Here are the latest Voter Registration Numbers for North Carolina:

The Libertarians have managed to double their numbers for the second week in a row...but are still negligible in numbers. Munger is crying foul.

2,635,341 Democrats 45.308%
1,933,484 Republicans 38.241%
1,247,656 Unaffiliated 21.450%
0,000,029 Libertarians 00.000005%
5,816,510 Total


There have been 5,638 voters registered since early last Wednesday, and the numbers breakdown as follows:


So, we can see from the figures that the North Carolina Republican Party seems to be either not focused on voter registration, or having trouble getting new voters. I know my local party is downright hostile to people who show up who aren't RINOs, and work to marginalize their participation on the local level.

**update** 12.17pm

The State Board of Elections have said it will take 2 or 3 months to get new forms out after Federal approval, and that Libertarians should go ahead and change their affiliation anyway. I think it is funny seeing Libertarians depending on the government...instead of being self-reliant. It shows me that Libertarians today are just Progressives cross dressing as Libertarians.

Besides...all the Libertarians are supposed to be taking over the GOP, right? We have several Paultards in GOP Party positions across the state, and I don't think they are gonna abandon the GOP for the dream of having a party of their own.

This is one expected bonus to the Ron Paul Revolution...it will kill the Libertarian Party's chances of becoming a player in the political process. Sure, the Paultards can vote for Libertarian candidates...but they'll be shut out of the benefits of membership and helping grow the Libertarian Party in North Carolina.

Anyone wanna take bets on how long it will take them to lose party status this time?

Previously:

Number of Libertarians in North Carolina More Than Doubles

I had a rainy weekend...how about you?

Cross-posted on Thunder Pig

The protest I wrote about yesterday is previewed in the following video shot by Richard Bernier of URTV's Sound Off Buncombe:

He hopes to have full hour up by Sunday Night on Google Video, and it will be airing on URTV in Buncombe and Madison Counties on Charter Cable Channel 20.

**update** Sunday June 29th Here is the hour long video of the protest:

I hope this serves as an example of what the ordinary citizen can do.

She has a few videos of Senator Bob Dole, and in depth coverage of the rally she attended in Raleigh.

In my opinion, her coverage is better than anywhere else, so hers is the only place I will direct you to for information.

I will have the Webathon on Thunder Pig from 4pm to midnight tonight, and Snooper has a liver pre-show webcast on his radioshow as well.

You can support the troops by purchasing a care package today.

Republican Candidate for North Carolina Governor drums to a Queen song.

Not that I ever paid that particular law any attention, or any other law restricting my second amendment rights for that matter.

In District of Columbia vs Heller, the Supreme Court agreed that the Second Amendment is the same as all the other Amendments...and individual right protecting citizens against the government.

Breyer, Stevens, Souter, and Ginsburg dissented. Never forget that people...the Supreme Court is hanging by a thread on many of these decisions. Imagine what the Court would look like after Obama had the opportunity to add justices, younger justices that will be lefties. Now, you should not have a single question in your mind at how important it is that you vote John McCain (despite his many faults) as the next President of the United States. I personally hate the man, but he will be better than Obama.

Remember, Obama believed the ban own owning handguns to be constitutional, and McCain supported overturning the ban.

Scalia wrote the majority opinion [right click to download pdf].
**update** 1.35pm I forgot you had to have a membership to download, so I'll embed the opinion here:

07-290 - Upload a Document to Scribd

Read this document on Scribd: 07-290

Complete coverage can be found at SCOTUSblog.

Today is a GREAT DAY for those who love the US Constitution, Liberty, and gives us hope for the future!!!

I found this on Live Video:

Trooper David Shawn Blanton

It was posted on this website.

Richard Bernier, or URTV's Sound Off Buncombe, was at the breakfast meeting of the Republicans Men Club of Henderson County yesterday morning.

Radio Hype of Meeting

Mumpower Campaign website

I have received an email requesting prayer for Tye Blanton, the infant son of David Blanton who was murdered last week in Haywood County.

The child has been placed on life support and is in critical condition.

I found a good recounting of the visit by President Bush to help raise funds for Mayor McCrory's bid to become Governor from an unusual point of view...from a driver in the motorcade. An excerpt:

On Friday, June 20th, 2008 President George W. Bush visited North Carolina for a fundraiser for Charlotte Mayor, and candidate for North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory. I had the honor and privilege of serving as a driver in President Bush's motorcade. I drove the staff support vehicle - fifth in line to the President's limousine.

When I first got the call offering me this opportunity, I thought it was a joke. I always assumed they had people for this. Well, as it turns out, the White House sometimes allows individuals associated with the organization or candidate the President is coming into town to visit the opportunity to participate in the motorcade as a "thank you".

Source: Cary Politics

Go check the story out. You get to see a side of the President's visit few are privy to these days.

Macon County Commissioners unanimously voted to pass the 2008-2009 budget which totaled $46,530,923. They also raised the propert tax rate from 24.5¢ per $100 evalualtion to 26.40¢, an 8% increase.

Despite the November referendum which rejected $64 million in bond referendums, the commissioners went ahead and secured $20 million in financing from BB&T at 4.59% over a 20 year period. A public hearing is required before the agreement can be finalized.

Source Material: Franklin Press

A copy of the May 12, 2008 BUdget Message is below. Copies of the approved budget are not yet available.

BudgetMessage2008-09 - Upload a Document to Scribd

Read this document on Scribd: BudgetMessage2008-09

Scott Yamanashi could have died on his 38th birthday. But he survived being shot during his party at a Plaza Midwood bar. Now he's starting an armed patrol and stirring conflict in the community he aims to protect.

The patrol, called Neighborhood Watch Alliance, is comprised of some of Yamanashi's friends from businesses off Central Avenue. The group is still organizing, he said. But the plan is to patrol the area with handguns, flashlights and notepads.

“We can lurk in the shadows, watch people and report what we see,” he said. “That's not against the law.”

But the idea has alarmed some residents and concerns police.

“I'm glad that they're getting involved,” Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Sgt. Tonya Arrington said. “There's just some concern any time weapons are involved.”

Source: Charlotte Observer

Hat Tip: Jeff Taylor of The Meck Deck

Commentary

This is a good thing. Neighbors need to get together and protect their property and their lives, especially when law enforcement is at best minutes away when something bad goes down. The two robberies I foiled would not have been had I not been armed and trained to handle my weapon...if I had not been armed, I would have been merely a witness, or worse yet, a victim.

Candidates for NC Governor and US Senate participated in a forum in Atlantic Beach, North Carolina that was sponsored by the North Carolina Bar Association this past weekend.

Republican Candidate Pat McCrory faced Democrat Candidate Lt. Governor Bev Purdue in the Governor's race.

Here are the videos:

[Part 1] [Part 2] [Part 3]

In the second portion, Democrat Candidate Kay Hagan faced US Senator Liddy Dole in the US Senate race.

The videos:

[Part 1] [Part 2] [Part 3]

I thought that McCrory and Hagan seemed more poised and confident than their opponents, and was disappointed by the lack of coverage of the event.

Were their no bloggers at the event? I have downloaded the video, and will chop it up for the most interesting parts for later.

~PRESS RELEASE~

For many the Hendersonville Republican Men's Club is the epicenter of Republican politics in the 11th District. True to tradition, the club has invited Congressional candidate Carl Mumpower for a Wednesday meeting that has the makings of a show down between a strong-minded group of party leaders and a "maverick" politician with a mind of his own.

"Yes, I am in a struggle of wills with my party's power structure," said Mumpower. "My readiness to violate Reagan's 11th commandment about not saying anything bad about fellow Republicans has upset former supporters." "I have been clear that if our party will not hold itself and our elected officials accountable to our guiding principles, then I will. It is nonsense to waste time throwing criticism at the Democrat's lawn while ignoring the weeds in our own. We mock Reagan and our founding fathers by trying to fight today's challenges with our own version of political correctness. I have faith that good hearts will win in the end, and 11th District Republicans will bond around our core values."

Nationally, many political observers indicate the Republican Party is in trouble. The May election saw the party lose key seats in historically conservative districts - pointing to 2008 as a potentially difficult year for Republicans.

"I am a Republican through and through and believe my party's principles represent the best hope for America and my grandchildren," said Mumpower. "If necessary, I am willing to anger every fellow Republican in the 11th District to reunite my party with our principles."

"It comes down to keeping government in check, protecting our people and heritage, and looking out for the average person's values and dollars," stressed Mumpower. "This was the promise we made to the American people years ago and we betrayed that mission." "We have earned the resulting mistrust, and if necessary I will fight with the devil himself to steer my party back to our mission. When that job is done I will concentrate on my next fight as the GOP nominee - with Heath Shuler."

Carl Mumpower
11th District Republican Congressional Candidate

Principles before party, power, or popularity - always.

###

Candidate Website

Commentary

Carl Mumpower is scheduled to be speaking before the Henderson County GOP as I post this...I hope that someone is there recording it for posterity. I can't be there because I run a carpool that arrives at WCU at 7.30 am.

~PRESS RELEASE~
FROM: The Committee To Elect Paul Purdue
DATE: June 21, 2008

Background: Bruce Goforth, on the House Committee on Education, has the opportunity to keep illegals from stealing spots in college which should be reserved for rightful citizens.

The House Standing Committee On Education Membership Roster

Paul Purdue, Candidate for NC House 115, is opposed to NC House bill 2717 and recently commented:

"Illegal aliens should not receive access to NC Community Colleges or public universities. Because college is a selection process, for every illegal alien allowed into our colleges, one North Carolina citizen student or American student will not get to go to college. Our NC Community Colleges are in place to help citizens of North Carolina get a better education and job skills, not to train illegal aliens to take jobs from North Carolina citizens."

"If this Bill gets though Bruce Goforth's committee, it demonstrates he is in favor of illegal aliens taking a rightful place from a North Carolina citizen!"

On the subject of immigration enforcement, Paul Purdue, a new American citizen states:

"As an adjunct to enforce existing immigration laws, I am in favor of requiring companies doing business with the State of North Carolina to use the federal government's E-Verify system to make sure businesses are only hiring legal U.S. residents."

It is time to tell Goforth to go home. Elect Paul Purdue. He'll DO what's right!

- The Committee To Elect Paul Purdue - NC State House District 115.

-30-

Paul Perdue Campaign Website

Ron Paul Delegates - 2008 NC Republican State Convention from ahedgehog on Vimeo.

Here is a video made by Ron Paul Supporters in the Ron Paul hospitality suite at the North Carolina GOP Convention a couple of weekends ago. I think it is important for normal Republicans to watch and listen to these people.

If they are willing to act like grownups, they might be able to help strengthen the conservative wing of the party. As far as their antiwar views...that is Dead On Arrival, and they should realize that from the start.

Oh, and since I am already on Signals Intelligence, there is a Live Thread from the North Carolina Democratic Party Convention on Blue NC, with links to other bloggers covering the event.

For those who have signed up and paid, I will be issuing a private intel report on the message board later today.

According to Ed Cone, the AP vs Bloggers dustup has quieted down some.

I have a proposal for combating the AP that does not involve thousands of bloggers all posting excerpts of AP stories. Instead, what we should do is not post AP content, nor link to any AP content in whatever paper it appears in to deny them links that will drive up their Google Page Rank score.

When we see an AP story we wish to share, why don't we just use our favorite search engine to find other non-AP sources for the story, and run with those?

And while we are at it, why not give preference to bloggers covering stories, especially if they are covering it first-hand? The AP is in the business of repackaging news stories to sell to papers at Highway Robbery rates...so we can contribute to lessening the value of the AP brand. If papers become aware that we will not be linking to AP content, nor using the "share" buttons to tell our friends to check out an AP Story on their website...and suery advertisers will as well, then we can fight back at AP, and hit them where it hurts, their wallet.

We could use bloggers as our own wire service. Once something like this gets going, certain bloggers can be counted upon to cover local events...and we can begin to completely ignore the AP altogether...and perhaps even the local papers.

That is what I feel is behind this whole drama...the growing power and influence of bloggers who are giving news consumers better news than the AP can, and the papers (on certain subjects).

Oh, and those of you out here who read blogs, but don't have one of your own...you can help us in this fight as well. Tell your friends about the blogs you like (or hate), and use the links on most bologs to share our stuff with your friends. And, if you can contribute stories...most bloggers would welcome an on-the-spot report of local news. I know I would.

There is a reason I call Newspapers, TV, and Radio the Legacy Media...they are just like legacy satellite equipment...just barely able to keep up with the news...and ready to be replaced with something better, something new.

Over at the Civitas Institute, they've had their noses to the grindstone, and have produced for us a summary of the North Carolina 2008 budget. Check it out.

The progressive nutroots at Blue NC will be live-blogging with Dr. John Koza, the founder of National Popular Vote and Matt Goss (lefty blogger) using a service called "Cover It Live" at Blue NC [try here]. I'll be taking notes. If the link is wrong, I'll fix it once the event starts.

Cover It Live is a pretty good service, and I have an account there just in case I need to use it when I am covering a live event. It would be a good way for people to communicate with me, and to ask questions during my live shows.

The problem I have with the Popular Vote is that it would steal North Carolina's Electoral Votes and give them to the big cities in the United States. We need to be educating the voters on the intent of The Founding fathers when they established the Electoral College as a way of balancing the power of the few big states against the many smaller ones.

It is an end-run around the U.S. Constitution, and like all progressives...it is just another step in their destruction of our Republic.

Press Release from Committee to Elect Paul Purdue:

Background: The state now it seems wants a .6% commission on every home sale in this state. This will devastate the average homeowner, the retiring homeowner, families forced to relocate, and many others.

When asked about this attempt to override the voter's desires Candidate for NC State House Paul Purdue commented, "This should come as no surprise to those of us following the daily antics of our elected representatives. Usually a person would get the message when the voter's reject a transfer tax in so many counties, yet, here we are again facing another vote on an even HIGHER tax. 75% to 92% opposition across the board is very clear. The public rejects this tax. It must go. I just don't know WHAT they are thinking in Raleigh but it is obviously time for a change."

Representative Bruce Goforth (D-Buncombe) joined forces with Speaker Hackney (D-Orange) last Thursday to force rejection of a proposal to eliminate the property transfer tax. He has completely ignored the voting results in 20 counties in the past year! All the counties already rejected a .4% tax by an overwhelming margin in November 2007 and again this past spring 2008. In fact, most counties rejected the property transfer tax with votes against of over 75%, and some as high as 92% opposed.

During the roll call vote to suspend the rules so repeal of the land transfer tax could move forward, only five Democrats in the entire State House voted with the Republicans to eliminate the tax from the budget through consideration of the Stam amendment.

This clearly demonstrates that Rep. Goforth intends to raise taxes continuously, even when faced with clear and solid voter opposition.

It is time for Goforth to go home. Elect Paul Purdue. He'll LISTEN to you!

- The Committee To Elect Paul Purdue - NC State House District 115.

-30-

Candidate Website

Wanna know what your state legislature is doing?

For years, the General Assembly has had links to audio streaming of both houses that suffered from quality, and if you missed something, that was it, there were no second chances to hear the audio.

Now, there is Voter Radio. Voter Radio has a player [launch player] that will play audio from past sessions (fixed schedule), and with other programming 24 hours a day.

They also have podcasts of each day's sessions available to download!

According tho the website, Voter Radio is a project of the N.C. Center for Voter Education.

Here is the Press Release that announced the start of Voter Radio:

RALEIGH – The nonpartisan N.C. Center for Voter Education has launched VoterRadio.com, an online radio station covering politics and elections in North Carolina.

With state lawmakers at work in Raleigh, VoterRadio.com offers live broadcasts and rebroadcasts of daily sessions in both the N.C. Senate and N.C. House. Each session can also be heard on-demand at VoterRadio.com, where visitors can also download podcasts of daily sessions.

Other programming on VoterRadio.com includes “Judge for Yourself: Election 2008,” a series of in-depth, one-on-one interviews with statewide candidates. With a runoff election for state labor commissioner approaching on June 24, voters can learn about the two contenders, John Brooks and Mary Donnan, by tuning in to VoterRadio.com’s live stream or by listening on-demand at VoterRadio.com/judge.

VoterRadio.com produces “The Voter Update,” a weekly newsmagazine covering Tar Heel politics. This week’s episode features an interview with N.C. House Minority Leader Paul Stam (R-Wake) and a look at Chapel Hill’s new Voter-Owned Elections program with Chase Foster from N.C. Voters for Clean Elections.

VoterRadio.com also covers special events and speakers of importance to North Carolina voters, including the Sunshine Day Conference at Elon University this spring.

“From airing live audio of state legislative sessions, to offering in-depth interviews with statewide candidates, the goal of VoterRadio.com is to empower North Carolina voters with facts about their government and the candidates courting their support,” said John Thompson, executive director of the N.C. Center for Voter Education.

In addition to being available at www.VoterRadio.com, programming from VoterRadio.com can also be heard 24-hours daily on iTunes Radio under the “Talk/Spoken Word” category.

The N.C. Center for Voter Education is a Raleigh-based nonprofit and nonpartisan organization dedicated to improving elections in North Carolina.

###

Online: http://www.VoterRadio.com

I'm sure you've already heard the details of Shawn Blanton's murder at the hands of Edwardo Wong.

I covered it here and here.

You can help Shawn's wife and 18 day-old son (born 7 weeks premature) by sending any amount of money (even 10 or 20 dollars) to the following locations:

SECU (State Employees Credit Union)

c/o Michaela Nicole Blanton FBO Brendan Tye Blanton

PO Box 97

Waynesville, NC 28786

Call the SECU at 1-828-452-3570 for more and ask for Allison.

Also, Contributions to the Michaela Nicole Blanton FBO Brendan Tye Blanton fund can be made at any North Carolina State Employees Credit Union branch. Money will go to the wife and baby of Trooper David Shawn Blanton Jr.

The local Mountain Federal Credit Union branches are also taking donations to the Trooper David Blanton Memorial Fund as follows:

• Asheville: 219 Haywood St., 252-8234.

• Cherokee: 375 Sequoyah Trail, 497-6211.

• Fletcher: 5010 Hendersonville Road, 684-9999.

• Franklin: 746 East Main St., 524-4464.

• Sylva: 30 Highway 107, 586-0425.

• Waynesville: 721 North Main St., 452-2216.

Remember the family in prayer, and remember that every time a Law Enforcement Officer pulls someone over, they are putting their lives on the line for your safety.
And if you happen to get pulled over, do as I always do: Be respectful and comply fully with their instructions. Don't be a jerk and give them any lip.

A diverse group of concerned citizens who represent the 80% of North Carolinians, which want the NC Legislature to take action to curtail illegal immigration in 2008, will gather for a rally and citizens lobby day in Raleigh on June 18, 2008

The rally will be from 11am-1pm on the Bicentennial Mall, which is across Jones St. from the main entrance of the NC Legislature. Supporters are also encouraged to join us, on the 1st floor inside the legislative building from 8am-5pm, to distribute materials and lobby NC lawmakers against HB 2717 that would allow illegal aliens in NC Colleges, while supporting measures to protect American jobs, tax resources, and lives threatened by illegal immigration.

These events will be at the NC Legislature at 16 West Jones St., Raleigh, NC
Click here for map.


Source: Troy LaPalnte

You can listen to coverage of the Rally at Blog Talk Radio, or by pressing the play button on the radio player below at 11am (A microphone icon will appear and flash when the show is live).


You can also join the chat room if Troy opens it during the show. He may not, since he will have his hands full keeping up with events.

North Carolina News Roundup

Asheville Citizen-Times|| Highway Patrol trooper shot near Canton, NC



|Ruminations From The Distant Hills| What's In a Name?



|Carolina Journal| Special-Needs Tax Credits Could Save Millions

Newspapers

|Greensboro News-Record| Hagan, Dole put focus on illegals


|Wilmington Star-News| Immigration irrationality



|Smoky Mountain News| Commissioner’s closed session taping challenged



|The Mountaineer| Pride training help emergency workers cope with tragedy


|McDowell News| Marion police charge two juveniles in liquor sign vandalism

Blogs to the Right

|The Wild West| Buffoonery Speaks Loudly


|Piedmont Publius| Who is Linda Brady?


|Crime in Charlotte, NC| Recent Arrests in Charlotte, NC


|Punditry| awrence Velvel’s Bad Case of Bush Derangement Syndrome


|Sister Toldjah| Gore’s “green” home uses more energy now than it did before


|John in Carolina| Bush made the world a safer place


|Longstreet| A World Afloat on an Ocean of Oil ... by Alan Caruba

Blogs to the Left

|Mountain Xpress| Parkside will still need city, county approval for permits


|Petulant Rumblings| Read These Now Because Boobies Need Air


|Where's The Outrage?| The Errington Thompson Show 6-14-08


|Dancewater| June is Torture Awareness Month


|Scrutiny Hooligans| Parkside: Holly Jones Weighs In


|WNC Peace Coalition| Lefty Events Calender

Joel Burgess recounts the votes in the latest Asheville City Council meeting in the Asheville Citizen-Times.

**update** 9.11am
And for a more in-depth report, read Leslee Kulba's record of the meeting.

There will be a rally tomorrow, Wednesday, June 18th, in Raleigh, NC.

If you cannot attend, you can listen to live coverage of it here or on Troy LaPlante's Blog Talk Radio Page.

From Troy's blog:

Join Immigration Enforcement Groups for Historic Rally in Raleigh on June 18

A diverse group of concerned citizens who represent the 80% of North Carolinians, which want the NC Legislature to take action to curtail illegal immigration in 2008, will gather for a rally and citizens lobby day in Raleigh on June 18, 2008

The rally will be from 11am-1pm on the Bicentennial Mall, which is across Jones St. from the main entrance of the NC Legislature. Supporters are also encouraged to join us, on the 1st floor inside the legislative building from 8am-5pm, to distribute materials and lobby NC lawmakers against HB 2717 that would allow illegal aliens in NC Colleges, while supporting measures to protect American jobs, tax resources, and lives threatened by illegal immigration.

These events will be at the NC Legislature at 16 West Jones St., Raleigh, NC Click here for map.
http://tinyurl.com/6bwl4a

Source: Troy LaPlante

Commentary

I am excited that others in North Carolina are waking up to the possibilities of covering events live. We can bypass the Legacy Media outlets of TV, Radio, and Newsprint and go directly to the people. I will be embedding the audio player on my blog, and if you have a blog of your own, I suggest that you domit as well to maximize the coverage and reporting of this event.

Macon County GOP's regular monthly meeting will begin at 6 p.m. (dinner/dutch), 7 p.m. meeting, at The Boiler Room at 1024 Georgia Rd., in Franklin. The meeting is open to all Republicans. For more information, call Gary Dills at 347-6275.

Portions of the opening ceremonies and performances by The Carolines and The John Mohr Macintosh Pipes & Drums band.

Here is my first Slide Show of the A Taste of Scotland festival in Franklin over the weekend. It is the first of three.



My laptop crashed and I lost everything on it, so I will be later than I thought posting images and video from the festival.

I attended the 12th Annual A Taste of Scotland Festival in downtown Franklin today, and it was a blast.

I took a ton of photos and and a lot of video. This is the 2008 Parade of Tartans:



I will be posting them here as I edit them. I may put together an hour program for Blip.tv by midday Tuesday.

Richard Bernier of URTV's Sound Off Buncombe has delivered yet again!

He was at last week's NCGOP Convention in Greensboro, and here is an hour-long video he edited together:

We need more people like him. He does a stellar job!

~PRESS RELEASE~

The Supreme Court has handed the Bush Administration a third rebuke on the President's efforts to hold terror detainees outside the protections of U.S. law. The ruling opens the door for suspected terrorists to seek release through federal courts.

11th District Republican Congressional candidate Carl Mumpower questioned the provision of Constitutional protections for non-citizens, but applauded the court's call for action. "Holding people, even bad people, for indefinite periods of time without charges and trials is against everything that is America," said Mumpower. "I'll leave the Constitutional arguments to the scholars, but America is not about putting people in detention for 5 years without judicial consideration of guilt or innocence."

"Had the Bush Administration implemented a proper and timely judicial process, it is doubtful we would be in this place," said Mumpower. "The Nuremburg trials of 1945 offer a model that has firm application for today's reality." "That proceeding supported the rule of law with fair and swift justice that has withstood the eyes of time."

"We all understand that many of these detainees are dangerous men and appreciate the President's efforts to protect us," noted Mumpower. "There are also dangers in indifference to the core principles that make us who we are as a country."

"Guantanamo's reality is an embarrassment to America," said Mumpower. "Anyone brought there should be tried on a timely basis and sentenced or let go based on the evidence in hand." "We can kill them if they return, but we should not kill America's belief in the fair application of justice. We applied these principles to the leaders of Germany responsible for the deaths of over 50 million people. Nothing in our values has changed since that time and we need to work hard to keep it that way. Otherwise the terrorists in jail end up doing us more harm than the ones freely roaming the world."

Carl Mumpower
11th District Republican Congressional Candidate

Principles before party, power, or popularity-always.

Carl Mumpower Website

###

For my commentary on the decision, see this post.

Many of us champion the slogan ‘children first,' and this bill tends to put action where we've had really just slogans. Children of special needs really, sincerely need our help. - Rep. Marvin Lucas

June 12,2008

NC GENERAL ASSEMBLY NEWS -- On June 10, during a press conference at the State Legislative Building, sponsors ofHouse Bill 388 "Tax Credits for Children with Special Needs," felt compelled to move forward with the proposed legislation. Both State House and Senate members perceived a recent special needs education poll taken in North Carolina as a sign of support by the people for the bill's passage. The poll, conducted by Public Policy Polling and commissioned by Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina, indicates 82 percent of parents with school-aged children are in support of scholarships for special needs children. House Bill 388 if passed will allow parents of children with special needs to claim a tax credit for sending their children to a public or nonpublic school where tuition is charged.

House Bill 388 Sponsors who attended the press conference:

• Senator Malcolm Graham (Dem)


• Senator Edward Goodall (Rep)


• House Minority Leader Paul Stam (Rep) Primary


• Representative Marvin Lucas (Dem) Primary


• 
  Representative Laura Wiley (Rep) Primary

House Representative Marvin Lucas said, "Many of us champion the slogan ‘children first,' and this bill tends to put action where we've had really just slogans. Children of special needs really, sincerely need our help."

The proposed bill would provide a refundable tax credit, allowing any qualifying family of a special needs child to obtain up to $6,000 per year, regardless of income, for tuition costs.
Estimates by Fiscal Research show a tax credit would cost the state about $3 million, but save the counties approximately $6 million each year. It is estimated that approximately 3,000 eligible students would be provided with alternative education.

Senator Malcolm Graham said, "In the 21st
Century, I think we all agree with the adage that one size does not fit all. Certainly that has to be true when it comes to the education of some of our neediest children."

According to the poll, 80 percent of North Carolinians polled (regardless of race, gender and party line) are in favor of a bill allowing tuition tax credits for parents of special needs children to attend a nonpublic school of their choice.

President of Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina, Darrell Allison said, "Now we know where North Carolinians stand on the idea of providing educational tax credits for parents of special needs children – they overwhelmingly support it. We are encouraged not only by the public support but also by the bipartisan legislative effort underway as a response. Who could disagree with providing more options for families whose children face some of the greatest educational challenges?"

Leslie Petruk, the mother of a special needs child, recounted her story of the difficulties she faces to get her child appropriate education. Petruk said "Our child is already at a great disadvantage due to his disability and the learning challenges that come along with it. We know our child better than any educator or professional and should have the option to place him in a setting that we know would provide academic and social environment where he will be able to meet his full potential."

The Special Needs Education poll taken by Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina (PEFNC), is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization, dedicated to finding ways to effectively better our educational system for all children in North Carolina. PEFNC supports all programs that provide parents and children with greater educational options. What is more, PEFNC builds awareness of the need for even more educational options in North Carolina. This includes the ability for families in North Carolina to educate their child privately through a tax credit or equal opportunity scholarship
programs. For more information, please visit www.pefnc.org

House Bill 388 "Tax Credits for Children with Special Needs," will soon be presented for its second reading. This magnanimous bill needs more NC citizens to show their support. Therefore, call your district's representative and acknowledge your support of this proposed legislation.

Published by:
Rob Cross
mailto:editor@357news.com

# # #

Richard Bernier od URTV's Sound Off Buncombe attended the NCGOP Convention, and recorded some of the proceedings.

Here is the indomitable Congressman from the 10th District of North Carolina, Patrick McHenry:

I haven't been posting these as regular as I should have been:

~PRESS RELEASE~

According to many national issue surveys, the state of the economy is the number one concern for most Americans. The Club for Growth, a national policy body with a primary focus on economic growth issues, tracks the pro-economic growth votes of leaders in the House and Senate. Per their calculations, 11th district Congressman Heath Shuler votes against economic growth 98% of the time - a record more anti-growth than that of his liberal colleagues in Congress - John Murtha, Charles Rangel and Dennis Kucinich.



The organization uses the following pro-economic policy goals to assess leadership standing-

· Making the Bush tax cuts permanent
· Death tax repeal
· Cutting and limiting government spending
· Social Security reform /personal accounts
· Expanding free trade
· Legal reform to end abusive lawsuits
· Replacing the current tax code
· School choice
· Regulatory reform and deregulation

John Murtha scored 5%, Rangel 12%, and Kucinich 6% while Shuler scored 2% on the pro economic growth screen. In contrast, North Carolina Republicans Sue Myrick, Patrick McHenry, and Virginia Foxx scored 89-90% on the same criteria.

Shuler's Republican opponent in the 11th District race, Carl Mumpower, points to the score as an objective measurement of the Congressman's true political leanings. "As politicians we are defined by our voting record, not by what we call ourselves," said Mumpower. "Mr. Shuler may have a few conservative positions, but that does not make him a conservative anymore than a bank robber taking off Sunday can be called a preacher." "Most people in WNC are concerned about the direction of our economy, and these folks at the Club for Growth are too. That's why they are shining light on actual voting records over common perceptions. Mr. Shuler is not a conservative and with those percentages his independence and concern for the economy also merit challenge."

Carl Mumpower
11th District Republican Congressional Candidate

Principles before party, power, or popularity-always.


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Mumpower Campaign Website

Last week, local representatives of the conservative grassroots Freedom Works visited Dr, Carl Mumpower.


Previously:

Freedom Works Visits Congressman Shuler's Office

And so it begins...

North Carolina's newspapers have pretty good legal protection.

Thanks to the efforts of the N.C. Press Association, our inestimable attorneys and the willingness of a few big papers and TV stations to bankroll legal fights, our state has few bad precedents in state courts for the kinds of judgements that make journalism difficult.

Blogging could change all that. As the saying goes, everyone's a journalist now, but not everyone has the same financial and institutional backing as a daily newspaper reporter.

That could hurt bloggers who get sued, but it could also hurt everyone else who wants to be a journalist (including Dome). A single poorly fought lawsuit can result in a judgement that is wielded against everyone else and eventually becomes precedent.

What should bloggers do about this? Dome recommends they get familiar with this information, which provides some instruction on the state's case law. But more could be done.

This crap comes from Under The Dome under the guise of worrying about us poor little bloggers, and with the intent of reigning us in because "we won't play by their rules". I seem to remember that these are the same people who willfully ignored the scandals of Jim Black and other notables in Raleigh, have refused to report on unlawful activity of other lawmakers, including the Governor.

No thanks. If I screw up, I will be sued. Heck, I'll probably end up getting sued even if I don't screw up.

As I commented on Red Clay Citizen, you'd be better off in the end suing a Cave Troll than suing me.

I will under no circumstance join in a collective that includes whiny progressive-marxists, and giving them an ounce of say on what I can post to any of my blogs. That includes the majority of journalists in this state who are borderline marxists.

Next thing you know, these idiots will be trying to stop women from gossiping over the backyard fence because they are worried about potential competition.

I will be posting audio all day long of radio reports issued on June 6, 1944 in tribute to those men who stormed Fortress Europe, and liberated a continent.

May we never forget them, and may we never lack for such men.

Richard Bernier, of URTV's Sound Off Buncombe, has released a Carl Mumpower tribute video, and here it is:


Independent Republican & True Conservative, Carl Mumpower from richard bernier on Vimeo.