TEA Parties Brew Results

Ever heard of the TEA Party? If you have been alive in the past two years you have.  TEA Parties across the nation are making a huge difference in American politics and for certain politics in Arkansas.

There are approximately 30 TEA Parties in our state. They range in size from hundreds of people to just a handful but regardless of size they are a force to be reckoned with because they are bursting with folks who have made conscious decisions to become informed and engaged.

The November elections in Arkansas were a clear demonstration of that force. Conservatives won 7 contested Senate and 16 House seats in the election. The Arkansas Republican Party now holds 45 State House seats, 15 Senate Seats, and 3 State Constitutional Offices. The largest freshman class since 1999 was sworn in on Monday fully demonstrating Arkansans want change.

The events of the first week of the Arkansas legislature were already riff with anticipation and enthusiasm. Unlike any other time in Arkansas politics this session is swarming with not just lobbyist, reporters and visitors but with citizens that are determined to make a change in politics as usual. I am sure the  whirly bird and chauffeured rides, huge spun yarns, and phone foolery  would have made it beyond the doors of the capitol but something significant happened, and hopefully will continue to.

Here is a facebook note from David Crow, Chairman of the Faulkner Co TEA Party:

We won!

by David Crow on Thursday, January 13, 2011 at 10:28pm

We want fewer taxes, less spending and smaller government....that is our Tea Party position and we did not back down! AR state senate Joint Budget Com. passed HB 1063 giving raises to Judges and Prosecuting Attor....we said no and in less than 24 hours the House reversed itself and is now removing the raises from the original bill! How did it happen? One person attended the committee mtg and witnessed the vote...challenged the Faulkner Co Tea Party and others across the state to make calls to their reps, and the COL increases are history! The power rest with the people if we use it! This is proof that together we will and are making a difference! There are many other bills our spend, spend and spend progressives liberals want to push through we must have a Tea Party rep in every committee meeting. Keep it up folks....together we can restore fiscal sanity and reduce the size of government!

As a result of the actions of attentive engaged voters, Arkansans were saved half-a-million dollars in just the first week; and legislators are once again reminded that times are a changin and they are accountable to the people.

Once again I strongly encourage you to get plugged in, help broaden the network of responsive individuals by informing your sphere of influence and making sure you have your elected officials contact information.

There will be plenty more comin down the pike, as of today there have been over 160 bills filed that our legislators will deal with over the next several months.

Together we are making a difference, you are needed~

So, Politics is just not your thing? ~ Part One

Growing up in the 80’s one of the mantra’s I’ve heard most of my life is:“Don’t discuss politics and religion.” in polite company.

(As an aside I found this “starter piece” on The Etiquette of Talking Politics, I don’t agree fully but she makes some excellent points, especially for newbies)

I always wondered why that was especially since those pretty much define the belief system of every living person on this spinning planet. Even if a person is an atheist and apolitical, those beliefs still define what they do and how they engage in everyday life. So in effect, what we have done is perpetuate the ignorance of millions of Americans, justifying why they don’t need to be informed and engaged citizens, in the name of politeness or more accurately political correctness.

Politics

Politics defined is the science and art of running a government. Most
of us, however, tend to think of politics as people who are
opportunistic or scheming. It is my belief that this is why most
Folks want nothing to do with it, perhaps for fear of being tarnished. So
why bother? Especially given today’s climate of partisanship and
vitriol, who needs the additional stress?

Well, I would contend that, by default, each and every one of us is

political by our very existence. Our homes are political, our jobs,
our churches even our friendships are political.
Think not? If you are married and you want to purchase something that perhaps your spouse wouldn’t be overly elated about do you think of how to frame the item so it seems more appealing? Have ever embellished a story to impress another? Ever told a friend that you were doing something else because you didn’t want to hurt their feelings? The examples of politics in everyday life are endless.

So why is it when it comes to what affects our lives on a daily
basis - with regard to the laws that regulate our lives and those of our children - do we shy away? It’s been said that people may think they can ignore politics, but politics will not ignore you. Taxes and regulations invade our lives whether we vote or not.

The laws that govern our cities, state and nation dictate things as
simple as where we live, what and where we drive, where our
children go to school, what they learn in school. Our churches are restricted by what they can say. There are laws awaiting approval as I type this that will determine what we eat, how much gas we can use, how much rain run-off we can have and even the size of our lawn mowers and even the types of light bulbs we use.

I’ve also heard it said that no answer is an answer in itself. I guess this is the stance of those who choose not to get involved in politics.

If this is your choice, my question is why? Do you not care about the future of your children (an ADOST (attention deficit Oh Shiney Thing) moment~ little Whitney just for fun), your community your faith? As you “stand idly by” and allow laws and regulations to be passed without your input? After all, your life is being altered and you are choosing to be a victim through your chosen inaction.

So if you are a political junkie like me, a teacher in the Bronx or just ahousewife in Minnesota you are needed by your community to get informed and engaged. I’ll repeat from posts of yonder days: If not you, who? If not now, when?

TEA Parties in Arkansas Strike Again

The TEA Parties in Arkansas have struck another blow for independence and freedom from endlessly increasing taxation! Last night in Saline County a resounding 75 percent of voters showed up and said NO! They voted down a $55 million dollar bond proposal and a one cent sales tax that would “sunset” once the bond was paid off. The bond would have been used for a new Fairplex site.

Members of the Benton TEA Party and engaged citizens rallied to get the word out about the special election for months. The Tolbert Report reported County Clerk Freddy Burton said “he could not remember a higher turnout for a special election in recent Saline County history.” A job well done on behalf of the people.

Through the tireless and dedicated labors of those willing to “get the message out”, the families in Saline County were saved a tax increase in perhaps the most financially stressed period in any of their lifetimes.

Citizens across Arkansas are now feeling the empowerment of what happens when voters become informed with the facts and engaged in their communities.

In recent months TEA Parties across our state have held tax increases at bay. In fall of 2009 Washington County TEA Party defeated a millage increase for an exorbitant high school. Earlier this year those in Searcy defeated an A & P Tax both of these elections had record voter turnouts. The Faulkner County and Northeast Arkansas TEA Parties are consistently engaged with their local officials in an effort to help representatives actually represent.

Lest you think Arkansans are not generating positive change please remember we still today remain a government of, by and for the people.

TOGETHER WE ARE WINNING~

American Apologetics

The answer to our dilemma really seems fairly simple, at least it does to me on its face. If we are going to make a real difference as conservative voices in this nation, a lot of us are going to have to change our approach and significantly elevate the level of conversations we have to include facts and reason.

More and more on facebook and other social media outlets, I see people who engage in heated emotional arguments sometimes degrading dialogue filled with name- calling, swearing and outright hostility.

Why all the animosity and smearing toward others? Why does anyone believe harsh language and deep resentments aimed at anyone else can change anything about the way they believe? Hasn’t anyone ever heard of the children’s story of the wind and the sun arguing about getting who could get the trench coat off the man first? The cold wind blows hard and the man only tightens his coat. The sun heats up just a bit and the man takes the coat off willingly. Lotsa truth in that folks.

I’ve observed that most people have loosely formed ideas of why they believe as they do. Yet what is it that causes anyone to believe - or disbelieve – anything in their life? Seems to me it all boils down to the way we’ve been taught by others since birth, blended with our personal experiences. In short, most of us are simply products of our surroundings, what we’ve been told, and the environments that continually envelope our lives. If we are told falsehoods, then chances are we will come to believe falsehoods, right?

The ole adage; birds of a feather flocking together, has proven itself true time and time again. As a parent this Truth has some very real personal meaning and potential consequences. If my teenage daughters were allowed to hang out with drug-addicted gang members what do you think the chances would be they would soon become drug users? And worse.

Many groups have realized this piece of reality and taken advantage of it. For instance, Moveon.org. since 1998 has been “reaching out” to people who like-mindedly consider themselves “disenfranchised,” offering to “help” and get them involved in the system so they can take advantage of all their rights.

Statistics show that liberal messaging beats conservative message by a whopping 85 to 15. Although I do believe we are gaining ground, I can’t help but
wonder what is our message?

Our message should be focused solely on: Limited government, fiscal responsibility and free markets related to our communities as opposed to national stories inflated to draw our attention away from where our true power and influence lie.

So how do we change the all-critical message? For once, GET THE FACTS on any issue or debate. If we are going to unite to keep our country free and filled with opportunity for all, there naturally will be work involved. We can’t only send continuous e-mails and post rantings and unformed opinions about the BP Oil spill on facebook, call President Obama a Marxist, and believe with any intellectual honesty that we are doing any real good and our work is done. I wish that preserving our precious Republic were that easy. Unfortunately, it’s not anywhere near what is needed.

Those of us, who truly believe our nation finds itself at a tipping point, will have to do pretty much the same things our Founders did. What say we agree to educate ourselves on historical FACTS. How, you might ask? We can begin by reading and understanding theConstitution (yep the whole thing), and the Declaration of Independence written a decade beforehand. Next, let’s all read and understand The 5000 Year Leap by W. Cleon Skousen; Why America is Great. Now we need to visit David Barton’s site at Wall Buildersfor a plethora of resources.

Then learn the names and biographies of our local representatives. Discover the pattern of their votes and how they relate to the issues facing our communities. Then let’s encourage others to come along side us, not by making our present situation about Barack Obama or Democrats or Republicans or those dratted incumbents, but rather about making our own community a more prosperous, community-minded place to live.

If you’d like to learn more about how to do this and how to utilize the social media to your best advantage contact us at American Majority. We will gladly come to your community and work alongside you toward our common goals of preserving American freedoms on every level.

Tales of Two "Servants"

Here in the 3rd District on June 8th we will join together once again to choose who we will to send to Washington from this region to represent our interests and to a larger degree, the state of Arkansas. The two candidates vying in a run-off are Cecile Bledsoe and Steve Womack, both of Rogers. In vetting each candidate, I discovered distinct differences. I hope my findings in fact will aid in your decision making process.

After several personal conversations with each candidates and researching of their records, here’s what I discovered.

When speaking with State Senator Bledsoe on issues where we disagreed, she listened to my views. She understood my position and even admitted that she had learned some lessons. She seemed sincerely interested in building relationships and bringing people to the table. She also even asked if I’d be willing to put her in contact with others who shared my concerns.

On the other hand in a conversation with Roger Mayor Steve Womack, hoping to clarify his position on taxes and his pet project of Adult Wellness Centers, he seemed to me to be unwilling to listen. He actually became defensive, at one point saying: "I don't hear you coming up with any answers"

In this same conversation which occurred a week before he agreed to sign the “Americans for Tax Reform Pledge” from ATR, Mayor Womack told me and another person that he would not sign the pledge because he felt that “taxes needed to be on the table.” It was the same statement he had made in a public forum not long before this conversation. So it seemed clear this was his position. But then, about a week later, he signed the pledge saying, it had been his intention “all along to sign it on April 15th." But that also was the day when Dick Morris called him on the carpet at a Tea Party rally on the Fayetteville square for being the only candidate of eight in the race not to have already signed the no tax pledge. You can decide for yourself, considering the timing of all this and his previous denials of the pledge, how sincere his explanation was.

Additionally, in our discussion when asked why private sector business was not included in his concept of these wellness centers he said he did not include them because in his view government: “needed to have full control, to do the best job"
In conclusion Mayor Womack said to me and my companion, “I am sure I will not get your vote but that is okay I am comfortable with the supporters I already have.” So much for constituent service.

These conversations for me, reveal two very different people with vastly different approaches to the job as a congressman. One was willing – even eager - to listen and ask for even more critiques, to take personal responsibility for her own actions and all without being publicly shamed. She also made a solemn pledge to Arkansans to not make the mistakes again.

The other appeared to be border-line hostile to questions, unwilling to hold an open and objective dialogue and clearly not genuinely committed to hold the line on increasing taxes even higher than they are.

I believe more than at any other juncture, we need and expect servant leaders not leaders who expect to be served. Arrogance in any public servant is not a pretty or endearing sight. I’ll be doing a follow-up posting on their records.

Just food for thought based in personal observations and experiences~

Masterson Predictions Arkansas Primary

These are just our predictions- nothing more, nothing less~

Senate
Lincoln Halter D.C. Morrison 10%...........runoff
Boozman - Holt runoff

Lt Gov
Darr wins

SOS
O’brien

Congress
1st Dist- Crawford squeaks by Smith
Have no idea on the Dem ticket
2nd Dist- Griffin wins
Elliot- Wills ...... runoff
3rd Dist-Womack and Moore in runoff

4th Dist- Gallas wins by small margin 51%


Supreme Court Seats
Baker wins....
Fogelman wins

Circuit Court Seats
Gary Carson wins…
Beth Bryan wins

The Morning After?

Well, here we are just a little over 24 hours from the results of tons of primaries across the nation as they close the polls and report the results.

Wonder what will happen to all the candidates that have been expounding around the nation on their credentials, patriotism and how hard they want to work for us once the primary vote is counted?

The way I understand it there’s only one “winner” per party, unless of course there’s a run-off election. That having been said there are around 30 candidates who will not be moving toward the November general election just from the U.S Senate and Congressional races in Arkansas alone. When we begin counting non-winners in the other races such as Supreme Court, Circuit Courts, Arkansas Representative seats, etc. we should be well over 100 concerned Arkansans that have said they recognize our many serious problems and have ideas for fixing them.

Taking this a step further to include all the staff and volunteers in each of these campaigns, folks who have been so intently focused on these important issues over the past few months I’d daresay we might be up to almost 1000 Arkansans.

On Wednesday, May 19^th I challenge all those who have been so passionately involved in wanting to set things straight within our systems by being a public servant to become a servant leader. Will you still be interested in helping make Arkansas and its citizens a better place with your time, money and energy even after the whoopla and excitement of a campaign has died?

I would say that with 1000 fully engaged, committed citizens, Arkansas is poised to make epic change to affect the nation!

Supreme Court Justice Race~

Here is more info I found on the Arkansas Supreme Court Justices

On May 18th Arkansans will be asked to elect two Judges to the Arkansas Supreme Court. While some would have you believe that the Supreme Court race is one based mostly on personalities and endorsements, it can be argued that if someone takes seriously their right to vote they would feel the need to dig a little deeper especially where Supreme Court Justices are concerned.

Position 3 ~Race between Circuit Court Judge John Fogleman and Arkansas Court of Appeals Judge Courtney Henry.

John Fogleman http://fogleman.edelta.net/

His website says: “He’s tried and heard thousands of cases” over the past nearly three decades. In all those cases the only blemish on Fogleman’s record is the controversial West Memphis Three case- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Memphis_3. The case revolved around the horrific murder of three boys and the life altering sentencing of three other young men. The Google hits on this case are astronomical. Emotions and conspiracy theories are abundant. A law library full of assertions have been made that Judge Fogleman “botched” the case but there has been NO proof of any wrong doing or judicial negligence on his part - in any way. In his 30 year career this is the only case I could find that was deemed “negative” or controversial.

Endorsing Forgleman are 3 former Supreme Court Justices, 19 former presidents of the Ark Bar Association and a former president of the American Bar Assn.

Courtney Hudson Henry http://www.henryforjustice.com/

As you can see, compared to her opponent, Henry has little experience as a Judge, but comes with a stack of endorsements. Supporters of Henry would include a politically diverse and influential group of people as former Republican Congressman John Paul Hammerschmidt to Democrats like Jimmie Lou Fisher and Senator Mary Anne Salmon and President Bill Clinton.

Position 6 : State Court of Appeals Judge Karen Baker, Pulaski County Circuit Court Judge Tim Fox and Little Rock lawyer Evelyn Moorehead.

Karen Baker:http://www.judgebaker.com/

Mrs. Baker has tried and presided over thousands of cases so there is plenty to examine. I found that her most controversial case involved SWEPCO. The powers that be want to make her ruling in this case about everything she says it is not, which is that SWEPCO simply did not follow the law. http://bit.ly/dkalDL

Tim Fox: http://timfoxforsupremecourt.com/wp/

Fox has also tried myriad cases and in researching his record I found several cases that gave me pause.

One of the most heated and controversial cases involves a well known attorney in Little Rock Sam Perroni http://bit.ly/dcOq3a . From what I was able to understand Mr. Perroni missed a court date in Judge Fox’s court because he had a federal court case the same day. Mr. Fox held Mr. Perroni in contempt and things only went downhill from there. My challenge with this is that Judge Fox appears to have made the issue personal, spending time and money to “prosecute” something that could just as easily have been a judicial “reprimand”.

Another one that is concerning- Robinson v. Villines http://bit.ly/axYm00 where Judge Fox retroactively applied an increase in the library millage rates for the 2007 tax year. The decision was appealed to the Arkansas Supreme Court and a unanimous decision was made that Judge Fox clearly erred, stipulating no statutory or constitutional authority to retroactively apply the millage-rate increase.

In this overturned cases Judge Fox certainly appears to have usurped the law to make his case. There are more cases where Judge Fox was overturned because of the supposed “un-constitutionality” of his findings.

Evelyn Moorehead http://evelynmoorehead.com/

Being that Ms. Moorehead is not a judge there is no case law to “vet” however there is a news article on her website if found quite interesting- http://bit.ly/aPnUrD

This admittedly limited information hopefully will inspire voters to carefully explore all the candidates for which they will be pulling the lever on May 18th~ GET OUT AND VOTE!

Questions for Tim Fox

I visited with Tim Fox a few weeks ago & asked these and a few more questions. For the most part Mr. Fox did not have answers. I would like others to have the benefit of my research so that they to may ask pertinent questions. Those chosen to sit on the Arkansas Supreme Court should be sound constitutionalist that will protect the citizens of Arkansas, comply with and fairly enforce the law.

**I am not a lawyer so there may be details I do not have or understand but suffice to say these questions were not answered

JUDGE TIM FOX

ARKANSAS SUPREME COURT, POSITION 6

STATEWIDE RACE

PRIMARY MAY 18, 2010

BIOGRAPHICAL BACKGROUND

LEGAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Juris Doctor, University of Arkansas School of Law, 1981

• Private Practice, 1981-1991

• Chief Assistant City Attorney, City of North Little Rock, 1991-1996

• Prosecutor, North Little Rock District Court, 1996-1999

• Private Practice, 1996-2002

• Circuit Court Judge, Sixth Judicial Circuit, 2003 – Present

• Master of Judicial Studies, University of Nevada at Reno and National Judicial College, 2007

• Certificate in Judicial Development, National Judicial College, 2007

• Faculty, National Judicial College

• President, William R. Overton American Inn of Court, 2009 – 2010

PERSONAL

• Married to Cathy Cothran Fox for 27 years

• Father of two children, Caitlin and Andrew

• Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church

• Former Board Chairperson, United Methodist Children’s Home

• Former Board President, Friends of Arkansas Educational Television Network

CONSTITUTION – TAXES

1. The first case is one where, as I understand it, the Supreme Court of the United States said you made a mistake interpreting the Constitution, and that your interpretation violated due process that resulted in the unconstitutional taking of property. Can you explain?

Jones v. Flowers, 547 U.S. 220, 126 S. Ct. 1708 (U.S.Ark.,2006).

In this tax case, a taxpayer brought suit in Arkansas state court for determination that the notice provided by the state in connection with the tax sale of his property was insufficient to satisfy constitutional requirements and resulted in the taking of his property without due process. Judge Fox, entered summary judgment (without a trial) in favor of defendants, and the taxpayer appealed. The Arkansas Supreme Court, 359 Ark. 443, 198 S.W.3d 520, affirmed, but the United States Supreme granted certiorari (that means that they agreed to look at the case).

The United States Supreme Court held that Judge Fox and the Arkansas Supreme Court were wrong saying: (1) when mailed notice of tax sale is returned unclaimed, state, as matter of due process, must take additional reasonable steps to attempt to provide notice to property owner before selling property, if it is practicable to do so; and(2) steps which state took after being alerted to fact that notice had not been delivered, in proceeding with sale after simply publishing notice in newspaper a few weeks prior thereto, without ever posting notice at address to which notice was sent or taking other measures reasonably available to alert taxpayer of sale, were insufficient to satisfy taxpayer's Fourteenth Amendment due process rights. They reversed and remanded.

2. Have you been reversed by the United States Supreme Court finding that your interpretation of a law or case violated the constitution?

3. Have you been reversed by the United States Supreme Court as a judge? As an attorney urging a particular position?

4. A few years later, the Arkansas Supreme Court, in another case involving taxes, said that you were wrong in retroactively applying a millage-rate increase regarding library taxes. As I understand it, they said you had retroactively applied the taxes even though there was no statutory or constitutional authority to do so. Can you explain that?

Robinson v. Villines, 2009 Ark. 632. (December 17, 2009).

In this case, Judge Fox retroactively applied an increase in the library millage rates for the 2007 tax year. Taxpayers challenged Judge Fox’s decision to make them pay a retroactively applied tax. Fortunately, the supreme court found that Judge Fox clearly erred and reversed the decision saying there was no statutory or constitutional authority to retroactively apply the millage-rate increase to 2007 library taxes after the special election. Every judge voting said that Judge Fox was wrong.

5. So explain why citizens, should trust you to interpret and apply the law regarding taxation in ways that are consistent with constitutional principles.

ELECTION/BALLOT ISSUES

6. In this next case, you refused to hear a voter’s challenge to Tim Hutchinson being placed on the ballot based upon Hutchinson’s failure to meet the residency requirements as set out in the Arkansas Constitution. When I read the section 7-5-207(b) statute, that the Arkansas Supreme Court relied upon when it said you were wrong, it seems clear that the statute specifically authorized a voter to challenge a candidate’s failure to meet the constitutionally required residency requirement. In fact, the statute was designed to make sure that voters could have a candidate removed from the ballot if the candidate was not qualified. Can you explain why you refused to hear the case?

Tumey v. Daniels, 359 Ark. 256, 196 S.W.3d 479 (2004).

A citizen and voter filed a complaint in a pre-election challenge to a candidate’s (Tim Hutchinson’s) failure to meet the residency requirement of Article 5, § 4 . The Arkansas Supreme Court reversed Judge Fox’s refusal to hear the case saying that he erred in dismissing the complaint based on certain provisions under section 7-5-801. That section is only available to a competing candidate who claims to be the rightful nominee or victor. The voter who was challenging Hutchinson’s name on the ballot was not a competing candidate and that section did not apply at all to a voter’s challenge. In addition, a voter’s challenge of a candidate on this constitutional issue is the type specifically authorized by section 7-5-207(b). They reversed Judge Fox’s dismissal of the complaint and remanded for a determination of the merits of the suit.

7. When you sent out an order that took the names of Ralph Nader and his vice-presidential candidate off of the ballots, the Arkansas Supreme Court reversed your decision and said that your interpretation of state law was unconstitutional. Actually, they went even further and said that your interpretation led to an absurd result. Again, why should we as citizens, trust your judgment when it comes to interpreting the Constitution?

Populist Party of Arkansas v. Chesterfield, 359 Ark. 58, 195 S.W.3d 354 (2004).

Quote from case:

Our own court has recognized that the right to become a candidate for public office is, under our form of government, a fundamental right, which should not be in any manner curtailed without good cause. Fisher v. Taylor, 210 Ark. 380, 196 S.W.2d 217 (1946). Any law or party rule, by which this inherent right of the citizen is diminished or impaired ought always to receive a liberal construction in favor of the citizen desiring to exercise the right. Id.

Statutes are not only presumed to be constitutional, but a court must construe a statute as constitutional if at all possible. Bunch v. State, 344 Ark. 730, 43 S.W.3d 132 (2001). As the Supreme Court has recognized, trial courts cannot impose a restriction that denies a group their right to associate or denies them access to the ballot unless narrowly tailored to meet a compelling state interest. Lubin v. Panish, 415 U.S. 709, 94 S. Ct. 1315, 39 L.Ed.2d 702 (1974).

Here, the manner in which the trial court's interpretation of Ark. Code Ann. § 7-8-302(5)(B) leads not only to an absurd result, but also renders the provision unconstitutional. This unconstitutional reading of the petitioning provision at issue infringes upon one of the fundamental civil liberties of our democracy, that of the secret ballot. Anderson, 664 F.2d 600. In sum, section Ark. Code Ann. § 7-8-302(5)(B) does not state that an electorate name “their” candidate for President or Vice President. The statute only requires that the signer of the petition state their desire that the named candidates appear on the ballot.

Populist Party of Arkansas v. Chesterfield, 359 Ark. 58, 66, 195 S.W.3d 354, 359 (2004).

Your website also says that you have a Master of Judicial Studies. I understand that the Judicial Studies Degree provides a formal academic setting in which trial judges or juvenile and family court judges can integrate technical studies of the judiciary with more academic ones in an effort to provide an intellectual assessment of the role of the American judiciary. But I did not see a statement on your page that describes your judicial philosophy. Can you explain your judicial philosophy to me?

Voting- Right and Responsibility

Friends-

Today is the last day to register to vote in the Arkansas Primary, May 18th. Here is what is at stake-

2 Arkansas Supreme Seats

1 US. Senate Seat

4 US Congressional Seats

To many to list Arkansas Representative seats

Myriad tax increases, ballot initiatives and referendums across the state

Please take the time to register today if you are not https://www.voterview.ar-nova.org/ TODAY!

Then make it a point to preview your ballot BEFORE you go to the polls. All county clerk offices will have ballots available for each precinct to view (some are even on line). Encourage others to do the same. Then get the message out!- Spread the word far and wide what appears on your ballot. Take the time to find out the facts of what is being asked of the voters-

For instance in Farmington, AR voters will be asked to pass a 1 cent sales tax to build a $2.4 million sports complex which the voters have already voted down. My belief is, if you consider yourself a TEA Party person or a conservative, voter integrity would insist you vote against tax increases, expansions of government and any candidate who has been a party to either, just sayin.

If you really want to make a difference, stand up for limited government, fiscal responsibility and free markets~ VOTE and vote with integrity!

If not now, when? If not you, who?

I heard it said recently that before a new congressional member gets
to Washington, they say: “It’s a swamp that needs to be drained.” But
once they get there many change their tune to: “Ahhh, it’s a comfy
hot tub.”

There is an answer to this sad situation. It’s to build a
conservative infrastructure from the local level up. And isn’t that
just what our Founding Fathers envisioned? Surely they didn’t have in
mind self-absorbed people who are groomed to suck the life energy out
of the nation for their own advancement and pleasures?

NO!-They intended that farmers, merchants, businessmen who felt
compelled to serve their nation be elected to serve. Those who would
go and represent the people of their communities, knowing full well
the status of those communities BECAUSE THEY LIVED THERE! Not in some
cushy flat in Washington or Virginia. They did not see men and
women, Manchurian candidates so to speak, being groomed then hoisted
to majestic, privileged status to lord over their subjects while now
and again pitching them a bone ( a new high school, ball park, or
national cemetery, aka: Stimulus pork tax money) to appease the
public’s moaning.

We must start within our specific spheres of influence: home, friends,
local community, putting into practice justice based on Golden Rule. I
think we can ALL agree, left, right, Republican, Democrat; we want
LIMITED GOVERNMENT. And that – above all else - should be the unified
voice of the TEA Party. Uniting, educating and taking action to that
end, and that end alone. All the other issues are irrelevant for now,
because without a limited government "we" will not be able to argue
the issues. They will be decided for us~

I encourage each person reading to start today educating yourself on
what is happening in your community government and public affairs. Our
Primary election in Arkansas is scheduled May 18th - in 50 days. Find
out what’s on your ballot. Who are the candidates and what initiatives
are proposed? Invest some time each day finding the answers to those
questions. Then engage and inform your family, friends and neighbors;
encourage them to do the same. Look into your local public meetings
such as city council, school board and quorum court, find out there
schedule. Then attend those meetings. Show your dedication and
determination through your actions. Again find others you know are
concerned and ask them to go with you or to alternate attendance with
them. Find a group of people and take turns going, then meet over
dinner or coffee to discuss and collaborate.
Then get the word out! Let others know what is going on!

If not today, when? If not you, then who?

All it takes for evil to prevail is for good men to sit idly by and watch

TEA Parites UNITE

This is one of several emails I have received from across the nation from people just like you and I who want to UNITE with others in defending our Country. Join with us.

Aloha Laurie,

I just wanted to say hi. I received your Arkansas Unite newsletter last night via email. Your newsletter and your website look GREAT! I was inspired and encouraged by seeing what you folks are doing over there. Our prayers are with your community and the families that lost loved ones in the recruiter shooting. That was a gross and blatant act of domestic terrorism that should be front page news everywhere. Not a blip over here but I found out via the tea party network.
Yesterday, I received a call out of the blue from a gal named Miki at the route66 tea party in Oklahoma. It was wonderful meeting her on the phone and hearing about their work.
Even though we patriots are spread across the country, the more we get to know each other at the grassroots level the better.
I’d like to add a link on our site at www.mauiteaparty.com to www.arkansasunite.com if that’s OK with you. Please add a Maui TEA Party link to your site if you feel it is appropriate.
Thank you for what you are doing for our nation. Many people may not see it yet, but it makes a big difference, even to us all the way out here in the middle of the Pacific.
Interestingly, while we are pretty far from the heartland of America, we are very much affected by Washington. For example, President Obama’s plan to cut missile defense systems is leaving me, my wife and our children here on Maui more vulnerable to a missile attack from North Korea. Our house is now or soon will be within range of the new North Korean missiles. The administration and congress are playing parlor games while North Korea is busily building nukes that could be landing in my yard. Some scoff at the idea of a missile attack on Hawaii. Most people at the time scoffed at the idea of a Japanese naval and air attack on Pearl Harbor.
This struggle is about survival of America as we know it. It’s also about survival of us, literally.

With aloha and in solidarity,

Marc Hodges
Haiku, Maui

The Four Pillars of Freedom:
Freedom of Faith,
Freedom of Speech,
Freedom of Assembly,
Right to Keep and Bear Arms.

"Freedom is a fragile thing and is never more than one generation away from extinction. It is not ours by inheritance; it must be fought for and defended constantly by each generation.”