It's the most wonderful time of the year....
Not the best picture in the world, but give me a break. In case you can't tell, that's my ballot this morning, with a vote for Republican (and person friend) Michael Moore, Republican Phil Berger, and a vote AGAINST illegal alien Republican Vernon Robinson (for more information on that, see the following column).
In case you don't know what my predictions are (that I've been spouting for the past five months), here we go. I see the Democrats taking control of the House, but Republicans keeping the Senate, and guess what guys -- IT WON'T BE THE END OF THE WORLD. On a more local level, Berger will keep his seat, Cole will keep his seat (sorry Michael, the guy owns this town... but I'm PRAYING for an upset!), Belinda Foster will LOSE her D.A. position to Berger Jr. And I'm hoping this is a given, but Brad Miller will keep his seat.
Go vote. Vote Republican, unless you live in the 13th district, or you have Libertarian candidates with a chance in hell. Don't forget, it's not just your right, it's a privilege.
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I get called a rhino more often than I care to admit.
No, it’s not because I’m covered in gray, scaly skin. Nor is it because I have a huge horn at the end of my nose.
It’s an acronym. RINO stands for “Republican In Name Only”, and it isn’t a term of endearment from my fellow Republicans. John McCain, one of my political heroes, is called a RINO on a regular basis by his political opponents within his own party.
The truth is, there are real RINOs out there, but John McCain isn’t one and neither am I. We are both simply Republicans who do not blindly follow party lines. I wish I could say there are more of us out there, but looking at this year’s election from within the 13th district, I can tell there are not.
For four years now, I have dedicated my 13th district voting habits to keeping Brad Miller out of office. Aside from the fact that I rarely agree with his stance on the issues, I am appalled at the way he continually ignores his non-big city constituents – and he even drew his own district!
But I just cannot bring myself to vote for Vernon Robinson. This man has been an embarrassment to North Carolina Republicans for too long, and anyone who has seen the Miller-Robinson debates should agree with me. He sticks like glue to the Republican platform, boasting his pro-life, pro-war, anti-immigration, anti-gay agenda at every chance – yet with no real plans or solutions. When confronted about his lack of solutions, he merely warns us that we should worry about getting Miller out of office first.
First? With an attitude like that, one could end up with Ted Kennedy for a congressman. I think first we should worry about having a competent replacement.
To make up for having absolutely no political strategy (not to mention original ideas), Robinson uses the shock factor to get voters’ attentions. His “Twilight Zone” ad (which recently made MSN.com’s list of the country’s top three most ridiculous political ads) bombards the viewer with thoughts of living in a society where illegal Hispanics run amuck, citizens routinely burn American flags in their front yards, and homosexuals are allowed to marry. Oh no wait, my mistake, they are “mocking holy matrimony”.
Whenever Robinson is asked to give a possible solution to an issue, he criticizes Miller’s record. If pressed for a real answer, he sometimes loses his cool. In one debate, Robinson actually attacked the moderator’s religious denomination, because he pressed him too hard for clarification to an answer.
Hoping to reach the small-town constituents that Miller often neglects, Robinson is stressing his anti-illegal immigration stance. He thinks if people who aren’t from around here want to live here, they should legally move here.
Well, Robinson and I do agree on that. And that’s one of the reasons I am so against him. You see, Vernon Robinson lives in Winston-Salem. He ran in the 5th district two years ago. Having lost hope there, he turned to the 12th district, but realized Ada Fisher had a far better chance then he did. Shortly before the cut-off date to apply for a place on the primary ballot, Robinson chose the 13th district as his best bet for political support.
Fellow 13th districters, it’s time we secure OUR borders. People shouldn’t be allowed to freely run where ever they see opportunity. Do we really think Robinson has our best interests in mind? The man would run for office anywhere he saw the opportunity. People like Robinson may call me a RINO, but maybe I’m not content with just voting for whatever random joker the GOP can dig up.
Let’s send a message to the Republican Party this year. We won’t stand for these jokers anymore. Join me in “deporting” Vernon Robinson back to the 5th district where he belongs!
And two years from now, join me in getting Miller OUT of the House… but not before we have a competent replacement.
posted by Melissa @ 9:50 AM
6 Comments:
Shouldn't you be at work?
LOL... that's a good one, I'll give you that.
Robinson is a candidate who should never be taken seriously. Too bad the district doesn't have someone like NC State Senator Fred Smith who's not a RINO but a Reagan Conservative.
Thank goodness the voters agree with me and re-elected Sen. Smith.
I agree about Sen. Fred Smith. He's a straight arrow and a breath of fresh air.
When the NC GOP candidates stop mutilating one another and return to its Reagan Conservative roots perhaps then they will be in the majority. Same with Washington.
Time For Leadership on NC budget
By North Carolina State Senator Fred Smith
During the 2006 election, many candidates for office faced questions from voters about the increasing size of North Carolina state government. Questions about the fiscal responsibility of the Easley Administration and Democratic legislative leaders are timely. The past ten years, General Fund spending has grown 24% faster than combined inflation and population growth – translating into a $1,116 increase in real dollars for a typical North Carolina family.(1)
State government spending continues to be out of control with a projected $500 Million revenue shortfall in 2007. The most recent state budget increased spending 9.7%, on top of an 8% increase last year. The failure of the Democratic legislature and Governor Easley to prioritize and control spending has resulted in millions of dollars of inefficient expenditures – instead of worthwhile investments like educating our children or building and maintaining roads. Ultimately, this careless, undisciplined spending has also forced North Carolina to impose on its citizens the highest tax burden in the southeast. Meanwhile, the local tax burden is also increasing.(2) Irresponsible year-after-year increases in spending strain family budgets, stifle private sector growth and damage the ability of small businesses and entrepreneurs to create new jobs.
Even Lt. Gov. Perdue, one of the most liberal Democratic officeholders in our state's history, seems to recognize the problem. She recently penned an email to supporters touting her hot new "reform" idea: a permanent state efficiency commission. The commission, she says, would "present a maximum of ten separate governmental efficiency proposals" to "counter the pressures in the system favoring wasteful spending and loopholes."(3)
Taken as a stand-alone plan, her proposal is not a bad idea. However, Perdue's latest press release misses the larger point. The failure to control spending isn't for lack of boards, commissions, or processes – it's for lack of leadership. The governor already has the power to appoint advisors or seek outside counsel on fiscal issues – or any other state problem. The governor has the veto power on the budget. He controls the Office of State Budget and Management. He has the bully pulpit.
On the campaign trail in 2004, Gov. Easley's "solution" to the spending problem was a self-enforced spending cap. During the 2005-2006 General Assembly, Easley promptly broke that pledge by signing two budgets that blew through his own cap. Now, Perdue has the magic bullet: her permanent efficiency commission. She says the group will create the "institutional momentum" needed to fight spending. Why add a new commission to the over four hundred boards and commissions already in existence, rather than just rolling up our sleeves and tackling the spending problem? Real leaders take excuses off the table, use the tools they have and get the job done.
Some skeptics may look at Perdue's record and fear that her efficiency commission proposal is just political lip service. She can prove the skeptics wrong though by signing on to support the constitutional amendment I have introduced to cap state spending growth.
Our rapidly growing, rapidly changing state doesn't have time for bureaucratic piddling with new processes. Instead of tinkering with the system, we must make real change which requires leadership. My Taxpayer Protection Amendment limits government spending growth to inflation and population growth. This legislation would immediately put real limits on government growth, finally forcing the legislature to prioritize spending.
Talking about fiscal restraint, finding government efficiencies, and getting tough on spending is a lot like talking about going on a diet. There are a lot of gimmicks and new fads, but we all know there's only one real solution: discipline. We don't need a new "fad" plan, we just need a leader with the discipline to make sure government eats less and exercises more. A constitutional spending cap would force government to create a strategic plan for growth, prioritizing what we consume and cutting outmoded, irrelevant spending.
We don't need a new blue ribbon commission. We don't need to pass the buck. We need results – and that takes disciplined leaders who will roll up their sleeves and make tough decisions. At the end of the day, improving government efficiency and reducing unnecessary spending reduces the demand that government places on the private sector, so the private sector can create jobs and economic growth.
(1) "The State Budget." John Locke Foundation: http://www.johnlocke.org/agenda2006/statebudget.html
(2) Lowrey, Michael. "By the Numbers: What Government Costs in North Carolina Cities and Counties." The Center for Local Innovation. http://www.johnlocke.org/acrobat/policyReports/btn2006.pdf
(3) Perdue News Update, December 29, 2006.
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