Democrats, Meet Your Biggest Nightmare

American Thinker ^ | February 09, 2010 | Carol Peracchio

[neverdem]

My husband's cousin Paulette called me the morning of January 20 from Massachusetts. Breathless with excitement, her words tumbling out so fast I could barely keep up, she recounted the joy of Scott Brown's win in the special election to the U.S. Senate.

Paulette is 66 years old. She and her husband are retired. She has an active social life which includes lots of friends and competitive amateur tennis. She babysits her granddaughter and checks on her 92-year-old father in Florida every day. She told me she'd never been politically active, "except for voting, of course."

But all that changed after Barack Obama's election. Paulette started watching FOX News and listening to Rush Limbaugh. Health care reform, with its 500-billion-dollar Medicare cuts, scared her out of her wits. When she learned I write articles for AT, mostly about health care, she started calling me periodically last summer. We'd commiserate on how discouraging it was that no one in Washington is listening, or even seems to care. Paulette, like so many of us, felt frustrated and helpless.

Then Senator Kennedy passed away, and a political activist was born.

Paulette described her first meeting with Scott Brown. A friend called one morning in late November to tell her that State Senator Brown was coming to town that day to open a campaign office.

"I barely had time to throw on clothes. I didn't care how I looked," she told me. She rushed over to the office and signed up that day to work. "I told Scott Brown that we are going to win this." I asked her how she could be so certain back in November, when absolutely no one out here believed Brown had a chance.

"I knew we would win because I lived there. I talk to lots of people. I knew how we all felt about what Obama and the Democrats were doing."

Then she added, "I just couldn't take any more."

So Paulette went to work. She staffed the office several days per week, answering phones and handing out signs and literature. She knocked on doors all over her neighborhood. She visited shut-ins and helped them request absentee ballots. She helped organize volunteers to drive voters to the polls. Just before Christmas, she called to give me another update. She was off to follow up on some of those absentee ballots. "There's a family down the street that has four. I need to make sure they got mailed."

Every day when Paulette would drive to the elementary school to pick up her granddaughter, she would stand next to her car and wave her "Scott Brown for U.S. Senate" sign at the passing traffic. "I get a few thumbs down," she reported, "but most people honk their horns and smile."

When Paulette called me the Friday before the election, she hadn't a scintilla of doubt that Brown would win. "We're going to do it, Carol!" she exclaimed. "We're going to stop Obama!" The polls reflected her optimism. But on the political shows over the weekend, conservatives appeared afraid to be hopeful. More than once I heard it expressed that a Brown win was a long shot. They consoled themselves by saying that even if he lost by a narrow margin, that would be a victory in blue, blue Massachusetts.

A loss for Brown wouldn't be a victory for Paulette, however. To Paulette, victory meant Scott Brown would be senator.

Conservative internet forums were just as pessimistic as the TV pundits. Over and over I read comments gloomily describing how Brown would have to win by double digits to overcome the inevitable ACORN and union fraud. I asked Paulette about it. She laughed it off. "We're going to win," she repeated.

So on Tuesday night, as Martha Coakley conceded hours, if not days, earlier than the conventional wisdom predicted, I had the feeling that Paulette was the only person who wasn't surprised. The next morning, I could do nothing but offer my deep gratitude to Paulette and the others in Massachusetts who "just couldn't take any more."

Scott Brown deserves credit, of course, for fighting an amazing campaign. But I think it's the Paulettes in Massachusetts who have the most to teach us. Such as:

1. There are a lot of voters out there who agree with us. Poll after poll shows that conservatives make up the largest voting bloc in America. It's high time we conservatives actually believed it.

2. There is no substitute, absolutely none, for personal, grassroots involvement in campaigns. Too many of us want to just "mail in" our support. That way, none of our neighbors will know that we are actually (gasp!) conservative. Go back and reread #1. There's a good chance your neighbors are conservatives, too.

3. Democrat and ACORN fraud cannot overcome a tidal wave of conservative and like-minded independent voters, even in liberal Massachusetts and New Jersey. For far too long we have accepted the inevitability of losing because of Democrat voter fraud. Then we just throw in the towel and don't even try to defeat the entrenched liberals. I'm certainly not saying fraud doesn't exist and that we don't need to be diligent in our efforts to combat it. But ACORN is no match for energized, intelligent, informed conservatives.

4. We have to get involved early. Signing up to make telephone calls the last weekend of a campaign, while better than nothing, isn't good enough. It was almost sad to see busloads of SEIU members rolling into Boston for President Obama's speech two days before the election. Outside of giving the media a thrill and depressing Beltway conservatives, the whole effort was a waste of time. Primaries(pdf) for this year's congressional elections are starting now.

The time for conservative involvement is yesterday. Brown's win taught us that no seat is 100% safe. (My dream is to see that proved again in Barney Frank's district.) My own congressman is a blue dog Democrat who voted for cap-and-trade. I wonder if he has any idea what's in store for him this election year.

So here's to you, Paulette, and all your fellow patriots in Massachusetts. I can almost hear our Founders saying, "Ya done good!"

Carol Peracchio is a registered nurse.

[ExTexasRedhead]

PING

[Madame Dufarge]

You're so right, STARWISE.

Thanks to pt17 and all the Bay Staters who made The Surge such a resounding success!

[Liz]

THIS ABOUT SUMS IT UP:

FReeper incredulousjoe posted: The electorate is not rising up in opposition to any single issue, they are awakening to the "historic and unprecedented" corruption of the Democratic Party.

Congress critters are going to get their clocks cleaned in 2010. Biden's kid, Chris Dodd and Byron Dorgan have already folded, Reid, Lincoln, Bennet, Feingold and Specter are likely to be rejected by voters, possibly Boxer, too. Webb, Casey, McCaskill and Nelson will be swept out with Obama in 2012. Begich, Landrieu and Franken in 2014.

I'll entertain wagers that Curt Schilling will unseat Jean Francois Kerry in that same cycle. Watch for Hilary's resignation in November of this year.

If things go as predicted, could you imagine what Obama might say at the SOTU next year??

I actually think Obama will not be around in 2012; he will either have stepped aside, stepped down or been thrown under the bus by his own team. Obama is already a lame duck in the wake of Coakley-Brown.

Americans are fed up with this guy, and the Chicago toads, occupying our Oval Office.

[Liz]

Brown's win taught us that no seat is 100% safe. My dream is to see that proven again in Barney Frank's district.

BEST NEWS YET Bwaney Frank’s 4th congressional district went overwhelmingly for Scott Brown; just five of the 24 cities and towns voted for Coakley. Frank acknowledges that it may be a tougher race than he’s used to. “But, if I want to get re-elected it’s my job to talk about the issues and my record, and that’s the nature of democracy,” he said.........fierce competition or not, Frank said he will “definitely” seek re-election this November.

NOT HIS DECISION TO MAKE What this self-absorbed Lipless Wonder fails to fathom is that his constituients (including those townhallers he sneered at) will decide whether he is fit to run for reelection. Now Frank wants to talk about his "record?" Fine. Here it is.

Let The Inquisition Start With Barney Frank
Investor's Business Daily | 3/6/09
FR Posted on 03/08/2009 by FreeManN

Congressman Barney Frank says he wants some of those responsible for our current financial meltdown to be prosecuted. And we couldn't agree more. First up in the court dock: Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass.

Even by the extraordinarily loose standards of Congress, it takes some chutzpah for someone such as Frank to suggest that he'll seek prosecutions for those behind the housing and financial crunch and for what he called "a strongly empowered systemic risk regulator." Frank: Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac's point man in Washington.

For Frank, perhaps more than any single individual in private or public life, is responsible for both the housing market mess and subsequent bank disaster. And no, this isn't partisan hyperbole or historical exaggeration. But first, a little trip down memory lane. (Excerpt) Read more at ibdeditorial.com ...

======================================

THE WORM TURNS Barney Frank: The Poor Should Rent, Not Own (Dem admits disastrous mistake)
The Atlantic | 02/01/10 | Daniel Indiviglio /
FR Posted 02/02/2010 by TigerLikesRooster

In its final installment of the Big Think's "Went Went Wrong" Series on the financial crisis, they interviewed Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank (D-MA). Much of the interview was predictable: Frank mostly explained what anyone closely following the financial regulation push in Congress already knew. But there was one fascinating gem in discussing where Fannie and Freddie went wrong. Frank views ushering the poor to own homes as a mistake and believes they should rent instead.

Frank was responding to the question about how Fannie and Freddie could be structured to avoid moral hazard and a too cozy relationship with the regulators.

After stating that we should separate the liquidity creation function from the subsidy objective (which we already knew he supported), Frank said: "I think the answer is you separate out the function of providing the equity in general for the mortgage market and doing some subsidy and in my judgment, the subsidy again, as I said before, should be focused on affordable rental housing, not in pushing low income people into owning homes that they can't afford." (Excerpt) Read more at business.theatlantic.com ...

[Liz]

ARTICLE EXCERPT 1. There are lots of voters out there who agree with us. Poll after poll shows that conservatives are the largest voting bloc in America. 2. There is no substitute for personal, grassroots involvement. 3. Democrat and ACORN fraud cannot overcome a tidal wave of conservative and like-minded independent voters, even in liberal Mass and NJ. ACORN is no match for energized, intelligent, informed conservatives. 4. Get involved early. Making last minute telephone calls is better than nothing, but it isn't good enough.

ACTION MEMO

Under no circumstances should conservatives allow the GOP and/or the RNC to hijack the tea party and the grass roots movements that elected Scott Brown. REMEMBER: They don't use us to get elected----we use them to achieve conservative goals.

WE WILL HOLD CANDIDATES' FEET TO THE FIRE It's in our hands to dictate the terms by which we support candidates. Below are the terms under which conservatives permit candidates to earn our support:

(1) Your conservative group holds an official position within the campaign;

(2) Your group's issue is affirmed in the candidate's platform;

(3) Your group is in attendance at all campaign strategy meetings;

(4) Your group holds a paid job in the campaign;

(5) Your group holds a paid position in the winning candidate's elective office.

(6) The candidate must renounce RINOS and pukeneos before he/she gets conservative endorsement.

PASS THE WORD Contact tea partiers, 9/12 marchers, pro-lifers; defense of marriage, 2nd amendment, anti ObamaCare, anti-amnesty, anti-cap/trade conservatives.

====================================

HOW TO HANDLE THE RNC

When you receive an RNC fundraising call or letter, simply reply: " In lieu of a contribution to the RNC, a donation in your name has been sent to the Scott Brown Relection Committee, The Ntl RTL Committee, 2nd Amendment Committee," etc.

[Danae]

This is AWESOME!

Another way to change things is to get involved!

I got in touch with my local city administrators and inquired about becoming a commission member or some other committee in my hometown as positions opened up. Lo-n-behold I am now on one of those! I can make a difference in my hometown and become a leader that way.

We get caught up in how HUGE the nation is and how small we are individually. One person can change the dynamic of many. Be the one that changes the dynamic! At any level! It all adds up!

[ezfindit]

Great piece!

[egannacht]

MSNBCABCCBSCNNNYTIMESWASHINGTONPOSTREUTERS, Media Matters, Daily KOS, DU, etc said the Tea Bag movement is not a grass-roots, liberty loving, patriotic movement but a vapid, racist klan-inspired, birther revolutionary conspiracy seeking to take over the government.

During recent conversations with people that consider themselves liberals, I learned that they faithfully believe Marxism is the idea of the nation not capitalism. They all hate christianity, more than is rational. To them, governments grant rights and take rights away, so the part about God and inalienable rights makes them shutter with sudden hate. Swear they believe this. Dissuading them founding fathers were capitalists and marxism is unconstitutional is near impossible.

[Bigg Red]

Democrat and ACORN fraud cannot overcome a tidal wave of conservative and like-minded independent voters....

&&&
That to me is key. We must turn out the vote in huge numbers just to counter all of their fraudulent votes.

[neverdem]

(NC State Senator)Gun Control Advocate Shoots Intruder

New Episodes Of Scientists Behaving Badly

U.N. Climate Panel and Chief Face Credibility Siege

Climate makes money move in mysterious ways

Some noteworthy articles about politics, foreign or military affairs, IMHO, FReepmail me if you want on or off my list.

[campaignPete R-CT]

it seemed like 100,000 people were working on the campaign. They were doing it at home, just talking it up with their circle of contacts.

Paulette is a superstar!

[Vigilanteman]

Bwaney Frank’s 4th congressional district went overwhelmingly for Scott Brown . . .

So that was the reason he did the 180 on FannieMae and FreddieMac?

[Cicero]

When I read that headline and the opening, for a minute I thought the article would say that the Democrats’ biggest nightmare was Scott Brown.

No way.

But Paulette, and all of those other angry and motivated citizens, yes.

[metmom]

The youngest little mm is going to be voting age this year. I already have voter registration forms for her to fill out.

That’s now three new conservative voters making the total five just in the mm immediate family.

Whoo Hoo!!!

[metmom]

Ping

[metmom]

What it looks like is going to happen is that as usually happens when we get a rat controlled government for a couple years, is that it’s going to swing back to Republican, only to a degree that they’ve never seen before.

I sense and hope that it wouldn’t be just Republican, but conservative Republican.

[GOPJ]

Thanks for the ping.

[neverdem]

We must turn out the vote in huge numbers just to counter all of their fraudulent votes.

IIRC, they can't cheat if it's not close.

[GGpaX4DumpedTea]

“...leadership of the Stupid Party...”

Ya gotta be referring to the leadership of the Republican Party...

[Inspectorette]

What gets me is why we tolerate ACORN and union fraud. It's so openly blatant, and yet the Republicans do nothing about it. Christine Gregoire in Washington, Al Franken in Minnesota - so obviously stolen, yet nothing gets done.

It started in California when Loretta Sanchez stole the congressional seat from B-1 Bob Dornan. She got away with it, and it's been going on ever since. Why are the Republicans such abject cowards? Norm Coleman tried fighting it in Minnesota, and the RNC didn't lift a finger to help him.