Thanks to everyone who came to the Brighton Tea Party, and apologies to those who couldn’t get it. We opened and filled an adjoining room, but it was still quite a squash. The hotel manager told me afterwards that there had been more than 300 people present, not counting those who had had to be turned away.
If you can run a tea-party in Brighton Pavilion – the constituency which the Greens are most hopeful of winning – you can run one anywhere. You don’t have to be a small-government Conservative to feel that taxation, spending and borrowing are currently too high.
Let me say it one more time. Gordon Brown has doubled the national debt. Every second, it rises by another 5,000 pounds. Our deficit is 12.6 per cent of GDP compared to Greece’s 12.7. All this despite the additional trillion pounds taken in taxation since 1997.
We can’t afford another month of this, let alone another five years.
Thanks to the Freedom Association for helping to put everything together, and warm thanks to James and Laragh from my office for coming to Brighton to help.
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/danielhannan/100027834/brighton-tea-party-packed-out/
There is one problem with the American voter: Village elections, Town elections, County elections and State elections are ignored for Presidential, Senatorial and Congressional elections. When in fact, those local elections will affect your taxes, lives and pocketbooks more than 435 elected Democrats in Congress ever could.Matthew Avitabile and Doctor Gruning understand that. Some might not know this, but Matt is one of four elected Village Trustees in Middleburgh, New York. He does what most Conservative and Republican bloggers don't; he makes a real difference.
The meeting this afternoon was interesting and full of discussion, as several individuals, including Matthew Avitabile and Doctor Gruning, prepared for the Village Election that will be held in just 16 days. This is the real America, where ten local individuals join together around a coffee table, with doughnuts and coffee, to work for something on a local electoral basis.
I will be writing about the election as March 16th rolls around, and for all in Middleburgh; vote Avitabile-Grunning for the Village of Middleburgh Board of Trustees on March 16th.
Rapture
As for missions, most of the time a helpful arrow a la Crazy Taxi will direct you towards your destination. It works well most of the time, though will occasionally struggle when there are more than one floor to work with.
Unfortunately, throughout the game I couldn't shake the feeling that combat was a little unpolished. Too many times did I have something in my cross-hairs (or circles) where I missed; after playing for more than ten hours, the annoyance adds up.I've interviewed some interesting folks before, however, Pete of www.datechguy.wordpress.com is as interesting as they come. Known for wearing fedoras, eating cannolis and blogging as a Conservative from Massachusetts (of all places), Pete has a lot to write about, and he was gracious enough to accept an Interview offer. This is interview #60 in our series.
Tim Knight -
Pete, what is it like being a Conservative in Massachusetts?Pete -
It can be daunting because people assume you are liberal. I tend to wear my conservatism on my sleeve so it's not so bad for me. Right now it's actually more interesting since the Brown victory has emboldened conservatives to come out of the closet.Tim Knight -
Pete, you attended CPAC after raising hundreds of dollars over the Internet, how did you pull that off?Pete -
I can take very little credit, Robert Stacy McCain started pushing it, and it was picked up by such bloggers as Dan Collins, American Glob and No Sheepies here. They took up my cause and my readers and theirs responded. What astounded me was the fact that of what I raised over 85% was donated by people who never even met me. I'm still in shock over it and my wife still doesn't believe it. I am very conscious of the debt I owe my readers for this and hope my coverage was to their liking.Tim Knight -
Pete, what was CPAC like?Pete -
It was like nothing I've ever seen, hundreds of like minded people all excited and engaged in the political process. It gives one hope for the future when we see American Democracy can produce active and interested people who want to make a difference. The one problem I had was there was just SO MUCH to see and do. No one person can do it justice. For any person from a deep blue state it conveys such a feeling of belonging that it astounds you.Tim Knight -
Pete, who received your vote in the CPAC Straw Poll?Pete -
Sarah PalinTim Knight -
Pete, during the Massachusetts Senate election, what was the feel amongst voters?Pete -
At first the feel was indifference, I was asking people pre-Stacy McCain what they thought about the election and most were simply uninterested, but as the Brown campaign started to take off the feel was one of emancipation. The idea that they were not trapped in a one party system and they could make a difference really took root. The feeling among the Brown supporters was enthusiasm and empowerment. From the Coakley supporters I spoke to the feeling I got was mostly indifference and arrogance. One large exception was a trio of young ladies I talked to on the subway in Boston. If she had more supports like them (all three were from out of state) she might have won.Tim Knight -
Pete, you covered the Senate race due to RS McCain, what was it like being dragged around the state?Pete -
It was interesting in the sense that I hate driving in Boston and had to do so much of it, but the actual coverage was great, I was able to share some of my haunts, rub elbows with a lot of people but most interesting of all meet the voters. It taught me that the wisdom of the average voter is something that the political class should cultivate, after all they do the working and the tax paying and the living in the country.Tim Knight -
Pete, RS McCain comes off as an interesting fella, what say you?Pete -
Interesting is not a strong enough word. He is a walking energy drink fueled by coffee, cigarettes, beer and the occasional photo with a lovely lady next to him. If you ever saw old movies from the 30's - 50's about reporters, that is him.Tim -
Pete, Fedora or Cannoli?Pete -
Fedora
Tim - Pete, I hear the Tucker Fund is still open, what is the Tucker Fund and how cane average Americans help?
Pete -
Basically I was a computer tech support rep until I lost my job. I've been unable to find work so I used to tease Tucker Carlson who got the 3.1 mil for the Daily Caller that for a mere $800 a week (what I was making) I'd give him 40 hours of work writing. Since Tucker hasn't called, I set up the fund to see if I can make a living doing this. The money goes basically to paying my bills while I keep looking for work. Of course if any conservative (or liberal) publication wants to hire a blogger I'm available for that same $800 per week plus travel and expenses. I'm not much of a drinker and I don't mind eating at McDonalds so guys I travel cheap. Is that a bargain or what!Tim -
Pete, where do you see the Conservative Blogosphere one year from now?Pete -
I see it going in two directions. I see it prepping the ground for the 2012 presidential race but I also see it channeling the Tea Parties in the sense that if/when (my money is on when) Republicans take the house back we will be keeping them honest. It's important to remember that we are not electing republicans for the sake of electing republicans, We are doing so because we believe conservatism is the best choice for the country and will allow us to leave a better more prosperous land to our children and grandchildren when we are gone. Power for power's sake is simply corruption.Tim -
Pete - How many Republicans will be elected in Massachusetts Congressional races next year?Pete -
My gut says 2 but my head says 1. However both the State and National republican party needs to invest in the boots on the ground to make this happen, we will never get a better chance to make this a two party state on the federal level. We should also be working on local state races, That is far more important than congressional seats since state republicans are the seed corn for national races.
President Bush is making a comeback in the minds and hearts of Patriotic Americans. Some political bloggers will spoil the good memories of President Bush with repetitive articles on what he did wrong, instead of celebrating what he did right.SANTIAGO, Chile – A massive 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck Chile early Saturday, killing at least 64 people, collapsing buildings and setting off a tsunami.
A huge wave reached a populated area in the Robinson Crusoe Islands, 410 miles (660 kilometers) off the Chilean coast, said President Michele Bachelet.
Tsunami warnings were issued over a wide area, including South America, Hawaii, Australia and New Zealand, Japan, the Philippines, Russia and many Pacific islands.
"It has been a devastating earthquake," Interior Minister Edmundo Perez Yoma told reporters. He said at least 64 people have been killed, and "the death toll will continue rising."
Bachelet declared a "state of catastrophe" in central Chile.
The Bush administration got a lot of things wrong – but at least they usually had some idea of who America’s adversaries were and who America’s friends were. For example, Bush’s policy of maintaining the special relationship with Britain was a simple recognition of the close bonds of alliance, friendship and interests that the British and Americans have had since World War I.
In contrast, Obama and his Secretary of State Hillary Clinton are apparently clueless about some of the most basic aspects of foreign policy: supporting one’s friends and fencing in one’s adversaries. The declaration of neutrality on the issue of the sovereignty of the Falklands issued by the US State Department is clear proof of the uselessness of the Obama administration.
In the grand scheme of things it makes little sense for America to give moral support to the Kirchner government in Argentina. Kirchner is no friend of the US and Kirchner’s government is in deep domestic trouble for its gross mismanagement of the economy and its attempts to suppress the press criticism of the regime at home. One has to wonder what benefit America gets out of hurting Britain on this issue. Perhaps Obama thinks that the more Leftist Latin American regimes will somehow approve of the US. If that is the case, he is truly mistaken, as most Latin American nations dislike the Argentineans, and have little sympathy for the mess Argentina got into over the Falklands.
But this mess is just typical of the drift in US foreign policy – if one can say that it even HAS a coherent foreign policy these days. As I said, at the core of the problem is a simple inability to recognise and support our friends over adversaries. In his first year in office Obama made numerous apologies for America’s past to the Third World, he effusively greeted the Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez, he bowed low to the Saudi ruler, and called for a “reset” of relations with Russia – all the while implying that America was at fault for all these problems. At the same time he rudely undermined the security of America’s Eastern European allies by cancelling the ballistic missile defence with no notice and no prior discussion, he failed to push for a free trade agreement with Colombia – America’s strongest ally in South America – and he supported Chavez’s allies when they tried (luckily unsuccessfully) to unseat a democratic and pro-US government in Honduras.
A big part of the problem is a Secretary of State who is a lightweight as far as foreign policy is concerned. Obama brought Hillary Clinton into the cabinet for domestic policy considerations. He needed to put Mrs Clinton – and her husband – under tight control. As a powerful senator from New York, she would probably have taken over as the de facto leader of the Democratic Party and been able to challenge Obama’s “Chicago Gang” for control of the party.
Despite the acclaim that America’s mainstream media has heaped on Hillary Clinton over the years, her foreign policy background and experience before becoming Secretary of State was to accompany her husband on foreign trips and preside over “first wives” dinners for the spouses of visiting heads of state. One learns a lot about protocol and ceremonies – but this is no preparation for the real work of making policy. Clinton has no experience or education in foreign policy. She speaks no foreign languages and has never lived abroad. She lacks the intellectual temperament to be a foreign policy leader. Like Obama, she has long surrounded herself with sycophants.
On assuming office, Obama’s vision of foreign policy was simple: he would repudiate past American policies and the whole world would melt before the president’s charm. The administration somehow thought that we really didn’t have enemies with agendas completely hostile to our own – there were just countries that had become offended by US actions and they would happily cooperate with America as soon as the evil Republicans were gone. Well, it hasn’t worked – and there was no Plan B.
With a president overwhelmed by domestic problems, Hillary Clinton has failed to step in and set a foreign policy vision. Simply put, she does not have the brains or the experience to develop a coherent foreign policy vision for America. This is how we get policy mistakes on issues such as the sovereignty of the Falklands.
Governor PatersonWGY announced that it was replacing host Al Roney’s program with Glenn Beck’s syndicated program just hours ago. But already there’s a Facebook page established to get Roney back on the air.
And that page, which is here, already has 31 72 221 301 fans.
“Show GY you want local coverage,” the page says.
http://blog.timesunion.com/business/group-wants-to-save-al-roney/18277/
Supporters of fired talk show host Al Roney say they will rally Monday outside of radio station WGY (810 AM).
The station, owned by Clear Channel Communications, fired Roney on Thursday, announcing it would replace his show with a syndicated program hosted by Fox News personality Glenn Beck.
The station, noting Beck’s popularity, says it made the move for ratings reasons. But Roney supporters are bemoaning the loss of a local voice on the Capital Region airwaves.
Monday’s rally is scheduled for Monday from 9 a.m. to noon — the hours during which Roney’s show aired. WGY is located at 1203 Troy-Schenectady Road in Latham.
The rally, if held, will be the second radio station protest in recent weeks, as listeners of WROW (590 AM) gathered earlier this month outside that station to protest its cancellation of talk radio.
It was WROW’s move, in fact, that made Beck’s program available to WGY.
http://blog.timesunion.com/business/al-roney-supporters-to-rally-at-wgy/18288/
I’ve been neglecting Facebook lately — Twitter is my new cool thing — but I logged on to see the uproar I’d caused at Lisa Graas’s Facebook page. (Long story.) Anyway,so my 20-year-old daughter Kennedy pops up on Facebook chat to tell me that she heard the Montgomery Gentry song “One in Every Crowd” and it reminded her of me:
http://theothermccain.com/2010/02/26/tonight-i-was-chatting-with-my-daughter/
