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January 22, 2012

Conservatives Have One More Chance to Get it Right

By Post Scripts on January 21, 2012 3:38 PM | 3 Comments

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By Steve Thompson, Chairman of the Butte County Republican Party
“This might be the last election to turn things around before we go down the road
to socialism.”

Those were Michelle Bachman’s words as she gracefully exited the Presidential race on January 4th, 2012.It’s an ominous statement, leaving room for plenty of debate on just how bad things have become in our great nation and whether or not there is time to turn things around.
There’s a typical list of liberal responses that pop up whenever conservatives start discussing the evils of socialism. First comes denial that socialism is their goal, then insults to our intelligence (you’re confusing socialism with communism!), and by the end of their argument comes a rationalization of socialism and why it would be great for our country (or already is), even though they deny promoting it.
What cannot be denied is that Barrack Obama, a liberal democrat, has brought America closer to the brink of socialism, with the ensuing economic ruin, than it has ever been before. He was not alone in this effort. There are countless liberals in Washington and throughout the country who would like to bring this country down to its knees California style. To my own shame there have been numerous Republicans who helped them along the way for the promises of district pork and warm fuzzies from the leftists press. But in the end the buck stops at the White House, and there can be no greater argument than this that America needs a new President.
Here we are in 2012 and we have a chance to elect a new President. Incumbents traditionally have the advantage (Bush 2004, Clinton1996), but not always (Carter, Bush Sr.). Barrack Obama’s performance has certainly mirrored more of Jimmy Carter’s than Bill Clinton’s. The question now is who will Republicans put forth to challenge him?

It has currently come down to a choice between Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney. I’ll be the first to say that neither of them were my first choice, although both would be a stellar improvement over Barrack Obama. There is much to like and dislike in both of them.
Mitt Romney is an American success story. He didn’t inherit or marry into his money; he earned it. He’s a charming, warm personality with a strong belief in family and experience in job creation. Unfortunately, he’s also a bit too moderate for my tastes. I’m afraid his campaign will look more like Bob Dole or John McCain’s than Ronald Reagan’s, as Romney will pull his punches in futile attempts to be liked by everyone.
Newt Gingrich is also a story of success, for political conservatives. He led the Republican takeover of Congress in 1994 (I participated then as a college republican), ending 40 years of stagnant democrat domination. For his success, Newt has been demonized by the left more than perhaps any conservative in our history barring Sarah Palin. Newt is also a fighter, hitting some of the biggest home runs in the debates (his response to Juan Williams was inspirational) as he champions getting poor people off welfare, into jobs, and out of poverty for good.
But Newt has troubles of his own. I will admit to being given pause when I consider his poor choices as a husband. I am not a big fan of divorce and neither are a lot of conservatives. Still, half of married Americans have been divorced now, and there are few people left who honestly can cast stones at someone else’s marital difficulties.
When you consider the damage the Obamaconomy has done to millions of American families, Newt Gingrich’s economic policies might be just the boost a lot of married people need.
Ultimately, I think that conservatives now have to go with Gingrich. He is the present unification of our efforts, and our best chance of unseating Barrack Obama. At the very least, there will be no debate in which Obama will not have his bell rung multiple times.
While Gingrich can win debates, this does not always equate with winning elections. He needs a vice presidential candidate with the ability to cover the south and raise a lot of money (Rick Perry?). He needs the help of a unified conservative base who will set aside the smaller debates and stay focused on the greater good.

Newt Gingrich will both need a newly invigorated TEA Party, and his candidacy will help create it.

I for one am starting to be excited again. Our country may have hope beyond 2012 after all.


October 11, 2011

Find us on Facebook!!!!!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Butte-County-Republican-Party/144672688932357


September 7, 2011

Monthly meeting is Thursday, December 8 at 6:00 p.m. in Chico at Pete’s Restaurant and Brewhouse.  Informal Christmas party to follow


Link for Campaign School

August 3, 2011

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/308549​65/Butte_campaign_school_web.p​df


August 2, 2011

LEARN TO RUN. 

Butte County Republican

Party Campaign School 

ARE YOU: 

Running for office? Thinking about running for office?

Campaign staff? Campaign volunteer?

Thinking about working on a campaign?

Interested in being involved at ANY level on campaigns?

THIS IS THE

SCHOOL FOR YOU! 

Saturday, Aug. 20 | 8 am to 2 pm

Oxford Suites, Chico

$50/person (includes lunch)

Limited space; RSVP by Aug. 10 

530.624.4148 | ang_mari@comcast.net


April 29, 2011

Battle Los Angeles, um, Louisiana?

By Post Scripts on April 27, 2011 8:27 AM | 3 Comments

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By Steve Thompson, Chairman of the Butte County Republican Party

Recently on Post Scripts, Jack gave a good review of a great action movie called Battle Los Angeles. It’s a movie about some marines from Camp Pendleton defending a small area of Los Angeles from evil space aliens. Lots of action, shooting, explosions take place along with some good chest thumping bravado scenes. And of course the Americans save the day. It was a good movie and it made a lot of money at the box office.
It also made a lot of money for the location it was filmed. But it wasn’t filmed in Los Angeles.
You can read about it here in the Los Angeles Times.
That’s right, Battle Los Angeles was actually filmed in Louisiana! Baton Rouge to be exact. The people of Louisiana got a nice economic bump, as the movie production hired a crew of 200 people, 3,000 extras, and spent about $46.5 million on the local economy.
Does this seem strange to anyone? Why would a movie about Los Angeles not be filmed there? Isn’t LA the home of Hollywood, where movies are made? Isn’t Hollywood filled with liberals who hate capitalism and should be proud to pay more to film in their home state? I guess not.
It turns out that Louisiana offers a huge tax break for movie productions. The kind of tax break we don’t like to give the “rich” in this state because it’s wrong. But are tax breaks wrong, or just competitive for business?
Louisiana offers a 35 percent tax break for production costs of major films. California only goes up to 25 percent and they cut that off if the production goes over $75 million (which means most movies you see on the silver screen these days).
What it boils down to is that tax breaks work, especially for states that are competing for business. California is losing that competition, along with a lot of jobs, because we are no longer competitive. As businesses and jobs leave our state, you can watch the revenue to pay for teachers and police plummet. At least we can feel superior that we’re not cutting any breaks to the evil capitalists, I guess. Unemployment anyone?


Please “Like” us on Facebook!!!!!

March 24, 2011

Please Follow this link to “Like” us…..sorry there is no “button” yet, we are working on it:

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Commentary: College students feel impact of high gas prices

March 22, 2011

gas

For many college students, money is an endless struggle, thanks to the high costs of tuition, rent, food, bills, books and other necessary expenses. However, students can add something else to their money woes. The high price of gas.

With the recent turmoil in the Middle East, including unrest in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya, gas prices are skyrocketing and forcing college students to cut back on other costs.  This could mean anything from less fast food and fewer Starbucks lattes to fewer shopping trips and late payments on bills. As gas prices continue to rise, college students will have to make sacrifices to their daily routines that won’t be easy.

If you drive around Chico, you will find a lot of examples of gas stations increasing their prices every day and frustrated motorists. According to California Gas Prices, the cheapest gas station in Chico on March 21 was Costco at $3.81 for regular unleaded.  However, that’s only if you’re a Costco member. Otherwise, the title of “most inexpensive gas in Chico” goes to Arco at 2000 Business Lane with $3.81. Compared to last year, these prices seem awfully high. Unfortunately, the prices will continue to increase until stability is restored in the Middle East, which could take several months.

While the media covers the impact of the unrest in the Middle East and how it is raising gas prices, it doesn’t mention California’s gas taxes. According to API’s “January 2011 Notes to State Motor Fuel Excise Tax Report,” California has the highest gas tax in the nation. For each gallon of gas, motorists pay an additional 66.1 cents, and 47.7 cents is state tax. Thus, Butte County drivers have to pay for both higher gas prices and higher gas taxes when they pay at the pump.

There is a solution to high gas prices that could really help college students and their tight budgets. This solution is opening up California’s coastline to drilling. Rather than relying on oil imported from the Middle East, California could develop its own domestic oil supply. By drilling off the coast, California would reduce its gas prices and provide college students with well-needed relief at the pump. Oil drilling would also help the state with its $26.6 billion deficit. California could sell oil to other states and countries, which would provide the state with a new source of income and help avoid raising taxes.

What’s the best thing for college students to do now that gas prices continue to go up and up with no end to unrest in the Middle East? The best thing to do is to keep a careful budget. Figure out how much money you spend every month and see if there are any unnecessary expenses you can either reduce or eliminate.  This can help lessen the impact of higher gas prices on your bank account and make you more aware of how you spend your money. High gas prices may be shocking to look at, but keeping a close eye on every day expenses can make it less painful.


Republican Corner: The Grand Old (Un-electable?) Party of California?

November 30, 2010

By Post Scripts on November 20, 2010 10:30 AM3 Comments

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By Steve Thompson, Chairman of the Butte County Republican Party

In the last twenty years or so, American politics have seemed to become more divisive. There are a lot of theories out there on why this is, which range from the cultural (Bowling Alone) technological (internet) and ultra-political (right-left takeovers). My own theory incorporates some of all of these, but I believe that politics pre-Reagan was less combative because Republicans before Reagan had very few principles that differentiated them from the democrats. They also were unable to get elected outside of country club circles. It wasn’t until Republicans started to actually stand for real American values and won Congress that democrats went totally ballistic and threw fits like the demon-possessed getting holy water thrown on them. That’s my humble observation at least.

Whatever the case of national political turmoil, it’s funny to watch pundits after each election declaring the end to any given political movement or party. After the election of Barrack Hussein Obama in 2008, there were a lot of statements made about the death of conservatism, for example. After 1994 I’m sure a lot of Republicans also thought the democrats wouldn’t be coming back either. Right now a lot California political pundits are asking if Republicans can ever get elected in this state again. While California is certainly a difficult state for Republicans, I would wager the fight’s not over here. Why do I say that? Because I have patience friends.

All I have to do is wait for the democrats, who now completely run this shipwreck-bound state, to be themselves.

California is already in deep deficits. Put bluntly, we spend more than we make in tax revenue. We also have over 12% unemployment, with no real hope of it getting better. The majority of job growth in the U.S. right now is in states like Texas, and our policies are the exact opposite of theirs. High unemployment means more people who need money from the system. Our state is borrowing money from the feds just to pay people on unemployment. This doesn’t account for our welfare spending either, where people have moved to California for our higher than average welfare payments and we now carry a third of the national welfare caseload.

So while Jerry Brown actually campaigned on being a miser with our money, he was voted in by those who are expecting him to pay their bills (not unlike Obama). While Republicans have lost the albatross of Arnold Schwarzenegger hanging around our necks, the dems have made one of our state’s worst past governors the new face of their party. It’s telling that, in his election night acceptance speech, Jerry Brown actually used the pathetic phrase “good enough for government work.” Way to set your standards high, Governor.

I would love to be hopeful that California is going to recover soon, but I can’t see how that is possible. Democrats pay lip service to jobs but their policies are destroying jobs in the private sector. Without a private sector, you cannot support government jobs for very long. Jerry Brown’s father actually did build dams and create infrastructure, but today’s democrat party only wants to tear dams down. The worst is far from over as democrat legislation such as AB32, which we were unable to suspend this year, will come back and destroy a million more jobs in this state.

Seriously, does anyone who disagrees with me have any real hope or reason that our state can improve with the left at the helm? Can they really make an argument that killing the private sector will be good for our economy over the long haul? Democrats may have won, but I doubt the smart ones in their ranks are celebrating.

Over the next two years democrats will create a perfect storm, Obama style, that will give Republicans another shot at taking back California. Like the national battle that saw us take back Congress, it will not be easy. We must give California voters something to vote for and not just be the lesser of two evils. We must continue to remind voters that we are the party of jobs, while democrats are the party of higher taxes and economic misery. Democrats will help us by proving to voters they are the party of epic failure. Will we stand strong and convey our message that we are the party of success? Time will tell, but for California’s sake, I hope so.

 


November 17, 2010

Republican Corner: California Voters Compared to Lindsay Lohan
By Post Scripts on November 12, 2010 6:00 AM 

Dear Readers: Having spent Veterans Day with my wife and kids I didn’t prepare a column for this week. However I ran across this story from a former Californian who had some tough commentary on our recent election. I will be on duty this weekend and unable to respond to posts but please do enjoy and see you next week!

I found the following article in the Wall Street Journal
Steve

By Allysia Finley

Listen up, California. The other 48 states–your cousin New York excluded–are sick of your bratty arrogance. You’re the Lindsay Lohan of states: a prima donna who once showed some talent but is now too wasted to do anything with it.
After enjoying ephemeral highs and spending binges, you suffer crashes that culminate in brief, unsuccessful stints in rehab. This cycle repeats itself every five to 10 years, as the rest of the country looks on with a mixture of horror and amusement. We’d feel sorry for you if you didn’t constantly flip us the bird.
Instead, we’re making bets on how long it will be before your next meltdown. Oh, wait–you’re already melting down.
You’ve racked up nearly $70 billion in general obligation debt, and that doesn’t include your $500 billion unfunded pension liability. Your own analysts predict you’ll face a hole of at least $80 billion over the next four years.
Your government’s run by a brothel of environmentalists, lawyers, public-sector unions and legislative bums. When they’re not taxing or spending, they’re creating regulations and commissions like the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology and the California Blueberry Commission. Many businesses would leave if it weren’t for your sunny climate.

Which may explain why you’re so obsessed with climate change. If your climate changes, no one, including your Hollywood friends, would tolerate you anymore. So you’ve created a law to tax carbon emissions–no matter that it will kill jobs.
It’s not as if you don’t recognize that you’ve got problems. Roughly three-quarters of you say you’re headed in the wrong direction, according to a recent survey by the Public Policy Institute of California. You’re even more depressed than Illinois and New York, and you’ve got sunshine 10 months of the year!
You appropriately give your government low marks–28% approval for outgoing Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, 16% for the legislature–yet you continue to re-elect the politicians who got you into this mess. Not a single incumbent state legislator lost re-election this year, including one Democrat who died a month ago (no joke). What’s scarier is that you’ve just given almost all of the keys to statewide offices to Democrats.
Jerry Brown will be your new (old) governor. This is the man who acted as a gateway drug to your spending addiction three decades ago when he gave public-sector employees collective bargaining rights. Helping enforce your wacky laws will be Lt. Gov-elect Gavin Newsom, the San Francisco mayor who flouted state law by allowing same-sex marriage. On the plus side, he has nice hair and loves you just the way you are. This is what he had to say after winning his race:

“We’re nothing but a mirror of our consistent thoughts. You tend to manifest what you focus on. If you look around for what’s wrong, you’ll find it. But as all we know up here in San Francisco, when you focus on what’s right, you see it all around you. . . . There is absolutely nothing wrong with California that can’t be fixed by what’s right with California. . . . If you’re from another state, you’d love to have the problems of California.”
You’ve also just re-elected Barbara Boxer (that’s Senator Barbara Boxer) to a fourth term. She boasted on election night that it’s her “eleventh straight election victory, and what a sweet one it is . . . [since] everything was thrown at us, including the kitchen sink, and the stove and the oven and everything, millions of dollars of negative ads from known and unknown opponents, millions and millions of dollars.”
We’ve tried to help you, California. Some spent millions on campaigns to entice you to change your reckless behavior. And you told them to kick rocks.
So here’s our final warning: When you inevitably crash and burn, don’t count on us to bail you out.

Ms. Finley, a lapsed Californian who still wears Birkenstocks, is an assistant editor of OpinionJournal.com.


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