Facebook Accused of Silencing NM GOP Candidate

Above, GOP candidate Angelita Mejia.

It looks like Facebook is gearing up to interfere in the 2024 election campaign.

The latest is the removal of a Republican candidate's Facebook page with no explanation, except their usual "community standards" violation bullshit.

According to Piñon Post:

In a recent development that has sparked controversy and debate over freedom of speech on social media platforms, Angelita Mejia, a Republican candidate for the New Mexico House of Representatives, found herself censored by Facebook. Mejia, who is running unopposed in District 58 in Chaves County, had taken to Facebook to announce her candidacy and seek support in the form of ballot petition signatures, a requirement for official candidacy in New Mexico.

Mejia’s campaign and personal Facebook pages were abruptly deactivated within a day of her posting about her campaign and the need for petition signatures. Facebook cited a violation of its “community standards” as the reason for the shutdown but failed to provide a specific explanation for the action. This left Mejia and her campaign in the dark, unable to reach potential supporters through the platform as the crucial deadline for signature submission approached.

Steve Pearce, the Chairman of the Republican Party of New Mexico (RPNM), expressed his concern over the incident, calling it an attempt by Facebook to silence a conservative voice. He said, “This is clearly an attempt by Facebook to silence a conservative Republican woman and to prevent her from being able to collect signatures needed to place her name on the ballot for the upcoming primary election.”

To read more, go here. 

RFK Jr. Super PAC Announces Over $11 Million Raised

Last Monday, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced that he is no longer running for president as a Democrat, but instead is running as an independent.

It appears that this move is paying off as far as campaign contributions are concerned as a super PAC (political action committee) backing his candidacy has raised $11 million since the announcement.

The Daily Caller reported:

The super political action committee (PAC) supporting Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s presidential bid announced Tuesday that it raised over $11 million since the candidate changed his party affiliation from Democrat to independent on Monday, according to a press release.

Kennedy announced at a Pennsylvania rally that he will now run for president as an independent, following frustration with the Democratic National Committee. American Values 2024 said it received the donations within just six hours of Kennedy’s announcement from Democrats, Republicans and independents nationwide, according to the press release.

“Americans don’t like censorship or propaganda and they are tired of being lied to,” Tony Lyons, co-founder of the super PAC, said in a statement. “It’s clear that Bobby is inspiring a populist movement that unites left and right, black, and white, rural and urban, young and old.”

To read more, go here. 

Trump Had Hillary Off-Balance Tonight

It was a "do or die" debate tonight. And one candidate exceeded expectations.

I have felt that the first debate between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton was essentially a tie. This time, Trump knocked Clinton off-balance and she remained off-balance. Her face became reddish and she stammered. She usually doesn't stammer or studder.

On the "issue" of Trump's locker room talk of 11 years ago, he apologized for it and said he was not proud of it. But, he turned it around and went after the women Bill Clinton victimized over the years (and who were present in the hall) and went after Hillary Clinton for her attacks on them. She never recovered from that. And, Trump received rousing cheers. (See Bill Clinton's reaction here.)

Trump won this debate, there's no question in my mind about that. He performed better than many expected. He had to in order to save his campaign. I think he did so. He also fought back on the biased moderators.

On the issues, Obamacare (a big one for him), ISIS, energy, economy, foreign policy and all the rest, Trump was better prepared and it showed.

Trump exceeded expectations. Hillary withered.

Cassidy Defeats Landrieu

The GOP will have 54 U.S. Senate seats in the next term.

According to the Associated Press:

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) -- Republican Rep. Bill Cassidy has defeated Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu, denying her a fourth term and extending the GOP's domination of the 2014 midterm elections that put Republicans in charge of Capitol Hill for the final two years of President Barack Obama's tenure.

To read more, go here.

A Thanksgiving Message From Nebraska's Soon-To-Be Newest U.S. Senator

Above, Ben Sasse on the campaign trail with Gov. Sarah Palin and Sen. Ted Cruz.

Nebraska's Ben Sasse was elected to the United States Senate a few weeks ago as part of the enormous "wave" that swept out the Democrats and swept in Republicans. Thankfully, the financial support I gave him paid off. 

I received the following Thanksgiving message:

Dear Armand,

Last year, our family ate Thanksgiving dinner at the Days Inn in Kimball, Nebraska. It was incredible.

After a day spent with three kids on an RV, we checked into our hotel. I must have looked as exhausted as I felt because, as soon as we brought in our bags, the owners welcomed us to their own dinner—turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and pies. Complete strangers opened their home and showed our kids what generosity looks like.

That memory will stay with us but that kindness is not uncommon. That’s Nebraska. Over the past year, our family met countless big-hearted, hard-working Nebraskans. You shared your ideas with Melissa and me and taught our kids what Nebraska values are all about.

This Thanksgiving, while we are thankful to be gathered around our own table, we are grateful for your support and humbled by the new vocation you have given us.

Washington, D.C. isn’t the center of life. It’s Kimball, Nebraska. That’s why we teach our kids to live lives of gratitude and service to their family and neighbors. That’s why we have an obligation to leave them a great, free, and opportunity-filled country. And that’s why we’ll work for a more humble politics next year in Congress.

Thank you for your example and your support. May God bless you.

--Ben and Melissa Sasse

Ben Sasse Wins!

My candidate for Nebraska's U.S. Senate seat, Ben Sasse, has won!

According to the Grand Island Independent:

Republican Ben Sasse, a political rookie, topped three other candidates Tuesday to win Nebraska’s open-seat election to the U.S. Senate. 

Sasse defeated Democrat Dave Domina, an Omaha trial attorney, to take the seat held by Republican Sen. Mike Johanns, who is retiring after one term.

To read more, go here. 

Ben Sasse Endorsed By Omaha World-Herald

Ben Sasse, Republican candidate for U.S. Senate for the state of Nebraska has been endorsed by the Omaha World-Herald.

Their endorsement, dated October 26, reads:

Yes, Ben Sasse is a conservative. And no, he doesn’t think much of Obamacare. By now, most Nebraskans know at least that much about the Republican U.S. Senate candidate.  

But there’s much more that makes Sasse the best choice as Nebraska’s next U.S. senator. 

While some have tried to portray him as a carpetbagger, Sasse is a native Nebraskan, born in Plainview and raised in Fremont. After graduation from Fremont Senior High School, he did what many Nebraska kids do — left home for college and jobs.  

He earned degrees from Harvard, St. John’s College and Yale. His private sector career included management consulting with industries as varied as airlines, utilities and manufacturing.  

His public sector career posts included chief of staff for Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, R-Nebraska; chief of staff for the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Policy, and assistant secretary of health and human services under President George W. Bush. In one project, Sasse was involved in post-9/11 efforts to improve the sharing of information among federal intelligence agencies.  

And he came home. Since 2009, he has been president of Midland University in Fremont, where he helped lead the once-struggling Lutheran school in a significant turnaround.  

But it’s more than a lengthy résumé that makes him the right choice.  

Sasse is a tireless worker and serious policy thinker. Ask about an issue — from health care to the Middle East to entitlement reform — and it quickly becomes apparent that he is the antithesis of the typical sound-bite candidate.  

He rose to national prominence with astonishing speed, largely with his dissection of the Affordable Care Act and his own detailed alternative proposal.  

On that and other issues, he describes his political philosophy as that of “a market-oriented conservative who believes in decentralized solutions wherever possible.” He favors a lower-regulation environment that frees businesses and local communities to create jobs. He also supports spending policies that make national security a priority and says the nation’s debt, not just deficit spending, must come down.  

As he summed up in a conservative magazine, the Weekly Standard: “I want to fight for what I call humble politics — a Washington that does fewer things, but does the more important things, more aggressively, more transparently, more urgently, with less screaming.” 

That’s in the Jack Kemp vein of conservatism, and in a World-Herald essay written after the May primary, Sasse said he drew inspiration from the former GOP congressman and vice presidential nominee who “believed the only way to fight big government was with bigger ideas.”  

Sasse also casts a critical eye on his own Republican Party.  

“My party doesn’t do a good enough job speaking for middle-class Nebraskans, for middle-class Americans,” he told The World-Herald. “But when the debate is between a bad idea and no idea, the bad idea will win. Republicans aren’t offering enough ideas.”
There is a danger, of course, that any politician who so quickly attracts national attention will be drawn to that spotlight, neglecting the folks back home. If elected, Sasse will need to keep his focus on the job at hand and on the people who sent him to Washington. 

But his leap from small-college president to national political figure — and his margin of victory in the five-way GOP primary in May — are due in no small part to the energy he has brought to this campaign, which has taken him to every county.  

That work ethic would be a real positive in both the nuts-and-bolts work of legislating and staying connected to Nebraskans.  

It needs to be said that in a year with so much relentlessly negative campaigning, this Senate race has offered a refreshing reprieve. Sasse and his main opponents, Democrat David Domina and independent Jim Jenkins, deserve praise for giving voters a positive, issues-oriented debate.  

As that debate has shown, the combination of public and private sector experience, depth of knowledge on issues and ability to bring substance to a Capitol woefully short of ideas makes Ben Sasse the best choice for the U.S. Senate. 

California's 30th Congressional District: Vote For Mark Reed

Above, Armand with Mark Reed in 2010.

In a little over a week from now is Election Day.

I was going to post ballot recommendations, primarily on the California propositions and judges, but somehow, my sample ballot (that I had completed) had disappeared.

I will have to re-do it if it doesn't show up (I doubt it will). I may do a blog post on California ballot recommendations if it turns up (or if I get riled up enough).

However, there is one choice that is on the ballot is the candidate for U.S. Congress for the 30th Congressional District I can easily recommend: Mark Reed.

The 30th Congressional District is comprised mainly of Chatsworth, Encino, Woodland Hills, Canoga Park and, my community, Tarzana.

It is a newly-formed district, having been created from the last census. The first election for the new district in 2012 pitted Rep. Brad Sherman and Rep. Howard Berman, both Democrats. Since the state's crazy "top two vote-getters" primary system, no matter what party they're in, had Berman and Sherman battle for the seat, I held my nose and backed Sherman. He won.

Now, this year, things are a little more "normal" and I have a much better choice.

Mark Reed is a mainstream Republican candidate who would make an excellent congressman. His chances are very slim, given that the party registration very much favors the Democrats. But I urge a vote for Mark Reed, even from Democrats who are equally concerned over the mess their party leaders have made of this country and state.

From Mark Reed's campaign website:

Ask yourself;  

Is Congress and the Federal Government doing a good job?  

Would you retain an employee if you only approved of his performance 10% of the time?  

On November 4th you have the power to change that by choosing new representation. I'm humbly asking for your vote. I have a strong belief that real representation will put country before party and people before politics.  

I am running for Congress in California's 30th District to bring our voice to Washington D.C. and express our concerns and needs.  

Because of partisan politics, our country is mired in multiple scandals, including the VA, the IRS and Benghazi. We are over 17 trillion dollars in debt, welfare spending has been increased by 60% and 43 million people are now collecting food stamps. Over nine million jobs have vanished, millions have given up looking for work, and the unemployment rate remains stubbornly high. Economic growth is stuck in the 2%-3% range. In the first quarter of 2014 the GDP plummeted 2.5%.  

World respect for the United States is at an all-time low. Our Mid-East policy is in complete disarray, and for the first time since 1947, Israel's existence is truly in danger. Radical Islam, Russia, Iran and China are on the march. Iraq has disintegrated since we withdrew our troops, and ISIS (the Islamic State) has declared the Islamic Caliphate in the heart of the Middle East, stretching from northern Syria to Baghdad, Iraq. The recent Affordable Health Care Act rollout has been an ongoing disaster with millions losing their healthcare insurance, their family doctor, and their local hospital.

Please join my campaign by making a donation or volunteering some of your talents and time. Please send me an email or join me at one of my events. Together we can restore America for our grandchildren and preserve the freedoms promised to us by our Founding Fathers.  

I am humbly asking for your vote on November 4th.  

God bless you and God Bless America.  

Mark Reed 

Mark Reed's campaign website is here: http://www.markreedforcongress.com/

Mitt Romney To Attend Ben Sasse Rally

Big news! We're wrapping up our 93-county tour in Adams County next week. This will be the biggest rally of them all - and we'll be joined by special guest Governor Mitt Romney! This rally will be free and open to the public - and we want to get as many people as we can there, so please forward this invitation to your friends and family in the area. After 93 days traveling to 93 counties, we're going to wrap up this tour with thousands of voices at this rally. Here are the details: WHERE Hastings City Auditorium 400 North Hastings Avenue Hastings, NE 68901 WHEN Monday, October 27 5:30pm doors open 6:30pm start time Click here to RSVP online.  It should be an amazing way to kick off the final week of the campaign. Hope to see you there! Tyler Grassmeyer

Federal law requires us to use our best efforts to collect and report the name, mailing address, occupation and name of employer for each individual whose contributions exceed $200 in an election cycle. Contributions from foreign nationals and corporations are prohibited. Contributions are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. Paid for by Ben Sasse for U.S. Senate, Inc. Ben Sasse for U.S. Senate, Inc. P.O. Box 1976 Fremont, NE  68026-1976

Sasse For U.S. Senate: "That's Nebraska" Video

The Ben Sasse For U.S. Senate campaign has released this campaign video:

In Today's Mailbox

Above, U.S. Senate candidate Matt Bevin. Photo by Matt Bevin campaign.

A nice thank-you letter arrived today from Kentucky's U.S. Senate candidate Matt Bevin.

Bevin is a running against Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell in the GOP primary this year. As I am disgusted with McConnell's performance as Minority Leader and his mudslinging campaign, I made a campaign contribution to Bevin. The letter thanked me for my contribution to the campaign.

Bevin has been endorsed by the Senate Conservatives Fund, Madison Project and Gun Owners of America. He has also the backing by such groups as the United Kentucky Tea Party and Take Back Kentucky. Influential individuals such as Glenn Beck, Mark Levin and Erick Erickson are also backing Bevin.

For more on Matt Bevin's campaign, go to MattBevin.com.

Support Nebraska's Ben Sasse For U.S. Senate!

My second contribution of today to a Republican conservative primary candidate went to Ben Sasse of Nebraska, who is running for the U.S. Senate for that state.

Sasse recently ran afoul of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (see this article). This confirms to me that McConnell has got to go! Earlier today, I contributed to McConnell's primary challenger in Kentucky, Matt Bevin.

This time, my contribution goes a little closer to home as Sasse is running to represent Nebraska in the U.S. Senate. I have farm property in Nebraska, that's why this contribution means a lot to me.

If you can, kindly submit your contribution to Ben Sasse for U.S. Senate by going here.

Donate To Matt Bevin's Campaign And Dump Mitch McConnell!

Above, Matt Bevin.  Photo by Bevin for Senate.

Tired of U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky?  I sure am and I did something about it!

Thanks to the ineffective "leadership" of McConnell, "Dingy" Harry Reid has taken away the one weapon the GOP had to block leftist/socialist judicial appointments of Barack Obama. Reid's "nuclear option." Now the Democrats can appoint whomever they choose to the federal courts. They will appoint judges who will take away our freedoms and destroy the Constitution.

We can thank Mitch McConnell for letting this happen.

Unfortunately, I don't live in Kentucky, so I can't vote for Matt Bevin, the conservative Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate from Kentucky. I did the next best thing. I sent a contribution to Matt Bevin for U.S. Senate Committee. He is running in the GOP primary against McConnell. In fact, Bevin recently took 80% in a Kentucky straw poll! (See http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/11/25/Matt-Bevin-Takes-over-80-of-Vote-in-Kentucky-Straw-Poll?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter)

If you agree with me, I urge you to go to Matt Bevin's campaign website and contribute to his campaign!

To go to Matt Bevin's campaign website, to here.

Communist Party To Ally With Democrats In 2014

2014 is shaping up to be an interesting election year.

Sam Webb, Chairman of the Communist Party USA, said:

Contrary to what some on the left think, the starting point of transformative politics isn’t political desires and wish list, but a sober and concrete assessment of the balance of class and social forces on the ground, not least of which is the political consciousness of the majority of working-class people and what they are ready to fight for. 

How do we accelerate this transition from a movement with transformative potential to a movement with transformative power and capacity? 

…a movement with transformative hopes must be up to its ears in the struggle for jobs, a higher minimum wage, immigration reform, gun control, infrastructure renewal, abortion rights, protecting the climate, preserving earned-benefit programs, marriage equality, voting rights, saving public education, reversing the sequester, winning a federal budget favoring people’s needs, cutting the military budget, and many more issues at the federal, state and local level. 

It should also be an energetic part of the struggle to give the Republican Party a licking in next year’s congressional elections. Defeating right-wing extremist candidates is the key link in moving the whole chain of struggle forward. It will take an expansive coalition of voters, including independents, centrists and even some moderate Republicans.

Some may ask, what's the difference between the Communist Party and the Democrat Party (as it is now constituted with socialists)?  Not much.

This ought to be a lesson for Tea Party members!

To read more, go here.

"Loaded For Bear"

The House GOP Caves On Senate Fiscal Cliff Bill

This just came in an email from the Washington Post:

The U.S. House has voted to approve a bill allowing taxes to rise on the wealthy, extending unemployment benefits for millions and delaying deep automatic spending cuts in federal spending for two months, ending the long national drama over the fiscal cliff. 

It should be noted that Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida voted no on the bill, while Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin  vote yes.

I've already decided to back Rubio for president in 2014 should he run.  Ryan is toast.  Conservatives will not forgive this vote.

Also...

Obama: "I will not have another debate with this Congress" over the debt ceiling. "We can't not pay bills that we've already incurred." 

 Mein Führer hath spoken! Sieg heil!