Americans for Prosperity

Dear Blue NCers,

I need your help this afternoon and hope some of you can spare five minutes to call your NC Senator. Here's the story: a provision to expand Voter-Owned Elections to more Council of State races was included in ethics reform bill H-961 that cleared committee yesterday. Financing provisions specify the VOE programs would be paid for through very small (as in $5) increases in already existing fees imposed on entities doing business with Council of State offices. We expect this bill to come to a vote late this afternoon. However, despite the fact that taxes will not be used for the proposed VOE programs, Americans For Prosperity has unleashed their usual knee-jerk robocall campaign asking members to protest the VOE provision on the grounds of "not wanting their taxes to be raised for this purpose."

Yesterday, about 20 members of the conservative group Americans for Prosperity -- with nearly as many members of the media in tow -- gathered in downtown Durham, North Carolina to protest "Wall Street corruption" and the financial reform bill now moving through Congress.

Why Durham? Because it's home to the Center for Responsible Lending, a consumer advocacy group that has pushed for tougher banking rules.

I know Bob took some hits from the the Progressives here a while back and I'm his big defender here so I thought I'd let you know about a challenge he will be getting in 2010. Remember Bob has supported our President and health care reform despite getting raked over the coals from the right and the left. He is a highly ethical man, that is truly a public servant, character traits that seem hard to find these days.

How exciting! Art Pope's daddy's money is now going to create the illusion of a grass roots uprising, with hundreds of Puppets joining Dallas (who is neither a dog nor a bus driver) Woodhouse on a road trip to Washington!

Via email

Senator Richard Burr to speak at Code Red Rally in Washington on Tuesday

Some bus routes still have room for you to sign up!!!

North Carolina Senator Richard Burr will join Radio Host Laura Ingraham, Senators Jim DeMint and Tom Coburn, and freedom fighters from around the country at the Capitol in Washington, DC this Tuesday, December 15 at 1:30pm to rally against the effort by the Senate leadership to hijack the country’s health care system.

The last time I read propaganda coming out of the Evil Empire, they claimed a line-up of luminaries would grace their big conference in Raleigh. To no one's surprise, not a single one of them bothered with the sideshow.

As if to compensate, the Empire is hosting another dark event, this time in Asheville. And who are the exciting speakers you can get to see for the mere price of twenty bucks? Well, it's a powerful lineup, as I discovered from this email.

The next time you hear the crazies talking about "grass roots" activism, print out a copy of this article and show it to them. Just remember, you might have to read it aloud for some.

URGENT UPDATE: Dallas Woodhouse just called me at my home to say he was not the driver of the bus and did not make the statements quoted in the Greenville paper. He said he does not believe the crazies were planted by Pelosi. He swore at me several times, before finally threatening me. He also said he is not a dog. This is in response to a comment I made somewhere about his being on a leash, which is a mistake on my part. Mr. Woodhouse is clearly not a dog, nor is he on a leash. That comment happened as part of a discussion in which Mr. Woodhouse called me a prick.

Mr. Woodhouse made several specific requests and threats which I am taking seriously. Thus, my post here is updated accordingly.
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I've been in California for ten days. Talk about a state hard on the rocks from budget short-sightedness. Parks and local cultural centers will take a huge hit. The word's getting out and the tourist faucet is drying up. Canceled rooms, closed restaurants, closed parks, closed visitor centers. A downward spiral if ever there was one.

While I was gone, I checked in only briefly. The big story here seemed to be Art's Glittery Huge Pay Off. After spending upwards of $5 million a year to manipulate the media, they finally cashed in their chips. Joe the Plumber has nothing on Dallas The Busdriver when it comes to cheesy publicity stunts that pull reporters in like a herd of horny cowboys. Pardon my west coast pun.

It looks to me like the liberal media and their corporate masters will help America get exactly the healthcare system it deserves: second rate and outrageously expensive. Which makes perfect sense from the throne. Perpetuate the permanent underclass, keep them off balance, keep them needy.

It's what the right accuses the left of all the time. Sustaining dependence. It's good for business.

To my knowledge.

This message arrived mislabeled in my mailbox from bowels of AFP. It should have been called "Idiots on Parade."

Dear Friends,

We are well on our way creating a grassroots fire storm across North Carolina against the government takeover of our health care. Every crowd has been excited and firm in their message: Keep your hands off our health care. Our 30-stop bus tour continues through Saturday.

CHARLOTTE EVENT:

We had a tremendous crowd. They sprawled throughout the government center plaza and Mayor McCrory was excellent, speaking in opposition to the government takeover of our health care and in favor of tort reform to bring down costs in the health care system.

From the Charlotte event:

Diane Umbarger, Hair Stylist, Self-Employed

Rut-roh. Rep. Ty Harrell (D-Wake) and his Time Warner Cable protection bill get an assist from the tea-partying, right-wing group Americans for Prosperity. When you call yourself a progressive Democrat and wind up on the same side as Americans For Prosperity, you're doing something wrong.

Please ask your state representatives not to sell you out to Time Warner Cable.