Unpopular Republicans See Gains in ’14 Elections - Bloomberg

by
 Albert R. Hunt 

Unpopular Republicans See Gains in ’14 Elections - Bloomberg: "Approval ratings for Congress are at an all-time low, rivaling those of junkyard dogs. Republicans are seen as the main villains; the party’s standing with the public keeps falling. So what’s the outlook today for next year’s congressional elections?

Republicans will hold the U.S. House, conceivably even adding to their 233-to-200 majority. They seem certain to pick up U.S. Senate seats, with an outside chance to gain the half-dozen needed for control.

There are many explanations: the voter profile of the off-year electorate, the way House districts are drawn, the fact that most of the competitive 2014 Senate races don’t favor Democrats, the deteriorating enthusiasm for President Barack Obama. Events could change those prospects.

Republicans may overplay their hand by shutting down the government in a budget dispute this autumn or by undermining the U.S.’s good faith and credit in refusing to raise the debt ceiling. They overreached in 1998 with the planned impeachment of President Bill Clinton and ending up losing seats."

'via Blog this'


Glen Beck, tells the listeners about the divine Providence

Ron Paul supporters sue GOP, claiming intimidation

By STEPHEN OHLEMACHER | Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Supporters of GOP presidential candidate Ron Paul have filed a lawsuit against the Republican National Committee and nearly every state party claiming they improperly helped Mitt Romney during the primaries while using intimidation and threats of violence to thwart them.

Paul's campaign says the Texas congressman doesn't support the lawsuit. An RNC official called it frivolous.
The lawsuit asks a federal court in California to clarify whether delegates attending the national convention in August can vote for any candidate they choose, even if they were won by Romney. Most state parties require delegates to vote for the candidate who won them in primaries or caucuses.(NOT TRUE)

The lawsuit was filed June 11 by more than 100 people who say they are delegates, though some aren't on lists released by state parties.

GOP Rep. Tells Constituent Who Asks About Raising The Minimum Wage To ‘Get A Job’

By Travis Waldron posted from ThinkProgress Economy on Jul 5, 2012 at 2:12 pm

House Democrats earlier this month proposed increasing the federal minimum wage to $10 an hour, which would catch the minimum wage up to the buying power it had in 1968. The proposal hasn’t gone anywhere, though, since Republicans who control the House of Representatives oppose any increase.
Asked by a constituent at a Fourth of July parade yesterday, Florida Rep. Bill Young (R) revealed that he is, predictably, opposed to the Democratic proposal. When a constituent asked him why he opposed boosting worker wages, Young replied simply, “Get a job“:

CONSTITUENT: Hi, I’m (inaudible) how are you? Happy Fourth of July. Jesse Jackson, Jr. is passing a bill around to increase the minimum wage to 10 bucks and hour. Do you support that?

YOUNG: Probably not.

CONSTITUENT: 10 bucks, that would give us a living wage.

YOUNG: How about getting a job?

CONSTITUENT: I do have one.

YOUNG: Well, then why do you want that benefit? Get a job.

Watch it, via FLDemocracy.com:



Young seems to miss the point that the millions of minimum wage workers in this country already have jobs. What they want is a job that will pay them enough to actually live on, and Congress could afford them that “benefit” by making the minimum wage as strong as it was four decades ago.

Rand Paul Calls for Political Reform After Health Law Ruling

QUOTED: Rand Paul Ky


“Just because a couple people on the Supreme Court declare something to be ‘constitutional’ does not make it so. The whole thing remains unconstitutional,” - Rand Paul

What is REALLY going on in Stockton? City's Police buy a $300,000 armored vehicle

This Is what the City of Stockton really couldn't resist at the low price of $300,000. A New armored vehicle for the S.W.A.T. team. With the City on the verge of bankruptcy, don't you think they could have waited on this purchase. I mean, where is the accountability? Stockton is facing a deficit of 26.5 Million dollars, is again leading the nation in Murders per capita, and their solution is; go and buy a top-of-the-line “Bear Cat” armored vehicle to replace the department’s older one.






“It’s built for tactical purposes, so every part of this thing is armored,” Lt. Eric Ingersoll said.

The one which was replaced, wasn't built for Tactical purposes? Do they think they are in a war zone? This is to the point that our policemen are short-staffed, but the Department buys a vehicle which will rarely be used. The best part is where the money came from. It came from the sale of seized assets of criminals. Why couldn't the city make a payment on the parking garages? Because we are going to need the parking fees to help pay for the gas this thing is gonna burn up.




I think Marshal law is coming to an American city near you!

Mayor's Race Is Wide Open!

By Scott Smith
Record Staff Writer
May 06, 2012 12:00 AM

STOCKTON - Incumbent Mayor Ann Johnston appears to be the candidate to beat, despite leading a city marred by escalating street violence and the looming possibility of bankruptcy.

The Stockton mayor's race is wide open, and it is uncertain who, if anybody, will emerge from the June 5 primary to challenge her in a November runoff. She's up against Ralph Lee White, Anthony Silva, Jimmie Rishwain, James Butler and Gregory Pitsch.

Johnston believes her support base remains solid even as she continually fends off attacks at each council meeting and a recent town hall meeting.

"People are going to have to make a decision, whether they trust what we're doing and the direction we have to go," she said, "or throw it open to inexperienced folks."

Stockton voters in less than one month will narrow the field. A single candidate could win outright with 50 percent of the votes, plus one. With no clear winner, the two top vote-earners will face off Nov. 6.

Johnston said the city's future is at stake.

"It's no time for the faint of heart to be in City Hall," she said.

Bob Benedetti, a University of the Pacific political science professor, attributed the attacks to Stockton having a full-time mayor. Johnston is a natural point person for personal unhappiness, he said. Benedetti said he didn't see a strong candidate rising to oppose her.

"It's hers to lose," said Benedetti, adding that none of her challengers command citywide respect. "Many people recognize, like it or not, she's under a hard situation. She's done a credible job."

White, a perennial candidate and former councilman, has most doggedly attacked Johnston. He lost the first round in a courtroom challenge over term limits when a judge sided with Johnston.

"The judge didn't shoot me down," said White, promising to press the issue. "If Ann Johnston doesn't make the runoff, we're done. If she does, I go back to court."

White served 16 years on the City Council beginning in the 1970s. That and his business experience, acquiring wealth through his bail bonds and property investments, make him the best candidate, he said.

Silva, CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Stockton, has won support from the Stockton Police Officers' Association and the Stockton Professional Firefighters Local 456.

Silva said he has put $20,000 on his credit card to fund his campaign.

He also has been the subject of questions for registering as a mayoral candidate at one home address and then moving to another within Stockton. City Clerk Bonnie Paige said he remains a valid candidate as long as lives in Stockton.

Silva said he believes that many of the city's problems could be solved by fostering a tone of mutual respect between City Hall and the labor groups. That takes good listening, he said.

"That's one thing I could be effective at," he said. "Shutting my mouth."

Silva served as a Stockton Unified trustee and also ran unsuccessfully for the Lodi Unified board and the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors.

Former mayoral candidate Tony Stevens stands to complicate things. His name remains on the ballot, even though he has dropped out.

Jimmie Rishwain, a businessman, also has funded his own campaign with a personal loan. He donated $100,000 to his campaign. Rishwain served four years on the City Council in the 1960s and was appointed mayor three times.

Rishwain said he estimates that an incumbent such as Johnston has a 20 percent advantage through name recognition, but he envisions a runoff between him and Johnston.

"Every time there's a story, she gets her name out," he said. "But I've got the experience. I know City Hall. I know what the problems are and I know the solutions."

Butler, who declines to take campaign donations, said his decades working inside the city give him the insight into untapped resources for making money and for cutting inefficiency and waste.

"I'm formulating a plan to get us out of this," he said. "Everybody else is focusing on the devastation."

Butler said Stockton is missing an opportunity to create more public-private partnerships with power companies to capitalize on the city's ample water sources. Johnston is too far removed from the city's daily operations, he said.

Pitsch has collected $125 in donations and spent that on painting two signs and on gas. As mayor, he vows to have open communication with residents.

"Stockton will accomplish amazing things if we work together," said Pitsch, who doesn't deny using medical marijuana to alleviate pain from an old neck injury. "That's why I can't sit back and wait any longer."

Would you like to see a 'Strictly Solar Stockton?'

The candidates

James Butler, 59

Party affiliation: Democrat

Political experience: None

Education: High school graduate

Work: Senior plant maintenance supervisor for Stockton's Municipal Utilities District, retiring June 30

Personal: Married 33 years to Myrna Butler

Quote: "I know the inside system. I know there's some substantial savings. I'm also looking long term — how do we become less dependent on state and federal money and more dependent on our knowledge?"

Ann Johnston, 69

Party affiliation: Democrat

Political experience: Two terms on the council and in her first term as mayor, Lodi Unified School District's board of trustees for 13 years representing north Stockton

Education: B.A. San Francisco State, General Social Science, Secondary teaching credential

Work: Owner of The Balloonery

Personal: Married 43 years to Cliff Johnston; the couple has two adult sons and three granddaughters

Quote: "We have to make Stockton the very best it can be, and that means solving problems and detailing a plan to move forward."

Gregory Pitsch, 26

Party affiliation: Republican

Political experience: none

Education: High school graduate and some college

Work: Online clothing, electroncs retailer and fledgling music producer

Personal: Wife Brittany Pitsch, an American Sign Language interpreter in Manteca schools

Quote: "We need to start thinking collectively and find out what each of us can do with our time in a more productive manner, rather than this destructive path we are on."

Jimmie Rishwain, 82

Party affiliation: Republican

Political experience: Stockton council member and mayor in the 1960s

Education: high school graduate

Work: Real estate developer and investor

Personal: Three grown sons and seven grandchildren

Quote: "I believe in Stockton. My heart and soul are in Stockton. I'm concerned about the direction the city of Stockton is going: crime, foreclosure and bankruptcy."

Anthony Silva, 38

Party affiliation: Republican

Political experience: One term on the Stockton Unified School District Board of Trustees, 2004-08

Education: Humphreys College, B.S. Science, Communities Studies

Work: CEO Boys & Girls Clubs of Stockton

Personal: 7-year-old son, Caden

Quote: "The current levels of crime and unemployment are unacceptable. I will increase police presence and bring new businesses into town."

Ralph Lee White, 69

Party affiliation: Democrat

Political experience: Served 16 years on the City Council beginning in the 1970s

Education: Finished high school in Texas

Work: Bail bondsman and property owner

Personal: Five daughters, 14 grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

Quote: "I will guarantee within one year that the murder rate will drop 50 percent and the crime rate 60 to 65 percent. If not I will resign. I will put 125 police on the street. If we can spend $12.7 million on lawyers and consultants in one year, we can put policemen on the street."


Contact reporter Scott Smith at (209) 546-8296 or ssmith@recordnet.com. Visit his blog at recordnet.com/smithblog.

Stockton May be on the Cusp of the rebound

Yes, the same Stockton that's on the verge of filing for bankruptcy protection. In fact, it's leading all California metro areas in job growth. From Reuters:

The Business Forecasting Center of the University of the Pacific in Stockton estimates a 5 percent increase in payrolls in the Stockton region for the 12 -month period ending in March. Jeff Michael, the center's director, said the city's economy is finally starting to recover from the knock-on effects of the area's dramatic housing crash. The region has "clearly joined the recovery," he told Reuters on Thursday. Local job growth will run at about 4 percent this year and about 2 percent annually through 2016, he said.
Of course, all this take time to move through the system - possibly too much time to avoid a trip to bankruptcy court. "If I had to bet, I'd bet the city would probably enter bankruptcy," Michael said. "The problem is too deep and too complex and involves too many parties to reach a negotiated solution in a few months." At this point, there are three possibilities: Slashing more services and staff, restructuring debt by working with creditors, or filing for Chapter 9, which is municipal bankruptcy. City officials presented those options at a Town Hall meeting. From the Stockton Record:

A participant elicited applause by next suggesting the city could save $300,000 a year by firing [City Manager Bob Deis]. The city manager - at the time seated with his back to the personal attack - shook his head and smiled. City firefighter and Stockton resident Mike Pasqualicchio took aim at [Mayor Ann Johnston] for being on the City Council in the 1990s that cast "uneducated" votes for increasing city retirees' health care - the bulk of Stockton's problems today. Johnston responded that Stockton got caught in a statewide trend that began when the California Highway Patrol first received enhanced retirement benefits. "Yes, I voted on a couple of those," Johnston said. "I was assured by city staff that this was something we could afford. Did I ask the right questions? I thought I did at the time." Deis defended Johnston by saying that city staff at the time was at fault for failing to provide the council members with the fine print.

More by Mark Lacter:
The Romney supporter who says income inequality is a good thing
Don't look now, but Stockton's economy is turning around
Guilty plea in kickback case involving unemployment insurance
Big weekend shaping up for 'The Avengers'

Newt Gingrich Still Thinks Mitt Romney Lied During Campaign

By Elicia Dover | ABC OTUS News – 8 hrs ago

Former Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich said Mitt Romney "said things that weren't true," over the course of the campaign.

Shown a new ad from the Obama campaign during an interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer Thursday - a clip reel of Gingrich's slams on Romney during the primary season - Gingrich laughed and said, "You have a rough-and-tumble primary season and you'll get words like that."

He was asked if he still believes Romney is a liar.

"I still believe the Romney campaign said things that weren't true," Gingrich said. "I also believe that compared to Barack Obama, I would trust Mitt Romney 100 times over."

Gingrich did not officially endorse Romney at the announcement he was suspending his campaign on Wednesday. He said he would do so in a couple of weeks, though the two had "not set a specific date."

Gingrich said the public would "absolutely" see him on the trail with Romney.

As for Gingrich's debt, he said he would conduct a lot of meetings, "begging people to help."

Gingrich also weighed in on the nomination for vice president, saying he thought Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., was ready to be president and "very knowledgeable."

Gingrich also mentioned Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, New Mexico Gov. Susanna Martinez and Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels as people Romney should consider.

"I like [Sen.] Rob Portman a lot," Gingrich added. "We have a really deep bench now of a whole new generation of people who are very confident."

Gingrich said that looking back on his campaign, the more "visionary" he was, the better he was doing in the polls.
"The more I got sucked into daily politics, the weaker we were," Gingrich said.


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Candidates Show their Money trail

By Scott Smith
Record Staff Writer
April 01, 2012 12:00 AM
STOCKTON - Mayoral candidate Jimmie Rishwain has kick-started his campaign with a $100,000 loan to himself, saying he wants to make sure he can respond to his opponents as the race gets hot.

"I want to be competitive," he said. "I want to be able to answer any comments that other candidates are going to be putting out."

That sum also puts him ahead of incumbent Mayor Ann Johnston and Tony Stevens, two other candidates who have money backing their candidacies.

Johnston has $57,792 on hand from contributions, and Stevens has $39,000, including $30,000 loaned from his Elk Grove auto dealership.

Mayoral candidates who have raised $1,000 or less are James Butler, Gregory Pitsch, Anthony Silva and Ralph Lee White.

The seven candidates will square off June 5 for the mayor's seat. A candidate can win in the primary with 50 percent of the vote, plus one. If there is no clear winner, the two top candidates will move on to the Nov. 6 general election.

Rishwain, who served as mayor in the 1960s when City Council members voted on the position, said he has pledges from other supporters.

Johnston in her 2008 race for mayor spent $310,000, according to campaign records at City Hall. In 1996, Ed Chavez spent $236,143 to win his mayoral race.

In three Stockton council races to appear on the June 5 ballot, each of the incumbents has outpace their opponents in fundraising so far.

Vice Mayor Kathy Miller has $60,540, while challenger Randy Hatch's filings indicate he has no campaign funds. The two are vying in Council District 2.

In District 4, Councilwoman Diana Lowery has $66,407, while challenger Moses Zapien reported $13,754, the most of any council challenger. Theresa Velazquez reported no money.

In District 6, Councilman Dale Fritchen has $36,372 on hand, and challenger Michael Tubbs reported having $5,694.

Contact reporter Scott Smith at (209) 546-8296 or ssmith@recordnet.com. Visit his blog at recordnet.com/smithblog.

Ron Paul, will be TIME Magazines person of 2012

Age: 76
Occupation: Republican presidential candidate
The leader of a vibrant libertarian movement, Paul has drawn huge, passionate crowds throughout the Republican presidential campaign. But on his third and final bid for the White House, Paul is again poised to come up short. Even so, the retiring 12-term Congressman has reshaped the national political debate and left behind his imprint on his party — not to mention an heir, Senator Rand Paul, to inherit his army.




Results for


Should Ron Paul be on the list of top 100 people of 2012?

Thank you for voting!


Definitely 89.07%


No Way 10.95%




Read more: http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2107952_2107953_2109630,00.html #ixzz1rU5V1hll

Today's quote is Uplifting to all who read

"The most important product from space is not Teflon or pharmaceuticals, but peace"
- Jesco von Puttkamer

Missouri Caucus Anecdotes: Arguments, Arrests, and a Good Day for Ron Paul

At University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

The Missouri caucuses may have marked Ron Paul’s most successful day of the 2012 campaign, as anecdotes from across the state indicate a strong showing.
To varying degrees, proceedings grew contentious between Paul supporters and local GOP officials. The gist of the disputes: GOP organizers said the Paul backers were boisterous and obstructive. Paul backers wanted to be heard.

While speculation has been noted on a national level that Ron Paul and Mitt Romney are somehow colluding in the 2012 race, anecdotal evidence from Missouri suggests some cooperation: In counties where Paul supporters showed well, Romney supporters and Paul supporters appeared together on mixed delegate slates. Local GOP officials said they couldn’t say, one way or another, whether Paul and Romney backers seemed to be cooperating in any organized way at individual caucus sites.

In St. Charles County, organizers and police shut down the caucus amid a bitter dispute between Ron Paul supporters and the caucus chairman. Two Ron Paul supporters were arrested, then released. A police helicopter showed up. The caucus was held in a high school gym, and about 2,500 people attended. “It’s like the Hatfields and the McCoys around here,” former St. Charles GOP chairman Tom Kipers said of the ongoing dispute between county GOP leaders and Paul supporters.

The Kansas City Star reports that things got contentious in Clay County, too: ”In Clay County, arguments between Paul supporters and others became so intense that the caucus chairman threatened to have voters removed by force. … [Paul supporter:] ‘We raised a number of points of order, points of information, points of parliamentary inquiry, many of which have been ignored.’” http://bit.ly/zV6XxR

Boone County, which encompasses Columbia and the University of Missouri, elected a slate of Ron Paul-backing delegates, after Paul supporters succeeded in electing their own caucus chair. (That’s a normal part of caucus procedure: the first vote taken is on who will chair the meeting.) One GOP member described the Paul supporters as “loud, boisterous,” and “obnoxious” at the meeting — although the local GOP chairman said things were civil and that GOP officials get along fine with the Paul people there. The caucus elected 48 Ron Paul delegates and 5 Mitt Romney delegates, according to a local GOP official.

Greene County (a large GOP county in Southwest Missouri, encompassing Springfield) elected a mixed slate of 65 Ron Paul delegates, 40 Mitt Romney delegates, and six Rick Santorum delegates. “A few [caucus attendees] got a little loud,” said Danette Proctor, the county GOP chair who presided over the caucus. “But I just said, ‘Be quiet.’”

In keeping with what seems to be a trend, a Ron Paul supporter in Lincoln County alleged that GOP officials violated caucus rules in an attempt to silence Paul supporters. Quote from a Ron Paul supporter, as posted on a blog: “They practically ignored the State GOP guidelines and rules. The severely butchered Robert’s Rules of Order.” Note: GOP caucuses (in Missouri, as well as in Iowa) are governed by Robert’s Rules of Order, although Missouri counties can use their own rules … and then adopt new rules after electing a caucus chairman.

In Christian County, south of Springfield, a local GOP official said Rick Santorum supporters came out as winners, electing a mixed slate of mostly Santorum backers and some Romney backers.

Rick Santorum spoke at the Chesterfield, Mo., caucus site in St. Louis County this morning — but his supporters only narrowly won out. A slate of Santorum-backing delegates narrowly defeated a mixed slate of Paul and Romney supporters, according to a Chesterfield GOP official.

Photo of Santorum drinking a Guinness: https://twitter.com/#!/MichaelBiundo/status/181063517514907648/photo/1
The state GOP acknowledged that it had heard of a few disagreements at caucuses around the state, but nothing else on par with what happened in St. Charles.

Memo to Stocktonians: 'I am What Stockton Needs'

To the citizens of Stockton,

The time is now. As citizens, there is no longer the luxury to sit back and allow our Civic leaders to blindly misdirect us. The powers that be have decided to take Stockton for a ride, a really bumpy ride. While a few people are active and they do voice their opinion, but there is an even larger portion of Stockton that doesn't know where to go if they so choose to put their word out. I am running for the office of mayor in Stockton, California, because I feel I am the best candidate in the highly-contested race for the seat.

This June will be my fourth year as a Resident of Stockton. And let me just say, I have learned many valuable lessons while residing in the Worst place to live in America, in 2010(according to Forbes Magazine). Certain lessons that will strengthen one's state of mind, and give thm the power to do the right thing, strictly to benefit my community.

I am going to be breaking down the budget to find out what the cities biggest priorities should be. I am not going to take the repetitive non-sense we are seeing from politicians as they continually assume that my youthful spirit will not directly benefit the city monetarily, well I would beg to differ. Nobody likes a poor-sport, and you will come to realize that I do not embody that characteristic. Don't get me wrong, I play to win, but a fair fight is just that, fair!

I will listen to the citizens rather than hear their opinion, and vote based on my own. That is a failed political practice, that is destroying our trust that we have from the people who vote us in. Yeah I know that's what the Mayor's job description entails, however this city has been ran that way for too long now. I have some higher, but still attainable goals that I wish to bring forward to the city's council. Such ideas are rarely conceived, except by those of us that can have a solution to a problem instinctively upon it being mentioned.

THE PRIORITIES I SEE FIT FOR STOCKTON'S RESTORATION:
1) Get a hold on the bankruptcy proceedings to review what is being deemed expendable, and what is necessary. Keeping the parking garages downtown is of vital importance to the recovery we are seeking.

2) I will vow to ''solarize'' the City's largest energy consumers and work with them to apply for federal funding to install solar panels, and be with
them every step of the way to make sure they aren't sidelined by the red tape which has been famous among insiders in Washington.

3) Try to branch out satellite sites for the city of Stockton employees and Police to become more localized to keep them close to home to reduce
the cost of the fuel bill each month just to have the fleet mobilized. Each office will have a number of volunteer's to ensure our Police can be
really policing against all the city's gang and drug problems.

4) Inspect the School District to find other unnecessary waste of our education funds. As well as ask the state to be pardoned from their curriculum
because we have seen it not work in the sense of educating our future leaders since 2004.

5) Be the first public school district to give students a head start, by making the school day just an hour and a half longer, allowing each student
to additionally get a High-School Diploma, as well as have an Associate's Degree by the end of their four years of High School. This will open up
the community college for the previous generation that hasn't been able to finish their college education, since all the local campuses have
been full.