• Arnold Schwarzenegger,  California,  Mike Villines

    Just Say No To Arnold’s Tax Increases

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    Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger buttons his jacket as he walks to a news conference to unveil his new compromise state budget at a Capitol news conference in Sacramento, Calif., Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2008. Schwarzenegger’s plan calls for a temporary 1 percent sales tax increase and additional spending cuts to close the $15.2 billion deficit.

    California Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger unveiled a second compromise state budget today (remember his first last January?) featuring tax increases that he previously rejected.

    Arnold was elected after the previous Democrat Governor Gray Davis with the direction of California public employee unions ran up massive deficits which required bonds and temporary taxes to retire the debt. Davis was recalled and Schwarzenegger was elected to replace him.

    California Republicans in the legislature must insist that the Governor make the cuts to balance the budget without raising taxes. Arnold has had five years in office and the California budget has continued to balloon out of control.

    Assembly Republican Leader Mike Villines of Fresno this afternoon issued the following:

    “The proposal put forward today looks remarkably similar to the plan the governor’s office has been negotiating with the Democrats for weeks. Substituting one tax increase for another is not a bipartisan compromise, nor will it solve our long-term budget problems. This budget proposal will still leave a $7 billion hole next year despite nearly $10 billion in higher taxes and new revenue.

    “Increasing taxes on hard working Californians, whether temporary or permanent is not only unnecessary, it is irresponsible. Assembly Republicans continue to oppose tax increases because they will hurt families, kill jobs, hinder our economic growth and feed the Democrats’ addiction to higher spending.

    “Assembly Republicans understand the importance of passing a responsible budget in a timely manner and will continue to work toward an honest budget that reforms our budget system, encourages economic growth, creates jobs and rejects tax increases.”

    Now is the time to JUST SAY NO and make a “STAND” against big government and more taxes.

    And, Arnold, California Republicans really don’t care if you speak at the National Republican Convention or not.

    Do your job for which you were elected – FIRST.


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  • John McCain,  Tim Pawlenty

    Jon McCain Watch: The Case for Tim Pawlenty as Vice President

    McCainandPawlenty

    Senator John McCain and Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty

    With the long drawn out Obama announcement of his Vice President and the likelihood that he will choose Senator Evan Byah of Indiana, Flap has concluded that John McCain will choose Governor Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota as his choice for Vice President.

    John makes the case about a “safe choice” for McCain and with today’s latest polls showing steady improvement in the polls, McCain does NOT need a blockbuster choice, like a Joe Lieberman or Tom Ridge.

    John McCain will play it very safe and choose Pawlenty who conventional wisdom acknowledged and annointed months ago.

    Stay tuned……


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  • John McCain,  Rudy Giuliani,  Tim Pawlenty

    Rudy Giuliani to Deliver Keynote Address at Republican National Convention

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    Rudy Giuliani campaigning for President in Santa Barbara, California September 2007 Photo by Flap

    Rudy Giuliani has been asked to deliver the keynote address at the Republican National Convention next month in Minnesota.

    What a great choice. Rudy on the oratorical attack.

    This ends the speculation that Rudy would be John McCain’s Vice President choice. But, Flap maintains that Governor of Minnesota, Tim Pawlenty, will LIKELY be McCain’s choice.

    Update:

    Here is the Republican National Committee list of speakers:

    Monday 9/1:

    • Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn.
    • Vice President Dick Cheney


    Monday primetime (10-11pm Eastern Time)

    • Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, R-Calif.
    • President Bush and First Lady Laura Bush

    Tuesday 9/2:

    • Fmr. Gov. Tom Ridge, R-Pa.
    • Former CA Secretary of State Rosario Marin
    • Fmr. Sen. Fred Thompson, R-Tenn.
    • Gov. Linda Lingle, R-Hawaii
    • Fmr. Lt. Gov. Michael Steele, R-Md.

    Tuesday primetime (10-11pm Eastern Time)

    • Gov. Sarah Palin, R-Alaska
    • Fmr. Gov. Mike Huckabee, R-Ark.
    • Fmr. Mayor Rudy Giuliani, R-New York City ***KEYNOTER***

    Wednesday 9/3:

    • Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn.
    • Meg Whitman, Ebay CEO
    • Carly Fiorina, former HP CEO
    • Fmr. Gov. Mitt Romney, R-Mass.

    Wednesday primetime (10-11pm Eastern Time)

    • Cindy McCain
    • Vice Presidential nominee
    • Gov. Bobby Jindal, R-La., will speak after the VP nominee

    Thursday 9/4:

    • Gov. Tim Pawlenty, R-Minn.
    • Gov. Charlie Crist, R-Fla.
    • Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kansas
    • Sen. Mel Martinez, R-Fla

    Thursday primetime (10-11pm Eastern Time)

    • Sen. John McCain (video before his speech)


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  • Barack Obama,  John McCain

    John McCain Watch: Taking The Lead

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    Scroll Down for Updates

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    Graphic Courtesy of Electoral-Vote.com

    A number of polls are out today that show John McCain with a slight lead over Barack Obama. This is a dramatic turn around in the Presidential race.

    Looking at the Electoral College Map above, the race is virtually tied:

    • Barack Obama 264
    • John McCain 261
    • Ties 13 – Virginia

    A tally of 270 Electoral College votes are required to win the Presidency.

    As of today, it looks like the race may come down to Virginia, where Barack Obama is campaigning the next several days. Does this forecast an Obama selection of Virginia Governor Tim Kaine as his Vice President?

    Stay tuned as the race remains fluid.

    Update:

    The Real Clear Politics Electoral Map shows McCain with a slight lead and an Electoral vote majority:

    rcpelectoralcollege

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  • Joe Lieberman,  John McCain

    John McCain Watch: No Lieberman As Vice President

    McCain and Lieberman June 13

    Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Sen. Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn., smiles during a news conference after a town hall meeting in Pemberton, N.J., Friday, June 13, 2008

    The answer is NO to the idea of Senator Joe Lieberman as John McCain’s Vice President.

    There are many deserving Republicans who can be nominated and who would make excellent Presidents should John McCain not be able to fulfill his Presidential duties:

    • Governor Tim Pawlenty
    • Governor Sarah Palin
    • Former Governor Mike Huckabee
    • Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani
    • Governor Bobby Jindal
    • Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison

    Just to name a few.

    The first rule in Vice Presidential politics is to do NO harm. A Lieberman choice would demoralize the GOP base because Senator Lieberman is NOT a Republican and never has been.

    His voting record and policy positions are to the LEFT of the GOP except with regard to the War on Terror.


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  • Arnold Schwarzenegger,  California

    Arnold Schwarzenegger Watch: What The Hell Was That?

    Arnold Schwarzenegger

    California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, left, shows the interior of a hybrid Hummer to Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano at a Green Tech Expo during the annual Border Governors Conference Thursday, Aug. 14, 2008, in Los Angeles

    Arnold called into KFI Radio’s John and Ken Show on Monday. It wasn’t pretty.

    The biggest mistake the California GOP has made in recent history was recalling Democrat Governor Gray Davis and recruiting Arnold as his GOP replacement. Undoubtedly, Schwarzenegger is the worst Governor since his movie pal Jesse Ventura’s debacle in Minnesota.

    Listen to Arnold’s attempt to handle John and Ken here. Click on the 3 p.m. hour for 8/18 under the John and Ken podcasts. The governor appears at the 12-minute mark.)

    Thank God, Arnold has only two more years and cannot run for re-election under California term limits.

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