, what it gives them is a responsibility to take care of this living creature that their first bad choice created. And another bad choice - abortion - doesn’t fix anything. It’s simply another bad choice.
Give the child a good life. Humanity will benefit.
After all, you’re reading this because someone decided not to abort you!
÷÷÷sg

(not sure what an imprimatur is, maybe some kind of Kansas built Chopper?

anyway, keep commenting folks, and maybe I can keep this guy writing!-Dexter)

OUR VP IS MORE EXPERIENCED THAN YOUR VP

(Guest Writer: gk)

If you are interested in some background info on BP oil, how it got to where it is, & Sarah Palin's taking them on...here is an interesting article. It also makes some comparisons between Palin and Biden - shedding some light on Biden's so-called "Foreign Affairs" experience - sounds like it doesn't amount to much and is much ado about nothing - which doesn't surprise me -
I'll bet that Obama right now is kicking himself for not picking Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius, who could have nullified any advantage the McCain has gained by picking Governor Palin as his running mate. I have heard that she is almost if not, as radical a liberal as he is. Now he is stuck with Joe Biden, who is about as exciting as watching grass grow or paint dry and doesn't mean much gaining votes wise IMHO.

-gk


http://www.spectator.org/dsp_article.asp?art_id=13809

THOUGHT EXPERIMENT

(Guest Writer: Space Ghost)

(I have a brand new guest writer, who has a good thought experiment, just got back from Sturgis, and I think you'll like him much better than me. please comment online to let him know you want to read more.-Dexter)

Let’s Pretend
Pretend you have joined the board of a large corporation. It has about 28,000 employees and over $17 Billion in sales. Your CEO has departed after a long tenure... generally successful, but contentious much of the time.
Shareholders want continued good sales, profitability, new products - all the things a CEO is responsible for.
Numerous candidates are considered, and you know that you’ve got to get it right or the competition will eat your company up like breakfast cereal. Ultimately, it’s down to two candidates that look interesting.
There’s an older guy that’s been in the business for most of his life. He knows the game, has a track record, and isn’t likely to deviate from the policies and procedures that got your company to where it is: successful. His ideas are not new. In fact, they look a lot like those of the guy who just left.
Then there’s the young guy that’s an up-and-comer. He looks good and talks good, and has some strong support among his contemporaries. He’s light on experience though and some of his ideas are way off the beaten path. If he’s the new CEO, it’s certain your successful old company will go down a new path. If it’s the wrong path, you’re probably off the board, because your company is now some other company’s breakfast.
Where does the smart money go? __________________________

Wait.
Instead let’s pretend that you’re the military’s top man and you’re faced with selecting a general to lead a military action that is both tenuous in terms of international reaction and yet absolutely vital to the continued existence of your country.
If you pick the right guy, peace comes to a warring region of the world, and by extension, to most of the rest of the planet.
If you’re wrong, several other large nations are going to take it very, very poorly, and by extension, most of the planet is going to be in chaos, and possibly even in peril.
You have several candidates in your pool of generals. One bright spot is a relatively young guy who recently made general, but has never led a major combat action. He’s well-liked and eager and full of ideas on how to resolve sticky situations. He’s proven his approach over a career in various administrative duties. Many people feel he’s got the right stuff, despite the experience factor. This could be his chance to show his stuff.
The other guy is a crusty old fart that never went to college but literally fought his way to the top. Every military action saw this guy in the thick of it, somehow and somewhere. Not everyone likes him, but he doesn’t care whether he’s liked. He knows how to get the job done. He’s done it before, and can be counted on to defend his country, even to his death. Not for glory, but for country. Because he simply knows his country cannot afford to lose.
Which guy gets the job? __________________________

Wait.
Your country is having a presidential election. There are two candidates. You have to pick one to lead your country.
One guy is young, charismatic, and full of hope and change. He has so little experience in government work that in a corporate cutback, he would be among the first to go. His ideas are not all new, but they’re definitely socialistic. His positions change about as frequently as his associates, many of whom are either covered in controversy, convicted in court, or completely unapologetic terrorists... people who blew things up in our own country and who were themselves Americans.
The other guy is an old guy - not ancient, but with white hair and loads of experience in government and the military. He’s not even particularly well-liked by members of his own party, but they know he is steeped in traditional American values and will not lead this country from a democracy based on capitalism to an experiment in socialism (which has never worked well in the history of the world). If elected he would be the first president who did time in prison... with honor.
Who do you vote for? __________________________

You probably saw where I was going with this, but in case you didn’t (or still don’t), go back to the answers you gave to the first two questions. They will tell you how to vote. And when you do, remember: this time there’s no “pretending”. Get it right or we’re just another chapter in history.

By the way, you don’t have to like the guy - you just have to know that he has the fundamentals not to screw things up... for you, your parents, your children, and their children.

T.BOONE PICKENS AND PELOSI SCHEME?

(Guest writer: 'the real' gk)

(yes it's been quite some time since foreign policy expert gk has written for me, my fault, not his...-Dexter.)

You've probably seen the T.Boone Pickens's Wind Farm ads? There seems to be something rotten in Denmark (or the Texas PanHandle). Naturally- "Save the Planet" Pelosi is involved with her greedy fingers in the pie - It never ceases to amaze me that big politicians like Pelosi will sell the country down the river just so they can personally profit for relatively peanuts, compared to what either the state or the nation will have to invest in a program - just so they can make their piddly profit. In this case - $5 Billion in Cal. State Funds and $5 Billion in Federal Funds -

No wonder McCain has taken as his campaign slogan - "Country First" before Self or some such. It seems a lot of our politicians are doing just the opposite and putting themselves first, either to personally profit or to be re-elected. Maybe we will get the ex-energy regulator - Gov. Sarah Palin on Pelosi/T Boone's case! Wouldn't that be something if she made this giant rip-off one of the cornerstones of their campaign? - they should!


In my research - I found a couple versions of the story - so included both - each has some details the other doesn't have. But it's a shame that our main stream media doesn't cover these sorts of scams, nay, even profit from them, selling them TV ads, like the ones that T Boone Pickens has flooded the TV with. Shame! -gk

http://dontgomovement.com/2008/08/11/nancy-pelosi-invests-in-energy-scheme-and-water-grab-by-t-boone-pickens/

http://blog.freedomist.info/

http://pfds.opensecrets.org/N00007360_2007.pdf

KILLER WHALES; BIKERS OF WHALE WORLD

(Guest Writer: Indian Aaron)

Killer Whales, Not Orcas, but killers of whales, sea lions and salmon. (mmmm, sealions, chewy on the outside, crunchy on the inside...)

Well, Dexter talked about going Reef Net fishing, but he's a nerd and couldn't tell a Bunt from a Breast winch, Or a Head from a Bridge winch...

Occasionally this year I walked on a friends ReefNetter after having thought I had this stuff all out of my system. You know, I don't miss Crabbing or long line pot fishing for Prawns. I kinda miss Gillnetting, but not really.

But the wonderfully tar-healed technology of reefnetting is deep down in my blood. From 1985 through 2002 I regularly fished all 4 of these fisheries, and retired with my land and my home 100% paid off.

For those of you who aren't familiar with Reefnetting, it is two 40' boats, anchored to an artificial reef made of giant anchors, netlines, buoy lines, wall lines and floor lines all shaped to funnel fish up to a net that is strung between the two anchored boats, that drift from side to side as the flood tide changes back and forth from onshore flood to offshore flood. Behind and to the sides of the gear are two breast anchors connected to the Breast winches. Reefnetters are always pulling breast or cutting breast. (sounds kinda weird...)

Anyway, we're standing in the towers like monkeys on a stick staring in the water looking for sockeye...or color changes deep in the water that don't quite look right so we can haul the Head winches up to close the door behind them as they swim in. The Bunt winch aids in trapping the fish from going through and the Bridge winch makes a cut across the net to make for less work in hauling the fish on board. (Until you've hauled 200 to 300 fish in one haul, you have not lived!)

It wasn't a productive day yesterday for the crew and operator, but for me it was nice to be back out there. We noticed these tour boats converging to the south of us and were pushing their way in toward where the reefnet fleet is anchored. Well these nitwits were chasing "Orcas" so their clients could observe nature and whatever else it is they do on those tour boats. It was too bad that the coast guard didn't arrive earlier to chase off the tour boats as they eventually did, but not after we had an encounter that was well AWEsome to use an overused word.

We noticed a group of 2 juveniles and 2 adults aiming right for our Head cans (Buoys) in the front of our reef. As the captain of the gear picked up the heads of the net to allow them to go under us if they actually came down the gear, I barked to the crew and other guests to get in the big skiff and be ready to cut the lines (in case everything goes bad and the whales get entangled in the gear, anybody who doesn't need to be on the gear isn't taking any chances.)

Before the captain, his dad, one senior crewman and myself could get down out of the towers

we could see 3 of the 4 in the reef.

A small one stayed way back from us, but Mom and Pop came right down the outside wall lines an and first one rolled almost right against the net and on the first couple of floor lines to the inside wall lines and back out. The other came like a giant torpedo right down the middle and rolled to the outside and back out the wall lines as if to let junior know, "You ain't playin' here!"

Being that close to some behemoth that is the size of our boat moving that fast with that much power, damn near made me piddle my little britches...Anyway, this group of renegades was not the only group to come roaring through the reefnet fleet that day as another group of Whale watching "experts" chased them into the area. At least these roared through inside of our gear and not through it. Behind us, both groups took some time to brutalize some of the local seals. They will pick them up and throw them, smack them around with tails like a bunch of rugby players, and the water becomes almost as bloody as a rugby field...

This isn't the first time during my years as a commercial fisherman that I have had these Killer Whales approach me while I'm fishing, and every time I wonder if the kayakers and tour boat operators really truly have an appreciation for the power and damage that these beasts can do intentionally or even unintentionally. I won't be surprised if some giant Bull someday or an over sized aggressive teenage whale decides to finally uncork all that power on some tour boat or group of kayakers. If they're surprised, then they truly don't understand why I give lots of room to any Critter that is as big as my boat. Even the "passive" locals have the power to do serious damage while being "playful" but the nomadic Killers of Whales mean business as they roll through, even the local pods give them room.

The bikers of the whale world...fearsome power as impressive as any mammal I've ever seen.

I intend on giving them lots of room.

TIMMY SAYS GRINCH STOLE $30.00 TABS

(Well, not quite, but here is TIMMY!)

(When I last spoke with Timmy, he still gave me permission to reprint his updates, even with my picture pick of him...)

June 27, 2008
To: Our thousands of supporters throughout the state (cc'd to all media outlets -- reporters, columnists, editorial writers, and others in newspapers, radio, and TV)
From: Tim Eyman, Jack Fagan, Mike Fagan, & Mike Dunmire, ph:
425-493-9127, email: tim@permanent-offense.org, http://www.ReduceCongestion.org
RE: Aberdeen: latest city to back down on hiking car tabs
It's infuriating that our car tabs aren't $30. Voters have twice approved $30 car tabs and politicians promised to keep car tabs at $30.
Nonetheless, no one is paying $30. Christine Gregoire took away our $30 tabs twice: once in 2005 when she imposed weight fees on vehicles and once last year when she gave cities and counties the authority to unilaterally jack up vehicle tabs without a vote of the people. You may remember that I attended Gregoire's bill signing ceremony and appeared in the picture with a frown and gave it a big 'thumbs down.'
Ever since then, we've been banging away at cities and counties to NOT impose higher car tabs -- so far, we've been 100% successful -- not a single city or county has jacked up car tabs using the authority that Gregoire gave them last year.
This week, Aberdeen became the latest city to back down on hiking car tabs.
Here's a few highlights from Thursday's news story about it:
* The notion of boosting car tab fees in the City of Aberdeen appears
to be dead on arrival because "there's not enough political will to do it."
* Several council members were miffed that initiative guru Tim Eyman
had issued a warning that hiking car tab fees would be "like building a castle on quicksand"
* Councilman John Smith, who last week was one of the major proponents
of a new $20 fee on car tabs, said after the meeting, "Frankly, I don't think there's enough political will to do a car tab tax, even if it is the best direct user fee. Politically I think it's a dead horse and I don't think I'm going to beat on it. I tested the waters and I think it's been rejected. "So call off Tim Eyman," Smith had said during an earlier committee hearing. Eyman has spearheaded several anti-tax campaigns, including a measure bringing the cost of car tabs to around $30.
"Dare ya"
After he caught wind of the proposed car tab increase, Eyman wrote a letter to council members and the press, basically daring the city to implement the tax and promising to lobby hard against the measure.
"If your City Council jacks up car tabs, it'll be like building a castle on quicksand - it will not last," Eyman said. "With the 2005 Legislature jacking up car tabs by imposing weight fees on vehicles - in clear violation of their promise to keep tabs at $30; Sound Transit continuing to collect car tab fees the voters repealed in 2002, we're just waiting for cities and counties to jack up car tabs without a vote of the people to provide enough critical mass to do another initiative. It's not a matter of 'if' - just 'when' we do it. Not a single city or county has unilaterally hiked car tabs without a vote of the people using this authority. Everyone understands that it'll just throw gasoline on the fire for another initiative."
Steve Puvogel, an Aberdeen resident, said if the council wanted to move ahead with a car tab increase, it should.
"Personally, I'm not afraid of Tim Eyman," Puvogel said.
"Neither are we," said Councilman Fritts, who added after the meeting that he wasn't sure if he'd support increasing a car tab tax or even a utility tax but wants the discussion, at least, to move forward.
-- END --
Here's a link to the Daily World news story:
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2008/06/26/local_news/03news.txt
We've got just 7 days left to collect more voter signatures for I-985. We need your help to make it.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, please fill out the form below & send us a donation of $10, $25, $50, $100, $250, $500, $1,000 or more (there's no limit on amount that can be given) to our offices in Spokane. You can also contribute online using VISA or MasterCard or PayPal:
http://www.ReduceCongestion.org. However you want to do it, please send in your most generous contribution RIGHT NOW.
Please do everything you can to help. FULL STEAM AHEAD!
Best Regards, Tim Eyman, Jack Fagan, Mike Fagan, & Mike Dunmire, ph:
425-493-9127, email: tim@permanent-offense.org, http://www.ReduceCongestion.org
P.S. Here's a quick summary of this year's initiative:
ReduceCongestion.org I-985 implements the State Auditor's recommendations to reform the Department of Transportation and reduce traffic congestion by using existing public resources more effectively. It opens carpool lanes to everyone during non-peak hours, requires local governments to synchronize traffic lights on heavily-traveled arterials and streets, and increases roadside assistance funding to clear out accidents faster with the implementation overseen by the State Auditor. These policies are funded by taxes and charges we already pay: 15% of vehicle sales taxes, revenue from fines generated from red light traffic cameras, and a percentage that previously went to art on transportation-related public works projects. Finally, I-985 doesn't impose tolls, but it institutes critical taxpayer protections if tolls are created and levied.
ReduceCongestion.org (Reduce Traffic Congestion Initiative) . PO Box 18250 Spokane . WA . 99228 . PH: 425-493-8707 . FAX: 425-493-1027 .
http://www.ReduceCongestion.org . email: jakatak@comcast.net

FORGET POLITICS! IT'S THE BELLS HOME OPENER!!!

(Guest Writer: Indian Aaron)

Hey folks! Forget politics. There is nothing more American than Baseball!!! Tonight at 7:00 PM at Joe Martin Field, Jake and Brady Locker and the Boys from Bellingham will be hosting the Everett Merchants for their Home Opener!

Looks like the weather has finally turned around today. So C'mon Citizen Steve, Dexter and Wally, these are Ferndale boyz. How 'bout you Sam? and all the rest of you bloggers? AFY, DJ, sigX, Flat Tire and etc...

See ya at the game!!! Baseball rules, politics drools!)

JUST A BIKER (AUTHOR UNKNOWN)

(forwarded to Indian Aaron from fellow Iron Indian L.P.)

I saw you hug your purse closer to you in the grocery store line.

But you didn't see me put an extra $10.00 in the collection plate last Sunday.

I saw you pull your child closer when we passed each other on the sidewalk.

But you didn't see me playing Santa at the local mall.

I saw you change your mind about going into the restaurant when you saw my bike parked out front.

But you didn't see me attending a meeting to raise more money for the hurricane relief.

I saw you roll up your window and shake your head when I rode by.

But you didn't see me riding behind you when you flicked your cigarette butt out the car window.

I saw you frown at me when I smiled at your children.

But you didn't see me, when I took time off from work to run toys to the homeless.
I saw you stare at my long hair.

But you didn't see me and my friends cut ten inches off for Locks of Love.

I saw you roll your eyes at our leather jackets and gloves.

But you didn't see me and my brothers donate our old ones to those that had none.
I saw you look in fright at my tattoos.

But you didn't see me cry as my children where born or have their name written over and in my heart.

I saw you drive by as I was broke down on the side of the road.

But you didn't see me volunteer to fight your neighbor's house fire.

I saw you change lanes while rushing off to go somewhere.

But you didn'tsee me going home to be with my family.

I saw you complain about how loud and noisy our bikes can be.

But you didn't see me when you were changing the CD and drifted into my lane.
I saw you yelling at your kids in the car.

But you didn't see me pat my child's hands knowing she was safe behind me.

I saw you reading the newspaper or map as you drove down the road.

But you didn't see me squeeze my wife's leg when she told me to take the next turn.

I saw you race down the road in the rain.

But you didn't see me get soaked to the skin so my son could have the car to go on his date.

I saw you run the yellow light just to save a few minutes of time.

But you didn't see me trying to turn right.

I saw you cut me off because you needed to be in the lane I was in.

But you didn't see me leave the road.

I saw you waiting impatiently for my friends to pass.

But you didn't see me.

I wasn't there.

I saw you go home to your family.

But you didn't see me.

Because I died that day you cut me off.

I was just a biker.

A person with friends and a family.

But you didn't see me.

Repost this around in hopes that people will understand the biker community.

If you don't repost this, it sucks to be you.

I hope you never lose someone that rides...

EVEN IF YOU DON'T LIKE US,

RESPECT OUR RIGHTS TO RIDE WHAT WE CHOOSE

AND TAKE A FEW EXTRA SECONDS

TO BE SURE WE ARE NOT IN 'YOUR' WAY!

LOUD PIPES SAVE LIVES

NEWS FROM THE FRONTLINES

( Guest writer: gk and LTC CV)
Dear gentle readers -

If you want to read encouraging words out of Iraq - take the time to read this email.

As many of you know, in the past, whenever I get a "first hand" encouraging letter from soldiers who are fighting on the front - I try to forward them, as I believe them to be more accurate then what we are reading in the Main Stream Media. Of course, there is no way to check out these personal letter's accuracy - but whatever, there is no way to check out the MSM's reports either, except to compare each to the other. I prefer to believe the first hand soldier's reports. And by far, even during the worst days of fighting, it seems that the vast majority of these reports were able to see the positive side of the Iraqi situation (ordinary Iraqi's being friendly to our troops/hospitals & schools being rebuilt/opened again, etc.) as opposed to the MSM reports which seem to focus almost exclusively on the negative side (Iraqi's and American Soldiers being killed by roadside bombs, etc). The attached soldier's personal letter also shows this trend.

In any case, mostly, our troop's personal reports are positive, all the MSM reports from the beginning of the Iraqi conflict are negative because the liberal supporting reporters want Pres. Bush and the Iraq/Afghanistan wars to fail. So these kinds of positive personal reports from those that are actually putting their lives on the line, somewhat offset the constant stream of negative news we get out of Iraq/Afghanistan out of the MSM and give some amount of balance.

It is my understanding that for the most part, except a brave few, the MSM reporters are holed up in hotels within the Baghdad "Green Zone" walls - (which is a heavily guarded area containing the American Embassy and the Iraqi Govt) and because of the previous violence prevalent throughout some of the Iraqi Provinces. These American reporters are/have been dependent on Iraqi reporters (stringers who are paid by the article - who as natives - actually go outside the Green Area and return and try to feed the American Reporters what they want to hear - i.e. deaths,failures and bombings, not successes in peace and rebuilding and cooperation). I don't know if the American reporters are now getting out into the field and getting first hand news themselves or not? I doubt it. I can't really blame the American reporters for not risking their skins outside the "Green Zone" because the last I heard, something like 80 some of them from all countries had been killed in the fighting - and that's obviously not what they signed on for! So until it becomes common for our American reporters to actually get out in the country-side and see first hand - the progress, I would suppose we can expect to hear failure, doom & gloom, etc. Sells news papers and provide headlines when people die.

But whatever, this soldier's personal letter is forwarded for whatever it is worth -

I am encouraged also by the fact that about 10 days, one of the top three overall al Qaeda leaders/commander leading the fighting was killed by a predator drone missile along with about a dozen other leaders. The death of Abu Laith al-Libi was reported 1 Feb. on Islamic extremist Web sites and confirmed by an American official, who said the veteran Al Qaeda leader died when a missile from a U.S. Predator drone struck a compound in Pakistan's North Waziristan region late Monday. The U.S. says al-Libi — whose name means "the Libyan" in Arabic — was likely behind a February 2007 bombing at the U.S. base at Bagram in Afghanistan during a visit by Vice President Dick Cheney. The attack killed 23 people but Cheney was deep inside the sprawling base and was not hurt. Al-Libi was among the most high-profile figures in Al Qaeda after its leader, Osama bin Laden, and his deputy Ayman al-Zawahri.

This is the third? report of the supposed top al Qaeda leader(s) in Iraq/Afghanistan being killed in some way - but it is a hopeful sign (not for the al Qaeda leader(s) of course) when we keep picking off the long time top al Qaeda guy(s), and as new ones come forward. We also have many drones flying over wherever Osama and his henchmen are holed up in caves in the Afghan/Pakistani border area - 24/7 - and sooner or later, these leaders are going to stick their noses out of their caves and get them blown off by a missile too. Course I have been predicting this event now - since summer/fall of 2004, but sooner or later, the very top al Qaeda will be captured/killed too. (Assuming it happens before 20 Jan 2009 or whomever is the next president doesn't cut & run, withdraw from the Iraq/Afghanistan fight)

In other emails, I have said in order for any insurgency to be successful, 3 things are needed.

1. An outside national power(s) funding/supplying/arming the insurgents (In this case the outside parties being Iran/Syria/Russia? etc.)
2. Safe Sanctuaries for the insurgents to hide in between battles.
3. A willing local populous that supports/protects them either willingly or under coercion.

In this letter, the letter writer describe how two of the three above needed conditions being taken away from the al Qaeda insurgents - there are no safe sanctuaries for the insurgents to retreat to and/or hide, they are being targeted and captured and/or killed. And the local populous has become convinced that they can - with immunity - turn in the al Qaeda in their neighborhoods without they themselves being targeted and killed by other uncaptured al Qaeda's. The local's have become convinced that we (Americans) are not going to abandon them and let the al Qaeda come back and kill them for collaborating with the American/Iraqi military.

Although this letter doesn't so state, I read elsewhere - that how we are finding and killing/capturing the al Qaeda/insurgents rooted among the populous in the Baghdad area is that we have directly hired 22,000 Iraqi Militia who we directly pay ourselves. (This has been a problem with earlier efforts where the Iraqi National Forces were hired by the Iraqi Central Govt - we trained them but they didn't get paid - so they would quit after 6 months of no pay and go back home). Anyway, we have hired out own Iraqi Militia - and these militia live and watch their own neighborhoods, man check points and are the "eyes and ears" for our own military. There are hundreds, maybe thousands of checkpoints with these "private" militia working directly for us, and either they - themselves capture the insurgents or let us know where they are, and they are then being captured by either our's or the Iraqi regular military. We also now have American Military and (newly trained) Iraqi National Forces Military working side-by-side and they are now becoming more and more effective in what they do. In fact, I have read that the Iraqi Military have now been given & taken charge of almost all the areas of the country of Iraq in providing security, except in a few remaining hot spots. (17 of 19 provinces?)

I have heard that it is estimated that there only remain 3500 hard core al Qaeda operating in Iraq- I don't know how that figure was arrived at or how good it is? and there are hardly any new foreign fighters/al Qaeda being imported into Iraq as in previous years. Perhaps we have hardened the borders and also, have somehow gotten to these supporting countries, Saudi Arabia, Iran & Syria diplomatically so those importing insurgents are slowing them down? So it seems, what was previously thought to be an endless supply of new insurgent fighters coming into Iraq seems to be abating somewhat. So this goes to the other (third) insurgent requirement, that they be supplied by an outside force, with money/munitions/weapons and fighters. This outside power(s) support seems to be slowing if not stopped too.

And finally, the Iraqi/American's have figured out a way to let those insurgents who formerly were actively fighting the central Iraqi authority & American forces, to turn themselves in and surrender their arms - with some amount of amnesty. And that seems to be working too. In fact, I have heard that former Sunni/Shiite enemies are even being reconciled and even incorporated into the Iraqi National Forces and if they are truly loyal to the National Govt - they probably know exactly who they are and where their former fellow insurgents are holed up, and can find them!

Read the letter, and coupled with my info above, you can interpret what is being said by this soldier/writer. gk

(Here are a few added comments - marked in blue - to clarify the writers cryptic comments and place the names/places mentioned into context.)

(Added. gk - "Summit" refers to this writer's Iraqi area of operations, apparently within the city of Hawijah/surrounds)

(Note Added - gk - Hawijah is an agricultural town of about 50,000, is located 30 miles in the southwest of Kirkuk in Northern Iraq, is considered an old bastion of the Sunni Iraqi resistance. Because the Baghdad area "surge" is killing/capturing many of the Baghdad insurgents - others are fleeing to Hawijah)

(Note: gk - I'm assuming "Cobra" refers to the U.S. Forces which this letter writer commands/is a part of)

(Added: -gk- I'm assuming these "6,000 Iraqi Partners" referred to above are similar to the 22.000 civilian/militia "eyes & ears" types being used to man check points in the Baghdad area - mentioned in my previous comments. Use of these kinds of embedded local militia types denies the al Qaeda being able to blend within the populous because these locally hired Iraqi's know their neighborhoods and who is who and who supports who.)



==================

From LTC Christopher Vanek,
Battalion Commander February 1st, 2008

Dear Summit Friends and Families,

Well folks, we've completed another month in Operation Iraqi Freedom and I can fortunately provide you nothing but incredible news from the front on the accomplishments of your Summit Warriors. We are witnessing historical changes within our district that truly amaze us, while also challenging us to keep up with them.

Our targeting of the terrorist network has down right ripped the guts out of Al Qaeda in Hawijah. - In the past 4 weeks, we've detained or killed 5 of the top 10 Brigade High Value Targets. Additionally we have captured hundreds of terrorist fighters and in just the past 2 weeks, we've achieved an 85% target capture rate when going after a specific individual. I would challenge anyone in history to compete with this.

More importantly, the enemy has taken notice and we continue to see them either attempt to surrender in our reconciliation effort, or flee our district.

Violence in January dropped 80% or more in our district. We go weeks at a time now without a violent attack against our Soldiers. This is significant because as you might recall, it was just a couple of months ago when our Blacksheep would sustain multiple attacks every night in Hawijah, and anytime the Cobra's entered in Abassi, they were attacked with grenades and IED's. In fact, it was suicidal in October to drive thru Hawijah during daylight, now we walk the streets freely greeting our neighbors with smiles and handshakes.

Today we conducted our second Reconciliation Gathering and this was even more successful than the initial one with 42 terrorists coming forward to lay their arms down and join the peace process. We expect this number to continue to grow exponentially as the Government of Iraq informally approves of this path to peace. We will continue to pursue every avenue possible through lethal actions against our enemies or by making offerings for amnesty to those deserving.

Many of you are probably either not believing what we are achieving or are in disbelief because of what the media reports. I cannot tell you the media misleads anyone because we have less of a perspective of the comprehensive situation in Iraq than you probably do. But we can speak for the Area of Operations Summit in which we are responsible.

There are three primary reasons for the success we've achieved. First, our lethal targeting has evolved to PhD level effectiveness. Our Soldiers are capturing their intended targets every single day with a level of success no one could have asked for. Secondly, the formation of the Awakening or Concerned Local Citizens within AO Summit has emplaced over 6,000 Iraqi partners in our AO. This required tremendous effort and hard work from your loved ones. But it's paid off in lives saved, terrorists captured, IED's discovered and caches turned in on a daily basis. There is literally no where for the enemy to hide right now.

Finally, and most importantly, the daily discipline and honor that your Soldier's display cannot be measured in effectiveness, yet the results are indisputable. As I told you earlier this month, every local I encounter makes it a point to tell me how much they appreciate the kindness, yet firmness our Soldiers display to the people of Iraq. Our Soldiers have or are winning the hearts and minds every single day.

Obviously not everything is positive. All of us miss our loved ones and desire to return to you as quickly as possible. But we remain resolute in seeing our mission completed. And having been involved in this fight for almost 7 years now, I've never been part of a team that was winning as much as this team is, and the sense of optimism is rapidly growing.

We couldn't do this without your support. Whether it is our spouses sending the Iraqi children toys, or the Allen family visiting our hero SPC Camacho in the hospital in Richmond, the acts of kindness and generosity remain truly inspirational.

The winds of success could rapidly shift from our favor, but we currently enjoy a sail full of momentum and look forward to our continued successes on the battlefield.

To The Top!

Chris
===============================

For those interested, here is another story penned by LTC Vanek:

http://www.army.mil/-news/2008/01/11/6969-commentary-american-soldier-remains-nations-ultimate-weapon/

Lt Col Christopher Vanek commands the 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Battalion.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1st_Battalion,_87th_Infantry_Battalion_(United_States)

===================================
(Please pray for our Patriot Armed Forces standing in harm’s way around the world, and for their families— Of all the gifts you can give them, PRAYER is the best!) gk

HOUSE BILL 2797

(Guest Writer: Q)

While the political focus tends to be on the presidential primaries, the state legislature is working on over 1000 new bills that are out to take your money and make your life more congested.

I am happy to say that the House did pass a bill to let motorcycles turn left at a red light when there is no traffic and their bikes don't trigger the light sensor because they are not heavy enough. I know there will be some happy people on this blog. I don't know what the Senate will do with this.

On Friday I sat through a public hearing where the lobbyists were all testifying about the substitute to the bill in question and the legislators hadn't actually seen the document they were referring to. The original bill would add a 14th Growth Management Act element to be considered by local governments whenever they are doing planning which requires the community to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 standards. For Whatcom County, that should be great because GP was still in production then, so I'm guessing the air quality standards weren't so good and so it might not be so onerous. The new standards will require a mapping of the carbon emissions footprint in the county at the county's expense, probably underestimated at a cost of $20,000 to $25,000.

Futurewise was the lead proponent of the bill, and their lobbyist kept mentioning how "we" drafted the bill instead of the prime sponsor, Rep. Simpson. When challenged on the number of lawsuits filed for GMA violations by the Republican members, their lobbyist couldn't say about the number. After the hearing, a more senior Futurewise person said there have been hundreds of lawsuits. Local governments should be concerned because this is one of four pieces of legislation that the environmental community wants to pass this year, and it is going to cost local governments and property owners that want to develop land thousands of dollars in compliance costs and legal fees.

The bill number is H.B. 2797.

(if I can get my readers to comment, I might be able to convince her to keep us updated on the happenings in Olympia! -Dexter)

FRED '08, THE BEST LEADER

(GUEST WRITER: WALLY)
(I'm honored to have long time local writer, Wally, from WallyWondersWhy? -Dexter)

In the process of picking the right candidate for the 2008 election we first need to do a couple of house cleaning items. To start, we need to throw out all socialist Democrats, progressive Democrats, liberal Democrats; OK let’s just throw out any notion of a Democratic Party candidate altogether. In fact since our nation won't survive too many more Democratic Party Presidents, we should quit considering them as candidates altogether.

That leads us to the second housecleaning item; we must throw out any notion of choosing the best candidate. We don't need to consider who the best candidate is, nor should we look for someone who is eminently electable. We should be focusing on the persons who will make the best president and during that process the right candidate will become apparent.Our nation was founded with some pretty progressive and enduring principles at it core; life, liberty, pursuit of happiness, common defense etc.
The best leader for our nation is one who knows and believes in these principles. The best leader for our nation will work in the right direction to conserve these principles.And to be more clear we need someone who is on the conservative right, someone who has been on the conservative right, and someone which we have great faith will remain on the conservative right. I think Fred Thompson is clearly the best choice for this position of leading our nation.

While others under consideration may have veered left on abortion, veered left on taxes and veered left on health care; Fred Thompson has remained a straight arrow conservative. He was a conservative in the late 60's as an assistant US attorney in Nashville. He was conservative when he served as special counsel to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. And he was a conservative when he served on the Senate Intelligence committee. Former Senator Fred Thompson was a conservative and is a conservative.While some may dismiss him, find fault or humor in his acting career, I find it ironic that he conspicuously avoids getting caught up in the Hollywood tabloid glitz so he can remain focused on issues.

And I agree with Fred Thompson's list of the biggest issues and challenges faced by our nation today.
* The ongoing threat of Islamist terrorism* The unresolved economic threat of entitlements
* The need for lower taxes to ensure our nation remains economically competitive and innovative
* The need to secure our borders
* The need to support families and to protect our children from the harder edges of culture
* The need to remain engaged in the world while remaining true to America’s principles

And when I look at the list I see threats to our life, our liberty, our pursuit of happiness, and our nation’s security. I can’t argue with any of them. Fred Thompson is spot on with identifying threats to our nation’s core values. He is a qualified conservative through and through candidate with the guts to stand up for what is right.

Let’s put Fred Thompson in the White House.

(Wally, thanks so much, for your contribution. Folks, go check out his site: www.wallywonderswhy.com -Dexter)

DUNCAN HUNTER, TRUE AMERICAN!

(Guest Writer: AFY!)

What do Air Force Brigadier General Chuck Yeager and Ann Coulter have in common with the Missouri Republican Assembly?

Their endorsement of what the Missouri Republican assembly called a “true Republican”!

MRA state president Chris Brown stated, “Congressman Hunter is a true social conservative and honestly represents the Republican Wing of the Republican Party, when you add together Duncan Hunter’s commitment to the military, American jobs, and fighting for family and life issues, there is no better choice for President. America needs Hunter’s integrity, courage and proven leadership.”

Duncan Hunter is a fourteen term Congressman and Vietnam War Veteran.

Duncan Hunter is committed to controlling our borders; he built the border fence in San Diego which resulted in a reduction in smuggling of narcotics by 90% and a drop in crime by 50%. If he is elected President; he would have as one of his biggest priorities to build this same fence for our entire southern border.

In a recent debate Duncan Hunter stated that he felt that the “Democratic Party lost its identity” for example the failure of the Kennedy administration at the Bay of Pigs and when compared to Ronald Reagan actions in El Salvador which was so successful in bringing freedom to that nation; that at this moment the military of El Salvador is “fighting side by side with our guys in Iraq”! Duncan Hunter truly believes the Republican Party is “the Party of Freedom”.

This past Veterans day, Duncan hunter stated “We cannot thank them enough (Veterans) all sufficiently… (they) have represented the finest of human qualities… our Veterans made (a) sacrifice unflinchingly, with a character that General Douglas MacArthur describes as “stainless”. They make the sacrifice for their comrades in arms, their buddies and the immediate mission at hand. But in a greater sense they have made a sacrifice for millions of American whom they do not know and who do not know them”.

Finally I would like to close with this recent endorsement from former New Hampshire Senator Robert C. Smith: “There will never be another Ronald Reagan but fellow Californian Duncan Hunter can pick up the Reagan torch and light the way for America to come back from the dangers we now face.”

AFY!!!

http://www.issues2000.org/ca/Duncan_Hunter.htm

(Thanks AFY! for this column, some of you folks who read online comments at the Herald may recognize the pen name. Link forwarded by the REAL gk. -Dexter
p.s. check out the TOWN CRIER, for more Duncan Hunter stuff and AFY! is there, too.)

RUDY GIULIANI- TESTED AND READY

(Special Guest Writer: Q)

(This is the first of several columns from my guest writers, each on behalf of a different GOP Candidate. -Dexter)

I support Rudy Giuliani because he is a proven leader that reduced crime, taxes, and managed bureaucracy among many other successes while Mayor of New York City for eight years. He took a $2.3 billion deficit and turned it into a multibillion surplus, which greatly appeals to my fiscally conservative tastes. When the United States is suffering with a struggling economy, I believe Giuliani’s proven strong leadership and prior accomplishments are aspects that weigh heavily in his favor compared to other contenders.

I found the statistics below compelling. During the eight years of the Giuliani Administration, New York City:
· Gained 2,038 acres of new parkland (372 acres were acquired during the four-year prior to him taking office and only 1,744 acres during the 12 years of the Koch administration.).[1]
· Reduced crime by 5,000 felonies per week.[2]
· Reduced the murder rate to 629 murders in 1998 as compared with 1,946 in 1993, under the prior administration.[3]
· Increased adoptions, realizing 21,189 adoptions during the last six years of the Giuliani administration which was 66 percent more than in the prior six years.[4]

Giuliani’s leadership style incorporates many elements that make sense. He believes government workers should be accountable for their actions and leaders should put in place mechanisms that keep people accountable. He believes success comes from “relentless preparation” with attention to small as well as large details. A good example is that when police started cracking down on the petty crimes they found matching fingerprints for many unsolved felonies. He trains his employees to embrace his winning techniques and rewards them with loyalty so they feel confident to try new things and continually challenge themselves to produce results and achieve better policies. He surrounds himself with employees that can do their jobs well, wanting his supervisors and appointees to be leaders themselves. These qualities are appealing in a president.

Giuliani is known internationally because he had to deal with members of the United Nations whenever they visited the New York U.N. office. In the aftermath of 9/11, Giuliani interacted with individuals from almost every country in the world because the working population in the Twin Towers included all different nationalities. The United States was not the only country that lost citizens that day. I favor Giuliani because he has already had to deal with leaders from different nations and cultures in tough circumstances, so he is prepared for international relations.

There are unions that speak against Giuliani in favor of Democrat candidates. I found it very interesting to speak with a local first responder that was at Ground Zero ten days after the attack. He supports Giuliani and assured me that there were respirators available for volunteers and workers to wear despite commentary otherwise. People were begging workers to wear protective gear, however, respirators are uncomfortable, so many ignored the advice. In addition, clean-up workers were told that the city could not afford to pay overtime for clean up efforts, which the unions did not like. A union has the goal of getting their members the highest pay possible, so obviously, they would have competing interests with a mayor that wanted to control the debt for the citizens of New York. Giuliani kept control of the bureaucracy while getting the job done without further burdening New Yorkers with a huge debt when their economy had suffered a huge hit.

I know many conservatives may cringe at some of Giuliani’s social stances because their religion does not condone behavior that is already an entrenched part of our society. If we believe in a free country and a free society under God, then be open to the idea that He may be able to work his will through a believer, like Giuliani, however flawed. A man that has run the world’s 17th largest economy and negotiated the traumas of 9/11 with such aplomb cannot be totally bereft of divine guidance. Historically, religious leaders were human – and flawed.
Polls indicate that Giuliani has the best chance of picking up Democratic voters who want to see someone other than Mrs. Clinton elected, and therefore, a very strong chance at being able to win the presidency. For all of these reasons, I ask you to join me in voting for Rudy Giuliani in 2008.
[1] Giuliani, Rudy, Leadership, p. 124.
[2] Giuliani, Rudy, Leadership, p. 43.
[3] Giuliani, Rudy, Leadership, p. 117
[4]Giuliani, Rudy, Leadership, p. 93.

(I hope this is the first of many appearances from Q. She is well researched and I think she writes well, too. -Dexter)

CANDIDATE SUPPORTERS NOT YET READY?

I have asked several authors to write on behalf of each GOP presidential candidate.
So far only Q. has responded with support for Rudy. (Very well written, I might add!) None of the other other authors has anything for me yet. So, Q. Thank you so much, and you will be the first published. For my other authors, please get me your column soon. I don't want your favorites to be done a disservice by my writing on behalf of them. I had hoped to publish them starting today, but I am postponing them until Monday the 7th. I want to publish each of them back to back.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!

ANOTHER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE!

(Guest Writer: gk)



A friend wrote me this email:

Gen. Jerry Ralph Curry believes we are headed to a brokered convention. He missed getting signatures for the WA primary but he's on the ballot for the Oklahoma, Arizona and Louisiana Primaries so far and working in other states. As soon as he raises enough $ he will make his announcement so as to be taken seriously. I met with him on Saturday and he has the presence and stature of a president. He believes God has called on him for such a time as this. Keep your ears open and your eyes on this man.
Visit his website: http://www.curryforamerica.com/

========================================
My Comments back - gk

Gen. Curry sounds like he has a lot of great credentials and might make a good V.P. I think he is much too little too late for the presidential nomination.

Gen Curry might well be right that this Republican Convention and it's nominee might be a "brokered" presidential candidate, but I believe it is a long/long shot! Hasn't happened in a long time if ever - 1952 convention - Eisenhower?

A brokered convention would presuppose that there would be a protracted deadlock at the convention where repeated votes are taken and no one candidate can achieve enough delegate votes to win the majority. (which in and of itself is hard to imagine - given our American preoccupation with expediency and wanting instant results in everything). This would presuppose a deadlock between two front runners with neither side's backers wanting to yield or compromise, and so an unknown such as Gen. Curry would end up being nominated (from the floor?) as the compromise candidate, with the frustrated convention swinging their votes to him, after a number of deadlocked ballots - with both the front runners end up being out in the cold. I just can't see that happening, unless Gen. Curry builds a lot of name recognition/stature between now and August and I don't see that happening.

I don't doubt there are a few people out there that could pull off being a compromise candidate, such as Mississippi governor Haley Barbour (former RNC chair - lots of people "owe" him for their elections) but I just don't see Gen. Curry as being in that category at this point. It takes momentum and at this moment in time, Gen. Curry is dead in the water (translation - no one knows him, he has no MSM name recognition, no backing, no money, no organization, no national headlines type accomplishments, etc. The only thing Gen Curry has at this moment - is the desire to become president - there are a lot of squares he needs to fill between wanting to be president and becoming president!)

I think I am a pretty savvy political observer, and I hadn't ever heard the name of Gen. Curry in my life before your email. So, I think the odds of a "brokered (deadlocked) convention" and Gen. Curry being the compromise candidate - are about nil at this moment in time. Anything is possible - but IMHO, it would probably take something like a series of 9-11's where the public would start thinking about a known successful military man as the national leader ala Eisenhower - to stop these attacks or some such "once in the history of the country event(s)" to draft someone like Gen. Curry and his credentials. Gen. Petraeus - riding his credentials as having engineered the successful surge could pull this off - i.e., being nominated in a brokered convention when our nation was under attack by terrorists and people were looking for someone of military stature to deal with it. That's incidentally is Giuliani's argument/long suit - too.

I think that in politics, timing is everything - most of the present presidential candidates have been long time announced candidates, except Thompson, and even he was in the speculation before announcing. And even Thompson might have - looks like, didn't take advantage of "timing", waited too long. And of course, with the first primaries in a few days, Gen. Curry is really behind in his announcements - presidential bid. I think that that train left the station at least a year and a half ago.

Running for president is all about name recognition, backing, money, who "owes" who for what previous favor. Name recognition wise - if Gen Curry were a "Gen Petraeus" being feted for turning the situation around in Iraq - he might ride that wave right into the White House, ala Gen Eisenhower after WWII. But being Transportation Honcho is not the usual springboard to being drafted into the presidency. I don't doubt that Gen Curry is a very capable person - all Generals (that I have known and believe me, I have known a bunch) have large egos and some level of accomplishments - otherwise they wouldn't be generals, that's a very exclusive club and you have had to have shown a lot of people a lot of achievements just to make one star, never mind two. It takes congressional approval to be named one star - lots of people don't know that. And if one congress person black-balls you, you don't make it. Kind of a gentleman's agreement. So you really have to have some political skills as well as leadership skills to become a general. But I digress- I was talking about "name recognition, backing, money and who "owes" you.

When Reagan first took several runs at the presidency - he was an "also ran" cuz he didn't have any of these essentials to run for president either. He was/became almost a classic case as how you "get" these qualities.

Although Reagan had been the long time Actors and Screen writer's Guild president - and of course, a Hollywood star - he really didn't have any national recognition for anything political. He actually was a re-treaded Democrat for heaven's sake, switching parties in 1962 and gave a speech supporting Goldwater for president in 1964! In some of his first political moves after losing in his several bids for the Republican presidential nomination, Reagan first got a job as weekly national editorial writer for some news papers, and was GE's spokesman going from plant to plant nation-wide giving GE employees a rah-rah speech to believe in America and it's industrial spirit, and Reagan thereby begin to build a national wide recognition as a conservative commentator.

This quote is from the Wikipedia -

Born in Illinois, Reagan moved to Los Angeles in the 1930s, where he became an actor, president of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG), and a spokesman for General Electric. Reagan became involved in politics during his work for G.E. and switched from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party in 1962. After delivering a rousing speech in support of Barry Goldwater's presidential candidacy in 1964, he was persuaded to seek the California Governorship, winning two years later and again in 1970. He was defeated in his run for the Republican presidential nomination in 1968 as well as 1976, but won both the nomination and election in 1980.

unquote

After building his following and credentials as Calif governor, where he took over the CA. governorship with a several billion dollar deficit and ended up leaving it with a several billion dollar surplus, he honed his credentials as one who could trim governments and govt spending, he finally was nominated presidential candidate!

So, he went from "also ran" to "Savior of the Republican Party" The rest is history - as they say. But key to his being nominated as Presidential Candidate, he spent the years of 76-79 going around the country giving campaign fund raising speeches at rubber chicken events for everyone running for dog catcher to senator all over the United States, God only knows how much rubber chicken he ate! But the point is, he built up people/politicians in offices at all levels nation-wide who "owed" him for being elected to whatever it was they were elected to, so when it came to nominating a presidential candidate in 1980, he had hundreds of politicians, both local/state/federal - many of whom are automatic delegates to the Republican Convention that "owed" him and voted for him. He was a shoo-in.

Also, of course, national organization counts and all that takes money, ask either Tancredo or Duncan or Biden or whomever candidate is down in the 1% national poll wise knows how that works! Gen. Curry doesn't have any money. If you are independently wealthy, like a Forbes or a Peroit, it helps! Money is the life blood of politics and without it, basically, you can't get your message out or build up any kind of ground swell, and sometimes, even if you have it, (Ron Paul) you still can't cuz you lack charisma or a vision that resonates with the people, etc. You can also ask Katsup Kerry or Forbes if spending your own money to get your message out works, it didn't for them!

Gen Curry has a lot to learn about national politics. I don't know what he can do at this point to fill these essential squares, it took Reagan a 20 year period from basically 1960 on - to gain enough recognition/fill enough squares to win the presidential nomination in 1980 - but if Gen. Curry could get one of the front 2008 Republican Nominee runners to let him to give a prime-time (nominating or key-note) speech at the upcoming Republican Convention, and it end up being a gang-busters/show stopping speech - it would help him a lot and gives him a place to start! Reagan used that convention speech mechanism several times to build his stature and following. If I'm not mistaken, Obama also gave a speech at the last Democratic Convention?

But it takes a lot of preparation by supposed presidential candidates to get to where the Republican Convention delegates take you seriously. I just don't see how Gen. Curry can make up all that ground from a standing start in Dec. of 2007? I don't think entering a few primaries is going to do it, I'd guess he is going to be down in the 1% of the vote category in those states - not exactly building up a huge block of delegates in the primaries.

Good luck with your Gen. Curry! Don't want to be a wet blanket but that's the reality of presidential nominating processes as I see it. gk
http://www.blogger.com/

http://www.blogger.com/

(Please pray for our Patriot Armed Forces standing in harm’s way around the world, and for their families— Of all the gifts you can give them, PRAYER is the best!) gk

BILLARY'S ACHILLES HEEL

(Guest Writer: gk)

I thought other's might enjoy this attached pop-psycho analysis of Billary:

http://www.newsweek.com/id/70382

My Comments on the above article:

Although this editorialist - Howard Fineman - mentions Billary's using her (uncontrolled) anger to good advantage, I don't agree - I think Billary's Achilles' Heel - in addition to being a control freak and that turning people off - also includes her uncontrolled rage whenever things/events seem to get beyond her control.

There are numbers emails floating around, telling of incidents of her uncontrolled rage - while within the ear-shot of secret service agents/White House Aides, etc., throwing every object she can get her hands on and hurling every belittling invective/name in the books at Bill when finding out about his peccadillo's, etc.etc. And her blowing up and cursing secret service agents when they crowded her personal space, attempting to guard her, lots of other occasions, etc.etc. Those around Billary during the White House years are quoted as saying they felt sorry for Bill and daughter Chelsea - as they were the frequent butt of Billary's rage. She is basically not a nice person - despite what this editorialist sez. She would benefit from an "anger management control class"!

I have long predicted that either Bill's immoral behavior or her uncontrolled rage/outbreaks -- coupled with the fact that not a day goes by that one or the other or both Klinton's break the law(s) in some fashion - accepting illegal contributions, ethics violations, etc.etc. and - sooner or later - I believe it's inevitable they will do something that will be severe enough that even the MSM can't ignore it - to Billary's detriment.

And when that event happens - Billary will be another Michael Dukakis (Willie Horton Furlough Ad) - or Howard Dean (maniacal scream) - a single Billary incidence/ad/mis-step will torpedo her campaign, and she will lose in a landslide to anyone besides Ron Paul. The later this event happens in the presidential campaign - the more damaging it will be - a year from now, no one will remember that she favored giving illegals driver's licenses - and this is a fairly small issue in any case. When this event happens - it will be carefully thought out by those opposing her election - an "October Surprise" if you will - and if successful, she will not be able to recover in time for the election. Of course, her campaign/527 Group supporters will be trying to do the same thing to her opponent - whoever that is, and we'll see which attack will be successful?

Billary's recent Russert's moderated forum gaffe of trying to come down on both sides of Massachusetts issuing driver's licenses to illegals - which has cost her in the polls, is a good example of what we could see. Especially in the rough and tumble of upcoming presidential debates. Billary thinks she can get all the way to the presidency without telling/letting anyone know who she is or what she stands for? - not going to happen IMHO. She has too much history and too much baggage- and I think even the MSM is getting better at discerning B.S. when they see it.

My best guess is that there may be campaign ads packed with facts showing Billary in a poor light and this will throw her off her carefully scripted campaign - and she will lose it completely and spend all her time defending/explaining her past actions and none on showing her vision for America! To date, in any case, I don't know that she has shown any "vision for America" beyond socializing the health care system - don't know how popular that is, but I don't think the majority of Americans go along with this, especially when it becomes clear that their taxes will be increased dramatically to pay for a completely govt. run and supported universal health care system. But God knows, there is plenty of other ammunition in Billary's/Bill's past to fill 20 negative campaign ads! Some of it will likely resonate with the voters. And nearly 50% of all voters have already stated going in, that they won't vote for Billary under any circumstances. I believe that Billary is far from being a "shoo-in".

Wait and see! It's going to be a hoot! gk

(thanks, gk. I hope my editing didn't butcher your column -Dexter)