Updates at:
Heritage Action is the 501c4 lobbying arm of theHeritage Foundation. They’ve released whatDaniel Horowitz at RedState describes as “the first comprehensive conservative report card of Congress.” Horowitz writes, “We can now determine which members of the ‘Tea Party Congress’ drink a hardcore brew.”
Unlike most other scorecards, this one was designed to separate the men from the boys. Most traditional scorecards, and most prominently, the ACU annual report, tend to focus primarily on those votes which fundamentally divide the two parties. They fail to probe some of the more courageous conservative votes against party leadership.
To that end, any Republican who is even minimally conservative is expected to score at or near 100%. After all, at a minimum, any Republican should oppose Obamacare, vote down tax increases, and support the Republican annual budget. This is how the likes of McCain, Graham, and Chambliss have been able to achieve stellar scores. Except for those like Olympia Snowe, Susan Collins, and Dick Lugar, most Republicans will vote with their party on the final roll call of major bills. In fact, anyone who is not on the list of 100% is someone who has voted with the Democrats in contravention to fundamental Republican values. A perfect ACU score should be the floor, not the ceiling, for a conservative voting record.
The Heritage Action scorecard digs much deeper.
In just the first seven months of the legislative session, they scored 30 votes in the House and 19 in the Senate, many of which dealt with obscure amendments that sought to cut spending beyond the comfort zone of GOP leaders. (more…)
Christopher Berger
Pitfalls on the Road to Victory
Republicans and conservatives have good reason to be optimistic about our prospects this November. The circumstances favor us, no question. What remains undecided is whether we are ready to capitalize on this after the election. I contend that we aren’t.
KMBC’s Jim Flink reporting last Wednesday. Click for video:
AFP:
Tax Day Tea Parties planned in Kansas, April 15
Americans for ProsperityAmericans for Prosperity-Kansas
March 26, 2009
In this issue:* Tax Day Tea Parties planned for April 15
* Budget Stabilization fund passes both chambers
* Taxpayer-funded lobbying
* AFP-Kansas is now on Twitter!***********
A Message from State Director Derrick Sontag: (more…)
From Bob Weeks in Wichita:
Voice For Liberty in Wichita
Individual liberty, limited government, and free markets in Wichita and KansasWichita Tea Party This Friday (more…)
Time to throw another Tea Party?
Just when I think it isn’t possible for our government to come up with any more ridiculous ways to waste our money and our future, I’m proven completely wrong.
Once upon a time a person’s word was a bond. Someone says they will do something, it is expected they will do just that. If you say you’re going to be at work at 8 a.m. but keep coming in at 11, you are going to be fired. If you tell a neighbor you will watch their pet while they are gone and then don’t, the neighbor is going to be mad when they come home to a dead bird in the cage.
I’ve been involved with deals that didn’t turn out so well in the end. I became wiser. I have partnered with groups where the rules changed. I became smarter. Life is not risk free, and a rich uncle isn’t going to come to my rescue. If I make a mistake, I shouldn’t look beyond the mirror for someone to blame.