Clear and Articulate Reason to Support Chris Shays; Convention Shenanigans

If you haven't already watched this video, please take a few minutes to listen to Peter Schiff make the single best case so far for supporting Christopher Shays at the upcoming Republican State Convention scheduled for later this month, and the Connecticut Republican Primary scheduled for August:

Most people out in the political peanut gallery are aware of what's at stake - it's not just a simple six year term that we're fighting for, but rather a lock of 24 to 36 years of Connecticut Senate Seat occupation should Chris Murphy see election to the U.S. Senate in November.  

The Politicos working for Linda McMahon hate to hear the Electability argument.  Every time that word in mentioned they shutter because deep down they know that everyone knows that Linda is so unpopular a candidate statewide that she can't possibly win.  Many RTCs and delegates who haven already taken payments and promises for favors in trade for support will tell you off the record that they feel trapped in their commitment.  Many are fearful about reneging on their obligation to Linda because of the threat of exposure of their own part in the pay-to-play scandal; and these folks are bright - they even admit that Linda's nomination would mean cascading doom for the entire Connecticut Republican ticket in 2012 (and even hurt Mitt Romney's chance of winning the State).  You see, it's so much easier to close your eyes, look away, and hope it all passes quickly -  instead of standing up and doing the right thing.

You'll notice that when you pose the electability question to those who've endorsed Linda, they very quickly launch into a drama-filled tirade, or try to change the subject and try to poke holes in Christopher Shays' 30 years in Government Service.  Very rarely will they offer you an issue-based counter-argument for supporting Linda over Chris Shays.  The reason for this is that many of them do not even know where Linda stands on basic issues; she's made sport out of masking her positions, and deflecting questions when posed to her. 

State Convention Shenanigans

It's pretty clear that things are not all peachy-keen in McMahon-land.  The more delegates think about it, the more willing they are to recognize the hazard of following their RTC leadership's fatal course in rubber-stamping Linda McMahon as the CTGOP's nominee.  In fact, its clearly come to the point where delegates are calling CTGOP headquarters and sending in emails about how some delegates are being intimidated within their own RTCs by McMahon's political henchmen.

For example, The King received a scanned document on Connecticut Republican Party letterhead which was sent to all state delegates as a part of their State Convention package that reads:

To:  Chairman Jerry Labriola, Jr.
From: Robert H. Lutts, State Republican Party Administrator
Date: May 1, 2012
Re: Delegate Block Voting

Many questions have been asked regarding RTC delegate block voting.  I want to take this opportunity to address this issue.

Once delegates have been certified to the Town Clerk, the Republican Town Committee has no authority to direct a delegate's vote a the convention.  In other words, no delegate can be found or obligated to vote for any candidate pursuant to a RTC endorsement or otherwise, and said delegate shall be free to vote for the candidate of his or her choice.

Delegates also have the exclusive authority to chose their own alternative.

It's pretty clear to anyone who can read between the lines that there is a pretty big war going on inside the CTGOP regarding how this entire Convention is going to be conducted.  Block voting would have allowed RTC Chairman to undermine their own delegate's individual support for the candidate of their choice.  Can you imagine?  The very concept of trying to override a delegates personal choice goes against the very nature of our adhered to democratic principles! 

The King has also learned that the McMahon Campaign took issue with how roll-call votes are going to be recorded on the Convention Floor.  McMahon's team argued against recording individual delegate's first and last names, and for whom they were supporting during Convention voting.  Gee, you'd think you'd be loud and proud to stand up and scream your name and who you support for all too hear as a bold statement of conviction! No?  Well, perhaps if you have something to hide - like being on the take, or embroiled in some dirty scandal - then in that instance I guess you might want to keep your name and vote out of the limelight - if even for an instant.  (And don't bother denying it Corry, it's a damn shame!)

The bottom line is that since delegates are ELECTED OFFICIALS they should have some obligation to have their vote attached to their name as a matter of process transparency.

It's beginning to feel like 2010 all over again.

Big Story Coming Soon

Alas, there is still hope for the CTGOP Party faithful.  While Tom Scott and Linda's surrogates burn up the phone lines to keep antsy delegates from jumping from her sinking ship, The King is aware of a very big story about Linda McMahon that is finally close to breaking in the Connecticut Press.  It's believed that once published, it will reshape the political landscape and provide cover for delegates looking for legitimate cover to abandon Linda's suicide campaign run. Once exposed, several Party big whigs will also announce support for Chris Shays, too.  And we may seen a new alignment which may include some individuals previously tied to Linda.

Speaking of Tom Scott, rumor has it that he may have found an out in all of this silliness - post-State Convention, of course.  Scott is rumored to be considering another run for  State Senate.  Whether his association with Linda will be hurtful or helpful is still a big question, but with a few favors owed by his close friends - Suzio, Markley and others, he should be able to make a good run since he can count on their support.

Much more to come folks... stay tuned.

I AM

THE KING

This original blog entry can be found at http://www.thekingsview.blogspot.com

Disclaimer: This entry and others will be modified/updated at a future date. All entries are for the sole purpose of entertainment. This article does not imply endorsement of the candidate mentioned above, nor has this article been solicited for publication by any political candidate, campaign, or PAC.

Help Peter Schiff to get on the Republican Ballot

The Republican Party is supposed to be the party of ideas. The understood, often toted phrase is that the Republican Party is the Government Of the People. So given that our recent Connecticut Republican Convention seemed to be much less about ideals and substance, and more about backroom politics and last minute deals to make name recognition far more important than political positions and historic donating and voting records (with a few notable exceptions which I will get to in later posts), that its high time to work toward reminding our Republican State Party Chairman Chris Healy and his cronies that just because he and a select few have lost their way, doesn't mean the rest of us are unprincipled.

The Linda McMahon campaign is nothing more than a farce. Which isn't to say that its not a well-run, well-financed operation - managed in part by ideologically empty people like our own State Chairman, Chris Healy, and his wife - both who are already on track to make six figures from this venture. Linda McMahon is nothing more than a Pro Wrestling promoter who has donated lots of cash to Democrats (including liberal Democrat Joe Courtney who unseated Rob Simmons during the last election). She has also donated to Rahm Emmanual and other Democrat Kingpins. You can learn a lot about people by who they support and donate to. And then you can get into the background of the culture contamination that Linda McMahon's business, the WWE. See this article here by National Review's Rich Lowry for a clear picture on what kind of nonsense Linda McMahon claims gives her the right to represent Connecticut Residents in the U.S. Senate.

So with Rob Simmons dropping out, the Connecticut State Party would love you to think that its game over and you don't have anywhere else to turn. Well, I suppose they are temporarily correct since they worked so hard at making certain the rules for getting on the primary ballot worked against Party-outsiders who were a threat to their end game: McMahon standing alone unchallenged to face Richard Blumenthal.

So despite the hurdle manufactured by State Central, Republicans and conservative activists are working around the clock to get Businessman Peter Schiff on the Republican Primary ballot. The desire is to collect 12,000 names - much more than the reported 8,000 which are needed to formally be certified to allow Peter to enter the Republican race. The energy around the Schiff campaign has been a breath of fresh air to watch. It's good to see a candidate excited about the issues, and not just run ads about their opponents. It's great to see a candidate who understands economics and the issues without requiring a political hack whispering in their ear to tell them what to say or think on every issue. Peter is energetic, educated and ready to go. No on the job training needed.

From a converted Simmons supporter's standpoint, I think the move to Peter Schiff is a logical one on so many levels. First you have to take into account the fact that above all else, we do know a great deal about Peter Schiff's economic positions through his commentaries on YouTube and dozens of appearances on a large number of cable television business shows - which took place long before he announced as a Senatorial Candidate. So, there is no self-invention or new conversion to his principles. Peter's positions are are out there on the web for you to view and digest, and judge on their own merit. (And in fairness, make sure you search Linda McMahon on YouTube so you contrast the difference for yourself).

Second, Peter has run an issue-based campaign from the start of his bid, unlike Linda McMahon who has sent out very derogatory and misleading pieces on Rob Simmons voting record - mostly limited to the Cap and Trade issue. McMahon's campaign, unlike Schiff's has been devoid of her political positions on most issues and has offered little if nothing in the way of substance for voters to judge her by. "Something Different" and wanting to create jobs for Connecticut are taglines from just about every politician regardless of position sought or party affiliation. Linda has spent $16 million dollars telling us plenty about how Rob Simmons voted, and not much about how she intends to vote or change Washington.

Peter Schiff is a well respected economist with little baggage except that his positions are well known, whereas Linda McMahon has lots of baggage (much of it left to be exposed) and is the preferred opposition candidate of Richard Blumenthal and the Democrat Party - this is evidenced by the large number of Democrat pollsters, general polls, and public comments by Democrat officials. Clear evidence of this, is that after Linda McMahon captured the Republican Nomination, Richard Blumenthal's approval ratings shot up and he overtook Linda McMahon in a head-on comparison by a much larger margin than anyone expected.

Fact is that as an unknown, unqualified entity, a Linda McMahon election to the U.S. Senate might be considered counter-beneficial to Connecticut's interests at large. McMahon, who has never held elected office would be wandering aimlessly around the halls of Congress trying to get herself acclimated with the climate and Government process whereas - even Richard Blumenthal would be better positioned to advocate for Connecticut given his relationships and comprehension of Governmental process. This isn't to say I'm supporting Blumenthal, but simply pointing out the facts as they stand, and those understood by Connecticut residents. Being a complete outsider as Linda refers to herself, is not all that in a serious role such as U.S. Senator where qualification and navigation matter to get things accomplished.

I recognize that this article is rather late considering that all signatures must be certified by June 8th. But its not too late to get up and do something, even if it means adding your own name to the required 8,000 that Peter Schiff needs to be part of our Republican process. I've sought to collect about a dozen names by petition, so I feel that I've done my part to the extent possible - surely a drop in a bucket, but its a bucket where every drop counts.

You can go here to learn more about Peter Schiff. And if you'd like to find out how to add your name to a petition in your area, call the Schiff campaign at 203-874-6880.

Please don't let Chris Healy, State Central, and Linda McMahon limit the open process. Let's put Peter Schiff on the ballot, and see a few issue-based debates, and then decide who is best qualified to represent Connecticut Republicans in the general election against Richard Blumenthal. Please give Peter Schiff the support he needs.