POLLS CLOSED IN GEORGIA SPECIAL ELECTION

The polls have closed in the special election to replace the deceased Charlie Norwood in the U.S. House of Representatives. The election has been held in Georgia's tenth congressional district. Ten candidates are running in the traditionally Republican seat. That number includes six Republicans. The frontrunner is believed to be State Senator Jim Whitehead, who seems to be a conservative. The CONSERVATIVE STATESMAN has endorsed Republican Bill Greene in this race. Also on the ballot is the election to replace Jim Whitehead's seat in the Georgia State Senate. I plan to post updates on the results through the night. Keep it tuned here.

Clinton Was Good For The Economy?

I want to spend a moment to debunk that whole "Bill Clinton was good for the economy" myth. While I'm at it, I think I'll connect him with the mess in Iraq. I'll do this quickly, with common sense as the guide.

1. BILL WAS GOOD FOR THE ECONOMY.
If he was good for the economy, why did the economy begin to falter at the end of his term. That's right, Bill Clinton was still President in 2000, when Wall Street began to decline steeply in the first quarter of the year. Wall Street usually follows economic numbers. In that case, the economic numbers would have had to started a decline sometime in 1999. There was even a sharp decline for the major Wall Street indexes on one day in April 2000. In 1998, worldwide stock selloffs rippled over here to the U.S. One of the centers of that selloff was Red China, a country that Bill Clinton tied us to even more strongly than past administrations. His drive for more economic ties to Red China has actually hurt the economy more than helped. Most of the American jobs that fled to Red China have done so after Bill's policies with Red China were put into action. We all know that loss of American jobs, especially of the magnitude we have seen in the last 15 years, is disastrous for our economy. Now, I want to make it clear that I am not a George Bush fan. In his own right, he has hurt the American economy by not working to solve the problems with Red China and with illegal immigrants who have taken jobs. He has actually accelerated these two disasters. However, the economic slump through the first few years of the 21st century are not Bush's fault, but the fault of his predecessor, William Jefferson Clinton.

2. BILL AND TERRORISM AND THE WAR.
September 11th and the ongoing war in Afghanistan and Iraq did not happen under the Clinton administration. However, a lot of the blame should fall under his administration if the account of the official story is correct. First thing, Osama bin Laden (What's with the Usama thing) is generally believed to be the "mastermind" behind the 9-11 attacks. Bill Clinton could have made it a priority to have him caught (his administration did know where he was at least once during his Presidency). Clinton was supposedly concerned about Osama, and a USA Today front page in the late 1990s showed that Osama was planning to assassinate Bill Clinton. If everything would have progressed as generally believed, and if Osama was caught, 9-11 would not have happened.
Secondly, the war in Iraq. I do not agree with the war there. I never could see its connection with September 11th. If you are going to charge Saddam with connection to terrorists, than you have to charge Russia, Saudi Arabia (where bin Laden is originally from), China and a number of other countries with ties to terrorism and we would have about as much right to go fight them. The U.S. is not the police force of the world, and I don't believe we should be about the business of getting involved in other countries' affairs to dispose of dictators. If we should do that, then we should go down to Cuba and do just that. Cuba has more of an effect on U.S. affairs than Iraq, other than oil. However, the fact is that we are in Iraq, and progress in being made, according to soldiers that I have talked to. What would have helped us to get this over quickly, though. A stronger national defense, one which Bill Clinton weakened during his administration.

It looks to me like the argument that Bill Clinton was good for the economy is full of fluff. I didn't even add the other reasons why he could have been worse for the economy, including universal health care. Imagine what would happen if his other half would be elected next year. Ouch!

Lott: "Talk Radio Is Running America."

In another sign that GOP Senate leadership is buckling to the pressure from questions on the Senate amnesty bill, Mississippi Senator Trent Lott blasted talk radio. I say buckling because it seems that Lott had nowhere else to turn and couldn't find blame in himself or his peers in the Senate who support this horrible amnesty package. The New York Times has quoted him saying, “Talk radio is running America. We have to deal with that problem.” The blog Ankle Biting Pundits adds to the above: “I’m sure senators on both sides of the aisle are being pounded by these talk-radio people who don’t even know what’s in the bill,” Lott said. He added that the “leadership will have to be prepared to do what needs to be done.”
At some point, Mr. Lott said, Senate Republican leaders may try to rein in “younger guys who are huffing and puffing against the bill.”

I don't know what to say about Trent Lott. I won't even address him as Senator here. He has sold out the middle class American citizens, and especially conservatives. Therefore, he isn't worthy of a honorable title, in my opinion. The above quotes show him to be absolutely naive. Either that, or he is an absolute idiot.

Talk radio running America? That is a new one on me. Hollywood seems to have more of an influence on American life. Personally, I would take talk radio hands-down over the leftist, nasty influence of the Hollywood establishment. Lott probably isn't planning to run again, but even still, he has endangered his respect in the state he represents and for most of America's conservatives.

I can now see perhaps why Bill Frist was ready to oppose Trent Lott for Majority Leader. Frist had his own problems, namely with last year's amnesty bill. However, Frist probably could see the incompetence of Lott, which the man from Mississippi has shown in these statements.

Side note: For those, such as myself, who are not fond of cursing, excuse the cursing on the 'Ankle Biting Pundits' link. I do not support that, although I certainly can't blame the writer there for his strong anger. I am furious and frustrated by Lott's comments myself.

Replacing A Vacany In The U.S. Senate In Wyoming

At the heels of the passing last Monday of U.S Senator Craig Thomas of Wyoming, the state's governor will have to appoint a successor. Wyoming's appointment law is a different one. Governor Dave Freudenthal, a Democrat, will not likely be appointing from his own party. Wyoming law states that the party of the recently deceased seatholder should choose the candidates. Thus, Wyoming's Republican central committee will choose three names to submit to the Governor within two weeks of Mr. Thomas's passing. That leaves about a week. Afterward, the Governor will have five days to choose a name from that list to serve out the rest of the time until the special election next year.

Possible candidates are already being discussed. The frontrunner at this time seems to be State Representative Colin Simpson of Cody. State Senator John Barrasso of Casper is another name which comes up often. Another likely name is that of the former U.S. Attorney for Wyoming, Matthew Mead, who gave up that job on Wednesday. One possibility that keeps people talking is that of Lynne Cheney, the vice president's wife. Some other names floating around include: State Senator Grant Larson, Wyoming GOP Chairman Fred Parady, former State Treasurer Cynthia Loomis, and former U.S. Justice Department official Tom Sansonetti.

The Wyoming GOP has set up a news conference for Monday to update on the process.


Jackson Hole, Wyoming News on the appointment possibilities

A Tribute To Senator Craig Thomas 1933-2007

I have not yet posted on the passing of Wyoming U.S. Senator Craig Thomas, but his is a loss for his family, for Wyoming, and for the U.S. Senate.

From the indications given me, Mr. Thomas was a good man and a conservative. He was a Republican senator. He was a member of the Methodist Church. From fiscal issues to defense, Mr. Thomas showed himself to have a conservative stand. More importantly, Mr. Thomas was a conservative on family issues, abortion, immigration and the Second Amendment.

His career in elected public service began in 1984 when he was elected to the state House of Representatives to represent Casper. In April 1989, a special election was held to decide who would replace then-Congressman at large Dick Cheney, who resigned to become Secretary of Defense in the George H.W. Bush administration. Mr. Thomas was chosen as the Republican candidate, and he won the election to become Wyoming's congressman at large. He was re-elected to a full term in 1990 and another one in 1992. In 1994, another conservative Republican, Malcolm Wallop, decided to leave his U.S. Senate seat. Mr. Thomas decided to run for it. He was elected then, and was re-elected in 2000 and in 2006. His biggest priorities were in agriculture, rural development, and the national parks system.

Mr. Thomas battled leukemia, which was announced shortly after his re-election last year. He entered Bethesda Naval Medical Center in Maryland on June 4, suffering from the leukemia and an infection. He passed away that night.

He is survived by his wife, the former Susan Roberts, and three sons and a daughter. Nine grandchildren will also remember him.

Our prayers go out to the family, and for the rest of the soul of Mr. Thomas. God bless all of you.

Wikipedia entry on Senator Thomas

Former Tennessee Tech Football Coach And A.D. Don Wade Passes Away

Don Wade, a former Tennessee Tech football coach and Director of Athletics, passed away in Clemson, South Carolina on Wednesday night. He was 79.

Wade, a native of Tyronza, Arkansas, began his playing career at Lenoir City High School in Lenoir City, Tennessee, where he played football and basketball. He went on to play with the Clemson University Tigers, while earning a bachelor's in education there. He graduated in 1952. While at Clemson, he played in the 1950 Orange Bowl, and in the 1951 Gator Bowl. Out of college, he began his coaching career at a high school in Georgia. In 1953, he began an assistant coaching spot at Clemson which lasted up to 1967. He helped coach the Tigers to bowl games three times.

In 1968, he left Clemson to take the head coaching job at Tennessee Tech in Cookeville, Tennessee. This was a job he held until 1983. He was one of Tech's most successful football coaches. Under him, TTU won the Ohio Valley Conference title in 1972 and '75. He had 81 career wins for a .509 winning percentage, both second-place showings for Golden Eagle football coaches. Wade became Tech's Director of Athletics in 1974, a position he held until 1980.

His memory will certainly live on at Tennessee Tech, and at all the places where he left his mark through his exciting life. God rest his soul, and bless his family and friends through this hard time for them. He will be missed!

FOR MORE:

Tennessee Tech Sports coverage on Wade's passing

Clemson Tigers' coverage

The Cookeville, Tenn. Herald-Citizen

The Nashville Tennessean

Clemson Tigers Insider

The Knoxville, Tenn. News-Sentinel

BREAKING NEWS!

VICTORY!

Senate Immigration Bill Appears Dead After Second Cloture Vote Fails To Move Bill Through.

Written by Jordan M. Iwanyszyn

After three weeks of heated concern by the American people, and of dealing and amending by U.S. Senators, the "bipartisan" immigration proposal appears dead tonight in the U.S. Senate.

In what should be described as a victory for conservatives and for the grassroots movement, the death of this bill will mean that amnesty will likely not yet be provided to the millions of illegal aliens already here.

Votes on cloture to push the bill along failed twice today. This morning, a cloture vote failed by a 63-33 margin. Later this evening, another cloture vote was taken, but again failed. This one failed by a much closer 50-45 vote, and it was 15 votes short of the 60 "ayes" needed to move the proposal along. Quickly, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada) pulled the bill from the floor. It seems we have won the battle, but we have not yet won the war. America should celebrate tonight, but also prepare for the next round the business interests, pandering politicians and special interest groups plan to pour on us. Reid insisted that the bill is not dead for the year, but Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) doubted that "prospects would get better with the passage of time".

MSNBC's headline tonight read "All But Dead", referring to the bill's prospects. CNN and Fox News both called the proposal dead. NumbersUSA, an influential grassroots website on this issue, calls tonight's event a "victory". Team America PAC, a political action committee founded by Congressman Tom Tancredo to fight illegal immigration, wrote a headline that reads, "America Wins: Senate Sellout Stopped."

Reid appears out of touch with America. "There's lots of support for this program on the outside,'' Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat, said after pulling the bill from the Senate floor in Washington. ``The problem was on the inside of this Senate chamber.'' He obviously doesn't realize from all the phone calls critical of this bill that the Americans on the street opposed this.

The footprint of this proposal is far from over, however. The political ramifications will continue to be felt and watched for some time. This defeat is primarily a defeat for President George W. Bush and the Senate architects, primarily Senators Kennedy, Specter, McCain and Graham. The one man who may be hurt most from this is the Arizona Senator John McCain, who is a 2008 Republican Presidential contender. RealClearPolitics shows McCain's average in the polls has slipped nearly 6 percent since the compromise was announced. At the same time, former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, both candidates for President who have blasted the proposal, continue to clime steadily in the poll averages. Another political future to watch next year because of this is that of Republican South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, who was an architect of the compromise and one of the 45 senators who voted tonight to end debate and pass the bill on. A primary challenge should be expected for him next year. Personally, I am hoping for a challenge to him and I would encourage it. In 2010, we should watch for a conservative primary challenger to the RINO Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter.

FOR A LOOK AT THE TWO CLOTURE VOTES CLICK HERE (This Morning's Vote) AND HERE (Tonight's Vote)! For a look at the votes on various amendments and a look at what has happened over the last three weeks, go to NumbersUSA's Action Center here.

For those in Tennessee, you should be happy to know that Senators Bob Corker and Lamar Alexander, both Republicans, voted the right way by voting no both times. For Pennsylvanians, my native state has very sour representation. Specter was a principal architect of the bill. The other senator, the Democrat Bob Casey, voted yes in both of today's votes. Casey last year defeated and replaced a principled statesman in Republican Rick Santorum, who would have almost certainly gone against this proposal.

REMEMBER, this is not over yet. This proposal looks dead, but the Benedict Arnolds who oppose America will certainly try again. We need to celebrate tonight, but continue to be vigilant for the next time this is tried. We defeated it now, we can certainly do it again with the same effort we have shown these last few weeks. If your senator voted against this proposal, don't forget to thank him. If he voted for it, let him know what you think of him on the phone, through e-mail, and through the ballot box the next time they run.

BE READY FOR THE NEXT TIME!

PRAISE GOD THAT THE 2007 SENATE IMMIGRATION PROPOSAL HAS GONE THE WAY OF THE 2006 DUBAI PORTS DEAL AND THE 2006 SENATE IMMIGRATION PROPOSAL!

CONSERVATIVES AND THE GRASSROOTS CAN DECLARE VICTORY IN A BATTLE TONIGHT, BUT THE WAR WILL RAGE ON AGAINST UN-AMERICAN BENEDICT ARNOLDS!