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It sounds as if Gary Trauner is taking his loss to Cynthia Lummis fairly well. He ran a good campaign, and even captured more votes in Wyoming than our Democratic presidential ticket of Obama/Biden. He makes a few statements in this Jackson Hole Daily article. A couple of clips:
“I think historically, presidential years are tougher for Democrats in Wyoming,” Trauner said.
“I had faith that the people of Wyoming would see through all the crap,” Trauner said. “I was wrong.”
“I don’t feel as upset as I did last time,” Trauner said. There was “nothing we could have done differently.”“At the end, it wasn’t going to happen,” he added. “I did the best I could.”
Indeed, it was a tough year for Wyoming Democrats. But the Obama/Biden win brings hope that this national nightmare will improve. Already we are seeing the world's reaction, and we are being viewed in a more positive light.
I wonder if Gary will run again? My job will be to follow the Lummis voting record over the next two years. I predict we are going to find her voting along party lines, but I'll bet she'll show up to vote more than Barbara Cubin.
I also predict that the 2010 race will be just as hard for a Dem to win. Perhaps Obama will have made some great progress with the economy and health care by then, and people might see that voting for a Democrat isn't a deadly sin. Trauner could try for the House seat again...but a certain position held by Gov. Dave will be up for grabs soon. Maybe he needs to think about staying in Wyoming, but switching residency to a different corner of the state. He needs to step back for awhile and regroup, spend time with his family, and think about his next move. I don't think this is the last we have heard from Gary Trauner, he is too passionate to stay on the sidelines.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Platte County Elections Results November 4, 2008
The results are in, and for the state of Wyoming and Platte County, the GOP has a sweep.
It was hardly a surprise that Mike Enzi (R) and John Barrasso (R) , our state Senators, would keep their elected positions. They earned 76% and 74% of the votes, respectively.
Cynthia Lummis (R) captured the larger percentage of votes, winning our lone congressional seat, 126,016 to 100,724 (2572 to 1710 in Platte County) in a heated race with Gary Trauner.
Our new representative for State House District #3 will be Frank Peasley (R), in a close race against Terry Jones (D). The final votes for Platte County were 1522 to 1240. District #5 will continue to be represented by Matt Teeters (R), who earned 66% of the vote in Platte County. The state senate race was a blowout. Jim Anderson (R) defeated Jay Wright (D) with 67.5% of the votes in Senate District #2.
More locally, we now have an all-Republican County Commissioners Board, with Terry Stevenson (R) defeating incumbant Joe Reichardt (D), 2559 to 1843. He will join Tim Millikin and Dan Kirkbride.
The people elected for the Hospital District Board were Rick Bowen, John C. Bunker, Crystal Gamblin and Lori Modesett. Chuck Witte lost his position by 30 votes.
Wheatland will have Alan Madsen and Bob Shoemaker as city councilmen.
Guernsey will have Audrey Brown as a councilwoman for a four year term. Penny Wells and Cindy Frederick have been elected to hold two year terms.
Constitutional amendments A and B both passed, as did the Senior Citizen Tax Continuation.
Further results for school district positions, judges, resource conservation districts and the like can be viewed here, under "Election Results".
Although the news from the national stage was overwhelmingly positive for Democrats, the state and local winners reflect the fact that Wyoming is still a stronghold for the Republican Party. I hope that the elected officials will make thoughtful decisions, and I encourage them to remember the nickname of our state. We are the Equality State. Let that be reflected in your work for the people of Wyoming.
And to our Democratic candidates, I congratulate you for your tireless efforts of campaigning. In this state, you have the struggle of earning each and every vote, simply for having a "D" behind your name. I've been able to listen to many of you, and know that you have selfless desires for a better way of life for this and future generations. Keep believing in those dreams, and never forget the mantra: Yes we can!
It was hardly a surprise that Mike Enzi (R) and John Barrasso (R) , our state Senators, would keep their elected positions. They earned 76% and 74% of the votes, respectively.
Cynthia Lummis (R) captured the larger percentage of votes, winning our lone congressional seat, 126,016 to 100,724 (2572 to 1710 in Platte County) in a heated race with Gary Trauner.
Our new representative for State House District #3 will be Frank Peasley (R), in a close race against Terry Jones (D). The final votes for Platte County were 1522 to 1240. District #5 will continue to be represented by Matt Teeters (R), who earned 66% of the vote in Platte County. The state senate race was a blowout. Jim Anderson (R) defeated Jay Wright (D) with 67.5% of the votes in Senate District #2.
More locally, we now have an all-Republican County Commissioners Board, with Terry Stevenson (R) defeating incumbant Joe Reichardt (D), 2559 to 1843. He will join Tim Millikin and Dan Kirkbride.
The people elected for the Hospital District Board were Rick Bowen, John C. Bunker, Crystal Gamblin and Lori Modesett. Chuck Witte lost his position by 30 votes.
Wheatland will have Alan Madsen and Bob Shoemaker as city councilmen.
Guernsey will have Audrey Brown as a councilwoman for a four year term. Penny Wells and Cindy Frederick have been elected to hold two year terms.
Constitutional amendments A and B both passed, as did the Senior Citizen Tax Continuation.
Further results for school district positions, judges, resource conservation districts and the like can be viewed here, under "Election Results".
Although the news from the national stage was overwhelmingly positive for Democrats, the state and local winners reflect the fact that Wyoming is still a stronghold for the Republican Party. I hope that the elected officials will make thoughtful decisions, and I encourage them to remember the nickname of our state. We are the Equality State. Let that be reflected in your work for the people of Wyoming.
And to our Democratic candidates, I congratulate you for your tireless efforts of campaigning. In this state, you have the struggle of earning each and every vote, simply for having a "D" behind your name. I've been able to listen to many of you, and know that you have selfless desires for a better way of life for this and future generations. Keep believing in those dreams, and never forget the mantra: Yes we can!
It's happening... Barack Obama, President-Elect!
It's 8 p.m. MST and at this point, there is no way for John McCain to win this election. Barack Obama is going to be our next President of the United States of America!
One might notice from the celebration venues that perhaps McCain already knew this. Barack's party in Grant Park in Chicago is huge. McCain's party in Arizona is a small affair, with Hank Williams Jr. providing party music to entertain what must be a depressed audience.
The rest of the votes need to be counted, but this race is over. Congratulations Barack Obama and Joe Biden! You both ran a good race and it was a well deserved win. I'm looking forward to the inauguration on January 20, 2009!
One might notice from the celebration venues that perhaps McCain already knew this. Barack's party in Grant Park in Chicago is huge. McCain's party in Arizona is a small affair, with Hank Williams Jr. providing party music to entertain what must be a depressed audience.
The rest of the votes need to be counted, but this race is over. Congratulations Barack Obama and Joe Biden! You both ran a good race and it was a well deserved win. I'm looking forward to the inauguration on January 20, 2009!
photo by dailykos.com
Monday, November 3, 2008
Gary Trauner and the Preamble to the Constitution
Tomorrow is the big day. It is my sincerest belief that we need a U.S. House Representative that will represent everyone in Wyoming. As my final plug for Gary Trauner before the election, I offer this piece from Gary, regarding the Preamble to the Constitution.
Preamble to the Constitution
When I made the decision to run for Wyoming's lone seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, I went back to the document that set the foundation for our new country, the Constitution of the United States of America.
The founders of this great country clearly believed in the role, and the ability, of the federal government in ensuring the success of the new democratic experiment they were embarking upon. They also clearly believed that the federal government should have specific responsibilities. In fact, the founders laid out their views directly in the very first words of the Constitution, the Preamble. It states: We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
I'd like to provide you with my thoughts on how the specific ideas set forth in the Preamble apply to Americans as we enter the 21st century.
We the People of the United States, in Order to:
* Form a more perfect Union
o Encourage voting and participation in the political process for all citizens, not just those of a certain party or race
o Remove discrimination against any identifiable group through legislation and, if need be, court enforcement
o Encourage tolerance of diversity and acceptance of differing views and lifestyles
o Ensure that all citizens have the ability to believe and worship in their own way, without forcing anyone to believe or worship in any specific way
* Establish Justice
o Ensure that we are a country that is respectful of the rule of law by setting up a system of public justice through courts and judges
o Fight corruption through reasonable regulatory oversight of our citizens and business enterprises, utilizing appropriate enforcement tools when necessary
* Insure domestic Tranquility and provide for the common defence
o Maintain a well-equipped, well-trained military that is superior in all aspects to the rest of the world
o Work with other countries
o Ensure that the National Guard is well-equipped and well trained and used primarily for domestic purposes, such as natural disasters and keeping the peace
o Protect and make secure our homeland
o Only go to war when it is absolutely necessary and as a last resort
o Ensure that all people are treated equally, regardless of race, creed, religion or lifestyle preference
* Promote the general Welfare, and
o Make policy based not solely on the narrow focus of corporate interests, but for the broader well-being of the people and our families
o Provide basic, quality health care for all citizens, irregardless of employment, age or economic status
o Provide quality educational opportunity for all children
o Ensure a level playing field for competitive enterprises through reasonable regulatory oversight and compliance
* Secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity
o Ensure individual freedoms and freedom from government intrusion in our private lives
o Act in a fiscally responsible manner, properly funding government so as not to unduly burden our children and future generations
o Preserve our natural heritage and outdoor recreational opportunities for all Americans and future generations
o Pursue an energy policy that is sustainable for future generations, works for our national security and is balanced with preserving our natural heritage
do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
I encourage you to join me in voting for Gary Trauner as our Wyoming choice for the U.S. House of Representatives.
Preamble to the Constitution
When I made the decision to run for Wyoming's lone seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, I went back to the document that set the foundation for our new country, the Constitution of the United States of America.
The founders of this great country clearly believed in the role, and the ability, of the federal government in ensuring the success of the new democratic experiment they were embarking upon. They also clearly believed that the federal government should have specific responsibilities. In fact, the founders laid out their views directly in the very first words of the Constitution, the Preamble. It states: We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
I'd like to provide you with my thoughts on how the specific ideas set forth in the Preamble apply to Americans as we enter the 21st century.
We the People of the United States, in Order to:
* Form a more perfect Union
o Encourage voting and participation in the political process for all citizens, not just those of a certain party or race
o Remove discrimination against any identifiable group through legislation and, if need be, court enforcement
o Encourage tolerance of diversity and acceptance of differing views and lifestyles
o Ensure that all citizens have the ability to believe and worship in their own way, without forcing anyone to believe or worship in any specific way
* Establish Justice
o Ensure that we are a country that is respectful of the rule of law by setting up a system of public justice through courts and judges
o Fight corruption through reasonable regulatory oversight of our citizens and business enterprises, utilizing appropriate enforcement tools when necessary
* Insure domestic Tranquility and provide for the common defence
o Maintain a well-equipped, well-trained military that is superior in all aspects to the rest of the world
o Work with other countries
o Ensure that the National Guard is well-equipped and well trained and used primarily for domestic purposes, such as natural disasters and keeping the peace
o Protect and make secure our homeland
o Only go to war when it is absolutely necessary and as a last resort
o Ensure that all people are treated equally, regardless of race, creed, religion or lifestyle preference
* Promote the general Welfare, and
o Make policy based not solely on the narrow focus of corporate interests, but for the broader well-being of the people and our families
o Provide basic, quality health care for all citizens, irregardless of employment, age or economic status
o Provide quality educational opportunity for all children
o Ensure a level playing field for competitive enterprises through reasonable regulatory oversight and compliance
* Secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity
o Ensure individual freedoms and freedom from government intrusion in our private lives
o Act in a fiscally responsible manner, properly funding government so as not to unduly burden our children and future generations
o Preserve our natural heritage and outdoor recreational opportunities for all Americans and future generations
o Pursue an energy policy that is sustainable for future generations, works for our national security and is balanced with preserving our natural heritage
do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
I encourage you to join me in voting for Gary Trauner as our Wyoming choice for the U.S. House of Representatives.
On Election Eve, The Star-Tribune endorses Obama
In this morning's Casper paper, the editorial board of the Star-Tribune endorsed Barack Obama for President. Am I surprised? Somewhat. Am I encouraged by this? Yes. A few highlights:
What America needs most in these troubled times is a president who will move the country in a positive direction. The candidate who is most likely to chart a new course that will lead us to better days is Obama. Moreover, he is the best candidate for Wyoming.
Wyoming's energy-based economy is faring better than the nation's, but there's no guarantee that will last forever. Obama supports the development of clean-coal technology, which could assure a future for our vast coal resources. His focus on energy independence through a major investment in alternative energy research and development could lead to the creation of new industry and jobs in the state, and dovetails nicely with the work being done at the new School of Energy Resources at the University of Wyoming.
McCain's selection of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, however, shows extremely poor judgment. She has shown repeatedly that she is simply not ready to fill McCain's shoes.
With his emphasis on diplomacy along with a commitment to protecting America, Obama gives us our best hope of regaining the respect of other nations.
His campaign has been an honorable one that has focused on inclusiveness and hope. The three presidential debates showed Obama to be a calm, thoughtful leader with a unique vision of the future. The contrast with his opponent, who seemed angry and erratic, could not have been more stark or more telling.We endorse Barack Obama for president.
Wyoming as a whole will most assuredly give our three electoral college votes to John McCain, but I don't believe he will get to the magic number of 270. I know Barack Obama is the better choice to improve our lives. I am optimistic about tomorrow, as well as the future of this country.
Source:http://www.trib.com/articles/2008/11/03/editorial/editorial/8fb5b809854145d7872574f50026785c.txt
What America needs most in these troubled times is a president who will move the country in a positive direction. The candidate who is most likely to chart a new course that will lead us to better days is Obama. Moreover, he is the best candidate for Wyoming.
Wyoming's energy-based economy is faring better than the nation's, but there's no guarantee that will last forever. Obama supports the development of clean-coal technology, which could assure a future for our vast coal resources. His focus on energy independence through a major investment in alternative energy research and development could lead to the creation of new industry and jobs in the state, and dovetails nicely with the work being done at the new School of Energy Resources at the University of Wyoming.
McCain's selection of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, however, shows extremely poor judgment. She has shown repeatedly that she is simply not ready to fill McCain's shoes.
With his emphasis on diplomacy along with a commitment to protecting America, Obama gives us our best hope of regaining the respect of other nations.
His campaign has been an honorable one that has focused on inclusiveness and hope. The three presidential debates showed Obama to be a calm, thoughtful leader with a unique vision of the future. The contrast with his opponent, who seemed angry and erratic, could not have been more stark or more telling.We endorse Barack Obama for president.
Wyoming as a whole will most assuredly give our three electoral college votes to John McCain, but I don't believe he will get to the magic number of 270. I know Barack Obama is the better choice to improve our lives. I am optimistic about tomorrow, as well as the future of this country.
Source:http://www.trib.com/articles/2008/11/03/editorial/editorial/8fb5b809854145d7872574f50026785c.txt
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Find where to vote in Wyoming
Where do I go to vote? What precinct am I in? Where are my keys? Two out of three of these questions can be answered by visiting the Wyoming Secretary of State website. Just plug in your address, and this handy Polling Place Locator will tell you where to go, and what district/precinct you reside in. You're on your own on the key thing. Polls will be open on Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Dick Cheney Speaketh in Laramie
Dick Cheney sayeth:
Vote for Mike Enzi. Grrrrr. 
Vote for John Barrasso. Arrrrrr.
Vote for Cynthia Lummis. Growwwwl.
And the good Republican people replied: Yes, my Lord.
Lummis leading Trauner at end of October
Polls conducted from Oct 27-29 show Cynthia Lummis having a lead over Gary Trauner, 49 to 45, compared to a previous poll where Trauner led 44-43. It's still close, but it's not the best news for those hoping for Democratic representation in Congress.
So what's going on here? My best guess is that people afraid of a "Democratic majority" are trending toward Lummis, to offset the fact that Barack Obama is likely going to be our next President of the United States. Yesterday I was speaking to one of our Democratic candidates running for office, and we agreed that in 2006 we may have seen a lot of "No More Cubin!" votes going to Gary. Perhaps it is a combination of the two. At any rate, this race is not over, and Gary Trauner is still the best choice for Wyoming to send to Congress. But we need every Democrat, Independent, and tired-of-partisan-politics Republicans to get to the voting booth. This is not a time to stand on the sidelines. Talk to your neighbors, friends and relatives. Ask them to do the same. At this point, with four days to go, it's a ground game. Game on!
So what's going on here? My best guess is that people afraid of a "Democratic majority" are trending toward Lummis, to offset the fact that Barack Obama is likely going to be our next President of the United States. Yesterday I was speaking to one of our Democratic candidates running for office, and we agreed that in 2006 we may have seen a lot of "No More Cubin!" votes going to Gary. Perhaps it is a combination of the two. At any rate, this race is not over, and Gary Trauner is still the best choice for Wyoming to send to Congress. But we need every Democrat, Independent, and tired-of-partisan-politics Republicans to get to the voting booth. This is not a time to stand on the sidelines. Talk to your neighbors, friends and relatives. Ask them to do the same. At this point, with four days to go, it's a ground game. Game on!
Friday, October 31, 2008
Get out the vote Platte County
By the end of the day, it will be "times up" for donating money to your favorite candidate(s). Most of the political hopefuls and diehards will be hitting the streets this weekend, a last push to find those few extra people that haven't quite decided to whom they will cast their ballot. This is the pre-party to the Superbowl of politics, Election Day. And like a diehard sports fan, I feel the need to trumpet the virtues of my team. We have some great players, and I'd like to see some touchdowns on Tuesday. First, Barack Obama is looking good but he needs every vote he can muster. Statewide, our best chance to bring home gold is with Gary Trauner with a U.S. House Seat. Locally, I'm thinking Terry Jones has a decent shot at getting the win in State House District #3.
Enough sports analogies. My point is, if you have a candidate that you want to support, this is the time to do it. Call your candidates and ask what you can do. Get out the vote!
Enough sports analogies. My point is, if you have a candidate that you want to support, this is the time to do it. Call your candidates and ask what you can do. Get out the vote!
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Colorado looks good in blue
I said it a couple of days ago, and it seems it was only a matter of time. CNN now has Colorado shaded in light blue, leaning toward Senator Obama. I knew our neighbors would come through. I think in the end, "Change" is going to win over "Fear", which is exactly how these two campaigns can be summed up. We have been led by the use of fear for too many years now, ever since 9/11/01. Colorado is ready for change, unfortunately Wyoming is bound tight in Republican chains when it comes to presidential politics. Even so, I hope a few more Wyomingites will look past the boundaries of party lines, and vote for change as well.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Republicans flood Platte County with newspaper ads
Wow! The local Republicans hit the Platte County Record Times hard this week. Multiple ads from most of the candidates, and a reminder from the Wyoming Republican Party to "Vote Republican". House District #3 candidate Frank Peasley has a half dozen ads himself. He is running against Terry Jones. This ad amused me, I've done some editing:
I have a working relationship with his son here in Wheatland, who I consider a good guy. I just think this scare tactic of picturing a solely Democratic representation is a bit much. By all estimates, Enzi and Barrasso are safe in their seats, so there's a pair for the "R" column. And besides, wasn't it not so long ago that besides Governor Freudenthal, the representation we had was strictly Republican? Until the Dems won the Congress in 2006, we were completely lopsided in the GOP's favor. Our current elected officials representing Platte County and Wyoming (Enzi, Barrasso, Cubin, Anderson, Teter, Meier and Alden) are ALL Republican. So I ask the rebuttal question to our local citizens, Don't you want at least one Democratic voice heard? I know I do.
I have a working relationship with his son here in Wheatland, who I consider a good guy. I just think this scare tactic of picturing a solely Democratic representation is a bit much. By all estimates, Enzi and Barrasso are safe in their seats, so there's a pair for the "R" column. And besides, wasn't it not so long ago that besides Governor Freudenthal, the representation we had was strictly Republican? Until the Dems won the Congress in 2006, we were completely lopsided in the GOP's favor. Our current elected officials representing Platte County and Wyoming (Enzi, Barrasso, Cubin, Anderson, Teter, Meier and Alden) are ALL Republican. So I ask the rebuttal question to our local citizens, Don't you want at least one Democratic voice heard? I know I do.
Nick Carter and John Barrasso debate on PBS
On Tuesday, October 28, the debate between Nick Carter and John Barrasso took place on PBS. The whole debate, as well as the debates from the two previous nights, can be seen on the PBS website.
The discussion included climate change, diverse energy major investment in clean coal, wind energy, global warming, Pinedale and the environment regarding natural gas, public funding for campaigning and elections, the bailout, our policies of when we should go to war, government spending, Wyoming and our wolf policy. In the "question each other" portion, they discussed the inheritance tax, fair tax policies, an AARP questionnaire, showing up for debates, the decision of voting on bills with "pork", and amnesty to illegal aliens. Of course, we had closing statements.
I have to admit, I thought John Barrasso did the better job in this debate. I stated in a previous post that I am in agreement with Barrasso on his choice to vote no on the bailout. But I am still quite opposed to a good majority of Barrasso's stances, including his position on abortion, taxes, prayer in school, and gay rights. He let's his religious views get in the way of his job to represent ALL the people of Wyoming. Separation of church and state, Senator. It's written down for a reason.
The discussion included climate change, diverse energy major investment in clean coal, wind energy, global warming, Pinedale and the environment regarding natural gas, public funding for campaigning and elections, the bailout, our policies of when we should go to war, government spending, Wyoming and our wolf policy. In the "question each other" portion, they discussed the inheritance tax, fair tax policies, an AARP questionnaire, showing up for debates, the decision of voting on bills with "pork", and amnesty to illegal aliens. Of course, we had closing statements.
I have to admit, I thought John Barrasso did the better job in this debate. I stated in a previous post that I am in agreement with Barrasso on his choice to vote no on the bailout. But I am still quite opposed to a good majority of Barrasso's stances, including his position on abortion, taxes, prayer in school, and gay rights. He let's his religious views get in the way of his job to represent ALL the people of Wyoming. Separation of church and state, Senator. It's written down for a reason.
Gary Trauner, a non-partisan choice for Wyoming
There is a good article appearing today in the Jackson Hole Star Tribune covering Gary Trauner on the campaign trail. Here's an excerpt:
If you watched the debate from Monday, you'll have noticed that Gary is on point regarding his non-partisan approach. He tackled Cynthia Lummis' question to him about voting for Nancy Pelosi as Speaker of the House by saying, and I'm paraphrasing here, if there was a better choice presented to him, he'd surely choose him or her. Gary Trauner is the candidate who is going to speak his mind. Cynthia Lummis keeps repeating that she is for "Wyoming Values", which I feel she thinks is equivocal to "Republican Values". They are not one in the same, I assure you. We have had years of voting along party lines. It's time to put in a Wyoming Congressman that thinks for himself. Gary Trauner is that candidate.
Full article: http://www.jacksonholestartrib.com/articles/2008/10/28/news/wyoming/e932de5d36bb3051872574f100061be0.txt
Trauner said he connects with members of the GOP by helping them understand that he's fed up with partisan politics in Washington. He also acknowledges up front
that they may not agree on every issue."When they hear that I think the biggest
problem in Washington, D.C., is blind loyalty to party on both sides, that
loosens people up pretty fast," Trauner said.He also likes to tell people that
he's a "regular guy," not a career politician, and didn't even consider running
for Congress until a few years ago."I am just a regular guy with kids who got
fed up and decided to run for Congress," Trauner said to just about everybody he
met in Cheyenne.
If you watched the debate from Monday, you'll have noticed that Gary is on point regarding his non-partisan approach. He tackled Cynthia Lummis' question to him about voting for Nancy Pelosi as Speaker of the House by saying, and I'm paraphrasing here, if there was a better choice presented to him, he'd surely choose him or her. Gary Trauner is the candidate who is going to speak his mind. Cynthia Lummis keeps repeating that she is for "Wyoming Values", which I feel she thinks is equivocal to "Republican Values". They are not one in the same, I assure you. We have had years of voting along party lines. It's time to put in a Wyoming Congressman that thinks for himself. Gary Trauner is that candidate.
Full article: http://www.jacksonholestartrib.com/articles/2008/10/28/news/wyoming/e932de5d36bb3051872574f100061be0.txt
Wyoming Candidates on the Issues
Still can't decide who to vote for in the next week? One great resource that may help you make a decision is ontheissues.org. They compile voting records and public statements from elected officials and current candidates to give you an easy to read, concise view of their stances on a range of issues. From Wyoming, you can read the positions of most of our current candidates, including Chris Rothfuss, Mike Enzi, John Barrasso, and Nick Carter. Unfortunately, neither Gary Trauner or Cynthia Lummis are represented. On the national level, the Presidential and Vice-Presidential candidates stances are available.
Also, take the 20 question quiz and see where your ideological profile lies.
Also, take the 20 question quiz and see where your ideological profile lies.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Trauner, Lummis and Herbert Debate on PBS
The Trauner, Lummis and Herbert debate, held Monday October 27th, is available on Wyoming PBS. You may click here to watch. Topics of discussion in part one included the economy, healthcare, social security, care for our veterans, climate change and energy. This was a question and answer portion. Part two had the candidates sitting down and asking each other questions. Topics included negative campaigning, Nancy Pelosi and political party allegiances, the current unpopular congress, and pro-life/pro-choice issues. They all finished off with closing arguments.
The video is 27 minutes long and well worth viewing.
The video is 27 minutes long and well worth viewing.
Watch this Gary Trauner and Dave Freudenthal Ad
With seven days to go, the Trauner for Congress campaign has put up this video on youtube.com. Please watch and if you can, donate a few bucks so this commercial can make the television airwaves this week. Let's help elect Gary Trauner to represent the people of Wyoming! And don't forget to vote!
Monday, October 27, 2008
Cynthia Lummis donates her pocket change
Cynthia Lummis gave her campaign $100,000 of her own money on Saturday to pay the campaign's bills, including television ad production, press expenses and phone banks.
Ummm, I don't know about y'all, but I certainly don't have a bank account with that kind of money laying around. Must be rough. I'm sure if she were elected she'd be the voice of the common man, looking out for the middle class, right? I don't think so.
Source: http://www.localnews8.com/Global/story.asp?S=9246283&nav=menu554_2_2
Ummm, I don't know about y'all, but I certainly don't have a bank account with that kind of money laying around. Must be rough. I'm sure if she were elected she'd be the voice of the common man, looking out for the middle class, right? I don't think so.
Source: http://www.localnews8.com/Global/story.asp?S=9246283&nav=menu554_2_2
Early voting in Platte County
My wife and I headed down to the Platte County Clerk's office this morning and voted early. It was real simple, and only took about 10 minutes. We were both wearing Obama campaign buttons, and a gentlemen also at the counter commented that he liked them. A fellow blue voter! I replied that I was happy that he liked them. There was another young female at the booth voting early too...which was good to see. Not that we should have a real problem with extensively long lines here in Platte County, but why not go and vote now? There was literally no waiting. If there is a problem with your registration, you'll have time to fix it, and you'll be assured your vote is included. I encourage every eligible citizen to take the time to vote, especially my fellow Platte County Democrats! This election, we have the opportunity to make a difference. Every vote counts.
Chris Rothfuss debates Mike Enzi on PBS
If you weren't able to watch the debate between Chris Rothfuss and Mike Enzi on Sunday night, Wyoming PBS has it up on their website. The sound is a bit lousy, but it's worth a look. Tonight Gary Trauner, Cynthia Lummis and David Herbert debate, followed tomorrow by Nick Carter and John Barrasso. Dr. Rothfuss is a very intelligent man, it's a shame he is up against the dominance of Republican voters in Wyoming. It would be false hope to think Rothfuss will pull this off this election year, Enzi has a healthy +25 lead. The money and support just isn't there this time around. However, Enzi toyed with the idea of retiring, but ultimately ran for his third term. Keep that in mind Chris, and get your six-year game plan ready. And don't forget about the other Senate seat that will be in play in 2012. In the meantime, we'll keep fighting for you, and it will be interesting to see how this plays out next Tuesday.
A few folks show up in Colorado for Obama
On Sunday, 100,000 plus people showed up in Denver to hear Barack Obama speak, and another 45,000 attended a rally in Fort Collins. CNN is still calling Colorado a toss up state. Wouldn't mind seeing the map turn light blue over the next week.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Wyoming Democratic Party needs your help Platte County Dems
I received this e-mail this afternoon from the Wyoming Democratic Party Treasurer Chuck Herz:
Ten days to go! And much at stake.
The congressional race in Wyoming is neck-and-neck. Gary Trauner leads Cynthia Lummis by a mere one percent in the latest polls and even the Republican National Congressional Committee admits that the race a tossup. We have a strong chance to elect the first Wyoming Democrat to either house of Congress in over thirty years.
We also have a strong chance to increase Democratic representation in both houses of the Wyoming Legislature, quite possibly enough to boost our representation on committees and secure any veto by Gov. Freudenthal. The Presidential and US Senate races currently look tougher, but we’ve an off-chance to pull a big surprise and should at minimum be able to narrow margins so that potential candidates, funding sources, the national party, and Wyoming Democrats will see Wyoming as much more competitive in the future.
Everything now depends on turnout. So we’re setting out to mount the strongest get-out-the-vote effort Wyoming has probably ever seen. An army of you are involved already, and thanks for that. But we need every Democrat in Wyoming to pitch in as much as they possibly can. So if you’re not already signed up as a volunteer to help whenever and wherever you can on the last weekend (November 1 and 2) and especially on Election Day itself (November 4), please, please do so now. If you’re already signed up, please consider signing up for another shift.Here are the contacts in each county with their contact information:
Here are the shifts for which we need volunteers:
Saturday, Nov. 1 Doors: 10am-1pm, 2pm-5pm
Saturday, Nov. 1 Phones: 10am-12pm, 12pm-2pm, 2pm-4pm, 4pm-6pm
Sunday, Nov. 2 Doors: 12pm-3pm, 3pm-6pm
Sunday, Nov. 2 Phones: 12pm-2pm, 2pm-4pm, 4pm-6pm, 6pm-8pm
ELECTION DAY, Nov. 4 Doors: 10am-12:30pm, 1:30pm-4pm, 5pm-7pm
ELECTION DAY, Nov. 4 Phones: 10am-12pm, 12pm-2pm, 2pm-4pm, 4pm-7pm
NOW IS THE TIME FOR ALL GOOD DEMOCRATS TO COME TO THE AID OF THE PARTY, AND OF OUR EXCELLENT CANDIDATES AT ALL LEVELS! Good hunting.
If you can lend a hand, the contacts for Platte County are Katie Lass, 307-680-6128, katie@wyomingdemocrats.com, or Dana Walton, 307-258-1825, dana@wyomingdemocrats.com.
Ten days to go! And much at stake.
The congressional race in Wyoming is neck-and-neck. Gary Trauner leads Cynthia Lummis by a mere one percent in the latest polls and even the Republican National Congressional Committee admits that the race a tossup. We have a strong chance to elect the first Wyoming Democrat to either house of Congress in over thirty years.
We also have a strong chance to increase Democratic representation in both houses of the Wyoming Legislature, quite possibly enough to boost our representation on committees and secure any veto by Gov. Freudenthal. The Presidential and US Senate races currently look tougher, but we’ve an off-chance to pull a big surprise and should at minimum be able to narrow margins so that potential candidates, funding sources, the national party, and Wyoming Democrats will see Wyoming as much more competitive in the future.
Everything now depends on turnout. So we’re setting out to mount the strongest get-out-the-vote effort Wyoming has probably ever seen. An army of you are involved already, and thanks for that. But we need every Democrat in Wyoming to pitch in as much as they possibly can. So if you’re not already signed up as a volunteer to help whenever and wherever you can on the last weekend (November 1 and 2) and especially on Election Day itself (November 4), please, please do so now. If you’re already signed up, please consider signing up for another shift.Here are the contacts in each county with their contact information:
Here are the shifts for which we need volunteers:
Saturday, Nov. 1 Doors: 10am-1pm, 2pm-5pm
Saturday, Nov. 1 Phones: 10am-12pm, 12pm-2pm, 2pm-4pm, 4pm-6pm
Sunday, Nov. 2 Doors: 12pm-3pm, 3pm-6pm
Sunday, Nov. 2 Phones: 12pm-2pm, 2pm-4pm, 4pm-6pm, 6pm-8pm
ELECTION DAY, Nov. 4 Doors: 10am-12:30pm, 1:30pm-4pm, 5pm-7pm
ELECTION DAY, Nov. 4 Phones: 10am-12pm, 12pm-2pm, 2pm-4pm, 4pm-7pm
NOW IS THE TIME FOR ALL GOOD DEMOCRATS TO COME TO THE AID OF THE PARTY, AND OF OUR EXCELLENT CANDIDATES AT ALL LEVELS! Good hunting.
If you can lend a hand, the contacts for Platte County are Katie Lass, 307-680-6128, katie@wyomingdemocrats.com, or Dana Walton, 307-258-1825, dana@wyomingdemocrats.com.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Final Wyoming Candidates debates on PBS
Here is a great chance to see the candidates debate head to head before making our choices in the voting booth on November 4th. Wyoming PBS is hosting a set of three debates, one for each open seat. The dates are October 26-28, and the lineup is as follows:
U.S. Senate Debate #1 airs Sunday, October 26 at 7:00 PM - Dr. Chris Rothfuss [D] debates incumbant Senator Mike Enzi [R], who is seeking reelection to his third term in the U.S. Senate.
U.S. House Debate airs Monday, October 27 at 7:00 PM - Gary Trauner squares off against Republican nominee Cynthia Lummis for Wyoming’s sole seat in the U.S. House.
U.S. Senate Debate #2 airs Tuesday, October 28 at 7:00 PM - Nick Carter [D] takes on Sen. John Barrasso [R], who was appointed in 2007 to the U.S. Senate.
Right now you have the opportunity to send questions for the candidates.
U.S. Senate Debate #1 airs Sunday, October 26 at 7:00 PM - Dr. Chris Rothfuss [D] debates incumbant Senator Mike Enzi [R], who is seeking reelection to his third term in the U.S. Senate.
U.S. House Debate airs Monday, October 27 at 7:00 PM - Gary Trauner squares off against Republican nominee Cynthia Lummis for Wyoming’s sole seat in the U.S. House.
U.S. Senate Debate #2 airs Tuesday, October 28 at 7:00 PM - Nick Carter [D] takes on Sen. John Barrasso [R], who was appointed in 2007 to the U.S. Senate.
Right now you have the opportunity to send questions for the candidates.
Over the years, moderator Geoff O'Gara has found some of the best questions forI'm sending off a couple... I encourage you to do the same, and tune in to watch! It will also be on Wyoming Public Radio if you aren't going to be near a television.
these debates come from our viewers. So we invite you, our readers and viewers, to send your questions directly to him at gogara@cwc.edu. Questions may be directed to specific candidates, specific races, or to candidates in all three debates.
Déjà vu, Freudenthal endorses Gary Trauner
Yesterday Governor Dave Freudenthal endorsed Gary Trauner in his bid for our one Wyoming seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Like the race two years ago, the endorsement has come fairly late in the game. In fact, this whole race is a déjà vu to the congressional race in 2006.
First, Gary promised to run a clean campaign and he has, just like when he ran against our soon-to-be ex-representative Barbara Cubin. Some say it cost him the seat last time around, but it is a testament to his integrity.
Secondly, the Republican National Committee has begun a mailing blitz attempting to label Gary Trauner as an extreme liberal who doesn't share the interests of Wyoming citizens. The same thing happened two years ago, when they saw that Trauner was a contender. But it's malarkey. How "extremely liberal" can a guy with an A- rating from the NRA be? Gary defines himself as an independent thinker, and will not vote simply for party politics.
Thirdly, as mentioned already, Governor Dave has waited until the final throes of the race to give the nod to Gary. I know he is picky about his endorsements, but really, why couldn't he support Mr. Trauner earlier on? Gary is the same person, with the same viewpoints and positions, as he was two years ago. I do applaud the fact that our Governor criticized Cynthia Lummis for taking credit for the budget surplus. His support is appreciated, but I was hopeful, with his popularity in the state, that he would have been behind Gary throughout the election cycle.
Lastly, as in '06, this race is too close to call. With Republicans outnumbering Democratic voters two to one in Wyoming, getting any Democratic candidate to Congress is a uphill climb. People need to look at the candidates character, read their stances on the issues, and vote. Gary Trauner would be a great representative for our state. Look what we got from Cubin over the last two years...straight voting along party lines, when she bothered to show up. Gary deserves the opportunity to show what he can do for Wyoming. He deserves my vote and yours.
Full Endorsement Transcript
First, Gary promised to run a clean campaign and he has, just like when he ran against our soon-to-be ex-representative Barbara Cubin. Some say it cost him the seat last time around, but it is a testament to his integrity.
Secondly, the Republican National Committee has begun a mailing blitz attempting to label Gary Trauner as an extreme liberal who doesn't share the interests of Wyoming citizens. The same thing happened two years ago, when they saw that Trauner was a contender. But it's malarkey. How "extremely liberal" can a guy with an A- rating from the NRA be? Gary defines himself as an independent thinker, and will not vote simply for party politics.
Thirdly, as mentioned already, Governor Dave has waited until the final throes of the race to give the nod to Gary. I know he is picky about his endorsements, but really, why couldn't he support Mr. Trauner earlier on? Gary is the same person, with the same viewpoints and positions, as he was two years ago. I do applaud the fact that our Governor criticized Cynthia Lummis for taking credit for the budget surplus. His support is appreciated, but I was hopeful, with his popularity in the state, that he would have been behind Gary throughout the election cycle.
Lastly, as in '06, this race is too close to call. With Republicans outnumbering Democratic voters two to one in Wyoming, getting any Democratic candidate to Congress is a uphill climb. People need to look at the candidates character, read their stances on the issues, and vote. Gary Trauner would be a great representative for our state. Look what we got from Cubin over the last two years...straight voting along party lines, when she bothered to show up. Gary deserves the opportunity to show what he can do for Wyoming. He deserves my vote and yours.
Full Endorsement Transcript
Monday, October 20, 2008
Citizens gather for Platte County Nursing Home
On Saturday, nursing home residents, Banner employees, and concerned citizens gathered outside the nursing home wing at Platte County Memorial Hospital to show support for keeping the nursing home open. CBS news from Cheyenne was there to cover the event. A short news video is available here: http://www.kgwn.tv/_videos/pages/200810185747.html
Banner Health is cancelling their contract to run the nursing home citing uncontrollable financial losses from the nursing home side of the facility over the past several years. In cancelling the contract, the Hospital District Board has to decide how to best handle the situation. They could:
A. Let Banner run the hospital and close the nursing home.
B. Let Banner run the hospital and find another entity to run the nursing home.
C. Find another entity to run both the hospital and nursing home.
D. Have the county run the hospital and nursing home.
What seems to not be an option is to negotiate a way for Banner Health to continue running both the hospital and nursing home. Banner, it seems, is not interested in operating the nursing home at this point, under any circumstances. Option B would seemingly be the hardest to accomplish. The nursing home and hospital share operational departments such as food service, laundry, housekeeping, and maintenence. Utilities are shared as well. It wouldn't be easy for two companies to negotiate a plan to share the employees and operational expenses. Option D is unlikely...the county simply does not have the resources and expertise to run a healthcare facility. From my vantage point, this leaves options A and C. Both will cause quite a stir, neither are optimal choices.
Regarding the politics of all this, the one person that may suffer backlash from community frustration is democratic candidate Joe Reichardt. He is the only Platte County Commissioner that is up for reelection this year. Although the commissioners have input, the negotiations in solving this dilemma are between Banner Health and the Platte County Hospital District Board. There are several names in the hat for the Hospital District Board. On the ballot in November are Rick Bowen, John C. Bunker, Crystal (Boettcher) Gamblin, Lori Modesitt, and Chuck Witte. These are brave people for wanting to be involved (or wanting to stay involved) in all this mess. The current Hospital District Board states they are doing their best to resolve the issue. Surely there must be a win/win solution to the problem. Any suggestions?
Banner Health is cancelling their contract to run the nursing home citing uncontrollable financial losses from the nursing home side of the facility over the past several years. In cancelling the contract, the Hospital District Board has to decide how to best handle the situation. They could:
A. Let Banner run the hospital and close the nursing home.
B. Let Banner run the hospital and find another entity to run the nursing home.
C. Find another entity to run both the hospital and nursing home.
D. Have the county run the hospital and nursing home.
What seems to not be an option is to negotiate a way for Banner Health to continue running both the hospital and nursing home. Banner, it seems, is not interested in operating the nursing home at this point, under any circumstances. Option B would seemingly be the hardest to accomplish. The nursing home and hospital share operational departments such as food service, laundry, housekeeping, and maintenence. Utilities are shared as well. It wouldn't be easy for two companies to negotiate a plan to share the employees and operational expenses. Option D is unlikely...the county simply does not have the resources and expertise to run a healthcare facility. From my vantage point, this leaves options A and C. Both will cause quite a stir, neither are optimal choices.
Regarding the politics of all this, the one person that may suffer backlash from community frustration is democratic candidate Joe Reichardt. He is the only Platte County Commissioner that is up for reelection this year. Although the commissioners have input, the negotiations in solving this dilemma are between Banner Health and the Platte County Hospital District Board. There are several names in the hat for the Hospital District Board. On the ballot in November are Rick Bowen, John C. Bunker, Crystal (Boettcher) Gamblin, Lori Modesitt, and Chuck Witte. These are brave people for wanting to be involved (or wanting to stay involved) in all this mess. The current Hospital District Board states they are doing their best to resolve the issue. Surely there must be a win/win solution to the problem. Any suggestions?
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Colin Powell is voting for Obama
This should be a real boost for the Obama camp. On Meet the Press this morning, Gen. Powell gave his endorsment of Barack Obama, and more importantly, made some statements that needed to be made. He questioned McCain's judgement on several issues, including his negative campain tactics and his pick of Sarah Palin. "Now that we have had a chance to watch her for some seven weeks, I don't believe she's ready to be president of the United States, which is the job of the vice president." he said. Thank you for that, sir.
After the interview on Meet the Press, Gen. Powell told reporters "I think that Senator Obama brings a fresh set of eyes, fresh set of ideas to the table. I think that Senator McCain, as gifted as he is, is essentially going to execute the Republican agenda, the orthodoxy of the Republican agenda with a new face and a maverick approach to it, and he'd be quite good at it, but i think we need more than that. I think we need a generational change. I think Senator Obama has captured the feelings of the young people of America and is reaching out in a more diverse, inclusive way across our society."
Please watch the video. It's a very honest and candid look at the big picture of this campaign, and how the extreme right agenda coming from the Republican party is not right for this country at this time. Thank you, General Colin Powell, for speaking the truth. You, sir, are the one putting Country First!
After the interview on Meet the Press, Gen. Powell told reporters "I think that Senator Obama brings a fresh set of eyes, fresh set of ideas to the table. I think that Senator McCain, as gifted as he is, is essentially going to execute the Republican agenda, the orthodoxy of the Republican agenda with a new face and a maverick approach to it, and he'd be quite good at it, but i think we need more than that. I think we need a generational change. I think Senator Obama has captured the feelings of the young people of America and is reaching out in a more diverse, inclusive way across our society."
Please watch the video. It's a very honest and candid look at the big picture of this campaign, and how the extreme right agenda coming from the Republican party is not right for this country at this time. Thank you, General Colin Powell, for speaking the truth. You, sir, are the one putting Country First!
Saturday, October 18, 2008
John Barrasso and Prayer in Schools
I was reading an article about John Barrasso's stances on a variety of issues when I came across this quote from our Wyoming Senator: "I have voted for prayer in schools." His responses to a questionnaire is that he strongly favors teacher led prayer in public schools. "Strongly favors" means he believes Judeo-Christian values are American values. Belief in God is what America was founded upon, so praying in school or other public places does not violate the separation of church and state. Displaying the Ten Commandments is appropriate because they are the moral basis for Western law. The Pledge of Allegiance should continue to include the phrase "Under God."
I feel it's a travesty that Jr. Senator Barrasso has this mindset. To me, America is about being a melting pot and accepting all people and celebrating diversity. It seems to me that prayer in public schools opens a floodgate of opportunity for discrimination. If he is going to be for religion in schools, he should embrace all religions and allow for specific customs and time frames of prayer of non-christian faiths. For example, a Muslim child should be allowed to practice their prayers at the times required by their religion. He supports a teacher leading the classroom in prayer based on Judeo-Christianity, but what happens if the teacher is Hindu or Buddhist? The inequity is apparent. Would he require every student to participate? Can a child with an atheist upbringing opt out of participation without being ostracized by pint-sized religious zealots? Can he guarantee that every child would be treated fairly? And what exactly does he think students should be praying for in school...are they praying for better grades or loftier notions such as world peace? How much time in the school day does he deem appropriate? And how would he prevent teachers and staff, in the position of authority and power, from influencing children with their own ideologies. How can Senator Barrasso be for government run schools pushing religion of any kind? When the focus and purpose of attending a public school is education, using the classroom hours for school led prayer seems to be a misuse of valuable time.
Earlier this week I attended a field trip with my first-grade daughter. After the morning bell rang, the class stood up at their desks, put their right hands over their hearts, and recited the Pledge of Allegiance. "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." It reminded me of a piece I read about the writer of the pledge, Francis Bellamy. His original words, put to paper in 1892, were as follows: "I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." Bellamy had contemplated adding the word "equality" to his pledge, but knew the prevailing opinions of the time were against equality for women and African Americans. You'll notice there is no 'under God' in his original piece. That was added later by congress in 1954 after lobbying by the Knights of Columbus. The pledge as it now stands, in my opinion, is discriminatory. People will argue that "Under God" could mean any one's god. When you start calling these various gods by name, the absurdness of this notion shines through. "One nation, under Christ Jesus", or "One nation, under Allah". Heck, why not "One nation, under Thor"? If you can substitute any god, a Christian god, a Hindu god, a Muslim god, then what is the point of pledging allegiance? Isn't the pledge suppose to be a uniting statement? It seems to work better without the religious preferences thrown in.
The government injecting religion into schools is a bad idea. I say let people practice their religion in their churches, mosques, synagogues, and homes, but leave it out of the public school system. The fact that Senator Barrasso supports it is unnerving. Zeus bless America. In Yahweh We Trust.
Sources: http://senate.ontheissues.org/Senate/John_Barrasso.htm
http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2008/10/17/news/wyoming/29-freshman.txt
http://history.vineyard.net/pledge.htm
I feel it's a travesty that Jr. Senator Barrasso has this mindset. To me, America is about being a melting pot and accepting all people and celebrating diversity. It seems to me that prayer in public schools opens a floodgate of opportunity for discrimination. If he is going to be for religion in schools, he should embrace all religions and allow for specific customs and time frames of prayer of non-christian faiths. For example, a Muslim child should be allowed to practice their prayers at the times required by their religion. He supports a teacher leading the classroom in prayer based on Judeo-Christianity, but what happens if the teacher is Hindu or Buddhist? The inequity is apparent. Would he require every student to participate? Can a child with an atheist upbringing opt out of participation without being ostracized by pint-sized religious zealots? Can he guarantee that every child would be treated fairly? And what exactly does he think students should be praying for in school...are they praying for better grades or loftier notions such as world peace? How much time in the school day does he deem appropriate? And how would he prevent teachers and staff, in the position of authority and power, from influencing children with their own ideologies. How can Senator Barrasso be for government run schools pushing religion of any kind? When the focus and purpose of attending a public school is education, using the classroom hours for school led prayer seems to be a misuse of valuable time.
Earlier this week I attended a field trip with my first-grade daughter. After the morning bell rang, the class stood up at their desks, put their right hands over their hearts, and recited the Pledge of Allegiance. "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." It reminded me of a piece I read about the writer of the pledge, Francis Bellamy. His original words, put to paper in 1892, were as follows: "I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." Bellamy had contemplated adding the word "equality" to his pledge, but knew the prevailing opinions of the time were against equality for women and African Americans. You'll notice there is no 'under God' in his original piece. That was added later by congress in 1954 after lobbying by the Knights of Columbus. The pledge as it now stands, in my opinion, is discriminatory. People will argue that "Under God" could mean any one's god. When you start calling these various gods by name, the absurdness of this notion shines through. "One nation, under Christ Jesus", or "One nation, under Allah". Heck, why not "One nation, under Thor"? If you can substitute any god, a Christian god, a Hindu god, a Muslim god, then what is the point of pledging allegiance? Isn't the pledge suppose to be a uniting statement? It seems to work better without the religious preferences thrown in.
The government injecting religion into schools is a bad idea. I say let people practice their religion in their churches, mosques, synagogues, and homes, but leave it out of the public school system. The fact that Senator Barrasso supports it is unnerving. Zeus bless America. In Yahweh We Trust.
Sources: http://senate.ontheissues.org/Senate/John_Barrasso.htm
http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2008/10/17/news/wyoming/29-freshman.txt
http://history.vineyard.net/pledge.htm
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Obama vs. McCain Round III: Anger Management
Boy, my working for a living is taking time away from this blog! I was able to catch only half the debate last night. I'll get online to see the rest soon, but I have another 24 hours of work in the next two days. My impression from what I saw is that Barack Obama is still the better debater...John McCain looked a little grumpy last night. McCain is going to be desparate and pull out all the stops over the next couple of weeks. If Barack remains cool and collected, which I don't doubt he'll do, I think we're going to see his poll numbers continue to climb.
Take a look at the new debate summary from factcheck.org. Guess what? It appears Joe the Plumber may actually get a tax CUT under Obama's plan. Checking around the web, it appears Joe may not be as "undecided" as he makes himself out to be. I think there may be something fishy about Joe the Plumber...new details are surfacing as we speak, er, blog. I'll keep an eye on it.
Take a look at the new debate summary from factcheck.org. Guess what? It appears Joe the Plumber may actually get a tax CUT under Obama's plan. Checking around the web, it appears Joe may not be as "undecided" as he makes himself out to be. I think there may be something fishy about Joe the Plumber...new details are surfacing as we speak, er, blog. I'll keep an eye on it.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Debates and more debates
In this article from the Casper Star Tribune, Terry Jones and Frank Peasley field questions about a statewide smoking ban, penalties for drunk drivers, health care, spending of budget surpluses, business promotion and housing shortages, among other things.
From the Gillette News-Record, this article covers the Trauner, Lummis and Herbert debate from October 5th. They discuss partisan politics, the federal bailout, the Wyoming Range Bill, and retirement benefits for congress. Is it just me or do those three names together look like a law firm? Just saying.
Coming up tomorrow is the forum at the Platte County Fairgrounds. 7-9 p.m., or until the last debater is standing.
Don't forget about Wednesday, the third Presidential debate will be broadcast on a television near you. Bring it on home Barack!
From the Gillette News-Record, this article covers the Trauner, Lummis and Herbert debate from October 5th. They discuss partisan politics, the federal bailout, the Wyoming Range Bill, and retirement benefits for congress. Is it just me or do those three names together look like a law firm? Just saying.
Coming up tomorrow is the forum at the Platte County Fairgrounds. 7-9 p.m., or until the last debater is standing.
Don't forget about Wednesday, the third Presidential debate will be broadcast on a television near you. Bring it on home Barack!
Chris Rothfuss vs. Mike Enzi: The Issues
There is a great collection of clips to watch from the debate between Chris Rothfuss and Mike Enzi that took place on October 5th at Casper College. Here are the youtube.com links:
Rothfuss vs. Enzi: Emission Limits
Rothfuss vs. Enzi: Golden Parachute
Rothfuss vs. Enzi: Gay Rights
Rothfuss vs. Enzi: Abortion
Rothfuss vs. Enzi: Finacial Crisis
Rothfuss vs. Enzi: Hate Crimes
Rothfuss vs. Enzi: Budget and Demand
Rothfuss vs. Enzi: Taxes
Rothfuss vs. Enzi: Experience
Rothfuss vs. Enzi: Earmarks
Rothfuss vs. Enzi: Campaign Finances
Rothfuss vs. Enzi: No Child Left Behind
Rothfuss vs. Enzi: Emission Limits
Rothfuss vs. Enzi: Golden Parachute
Rothfuss vs. Enzi: Gay Rights
Rothfuss vs. Enzi: Abortion
Rothfuss vs. Enzi: Finacial Crisis
Rothfuss vs. Enzi: Hate Crimes
Rothfuss vs. Enzi: Budget and Demand
Rothfuss vs. Enzi: Taxes
Rothfuss vs. Enzi: Experience
Rothfuss vs. Enzi: Earmarks
Rothfuss vs. Enzi: Campaign Finances
Rothfuss vs. Enzi: No Child Left Behind
Meet the Candidates, Part II
Terry Jones spoke next at the forum. He is the only person running for either a state house or senate seat that is from Platte County. He would represent House District #3. He has worked forty-two years for the railroad, has been in Wheatland for 16 years. For two decades he has been with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen Union, serving as Chairman for many of those years. He is endorsed by Wyoming Public Employee Association, NRA, AFL-CIO, Wyoming Education Association. His campaign issues discussed included property taxes, noting that Platte County may see their taxes increased the way others around us have, and would like to do something proactively before that happens. He discussed workman's comp, stating that currently your employer can absolutely stop workman's comp. He also discussed not letting land swaps happen and conserving our public lands. He noted areas where Democratic issues have succeeded in our state, including government transparency, the Hathaway scholarship, and the sales tax on food.
In the Q&A session, the current district map was discussed. Terry feels Platte County with a population of 8,000 people qualifies to have it's own district, noting that they will redistrict this county after the next census. He would like to be the voice of Platte County when this issue comes up. He was questioned about what issues face our children in Platte County. Terry felt strongly about education, starting with Head Start funding. He was asked about ideas to bring jobs into the county. Terry was hopeful that with good labor unavailable in Casper, that businesses may look to Platte County for their labor force, and he would like to provide the Wyoming Business Council with more funding to help promote business in Wyoming. He also stated that part of the problem is employers in the county not wanting to pay a salary beyond a certain level, $1200-1500/month. Questions about the nursing home situation were discussed briefly, and were deferred to our county commissioner candidate, Joe Reichardt.
Jason Wright, running for State Senate District #2, spoke next. He works in the IT department at the hospital in Douglas. He'd like to inject some new ideas into the legislature. He would like to push Wyoming into a leadership role on some important issues. He feels Wyoming, having the unique situation of having a small population and a budget surplus, would be able to adopt the first single payer healthcare system in the nation. He also is an advocate of preventative healthcare. He envisions if Wyoming had a single payer healthcare system, there would be a rush of businesses coming to the state for the advantage of not have to pay for health insurance costs to their employees. It would take the burden of healthcare costs and put it on society, and would allow them to be more competitive from this state.
Mr. Wright discussed was the idea of having having curbside recycling in Wyoming, and other forms of transportation to get around the state. In the Q&A, there was quite a bit of talk about using the rail system for traveling, also a state bus system and again a high speed rail, which would follow the current highway system. Jason Wright will be competing against Jim Anderson(R) on November 4th.
Russell Johnson of Veteran, WY is running for State House District #5, a position currently held by Matt Teeters(R) from Lingle, WY. He spoke about his two big issues, taxes and alternative energy. He believes taxes are a little misshapen where farmers, ranchers and some businesses are taxed on personal property. He proposes a state tax starting with over-the-median income, involving only the elite wealthy. For alternative energy, Wind and solar power are on his list of priorities. He is on a committee to start up a wind power district in his local area.
Joe Reichardt, one of three county commissioners for Platte County, spoke last. The county has many current issue, he said, but the situation with the nursing home is what is currently on people's minds. He wanted to make clear that Hospital District Board is responsible for the negotiations with Banner Health. He felt that Banner has been trying to get out of the nursing home business for awhile now, but feels that they signed a contract, and should take the profit and loss together. He stated that there were currently three possible outcomes. 1. Banner stays to run the hospital, and the nursing home closes. 2. Banner stays to run the hospital and nursing home, and they come up with an arrangement that would be acceptable for both sides for this to happen. 3. Another firm would take over and run both the hospital and nursing home. There was a lot of discussion regarding the nursing home, and Mr. Reichardt encouraged people to attend the meeting being held at the Cole Building in Wheatland at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, October 14th.
Our Party Chairman, Don Kneeburg, did a great job giving everyone the opportunity to speak while keeping within the time frames allotted. This forum was a great opportunity to learn a little more about these candidates.
There will be another opportunity tomorrow, October 14th, to pose questions and to hear more from these candidates and others at the 4-H building (Platte County Fairgrounds) from 7-9 p.m. Please attend and bring your questions in written form.
In the Q&A session, the current district map was discussed. Terry feels Platte County with a population of 8,000 people qualifies to have it's own district, noting that they will redistrict this county after the next census. He would like to be the voice of Platte County when this issue comes up. He was questioned about what issues face our children in Platte County. Terry felt strongly about education, starting with Head Start funding. He was asked about ideas to bring jobs into the county. Terry was hopeful that with good labor unavailable in Casper, that businesses may look to Platte County for their labor force, and he would like to provide the Wyoming Business Council with more funding to help promote business in Wyoming. He also stated that part of the problem is employers in the county not wanting to pay a salary beyond a certain level, $1200-1500/month. Questions about the nursing home situation were discussed briefly, and were deferred to our county commissioner candidate, Joe Reichardt.
Jason Wright, running for State Senate District #2, spoke next. He works in the IT department at the hospital in Douglas. He'd like to inject some new ideas into the legislature. He would like to push Wyoming into a leadership role on some important issues. He feels Wyoming, having the unique situation of having a small population and a budget surplus, would be able to adopt the first single payer healthcare system in the nation. He also is an advocate of preventative healthcare. He envisions if Wyoming had a single payer healthcare system, there would be a rush of businesses coming to the state for the advantage of not have to pay for health insurance costs to their employees. It would take the burden of healthcare costs and put it on society, and would allow them to be more competitive from this state.
Mr. Wright discussed was the idea of having having curbside recycling in Wyoming, and other forms of transportation to get around the state. In the Q&A, there was quite a bit of talk about using the rail system for traveling, also a state bus system and again a high speed rail, which would follow the current highway system. Jason Wright will be competing against Jim Anderson(R) on November 4th.
Russell Johnson of Veteran, WY is running for State House District #5, a position currently held by Matt Teeters(R) from Lingle, WY. He spoke about his two big issues, taxes and alternative energy. He believes taxes are a little misshapen where farmers, ranchers and some businesses are taxed on personal property. He proposes a state tax starting with over-the-median income, involving only the elite wealthy. For alternative energy, Wind and solar power are on his list of priorities. He is on a committee to start up a wind power district in his local area.
Joe Reichardt, one of three county commissioners for Platte County, spoke last. The county has many current issue, he said, but the situation with the nursing home is what is currently on people's minds. He wanted to make clear that Hospital District Board is responsible for the negotiations with Banner Health. He felt that Banner has been trying to get out of the nursing home business for awhile now, but feels that they signed a contract, and should take the profit and loss together. He stated that there were currently three possible outcomes. 1. Banner stays to run the hospital, and the nursing home closes. 2. Banner stays to run the hospital and nursing home, and they come up with an arrangement that would be acceptable for both sides for this to happen. 3. Another firm would take over and run both the hospital and nursing home. There was a lot of discussion regarding the nursing home, and Mr. Reichardt encouraged people to attend the meeting being held at the Cole Building in Wheatland at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, October 14th.
Our Party Chairman, Don Kneeburg, did a great job giving everyone the opportunity to speak while keeping within the time frames allotted. This forum was a great opportunity to learn a little more about these candidates.
There will be another opportunity tomorrow, October 14th, to pose questions and to hear more from these candidates and others at the 4-H building (Platte County Fairgrounds) from 7-9 p.m. Please attend and bring your questions in written form.
Meet the Candidates, Part I
This is a brief summary of what I heard from the Wyoming Democratic Candidates for U.S. Senate during the Meet the Candidates forum in Wheatland on Sunday.
"When John Barasso took office and immediately shoved his snout in the trough of special interests, I knew someone had to take him on." stated Nick Carter on what compelled him to run for the office U.S. Senate currently held by Barasso.He commented "People in Wyoming want two things. First, they want someone they can trust will represent the people of Wyoming. Second, they want someone with the courage to stand up to their convictions and vote for what's best for the people and not for what will keep them in office."
Regarding healthcare, Mr. Carter feels that people with catastrophic illnesses including the seriously ill and injured, should be covered without the worry of bankruptcy, noting that 2 million people last year had to claim bankruptcy for medical reasons. He would like to make it so small businesses could afford healthcare, reasoning that with the ability to get healthcare, we would see a blossoming of small business from entrepreneurs that can't afford to go out on their own under current conditions.
Concerning energy, Mr. Carter commented that we do not have an energy policy, it's a patchwork of plans, noting that two years ago we thought that ethanol "would deliver us from evil". He would like to see a comprehensive plan to free us from oil in 10-15 years, using clean coal, solar, wind. John Barasso, he said, takes hundreds of thousands of dollars from big oil. He won't vote for wind energy tax credits. He stated that we need to get rid of special interests.
Mr. Carter stated the current financial condition is because Washington has been "Paid to look the other way" from Wall Street. He wants people to know that "Wyoming can't be bought".
Speaking next was Dr. Chris Rothfuss, who is running against Mike Enzi. He noted that when Enzi took office in 1997, the economy was strong, but there were some problems that needed to be addressed, including the foreseen social security problem, our energy reliance issue, and the state of healthcare. In twelve years, Enzi has provided no real solutions. From 2005-2007 Enzi was the chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pension committee, which Chris stated made him "The most powerful person in the nation" regarding healthcare. He states Enzi had the opportunity to address healthcare, but says that who benefits the most from Enzi's "10 Point Plan" is the healthcare industry to the tune of 200 billion dollars.
Further noting Enzi's influence from the healthcare industry, he stated that Enzi has received a quarter million from the healthcare industry, while Wyomingites contributions have only totaled $50,000, five times less. He stated Enzi has received another $150,000 from pharmaceuticals. He chided the statement Enzi made that negotiating prices for Medicare Plan B "would not save any money", stating that Enzi is being paid to say that.
Dr. Rothfuss further spoke about the deregulation of the financial industry, noting that the banking regulation legislation from 1933 was removed in 1999, which was a catalyst for the problems we now face. He said "Nobody calls it corruption because EVERYONE is drinking from the trough". The solution? Send people to congress who are above it, referring to himself, Nick Carter and Gary Trauner as "The Untouchables".
In the Q&A session, topics discussed included if Mike Enzi's daughter was receiving money for consulting him(yes, a lot), the candidates stances on the 2nd amendment (both candidates are very much for protecting it as well as ALL our rights), how to rein in Washington lobbyists (federal financing of elections) coal fired power generation and the environment (proper regulation with cap and trade, reduce CO2 emissions produced and change over time to emission-free energy sources, both feel global warming is real), and a nationwide high speed rail system (both for it).
Part II will be a run down of the Wyoming State House and Senate candidates for Platte County, and our County Commissioner incumbent candidate, Joe Reichardt.
"When John Barasso took office and immediately shoved his snout in the trough of special interests, I knew someone had to take him on." stated Nick Carter on what compelled him to run for the office U.S. Senate currently held by Barasso.He commented "People in Wyoming want two things. First, they want someone they can trust will represent the people of Wyoming. Second, they want someone with the courage to stand up to their convictions and vote for what's best for the people and not for what will keep them in office."
Regarding healthcare, Mr. Carter feels that people with catastrophic illnesses including the seriously ill and injured, should be covered without the worry of bankruptcy, noting that 2 million people last year had to claim bankruptcy for medical reasons. He would like to make it so small businesses could afford healthcare, reasoning that with the ability to get healthcare, we would see a blossoming of small business from entrepreneurs that can't afford to go out on their own under current conditions.
Concerning energy, Mr. Carter commented that we do not have an energy policy, it's a patchwork of plans, noting that two years ago we thought that ethanol "would deliver us from evil". He would like to see a comprehensive plan to free us from oil in 10-15 years, using clean coal, solar, wind. John Barasso, he said, takes hundreds of thousands of dollars from big oil. He won't vote for wind energy tax credits. He stated that we need to get rid of special interests.
Mr. Carter stated the current financial condition is because Washington has been "Paid to look the other way" from Wall Street. He wants people to know that "Wyoming can't be bought".
Speaking next was Dr. Chris Rothfuss, who is running against Mike Enzi. He noted that when Enzi took office in 1997, the economy was strong, but there were some problems that needed to be addressed, including the foreseen social security problem, our energy reliance issue, and the state of healthcare. In twelve years, Enzi has provided no real solutions. From 2005-2007 Enzi was the chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pension committee, which Chris stated made him "The most powerful person in the nation" regarding healthcare. He states Enzi had the opportunity to address healthcare, but says that who benefits the most from Enzi's "10 Point Plan" is the healthcare industry to the tune of 200 billion dollars.
Further noting Enzi's influence from the healthcare industry, he stated that Enzi has received a quarter million from the healthcare industry, while Wyomingites contributions have only totaled $50,000, five times less. He stated Enzi has received another $150,000 from pharmaceuticals. He chided the statement Enzi made that negotiating prices for Medicare Plan B "would not save any money", stating that Enzi is being paid to say that.
Dr. Rothfuss further spoke about the deregulation of the financial industry, noting that the banking regulation legislation from 1933 was removed in 1999, which was a catalyst for the problems we now face. He said "Nobody calls it corruption because EVERYONE is drinking from the trough". The solution? Send people to congress who are above it, referring to himself, Nick Carter and Gary Trauner as "The Untouchables".
In the Q&A session, topics discussed included if Mike Enzi's daughter was receiving money for consulting him(yes, a lot), the candidates stances on the 2nd amendment (both candidates are very much for protecting it as well as ALL our rights), how to rein in Washington lobbyists (federal financing of elections) coal fired power generation and the environment (proper regulation with cap and trade, reduce CO2 emissions produced and change over time to emission-free energy sources, both feel global warming is real), and a nationwide high speed rail system (both for it).
Part II will be a run down of the Wyoming State House and Senate candidates for Platte County, and our County Commissioner incumbent candidate, Joe Reichardt.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Platte County Democrats hold forum
It was a good afternoon in Wheatland as the Platte County Democrats hosted a Meet the Candidates event at the First State Bank Conference Center. I will update with information on what the candidates talked about by tomorrow. I'm grateful to the candidates for taking the time to talk to us, I am very pleased with our Democratic Party choices. Below are a few photos of the event. More soon...
Friday, October 10, 2008
3 Democrats, 0 Republicans attend forum
Associated Press - October 10, 2008 10:25 AM ET
LARAMIE, Wyo. (AP) - It was Democrats three, Republicans zero at the League of Women Voters Forum in Laramie.
All three Democratic candidates running for Congress attended Thursday night's forum at the Albany Public Library. But all three Republican candidates sent other people to speak in their place.
Democratic House candidate Gary Trauner drove from Teton County to attend. Republican Cynthia Lummis sent her daughter to talk for her.
Democratic Senate candidate Chris Rothfuss lives in Laramie, so he didn't have far to travel. His opponent, Republican Sen. Mike Enzi, sent a campaign representative in his place.
Republican Sen. John Barrasso also sent a campaign staffer, while Democratic challenger Nick Carter showed up in person.
I'm glad our Democratic candidates are making the rounds across the state to meet people face to face. If you are going to be for the people, you should get to know the people. I am looking forward to hearing from them in Wheatland on Sunday, and hope to see them also on Tuesday. In reading their stances on the issues (see links for websites on sidebar), I feel confident in giving each of our three candidates my vote on election day.
Source: Laramie Daily Boomerang, http://www.laramieboomerang.com/
LARAMIE, Wyo. (AP) - It was Democrats three, Republicans zero at the League of Women Voters Forum in Laramie.
All three Democratic candidates running for Congress attended Thursday night's forum at the Albany Public Library. But all three Republican candidates sent other people to speak in their place.
Democratic House candidate Gary Trauner drove from Teton County to attend. Republican Cynthia Lummis sent her daughter to talk for her.
Democratic Senate candidate Chris Rothfuss lives in Laramie, so he didn't have far to travel. His opponent, Republican Sen. Mike Enzi, sent a campaign representative in his place.
Republican Sen. John Barrasso also sent a campaign staffer, while Democratic challenger Nick Carter showed up in person.
I'm glad our Democratic candidates are making the rounds across the state to meet people face to face. If you are going to be for the people, you should get to know the people. I am looking forward to hearing from them in Wheatland on Sunday, and hope to see them also on Tuesday. In reading their stances on the issues (see links for websites on sidebar), I feel confident in giving each of our three candidates my vote on election day.
Source: Laramie Daily Boomerang, http://www.laramieboomerang.com/
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Somebody fire McCain's DJ
Well, it has happened again. It seems the Foo Fighters aren't too keen on the McCain campaign using their song "My Hero" at their pep rallies.
"It's frustrating and infuriating that someone who claims to speak for the American people would repeatedly show such little respect for creativity and intellectual property," the band said in a statement. "The saddest thing about this is that 'My Hero' was written as a celebration of the common man and his extraordinary potential. To have it appropriated without our knowledge and used in a manner that perverts the original sentiment of the lyric just tarnishes the song."
McCain has already been slammed a few times during the campaign for using music by Jackson Browne, Heart, and John Mellencamp. McCain's camp says they have acquired the necessary license to play the Foo Fighters tune, but would you really want to when the artist outspokenly dislikes you?
I thought John McCain stated earlier this year that he liked ABBA and Linda Ronstadt. What's the matter Senator, are Dancing Queen and Blue Bayou not on your playlist anymore?
Source: Reuters
"It's frustrating and infuriating that someone who claims to speak for the American people would repeatedly show such little respect for creativity and intellectual property," the band said in a statement. "The saddest thing about this is that 'My Hero' was written as a celebration of the common man and his extraordinary potential. To have it appropriated without our knowledge and used in a manner that perverts the original sentiment of the lyric just tarnishes the song."
McCain has already been slammed a few times during the campaign for using music by Jackson Browne, Heart, and John Mellencamp. McCain's camp says they have acquired the necessary license to play the Foo Fighters tune, but would you really want to when the artist outspokenly dislikes you?
I thought John McCain stated earlier this year that he liked ABBA and Linda Ronstadt. What's the matter Senator, are Dancing Queen and Blue Bayou not on your playlist anymore?
Source: Reuters
Nice to be noticed
Just a note to mention of couple of shout outs I received this past week.
First, Michael Shay, an author and blogger from Cheyenne, mentioned this site on his blog, www.hummingbirdminds.blogspot.com. I have been reading his posts for awhile now, and enjoy his points of view. He blogged during the DNC convention in Denver, and he is a very active member of his local Democratic Party. The state needs more folks like him. Thanks Mr. Shay!
Next, our heroes of regional news flattered me with a link and commentary. Of course I'm speaking of www.wheaterville.com. I consider the website to be Platte County's online coffee house, where the conversations are local and lively. May they continue to grow and prosper. Thanks Ace & Co.!
First, Michael Shay, an author and blogger from Cheyenne, mentioned this site on his blog, www.hummingbirdminds.blogspot.com. I have been reading his posts for awhile now, and enjoy his points of view. He blogged during the DNC convention in Denver, and he is a very active member of his local Democratic Party. The state needs more folks like him. Thanks Mr. Shay!
Next, our heroes of regional news flattered me with a link and commentary. Of course I'm speaking of www.wheaterville.com. I consider the website to be Platte County's online coffee house, where the conversations are local and lively. May they continue to grow and prosper. Thanks Ace & Co.!
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Freudenthal, Obama and the NRA
Don't bother knocking on Governor Freudenthal's door today; he's not home. He is, in fact, on a road trip to Pennsylvania stumping for Barack Obama and clarifying our candidate's position on gun control. Barack got off on the wrong foot with the good people of PA earlier this year with his "clinging to religion and guns" comment. Enter Governor Dave; a gun rights advocate and NRA endorsee. He is making stops around the state promoting the fact that Barack has a good stance on gun ownership. "He's in the right place with it," Freudenthal said of Obama's position on gun ownership. "He understands it as a right. Remember, rights are not unlimited. They come with certain responsibilities." Obama's website outlines his positions for both the urban setting and for sportsmen. The NRA has given their stamp of approval to McCain, but Governor Freudenthal feels they are mistaken in their perception of Obama.
Taking the time to promote Obama was quite a grand thing for Governor Freudenthal to do. Pennsylvania is an important swing state. To see that an NRA endorsed, wild west, gun-toting Governor from Wyoming is A-O.K. with Obama has to be impressive for at least a few Pennsylvanians. When every vote counts, taking the leave-no-stone-unturned approach is prudent.
Source: pittsburghlive.com.
Taking the time to promote Obama was quite a grand thing for Governor Freudenthal to do. Pennsylvania is an important swing state. To see that an NRA endorsed, wild west, gun-toting Governor from Wyoming is A-O.K. with Obama has to be impressive for at least a few Pennsylvanians. When every vote counts, taking the leave-no-stone-unturned approach is prudent.
Source: pittsburghlive.com.
Veteran Report Card - Who supports our troops?
From thinkprogress.org:
During the first presidential debate, Sen. John McCain repeatedly emphasized his love of veterans — and their fondness for him in return. “I’ll take care of them. And they know I’ll take care of them,” he said. McCain frequently exaggerates his level of support for and from veterans groups, claiming to have “received the highest award from literally every veteran’s organization in America” and to have “a perfect voting record” on veterans’ issues.
Today, the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America released its congressional scorecard for the 110th Congress, and awarded McCain a grade of “D” for his votes against veterans’ priorities. The grade makes McCain one of only four Senators to fall on IAVA’s “D List” — and marks a repeat performance for him, after receiving a “D” for his 109th congressional voting record as well.
These grades are based on a number of veteran based issues, which are explained in the report. So how did our Democratic candidates and Wyoming elected officials do on this little list? See for yourself:
Barack Obama = B
Joseph Biden = B
John McCain = D
Michael Enzi = D
John Barrasso = INC (not enough time in office for complete analysis)
Barbara Cubin = C
Looks like the Democrats ARE the ones who support our veterans more. View the .pdf file to see all the categories graded and scores for all legislators.
During the first presidential debate, Sen. John McCain repeatedly emphasized his love of veterans — and their fondness for him in return. “I’ll take care of them. And they know I’ll take care of them,” he said. McCain frequently exaggerates his level of support for and from veterans groups, claiming to have “received the highest award from literally every veteran’s organization in America” and to have “a perfect voting record” on veterans’ issues.
Today, the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America released its congressional scorecard for the 110th Congress, and awarded McCain a grade of “D” for his votes against veterans’ priorities. The grade makes McCain one of only four Senators to fall on IAVA’s “D List” — and marks a repeat performance for him, after receiving a “D” for his 109th congressional voting record as well.
These grades are based on a number of veteran based issues, which are explained in the report. So how did our Democratic candidates and Wyoming elected officials do on this little list? See for yourself:
Barack Obama = B
Joseph Biden = B
John McCain = D
Michael Enzi = D
John Barrasso = INC (not enough time in office for complete analysis)
Barbara Cubin = C
Looks like the Democrats ARE the ones who support our veterans more. View the .pdf file to see all the categories graded and scores for all legislators.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Obama vs McCain II: The Town Hall Debate
Some thoughts on tonight's debate. I need to start by saying John McCain is my friend. He told me I was his friend 16 times tonight.
Oh, and the bill formerly known as the "Bailout Plan" will now be referred to by both parties as the "Rescue Package". Ummm, O.K. then.
What we got tonight was quite a bit of the same material we waded through in round one. I'm glad Obama brought up the fact that we were running a surplus when Clinton left office. I thought that needed to be mentioned. We Democrats CAN have a balanced budget while spending responsibly.
On healthcare, McCain said it's a responsibility, Obama said it's a right. I've expressed my opinion before, our current system doesn't work, and McCain is out of touch if he thinks every person he gives a $5000 rebate to is going to go out and buy health insurance. It just won't happen. Fact is, some people aren't responsible, but that doesn't mean their children should be penalized for it.
What should we sacrifice? I enjoyed Barack's response to McCain's spending freeze. The scalpel versus hatchet was a good analogy. Cut out the programs that don't work. Keep the ones that do.
I'd like to take the time to think through the "Drill, baby drill!" mantra. To take this to it's logical conclusion, it should be "Drill, baby drill. Burn, baby burn. Pollute, baby polute." We have so many options available to us for energy. I thought Obama was brilliant in stating that no one knew how we were going to get to the moon in ten years when JFK declared it, but the nation was determined. We can get off our need for oil if we put our minds to it.
McCain referred to Barack as "That one." I didn't like it. Not one bit.
The real loser of round two was Tom Brokaw. Absolutely no control over the debate. But the format stunk. These two need to be able to respond to each other and butt heads. We never get to see a conversation continue to conclusion. My guess is that Obama would keep his cool, and we would watch the spectacle of McCain really losing his temper. Perhaps round three should be a cage match.
Oh, and the bill formerly known as the "Bailout Plan" will now be referred to by both parties as the "Rescue Package". Ummm, O.K. then.
What we got tonight was quite a bit of the same material we waded through in round one. I'm glad Obama brought up the fact that we were running a surplus when Clinton left office. I thought that needed to be mentioned. We Democrats CAN have a balanced budget while spending responsibly.
On healthcare, McCain said it's a responsibility, Obama said it's a right. I've expressed my opinion before, our current system doesn't work, and McCain is out of touch if he thinks every person he gives a $5000 rebate to is going to go out and buy health insurance. It just won't happen. Fact is, some people aren't responsible, but that doesn't mean their children should be penalized for it.
What should we sacrifice? I enjoyed Barack's response to McCain's spending freeze. The scalpel versus hatchet was a good analogy. Cut out the programs that don't work. Keep the ones that do.
I'd like to take the time to think through the "Drill, baby drill!" mantra. To take this to it's logical conclusion, it should be "Drill, baby drill. Burn, baby burn. Pollute, baby polute." We have so many options available to us for energy. I thought Obama was brilliant in stating that no one knew how we were going to get to the moon in ten years when JFK declared it, but the nation was determined. We can get off our need for oil if we put our minds to it.
McCain referred to Barack as "That one." I didn't like it. Not one bit.
The real loser of round two was Tom Brokaw. Absolutely no control over the debate. But the format stunk. These two need to be able to respond to each other and butt heads. We never get to see a conversation continue to conclusion. My guess is that Obama would keep his cool, and we would watch the spectacle of McCain really losing his temper. Perhaps round three should be a cage match.
Matthew Shepard, in Remembrance
Ten years ago, on October 7th, 1998, Matthew Shepard was beaten, tied to a fence and left to die near Snowy Mountain View Road in Laramie. On October 12th, 2008 he passed away at Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins, CO.This incident could have happened in any state, in any town in America. But it happened here, in Wyoming, the Equality State. When people from around the U.S. think of Wyoming, they often think of this incident. It is a violent, ugly blemish in our state history.
Here in Wheatland the Autumn temperatures are dropping into the 30's when the sun goes down. I couldn't help today but to think of Matthew Shepard and the suffering he went through ten years ago, just an hour away from here. It saddens me deeply.
The word we need to be using today is acceptance. Tolerance, in my view, is just not good enough.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Wyoming's proposed constitutional amendments
There are two state constitutional amendments up for consideration on the ballot in November. It is nice to know the reasons behind the proposed amendments, or at least have some inkling of what is being changed before stepping into the voting booth. Informed decisions, what a concept. Here are the two amendments and the gist of what is to be changed if they are voted upon favorably.
Proposed Constitutional Amendment A
The adoption of this amendment would clarify and modernize the oath of office taken by all elected and appointed officials of whom the oath is required. the new oath will be "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support, obey and defend the constitution of the United states, and the constitution of the State of wyoming, that I have not knowingly violated any law related to my election or appointment, or caused it to be done by others, and that I will discharge the duties of my office with fidelity."
The oath in it's current state is more specific in what it constitutes as "violating the law", stating "I have not paid or contributed, or promised to pay or contribute, directly or indirectly, any money or valuable thing, to procure my nomination or election, except for necessesary and proper expenses allowed by law." In other words, I didn't lie, cheat or steal to win my postition. I dunno, it seems using the phrase "knowingly violated any law" leaves a wide open gap for someone to say "Gee, I didn't know I was breaking the law when I gave a considerable donation to such-and-such a group for their support". Sounds like the setup for a loophole to me.
Here is the full text in .pdf form.
Proposed Constitutional Amendment B
The passage of this amendment would change the requirement for petition signatures for an initiative or referendum. Currently a petition must be signed by at least fifteen percent (15%) of the quilified voters in at least two-thirds of the counties, as determined by those who voted in the last general election. This amendment would change the requirement to at least fifteen percent (15%) of the qualified voters in at least two-thirds of the senate districts, as determined by those who voted in the last general election.
O.K., pop quiz. How many citizen-activated initiatives have made it to a Wyoming ballot since 1996? The answer? None. Wyoming already has one of the most stringent requirements to put an initiative or referendum (I&R) on the ballot in the first place. With this amendment, instead of needing 15% of the signatures of registered voters in 16 of our 23 counties, the amendment would require 15% of registered voter signatures in 20 out of our 30 senate districts. This difficultly level in getting placed on a ballot is a two-headed beast. We don't need to see frivolous I&R's on the ballot, true. But it shouldn't be near impossible to get to vote on initiatives that address the concerns of Wyoming citizens. Statistically, getting any type of I&R on the ballot under this new proposal would be harder.
Here is the full text of Amendment B in .pdf form.
To amend, or not to amend, that is the question. It's our choice, folks.
Proposed Constitutional Amendment A
The adoption of this amendment would clarify and modernize the oath of office taken by all elected and appointed officials of whom the oath is required. the new oath will be "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support, obey and defend the constitution of the United states, and the constitution of the State of wyoming, that I have not knowingly violated any law related to my election or appointment, or caused it to be done by others, and that I will discharge the duties of my office with fidelity."
The oath in it's current state is more specific in what it constitutes as "violating the law", stating "I have not paid or contributed, or promised to pay or contribute, directly or indirectly, any money or valuable thing, to procure my nomination or election, except for necessesary and proper expenses allowed by law." In other words, I didn't lie, cheat or steal to win my postition. I dunno, it seems using the phrase "knowingly violated any law" leaves a wide open gap for someone to say "Gee, I didn't know I was breaking the law when I gave a considerable donation to such-and-such a group for their support". Sounds like the setup for a loophole to me.
Here is the full text in .pdf form.
Proposed Constitutional Amendment B
The passage of this amendment would change the requirement for petition signatures for an initiative or referendum. Currently a petition must be signed by at least fifteen percent (15%) of the quilified voters in at least two-thirds of the counties, as determined by those who voted in the last general election. This amendment would change the requirement to at least fifteen percent (15%) of the qualified voters in at least two-thirds of the senate districts, as determined by those who voted in the last general election.
O.K., pop quiz. How many citizen-activated initiatives have made it to a Wyoming ballot since 1996? The answer? None. Wyoming already has one of the most stringent requirements to put an initiative or referendum (I&R) on the ballot in the first place. With this amendment, instead of needing 15% of the signatures of registered voters in 16 of our 23 counties, the amendment would require 15% of registered voter signatures in 20 out of our 30 senate districts. This difficultly level in getting placed on a ballot is a two-headed beast. We don't need to see frivolous I&R's on the ballot, true. But it shouldn't be near impossible to get to vote on initiatives that address the concerns of Wyoming citizens. Statistically, getting any type of I&R on the ballot under this new proposal would be harder.
Here is the full text of Amendment B in .pdf form.
To amend, or not to amend, that is the question. It's our choice, folks.
Trauner, Lummis and Herbert at Casper College
Dateline: October 5th. Gary Trauner, Cynthia Lummis and W. David Herbert (Libertarian Party) answered questions at Casper College on Sunday, taking turns speaking almost exclusively about domestic policy.
I seriously came close to blowing iced tea out of my nose in response to this statement from Lummis: I believe my party stands for limited government, low taxes, for keeping spending under control, and for balancing budgets. Sure, these are the usual pillars the GOP tout as their platform, but c'mon. She seriously wants to speak of balanced budgets and keeping spending under control? Considering the past eight years, that's a verbal pill I find a bit hard to swallow.
Lummis also made a slip of the tongue, referring to Barack Obama as "Osama". Nice one, Cynthia. She apologized after the forum. Perhaps the gaffe provides us with some insight into her psyche.
Gary Trauner made a comment regarding healthcare that tells it like it is. He said "The United States already has a nationalized health care system because 20 cents to 30 cents of every health care dollar goes toward paying for those who are not covered by insurance. Health insurance coverage for everyone is morally the right thing to do and the economically right thing to do." Well said, Mr. Trauner.
Platte County citizens will have a couple of opportunities to meet Gary Trauner and other candidates over the next week. The Platte County Meet the Candidates forum is scheduled for Sunday, Oct 12 from 2-4 p.m. at the First State Bank Conference Center (Wheatland). Then on Tuesday, Oct. 14 from 7:00-9:00 p.m. locals can meet candidates from both sides of the aisle at the 4-H Building at the Platte Co. Fairgrounds in Wheatland.
I believe I've stated this before, but it is worth repeating. Gary Trauner missed defeating Barbara Cubin in Platte County by only 125 votes in 2006. Isn't Gary Trauner the better choice for Wyoming in 2008? I ask you to talk to your friends and neighbors to discuss the congressional race. This gets down to the local level, and we can truly make a difference in our county.
I seriously came close to blowing iced tea out of my nose in response to this statement from Lummis: I believe my party stands for limited government, low taxes, for keeping spending under control, and for balancing budgets. Sure, these are the usual pillars the GOP tout as their platform, but c'mon. She seriously wants to speak of balanced budgets and keeping spending under control? Considering the past eight years, that's a verbal pill I find a bit hard to swallow.
Lummis also made a slip of the tongue, referring to Barack Obama as "Osama". Nice one, Cynthia. She apologized after the forum. Perhaps the gaffe provides us with some insight into her psyche.
Gary Trauner made a comment regarding healthcare that tells it like it is. He said "The United States already has a nationalized health care system because 20 cents to 30 cents of every health care dollar goes toward paying for those who are not covered by insurance. Health insurance coverage for everyone is morally the right thing to do and the economically right thing to do." Well said, Mr. Trauner.
Platte County citizens will have a couple of opportunities to meet Gary Trauner and other candidates over the next week. The Platte County Meet the Candidates forum is scheduled for Sunday, Oct 12 from 2-4 p.m. at the First State Bank Conference Center (Wheatland). Then on Tuesday, Oct. 14 from 7:00-9:00 p.m. locals can meet candidates from both sides of the aisle at the 4-H Building at the Platte Co. Fairgrounds in Wheatland.
I believe I've stated this before, but it is worth repeating. Gary Trauner missed defeating Barbara Cubin in Platte County by only 125 votes in 2006. Isn't Gary Trauner the better choice for Wyoming in 2008? I ask you to talk to your friends and neighbors to discuss the congressional race. This gets down to the local level, and we can truly make a difference in our county.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
And the Vice-Presidential debate winner is...
Wow, good debate. Governor Palin didn't stink like she did in the Couric interviews, which was great for Senator Biden. It allowed him to be his best and he was able to avoid looking like a bully. The moderator was extremely fair. I chose to watch the debate on CNN, where it was interesting to see the real-time opinion of thirty-some Ohioans displayed on the television via a graph measuring audience mood during the discussion.
I feel Biden won the debate, but Palin restored her previously held position as a scrappy soccer, er, hockey mom. She was full-on folksy tonight, for sure, ya know. Couple of winks in there, too. The debate reaffirmed my opinion that I'd rather see Biden stepping into the presidential shoes over Palin. Joe Biden is well spoken, able to make his point, and has the wealth of knowledge and experience to assist Barack in his Presidency. He did his job well, connecting McCain to Bush, and making the case that an Obama/Biden ticket will do more for main street America than McCain/Palin.
Right now the pundits are sorting out the factual content, and I'm sure by morning the news will have some polls to let us know who prevailed. The voices that will count most will be those of the independents. For me, this was a wonderful affirmation that Obama made a great choice in Biden. What a great ticket.
I feel Biden won the debate, but Palin restored her previously held position as a scrappy soccer, er, hockey mom. She was full-on folksy tonight, for sure, ya know. Couple of winks in there, too. The debate reaffirmed my opinion that I'd rather see Biden stepping into the presidential shoes over Palin. Joe Biden is well spoken, able to make his point, and has the wealth of knowledge and experience to assist Barack in his Presidency. He did his job well, connecting McCain to Bush, and making the case that an Obama/Biden ticket will do more for main street America than McCain/Palin.
Right now the pundits are sorting out the factual content, and I'm sure by morning the news will have some polls to let us know who prevailed. The voices that will count most will be those of the independents. For me, this was a wonderful affirmation that Obama made a great choice in Biden. What a great ticket.
Why is Cynthia Lummis Running for Congress?
From the homepage of Cynthia Lummis' Website, I have taken the liberty to play the role of Gary Trauner in composing a rebuttal to Cynthia's interest in running for congress (my responses are in red):
Cynthia's Top 6 Reasons for Running for Congress
1. Because I love Wyoming; our state and its people represent a uniquely wonderful corner of the world. I completely agree, me too.
2. Because I am an idealist and an optimist; I think that public service can make a difference. Hey, so am I! I have great ideas about health care, green energy and especially taking care of our vets and soldiers. After all, haven't our military men and women provided the greatest service to our country? I 'm optimistic that I can help turn this country back around after having been under the Bush regime for eight years.
3. Because this is a challenging time, both here and abroad. Challenges, to me, are a call to service. Things have only become worse from the time I ran for congress in 2006. While Republican Barbara Cubin accumulated the worst voting record in congress, the last two years have brought us even more challenges. Challenges like the national debt, the further occupation in Iraq, the meager attempts to diminish our dependency on foreign oil. Gosh, where have those challenges come from? Oh, yeah. From the Republicans. Yeah, I am up for challenges, too.
4. Because the Federal government has always had, and continues to have, a big influence on the shape of Wyoming's future; Wyoming's voice in Congress needs to be strong and authentic. I'm pretty sure I act strong and authentic. For instance, I would never have a member of my election team call in to a question and answer session and pretend they are someone else to try and trip up my opponent. I would feel bad about doing something like that.
5. Because how we address the matters of energy, the environment, national security and the economy today, directly affects our children's future. Yeah, the Republicans have always been about the environment, haven't they. Alaskan wilderness. Spotted Owls. Global Warming. Nature freaks, that's what they are. Spending billions in Iraq, all the while creating more disdain for the United States globally, I agree are definitely affecting our children's future. In a bad way.
6 .Because I listen, and will continue to listen, to Wyoming people in order to most effectively represent their interests in Washington. I'm going to listen to all the people in Wyoming, including Democrats, Independents, and Republicans. Because I'm not about serving the party line. I'm about making a difference, and leaving this world a better place for the next generation.
With apologies to Mr. Trauner; who I'm sure would say these things more eloquently than me.
Cynthia's Top 6 Reasons for Running for Congress
1. Because I love Wyoming; our state and its people represent a uniquely wonderful corner of the world. I completely agree, me too.
2. Because I am an idealist and an optimist; I think that public service can make a difference. Hey, so am I! I have great ideas about health care, green energy and especially taking care of our vets and soldiers. After all, haven't our military men and women provided the greatest service to our country? I 'm optimistic that I can help turn this country back around after having been under the Bush regime for eight years.
3. Because this is a challenging time, both here and abroad. Challenges, to me, are a call to service. Things have only become worse from the time I ran for congress in 2006. While Republican Barbara Cubin accumulated the worst voting record in congress, the last two years have brought us even more challenges. Challenges like the national debt, the further occupation in Iraq, the meager attempts to diminish our dependency on foreign oil. Gosh, where have those challenges come from? Oh, yeah. From the Republicans. Yeah, I am up for challenges, too.
4. Because the Federal government has always had, and continues to have, a big influence on the shape of Wyoming's future; Wyoming's voice in Congress needs to be strong and authentic. I'm pretty sure I act strong and authentic. For instance, I would never have a member of my election team call in to a question and answer session and pretend they are someone else to try and trip up my opponent. I would feel bad about doing something like that.
5. Because how we address the matters of energy, the environment, national security and the economy today, directly affects our children's future. Yeah, the Republicans have always been about the environment, haven't they. Alaskan wilderness. Spotted Owls. Global Warming. Nature freaks, that's what they are. Spending billions in Iraq, all the while creating more disdain for the United States globally, I agree are definitely affecting our children's future. In a bad way.
6 .Because I listen, and will continue to listen, to Wyoming people in order to most effectively represent their interests in Washington. I'm going to listen to all the people in Wyoming, including Democrats, Independents, and Republicans. Because I'm not about serving the party line. I'm about making a difference, and leaving this world a better place for the next generation.
With apologies to Mr. Trauner; who I'm sure would say these things more eloquently than me.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Regarding the bailout
I could be wrong, but my gut feeling is that this whole bailout attempt is a bad idea. My chief complaint is, why is this the only plan being considered? Shouldn't a problem this enormous have several solutions to discuss? The thought process that "This is our only option" reeks of short-sightedness. Perhaps we need to think outside the cardboard container. Jeffrey A. Miron, a senior lecturer in economics at Harvard University, provides a different point of view in this op/ed piece which frankly, seems to make more sense to me.
After eight years of bad policy, my litmus test is as follows: If George W. Bush thinks it is a good idea, then it most likely is a bad idea.
Perhaps this is our wake up call to stop living beyond our means. The US government needs to start leading by example, and start finding ways to pay down the national debt, not keep adding to it. Perhaps for us citizens, a jolt back into reality, and not a new big screen TV, is exactly what we need.
After eight years of bad policy, my litmus test is as follows: If George W. Bush thinks it is a good idea, then it most likely is a bad idea.
Perhaps this is our wake up call to stop living beyond our means. The US government needs to start leading by example, and start finding ways to pay down the national debt, not keep adding to it. Perhaps for us citizens, a jolt back into reality, and not a new big screen TV, is exactly what we need.
Donate to our Wyoming Democratic candidates
Have you supported our local candidates? It's a real easy thing to do online. Actblue.com is a one stop spot to donate to our Democratic Party candidates, including Gary Trauner, Chris Rothfuss, Nick Carter, and Terry Jones. We have a little over a month until the general election. If you can, chip in a few dollars and show your support. I promise you will get a warm fuzzy feeling inside when you do!
McCain/Palin attempt to be on same page
This ticket scares me more and more every day. Palin is asked a question from a voter, she gives an answer. But oops, it doesn't match what McCain's views are. So, we go on CBS and state that this was "Gotcha Journalism". What?! How should that have been handled then? Should Palin have said "That's a good question, Mr. Voter. Let me call John and see how I should answer this, and I'll get back to you."
Don't give us the line that it was crowded and loud and she didn't fully hear the question. C'mon, we're smarter that that. This can't be the ticket America wants in the White House. It just can't be.
Don't give us the line that it was crowded and loud and she didn't fully hear the question. C'mon, we're smarter that that. This can't be the ticket America wants in the White House. It just can't be.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Wyoming, vote with your absentee ballot today!
In Wyoming, you are allowed to vote 40 days before the General Election. This means you can vote NOW! There are two ways to vote by absentee ballot. First, you may go directly to the office of the county clerk. That's 800 9th St, downtown Wheatland for Platte County. You know the building. Grab a ballot, fill it out, and hand it in right there. Piece of cake. Secondly, you can request an absentee ballot be mailed to you by calling the county clerk (322-2315) or submitting your name, residence address, mailing address, and birth date or Social Security Number. Once your information is verified, your ballot will be sent by mail.
All ballots must be in by November 4th, at 7 p.m. and can be returned in person or by mail. If you are in the military or overseas, go to http://www.fvap.gov.index.html/ for an application for an absentee ballot.
If you're going to be busy November 4th, or happen to be bad at remembering dates, why not contact our county clerk and vote now!
All ballots must be in by November 4th, at 7 p.m. and can be returned in person or by mail. If you are in the military or overseas, go to http://www.fvap.gov.index.html/ for an application for an absentee ballot.
If you're going to be busy November 4th, or happen to be bad at remembering dates, why not contact our county clerk and vote now!
Help Obama/Biden, Call the Swing States!
If you are a realist, you probably have figured out that no matter how much we want it, Barack Obama will probably not win in Wyoming. So what is a Democratic Wyomingite to do? How about picking up the phone and making some calls to those swing states? The Obama website has set up an area where you can register to make phone calls to the states where we really need the votes. They provide you with names, numbers, and talking points to show those "Undecided" folks why Obama must be the next President of the United States of America. Visit the Obama website now and lend a hand.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Gary Trauner on Health Care
Please take a look at Gary Trauner's stance on health care:
• Nearly 1 in every 5 of our fellow Wyomingites is without health care coverage
• The US system is the most expensive in the world
• Our system is inefficient - nearly double most other developed countries, per person
• The US is the only country that relies primarily on employer based plans for health care coverage
Gary's response to "What can we do?" is:
• Reduce the health care coverage burden on our businesses, especially small businesses
• Strive to cover every American with basic, quality coverage
• Take medical decisions away from insurance companies, medical product manufacturers and accountants and give those decisions back to patients and doctors
• Stop the fear talk about universal health care and start the hopeful work of solving this huge national problem
I think Gary Trauner hits the nail squarely on the head. This is the kind of leadership that Wyoming needs. We have a lot of issues to solve in the USA, the hottest topics being the War in Iraq, Energy and the Economy. But let's not forget about healthcare; it should be a priority too. Don't be so resigned to accept our current system as unfixable. Give this man a chance and vote for him on November 4th.
• Nearly 1 in every 5 of our fellow Wyomingites is without health care coverage
• The US system is the most expensive in the world
• Our system is inefficient - nearly double most other developed countries, per person
• The US is the only country that relies primarily on employer based plans for health care coverage
Gary's response to "What can we do?" is:
• Reduce the health care coverage burden on our businesses, especially small businesses
• Strive to cover every American with basic, quality coverage
• Take medical decisions away from insurance companies, medical product manufacturers and accountants and give those decisions back to patients and doctors
• Stop the fear talk about universal health care and start the hopeful work of solving this huge national problem
I think Gary Trauner hits the nail squarely on the head. This is the kind of leadership that Wyoming needs. We have a lot of issues to solve in the USA, the hottest topics being the War in Iraq, Energy and the Economy. But let's not forget about healthcare; it should be a priority too. Don't be so resigned to accept our current system as unfixable. Give this man a chance and vote for him on November 4th.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Wyoming Polls thus far
We have some poll numbers conducted from Sept 22-24th, and Gary Trauner is once again in a dead heat against a Republican opponent. The rest of the Democratic hopefuls are polling in the mid-thirties percentile. These numbers are pre-presidential debate, but with only 3% stating themselves as undecided, it is unlikely Obama will make any headway here in the Equality State. Colorado is most certainly a battleground state and it will be interesting to watch the results from our neighbor.
Poll results, asking who you would vote for if the election was held today:
Trauner 42% Lummis 42% Undecided 16%
Carter 34% Barasso 58% Undecided 8%
Rothfuss 35% Enzi 59% Undecided 6%
Obama 36% McCain 57% Other 4% Undecided 3%
Other stats are available in this brief from DailyKOS.
Poll results, asking who you would vote for if the election was held today:
Trauner 42% Lummis 42% Undecided 16%
Carter 34% Barasso 58% Undecided 8%
Rothfuss 35% Enzi 59% Undecided 6%
Obama 36% McCain 57% Other 4% Undecided 3%
Other stats are available in this brief from DailyKOS.
First Presidential Debate 2008
I eagerly awaited the debate last night, hoping that I would see Barack Obama trounce John McCain. I thought overall Obama did a very good job, but McCain did get in some good jabs. McCain likes to be snarky, and it seemed Obama had to take the defensive more often. The Washington Post stated that McCain twice called Obama's views "naive," called them "dangerous" four times, and seven times said Obama doesn't "understand." In reply, Obama said nine times that what his opponent claimed was "not true." Four more times he piped up to "correct" his opponent.
My ears tuned into how many foreign countries McCain has been to, and it's true, he has had plenty of time in office to travel the world twice over. I guess if we need to cut out the pork we could schedule a few less field trips? What really chaffes me is that if "foreign experience" is so tremendously important to John McCain, how on earth did he feel Sarah Palin would be ready to roll should she need to sit in the big seat? If you compare the two tickets, I feel far safer with Obama/Biden at the helm.
Barack has been accused of late of being to "cool", with newspeople saying he needs to show stronger emotion. I don't think I can agree with these opinions. I prefer to see Obama remain cool and collected. I don't think, and this has been mentioned before on the campaign trail, that appearing as an "angry black man" is going to score any points with a good deal of the population. I hate to mention race, but I would be naive myself to deny the type of comments I hear around Platte County on a regular basis. This county is full of people who won't give the man a chance because of the color of his skin. I think Barack needs to remain calm under pressure. This type of mature stature is an asset if we are to have dialogues with the leaders of foreign nations, both those who like us and those who don't.
Concerning the current economy crisis, I think Obama did a good job tying McCain to Bush, stating that eight years of bad policy is how we got into this mess. I am fearful of this bailout, but it seems it is going to happen. We're pretty much screwed either way this goes down. This whole issue is a pivotal point for our history books. I believe they're adding a chapter called "The Second Great Depression" as we speak. Obama made a good point that while McCain is railing against pork barrel spending (which has decreased over the past five years), we do have this occupation over in Iraq that is costing us billions every week.
In the sorting the fact from fiction department, both sides had misrepresentations. Rather than repeat the work of the pros, I'll simply point you to factcheck.org's summary of the debate.
The polls are showing Obama as winning, but admit the demographics watching the debate were slanting left. Most are saying it was a draw. I think, with foreign affairs being McCain's strong suit, Barack held his own. That's a good thing. Next week Joe Biden will have his chance to take on Sarah Palin. If she performs like she did when speaking to Katie Couric this week, I'm going to bring some popcorn to this comedy special.
My ears tuned into how many foreign countries McCain has been to, and it's true, he has had plenty of time in office to travel the world twice over. I guess if we need to cut out the pork we could schedule a few less field trips? What really chaffes me is that if "foreign experience" is so tremendously important to John McCain, how on earth did he feel Sarah Palin would be ready to roll should she need to sit in the big seat? If you compare the two tickets, I feel far safer with Obama/Biden at the helm.
Barack has been accused of late of being to "cool", with newspeople saying he needs to show stronger emotion. I don't think I can agree with these opinions. I prefer to see Obama remain cool and collected. I don't think, and this has been mentioned before on the campaign trail, that appearing as an "angry black man" is going to score any points with a good deal of the population. I hate to mention race, but I would be naive myself to deny the type of comments I hear around Platte County on a regular basis. This county is full of people who won't give the man a chance because of the color of his skin. I think Barack needs to remain calm under pressure. This type of mature stature is an asset if we are to have dialogues with the leaders of foreign nations, both those who like us and those who don't.
Concerning the current economy crisis, I think Obama did a good job tying McCain to Bush, stating that eight years of bad policy is how we got into this mess. I am fearful of this bailout, but it seems it is going to happen. We're pretty much screwed either way this goes down. This whole issue is a pivotal point for our history books. I believe they're adding a chapter called "The Second Great Depression" as we speak. Obama made a good point that while McCain is railing against pork barrel spending (which has decreased over the past five years), we do have this occupation over in Iraq that is costing us billions every week.
In the sorting the fact from fiction department, both sides had misrepresentations. Rather than repeat the work of the pros, I'll simply point you to factcheck.org's summary of the debate.
The polls are showing Obama as winning, but admit the demographics watching the debate were slanting left. Most are saying it was a draw. I think, with foreign affairs being McCain's strong suit, Barack held his own. That's a good thing. Next week Joe Biden will have his chance to take on Sarah Palin. If she performs like she did when speaking to Katie Couric this week, I'm going to bring some popcorn to this comedy special.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Biden slams McCain’s response to fiscal crisis
Democratic vice presidential nominee Joe Biden sharply attacked John McCain’s evolving response to the fiscal crisis that has bankrupted investment firms and forced millions of homeowners into foreclosure.
“Where was John a week ago, where was John a month ago? Where was John five years ago?” Biden said. “I’ll tell you where he was, he was bragging to the very Wall Street titans he now calls ‘merchants of greed,’ he was literally on Wall Street bragging to them that he was shredding the regulations that were tying them down." Full Story
“Where was John a week ago, where was John a month ago? Where was John five years ago?” Biden said. “I’ll tell you where he was, he was bragging to the very Wall Street titans he now calls ‘merchants of greed,’ he was literally on Wall Street bragging to them that he was shredding the regulations that were tying them down." Full Story
Factcheck.org's Whoppers of 2008
Factcheck.org does an excellent job of sorting fact from fiction along the road to the White House. They just summarized the tales from the campaign trail and showed that both parties have perfected the art of distorting the truth. It's always good to have the actual facts before stepping into the voting booth, so I strongly recommend reading the whoppers uncovered thus far.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Lummis' Press Secretary Caught Calling Trauner
This is a good example of sneaky politics. The old "call-in-to-ask-a-question-to-your-opponent-and-pretend-you're-someone-else" trick. Well, Rachael Seidenschnur got busted and now she finds herself removed from the Lummis campaign. Serves her right. This just shows that Trauner is the right choice for Wyoming. No dirty politics. For more on Rachael AKA Sierra, check here.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
First Presidential Debate of 2008
The first debate of the general election will be held on September 26th at 7:00 p.m. MST. Tune in to watch Barack debate John McCain about America's foreign policy and our role in the world.
This is a great opportunity to learn more about the issues. Watch the debate with friends and supporters, and talk about how you can get involved in this movement.
Go Barack!
This is a great opportunity to learn more about the issues. Watch the debate with friends and supporters, and talk about how you can get involved in this movement.
Go Barack!
Platte County Democrats Meet the Candidates
MARK YOUR CALENDARS! Sunday October 12th is your chance to meet the candidates! Take the time to come meet the candidates running for legislature, including Gary Trauner, Nick Carter, Chris Rothfuss, Terry Jones, Joe Reichardt, and others.
When: Sun, Oct 12, 2pm – 4pm
Where: First State Bank Conference Center, Wheatland, WY
When: Sun, Oct 12, 2pm – 4pm
Where: First State Bank Conference Center, Wheatland, WY
Platte County Gearing Up For Election
The plattecountywyoming.com website has the latest election news, including forms for absentee voting and voter registration. If you haven't registered yet, get going!! From the site, take a look at the 2008 General Electoin Ballot Proof. Not much going on with the Wheatland Town Council positions. Two candidates, two positions open. Hmmm. The County Commissioner race will be worth watching. There's one position available, with our Democrat incumbant Joe Reichardt and a Republican candidate Terry Stevenson both aiming for it. There's a couple of constitutional amendments and a taxation continuation on the ballot. Those always seem to catch people off guard. Terry Jones has been stumping (came to my house this week!) for the State District #3 House Rep position. He's up against Frank Peasley.
There's some good races. Be sure to visit with your candidates and give them your support!
There's some good races. Be sure to visit with your candidates and give them your support!
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