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Many years ago, I worked for a Swiss company. I loved the people I worked with, I loved my visits to the home office in Zurich, I loved the elegance and history of the country. But there was one thing I didn’t understand. Neutrality. My Swiss colleagues would frequently say things like: Well, I don’t know, I’m neutral on that point. I couldn’t say really. My view of your strategy proposal is neutral. Then, one day it hit me. Neutral? How can anyone be neutral on any matter of significance? In my world view only two things inform neutrality–a want of knowledge or a want of courage. Even Webster’s defines the state of neutrality as lacking stamens or pistils…OK, so maybe I am reaching on that point, but, for me, neutrality is, at the very least, dangerous.

Recently many of my liberal friends have taken to calling themselves independent. I understand the distaste many feel for political parties. I generally share those views. Both are fraught with problems. Being independent denotes in their minds anyway, a kind of neutral ground. A place where criticism and labels can’t stick. And then there is the fact that Americans cherish independence. It is a badge we wear. Or at least used to.

Our way of life is changing quickly, each day our liberties are being consumed by the behemoth, lumbering incompetence of bureaucracy. This Administration has shown a reckless disregard for the rule of law and the Constitution. Twisting and obfuscating, politicizing friendly courts, ignoring the rulings of unfriendly ones. Honestly friends, neutrality is no longer an option. It is time to pick a side. Time to back a team, bet on a horse, double down on the side of liberty and freedom. Oh yes, and independence.

The ruling by Judge Bolton in the Arizona immigration case is just another example of the blurring of the separation of powers. According to The New York Times, Carter appointee and immigration law professor at Yale Law School Peter Schuck commented on Judge Bolton’s ruling, “She rushed to judgment in a way I can only assume reflects a lot of pressure from the federal government to get this case resolved quickly.” That ought to get the attention of some of my independent friends. Three branches of government, each independent of the other. Checks and balances. No collusion. No pressuring of one branch to another. That’s what the Constitution provides. Protecting that should fit right in with an independent view of the world.

And there’s more.

From The Heritage Foundation’s Morning Bell:

“Taken alone, the White House’s behavior on this issue is troubling enough. But put into the broader context of the first 18 months of this Administration, a truly pernicious pattern emerges. First, there was the Obama Justice Department’s decision to dismiss voter intimidation charges against the New Black Panther Party. Then there was the Obama administration’s use of TARP to bail out its union allies in what bankruptcy law scholars have called “so outrageous and illegal that until March of this year [2009], nobody even conceptualized it.” Then there was the Obama administration’s shakedown of BP in the White House’s Roosevelt Room. Less than a week later after a federal court found its first oil drilling ban to be “arbitrary and capricious,” the Obama administration issued a second oil drilling ban that was wider and killed even more jobs than the first.”

Our founder’s had it right. I am on their side. The side of conservative constitutional values and the rule of law. To my independent friends: Consider that to preserve our cherished independence it may be time to come down on the side of the values that have made this country great: Our Constitution and the rule of law.

We’ve got a full rundown of the story as it happened last night. We will shortly be following up with another post and more videos as we learned more about the story today.

The information in the following videos reflects CNM’s knowledge of the events in question on Monday night, July 19, 2010.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

It was a terrific speech, one of her best to date, and thanks goes to CNM founder John D. Villarreal for capturing the proceedings on film for the best copy of the video that exists on the internet, to our understanding. Here is the full speech, in four parts from YouTube. We will list the individual YouTube links after the videos for those who wish to embed the videos on their own sites.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

And here are the individual video links:

Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPgqgWfNYU4

Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtDPf5GJeL8

Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMeuAG8Q2Sk

Part 4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aYSqp9qOdk

Conservative New Media is very proud and appreciative to have been able to attend Governor Palin’s brilliant night. The fundraiser set a school record which will help numerous Stanislaus students, and the crowd gave the governor a well-deserved, and sustained, standing ovation at the completion of her address.

Week 1 – April 20 – 24, 2010

An explosion rocked the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig, 50 miles off the Louisiana coast, on April 20^th. Two days later the rig sank, replaced by a rapidly spreading oil slick. On the third day, the Dutch government offered to help by using four pairs of skimmers to remove the oil from the water. Their offer was declined by the U.S. government because EPA regulations prohibit pumping water into the ocean that contains oil – no matter how little oil remains after the skimming process. These four pairs of skimmers would have removed 146,000 barrels per day of oil from the water. The flow rate of the spill is estimated at being between 35,000 – 60,000 barrels per day. In other words: Had the U.S. government accepted the Dutch offer on Day 3, the skimmers would have outpaced the spill, and prevented ALL DAMAGE to the Gulf Coast. President Obama spent these four days returning from a fundraiser in Los Angeles for embattled California Senator Barbara Boxer, traveling to New York City to speak on Wall Street reform, hosting an Earth Day event in the Rose Garden, and vacationing in Asheville, North Carolina over the weekend where he visited local restaurants, toured the Vanderbilt estate and went golfing twice.

Week 2 – April 25 – May 1, 2010

The oil continued to leak into the Gulf this week, as Obama returned from his vacation to host the New York Yankees at the White House. The president spent two-days touring the mid-west stumping on the economy, and returned to Washington in time for a DNC fundraiser on the 29^th. April 29^th would be the first time the oil spill returned to the president’s agenda since an April 22^nd meeting with a dozen officials in the Oval Office. All politics and ideology aside, does anyone believe the U.S. President should ignore a severe environmental disaster in the Gulf for a solid week? Perhaps he did not realize the full extent of the spill – a potential justification for not accepting foreign aid in the Gulf. Obama named Thad Allen the national incident commander on Day 11. Those of us watching at home began seeing footage of oil bubbling up from the sunken rig, filling the ocean with thick, gooey tar. We also watched as the Coast Guard used controlled burns to remove oil from the water. I’ll bet that made a lot of environmentalists happy. If only they had oil skimmers that could remove 146,000 barrels per day.

Week 3 – May 2 – 8, 2010

The third week of this environmental crisis began with President Obama’s first trip to the Gulf – on Day 13.  Anyone who has ever run a business or been in a leadership or management position can tell you that productivity improves when the boss shows up. Had Obama made the oil spill a priority right away, he could have set the tone in the Gulf that nothing short of 110% would be accepted as local officials geared up for the fallout. Instead, he made a quick visit to Louisiana on Sunday, and went back to the business of government – hosting the Navy football team, a private lunch with Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel, a Cinco De Mayo party at the White House, Friday date night with Michelle, and a weekend golf trip.

This week saw the oil reach the Louisiana shoreline and liberal journalists clamor for an end to fossil-fuels – before the disaster is even contained. Talk began about regulations, and how the oil industry must be better regulated. Again, taking political ideology out of the equation, it is important to note that the oil industry is the most heavily regulated industry in the country. In fact, regulations are exactly why offshore drilling is taking place in mile-deep water, where problem-solving becomes far more difficult. It is much easier to operate in 500 feet of water, than 5,000.

Week 4 – May 9 – 15, 2010

By this point, it would be nice if the U.S. government would finally accept the Dutch offer to bring in skimmers, capable of reducing the amount of oil in the Gulf. BP has certainly mismanaged the clean-up effort. They deserve no sympathy here, and should be held fully responsible for the recovery efforts in the Gulf – period. However, by this point, it has become impossible for any sane observer to believe the government has handled this properly. Americans were waiting for their president – a president who believes government is the solution to many things – to stand up and take control. Americans were waiting for leadership – but they found none. Instead, Obama spent the week talking about Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan, golfing with Joe Biden, hosting a private reception for Afghan President Hamid Karzai, making a surprise visit to Duff’s in Buffalo for wings, and finally making a public speech on the oil spill – on DAY 25!

Week 5 – May 16 – 22, 2010

May 16^th was Day 26 of the Gulf Oil Spill crisis. President Obama spent it golfing. I wonder how the people in the Gulf felt when they saw Obama touring a plant in Ohio this week, instead of making another trip down South? After all, it had been two weeks since he first set foot in the Gulf States. The President spent the rest of his week hosting a state dinner for Mexican President Calderon, and meeting with Bono – who also performed. We continued to watch oil spill on TV, and those in the Gulf began to realize how poorly this crisis was being managed by EVERYONE. Obama halted new offshore drilling leases, and said he would “not tolerate more finger pointing or irresponsibility,” while finger-pointing at the Mineral Management Service, BP, Halliburton and Transocean. When he was done, he spent the 22^nd – Day 33 – shooting hoops at Fort McNair, and more golf.

Week 6 – May 23 – 29, 2010

I’m sorry, does that say “Week 6?” Are you kidding me? Six weeks?

This week Obama flew to San Francisco to do more fundraising for Barbara Boxer, which included a VIP dinner at the mansion of Gordon Getty – wealthy oil heir. Also this week, Obama talked basketball with Marv Albert, hosted an Asian-American event, hung out with the Duke Blue Devils and U.S. World Cup team, hosted a party for Jewish Americans and then headed to Chicago for a weekend vacation. Prior to his trip home, the President made his second trip to the Gulf on Day 39.

Thankfully, people were starting to wake up. James Carville, the staunch liberal, blasted Obama. “It just looks like he’s not involved in this,” said Carville. “He could’ve demanded a plan in anticipation of this.” Carville continued, “We’re about to die down here!” Even New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd, a frequent liberal apologist, pointed to Obama’s lack of leadership. While Obama was raising money with an oil magnate and vacationing in Chicago, oil was seeping 12 miles into Louisana’s marshes. Meanwhile, Maine’s Department of Environmental Protection was ready to send absorbent boom, oil-skimming barges and a team of trained responders – but the U.S. government didn’t give them the green light.

Week 7 – May 30 – June 5, 2010

Ah, seven weeks into the worst environmental disaster in our nation’s history. Feels like a good week to schmooze with Paul McCartney, and do some good old-fashioned Bush-bashing. After all, the Gulf Oil Spill, now on Day 44, is clearly Bush’s fault. The previous week, Obama said “From the moment this disaster began, the federal government has been in charge of the response effort,” and that “BP is operating at our direction.” Allegations swirl that workers were bused in for Obama’s third visit to the gulf, in seven weeks.

Making it clear that he was in charge, and to show true leadership in the face of crisis, Obama told the people of Grand Isle, “I can’t dive down there and plug the hole. I can’t suck it up with a straw.” Great. But you COULD accept the Dutch offer for oil skimmers, capable of removing 146,000 barrels a day of oil from the Gulf, right? Remember that offer? From DAY THREE? Obama did finally approve a portion of the sand-berm plan that Governor Bobby Jindal had been proposing for three weeks. Jindal and local officials had been pleading with the Army Corps of Engineers from May 11 until June 2, for permission to build 40 miles of sand berms along the barrier islands.

Week 8 – June 6 – 12, 2010

The eighth week of this disaster was centered on Barack Obama’s speech from the Oval Office. Many pundits weighed in on the speech, but there wasn’t much praise. The Associated Press published a fact-check article where they pointed out several flaws. Even liberal talk show hosts Chris Matthews, Keith Olbermann and Rachel Maddow blasted his speech as pointless, and ineffective. We now find out oil has made its way into the Gulf Stream, which could result in environmental damage to the east coast of the U.S. Those skimmers look pretty good now, especially in light of BP’s repeated failures at stopping the leak.

Obama has instituted a six-month moratorium on deep-water drilling, which will undoubtedly result in higher gas prices across the nation, and a “second economic disaster for families, businesses and communities along the Gulf Coast,” according to Sen. Mary Landrieu.

Week 9 – June 13 – 19, 2010

The ninth week of this crisis is coming to a close as I write. Louisianans now say George W. Bush did a better job responding to Katrina, than Obama has done with the oil spill. Five days ago, Obama finally accepted the Dutch offer to help with oil skimmers – 53 days later. Lives have been lost. Jobs are gone. Hope is a distant memory. Wildlife is decimated. Tourism is dead. The Gulf economy is in peril. How are we spending this week? Politicizing the spill.

President Obama used this week to tout his Cap & Trade bill, which would increase taxes and fees on the American people to the tune of $1,761 per year.  The Deepwater Horizon rig is still spewing oil into the Gulf, and Congress and the President are resorting to politics?

Political grandstanding isn’t going to fix any of these problems, yet that didn’t stop members of Congress from acting big and mighty for TV cameras, including Rep. Joseph Cao, who suggested suicide for BP executive, Lamar McKay.

Final Analysis

This oil spill is the worst environmental disaster in our nation’s history. So far, we’ve learned that Obama’s vision of a government big enough to solve every problem is bunk.

We’ve learned that regulations not only forced BP to drill in mile-deep waters, where recovery is proving extremely difficult, but it also prevented foreign aid from responding quickly to the spill. Regulations also caused the Coast Guard to stop “oil-sucking barges” for 24 hours, because they were missing a certificate of inspection for safety equipment.

We’ve learned that bureaucracies at every level, in government and in private industry, are useless.

We’ve learned that this government cares more about using this crisis to pass Cap & Trade legislation, than it does about taking a serious approach to stopping the leak, and preventing further damage to the Gulf States.

We’ve learned that if we accepted the Dutch offer on Day 3, oil would never have reached the shore.

Apparently, having no executive experience makes it very difficult for this President to be effective in times of crisis. Apparently, appointing scholars and campaign staffers to important positions in his administration, instead of qualified people with experience, isn’t the best way to prepare for challenges.

Obama compared the oil spill to 9-11. The difference: George Bush rose to the occasion and showed great LEADERSHIP through that crisis, as the American people faced unexpected consequences.

In 2010, our President would rather be golfing.

“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.”

So who exactly established the Constitution? The answer is: We the People. It was not the federal government. In fact, it was delegates from 13 colonies that CREATED the federal government. They created it to perform a few limited functions, including protecting us against foreign and domestic threats. The new federal government was also designed to not oppress the citizens of our new country, as the monarchy in England had done prior.

Don’t Oppress Us: Less Taxes.

The federal government has no money of its own, so it was clear that it had to collect revenue in order to perform its functions. At first, it did this mainly by collecting tariffs, which were assessed on goods and services imported. The more imported goods and services Americans consumed, the more revenue the federal government would collect. Discounting a brief flirtation with a federal income tax to pay for the Civil War, it was not until 1913 when the Sixteenth Amendment was added to the Constitution. It allowed the federal government to collect income taxes, in direct opposition of the original Constitutional requirement that taxes be apportioned among the states according to Census data.

Basically, taxes no longer needed to be assessed fairly.

In 1913, there were 7 tax brackets, starting at 1% for those earning under $20,000, and ending at 7% for those earning over $500,000. Just 32 years later, in 1945, those making under $20,000 paid between 23% and 56% in taxes; those making over $100,000 paid 90% – 94% in taxes. See what happens when you set precedent, and give the government powers they were never intended to have?

If you take the $20k salary in 1913 and adjust it for inflation, it would be worth $90k in 1945. That same person paid 1% income tax in 1913, and almost 90% in 1945. Does that sound fair? Taxes today, whether regressive or progressive, are OPPRESSIVE.

Just as a comparison, in 2007, the top 50% of wage-earners in America earned over $32,879 in 2007, and paid 97.11% of the taxes collected by the federal government. The bottom 50% of wage-earners in America earned under $32,879, and paid only 2.89% of the taxes collected by the federal government. We hear today’s leaders talk about how the rich make too much, the poor are taken advantage of, etc. But if you take a hard look at each income bracket, you’ll see how disproportionately Americans are treated, according to how much income they earn:

• Extremely Advantaged: 50% of Americans earned under $32.879 (3% of taxes paid)
• Advantaged: 25% of Americans earned between $32,879 and $66,532 (11% of taxes paid)
• Equality: 15% of Americans earned between $66,532 and $113,018 (15% of taxes paid)
• Disadvantaged: 5% earned between 113,018 and $160,041 (11% of taxes paid)
• Heavily Disadvantaged: 4% earned between 160,041 and 410,096 (20% of taxes paid)
• Extremely Disadvantaged: 1% earned over 410,096 (40% of taxes paid)

So if you’re part of the “Extremely Advantaged” category, why wouldn’t you support legislation that increases taxes on the rich? If you’re part of the “Extremely Disadvantaged,” you know you’re already paying far more than your fair share, and you resent the fact that the government still paints you as the bad guy. Many Americans fail to realize that the people who create most of the jobs in this country fall into the “Disadvantaged” and “Extremely Disadvantaged” category. When their taxes go up, they cut jobs, stop investing, stop purchasing and start hiding their assets – which results in less taxes being paid into the system. Less taxes paid on goods and services; less taxes resulting from fewer jobs and less taxes because of an increase in sheltered income.

When we reach the point where a majority of Americans are given benefits, on the backs of the minority of hard-working Americans paying for them – our nation is in danger. Voters will continue to elect leaders who promise them the world, screwing over those who do the work to provide them. Incentives to work hard will be gone, and our entire social, political and economical infrastructure will collapse.

Protect Us: More Dead Terrorists.

Article IV, Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution states:

“The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic Violence.”

Take careful note of the phrases, “and shall protect each of them against invasion,” and “against domestic Violence.”

It’s very clear that the federal government is responsible to protect us from foreign enemies, and to secure our borders – which are a constant source of “invasion” from Mexico and Canada. It’s also clear that it is responsible to protect us from domestic terror groups and other internal threats. This is guaranteed to EVERY STATE – which as far as I know, still includes Arizona and other border states.

Today our government refuses to use the term “War on Terror” to describe our nation’s policy against global extremism. The Obama Administration has struck the words “Islamic Extremism” from all official memos and documents. Those in charge of our foreign policy are pandering to Europe and Asia, as well as many parts of the Middle East, instead of doing its job to protect us. I could be convinced of the libertarian ideal of non-intervention, but when a radical, global terror network seeks to destroy “infidels” in Western Europe and the U.S., I feel intervention is an appropriate strategy. When this global terror network flies planes into buildings, killing 3,000 Americans, I feel the “War on Terror” is an appropriate response. When Muslims are trying to establish Sharia Law – inside America, France, the UK and other countries – we cannot simply stand down.

As far as our borders are concerned, our government seems unable to do anything. The Center for Immigration Studies and the Pew Hispanic Center both estimate the number of illegals in the U.S. at over 11 million (Oct. 2008). It is believed that 41% of illegals enter the country legally, and then overstay their visas. A full 25% of the some 11 million illegals reside in California, which is a major factor in their impending economic failure.

One of the reasons our government has failed to act in stemming the flow of illegal immigration is the fear of losing the Hispanic vote. These days, if you even call an “undocumented worker” an “illegal,” you are labeled a racist. With 90% of our illegal population entering through the southern border, and with 57% of illegals coming from Mexico (2006, Pew Hispanic Center), this is clearly a Mexican problem. This has nothing to do with racism, and everything to do with reality.

Some believe we need to remove the incentives for illegals to come here, in order to stop the flow of illegal immigration. Benefits such as free healthcare, free education, welfare and food stamps, driver’s licenses, and most of all jobs – keep illegals coming into America. The assumption is that there will be less illegal immigration if these benefits do not exist. But many Americans believe denying illegals these services is somehow cruel and inhumane.

President Obama stopped raiding businesses that employ illegals, because the raids may result in deportations. He condemned Arizona for attempting to protect their own citizens against those who are here illegally – after a string of murders and other crimes have gripped the state. His administration, in the form of Janet Napolitano and Eric Holder, has also condemned the Grand Canyon State, for doing the job the feds refuse to do – without even reading Arizona’s immigration law. Napolitano believed illegal immigration was a severe problem in Arizona when she served as Governor, but apparently now doesn’t see the need for immediate action.

It’s amazing that the Obama Administration, and this Congress, would rather focus on a national takeover of healthcare, a national takeover of student loans, a national takeover of energy and environmental policies, a national takeover of banks, the auto industry and other financial institutions – issues that do NOT fall under the federal government’s purview. Instead, the federal government should be doing what it is supposed to – dealing with the responsibilities outlined in the Constitution. Until it can handle those, it should stop putting its hands into everything else.

Do not oppress us: Less Taxes.

Protect us: More Dead Terrorists.

That’s simple enough for even Barack Obama, Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi to understand.

Brad Goehring, a valley resident, won San Joaquin county by a healthy 12% margin but it wasn’t enough.  Harmer had strong name recognition in the East Bay after running for Congress in a special election last year against John Garamendi.

Both David Harmer and Brad Goehring were probably equally hurt by the third and fourth place vote getters, Tony Amador and Elizabeth Emken who roughly brought in 19% and 16%.

David Harmer now faces an uphill battle trying to unseat McNerney who is a resident of the 11th Congressional District and Harmer is not.  You can bet that McNerney will use this to his advantage as David Harmer tried to in his race against Garamendi.

It was a hard fought campaign and hopefully most of the accusations have been tossed out there and answered in the primary and will not have to be brought up in the general but we’ll have to wait and see.

Congratulations to David and Elayne Harmer and the Harmer for Congress campaign.

This CD-11 race has been like that from the beginning.  David Harmer has been quoting everyone and his brother but has rarely spoke for himself.  When fellow candidate Elizabeth Emken sent out a mailer that quote the “Mormon Times” (which is where David Harmer announced his candidacy), David sent his wife out to not only defend him, but use it to solicit contributions.  Interesting way to use your religion…announce your candidacy in a religious magazine but then cry foul when someone brings it up!

I should not have been surprised to wake up this morning to a message that Elayne Harmer commented on one of my articles.  The article is “The Tale of Two Candidates:  David Harmer and Brad Goehring“.  In the article I show that my candidate Brad Goehring wears his patriotism on his sleeve.  You know how he feels about our BRAVE and FALLEN because he tells you.  He spent the entire Memorial Day weekend not only spending time at services and celebrations but letting us know how appreciative he is of our armed forces.  I was contrasting Brad to David Harmer who waited until 9pm on Monday night to let us know something…anything about how he felt.  I never questioned his patriotism.  I wouldn’t do that.  I did, however, question the fact that he constantly uses other people’s quotes to run his campaign.  In fact a few hours after my article went public a Ronald Reagan video from youtube went on his facebook wall.

Apparently Elayne Harmer got wind of my article and decided to respond to it defending her man once again.  Please first read the entire article that she is responding to before reading her comments so you know exactly what she is talking about. (If anyone is wondering this was not a private email…it was publicly posted below my article)

“John, just because David waited until 9 pm to write something does not mean it was an afterthought.  On the contrary, David and I and our children spent the morning at the Danville Memorial Day celebration (tweeting his location is bragging? how’s that again?), and he took notes of every speech — as he usually does.  We were honored to meet with many veterans there, and we spent the rest of the day with family from out of town.”

Elayne that is great!  I truly am happy that you and he went to the Danville celebration.  But the point of my article was to show that throughout the entire weekend my candidate chose to show his patriotism by thanking our fallen everyday while your husband bragged about stuff like his CRA Endorsement which I’ve pretty easily documented was snatched pretty unethically by your husbands campaigners.  Here is that article:  “Did the David Harmer Campaign Steal the CRA Endorsement?“  And with regards to the “bragging” I’d urge readers to read the original article because it is once again contrasting the two candidates and what they were posting. “The Tale of Two Candidates:  David Harmer and Brad Goehring”

“Your insinuation that David is somehow not patriotic because he doesn’t write something on his Facebook wall at a certain time on Memorial Day would be laughable if it weren’t so offensive.  David’s brother is a commander in the U.S. Navy, and has been deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan and other parts of the world.  My father and uncles were in the Navy and served in WWII. “

I thank David’s brother and your father and uncles!  They are true heroes!  There is nothing I can ever do or say to repay them for their service!  My family will tell you that my three favorite holidays are Independence Day, Memorial Day, and Veteran’s Day.  We need more patriotic holidays in my opinion.  Our heroes deserve it!

But now to the point…. honestly how does association make you anything?  I work next to an accountant but that doesn’t make me an accountant.  My wife is a teacher but I’m not a teacher. That is a very interesting way to explain how patriotic you are!   With all due respect to you and your husband, to me, that sounds more like a soundbite than anything else.

“I don’t have to prove our patriotism to you, nor do I have to prove to you, a Goehring employee, our committed support of the military and the heroes who have given their lives for our freedom.  We don’t post pictures of David gazing over crosses, John, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t do it.  David just doesn’t spend his life on FB like Brad does.”

Elayne you are right, you don’t have to prove anything to me.  I am not and never have questioned your patriotism.  I did, however, question how your husband relays his patriotism to his supporters and possible future constituents.   Also I am not and never have been an employee of the Goehring campaign.  I did post the picture and I took it myself.  It wasn’t posed.  It was a perfect moment for a snap shot because he was indeed glancing over the crosses.  And with regards to Brad on facebook?  I know Brad is a busy guy and is out there working hard for our votes…selling himself not a former President or administration.  I’m thankful that he sets aside enough time on some days to talk with us, his supporters rather than having others do the posting for him.

“Oh, and your bizarre comment that David ‘rarely speaks for himself’? I had to stop laughing out loud, because I was waking up the kids.”

Interesting rebuttal!  It is obvious going on his facebook page and reading his campaign page that he is running a campaign on the coat-tails of Ronald Reagan and trying to associate himself with Reagan as much as possible.  But once again just because I have met someone when I was 4 years old or work next to the accountant doesn’t make me an accountant.

Good luck with the remaining day in the race.  But I truly hope your husband doesn’t win.  I think I’ve documented quite well on my blog only some of the hurdles that he would have to face if McNerney got ahold of him.  You think what your family  ” is enduring in this campaign” (quoting the 1% tithing email your campaign sent out) is bad now, just wait until the Pelosi/McNerney Machine comes and starts working on him.

I’m going to close this article with a video of Brad Goehring.  Brad is a true patriot and is  “his own” conservative.  He uses his own words and here are a few of those words that say a few things about what he believes.  Listen to the end where he talks about our brave.  Those are his own words.

Youtube:  http://www.youtube.com/v/xZuDmsSMjFE

Originally posted at http://www.rtamerican.us and written by John Heida.  John Heida is not paid by any campaign and is not paid by Conservative New Media.  He is only a guest author and has his own opinions which you can find on his website at http://www.rtamerican.us.  The views expressed in this article are John Heida’s personal opinions only and are meant for informational and entertainment purposes only.  John Heida does not allege any facts, cast aspersions on anyone, or make any claims about what he says here, or in any of his other columns on Conservative New Media or on his site.  Again, these are only John Heida’s own personal opinions and his First Amendment protected exercise thereof.  These opinions are not necessarily the views of Conservative New Media and Conservative New Media does not endorse or represent or warrant any of the content of his articles in any way and is not responsible for them.

When I really didn’t think this CD-11 campaign could get any stranger I get proven wrong!  I received an email forwarded from someone on David Harmer’s donor list and started reading.  If you can recall I wrote about the cult-like attitude amongst the Harmer supporters and how they were gulping the Kool-Aid by the gallon and this is yet another example.

In the letter, Harmer tells his supporters that if they make $50,000 per year then they should give $500 to his campaign.  If they make $100,000 per year they should give $1000 to his campaign and so on. He sort of sounds like a televangelist the way he tries to guilt people into spending their hard earned money don’t you think? After receiving this letter, I wonder how many of his supporters ran to grab their checkbooks.   After-all, he did compare this race to what the founding fathers endured when fighting for our nations independence!  Are you kidding me?  Who writes this crap?  That is an INSULT to our founding fathers in my opinion.   It is an INSULT to our nation’s independence in my opinion.

He goes on, “Think of what American soldiers risk every day to keep us safe. Think of what the Harmer family is enduring in this campaign…Sometimes it’s those who have the least who give the most.”

I’m sorry David Harmer but you are NOTHING compared to our good men and women serving this fine country!  It seems like you are insulting their service and their sacrifice to compare your third political campaign to the risks and struggles that they have endured and continue to endure for us.  And in my humble opinion, you and your campaign has reached a whole new LOW!  I really can’t believe that you would try to convince “those who have the least” to donate “the most” to your campaign.  Are you getting that desperate?  Why don’t you file for some more unemployment!  After-all, that is taking from the least…from those who need it the most.

Let me finish with this:  If Harmer is having no problems asking for your money now and asking for you to give what little money you may or may not have, what is to stop him from voting for tax increases as a way for us citizens to “sacrifice” and do our part?  Doesn’t that sound a lot like the liberal Democrats?

In 2007 House speaker Nancy Pelosi blasted President Bush for not asking Americans to sacrifice with tax dollars.

And also in 2007 John Edwards said that if he was elected president, he’ll “institute a New Deal-like suite of programs to fight poverty and stem growing wealth disparity. To do it, he said, he’ll ask many Americans to make sacrifices, like paying higher taxes.” – The Concord Monitor

Mr. Harmer you are sounding an awful lot like a Democrat!

Written by John Heida

Originally posted at http://www.rtamerican.us and written by John Heida.  John Heida is not paid by any campaign and is not paid by Conservative New Media.  He is only a guest author and has his own opinions which you can find on his website at http://www.rtamerican.us.  The views expressed in this article are John Heida’s personal opinions only and are meant for informational and entertainment purposes only.  John Heida does not allege any facts, cast aspersions on anyone, or make any claims about what he says here, or in any of his other columns on Conservative New Media or on his site.  Again, these are only John Heida’s own personal opinions and his First Amendment protected exercise thereof.  These opinions are not necessarily the views of Conservative New Media and Conservative New Media does not endorse or represent or warrant any of the content of his articles in any way and is not responsible for them.

Please watch the video below for more details on what appears to have been a most un-conservative course of action by the two-time failed political hopeful:

Contra Costa Times political editor Lisa Vorderbrueggen — whose paper had already endorsed Harmer — seemingly attempts to whitewash Harmer’s unemployment flap in her piece on the subject:

Harmer collected $2,395 in unemployment insurance through April 30, 2009. However, all eligible workers who pay into the unemployment insurance pool receive benefits regardless of whether they “need” the money.

Not exactly true, Lisa, which is what I attempted to tell you via Twitter when I saw your mischaracterization:

@lvorderbrueggen http://bit.ly/aq2i1V Receiving unemployment insurance is not a passive thing. Confusing 4 readers. (Paul) #tcot #cd11 #ca11

That is, one has to choose to file for unemployment before one receives any benefits, a reality which Ms. Vorderbrueggen almost certainly knows.

I should mention that I never received a reply from Ms. Vorderbrueggen on Twitter.

David Harmer, after making nearly half a million dollars in one-and-one-quarter years as a lawyer for a failed Wall Street Bank, decided that he deserved a few thousand dollars more from California’s public coffers.

Some might refer to Harmer’s choice to file for unemployment as “greedy,” particularly during a time of such national and statewide economic hardship.

However you view Harmer’s decision, this much is certain: Other conservatives who have made far less than Harmer had during that 16-month period prior to his filing for unemployment have chosen differently. That is, they have chosen not to file for unemployment insurance when it was their right, legally, to do so.

Whether these individuals have not liked the idea of relying on the government for money, have felt someone less fortunate may need the money should there be a shortage of California unemployment funding or were motivated by both of these or other reason(s) isn’t known.

What is known is the choice which David Harmer made when faced with that situation.

And his choice is something which California’s 11th Congressional District voters have the right to know before they head to the voting booth on June 8, 2010.

]]> http://conservativenewmedia.com/2010/06/01/david-harmer-took-government-unemployment-money-after-being-paid-485779/feed/ 0 http://conservativenewmedia.com/2010/06/01/the-tale-of-two-candidates-david-harmer-and-brad-goehring/ http://conservativenewmedia.com/2010/06/01/the-tale-of-two-candidates-david-harmer-and-brad-goehring/#comments Tue, 01 Jun 2010 13:15:01 +0000 John Heida http://conservativenewmedia.com/?p=696

Brad Goehring gazing over the crosses that symbolize our fallen heroes.

It’s interesting to me the differences that are emerging between two of the CD-11 candidates Brad Goehring and David Harmer.

I’ve been watching the Harmer campaign for quite some time and I notice that David Harmer rarely speaks for himself.  Whether it’s through his facebook page or his campaign mailers, David Harmer keeps a distance.  I’m not sure if it’s because his handlers are afraid that he’ll make a mistake or what.  He has ran his entire campaign so far on being a “Reagan Republican”.  That and “true conservative” or “real conservative” are really what all Republican’s are running on this election.  But for David Harmer, it’s more than that.  He is running on the quotes and words of Reagan and top Reagan officials but not his own.  His facebook page is littered with quotes from Reagan, Ed Meese or the like.

Contrast that with Brad Goehring who talks with his facebook “friends” almost daily and has original posts and status updates quite frequently.  Brad Goehring isn’t afraid to make himself available to the public even if that means strong ridicule from the extreme left which happens on a daily basis.

David Harmer uses great quotes like:

“Ronald Reagan would be disturbed about the expansion of the power of the federal government, the intrusion into people’s lives like this Obama health care program, appalled by the increase in federal spending…” – Edwin Meese

Quotes like that are great.  I totally agree with Edwin Meese.  The idea is to put up quotes like this so people continue to associate Harmer with the Reagan crew.  I think for a lot of kool-aid drinkers it works.  There are a lot of people who are great at working people’s minds like this…can you say Hale-Bopp?  Can you say Branch-Dividians?  I’m not saying that Harmer is a cult leader…so don’t start twisting my words.  What I am saying is certain people know how to get into people’s minds to get them to feel all warm and fuzzy inside and I believe this is what Harmer is doing.  I could write you a great article telling you where I was exactly when Ronald Reagan gave one of his well known  speeches.  I can tell you how great I felt at the time and I bet you that I would have you feeling warm and fuzzy inside by the time you finished reading it.  The bottom line is I’m not Ronald Reagan and neither is Harmer.  Harmer is his own fallible guy….so stop drinking the kool-aid and wake up.

“So who is the true Harmer,” you ask?  Take a look at my past articles and you may start seeing who he is.  In fact my last article called “The David Harmer Puzzle” puts a lot of his pieces together.  An interesting thing that has recently come to mind is their patriotism.  I’m not questioning Harmer’s patriotism but he doesn’t wear it on his sleeve like someone who I want representing me.  I’ve watched all four of the candidates all memorial day weekend.  As of 8pm on Memorial Day, all of the candidates EXCEPT Harmer wrote something about our fallen and thanking them for their sacrifice. When it comes to the two top candidates, here is what I’ve seen with regards to their facebook updates.

On Saturday, in his own words Brad Goehring posted:

“We live in the land of the free ONLY because of the brave!”

On Saturday David Harmer bragged about an endorsement he received (but failed to mention that it was drawn out of a hat). If you don’t believe me about the hat read the South San Joaquin Republican President Frank Aquila’s letter that just went out on 5/31/10.  Or you can read my article that exposes the CRA shenanigans that took place.

On Sunday Brad Goehring spent his entire day celebrating our nations heroes at Woodward Park in Manteca.  I know this because I was with him watching him talk to vets and making himself available to the voters.  Before leaving for the celebration, Brad Goehring posted:

“I will fight socialism with our Constitution relentlessly to ensure those who sacrificed with their lives in the name of freedom and liberty were not sacrificed in vain! WE LIVE IN THE LAND OF THE FREE ONLY BECAUSE OF THE BRAVE!”

Brad didn’t even brag about the fact that he was going to the Memorial Day celebration and I am glad he didn’t.  Memorial Day is not something to politicize.

On Sunday David Harmer’s wall was blank.

On Monday (Memorial Day), in his own words Brad Goehring posted:

“I was humbly honored yesterday to stand beside the gold star father of Michael D. Anderson Jr – U.S. Marine Corp May 1983 – Dec 2004. His son wrote a blank check payable to the United States of America with his life. THAT IS HONOR! During a ceremony he whispered to me that each morning he wakes up he is reminded it is …Memorial Day. May God bless the men and women and their families in service.”

On Monday David Harmer took the opportunity to brag, in my opinion, about the fact that he finally made it to a Memorial Day celebration…but still nothing about the fallen:

“At the Danville Memorial Day Celebration! Come say hello.”

David Harmer couldn’t you have at least found a great quote from Reagan regarding Memorial Day?  After all Memorial Day is one of our greatest holidays.

This is the San Joaquin GOP booth but with the three Harmer signs you would think it was the Harmer booth. One in the front, one hanging on the left side, and one in the back that would make it's way to the front later on in the day.

We would have NO OTHER holidays if it wasn’t for our brave!  Is it because you don’t know how to talk about such great things or because you are afraid that if you did win the primary that McNerney would somehow paint you as a patriot in the general?

I want to appeal to you the reader.  This election is critical.  We have a guy who is running on the coat tails of Ronald Reagan but we don’t know what he really thinks himself?  He is also relying on the backing of the local GOP because they recruited him and that’s who they decided they want.  (See photo) You gotta love the big party establishment right?  And then there is a great patriot in Brad Goehring who knows what to say and when to say it.  And when he says it, it shows the true character of BRAG GOEHRING.  Not of some other guy.  He is a farmer from this district who has always lived here.  He is someone who loves God and touts his pro-life stance.  I overheard him telling someone: “I’m 45 years old but have been going to my church for 46″.  He doesn’t need a soundbite from Reagan or a quote from Edwin Meese.  He is a genuine guy who puts his pants on one leg at a time like both you and I.  He touts his pro-gun stance by proclaiming that he is the only candidate to have a concealed carry permit.

I actually just started laughing out loud thinking about David Harmer shooting a gun.

(Updated: Since writing this David Harmer finally penned something as Memorial Day was coming to a close. In the interest of fairness I needed to add this update.  But it wasn’t until 9pm on Monday night that he finally wrote something halfway patriotic.  9pm?  Really? It’s almost as if it was an after-thought.  Was it?).

Written by John Heida

Originally posted at http://www.rtamerican.us and written by John Heida.  John Heida is not paid by any campaign and is not paid by Conservative New Media.  He is only a guest author and has his own opinions which you can find on his website at http://www.rtamerican.us.  The views expressed in this article are John Heida’s personal opinions only and are meant for informational and entertainment purposes only.  John Heida does not allege any facts, cast aspersions on anyone, or make any claims about what he says here, or in any of his other columns on Conservative New Media or on his site.  Again, these are only John Heida’s own personal opinions and his First Amendment protected exercise thereof.  These opinions are not necessarily the views of Conservative New Media and Conservative New Media does not endorse or represent or warrant any of the content of his articles in any way and is not responsible for them.