DelawarePolitics.net

Guest Opinion by Shaun Fink

In a recent edition of the Wilmington News Journal (Tuesday, Feb 2 2010), we were reintroduced to the saga of the table top French Fry machine which claimed its fame last year when it received $50,000 from Delaware’s FY 2010 Bond Bill in a rather conspicuous fashion.

The back story on the machine’s inventor, Fry Manufacturing’s ties to State Senator Robert Venables has been well documented (Venables chairs the Bond Bill Committee and is related to the company’s co-owner, Mike Ruggiero by marriage).

So, what was the issue this time? Well, it seems that Fry Manufacturing is upset with our very own DEDO (Delaware Economic Development Office) for not supporting their bid to take even more of our taxpayer’s dollars. They are threatening to go out of state, and take their jobs with them. Virginia, they say, is the next state they will peddle in an attempt to garner easy money.

Now, this is the part that needs to be examined: why does Fry Manufacturing believe that the state of Delaware ought to be in the capital investment game? Is it the state’s place to place taxpayer dollars at risk in a venture capital fashion? Isn’t that the role of the private sector, and why is Fry Manufacturing not seeking to capitalize in the same way as any other enterprise? So many questions, with one simple answer; risk assessment. It is much easier and requires much less risk to assume debt in the form of governmental economic development because no one will come lock the doors if you are late on a few payments as happens when dealing with a bank. Additionally, to seek assistance from a private venture capital source, such as an Angel Fund, requires the forfeiture of a large portion of business ownership. Neither of those avenues are as attractive as simply seeking to take more of our money in the form of low-interest government loans.

The government itself doesn’t deserve all of the blame. Many individuals share the credit for expecting the government to provide, provide, provide well beyond its constitutional scope. In fact, it brings to mind the famous quote of President John F. Kennedy, “ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.” Somewhere in all the recent talk of hope and change, the message of personal initiative and perspiration has been replaced by the idea of spreading the wealth.

It begs the bigger question of government’s role in the economy. Should the State of Delaware be in the business picking winners and losers? Should taxpayers be on the hook for a private company’s failure – whether that company is AIG, a bank, or an upstart French fry vending company? Or, is government’s proper role to simply set a fiscal and tax policy that is conducive to an entrepreneurial society full of hardworking men and women who are indeed willing to take the necessary risks involved with starting or expanding a business and creating jobs.

There is one silver lining to this cloud, however. DEDO said no. They chose to do the right thing, and kudos for it. The government, of course, cannot and should not pick winners and losers. Who are they to know who will succeed and who will fail? And they most certainly should not be using taxpayer dollars to make investments such as the $50,000 included in the FY 2010 Bond Bill for Fry Manufacturing, LLC. 50k which will be lost is Ruggiero is successful in obtaining funds from Virginians.

There were no strings attached to the $50,000, and now, the company is looking to Virginia for more funding following the state of Delaware’s refusal to provide more money. According to Alan Levin, Director of the Delaware Economic Development Office, the decision to not award more money was made back in October.

Typically, funds such as those received by Fry Manufacturing, LLC would be approved through the Council on Development Finance which would have the ability to build in requirements for the recipient to produce a certain number of jobs or meet various other metrics. However, because this money was dispersed through the Bond Bill, no such stipulations were built in.

The way this situation unfolded serves as reinforcement for increased transparency in government – specifically as it pertains to spending decisions. Fortunately, the budget committees are now supposedly open for any and all to see – a move which should limit similar situations in the future.

As Secretary Levin points out in The News Journal coverage of this recent development, if the company was poised for success and had orders for the machine, then a bank would likely provide the loan. Given the state’s fiscal situation, the absence of private support and the nepotistic nature of the original funding, the state rightly decided to not invest more money in the company.

In the end, if the only way we can convince Fry Manufacturing, LLC to stay in Delaware is to keep feeding them taxpayer dollars, then there is only one word left to say. Goodbye.

I didn’t have a real preference in this Super Bowl. There are no real local preferences and while I respect both teams, I can’t get really excited about this whole thing.   I was really just hoping for a tight competitive game.   If anything I was leaning towards the Saints for a couple of reasons. 

One reason for my Saints’ preference is Marquess Colston who I got to see at Delaware Stadium while he was playing for Hofstra.  I also have some loyalty to Bryan Westbrook and the Eagles for the Same reason. 

My second reason is Darren Sharper, another Saints player who also visited Newark. 

Just to demonstrate some consistency, I liked earlier the Arizona Cardinals who had UD player Ben Patrick and UR Grad Tim Hightower.  In addition to the Eagles having Westbrook they also have Delaware State Grad Jamaal Jackson.  Quite frankly losing Jackson to an ACL knee injury really hurt the Eagles in the playoffs.  The substitute for Jackson was not near his quality as a center and it hurt the Eagles. 

My sympathies for this and any other game had no political concern despite the fact that I am interested in politics. 

Imagine my surprise, when I told a friend that I was ever so slightly leaning to the Saints, that the Liberals had determined that Republicans preferred the Colts and Liberals/Democrats preferred the Saints. 

Now as a Conservative, I don’t make daily decisions about my life based on ideology.  If I like a particular sports team, I don’t really care if Liberals or Conservatives agree with me.  I like who I like for my own reasons.  My friend directed me to the local Liberal Web site and sure enough they had the politically correct football team to root for in this game. 

It seems they have a poll where more Republicans prefer the Colts and more Democrats prefer the Saints.  Why anyone should decide to make a choice about the preference for a particular football team based on what other Republicans or Democrats think is beyond me.  If 100% of Republicans wanted Villanova to win a UD / Nova game, I would not even go there. 

The post which was forwarded to me by email, brought up the move of the Baltimore Colts to Indianopolis in the 1980’s.  As a former Baltimore Colts fan this was a particularly nasty aspect of pro sports.  Moving Sports franchises is a sore point with me.  Jim Irsay, was the owner who made this move.  He is gone.  I attended the first INDY Colts game in Philly and let my feelings known.  Irsay said he left Baltimore for lack of fan support.  I question this but if my liberal friends want to punish Indy forever than I would suggest some other miscreants who should never get the liberal go ahead.

Oakland Raiders: Al Davis moved this team from Oakland to Los Angeles.  It was only after the Oakland authorities sweetened the deal (at taxpayer expense) that Davis moved the team back to Oakland.  Since Oakland has been the home of radical leftists for years I don’t see Liberals holding to their standard that this team should be punised forever. 

Chicago; St. Louis; Arizona Cardinals:  These guys invented the NFL traveling circus.  If you Don’t make enough money at home?  Move

Los Angeles; San Diego Chargers:  Yeah these guys moved and there are deals trying to get them to move back to LA.  If this happens Liberals will love it as San Diego is  more Conservative friendly.  LA is home to liberal fruit cakes.  There will be no liberal peanalty for this type of move. 

Boston; New England; almost Connecticut Patriots:  These guys are champs at holding up local taxpayers for new stadiums and facilities.  The Pats moved out of Boston to Foxboro (at taxpayer expense)  and then held up the state of Massachusetts for a another  sweetheart deal when  Connecticut came courting  (this is the stadium where the University of Connecticut currently plays their home games) .  The Pats are now playing in a new taxpayer paid for stadium in Mass. that was the result of their Connecticut blackmail scheme.  Folks in Baltimore should have learned sooner. 

Houston Oilers/ Tennessee Titans:  The voters of Houston voted down a referendum to finance a new stadium for the Oilers.  The Oilers  moved they are now the Titans. 

Los Angeles Rams/ St. Louis Rams: How one can make money in St. Louis and not LA just shows me that West Coast Liberals don’t really care about their football teams. 

Cleveland Browns/ Baltimore Ravens:  Yes the town that the Liberals cite as the original victim, 15 years ago,  stole a perfectly fine, competitive, and locally supported  team from another blue collar town.  If we should diss INDY then any consistent person  should also diss the Ravens. 

I won’t.  I don’t pick my teams based on politics.  I am not a liberal and so I don’t make those types of personal decisions based on politics. 

At any rate I lean slightly to the Saints.  They have players I have seen in College and they have never won before. Indy won a couple of years back.  I still have hope for the Eagles.  Every dog deserves his day.

Perhaps I have been in a Scrooge type mood this year but my personal observation is that the multiple snow falls have helped me feel closer to my friends and neighbors than the Christmas holidays did.  When we get snowed in all of the usual distractions disappear.  Work gets canceled, school is canceled, even church services and other activities are canceled.  Instead of the usual hectic pace of life I am able to go outside and spend a few hours in the snow.  And guess what?  Many of my neighbors are doing the same thing.  While we help dig each other out we talk, and have had longer, more fulfilling conversations than we have experienced in years.

So with all of the drawbacks of being snowed in I have found the experience to be very inspiring and have enjoyed it.  I have reconnected with some of the people that live closest to me, and in spite of the sore muscles the next day, I wouldn’t trade that for a day of work or school in a million years.

So while we are all snowed in I encourage you to take advantage of the situation.  Go help shovel a neighbor’s driveway, or if they are shoveling yours offer them some hot chocolate.  Talk to them and get a little closer to your family and friends.  It is well worth the time and effort, and it can liberate your humanity like few other things will.

Tags: Snow

If some one sees signs of a person diagnosed with minimal consciousness having more, it is because they do. Recent research shows that some people in a “vegetative state” are very conscious, but disconnected from their bodies. Should we not apply our technology to helping tens of thousands of forgotten individuals?

We saw the murder of Terri Schiavo play out on national television.  Many closed their minds to the facts because it was uncomfortable to deal with these issues.  Yet, Terri showed more signs than the people in the study.  Now we are faced with a rationing of health care which could even place barriers for privately raised resources to help the forgotten and isolated.

Nothing is more important in this earth than human well being so humans devoting 1/6 of the economy to bettering it is reasonable.  Technology advanced to the point to rescue those people would pay dividends through out the economy.  It would advance what could be done in computer technology.  It could help with understanding other brain disorders.  It could help us to address paralysis.  Even more intriguing is that it could change the way we can connect to technology.  We could connect to our machines by thought.

The only question is whether or not we will abandon the future in order to fulfill a long term scheme to seize a successful portion of the economy.

That is really disturbing, it is obvious that the other 37% need to be informed. The man hires Marxists and Maoists into the staff and shadow “czar” cabinet. If you look at the agenda of the Fabian Society, the New Left and the American Progressive movement, you see the agenda of the ruling regime. Fabian Socialism is a democratic socialism of government control and bureaucracy brought about by evolution not revolution.

President Obama seems to a Fabian in a hurry. He has taken over most of the American Auto industry, is micromanaging banks to the point of restricting the number of times that we can transfer money from savings to checking, is attempting to dominate the health insurance industry, micromanage healthcare, and is attempting to run every aspect of the energy industry. He is attempting a national healthcare system. He is picking the companies of to be favored in the new green industry. Some first year it was. Next on the agenda are redistributionist tax policies which will take from the rich and give to the “poor”. He wants to bring back the estate tax and more than double the tax on dividends. He wants to control lending for college and small businesses. He wants to allow the EPA to regulate carbon dioxide which would put it into every area of life. He is continuing the nationalization of education. He is attempting to expand the power of labor unions. He is open to a global currency. Compare this agenda to the Fabian Society (a British socialist think tank) agenda.

One would have to blind or ignorant to deny that President Obama’s regime is one that is socialistic in its bent. If one needs further proof, we have one admitted socialist in the U. S. Senate, Bernie Sanders I-VT. He is a faithful ally.

We are in a struggle between the taxpayers and taxeaters. President Obama’s new budget sides mostly with the taxeaters. Those who believe in the free market can not let this cross dressing regime, which purports moderation during the day but is the most extreme challenge to Americanism in 70 years, to succeed in implementing its agenda.

The best measure of a leading politician’s electoral strength is whether those in a weaken position attempt to attach themselves or distance themselves from the leader.  If that is the case, Senate Democrats are showing signs of fleeing from their leader.

New Castle County Executive Chris Coons (D) has sent an email to supporters saying that he is running for Delaware’s open senate seat.  Our friends at Resolute Determination have this priceless reaction.

Democrats in Massachusetts have gone well over the 10 days needed to certify the special election. The tentative date is February 11 for Brown to be sworn in. Due to the number of votes set before that date, Senator elect Brown has asked for his certification by Thursday.

The ruling regime has neglected to staff or spend the appropriations for the liberty committee mandated by law. It was designed at the behest of the 9/11 commission to monitor abuses of the Patriot Act and other laws.

Moderate Republicans win the Illinois primary with Mark Kirk taking around 56% of the vote with 80% counted. Conservative opponent Hughes received 20%.  Republican voters made a strategic decision to go with their best known candidate.

When you have a real study instead of a poorly designed one funded by the hard left, abstinence based education shines. This is the first real study, in recent years, which tracked a population who took different courses. A number of studies showed the same results, but a much media attention has been given to some recent “studies”, which pulled together statistical abstracts, that cast doubt on their effectiveness. Those studies were designed to influence the funding decisions of the Congress and return the money to the failed programs which led to out of control promiscuity rates. Now we know that nothing is better than “safe” sex education when it comes to experimentation rates (47% to 52%). A well designed abstinence based education swamps both of them and handily beats a “comprehensive program”.

I look forward to those who “embrace science over ideology” joining us in the movement to give our children a strategy to take control of their future.

The study released Monday involved 662 African American students from four public middle schools in a city in the Northeastern United States. It was conducted between 2001 and 2004.

Students were randomly assigned to go through one of the following: an eight-hour curriculum that encouraged them to delay having sex; an eight-hour program focused on teaching safe sex; an eight- or 12-hour program that did both; or an eight-hour program focused on teaching them other ways to be healthy, such as eating well and exercising. The abstinence-only portion involved a series of sessions in which instructors talked to students in small groups about their views about abstinence and their knowledge of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. They also conducted role-playing exercises and brainstorming sessions designed to correct misconceptions about sex and sexually transmitted diseases, encourage abstinence and offer ways to resist pressure to have sex.

Over the next two years, about 33 percent of the students who went through the abstinence program started having sex, compared with about 52 percent who were taught only safe sex. About 42 percent of the students who went through the comprehensive program started having sex, and about 47 percent of those who learned about other ways to be healthy did.

The abstinence program had no negative effects on condom use, which has been a major criticism of the abstinence approach.

Let’s Roll…
The question I have been asked most since taking the position of Executive Vice President of CRI is, “What is the Caesar Rodney Institute’s biggest goal for the coming year.” It is a great question, so let me answer it.
CRI’s ultimate goal, for 2010 or any year, is to advance the debate over how our state should be governed. We believe in a competitive free market economy where those who have the ambition are given the incentives to work hard and create jobs. We do not believe that the government ought to be in the job creation business. What made our economy the envy of the nation for a generation was the freedom that commerce and industry were given to generate wealth in a market based fashion, where jobs exploded onto the scene because the products of our businesses were in high demand. Conversely, the cause of our recent decline in economic prowess includes a reliance on the state to provide jobs at an alarming rate of 500 per year over the last eight years, coupled with an incremental stifling of the private sector through excessive regulation and tax burden; the most recent instance being the Fiscal Year 2010 budget passed last year. Juxtaposed to an alarming rate of spending growth since the 1990’s, these instruments of an over reaching state government have landed a heavy blow to the entrepreneurial spirit of our population.
We also believe that individual liberty cannot exist, in its rightful capacity, alongside of an ever-increasing and bloated state government. The best government exists in its smallest, most efficient manner possible. Only when the people of this great state are free to come and go, free to take risks, free expand their own horizons, will this state once again flourish.
I will gauge CRI’s success in 2010 as a function of how far that message has resonated. And, we need your help to get there. We win when the policy coming out of Dover is consistent with a good, constitutional government. It is not about specific legislation, rather a systematic change in the mindset of those we send to do the people’s business. Somewhere along the way, we have lost our sense of individual initiative and enterprise and have replaced it with an unhealthy reliance on the state to solve our problems. The battle we wage is for the hearts and minds of our fellow citizens. We must remind them that the government does not provide solutions. In fact, the government is that entity which gets in our way and establishes the problems that we must deal with on a daily basis. If I could change one thing, about Delaware government, it would be to recall its proper place in our lives and not to consider its citizens as unable to live and function without its influence.
Shaun Fink
Executive Vice President
Caesar Rodney Institute
shaunfink@caesarrodney.org

You are a bad boy. I am suspending you for two years with pay ($11,000 a month). Your punishment is to be shunned for two years, but don’t get too upset with $132,000 being deposited into your bank account over that time. No wonder Governor Christie wants reform, yet the Democrats do not want Governor Christie to change the union rules in any way.

Is this what we want for the TSA?

Levy Court Commissioner Eric Buckson flanked by his future basketball star son introduced Kevin Wade to Kent County. He got to know Kevin Wade when both explored a run for Lt. Governor in 2008. He found him to be a serious and thoughtful person with a vision worthy of support.  This former opponent is now a leading supporter of Kevin Wade’s campaign for Congress.

Wade showed that he has support across the state even in bad weather with several scores of supporters showing up including a packed house in his hometown of New Castle. Wade showed Republicans that he is in the game to win. Whether he can or not is an open question that only a campaign can answer.

Wade spoke to concerns of Americans left out in the cold by a government that seems to be growing  unemployment lines, deficits, and congressional salaries, but nothing else.  Instead of encouraging energy independence, the government is encouraging the sending of $600 million dollars a day off our shores for foreign oil.  He blasted a Congress that turned down raises for Social Security recipients and gave themselves raises.  He declared that he would limit himself to 3 terms and dedicate himself to fixing Washington. 

Below is the text of his speech.
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Warning some people may find parts of this clip inappropriate. 

  I happen to believe that my highest tax rate should come from the part of government that is closest to my front door. Which means that if I live in an incorporated town limits, then my highest tax rate should be coming from that town. If I live outside of town limits then my highest rate should be from the county in which I live.

   The reason I feel this way, is that I believe that for those things that we do need government for ,we are best served at the local level. For streets and sidewalks, for street lights and for police protection, people living in town limits should only need to go as far as their town council to receive satisfaction.

  For county roads and any areas outside of town limits , those citizens should look to their county council. And of course for state highways and state issues, all state citizens should contact their state leaders.

  The problem is that the lines have been blurred between the different government entities.

  For example, say a small town in Sussex County needs to improve their sewer system. Now instead of raising the town sewer bills or the town taxes, which of course might cost some town councilman his job during the next election, the town turns to the county council. This has probably happened in the past, so the county council has most likely added this type of funding into their budget. This means that people on the other side of the county will be paying for the sewer in a small town on the other side of the county. It also means that their is a good chance that county tax rates or the county deficit will increase.

  So now the county council is running in deficit. Of course they don’t wish to raise county taxes because it may cause them to lose their jobs in the next election. So at some point the county council will turn to the state government to solve some fiscal short fall for the county. Once again the state has budgeted this into the state budget. This again means that people in New Castle County may actually be paying for the sewer system of some small town in Sussex County.

 Let us continue this line of thought, of course the state is continually turning to the Federal government for federal aid, this means that the people of Hawaii are actually paying for the sewer system of some small town in Sussex County Delaware when they pay their federal taxes.

  The real effect of this practice of one government entity turning to another for fiscal aid is that as we move farther away from the problem, we are actually paying a higher tax rate. This also means that as we move farther away from the problem , those whom we are turning to are less accountable to those who have the problem.

  What we really need are leaders who have the guts to come to those who they represent and explain why local taxes need to be raised. If the need exist, then most likely the people will understand . It is the frivolous spending that causes the people to become upset.

  Instead of town councilmen who brag about the money they get from the county, instead of county councilmen bragging about state dollars they bring back to the county, and so it goes that instead of state legislators running to the federal government, and instead of our federal leaders bragging about how many federal dollars they brought back to the state for beach replenishment. What we really need are leaders who will work hard to keep local dollars, local.

 What we must remember is that before those federal dollars were federal dollars, before those state dollars were state dollars, before the county dollars were county dollars and yes even before those town dollars were town dollars, all of those dollars were yours and mine. All of those government entities had to first stick their long, taxing fingers into your pocket and mine .

 So I don’t know about the rest of you, but I would like my money spent by someone a little closer to home then by some senator from Nebraska. I would like the people spending my money to be directly accountable to me and my neighbors, rather than the citizens of New York.

By Evan Queitsch

We unveiled some really exciting new plans for Founders Values. Founders Values, as many of you know, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, tax deductible organization which means that private funding is critical to our success. That means that every single dollar you donate to Founders Values will go towards providing the type of action through education that we need to take and every dollar can be claimed on your year-end tax forms. In order to achieve and maintain that allowance, we must adhere to the standards of the IRS and our charter. Our charter states that we are an educational organization and not a political group.

That is why Founders Values will continue to educate citizens and children on the Constitution and founding fathers. That is why we have decided to hold a series of “John Adams” viewing seminars based on the HBO miniseries. We will watch the series and stop periodically to discuss some of the people, places and events. We will start the seminars in late February and we will have study guides available at the cost of $10 for non-member adults, $5 for contributing members and $5 for children (under 18) at all 3 seminars. A separate communication will be coming out in the next couple of weeks asking you to RSVP. We’re also focusing on ways to work with churches, youth groups and schools to reach our children. Our education Director Allyson Good is doing great work on grants, reaching out to local information sources and also reaching out to the inner city youth. If you’re interested in serving your community as a representative of the education committee please email her at allysongood@yahoo.com.

Our group is also restricted by federal law on what it can do politically. With that said, we are asking each of our legislators and would be legislators to fill out our candidates questionnaire which we will be posting on our website. Also, our February 26th meeting will include introductions by many of our candidates for statewide office. Founders Values does not support or oppose any candidates and we invite all candidates to speak to our group as to their support for our shared principles and values. Invitations have been sent out to several candidates for a number of elected offices. So far Fred Cullis, a candidate for U.S. House of Representatives and Christine O’Donnell, a candidate for U.S. Senate have accepted and agreed to attend. This meeting will not take place at our usual location but we are looking for a location more amenable to having candidates speak. We will of course post the location and time as soon as we can secure the location. Also, Founders Values is working on scheduling debates with the candidates for sometime in May and we’re also hoping that we will have one in October. If you would like to help with any of these events, please email PAC@foundersvalues.com.

We are also working on forming an alliance with other groups of likeminded individuals to again host the SECOND ANNUAL WILMINGTON TEA PARTY on April 15th. While the location has not been finalized we do expect it to be held once again at the Wilmington Riverfront. If you would like to be a part of planning this historic event, email us at teaparty@foundersvalues.com. Also, on 8/28 there is an event taking place in Washington, D.C. at the Lincoln Memorial called the “Restoring Honor Rally”. Currently the Cecil County Patriots are organizing buses that are leaving from Peoples Plaza. There is a nonrefundable deposit of $25.00 to book a seat for this historic trip. You can email info@cecilcountypatriots.com for more information or call 302-383-5362. If there is someone who would like to organize buses for another location, perhaps north of Wilmington please email events@foundersvalues.com.

Founders Values also announced our membership initiatives as well as Director position elections. General memberships are available to all who pledge to honor the 9 principles and 12 values. We encourage you to become a contributing member of Founders Values to help support our member. As a contributing member you will have a voice in the direction of Founders Values, you will be able to seek and hold elected office within the group and you will be entitled to special contributing member discounts and advantages. There are two ways to become a member of Founders Values. The first is to join as an individual or family member. You can sign up at the website, send in your check to our P.O. Box which is (P.O. Box 673 Bear, Delaware 19701) or you may sign up in person at any event. Annual membership for individuals is $50 and the family membership is $75 (includes spouse & 3 children under 16). Membership discounts are available for students and seniors (65 and older). You may also contribute to Founders Values through our donor clubs which provide you with other perks like discounts on educational materials, Founders Values official merchandise, and reduced admission to Founders Values events. We also announced the near term launch of the Patriot Business Alliance as another membership path. The Patriot Business Alliance will invite businesses whose owners agree with our values and principles. The Patriot Business Alliance will provide business owners Founders Values membership for their family, provide a link between our members and supporting businesses and provide advertising opportunities to those businesses. Additionally, we will have coupons to same businesses available at www.foundersvalues.com. If you are a business owner or you know someone who owns a business who would want to be a part of this, please email PBA@foundersvalues.com.

Finally, we have heard the calls out there for unity and for a group that can support the candidates we believe in, that will fight to ensure the basic principles of liberty are protected and that will transcend the political parties. While this is outside the mission of Founders Values, we believe that we must find a way to organize our communities around this Patriot movement that is being manifest by the TEA Party and 9/12 groups that have sprung up in abundance across our nation. We must support candidates who care about constitutional principles and values instead of political careers and party power. We must have an impact on the elections in 2010, 2012 and beyond. So, last night, we announced the creation of a sister organization called “Common Sense Communities Society”. CSCS is a 501(c)(4) that is able to work across grassroots groups and political parties and religious affiliations and across county and state lines. It’s designed to work by helping each individual everyday citizens connect with each other and organize in (autonomous) election precinct teams. At the highest level CSCS will develop common sense promotional materials that will reinforce our return to constitutional principles message. We will then distribute them to election precinct team leads. Common Sense Communities will not have a membership but will serve as a distribution point. Also, because it is not a tax deductible organization, CSCS will raise money to support not only it’s mission but also individual candidates that CSCS endorses. We heard the calls from many who were concerned about how to ensure that we were supporting good constitutionalists without part prejudice. Common Sense Communities is the answer to that call. The progressives are inside both political parties and it’s time to support and ensure the election of candidates who share our values and believe in the founding principles. “These are the times that try men’s souls.”Now is the time to get involved, now is the time to act and to contribute. Now is the time to make a difference. The time for watching and waiting is over. Our Republic is at a crossroads and its fate is in your hands. I am supremely confident that each of you will make a difference and I know that with your help, with all of us working together we can return America to a nation that understands where it comes from and a nation that is as prosperous as it is free. If you would like to get involved with CSCS email evanq@cscsociety.org or call 302-533-7498.

Evan Queitsch
Communications Director
Founders Values
www.foundersvalues.com

In an effort to keep unity in the party, the Republican National Committee passed a resolution which called upon the RNC to make adherence to the core values and principles of the party platform a factor in who receives funding. The resolution avoided percentages and gave discretion to the Chairman on its application.

The RNC meeting turned back attacks on Steele’s book tour.  Below is a quote from the Washington Times.

In an unprecedented move, the Republican National Committeeon Friday unanimously called onits chairman,Michael S. Steele, to “carefully screen” candidates for their adherence to conservative values before granting them RNC financial help.

The resolution specifically calls on the national chairman to take into account thevotingrecords and statements of all GOP candidatesfor evidence that they supportthe “core principles and positions” ofthe party’s nationalplatform, widely regarded as a highlyconservative document.

“The brilliant part of the resolution is that it is tied to the party platform … that has been thought out, debated and passed unanimously at our national convention,” North Dakota GOP Chairman Gary Emineth told The Washington Times after he and his fellow RNC members passed the resolution.

UPdate: SOMEONE smiled and delayed the snow so come on out.
Join Kevin Wade as he publicly kicks off his campaign to obtain the GOP nomination for Delaware’s lone House seat. The events are this Saturday at 0830 hrs at the Old Courthouse in Georgetown, at 1100 hrs in Dover at the old statehouse on The Green, and 1400 hrs (2:00) at the old courthouse in New Castle. Don’t worry all events are indoors due to smart planning.

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Lt. Governor Matt Denn released the latest numbers of jobs saved or created by the American Recovery Act in the First State. “The federal stimulus plan has created or retained between 1,493 and 4,046 jobs in Delaware,” according to Delaware on line. 1500 jobs pales in comparison to the jobs lost, but it is better than nothing. The problem is that Democrats in Congress voted down stimulus options scored to create up to 6 million jobs nationally at half of the price tag of the bill that passed.

The article goes on the report the real reason the governing class liked the bill.

Lt. Gov. Matt Denn’s quarterly report, released this morning, also shows that Delaware has spent at least $360 million of its share of the federal stimulus plan as of Jan. 14.

In all, Delaware has received $1.48 billion from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act so far. About $968 million has come directly to the state government to close the budget deficit and be transferred to public schools and universities.

Okay so I didn’t look too closely at my email. Sorry Senator, please keep sending them. I will post the federal green initiative one in the first draft. Here is Senator Carper’s take on the state of the union. I think that believing the climate change agenda is a net job creator is fantasy unless it is radically revised, but the Senator has a different take.

Sen. Carper Reacts To President Obama’s State Of The Union
Applauds emphasis on passing health care reform, creating jobs, stabilizing economy

WASHINGTON – Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) issued the following statement tonight in response to President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address to Congress.

Sen. Carper said: “A year ago, President Obama inherited an economy that was losing more than half a million jobs month after month. Job creation, relief for the middle class and economic recovery were priorities from day one, and remain a top priority today.

“The government can’t create jobs, but it can create an environment that fosters job growth. Unlocking credit for small businesses, investing in renewable energy and offering tax incentives for employers to rehire former employees all complement the extraordinary effort already underway to put America back to work.

“I applaud the President for his emphasis tonight on bipartisan cooperation and dedication to passing meaningful health care reform. As I have said in the past, the status quo is simply not acceptable when it comes to our families’ health. Most importantly, health care reform – done right – will both improve the quality and results of care achieved in this country, and allow American businesses to compete globally without the burden of unfair health care costs.
“I was also pleased to hear that the President intends to focus attention on passing climate change legislation. The best way to bring jobs back is to harness American ingenuity to build new technology like wind turbines and solar panels. Leading the clean energy revolution will create opportunities for good-paying American jobs, keep our country competitive in the global market and end our dangerous dependence on foreign oil.”

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  That’s right, it’s time to break open those piggy banks and help the state of Delaware to solve all of its fiscal problems.

   The state Senate has passed HB310 which will allow table games to be played at existing casinos in Delaware. HB310 was introduced on Jan. 15th,2010 and fastracked through both houses in thirteen days. The bill passed the House of Representative by a vote of 27-5, and then passed the Senate by a vote of 15-4.

  I am glad to say that my own state Senator Joe Booth was in opposition to the bill. In a quote made to the Cape Gazett Sen. Booth stated, “I have a problem with balancing the state budget on the gaming industry, like slots. I am very concerned that with the amount of cash that changes hands in those particular games, and with Delaware being a small state, we’ll have to watch out for corruption. I just don’t think it’s in our states best interest to become an Atlantic City or Las Vegas.”

  Of course Gov. Markell and House Majority Leader Pete Schwartzkopf are selling this latest expansion of gambling as the end all, to our economic woes.  Now they can continue to push for even more locations in which to install this form of taxation they call gaming.

  First let me say once more that I do not believe that the projected revenue that supporters of gambling expansion use to sell their bill of goods , will ever be seen. If they were, then we wouldn’t need to expand gambling in form or locations. In these economic times some people may attempt to make that illusive “BIG SCORE”, and also may gamble away their family’s future. But I believe that most right thinking people in hard economic times will hold back and save their money and not go out to the state run casinos and throw their money away , just so the state government can continue to throw their money away on  growing the size and scope of government.

 I would ask both Gov. Markell and Rep. Schwartzkopf, have you ever considered cutting spending to solve the revenue issue, instead of always trying to expand gambling?

  So I guess Gov. Markell and Rep. Schwartzkopf’s message to the citizens of Delaware is, ” Help the state of Delaware and break open those piggy banks, spend your kid’s inheritance ,spend your mortgage, spend your car payment,just so long as you spend it at a government run casino, so that we in Dover can continue to spend.”

  And let me close with this,if you feel the urge to help the state to balance the budget by going out to the casinos and gambling, why don’t you just drive to Dover and go up to the steps of Leg. Hall and throw a hand full of cash on the ground. You have about as much chance of winning something back that way as you do winning at the casinos.

Ben Bernanke won his second term. Interestingly, Kaufman voted no, but Carper voted yes. Spector no, but Casey yes.

 Last night’s “State of the Union Address” by Pres. Obama was just more of the same.

 The president called for more bank bail outs if needed, more of a push for government health care, and more so called “GREEN” economy.

  But mostly what the president was calling for, was more and more government. I lost track of the times that the president explained what the government was going to do to solve the problems of the nation. How government would put people back to work, how the government would create innovation.

  Pres. Obama even tried to sell the American people on the fact that his administration and the current Democrat run congress hadn’t raised taxes. Well in my opinion , since they allowed the Bush tax cuts to sunset they did raise taxes.

  Of course we got more of the usual, “when I took office”, you know the blame it all on the former administration. Will this president ever grow up and understand that he now owns this nation’s faltering economy and un-employment ?

  President Obama could have just come out and told the American people that in his view everything was right on track according to his agenda. More people were being forced to turn to government hand outs due to the fact that the president’s agenda was ruining the economy. Of course that wouldn’t have taken seventy minutes and he wouldn’t have been able to stand up there with his chin stuck out and accepted all of the Democrat applauds.

  No real mention about the war on terror, no mention about detainees being tried in criminal courts in the U.S.. No mention of the Fort Hood shootings and no mention of the underwear bomber.

 But he did take the opputunity of the State of the Union to call the Supreme Court out on its recent decision concerning campaign financing. This was a dangerous attack on a separate branch of government and ment as intimidation. It was also not the time nor the place to do so. It showed his total lack of respect for the court and its role in governing.

  So according to Pres. Obama, the state of the union is basically , status quo and full steam ahead with his socialization of the United States of America.

   It never fails , every time we start talking about who should or shouldn’t run for any given office, invariably we get someone who throws out the accusation that a person is not qualified for the office.

  Let’s take Christine O’Donnell for example. Those of us who support her for her run for U.S. Senate believe that her stated stance on issues important to us make her a great candidate. We believe that she has demonstrated courage in standing up for and sticking to her principles on hot button topics such as abortion. We also feel that her positions on national security and the economy are in line with our own.

  I personally feel that the only “QUALIFICATION” for elected office is to meet any requirements in either the U.S. Constitution or state constitutions. No one is born an expert on anything. We learn from our life experiences and from studying.

  I have found that what most people mean when they talk of political experience is, has the person kissed the right rings of any given political party’s leadership? Has the would be candidate paid their so called dues to the party?

 We often hear the party elite talk of their long hours making phone calls for other candidates, or how they stuffed envelopes . These are important things, and the people who have done them are an important part of any political party. But does making phone calls or stuffing envelopes qualify a person to hold an office?

  We also hear a lot of talk about how someone like Ms. O’Donnell should not run for the Senate because she needs experience first. We are told that she should run for some “LOWER” office first and work her way up . Well I happen to believe that there are no “LOWER” offices, only low people.  Really what do we gain from having a  motivated candidate such as Ms. O’Donnell work her way up through the ranks of the party and government. Well what we most often get from this practice are political leaders who learn how to work the system and how to get re-elected. We get jaded candidates who have forgotten why they originally ran for office to begin with.

 I would prefer to have a person run for and win an office whose only motivation is the betterment of the nation. I would prefer a person who was a janitor or teacher or any hard working person yesterday, and my senator today. I am tired of the party elite, I am tired of career politicians.

  So what we really need are fresh faces, with fresh ideas. We need to move away from the tired old men trying to cap off their political careers with one more feather in their cap. And if need be, we need to move away from the parties that are no longer responsive to our views.

Open Thread– Your thoughts about the Bush is a bum, but we have come a long way speech are invited.

The early polling looks positive for Congressman Castle if he faces Council President Chris Coons in a November face off. (For out of staters, Castle (R) is our at large Congressman and Coons (D) is county council president of the county which has around 60% of the state’s population.) Rasmussen Reports Castle 56% v. Coons 27%

If you want real spending reform, change the rules. This is inside baseball, but it may be the way to win the game.  Follow me on this.  Mandate that all 13 spending bills be out of house committees by the 2nd week of July.  Any bills that are not will be combined into a continuing resolution.  The bills would then go before a committee of the whole one by one in the third week of July through the first week or two of August.  The larger ones would be given up to 3 days and the smaller ones a half a day.  Any member would be able to offer amendments to cut funds.  If any member wants to increase spending in one area on the bill, they have to cut another area.    Any spending increase would require a suspension of the rules which requires 290 votes.   

The effect of this would be to allow the Ron Paul’s, blue dogs, and others not on the favored committees to offer amendments on the record and in the open.  It would make every member own the budget.  It would allow us to hold people accountable.   The way the game works now is that the bills are put together in ways that no one outside of the favored crowd knows exactly what is in the bill.  Both parties keep fiscal conservatives off of the appropriations committees in any numbers.  They manipulate the rules to keep amendments to a minimum. If you want to truly change the system, open it up.   Strip the lobbyists, power elite, and revolving door (between Congress and Special interest groups) staff of their power.  Give it to the people we elected.  Until we do that (either with this proposal or some other), we are just talking about reform.