October 28, 2009
August 30, 2009
Tell the NRSC To Butt Out of Colorado’s Primaries
Rocky Mountain Right, Mount Virtus, Peoples Press Collective, and others have reported that the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NSRC) is supporting Jane Norton, a RINO who supported Referenda C and D, for Colorado’s U.S. Senate race next year and pressuring Ken Buck and Ryan Frazier to withdraw (here, here, and here).
If you want the NRSC to butt out of Colorado’s primaries, join Colorado Petition to NRSC: Just Say No on Facebook, send the NRSC a message on Twitter (@NRSC), call them at (202) 675-6000, or e-mail them at info@nrsc.org.
June 30, 2009
Results of Calls to Republican Leaders about #CapnTr8ors
Because of a plumbing emergency yesterday, I didn’t get to follow my own advice regarding making examples of the eight Republicans who voted for the Democrats’ national energy tax (Capntr8ors) until today. Here are the results of my calls:
- I called the office of House Republican Leader John Boehner (on Twitter) at (202) 225-4000 and asked what was being done about the Capntr8ors. The fellow who answered the phone sounded confused. I then asked specifically how they were going to be punished–perhaps by being removed from committee assignments. He had no answer but told me that he would pass on my message.
- I called the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC on Twitter) at (202) 479-7000 and asked why CapnTr8ors Lance and Reichert are part of their “Patriot Program.” I was transferred to someone’s voice messaging system and left a message asking that question and why the NRCC is raising money for these traitors.
- I called the Freedom Project, “a political action committee (PAC) established in 1995 to provide assistance to Republican candidates for federal office” (“About“), at (202) 543-9495 and asked why CapnTr8ors Lance and Reichert are listed in “Featured Key Races” on their home page. The young man who answered was in agreement with me and said he would talk to the webmaster, though I don’t know how that would help.
- I called the Republican National Committee (RNC on Twitter) at (202) 863-8500 (and pressed 1) and was told that they would not be giving any money or other support to the CapnTr8ors.
June 24, 2009
June 14, 2009
June 6, 2009
Additions to Reading List
More for my reading list:
- Kevin R. C. Gutzman, The Politically Incorrect Guide to the Constitution
- Martin D. Weiss, The Ultimate Depression Survival Guide: Protect Your Savings, Boost Your Income, and Grow Wealthy Even in the Worst of Times
- G. Edward Griffin, The Creature from Jekyll Island: A Second Look at the Federal Reserve
- Hugh Hewitt, GOP 5.0: Republican Renewal Under President Obama
- John Fund, Stealing Elections: How Voter Fraud Threatens Our Democracy
May 31, 2009
Real Politics in a Virtual World
Second Life (SL) is not a game. It “is a 3-D virtual world created by its Residents” (“What is Second Life?“), tens of thousands of whom log in every day. In 2008, they spent almost 400 million hours “in world” (“Second Life Residents“).
Residents can do just about anything in SL that they can do in RL (“real life”)–and a lot more. They can fly, teleport instantaneously from one island to another, and appear as any size, age, gender, or species they want–all while sitting at their computers.
Hundreds of educational, business, government, and non-profit organizations have taught classes, offered training, conducted conferences, and provided services in SL.
Newt Gingrich has spoken in SL (“Newt Gingrich“) at Capitol Hill, which is modeled after the one in Washington D.C. (“Congressional Hearing“), and a speech by Madeline Albright was streamed into the virtual world (“Former US Secretary of State“).
In addition, to “spur economic growth in their community the city leaders in Decatur, Georgia [are] creating an online virtual version of their city on Second Life” (“Decatur Georgia’s“), and officials in Arlington County, Virginia, have created offices in SL where “executives can swing by to gather market research aimed at luring grocery chains to Arlington. County officials can conduct presentations on an interactive white board as they promote the region to corporate prospects. And later this month, anyone interested will be able to join a confab on how to launch a business in Arlington” (“O Brave New World“).
Not surprisingly, leftists have protested Israel’s recent retaliation against Hamas in Gaza (“MBC Breaking News“) and held an inauguration ball “in world” (“Avatars in Tuxes“).
There are already quite a few Republican and conservative groups in SL (“Conservatives and Republicans“). One of the most active of these is the GOP Cafe founded by Wyatt Forster on Sagamore Island. The group currently has 263 members.
In addition to political discussions and a beach party every week, the steering committee organizes parties on special occasions. Tuesday night, members got together to honor President Bush at the Welcome Back to Texas Celebration, with music, dancing, bull riding, good conversation, and a tribute to the outgoing president.
Sagamore Island is also home to NRA-SL and Pro-Life Conservatives of Sagamore.
To keep up with activities at the GOP Cafe, read their blog and visit their Ning social network.
Gartner, Inc., has predicted, “By the end of 2011, 80 percent of active Internet users (and Fortune 500 enterprises) will have a ’second life’” in a virtual world like SL (“Gartner Says“). Republicans and conservatives need to start learning how to use it now to advance our causes and our candidates.
Second Life is the next best thing to being there–in some cases. In other cases, it’s even better.
NOTE: This article was original published on the Social Media Platoon site on January 21, but it is no longer there.
Hey, Mitt, What about the Constitution?
I just heard Chris Wallace on Fox News talking to Mitt Romney, who differentiated between Democrats who advocate government solutions to economic and health-care “problems” with Republicans who advocate “free-market” solutions.
He seemed to be supporting a Republican plan in which the federal government would give individuals more control over their health care.
Mitt needs to reread the Constitution. There is nothing in it that allows the federal government to interfere in health care at all. The only plan a Republicans should propose is one to get the federal government out of health care–period.
Unfortunately, in this interview at least, Mitt sounded more like another big-government Republican than a conservative.
May 24, 2009
May 20, 2009
Republican Study Committee of Colorado
According to their website, the “Republican Study Committee of Colorado (RSCC) is a voluntary association of elected Colorado legislators that formulates, supports, and communicates legislative actions and positions consistent with its vision and Declaration of Principles. Modeled after the Republican Study Committee of the U.S. Congress, the RSCC provides long range planning and continuity between legislative sessions, helps identify and prioritize content on issues supported by the RSCC, fosters better coordination with groups that support Republican core issues, and increases the potential for national and state-to-state sharing and coordination of legislative information.”
The following video provides information about the RSCC:
In the second paragraph of their “Declaration of Principles,” “Members of the Republican Study Committee of Colorado [state that they] agree with the national Republican Study Committee in [their] dedication to a limited and Constitutional role for civil government, a strong national defense, the protection of individual and property rights, and the preservation of traditional family values.”
The RSCC is on Twitter at RSCColorado, and I was pleased to learn through an update today that “RSCC members are joining the Patrick Henry Caucus this week” [link added].
Maybe there’s hope for the Republican Party in Colorado after all.
