Later this week I'll write one of my last pieces on the Russell-Murtha race. After analyzing the race carefully, I believe -- sadly -- that the election will not be winnable by Bill Russell; however, any Republican candidate that can chalk up (nearly) 100,000 votes would be in a good position to win the seat when Murtha retires or passes away. (Note: Based on past experience, it appears that Murtha will get approximately 145,000 votes in November, give or take a few thousand.)
Diana Irey has been the strongest challenger Murtha has faced, and she got nearly 79,000 votes (39% of the total) -- and they came in an off-year election.
In off years, many people -- tens of thousands -- in the 12th CD don't bother to vote. A viable candidate needs to get a lot of them registered and then to the polling places.There are ways, over time (perhaps four years), for a strong Republican candidate to win in the 12th. If a candidate shakes 100,000 hands and builds an extremely strong, volunteer-based organization, he (or she) can ESTABLISH A FOUNDATION FOR WINNING.
Right now, I don't see that happening. That means a majority of voters in the 12th will engage in their "Pavlov's Dog Syndrome," salivating every time they see Murtha's name on the ballot. In the 12th, a truly strong candidate must disabuse voters of the notion that "John Murtha brings home the bacon."
In fact, the median household income (MHI) in the 12th is an anemic $30,600 annually. That's one of the lowest totals in the state, about the same MHI as in inner-city Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. So, where's the bacon?The MHI in the 12th is below the statewide average in either Mississippi and Alabama.
The 12th CD is a depressed area. No major companies are interested in establishing facilities in the district. A key reason is that they don't want to deal with a corrupt bully like Murtha.
Unfortunately, if a candidate explains such "inconvenient truths" to voters, it may not do a great deal of good. Old illusions, especially ones about Murtha, die hard.
If the electorate wants to reward Murtha for bringing his district almost to the economic levels of Alabama and Mississippi, then there's little in the short-term that can be done.I was getting ready to spend much of my next year working on the Russell-Murtha race. However, I've come to the view that, if 12th District voters want Murtha, then let them have him.
I'd rather spend the time working with candidates, such as Melissa Hart in PA's 4th District, who have a decent chance of winning. I believe she's willing to shake her "100,000 hands," and to build a huge volunteer base. She's committed to doing whatever it takes to win back her seat in Congress.
I wish William Russell all the best in his campaign against Murtha. If he goes door-to-door each day between now and next November, then he has a chance of doing well -- although not of winning outright. I urge voters in the 12th to support him. I also urge him to begin listening to people like yours truly, who have good ideas about how he can sharply increase Republican votes in his district.
I'm going to write more tonight and tomorrow about the New Hampshire primary. My father was born in Berlin (stress first syllable), New Hampshire, and I visited the state frequently when I lived in New England (VT & CT). The registration patterns in NH are unlike those in any other state -- with a tremendous number of "Independents."
Regarding Hillary Clinton, whom I regard as the best (by far) of the Democratic candidates. My friend Cindy at http://thepinkflamingo.blogharbor.com/blog wrote me that Hillary is at her best when she's apparently "down" and behind.
My response to Cindy: Monday, January 7, 2008: Hillary's another person who should hire you and me -- we wouldn't accept, but she needs some political realists around her. Also, she has a few conservative instincts and she should start letting them blossom. Obama is terrible on the WOT and other key issues, and Hillary should start pointing that out -- not be always trying to win the far Leftists whom she needs to avoid. Twenty percent of the registered Dems in the U.S. want us to lose in Iraq. She needs to wash her hands of those people.
She must emphasize that the U.S. wins the WOT or else nothing that patriotic people (Dem. and Repub.) want for themselves and their children will come true. If she goes down, she should go down with guns blazing. Hillary should demonstrate her understanding that America's problems will be solved by the American people -- not by any particular President. Her husband understands that key point, and she should also.
Showing posts with label Commissioner Diana Irey. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Commissioner Diana Irey. Show all posts
Monday, January 7, 2008
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Murtha: Art of the Payoff
In 2004, John Murtha faced no opposition for his congressional seat. He got 100% of the vote.
That same year, Murtha’s fundraising for his “campaign” added up to $2.3 million. His “expenditures” on the “campaign” totaled $1.56 million.
So, he spent more than a million-and-a-half dollars to vanquish a non-existent opposition. Huh?
It wasn’t as if he was expecting a well-financed contender to raise lots of money and contest vigorously for the seat. In 2002, Murtha raised $2.4 million and got 74% of the vote. His opponent, Republican Dr. Bill Choby, raised only $17,000 and got just 25% of the vote.
Let’s focus on the $1.56 that Murtha “spent” in the uncontested year of 2004. As you’ve noticed, I’ve been putting lots of words in quotes, including “campaign,” “expenditures,” and “spent.”
The reason I’ve done so is that such concepts don’t apply to Murtha.
In this century, Murtha has raised (and most spent) nearly $10 million. Although he comes from one of the poorer districts in the Northeast, he’s one of the biggest fundraisers in Congress. He raises about twice as much as the average U.S. congressional representative.
To hold his seat, given the huge Democratic edge in registration, he didn’t have to raise $10 million. In fact, he probably didn’t need to raise anything.
The $1.56 million he spent in 2004 is a giant red flag. How does someone spend such a huge amount of money in a race that’s already decided before the election season even begins? How does an unopposed candidate in a safe district spend more than candidates locked in tight races?
I mean: WHERE DID ALL THE MONEY GO?
To understand, you need to know how Murtha conceives of being a federal representative. It’s merely a matter, as he’s said, “of making deals.” Campaign funding? He gets large earmarks, federal dollars, for companies that really don’t need them, and they reward him with giant contributions. They’re so grateful for all your federal dollars that they name buildings after him.
And what campaign expenditures – all those millions that never had to be raised or spent? Those are also payoffs to various people – printers, writers, photographers, billboard companies, and others – who support Murtha. The monies are basically payments for votes by various companies and their employees. “You scratch my back, and I scratch your back.”
It doesn’t really cost great piles of cash to campaign against nobody, as happened in 2004. The expenditures are really reminders to people of whom they’re dependent on: that is, Murtha.
In short, you give to Jack Murtha, and he returns the favors. The “expenditures” are a form of vote-buying. It's like a huge recycling projects, with basically the same dollars going back-and-forth. Since it's essentially your money, you have a stake in what's happening.
What I’m telling you here is something that’s well-known in the 12th congressional district. Increasingly, the people in that area think it stinks, which it does. What does is not exactly what The Founding Fathers had in mind.
Like Diana Irey before him, William Russell is a breath of fresh air. He needs and deserves your support. He may just be Jack Murtha's worst nightmare.
POLITICS: THE FUNDAMENTALS AND VICTORY
In the generally wonderful OpenSecrets.org, you'll read that, in federal races, the candidate who spends the most money wins 90%-plus of the time. That statistic is somewhat misleading.
William T. Russell is not going to spend nearly as much money as John Murtha, who may end up forking out $4 million. I don't know how much money Russell will raise, but it won't be anywhere near Murtha's financial numbers.If Russell does everything right, he should win anyway.
One thing he definitely needs is to try to shake every hand in the district. The best way to get someone's vote is to ask for it. Ask enough people -- say, 100,000 of them -- and you will do well. The key is to convince enough Independents and, especially, Democrats that Lt. Col Russell is an outstanding person, a good man.
He's a Republican, a fact he won't emphasize in this Democrat-intensive area. He needs to share the other positive aspects of his story -- that he's a husband a father, that he's basically spent a lifetime in the military (born on an Army base), that he has defended American interests in Desert Storm, the Balkans, and Iraqi Freedom.
Also, he's firmly asserted that he doesn't want any buildings named after him, unlike his narcissistic opponent.
John Murtha is an angry guy who's not aging well. He's widely known as a bully, especially in his dealings with younger congressmen and congresswomen. His major accomplishment is getting large handouts of federal money for companies that don't need the assistance. He's been a major supporter of people like Pelosi and Waxman, who have nothing in common with the people of Murtha's district. He's sold out to every lobbyist with a bagful of cash.
If Russell can get these points across, this could be real horserace.
That same year, Murtha’s fundraising for his “campaign” added up to $2.3 million. His “expenditures” on the “campaign” totaled $1.56 million.
So, he spent more than a million-and-a-half dollars to vanquish a non-existent opposition. Huh?
It wasn’t as if he was expecting a well-financed contender to raise lots of money and contest vigorously for the seat. In 2002, Murtha raised $2.4 million and got 74% of the vote. His opponent, Republican Dr. Bill Choby, raised only $17,000 and got just 25% of the vote.
Let’s focus on the $1.56 that Murtha “spent” in the uncontested year of 2004. As you’ve noticed, I’ve been putting lots of words in quotes, including “campaign,” “expenditures,” and “spent.”
The reason I’ve done so is that such concepts don’t apply to Murtha.
In this century, Murtha has raised (and most spent) nearly $10 million. Although he comes from one of the poorer districts in the Northeast, he’s one of the biggest fundraisers in Congress. He raises about twice as much as the average U.S. congressional representative.
To hold his seat, given the huge Democratic edge in registration, he didn’t have to raise $10 million. In fact, he probably didn’t need to raise anything.
The $1.56 million he spent in 2004 is a giant red flag. How does someone spend such a huge amount of money in a race that’s already decided before the election season even begins? How does an unopposed candidate in a safe district spend more than candidates locked in tight races?
I mean: WHERE DID ALL THE MONEY GO?
To understand, you need to know how Murtha conceives of being a federal representative. It’s merely a matter, as he’s said, “of making deals.” Campaign funding? He gets large earmarks, federal dollars, for companies that really don’t need them, and they reward him with giant contributions. They’re so grateful for all your federal dollars that they name buildings after him.
And what campaign expenditures – all those millions that never had to be raised or spent? Those are also payoffs to various people – printers, writers, photographers, billboard companies, and others – who support Murtha. The monies are basically payments for votes by various companies and their employees. “You scratch my back, and I scratch your back.”
It doesn’t really cost great piles of cash to campaign against nobody, as happened in 2004. The expenditures are really reminders to people of whom they’re dependent on: that is, Murtha.
In short, you give to Jack Murtha, and he returns the favors. The “expenditures” are a form of vote-buying. It's like a huge recycling projects, with basically the same dollars going back-and-forth. Since it's essentially your money, you have a stake in what's happening.
What I’m telling you here is something that’s well-known in the 12th congressional district. Increasingly, the people in that area think it stinks, which it does. What does is not exactly what The Founding Fathers had in mind.
Like Diana Irey before him, William Russell is a breath of fresh air. He needs and deserves your support. He may just be Jack Murtha's worst nightmare.
POLITICS: THE FUNDAMENTALS AND VICTORY
In the generally wonderful OpenSecrets.org, you'll read that, in federal races, the candidate who spends the most money wins 90%-plus of the time. That statistic is somewhat misleading.
William T. Russell is not going to spend nearly as much money as John Murtha, who may end up forking out $4 million. I don't know how much money Russell will raise, but it won't be anywhere near Murtha's financial numbers.If Russell does everything right, he should win anyway.
One thing he definitely needs is to try to shake every hand in the district. The best way to get someone's vote is to ask for it. Ask enough people -- say, 100,000 of them -- and you will do well. The key is to convince enough Independents and, especially, Democrats that Lt. Col Russell is an outstanding person, a good man.
He's a Republican, a fact he won't emphasize in this Democrat-intensive area. He needs to share the other positive aspects of his story -- that he's a husband a father, that he's basically spent a lifetime in the military (born on an Army base), that he has defended American interests in Desert Storm, the Balkans, and Iraqi Freedom.
Also, he's firmly asserted that he doesn't want any buildings named after him, unlike his narcissistic opponent.
John Murtha is an angry guy who's not aging well. He's widely known as a bully, especially in his dealings with younger congressmen and congresswomen. His major accomplishment is getting large handouts of federal money for companies that don't need the assistance. He's been a major supporter of people like Pelosi and Waxman, who have nothing in common with the people of Murtha's district. He's sold out to every lobbyist with a bagful of cash.
If Russell can get these points across, this could be real horserace.
Monday, November 19, 2007
Sending John Murtha on His Way: Political Guerilla Warfare
One of the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington's "Most Corrupt"Here’s a major mystery for you.
In my own Pennsylvania congressional district (the 4th, west and north of Pittsburgh), the number of votes cast in 2006 were just over 230,000. However, in the 12th District (south and west of Pittsburgh) – the one represented by John Murtha – there were only 200,000 votes.
What happened to the other 30,000 votes in the 12th? After all, every congressional district has about the same number of people (just under 700,000). So why are there dramatically fewer votes in the 12th?
There are several related reasons. One is that there more unregistered adults in the 4th. Another is that many people there don’t exercise their right to vote.
Why don’t they? In their heart of hearts, many residents don’t believe their votes really count. Sadly, they’re more right than wrong.
In John Murtha’s own Johnstown and surrounding Cambria County, the only people – with rare exceptions – who get elected to office are Democrats. In most cases, Democrat officeholders run either unopposed or with token opposition.
In Murtha’s case, he’s “served” the people of the 12th District for 35 years. He almost never has anything like serious opposition. A partial exception was in 2006 when Diana Lynn Irey ran an intense campaign against Murtha, getting nearly 80,000 votes. Murtha got roughly 120,000 votes.
In many ways, Diana, my friend and political ally, out-campaigned Murtha. For example, she got a total of 7,000 contributions that came from every state in the Union. In contrast, Murtha got 6,500 contributions, although his average donations were much larger than Diana’s.
How on earth can William Trower Russell compete with Murtha? One way is to focus on all those unregistered (or registered but non-voting) people in the 12th.
In my previous column, I mentioned “Mel” (Melanie), an unregistered voter who favors Trower Russell. There are tens of thousands of people like her in the 12th. Trower and his supporters need to get them identified, registered, and committed to his campaign.
People like Melanie recognize that much of what Murtha has supposedly “done” for Johnstown and the 12th consists of government handouts. When Murtha is gone, the annual handouts will go with him.
In short, he has done nothing to help ensure that communities get permanent, sustainable jobs. What he’s “accomplished” is to hand out hundreds of millions in taxpayer money to companies that pay him off with lavish campaign donations. (Read the Seattle Times "favor factory" story on how Murtha trades your tax dollars for campaign contributions.) What he does is legal, but of course it's highly immoral.
William Russell differs from Murtha in that he wants to bring REAL jobs to the 12th District – not government-financed, make work jobs. Frankly, most companies – the ones that provide lifetime employment – want nothing to do with a district represented by a corrupt, bullying tax-and-spend liberal like Murtha.
In my chat with Melanie last week, I said, “You know that eventually all those ‘jobs’ Murtha created are going to dry up?” Melanie, a wise young woman, said: “Bingo. You got that right.”
If William and his supporters – of whom I’m certainly one – establish a strong, continuing voter registration program, it will be possible to eliminate a significant portion of Murtha’s lead.
In short, voter registration is a key. The Russell campaign can do so by telling potential voters this: “It’s true that in the past your vote didn’t count. But there’s a ‘new Sheriff in town,’ and this time your vote is going to make a real difference."
Every weekend between now and the election, Trower and his supporters must be out registering -- and energizing -- potential supporters. There will have to be some handholding that might involve taking people to registration centers through the 12th.
In general, every new voter added with bring along at least one more voter -- sometimes a spouse, sometimes a friend from work or school, and sometimes a neighbor. Register 10,000 new votes and, almost magically, the "synergy" results in about 20,000 votes The approach I'm outlining should appeal to people who are registered but have assumed that voting against Murtha is a hopeless cause. Diana Irey brought a good chunk of those people to the polls in 2006 – and Trower needs to bring the rest of them.
To win in the 12th, Trower will need approximately 115,000 votes. That number assumes he will take roughly 8,000 votes from Murtha. It also assumes that most of the new registrants will vote for Trower.
It’s a steep uphill climb, but with a tremendous effort led by Trower and his campaign manager, Larry Stiles (former Marine), it is doable.
Note: I will reprint this on two of my other blogs: MurthaMustGo and SmartPolitics101. In general, my contributions to those sites will be distinctive, but in this case I'm cross posting.
In remembrance of 9/11/2001, I'm asking all my visitors to make a contribution to Trower Russell at his site. I'm suggesting either $9.11 or $20.01 (or more, if you wish). Thanks for your support!
----------------------------------------
One of the arguments used to support the idea Murtha is unbeatable derives from the very large registration edge held by Democrats in the 12th congressional district. However, a good-sized number of those "registered Democrats" rarely vote Democratic.
The same is true in my own district, the 4th. There are about 50,000 more registered Democrats than Republican. However, Republican Melissa Hart won three congressional elections in the 4th -- and lost only by a slender margin in 2006, a very bad year for Republicans nationally.
In the state of Kentucky, there are 1.6 million registered Democrats and barely one million GOP registrants. Yet Kentucky has four (out of six) Republican congressional representatives, and two Republican U.S. Senators. Until recently, the Govenor of the state was also a Republican, although he was unseated because of a hiring scandal.
Yes, there are more Democrats in the 12th congressional district, but that fact alone will not determine the election results. If Trower Russell can sell the idea that he is a superior candidate -- something that's absolutely true -- he will win.
In my own Pennsylvania congressional district (the 4th, west and north of Pittsburgh), the number of votes cast in 2006 were just over 230,000. However, in the 12th District (south and west of Pittsburgh) – the one represented by John Murtha – there were only 200,000 votes.
What happened to the other 30,000 votes in the 12th? After all, every congressional district has about the same number of people (just under 700,000). So why are there dramatically fewer votes in the 12th?
There are several related reasons. One is that there more unregistered adults in the 4th. Another is that many people there don’t exercise their right to vote.
Why don’t they? In their heart of hearts, many residents don’t believe their votes really count. Sadly, they’re more right than wrong.
In John Murtha’s own Johnstown and surrounding Cambria County, the only people – with rare exceptions – who get elected to office are Democrats. In most cases, Democrat officeholders run either unopposed or with token opposition.
In Murtha’s case, he’s “served” the people of the 12th District for 35 years. He almost never has anything like serious opposition. A partial exception was in 2006 when Diana Lynn Irey ran an intense campaign against Murtha, getting nearly 80,000 votes. Murtha got roughly 120,000 votes.
In many ways, Diana, my friend and political ally, out-campaigned Murtha. For example, she got a total of 7,000 contributions that came from every state in the Union. In contrast, Murtha got 6,500 contributions, although his average donations were much larger than Diana’s.
How on earth can William Trower Russell compete with Murtha? One way is to focus on all those unregistered (or registered but non-voting) people in the 12th.
In my previous column, I mentioned “Mel” (Melanie), an unregistered voter who favors Trower Russell. There are tens of thousands of people like her in the 12th. Trower and his supporters need to get them identified, registered, and committed to his campaign.
People like Melanie recognize that much of what Murtha has supposedly “done” for Johnstown and the 12th consists of government handouts. When Murtha is gone, the annual handouts will go with him.
In short, he has done nothing to help ensure that communities get permanent, sustainable jobs. What he’s “accomplished” is to hand out hundreds of millions in taxpayer money to companies that pay him off with lavish campaign donations. (Read the Seattle Times "favor factory" story on how Murtha trades your tax dollars for campaign contributions.) What he does is legal, but of course it's highly immoral.
William Russell differs from Murtha in that he wants to bring REAL jobs to the 12th District – not government-financed, make work jobs. Frankly, most companies – the ones that provide lifetime employment – want nothing to do with a district represented by a corrupt, bullying tax-and-spend liberal like Murtha.
In my chat with Melanie last week, I said, “You know that eventually all those ‘jobs’ Murtha created are going to dry up?” Melanie, a wise young woman, said: “Bingo. You got that right.”
If William and his supporters – of whom I’m certainly one – establish a strong, continuing voter registration program, it will be possible to eliminate a significant portion of Murtha’s lead.
In short, voter registration is a key. The Russell campaign can do so by telling potential voters this: “It’s true that in the past your vote didn’t count. But there’s a ‘new Sheriff in town,’ and this time your vote is going to make a real difference."
Every weekend between now and the election, Trower and his supporters must be out registering -- and energizing -- potential supporters. There will have to be some handholding that might involve taking people to registration centers through the 12th.
In general, every new voter added with bring along at least one more voter -- sometimes a spouse, sometimes a friend from work or school, and sometimes a neighbor. Register 10,000 new votes and, almost magically, the "synergy" results in about 20,000 votes The approach I'm outlining should appeal to people who are registered but have assumed that voting against Murtha is a hopeless cause. Diana Irey brought a good chunk of those people to the polls in 2006 – and Trower needs to bring the rest of them.
To win in the 12th, Trower will need approximately 115,000 votes. That number assumes he will take roughly 8,000 votes from Murtha. It also assumes that most of the new registrants will vote for Trower.
It’s a steep uphill climb, but with a tremendous effort led by Trower and his campaign manager, Larry Stiles (former Marine), it is doable.
Note: I will reprint this on two of my other blogs: MurthaMustGo and SmartPolitics101. In general, my contributions to those sites will be distinctive, but in this case I'm cross posting.
In remembrance of 9/11/2001, I'm asking all my visitors to make a contribution to Trower Russell at his site. I'm suggesting either $9.11 or $20.01 (or more, if you wish). Thanks for your support!
----------------------------------------
One of the arguments used to support the idea Murtha is unbeatable derives from the very large registration edge held by Democrats in the 12th congressional district. However, a good-sized number of those "registered Democrats" rarely vote Democratic.
The same is true in my own district, the 4th. There are about 50,000 more registered Democrats than Republican. However, Republican Melissa Hart won three congressional elections in the 4th -- and lost only by a slender margin in 2006, a very bad year for Republicans nationally.
In the state of Kentucky, there are 1.6 million registered Democrats and barely one million GOP registrants. Yet Kentucky has four (out of six) Republican congressional representatives, and two Republican U.S. Senators. Until recently, the Govenor of the state was also a Republican, although he was unseated because of a hiring scandal.
Yes, there are more Democrats in the 12th congressional district, but that fact alone will not determine the election results. If Trower Russell can sell the idea that he is a superior candidate -- something that's absolutely true -- he will win.
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
JOHN MURTHA: NOT INVINCIBLE, NOT GOOD FOR AMERICA
I've cross-posted this at another site: http://murthamustgo.blogspot.com
For reasons known mainly to themselves, many voters in the 12th congressional district of PA have a sentimental attachment to John Murtha. Of course, many well-heeled lobbyists have an attachment to Murtha that has nothing to do with sentiment -- and everything to do with money.
As one group after another -- conservative, moderate, and liberal -- has pointed out, Murtha is to political corruption as a pig farm is to bad odors.
There should be consequences -- ranging from bad publicity to boycotts to federal investigations -- for every company that contributes to John Murtha's campaign. It should start with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center -- UPMC -- which gave nearly $200,000 last time and is preparing to do the same in this election cycle. People who believe in good, honest government should have nothing to do with UPMC
Like every congressman on the take, Murtha prefers to run unopposed, which is the usual situation in his district. In 2006, my courageous friend and political ally, Diana Lynn Irey, ran an excellent campaign against "The Prince of Pork." By getting nearly 80,000 votes, Diana heroically established the foundation for a future victory.
Well, the future is now -- and the candidate who can beat Murtha is Lt. Col. William "Trower" Russell. If he's not well-known to you now, he will be soon. Go to his web site at: http://williamrussellforcongress.com.
Of course, one way to beat a political opponent is to outspend him. That won't happen this time. When Murtha puts his votes up for sale, they don't go to the lowest bidder. In his last campaign, he raised nearly $3 million -- and spent about $3.25 million. Those are figures that would impress even Hillary Clinton, who spent less per voter in her last New York Senate campaign than Murtha did in his race against Diana.
Yes, the lobbyists believe that Murtha is the best congressman money can buy. To beat Murtha, William is going to have to outwork him (which isn't too hard given congressman's penchant for laziness) and to outsmart him.
I've urged William to follow the example of Christine Todd Whitman, who almost beat the much-better-known Bill Bradley in a 1990 New Jersey Senate race. He spent more than $11 million, while she spent $900,000. He won by two percentage points, a dismal showing that ended his aspirations to run for President.
Bradley spent about $5 million on TV ads, while Mrs. Whitman spent almost nothing on such commercials. She relied mostly on a much less expensive medium, radio.
A candidate like William will have a strong core of supporters, about 35%-40% of the voters in the 12th district. He should win almost all the Republicans -- and a solid majority of the independents.
I've discussed how William can establish that Murtha is NOT a Western PA Democrat, but rather someone who panders to the Pelosi-wing of the Party.
Yes, some Democrats will vote vote for Murtha out of habit. But many Democrats in the 12th District will be very uncomfortable with a man -- Murtha -- who shares few if any of their values. Democrats for Russell.
Frankly, most Democrats in America (81% according to polls) want America to win in Iraq. In contrast, 19% of them want our country to lose -- and, by all appearances, Jack Murtha is one them.
His disgraceful accusations against the Haditha Marines prove that the congressman cares more about his standing with the Pelosi Democrats than he does about our country's standing in the world. He's obviously more interested in winning re-election than in winning a crucial war.
Russell supporters must NOT be inward looking. In other words, we must do more than talk to one another. We need to reach out -- to family, friends, and acquaintances. For example, active military and veterans will back William in large numbers, but they need to promote his campaign to friends, family members, and acquaintances.
We need to keep talking, e-mailing, and blogging about the need to back William Russell.The goal is to make the name William "Trower" Russell a household name. In the Irey Campaign, I saluted the efforts of two young people, Josh and Amanda, who -- in just one day -- made 500 phone calls on Diana's behalf.Give William 500 people like Josh and Amanda, and he will win this race.
I hope each person who reads this will make a decision to be a "Josh" or an "Amanda." If we keep promoting William's candidacy, one year from now -- on Election Day -- we will have accomplished something of great importance to our country.
steve maloney
ambridge, pa
Afterthoughts
I'm a fan of "political multiplication," a form of what's sometimes called viral marketing. When two people tell two others about William's values and history, he will have four supporters. If all of them keep on telling others, then sooner or later, tens of thousands of people have been "told" about William's merits.
The hard part, of course, is keeping it up -- as Josh and Amanda kept making one phone after another. If there's a great core of people -- and William is getting such a core -- the advocacy of his candidacy will take on a life of its own.
To put it in it plain talk: yes, William wants the support of every member of the American Legion in the 12th District. But beyond that, he wants the support of everyone around them.
Telling many others about William's efforts -- and his lifelong commitment on behalf of America -- truly can be one of those "gifts" that keeps on giving.
For reasons known mainly to themselves, many voters in the 12th congressional district of PA have a sentimental attachment to John Murtha. Of course, many well-heeled lobbyists have an attachment to Murtha that has nothing to do with sentiment -- and everything to do with money.
As one group after another -- conservative, moderate, and liberal -- has pointed out, Murtha is to political corruption as a pig farm is to bad odors.
There should be consequences -- ranging from bad publicity to boycotts to federal investigations -- for every company that contributes to John Murtha's campaign. It should start with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center -- UPMC -- which gave nearly $200,000 last time and is preparing to do the same in this election cycle. People who believe in good, honest government should have nothing to do with UPMC
Like every congressman on the take, Murtha prefers to run unopposed, which is the usual situation in his district. In 2006, my courageous friend and political ally, Diana Lynn Irey, ran an excellent campaign against "The Prince of Pork." By getting nearly 80,000 votes, Diana heroically established the foundation for a future victory.
Well, the future is now -- and the candidate who can beat Murtha is Lt. Col. William "Trower" Russell. If he's not well-known to you now, he will be soon. Go to his web site at: http://williamrussellforcongress.com.
Of course, one way to beat a political opponent is to outspend him. That won't happen this time. When Murtha puts his votes up for sale, they don't go to the lowest bidder. In his last campaign, he raised nearly $3 million -- and spent about $3.25 million. Those are figures that would impress even Hillary Clinton, who spent less per voter in her last New York Senate campaign than Murtha did in his race against Diana.
Yes, the lobbyists believe that Murtha is the best congressman money can buy. To beat Murtha, William is going to have to outwork him (which isn't too hard given congressman's penchant for laziness) and to outsmart him.
I've urged William to follow the example of Christine Todd Whitman, who almost beat the much-better-known Bill Bradley in a 1990 New Jersey Senate race. He spent more than $11 million, while she spent $900,000. He won by two percentage points, a dismal showing that ended his aspirations to run for President.
Bradley spent about $5 million on TV ads, while Mrs. Whitman spent almost nothing on such commercials. She relied mostly on a much less expensive medium, radio.
A candidate like William will have a strong core of supporters, about 35%-40% of the voters in the 12th district. He should win almost all the Republicans -- and a solid majority of the independents.
I've discussed how William can establish that Murtha is NOT a Western PA Democrat, but rather someone who panders to the Pelosi-wing of the Party.
Yes, some Democrats will vote vote for Murtha out of habit. But many Democrats in the 12th District will be very uncomfortable with a man -- Murtha -- who shares few if any of their values. Democrats for Russell.
Frankly, most Democrats in America (81% according to polls) want America to win in Iraq. In contrast, 19% of them want our country to lose -- and, by all appearances, Jack Murtha is one them.
His disgraceful accusations against the Haditha Marines prove that the congressman cares more about his standing with the Pelosi Democrats than he does about our country's standing in the world. He's obviously more interested in winning re-election than in winning a crucial war.
Russell supporters must NOT be inward looking. In other words, we must do more than talk to one another. We need to reach out -- to family, friends, and acquaintances. For example, active military and veterans will back William in large numbers, but they need to promote his campaign to friends, family members, and acquaintances.
We need to keep talking, e-mailing, and blogging about the need to back William Russell.The goal is to make the name William "Trower" Russell a household name. In the Irey Campaign, I saluted the efforts of two young people, Josh and Amanda, who -- in just one day -- made 500 phone calls on Diana's behalf.Give William 500 people like Josh and Amanda, and he will win this race.
I hope each person who reads this will make a decision to be a "Josh" or an "Amanda." If we keep promoting William's candidacy, one year from now -- on Election Day -- we will have accomplished something of great importance to our country.
steve maloney
ambridge, pa
Afterthoughts
I'm a fan of "political multiplication," a form of what's sometimes called viral marketing. When two people tell two others about William's values and history, he will have four supporters. If all of them keep on telling others, then sooner or later, tens of thousands of people have been "told" about William's merits.
The hard part, of course, is keeping it up -- as Josh and Amanda kept making one phone after another. If there's a great core of people -- and William is getting such a core -- the advocacy of his candidacy will take on a life of its own.
To put it in it plain talk: yes, William wants the support of every member of the American Legion in the 12th District. But beyond that, he wants the support of everyone around them.
Telling many others about William's efforts -- and his lifelong commitment on behalf of America -- truly can be one of those "gifts" that keeps on giving.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Republicans: How to Win Elections by "Walking Around"
Note: Please take a look at the previous columns regarding William Russell's important race against John Murtha.
One-sentence summary of today's column: The candidate should find people who know "everybody" (figuratively) in a town or small city, gain their confidence, and have them introduce him or her to all influential people in the immediate area.
Because I live with a disabled spouse and a disabled stepdaughter, I don’t get out as much as I should. Consequently, I spend a whole lot of time on the Internet, doing work for a couple of companies (including one in Illinois and one in Michigan) and conducting my political activity in support of several Republican candidates.
The Internet can be a great tool, especially for political candidates who aren’t exactly swimming in money (like William Russell, who’s running against John Murtha). However, it’s not enough by itself.
A successful political candidate – and I’ll do all in my power to see that William wins his race – has to make contact with the right people. Yes, because you can’t run a campaign with money, some of those “right people” will be those who regularly help raises funds for Republican candidates. I’m hoping people in the 12th District – and adjoining areas – will help William raise funds.
Two of those people are Diana Irey, who ran against Murtha in 2006 and raised nearly $900,000, and Republican Mark DeSantis, who’s running a remarkable campaign for Mayor of Pittsburgh – and reportedly might raise about $300,000.
But there are other “right people” who are equally important. They’re the individuals Malcolm Gladwell (in his book The Tipping Point) calls connectors, mavens, and salesmen.
Connectors are individuals whose “hobby” is . . . meeting other people. As Gladwell says, “They are the kinds of people who know everyone.” Some connectors literally know a thousand or more men and women. Yes, they’re rare, but they exist in just about town with more than two stop lights.
A candidate like William should never be alone. When he finds a connector – a police officer, a mail deliverer, or an insurance agent – he should walk around with them and get introduced to some of the people they know. There are connectors in Johnstown, Monongahela, Washington, Greensburg, and the other towns in the 12th District. They aren’t too hard to find, and if you quiz them, they’ll tell you who the other connectors are.
The connectors probably can tell someone like William who the mavens are. They’re individuals who know a lot about various matters. Mavens are the ones we all go to for advice on a variety of subjects.
Often, they’re the kind of people who read Consumer Reports cover-to-cover. Mavens know who the best real estate agent is – and which kind of cars have the best warranties. Political mavens – Adam Brickley who found the “Draft Sarah Palin” effort is one and I’m another – are the experts on candidates.
The salesmen (or saleswomen) excel at getting people to buy things – from products to candidates. They’re very good at persuading people. Often, they head up a small business that’s so successful it’s becoming a large business. Nicole Cavoti, a sorority sister in college of Melissa Hart, is one such people, and she just sold me and my wife an IRA plan.
One of the most important things a political candidate can do is to find the connectors, mavens, and salesmen. He or she must also ask for their support and work as closely with them as he can.
Many years ago – I believe Nixon was still President – I met two African-American men who did public relations work for the Republican Party. I asked them how Republicans could get more Black votes.
They told me: “Go to the beauty parlor operators and haircut people, the ministers, and the small businesspeople. They all vote – unlike the people standing around on street corners – and they know everybody else who votes.” Bingo!
The two public relations men were talking – without using the terms – about connectors, mavens, and salesmen. Win enough of them, and the candidate wins the election.
There are African-Americans – two of them are my neighbors – who know just about every Black person who’s a “likely voter” in Ambridge, PA, where I live. Get my neighbors on your side, and it could translate into a lot of votes. To meet small businessmen in Ambridge, the person to see is John Dunn, who spent more than 30 years as an insurance agent.
As you can see, I’m somewhat “old school.” I don’t believe in spending hundreds of thousands – or millions – on TV advertising. People are becoming immune (as Malcolm Gladwell noted recently) to political ads. Apparently, however, they aren’t becoming immune to a real candidate’s VOICE on radio ads.
Radio is relatively cheap, and TV is expensive (no relatively about it). When all else is equal, go for the cheaper alternative.
A campaign that emphasizes winning the right people is the right approach for a candidate like William Russell.
(Note: I’ll write more in the future about a low-cost, high-impact campaign. The Malcolm Gladwell book has excellent material on how Mayor Giuliani and Police Chief Bratton brought about a massive decrease in crime in New York City in the 1990s.)
Afterthought: If I were William Russell, one place I’d look for money and support is in Democratic congressman Mike Doyle’s City of Pittsburgh district. Doyle raises a lot of money, but he generally runs unopposed.
But there are tens of thousands of Republicans – although not enough to win the Doyle seat – in Pittsburgh. A candidate like William might seek contributions from Republicans in the Doyle district and perhaps pick up several campaign volunteers. It would be a shame merely to ignore the Republicans there. Call it the “Adopt a Candidate” approach.
Trower
William T Russell
PO BOX 630
Johnstown, Pennsylvania 15907
www.williamrussellforcongress.com
william.russell@williamrussellforcongress.com
(814) 248-3435
One-sentence summary of today's column: The candidate should find people who know "everybody" (figuratively) in a town or small city, gain their confidence, and have them introduce him or her to all influential people in the immediate area.
Because I live with a disabled spouse and a disabled stepdaughter, I don’t get out as much as I should. Consequently, I spend a whole lot of time on the Internet, doing work for a couple of companies (including one in Illinois and one in Michigan) and conducting my political activity in support of several Republican candidates.
The Internet can be a great tool, especially for political candidates who aren’t exactly swimming in money (like William Russell, who’s running against John Murtha). However, it’s not enough by itself.
A successful political candidate – and I’ll do all in my power to see that William wins his race – has to make contact with the right people. Yes, because you can’t run a campaign with money, some of those “right people” will be those who regularly help raises funds for Republican candidates. I’m hoping people in the 12th District – and adjoining areas – will help William raise funds.
Two of those people are Diana Irey, who ran against Murtha in 2006 and raised nearly $900,000, and Republican Mark DeSantis, who’s running a remarkable campaign for Mayor of Pittsburgh – and reportedly might raise about $300,000.
But there are other “right people” who are equally important. They’re the individuals Malcolm Gladwell (in his book The Tipping Point) calls connectors, mavens, and salesmen.
Connectors are individuals whose “hobby” is . . . meeting other people. As Gladwell says, “They are the kinds of people who know everyone.” Some connectors literally know a thousand or more men and women. Yes, they’re rare, but they exist in just about town with more than two stop lights.
A candidate like William should never be alone. When he finds a connector – a police officer, a mail deliverer, or an insurance agent – he should walk around with them and get introduced to some of the people they know. There are connectors in Johnstown, Monongahela, Washington, Greensburg, and the other towns in the 12th District. They aren’t too hard to find, and if you quiz them, they’ll tell you who the other connectors are.
The connectors probably can tell someone like William who the mavens are. They’re individuals who know a lot about various matters. Mavens are the ones we all go to for advice on a variety of subjects.
Often, they’re the kind of people who read Consumer Reports cover-to-cover. Mavens know who the best real estate agent is – and which kind of cars have the best warranties. Political mavens – Adam Brickley who found the “Draft Sarah Palin” effort is one and I’m another – are the experts on candidates.
The salesmen (or saleswomen) excel at getting people to buy things – from products to candidates. They’re very good at persuading people. Often, they head up a small business that’s so successful it’s becoming a large business. Nicole Cavoti, a sorority sister in college of Melissa Hart, is one such people, and she just sold me and my wife an IRA plan.
One of the most important things a political candidate can do is to find the connectors, mavens, and salesmen. He or she must also ask for their support and work as closely with them as he can.
Many years ago – I believe Nixon was still President – I met two African-American men who did public relations work for the Republican Party. I asked them how Republicans could get more Black votes.
They told me: “Go to the beauty parlor operators and haircut people, the ministers, and the small businesspeople. They all vote – unlike the people standing around on street corners – and they know everybody else who votes.” Bingo!
The two public relations men were talking – without using the terms – about connectors, mavens, and salesmen. Win enough of them, and the candidate wins the election.
There are African-Americans – two of them are my neighbors – who know just about every Black person who’s a “likely voter” in Ambridge, PA, where I live. Get my neighbors on your side, and it could translate into a lot of votes. To meet small businessmen in Ambridge, the person to see is John Dunn, who spent more than 30 years as an insurance agent.
As you can see, I’m somewhat “old school.” I don’t believe in spending hundreds of thousands – or millions – on TV advertising. People are becoming immune (as Malcolm Gladwell noted recently) to political ads. Apparently, however, they aren’t becoming immune to a real candidate’s VOICE on radio ads.
Radio is relatively cheap, and TV is expensive (no relatively about it). When all else is equal, go for the cheaper alternative.
A campaign that emphasizes winning the right people is the right approach for a candidate like William Russell.
(Note: I’ll write more in the future about a low-cost, high-impact campaign. The Malcolm Gladwell book has excellent material on how Mayor Giuliani and Police Chief Bratton brought about a massive decrease in crime in New York City in the 1990s.)
Afterthought: If I were William Russell, one place I’d look for money and support is in Democratic congressman Mike Doyle’s City of Pittsburgh district. Doyle raises a lot of money, but he generally runs unopposed.
But there are tens of thousands of Republicans – although not enough to win the Doyle seat – in Pittsburgh. A candidate like William might seek contributions from Republicans in the Doyle district and perhaps pick up several campaign volunteers. It would be a shame merely to ignore the Republicans there. Call it the “Adopt a Candidate” approach.
Trower
William T Russell
PO BOX 630
Johnstown, Pennsylvania 15907
www.williamrussellforcongress.com
william.russell@williamrussellforcongress.com
(814) 248-3435
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Sarah Palin: You're Invited to a Key PA Political Reception
"We must all hang together, or most assuredly we will all hang separately." -- Benjamin Franklin
Although I've scaled back slightly my role in the effort to Draft Sarah Palin for V-P on the Republican ticket in 2008, I continue to believe she would be the best candidate in that role. However, given the fact that Republicans appear likely to lose big in 2008 -- as in lose the presidency, lose an additional 5-6 seats in the Senate, and drop an addition 10-12 seats in the House, Sarah needs to choose her steps wisely.
Given her tremendous record of accomplishment and her reputation for decency, honesty, and selflessness, Sarah has an excellent chance to become President of the U.S. It could happen in a race against Hillary Clinton in 2012, but it would be more likely to happen in 2016 -- perhaps in a race against someone like Barack Obama.
Right now, in 2007, the Republican Party is going through a sorting out process. The extreme segment of the evangelical wing of the GOP is seriously threatening to take its ball and stay away on election day -- if Mike Huckabee (a longshot) doesn't win the nomination. A candidate like Rudy Giuliani is very willing to bid bon voyage to the evangelical extremists, especially people like Dr. Laurence White who seemingly has a deep hatred of a pluralistic and diverse America.
Frankly, the Republican Party would be better off without such people. Their "my-way-or-the-highway" approach has an element of extreme creepiness. They have no understanding of what politics is: the building of coalitions between people who agree on most issues but disagree on some.
In the meantime, an extremely attractive candidate like Sarah should continue building her base of support. She should be making contact with the people who are the future of the Republican Party.
For example, Sarah should initiate discreet contacts with people who are backing her on the blogosphere. One of those people is Adam Brickley, who blogs at: http://palinforvp.blogspot.com/ There are many others, as illustrated on my blogroll. Cindy at http://thepinkflamingo.blogharbor/blog/ is going to play a role in who gets nominated and who gets elected.
Sarah should also be establishing connections with elected officials and others who can help in the future with organization and fund-raising. For example, it would be an excellent idea for her to attend an important meeting on October 3 just outside Pittsburgh, PA.
The Diana Lynn Irey Campaign Committee is having a session called "She [Diana] Means Business" on October 3, 2007. It will involve a roundtable discussion featuring Diana (who ran in 2006 against John Murtha), former Senator Rick Santorum, former Congresswoman (and an announced congressional candidate for 2008) Melissa Hart, and PA State Senator James Pippy.
Take a look at: http;//irey.com.
Santorum, Irey, and Hart have national reputations. Hart was the first female elected to Congress from Pennsylvania, and she's a strong fundraiser. Santorum lost in 2006, but he raised $27 million in campaign contributions. Irey generated 7,000 campaign contributions -- 500 more than Murtha.
Hart and Santorum both occupied important leadership roles in Congress. When it comes to important Republicans, they know them all. Santorum served in Congress with John McCain, Fred Thompson, and Sam Brownback. He's also close to Rudy Giuliani, who campaigned hard for Rick in Pennsylvania.
As for State Senator James Pippy, he's an Iraq war veteran. He has great potential to become a future Governor or Senator in Pennsylvania.
These people -- all of them in their 40s -- are scrupulously honest. Their philosophical and political beliefs are not poll-driven. In fact, the political figure they most resemble -- in terms of honesty and sincerity -- is probably Sarah herself.
Yes, Alaska is a long way from western Pennsylvania. However, it would be a political stroke of genius for Sarah to attend this get-together if it's at all possible.
On the long road back to Republican political respectability, people like Rick, Diana, Melissa, and James will play crucial roles. They should all be helping each other in this effort. Specifically, they should be sharing lists of supporters and contributors.
If any of the many Bloggers for Palin would like to attend this important meeting, let me know (comments or TalkTop65@aol.com), let me know, and I'll help with the arrangements. It will give you the opportunity to meet and discuss issues with people who truly are the future of the GOP.
Irey-Santorum-Hart-Pippy: How many of these people am I going to ask to support Sarah Palin for the highest national offices? Why, all of them. It would help if Sarah were there in the flesh.
Details of the Santorum-Irey-Hart-Pippy Meeting:
October 3, 2007
Solutions Consulting Building
370 Southpointe Boulevard
Canonsburg, PA
Roundtable Discussion at 5 p.m.
Reception from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.
CANDIDATES THIS BLOG STRONGLY SUPPORTS: HEATHER A. WILSON & DIANA LYNN IREY
[Note on Heather A. Wilson: Aside from its first paragraph and one other, the Wikipedia biographical piece on Heather A. Wilson, a Republican congresswoman from Albuquerque, is mainly a malicious caricature. A more accurate view of Rep. Wilson is available in the analysis of her 2006 race in OpenSecrets.org.
Born in Keene, New Hampshire, Wilson joined the United States Air Force at the age of seventeen, graduating magna cum laude from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1982. A Rhodes Scholar, she continued her education at Jesus College, Oxford University, earning a D.Phil.. in International Relations.
Upon leaving the Air Force in 1989, Wilson became Director for European Defense Policy and Arms Control on the National Security Council. After leaving government, she founded Keystone International, Inc. in 1991 to promote business development in the United States and Russia. She is the former Secretary of the New Mexico Children, Youth and Family Department.
Wikipedia doesn't tell you the following, but Heather Wilson represents a district that is 43% Hispanic. In the past two elections, she's opposed -- and beaten -- extremely well-financed Hispanics, Richard Romero and Patricia Madrid. Rep,. Wilson is one of the best fund-raisers of any Republican candidate, and that's been a big factor in her electoral success. She's regularly accused of imaginary "wrongs" by the the Albuquerque daily newspaper and various Democrats.
Almost amazingly, she's the only female military veteran in the Congress. She's also a much-admired expert on national security issues. She is strongly against abortion, opposed to blanket amnesty for illegal immigrants, and against most tax increases -- all positions that explain some of the extreme hostility she gets from the far-left. Her political position is best described as center-right. She has an independent streak that appeals to voters in her district.
Heather is a remarkable woman and well-qualified to be any of the following: a U. S. Senator, a Vice-President, or a President. Anyone concerned about the future of the Republican Party should support -- and contribute financially to -- Heather Wilson.
Diana Lynn Irey (born 20 August 1962) serves as a County Commissioner of Washington County, Pennsylvania. She was first elected in 1995 and has been twice re-elected. She's currently running for another term.
Irey lives in Carroll Township, Pennsylvania, with her husband Robert and their three children. She is a 1981 graduate of West Virginia Business College. She was a Republican Congressional candidate running against Democratic Congressman John Murtha in the United States House election, 2006 in Pennsylvania's 12th congressional district.
In a district where Murtha usually wins by acclamation, Diana Irey garnered 80,000 votes. She received financial contributions from every state -- a total of 7,000 -- and raised nearly $900,000. Murtha received most of his contributions from the lobbyists in Maryland and Virginia and ended up with an eye-popping $3.5 million. In fact, he raised more money per vote than Hillary Clinton did in New York state. However, his total contributions were 6,500, 500 less than Diana.
Diana Irey built a strong national following among members of the military and their families. She received many small contributions from soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq.
An evangelical Christian and a compassionate, caring person, Diana is dedicated to the U.S. winning the War on Terror, safeguarding U.S. borders, and simplifying the tax code. She's married and the mother of three children.
She will be back.
Stephen R. Maloney
.
Although I've scaled back slightly my role in the effort to Draft Sarah Palin for V-P on the Republican ticket in 2008, I continue to believe she would be the best candidate in that role. However, given the fact that Republicans appear likely to lose big in 2008 -- as in lose the presidency, lose an additional 5-6 seats in the Senate, and drop an addition 10-12 seats in the House, Sarah needs to choose her steps wisely.
Given her tremendous record of accomplishment and her reputation for decency, honesty, and selflessness, Sarah has an excellent chance to become President of the U.S. It could happen in a race against Hillary Clinton in 2012, but it would be more likely to happen in 2016 -- perhaps in a race against someone like Barack Obama.
Right now, in 2007, the Republican Party is going through a sorting out process. The extreme segment of the evangelical wing of the GOP is seriously threatening to take its ball and stay away on election day -- if Mike Huckabee (a longshot) doesn't win the nomination. A candidate like Rudy Giuliani is very willing to bid bon voyage to the evangelical extremists, especially people like Dr. Laurence White who seemingly has a deep hatred of a pluralistic and diverse America.
Frankly, the Republican Party would be better off without such people. Their "my-way-or-the-highway" approach has an element of extreme creepiness. They have no understanding of what politics is: the building of coalitions between people who agree on most issues but disagree on some.
In the meantime, an extremely attractive candidate like Sarah should continue building her base of support. She should be making contact with the people who are the future of the Republican Party.
For example, Sarah should initiate discreet contacts with people who are backing her on the blogosphere. One of those people is Adam Brickley, who blogs at: http://palinforvp.blogspot.com/ There are many others, as illustrated on my blogroll. Cindy at http://thepinkflamingo.blogharbor/blog/ is going to play a role in who gets nominated and who gets elected.
Sarah should also be establishing connections with elected officials and others who can help in the future with organization and fund-raising. For example, it would be an excellent idea for her to attend an important meeting on October 3 just outside Pittsburgh, PA.
The Diana Lynn Irey Campaign Committee is having a session called "She [Diana] Means Business" on October 3, 2007. It will involve a roundtable discussion featuring Diana (who ran in 2006 against John Murtha), former Senator Rick Santorum, former Congresswoman (and an announced congressional candidate for 2008) Melissa Hart, and PA State Senator James Pippy.
Take a look at: http;//irey.com.
Santorum, Irey, and Hart have national reputations. Hart was the first female elected to Congress from Pennsylvania, and she's a strong fundraiser. Santorum lost in 2006, but he raised $27 million in campaign contributions. Irey generated 7,000 campaign contributions -- 500 more than Murtha.
Hart and Santorum both occupied important leadership roles in Congress. When it comes to important Republicans, they know them all. Santorum served in Congress with John McCain, Fred Thompson, and Sam Brownback. He's also close to Rudy Giuliani, who campaigned hard for Rick in Pennsylvania.
As for State Senator James Pippy, he's an Iraq war veteran. He has great potential to become a future Governor or Senator in Pennsylvania.
These people -- all of them in their 40s -- are scrupulously honest. Their philosophical and political beliefs are not poll-driven. In fact, the political figure they most resemble -- in terms of honesty and sincerity -- is probably Sarah herself.
Yes, Alaska is a long way from western Pennsylvania. However, it would be a political stroke of genius for Sarah to attend this get-together if it's at all possible.
On the long road back to Republican political respectability, people like Rick, Diana, Melissa, and James will play crucial roles. They should all be helping each other in this effort. Specifically, they should be sharing lists of supporters and contributors.
If any of the many Bloggers for Palin would like to attend this important meeting, let me know (comments or TalkTop65@aol.com), let me know, and I'll help with the arrangements. It will give you the opportunity to meet and discuss issues with people who truly are the future of the GOP.
Irey-Santorum-Hart-Pippy: How many of these people am I going to ask to support Sarah Palin for the highest national offices? Why, all of them. It would help if Sarah were there in the flesh.
Details of the Santorum-Irey-Hart-Pippy Meeting:
October 3, 2007
Solutions Consulting Building
370 Southpointe Boulevard
Canonsburg, PA
Roundtable Discussion at 5 p.m.
Reception from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.
CANDIDATES THIS BLOG STRONGLY SUPPORTS: HEATHER A. WILSON & DIANA LYNN IREY
[Note on Heather A. Wilson: Aside from its first paragraph and one other, the Wikipedia biographical piece on Heather A. Wilson, a Republican congresswoman from Albuquerque, is mainly a malicious caricature. A more accurate view of Rep. Wilson is available in the analysis of her 2006 race in OpenSecrets.org.
Born in Keene, New Hampshire, Wilson joined the United States Air Force at the age of seventeen, graduating magna cum laude from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1982. A Rhodes Scholar, she continued her education at Jesus College, Oxford University, earning a D.Phil.. in International Relations.
Upon leaving the Air Force in 1989, Wilson became Director for European Defense Policy and Arms Control on the National Security Council. After leaving government, she founded Keystone International, Inc. in 1991 to promote business development in the United States and Russia. She is the former Secretary of the New Mexico Children, Youth and Family Department.
Wikipedia doesn't tell you the following, but Heather Wilson represents a district that is 43% Hispanic. In the past two elections, she's opposed -- and beaten -- extremely well-financed Hispanics, Richard Romero and Patricia Madrid. Rep,. Wilson is one of the best fund-raisers of any Republican candidate, and that's been a big factor in her electoral success. She's regularly accused of imaginary "wrongs" by the the Albuquerque daily newspaper and various Democrats.
Almost amazingly, she's the only female military veteran in the Congress. She's also a much-admired expert on national security issues. She is strongly against abortion, opposed to blanket amnesty for illegal immigrants, and against most tax increases -- all positions that explain some of the extreme hostility she gets from the far-left. Her political position is best described as center-right. She has an independent streak that appeals to voters in her district.
Heather is a remarkable woman and well-qualified to be any of the following: a U. S. Senator, a Vice-President, or a President. Anyone concerned about the future of the Republican Party should support -- and contribute financially to -- Heather Wilson.
Diana Lynn Irey (born 20 August 1962) serves as a County Commissioner of Washington County, Pennsylvania. She was first elected in 1995 and has been twice re-elected. She's currently running for another term.
Irey lives in Carroll Township, Pennsylvania, with her husband Robert and their three children. She is a 1981 graduate of West Virginia Business College. She was a Republican Congressional candidate running against Democratic Congressman John Murtha in the United States House election, 2006 in Pennsylvania's 12th congressional district.
In a district where Murtha usually wins by acclamation, Diana Irey garnered 80,000 votes. She received financial contributions from every state -- a total of 7,000 -- and raised nearly $900,000. Murtha received most of his contributions from the lobbyists in Maryland and Virginia and ended up with an eye-popping $3.5 million. In fact, he raised more money per vote than Hillary Clinton did in New York state. However, his total contributions were 6,500, 500 less than Diana.
Diana Irey built a strong national following among members of the military and their families. She received many small contributions from soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq.
An evangelical Christian and a compassionate, caring person, Diana is dedicated to the U.S. winning the War on Terror, safeguarding U.S. borders, and simplifying the tax code. She's married and the mother of three children.
She will be back.
Stephen R. Maloney
.
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