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We, at Tea Party Nation have been watching developments in the Arizona Senatorial race with great consternation. We find it now necessary to speak out in this matter, largely because of our long-standing position of non Interference with the will of in-State Tea Party Groups. Our tens of thousands of members will be silent no longer!

We have been observing elements of the media and some political groups involved in highly unethical practices! These would include, but not be limited to:

• The local media not announcing the support/ endorsements from 16 TEA Parties for Hayworth.

• Creation of "false" candidates, for the purposes of splitting opposition to the Incumbent candidate.

• False statements, denigrating the legal rights of Tea Parties to endorse political candidates.

These problems of censorship and misinformation are widespread and pervasive, even including planted attackers within the various Tea Party groups. We had been infiltrated as well.

Tea Party Nation stands with the Tea Party groups of Arizona! We question and, yes, even condemn those who denigrate, silence, and smear the faithful conservative citizens of the Arizona Tea Parties. This seems to be just another example of those in power attempting to silence the will of the people! Not so unlike Pelosi, Reid and Obama, is it?

Tea Parties of Arizona, Speak Louder! You must be heard in every corner of Arizona....of America! We stand behind you in your efforts!

On a personal note, I would like to take the time to personally endorse J.D. Hayworth. John McCain is the worst of the RINOs and simply must go. While Tea Party Nation does not endorse as a group, it's members, including me, are free to do so. I strongly encourage everyone in the Tea Party movement in Arizona to make a last minute push so that John McCain is retired!

Finally, we would like to know what you, the members of Tea Party Nation think of our policy of not endorsing candidates. Is this a good policy or do you want to see it changed?

Pardons for Sale?

The New York Times is reporting that the White House is reconsidering an announced pardon of Isaac R. Toussie, a Brooklyn developer involved in a Long Island land swindle.

According to the article, "Pardon Lasts Just One Day for Developer in Fraud Case," Toussie's father, Robert, earlier this year contributed $28,500 to the Republican National Committee, plus an additional $2,300 (the legal maximum) to the campaign of Republican nominee John McCain.

It appears the contribution early in 2008 may have been Toussie's first political contribution.

Update: A review of FEC records show more contributions from Toussie's mother and father in 2008.

In addition to the $2,300 contributed to the McCain campaign, Robert Toussie contributed an additional $30,800 to the McCain Victory Fund. In April 2008, McCain's campaign manager, Rick Davis, revealed the details of the fund. According to an article in the Wall Street Journal, the entity was a joint committee, combining the McCain committee and the Republican National Committee.

Isaac's mother, Laura, made maximum contributions to the campaigns of Republican Senators Gordon Smith of Oregon, and Norm Coleman of Minnesota. Robert Toussie also made maximum contributions to Smith and Coleman.

Rep. Eric Cantor of Virginia received a $2,300 contribution in October.

Let me see if I understand.

A family in New York contributed $73,100 to the campaigns of several Republican candidates in states in which they have no residence or business, and a son hoping to be pardoned by a Republican president.

Someone certainly directed Toussie's contributions.

If Bush won't investigate, President Obama should.

McCain Balks at Palin Endorsement

When given the chance on Sunday, Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) did not endorse his partner on this year’s GOP ticket, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, as the next Republican standard bearer.

Asked on ABC’s “This Week with George Stephanopoulos” whether he would back Palin if she decided to run for president in 2012, McCain said that he “can’t say something like that.” He noted that the GOP has “some great other governors” who will also play a “greater leadership role” in the party.

Read the story here.

True Meaning of Thanksgiving

Dems Need 70 Seats

Senate Democrats could prove hazardous to your health.

On a day that Democrats throughout the country should be free to celebrate the victory of Anchorage Mayor, Mark Begich, over the honesty-challenged Ted Stevens, they instead have to blink while pulling the finger of Joe Lieberman out of their eyes. Even if Senate Democrats were lucky enough to come up with the 60 seats, it wouldn't be enough to create a filibuster-proof majority. If there's no discipline within the Democratic Caucus, what chance would they have of getting all the Democrats to vote together on a cloture vote?

How does Lieberman get away with this shit?

No leadership, no discipline.

Duhh!

And yes, I'm disappointed, frustrated, and just a little pissed. Notice, I didn't say surprised? As I wrote last night, Joe Lieberman got away with trolling for McCain-Palin all over the world. If McCain had won the presidency, it's likely we'd be discussing Lieberman's nomination as Secretary of State, rather than Hillary's. Instead, McCain lost and Lieberman returns to the Senate with no punishment of any consequence. On a reported 42-13 vote, Senate Democrats told the American people that the Independent-Democrat doesn't answer to anyone -- but himself, and possibly Lindsey Graham.

The Democrats of Connecticut rejected Lieberman in the Democratic primary and voted for Ned Lamont as their nominee. Lieberman appealed to Republicans and Independents and was re-elected to the United States Senate. Senate Democrats welcomed him back with open arms after he defeated the Democrat.

Lieberman joined with George Bush and John McCain to maintain and increase American presence in a war that was going poorly, spending tremendous sums of money that could have been better used in our own country. Lieberman opposed the position of Senate Democrats, and they welcomed him in the caucus.

Lieberman supported Norm Coleman in Minnesota and Susan Collins in Maine against their Democratic opponents. Lieberman travelled to their states to support their campaigns, and infamously attacked the Democratic nominee for President of the United States at the Republican convention, and yet, only 13 Democrats were offended to the point of seeking discipline within the caucus.

I don't know what a Majority Leader does, apparently. If he doesn't impose discipline when the troops go to the other side, what the heck is his job? There's one thing I do know -- if Lieberman were a member of the House rather than the Senate, Speaker Pelosi would have kicked his ass -- literally! Maybe it's time for Reid to go and let someone else takeover the job he's clearly not capable of performing. Reid can make all the phony speeches expressing frustration with Lieberman he wants. Unless he actually does something, he should just keep his mouth shut.

Even when Republicans lose, they and Independent-Democrats win.

In the meantime, the next time a Democratic fundraiser asks me to contribute to the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee because they need 60 votes, I'm going to tell them where to go. If you take into account those who are free to do what they want without fear of discipline, it would take at least 70 Democrats to get the 60 needed votes, and I'm not holding my breath waiting for that.

It's been a frustrating day.

DHL Workers Choose McCain

DHL announced today that 8,000 workers will lose their jobs when it closes it's hub in Wilmington, Ohio. Of course, the loss of jobs of that magnitude is devastating to the workers, their families and the communities of the workers.

Airborne Expresse purchased an abandoned airfield in 1979, previously the site of Clinton County Air Force Base, which closed in 1971. Airborne operated from the facility for 24 years, and reorganized in 2003 creating ABX Air which was aligned with DHL.

In May, 2008, DHL announced a restructuring plan which could cause the loss of over 6,000 American jobs.

Clearly, the people of Wilmington and Clinton County knew there was a likelihood their jobs could be lost.

DHL and the Presidential Campaign of 2008

Oh August 7, 2008, Republican nominee John McCain traveled to Ohio and met with about 2 dozen employees. While there, it was revealed that McCain's campaign manager, Rick Davis, prior to joining the campaign worked for DHL. McCain offered tepid, at best, support.

‘I don't know if all of this will work. I have to say that. I have to give you straight talk. I do,’ he said. ‘I can't assure you that this train wreck isn't going to happen, but I will do everything in my power to see that we avert it.’

During the campaign Obama acknowledged the threat posed by DHL and promised, if elected, he would do everything he could to avert the community devastation. In the 95% white Clinton County, Obama was trounced.

McCain - 65% ; Obama - 34%.

Was it because of race that Obama was so soundly defeated?

When faced with the loss of their livelihood, where one candidate told them to pound sand while the other offered his help, they preferred the sand pounder by an almost 2-1 margin.

I wish the employees and their families well. I'm sure the Obama administration will do everything they can to help you, whether you deserve it or not. Or, maybe Obama will have more important things to do, as you obviously preferred the McCain approach.

How's tha McCain vote working out?

Quote of the Day

There are simply too few culturally conservative whites to sustain a national political party.

-- Dov S. Zakheim, We Didn't Just Lose a Race, We Lost Our Bearings

Republicans to Remain Minority Party

A segment from an opinion piece by Colbert I. King, entitled A Few Obama Thank-Yous that appeared in The Washington Post.

They [Republicans] are trying to figure out what went wrong. The emerging consensus: Republican candidates strayed from their core principles of fiscal conservatism and small government. Cramped thinking of that sort ensures the Republican party's minority status.

Roll the tape for a larger picture of the problem -- and a glimpse of what lies ahead: Scan the faces of delegates to the Republican and Democratic conventions, as well as the McCain-Palin and Obama-Biden campaign crowds. Examine the demographic results in Tuesday's election.

Now consider the U.S. Census Bureau's population projections.

If the GOP does not become more inclusive and open to new ideas, it could take on the image (not the ideology) of F.W. De Klerk's now disbanded National Party of South Africa.

If that happens, Obama can thank narrow-minded Republican strategists.

As long as Republicans are intent on being the white party of the south, and maintain their 15-state strategy, they will continue in the minority, until minorities are no longer minorities. Ralph Nader rails against the American two-party system. Just imagine how nutty he'll become when confronted by a one-party system.

Taking direction from de Klerk (which isn't much of a stretch), the Republicans should just close their accounts at Neiman Marcus and Saks, and disband.

Republicans Reach Out to Lieberman

Reports are circulating that Republican Senate Minority Leader, Mitch McConnell, has reached out to Senator Joe Lieberman in an effort to convince Lieberman to join the Republican Senate caucus.

“They’ve been talking,” McConnell spokesman Don Stewart said.

Lieberman yesterday met with Majority Leader, Harry Reid, to discuss Lieberman's future. Lieberman, chair of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs committee, has argued that he should not be stripped of his committee chair. Reid reportedly informed Lieberman that members of the Democratic causus are urging him to remove Lieberman.

While apparently no final decision has been made, Reid is considering forcing Lieberman from his full committee slot and offering him the chairmanship of a subcommittee, in lieu.

Lieberman infuriated most of his colleagues by appearing at the Republican National Convention and attacking the candidacy of Senator Obama with as much relish as partisan Republicans. He would likely have survived the speech in support of his good friend, John McCain, but Dems were outraged at his support for Vice-Presidential nominee, Sarah Palin, unknown to him before McCain's selection, and the Obama attacks.

It is likely Lieberman will return to discussions with McConnell if the Democratic caucus decides to strip Lieberman of his chairmanship, or decides to force him from the caucus.

In the end, Lieberman will do what he considers best for him. He seldom considers anyone else.

Throw Palin From the Train

Sarah Palin "left the national stage" 11/5, but the "controversy" over her role on the GOP ticket continues. Aides to John McCain have "disclosed new details" about her "expensive wardrobe purchases" and that a GOP lawyer "would be dispatched" to AK "to inventory and retrieve the clothes still in her possession."

Moreover, several McCain aides "said they had recently discovered that Palin's traveling staff had used personal credit cards to spend as much as" $20K to $30K on "additional wardrobe items for Palin." But a Palin aide responded by telling Newsweek: "Gov. Palin was not directing staffers to put anything on their personal credit cards, and anything that staffers put on their credit cards has been reimbursed, like an expense."

That's an interesting statement, much like those we've come to expect from the McCain camp. Which is it? If staffers didn't use personal credit cards for Palin purchases, why were they reimbursed?

Believe me, there's more to come.