The Truth In Arkansas Politics

Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me to "recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:"

Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.

Given under my hand, at the city of New York, the 3d day of October, A.D. 1789.

"While the chairmen were lauding Dean as the architect of Democratic victories, some liberals hundreds of miles to the north _ and across an international border _ were not impressed.

Members of Canada's out-of-power Liberal Party were in a snit over the selection of Dean to give the keynote address to at their upcoming convention to elect a national leader. An unsuccessful U.S. presidential candidate has no place telling Canadians how to elections, they complained.

''I, as a Canadian, am appalled to have an American loser address a keynote convention that will choose Canada's next prime minister,'' Ray Heard, former Liberal Party communications director, told CTV television on Thursday..." Associated Press

GOP Lawmakers Float Ethics Probe of Murtha
Friday, Nov. 18, 2005
By John Bresnahan,ROLL CALL staff

Republican lawmakers say that ties between Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.) and his brother's lobbying firm, KSA Consulting, may warrant investigation by the House ethics committee. The calls come as Murtha, a former Marine and pro-military Democrat, has made headlines this week by coming out in support of a rapid withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq.

According to a June 13 article in The Los Angeles Times, the fiscal 2005 defense appropriations bill included more than $20 million in funding for at least 10 companies for whom KSA lobbied. Carmen Scialabba, a longtime Murtha aide, works at KSA as well. KSA directly lobbied Murtha's office on behalf of seven companies, and a Murtha aide told a defense contractor that it should retain KSA to represent it, according to the LA Times.

In early 2004, Murtha reportedly leaned on U.S. Navy officials to sign a contract to transfer the Hunters Point Shipyard to the city of San Francisco, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. A company called Lennar Inc. had right to the land, and Laurence Pelosi, nephew to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), was an executive with the firm at that time.

Murtha also inserted earmarks in defense bills that steered millions of dollars in federal research funds toward companies owned by children of fellow Pennsylvania Rep. Paul Kanjorski (D).

Murtha and KSA have denied engaging in any improper or unethical behavior. Murtha's offices in Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C., could not be reached for comment at press time.But with GOP leaders infuriated by Murtha's declaration this week that the United States should pull all its military forces out of Iraq in six months, renewed attention is being focused on Murtha's dealings with KSA.

"I have read the articles about these appropriations projects that benefited his brother's lobbying firm," said Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.). "If there is a potential pattern where Congressman Murtha has helped other Democrats secure appropriations that also benefited relatives of those Members, I believe this would be something that merits further review by the ethics committee."

Another GOP lawmaker, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said Murtha "is playing footsie with his brother's lobbying firm using taxpayer money."

The Democratic Party of Arkansas can't take the fact that a Republican has won a political race in Arkansas and now plans to pursue a recount in Benton County even though they quote "don't expect it to change the (outcome of) the race."

The Democrat candidate in the district 2 J.P.'s racve doesn't even think a recount is neccessary.

This article, however claims that "the state and county party still wanted to pursue a handcount to restore trust in the election process, said Barbara McCoy, chairwoman of the Benton County Democratic Party. Three different results and rumors of problems at precincts have made the public doubt the system, she said."

So now we are having recounts based on rumors. I have heard rumors for years that the Democrats pay off African-American preachers to buy their congregation's votes. Maybe we should investigate that and have a recount on every democrat election win for the past 50 years?

It is time for the DPA to accept that there are still Republicans in Arkansas and move on...

The AP is reporting that Mel Martinez will be the new head of the RNC. How will this affect politics in Arkansas?

Sen. Mel Martinez, the first-term lawmaker who previously served in President George W. Bush's Cabinet, will assume the chairmanship of the Republican National Committee, GOP officials said Monday.

Martinez, 60, will replace current chairman Ken Mehlman, who will leave the post in January at the end of his two-year term, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to avoid pre-empting a formal announcement.

Martinez will remain in the Senate. Mike Duncan, the RNC's current general counsel and a former party treasurer, will run the day-to-day operations at the party's Capitol Hill headquarters.

Martinez was tapped in 2001 as President Bush's secretary of Housing and Urban Development. He resigned in 2003 to run for the open Senate seat created when incumbent Democratic Sen. Bob Graham decided not to seek another term. Martinez was elected with 49 percent of the vote _ a slim margin that was credited to Bush's win in that state.

Martinez fled Cuba in 1962 as a 15-year-old. His parents remained on the communist island, hoping one day to join him. He eventually was placed with a foster family in Orlando, studied English and worked odd jobs that helped him buy his father a used car when his parents arrived in the United States four years later.

He put himself through college and earned a law degree, made millions as a trial lawyer and served as president of the Orlando Utilities Commission from 1994 to 1997. He was elected as the Orange County, Fla., chairman, serving from 1998 to 2001.

So far we have learned one truth about our Governor-elect: he says one thing publicly and then turns around and does another. This is nothing new to Mike Beebe. We saw this throughout the entire campaign, but now we continue to see the Democrats in Arkansas' "do as I say, not as I do" mentality.

On election night Mike Beebe said, "The hard work is just beginning. We will keep our promises to the voters of Arkansas." And what promise was that? Was that the promise to open the Governor's mansion to lobbyists, like Morril Harriman and Ark Monroe? I guess so...

Other Beebe words from his victory speech caught my attention as well, "He told the crowd that, just as he did not win alone, no one governs alone. He said that the election is over, and there are no more Democrats, Republicans, or Independents - only Arkansans."

Interesting that the Democrats and Mike Beebe would hold a party to publicly humiliate Republicans. In there party announcement of the 2006 Arkansas Blue Ball, the Democratic Party of Arkansas states that admission to the ball is $5 for Democrats and $5,000 for Republicans (and that even with the $5,000, attendance is not guaranteed).

They go on to state, "This celebration is made possible by hard work -- with special thanks to Republicans Asa Hutchinson, Jim Holt, Gunner DeLay and the rest of the gang that couldn't shoot straight!"

So much for there no longer being Democrats, Republicans or Independents, but Arkansans. The Democrats won the election fair and square. But now we see the true colors of their leaders. Mike Beebe doesn't care about governing for all Arkansans, he cares about his insider lobbyists and his fellow Democrats. Please don't give us your sound bite about governing for all Arkansans.

The truth is that there was no need for the DPA to put that drivle on their party annoucement. No Republicans would want to go anyway. Very classy Mike Beebe and Jason Willett, very classy...

Well it didn't take long for Mike Beebe to show his true colors as Governor-elect. His coziness with special interests and lobbyists has been obvious over the years. Even Beebe spokesman John Brummett warned us in this article back in July that lobbyists would probably affect his policies and governing. And now as Governor-elect, Mike Beebe has confirmed that he may say he believes in Arkansas, but he acts by putting lobbyists first.

His first order of business was to name the states Chief Poultry Lobbyist, Morril Harriman, his Chief-of-Staff and leader of his lobbyist dominiated so called "transition team." Not only is Harriman the chief poultry lobbyist, but his wife is currently a lobbyist for a list of shady clients including the greyhound race track in West Memphis. That sounds like a conflict of interests to me. It will be interesting to see how soon Beebe caters to the poultry and gambling interests...

But at least Harriman will be able to "enhance his state retirement."

"Lawmakers who served before 1991 are eligible for a two-for-one credit for years in the Legislature applied to their state retirement. Retirement is based on the average of an employee’s top three years of salary in state government, not just their salary in the Legislature, where pay is much lower. Beebe also would get the two-for-one credit when he retires." (Arkansas Democrat Gazette, 11-9-06)

"His four transition team members announced Wednesday are term-limited state Rep. Joyce Elliott, D-Little Rock, chairman of the House Education Committee; Alltel director and former natural gas company executive Emon Mahony of El Dorado, the brother of longtime state Rep. Jodie Mahony, D-El Dorado; lawyer and insurance lobbyist Ark Monroe III of Little Rock, a former aide to U. S. Sen. Dale Bumpers; and car dealer Don Nelms of Springdale, who worked as an aide for Gov. Jim Guy Tucker. "

It appears that Beebe's first order of business is exactly what we thought he would do - take care of the lobbyists and special interests that paid to get him elected. Its amazing how we can't see these people for who they are until its too late...

Please remember to go vote! America is very blessed to be a free nation and we do not need to take for granted the freedoms we experience each and every day. Voting is one of the most important freedoms that we have and we encourage you to exercise your right.

Remember to vote for Asa Hutchinson and the entire GOP team!

Flashback: November 2002 Arkansas Democrat Gazette: “…Official state pansy Mike Beebe, sat comfortably on the sidelines.”

If you take a look at Mike Beebe's latest finance report you will see two contributions from Mike Beebe to the Democrat Party totaling $230,000. This is a clear violation of campaign finance laws as a candidate running for office cannot contribute to a state party until after the election. This just proves Mike Beebe's lack of ethics and lack of concern for the laws of Arkansas. Mike Beebe touts himself as the "Top Law Enforcement Official" in Arkansas yet he uses a state computer for political purposes, meets with campaign employees in his state offices, allows convicted felon, Nick Wilson to remain in office and the latest, breaking campaign finance laws. This man is clearly showing his lack of concern for ethics and whines and threatens TV stations with lawsuits about his opponent running attack ads (which in fact Asa has not even seen the ads and is not running them) against him for his lack of backbone. In fact, all of Beebe's cronies that spoke up for him regarding the Wilson ads contributed to his campaign...cozy...How about that for ethics?

Is this the man you want to be Governor of Arkansas?

Mike, Pat Lynch was right, you do need a new backbone...

From the Asa campaign:

Why Did Beebe Vote to Override Governor's Veto?



Jonesboro – Asa Hutchinson, the 2006 Republican nominee for Arkansas Governor, today contested Democrat Mike Beebe's claims that he stood against former Arkansas Sen. Nick Wilson in a wide-ranging corruption scandal – questioning why Beebe voted to allow the scandal to move forward in 1997 in spite of warning signs from Gov. Mike Huckabee.

On a visit to Jonesboro, Hutchinson discussed the government corruption scandal surrounding disgraced Sen. Nick Wilson, who along with several colleagues defrauded the state of millions of dollars in the 1990's through an elaborate legislative scheme to funnel taxpayer dollars into their own pockets.

He noted that Beebe, as a state Senator, had voted in 1997 to override Gov. Mike Huckabee's veto of legislation that created the scheme used by Wilson to defraud the state. Huckabee vetoed the legislation in April 1997 -- saying this week that the bill "smelled to high heaven" -- but the Legislature voted to override his veto days later, with Beebe's support.

"Beebe claims today that he 'did all he could to oppose Nick Wilson, but the facts don't support his claim," Hutchinson said. "When Gov. Huckabee vetoed the bill, Beebe joined with Wilson to override that veto and give Wilson the free rein he needed to steal from the children of this state.

"So there's a very simple question for Mike Beebe: Why did he vote to override Gov. Huckabee's veto, and the warning signs surrounding Nick Wilson's scheme, if he was doing all he could to oppose Wilson?" Hutchinson asked. "The warning signs indicated that this legislation was corrupt from the beginning. Gov. Huckabee certainly recognized those signs, saying that the bill sent up 'red flags' for him. Why did Beebe, who was a leader of the Senate and an acknowledged master of legislative process, not pick up on those warning signals? Did he not know what he was voting for? Or was a willing participant in allowing Wilson to move forward with his scam?"

The Wilson scandal has emerged as a flashpoint in the 2006 Governor's campaign as questions have arisen about Beebe's failure of leadership in failing to stop Nick Wilson's machinations, with Hutchinson and Gov. Mike Huckabee questioning Beebe's "revisionist history" of the affair.

Earlier in the week, Beebe demanded that television ads produced by a Little Rock-based independent advocacy group raising questions about his role in the Wilson scandal be pulled from the airwaves. Hutchinson criticized Beebe's "strong arm tactics" in using legal pressure to intimidate Arkansas television stations to force critical ads off the air.


For a timeline of events in the Wilson scandal, click here.