McHenry

There are a lot of issues facing our nation right now, but none are more important than creating jobs and reenergizing our economy. No one knows that better than me. I’ve seen this recession first hand as Mayor of Asheville and I know the toll it’s taken on thousands of middle-class families right here in Western North Carolina.

But I know that we can overcome anything as a nation if we work together – and while Washington may have forgotten that, we never will. That’s why I’m excited to announce a brand-new project as part of our campaign that will help us come together as a local community to create good jobs.

Today, we’ve launched helpuscreatejobs.com – a new website where community leaders, small-business owners, and middle-class families can share ideas to create jobs. Submit your idea here!

In case you haven’t heard yet: I’m in. I’m officially running for United States Congress!

I decided to run because I believe now is the time for bold new leaders to take over and clean up the mess in Washington. The philosophy that I’ve governed with as Mayor of Asheville is the same I will take with me to Congress: grow, when it’s time to grow; cut, when it’s time cut; and lead when it’s time to lead.

North Carolina is ready to see change in Washington, but we won’t be able to do that if we keep sending Republicans like Patrick McHenry back to Congress. If we don’t act, we’ll never see different results.

Take a moment to watch our introduction video and learn more about our campaign for Congress!

AW, the Exec Director for the NCDP sent an email yesterday telling about the big fundraiser going on last night in Washington for Harold Johnson, the GOP candidate for Kissell's seat. He wondered if Robin Hayes would be there to teach Johnson " how to go back on his word...." AW asked if I would stand with "us" and support and volunteer for Kissell.

What came to my mind, without knowing Johnson, is the question: Isn't Larry one of the stooges anyway? Didn't Larry make everyone believe he would be something other than another DINO?

You know the GOP has Jumped the Shark when House member and Resident WingNut Patrick McHenry is seen as a voice of reason among his peers. There is a really funny post on TPM about how McHenry, who is on the Census committee in the House, is scrambling to convince some of his nuttier brethren to come down from the ledge they are on in regards to the Census.

Recently someone asked me for my thoughts about opening the purchase of Health Insurance to out of state located, out of state regulated, providers as proposed by Senator Burr, Congressman McHenry and others.

Looking for a way to spoil a good evening, I went tonight to a Patrick McHenry town hall in Hickory. I know, it sounds like cruel and unusual punishment and, yes, it felt like punishment. Aural waterboarding maybe. I have to say that I greatly admired my father, a WWII vet and Roosevelt liberal who seemed to grow more liberal as he aged, but who watched Crossfire religiously because, as he said, he wanted to know what the other side thought. I admire that, and don't do it very well myself. But tonight I did.

It appears that Patrick McHenry doesn't know when to hold his tongue in front of cameras. At a Lincoln GOP convention, a cameraman (possibly from the Sigmon for Congress campaign) recorded McHenry calling a solider a "two bit" because he was restricted from a green zone gym, and goes even further by lying about a death in the green zone. Naturally, Lance Sigmon's campaign is out to spread this news as wildly as possible. Gotta love Republican infighting.

Press Release:
"McHenry refers to military sentry as 'two-bit' at Lincoln GOP event, exaggerates story to include death"

Youtube video in the fulltext.

Looks like someone managed to pull a prank on McHenry- using his old "nothillary.com" site design, they've made a site of their own- http://notpatrick2008.tk/ - using some of my articles and some of Drama Queen's. This is hilariously clever, though one can only wonder what person had the time to meticulously go back and find this old website and scrounge it up. Still, good for a laugh.

We all have been somewhat interestedly watching Lance Sigmon as he takes a direct quote from Patrick McHenry, which noted his willingness to "debate the issues", and takes it quite literally- Lance demanded a real time, old fashioned, put-on-your-bowler-cap-and-tweed-suit debate in the 10th district. Of course, good old Daniel Johnson is staying far away from this- after all, he doesn't have to worry about McHenry or Sigmon before the primaries, but it is amusing that McHenry has sent out his official response.

Wanna guess what that is? If you're thinking "No, I'm busy despite being entirely free on the Congressional candidate with no prior scheduled dates", you win today's prize.