Blogging with AFRW

Vote in the FreedomWorks GOP Presidential Straw Poll! Are you tired of the meaningless campaign sound bites? So are we. It is definitely time for the voice of limited government conservatives to be heard! That’s why, as America prepares for the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primaries, FreedomWorks is conducting its own online Presidential Straw Poll. You can join thousands of others as FreedomWorks members choose the Republican candidate that would best advance our agenda of lower taxes, less government, and more freedom. Our GOP Straw Poll is open this week only, so vote online right now! After you vote be sure to tell your friends to cast their votes too. You can view the current standings in real-time, by visiting the straw poll website: http://www.freedomworks.org/strawpoll/

Residents of the Birmingham Area,

Former candidate for Lt. Governor and longtime Republican Luther Strange is scheduled to be on Fox 6 News Monday, July 23rd between 7:00 a.m. and 7:30 a.m.  He will be interviewed by Janice Rogers regarding Fred Thompson’s visit to Birmingham and the current status of the race for the Republican nomination.  Please tune in!

 

S-A-V-E:  Sock Away for a Valuable Education

By State Treasurer Kay Ivey

 

Parents and grandparents across Alabama dream of one day being able to send their children to college.  I’m proud to tell you the State of Alabama offers two college savings programs that can help make that dream a reality – the Prepaid Affordable College Tuition (PACT) Program and the Alabama Higher Education 529 Fund. 

 

Through the PACT Program, a contract can be purchased to prepay either 128 semester hours of college tuition and 8 semesters of qualified fee payments or 32 semester hours of tuition and 2 semesters of qualified fee payments at any Alabama public college or university. PACT may also be used at private or out-of-state institutions. Flexible plans are available to pay for the contract that is priced according to the age of the child.  The 2007 PACT open enrollment period will begin in October and continue through the end of December.

The Alabama Higher Education 529 Fund allows individuals to participate in an investing program, managed by Van Kampen Investments, in which they may select from a number of professionally crafted investment strategies. The beneficiary of the account may be a child, adult or even the individual, himself. Withdrawals from the account can be used to pay for tuition, fees, books, room and board at any accredited college, trade or graduate school.  There is a direct-sold investment option available for Alabama residents that allow them to avoid upfront commissions and costs as well as the state administrative fee.

Both programs feature tax advantages and flexibility in allowing benefits to be transferred to other members of the family. Certainly, individuals may invest in one or both programs and may choose the option that best meets their financial situation.

I encourage all parents and grandparents to S-A-V-E:  Sock Away for a Valuable Education.  To learn more about these programs, please call 1-800-252-7228 or log on to the Treasury website, www.treasury.alabama.gov, and click on “college savings”.

 

Remember, it’s more than an investment in your child’s college – it’s an investment in their dreams.  And yours, too!

Today we learn that a 12 year old little girl was killed by a illegal immigrant who has already been convicted of being a sexual predator.  Read more here. 

And today a trial has been rescheduled for an illegal immigrant who is accused of shooting and killing a Huntsville police officer.  Read more here.   

Bettye Fine Collins who represents Alabama at the RNC has Co-Sponsored a resolution "Urging Immediate Congressional Action to Secure Our Borders".  The resolution reads as follows:

Whereas, it is reliably estimated that between 12 and 20 million citizens of other countries have entered and currently remain in the United States illegally,

Whereas, it is reliably estimated that between 2 and 3 million illegal crossings of the borders of the U.S. continue to occur each year;

Whereas, the ability of millions of unidentified persons to illegally enter and remain in the U.S. represents a grave risk to the sovereignty of the U.S. and security of American people (see above mentioned-added by author) and

Whereas, Congress has already authorized the construction of 854 miles of border fencing and appropriated one billion dollars to construct it and it is reliably reported that less than 20 miles of such fencing have been completed; now therefore be it

Resolved that the Members of the Republican National Committee urge that the Congress of the U.S., as a matter of the highest priority, take all necesssary steps to provide appropriate authority and means to accomplish the following:

1.  Complete the construction of the border fencing that has been authorized as expeditiously as is reasonably possible; and

2.  Effectively secure the borders of the United States to illegal entry by  every appropriate additional means, fully equipping and and empowering the Border Patrol and using our National Guard and the U.S. Military if necessary.  

 Can I get an Amen from the crowd!

 

Governor Riley called on Alabamanians to pray for rain in our drought striken state. 

Apparently God is still in the business of answering prayers.

Scripture says that the prayers of a righteous man brings much!!!!  And a whole state praying brings RAIN!!!! 

Obama was all over the local news in Huntsville today due to his visit to our area.  Funny thing, when other candidates have come to town, you couldn’t find that info on the news.  And certainly no ridiculous calls for traffic blockcades.

Here’s a release from ALGOP concerning the visit.

  ALGOP WELCOMES OBAMA TO ALABAMA

BIRMINGHAM-Alabama Republicans welcome liberal Democrat Barack Obama back to the South tonight as the rookie presidential candidate holds his Alabama "kick off" event in Birmingham, AL.

"Republicans are delighted to have Barack Obama visit the great state of Alabama, because the more this rookie politician touts his liberal record, the more likely voters in this state will elect a Republican for president next year," said Alabama Republican Party Chairman Mike Hubbard.  "Whether he’s raising our taxes, cutting funds for our troops, or disputing a ban on partial birth abortion, Barack Obama is clearly out of touch with the mainstream values here in Alabama."

Obama has won the liberal seal of approval from several left-wing organizations:

*          Americans for Democratic Action (ADA), America’s oldest liberal organization, rated Obama (95) as liberal as California Democrat Senator Barbara Boxer (95) and Massachusetts Democrat Senator John Kerry (95) in 2006.  (Americans For Democratic Action Website, www.adaction.org < https://webmail.rnchq.org/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.adaction.org/2006Senatevr.htm> , Accessed 2/5/07)

*          In April 2007, "Obama came top of the polls organized by the left wing anti-war group MoveOn.org after what was billed as a virtual town hall meeting held with the top Democratic party candidates …" ("Obama Woos Online Voters With Iraq Policy," Agence France Presse, 4/12/07)

*          In June 2007, "Senator Barack Obama scored a victory among progressive activists… winning the Politico.com straw poll of attendees at the Take Back America Conference in Washington." (Ben Smith, "Barack Obama Wins Politico.com Straw Poll," The Politico, 6/20/07)

*          "The Take Back America Conference is hosted by Campaign For America’s Future…" ("Liberals Party In D.C., Forecast Change," United Press International, 6/20/07) 

*          The Campaign For America’s Future is "working to push the [Democrat] party’s policy-making further to the left." (Donald Lambro, "Liberals In Senate Thrilled By Change," The Washington Times, 5/25/01)

 Should we be surprised that Obama wins among liberal left wing organizations?

*          Newsweek’s Jonathan Alter: "Obama’s a blue state Democrat, all right, and by most standards a liberal one."  (Jonathan Alter, Op-Ed, "The Audacity Of Hope," Newsweek, 12/27/04)

*          National Journal’s Richard E. Cohen: "During his two years in the Senate, Obama has been among its more liberal members." (Richard E. Cohen, "Left To Right," National Journal, 3/2/07)

*          "Obama’s ‘Lifetime Average’ composite score in [National Journal’s] vote ratings is the most liberal of the current presidential candidates who serve in Congress …" (Richard E. Cohen, "Left To Right," National Journal, 3/2/07)

*          "Of the four Democratic Senators who are running for President, Barack Obama of Illinois had the most liberal score in 2006 [From National Journal]." (Richard E. Cohen, "Left To Right," National Journal, 3/2/07)

 

  ALGOP CHAIR SAYS “CANCER OF CORRUPTION” INFECTS ALABAMA DEMOCRAT PARTY

Birmingham – ALGOP Chairman Mike Hubbard on Monday said the trial of former Secretary of State and Democrat Party Vice Chair Nancy Worley, which begins today, serves as a reminder that there is a continuing trend of corruption and questionable conduct among members and officials of the Alabama Democrat Party.

“It is obvious that a cancer of corruption has infected the Alabama Democrat Party,” Hubbard said.  “Nancy Worley is only the most recent in a long and growing line of Democrat officials who find themselves in court defending questionable actions and conduct.  It is a disturbing pattern that indicates the Alabama Democrat Party does not consider ethics to be a priority.”

Worley is being tried on felony and misdemeanor charges for soliciting campaign contributions from employees in the Secretary of State’s Office, a clear violation of Alabama election law.

The Republican Party chair pointed to several other high ranking Democrats who have recently found themselves caught in ethical crosshairs.  Those officials include:

• State Rep. Bryant Melton, who left office after coming to a plea agreement with prosecutors regarding his role in corruption within the two-year college system.
• Former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman, who is currently serving a seven-year, four-month sentence in federal prison after an impartial jury of his peers found him guilty of numerous felony charges including bribery and mail fraud.
• Former Siegelman Aide and ADECA Director Nick Bailey, who pled guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery and filing a false income tax return.

He added that a family member of a high-ranking Democrat Party official recently pled guilty to obstruction of justice charges emanating from the on-going two-year college probe.

Hubbard said that rather than take responsibility for their behavior, Democrats often blame partisanship among Republican prosecutors for their troubles.  He noted, however, that in Worley’s case, the initial charges were referred to the Attorney General’s Office by a fellow Democrat candidate who appeared with Worley on the 2006 primary ballot.

“When the person charged with enforcing our state’s election laws is prosecuted for violating those same election laws, a serious problem obviously exists,” Hubbard said.  “The only person Nancy Worley can blame for being on trial is Nancy Worley.”

The women of AFRW extend our deepest sympathy to former AFRW President, Rhonda Rutledge.  Rhonda’s mother passed away unexpectedly.  Rhonda has gone through more personal battles than a person should have to face.  Please join us in praying for Rhonda, her daughter, and the extended family.

The HYPOcracy of the left is just funny.  Today Tony Snow called them on it and it was a precious and fun sight to see.  The media was firing questions about the removal of jail time for Scooter Libby and said some liberals were threatening to use their most beloved way to handle any situation…HEARINGS…..to look into the matter. 

Tony’s reaction was a gift!  

"I don’t know what Arkansan is for chutzpah (Gall or Nerve), but this is a gigantic case of it," presidential spokesman Tony Snow said.

Rep.John Conyers, D-Mich., has scheduled hearings on Bush’s commutation of Libby’s 2 1/2-year sentence.

"Well, fine, knock himself out," Snow said of Conyers. "I mean, perfectly happy. And while he’s at it, why doesn’t he look at January 20th, 2001?"

Clinton even got his two cents in the matter.  And was quoted with "I think there are guidelines for what happens when somebody is convicted," Clinton told a radio interviewer Tuesday. "You’ve got to understand, this is consistent with their philosophy; they believe that they should be able to do what they want to do, and that the law is a minor obstacle."

This is a true case of the pot calling the kettle black.  Give me a break Mr. "I can man-handle any female I wish and get away with it". Forgive us if your words fall on deaf ears.  We have long quit listening to your opinions.  In fact Mr. Clinton you are just down right creepy.

Let’s hear it for Tony Snow!!!!! 

John McCain’s campaign is in trouble. 

Dax Swatek and David Azbell, veterans of Gov. Bob Riley’s campaigns, Riley campaign veterans were let go as the campaign says they are focusing on bigger primary states.

Tim Howe, former executive director of Alabama Republican Party, who had joined the McCain team to be McCain’s Alabama campaign manager, left last week to start his own political consulting firm.

Seems that even VERY frequent visits to Alabama can’t save the Alabama McCain Campaign…….and that immigration bill couldn’t have helped either…..