LA GOP: Senator Beige Report: Volume 1 (by Lee Fletcher)

An Ongoing Examination Of Mary Landrieu’s Shady Behavior

“Louisianans know the difference between hypocrisy and honesty,” said Republican Party of Louisiana Communications Director Aaron Baer. “Mary Landrieu is not just ‘beige’ on the Democrat nomination, she’s ‘beige’ on the issues. Take immigration for example, Landrieu hopes that by flip-flopping on this issue Louisiana voters will be so confused they’ll just think she’s neutral. News flash Mary – ‘beige’ is just another way to say hypocrite.”

Landrieu is “Beige” On the Democratic Nomination. “U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., is up for re-election in November and said she, too, remains neutral. ‘I’m so beige on this one,’ Landrieu said.” Yet today New Orleans Mayor (Gerard Shields, “Washington Watch for May 12, 2008,” Baton Rouge Advocate, 5/12/08)

Yet Today New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin Became The 283rd Superdelegate To Endorse Barak Obama Because He Believes Obama Will Be Good For New Orleans. Why won’t Landrieu? (Barack Obama Press Release, 5/13/08)

Landrieu’s “Beige” Record On Immigration

In 2006, Landrieu Voted To Kill That An Amendment By Sen. Ensign (R-NV) That Would Have Prevents Illegal Immigrants From Receiving Social Security, But In 2007 Landrieu Voted To Deny Social Security Benefits From Being Paid For Illegal Or Fraudulent Work. (S.2611,CQ Vote #130, Motion agreed to 50-49: R 11-44; D 38-5; I 1-0, May 18, 2006, Landrieu voted Yea; H.R.2669, CQ Vote #263, Rejected 57-40: R 44-4; D 13-34; I 0-2, July 19, 2007, Landrieu Voted Yeah)

At Least 6 Times In The Last Two Years, Landrieu Has Voted For And Against Bills To Strengthen Border Security And Immigration Control.

· Landrieu Voted For Establishing English As Our National Language; Before She Voted Against It. (U.S. Senate Clerk’s Tally Sheet for Roll Call Vote 131, May 18, 2006)

· Landrieu Voted Against Allowing Local Law Enforcement To Question Immigration Status; Before She Voted For It. (U.S. Senate Clerk’s Tally Sheet for Roll Call Vote 177, May 24, 2007)

· Landrieu Voted For Including Family-Based Green Card Applicants In Backlog Reduction And Providing A Temporary Guest Worker Program Allowing Workers To Stay In The United States For Up To Six Years, Before She Voted Against It. (U.S. Senate Clerk’s Tally Sheet for Roll Call Vote 194, June 6, 2007)

· Landrieu Voted For Increasing The Number Of Green Cards For Parents Of U.S. Citizens; Before She Voted Against It. (U.S. Senate Clerk’s Tally Sheet for Roll Call Vote 232, June 27, 2007)

· Landrieu Voted For Striking All References To Requirements For Issuing Secure Drivers And Identification Cards Under Current Law; Before She Voted Against It (U.S. Senate Clerk’s Tally Sheet for Roll Call Vote 234, June 27, 2007)

· Landrieu Voted Against Funding For Border Patrol Vehicles, Aircraft, And Fencing; Before She Voted For It. (U.S. Senate Clerk’s Tally Sheet for Roll Call Vote 94, April 26, 2006)

Speech Excerpts: Chairman Villere In Azerbaijan (by Lee Fletcher)

Republican Party of Louisiana Chairman Roger F. Villere, Jr. was pleased to represent the United States and the Republican National Committee at the “For Democracy And Stability: New Opportunities For Cooperation” conference in Baku, Azerbaijan last week. The conference, hosted by the New Azerbaijan Party, brought together representatives from across Europe, Asia, and the Americas to discuss developmental trends in transitional societies, regional development, and the role of political parties in democratic countries.

Chairman Villere thanked the people of Azerbaijan for their support in the global war on terror and their government for providing troops to the coalition efforts in both Afghanistan and Iraq. Chairman Villere also discussed the similarities and impacts of the Louisianan and Azerbaijani economies. Finally, Chairman Villere gave an overview of the American political process, the ideological foundations of the Republican and Democrat parties, and the import role political parties play in bringing stability to government.

Recognizing Azerbaijan As An Ally:

“America is deeply honored to have Azerbaijan as a strategic partner. Thank you for providing troops to the coalition forces in both Afghanistan and Iraq. We believe that our relationship has been improving since the early 1990’s and we hope to work closer with you in the future. Please note my presence here today as more evidence of our willingness to work with your great country.”

On The Louisianan And Azerbaijani Economies:

“Louisiana is the center of America’s oil and gas exploration and production, with more oil and gas per square mile than any other American state. Just like your nation has been a pioneer in opening the Caspian Sea to international cooperation and oil and gas exploration, my state of Louisiana did the same in the Gulf of Mexico decades ago. One hundred years ago, my home state was very poor. But the development of an economy based around oil and gas has brought us a lot of wealth. Like yours, our economy has changed a lot during the past century and we are making the necessary political and cultural adjustments.”

On The American Political System:

“In America, as you are aware, we have two major political parties: The Democratic Party and the Republican Party. I am Chairman of Republican Party in my state of Louisiana. ... Our party is on the right in American politics, meaning that we believe in smaller government, lower taxes and more personal freedom. The Democratic Party is the United States’ left of center political party. We refer to those on the left as ‘liberals.’ … “

“The Party also has another important role besides electing candidates. We adopt a platform, which is a written document stating what the Party believes. Then we try to make sure that once a candidate is elected, he holds fast to the principles prescribed in our platform. In democracies, candidates come and go. They are on the scene for a short period of time. But political parties and their stated principles are what bring stability to democratic countries.”

Democrat-Led Congress Makes "History": (by Lee Fletcher)

Dem Leader to Testify In Stolen Vote Controversy

SPIN CYCLE:
DEM LEADER PROMISES TO RUN THE “MOST ETHICAL CONGRESS IN HISTORY”

“Floor votes should be completed within 15 minutes. No vote shall be held open to manipulate the outcome.” – Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA) “A New Direction For America,” Pg. 24

“Democrats will exercise better leadership in the new Congress and work to raise the standard of ethics in this body.” – Majority Whip-Elect James Clyburn (D-SC), Press Release, 12/8/06


RINSE CYCLE:
DEMS MAKE “HISTORY” WITH “UNPRECEDENTED” TESTIMONY IN STOLEN VOTE CONTROVERSY

“House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md) will testify tomorrow afternoon in an unprecedented hearing before the Select Committee investigating how the Democrats violated House rules to produce a fraudulent result on August 2, 2007.”

“…Hoyer – along with Cong. Michael McNulty (D-NY) – will be the first members to testify in such a hearing in the history of the Congress.”

“Tuesday’s hearing before the ‘Select Committee to Investigate the Voting Irregularities of August 2, 2007’ will be the first time in the history of the House that members of Congress have faced such an inquiry and been subjected to questioning by members of the opposing party.”

“As I reported last October Republicans reacted with outrage at the maneuvers apparently pulled by Hoyer, acting as House leader and McNulty, who was presiding over House proceedings at the time. Republicans had made a motion to deny illegal aliens welfare benefits. When McNulty gaveled the vote to a close, the Republicans had won 214-213. Then, apparently at Hoyer’s direction, the vote was reopened so that Speaker Pelosi could vote, producing a tie that defeated the Republican motion.”

“The resulting furor -- and the video evidence of the manipulation of the vote -- forced the Democrats to agree to formation of the Select Committee.”

“Under Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Hoyer, the House has become less a democratic institution than a tool of the Democrats’ agenda. These hearings could be a game-changer. Stay tuned.” (Human Events, 5/12/08)

Pass Full Stelly Tax Repeal with No Phase In NOW! (by Lee Fletcher)

The full Stelly Tax Repeal should be passed immediately and enacted without phase ins.

The people do not want a phase in and do not deserve a phase in. The people do not support a phase in.

The limited few who have convinced themselves to try for a phase in are working off of a political timeline and must be thinking about the next election.

Phase in's are simply a political or budget ploy by politicians to make money stretch further so they can spend it.

The spending is part of the reason we need to eliminate Stelly. In other words, we want to see spending reduced.

The Stelly tax is a blight on this state and was wrong from day one.

The notion that we should give up our deductions for a home mortgage and charitable donations could not be deducted so we could have another tax is completely ludicrous.

Stelly is a flawed concept and has a flawed result. Stelly has to go and has to be eliminated without a phase out.

The people are serious and sent a group of elected officials to Baton Rouge to deliver.

It is time to get it done and rid our state of Stelly immediately with absolutely no phase in.

Stelly was not phased in on the tax payer one little bit at a time until the full brunt of the added tax came in spurts.

On the contrary, Stelly kicked in and the government got its money. Now it is time for the Stelly tax to be kicekd out and the people get their money.

Freshmen Dems Fear Obama Hurting ticket (by Lee Fletcher)

FRESHMEN DEMS FEAR DOWNBALLOT DRAG

The Weekly Standard Blog, May 9, 2008: “Sixteen Freshmen Democrats sent a letter to the superdelegates right after the North Carolina and Indiana primaries -- by which time it was pretty apparent that they were campaigning against the eventual nominee.

On the one hand, you could argue that by waiting until after those primaries failed to 'change the game,' they risked nothing. On the other hand, why alienate Obama at this point -- unless you really were worried that he would be far worse for your re-election chances than Clinton?

This brings full circle the conventional wisdom on Barack Obama's ability to help down-ballot candidates. In the very districts that are most marginal -- most at risk -- Democrats would rather run with Hillary Clinton heading the ticket than Obama.

And don't forget that Democrats have been dreading for years the prospect of running with Clinton. A lot has changed in the last few months.”

ABC Blog: On Obama and Rezko (by Lee Fletcher)

We started covering Sen. Barack Obama's inability to hire good staffers in June 2007, when he blamed staffers for some opposition research trying to link Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-NY, to outsourcing in India; for injecting some venom in the David Geffen/Hillary Clinton fight; and for missing an event with firefighters in New Hampshire. ...

Yesterday, in an interesting New York Times look at Obama's rise in Chicago politics, we learned that in 2004 some Jewish supporters became alarmed to learn that in a questionnaire Obama refrained from denouncing Yasir Arafat, or from expressing strong support for Israel's security fence.

Reports the Times: "In an e-mail message, Mr. Obama blamed a staff member for the oversight, and expressed the hope that 'none of this has raised any questions on your part regarding my fundamental commitment to Israel's security.'" ...

In a March 2008 interview with the Chicago Sun-Times to answer questions about Tony Rezko, Obama was asked about the fact that Obama had told the newspaper in November 2006 that he had never been asked to do anything to advance Rezko's business interests. But the Sun-Times had subsequently learned about a October 28, 1998 letter Obama wrote to city and state housing officials on behalf of a housing project for seniors that Rezko was working on.

The letter, Obama said, "was essentially a form letter of the sort that I did all time. And that I wasn't, by the way, aware of."

A reporter asked: You weren't aware that he was associated with the project?

Responded Obama: "I wasn't even aware that we wrote the letter. ... And my understanding is that our letter was just one of many. And I wasn't a decision maker in any of this process."

The Sun-Times also pointed out that in November 2006 Obama estimated that Rezko had raised somewhere between $50,000 and $60,000 for him during his political career.

But since that answer, Obama has given back almost $160,000 in Rezko-related contributions.

"The original estimate was based on, I asked my staff to find what monies they attributed to Rezko, and this was the figure given to me," Obama said. ...