2. Legislative Alert: Massachusetts, 41st Vote

My report requires a little revision since our victory in Massachusetts, which leaves me giddie with happiness! Yippee-Yi-Yo-Ki-Yeah!!! Welcome to the U. S. Senate to the Junior Senator from Massachusetts, Scott Brown, Republican! As we enter the 2010 election cycle, I submit a good question for all conservatives to ask ourselves - Since we "blew it" in 2006 and 2008, what has changed since then, and why should we be optimistic in 2010? I certainly do not propose to be a prophet, but I firmly believe that Scott Rasmussen (the most accurate pollster in America), provides the best daily snapshot of the "pulse of the nation."

An overview summary is as follows:

Rasmussen's daily Presidential Approval Index - Obama has dropped 48% in his 1st year in office (+30% to -18% on 12/31, which is unprecedented in modern presidential politics). In the Generic Congressional Ballot (party preferring their own congressman) - Republicans have improved 12% (from -7% to +5%).

He reports that 73% of Republicans are out of touch with the base of their party. This tells me that the dots that Reagan connected to the base have been disconnected in 06 & 08, but are going to be reconnected between grassroots conservatives and many new challengers rather than incumbents. Another way of summarizing this is - this election will not be "business as usual." I submit more incumbents will be defeated than ever before in history. Congressional approval was 16% the last I recall.

My criteria for earning my vote is:

Which candidate is the closest to being the conservative that would carry on the Reagan Revolution? Since Rasmussen also reports that conservatives outpoll liberals by a 40% to 20% margin. That offers tremendous 2010 optimism that was unheard of in 2008.

In order to win the House, we need another +54 seat pickup similar to the 1994 Republican takeover, plus a dozen or so gain from Demos that are switching to the Republican Party or are resigning because their lucrative pension is more desirable than facing the repercussions of a terribly unpopular Obama administration.

Is Obama's unpopularity greater than Clinton's was in 1994? We need 10 senate seats (as of Tuesday, January 19th), which seemed impossible a year ago. However, considering the overwhelming disfavor Grassroots America and Town Hall meetings are showing, the Republicans are now inching closer to that possibility in 2010 and certainly by 2012.

As Rasmussen reports, Senate Republicans are leading in 9 of the 10 states needed and tied in the 11th (Mo). In addition, they are leading in the Governors races in 10 states (Perry leading Hutcheson 11% in Texas) and remember we just won upset victories in VA and NJ.

If I were to point to the greatest single factor I believe Grassroots America is upset with most incumbents (both R's & D's) it would be spending, especially explosions in pork barrel and earmarks. The Club for Growth www.clubforgrowth.org ranks all congressmen as to their anti-pork scores. How can Kay Granger defend her 2007 & 2009 RePork Card rating of "21%" and "7%", when compared to Jeb Hensarling's 100% both years?

Similarly, how can Sen. Hutcheson defend her "Porker of the Month" title "awarded" by CAGW (Citizens Against Government Waste). It would also be hard to explain both Kay's stances on pro-choice to conservatives. Neither of these positions support my objectives of trying to carry on the Reagan Revolution. Secondly, voters in the Massachusetts race were interviewed to find out what issues were most important in securing the Brown victory. National Security came in as one of the most important reasons they voted for Brown. So I submit to you that spending, security, and the unemployment situation will be the deciding factors in the upcoming races.

During my 38 years, as a party activist and sometimes election judge/precinct chairman, I have observed that all votes come from either Statesmen or Politicians. The difference being that a Statesman can defend his/her vote because it is consistent with their rhetoric, whereas a Politician cannot. Each have the freedom in this country to vote as they see fit, but we as Grassroots America Voters have that same freedom to either praise or expose them as Politicians.

In the coming two months, I submit we have two challenges:

Recognize the critical crossroads that this nation faces, roll up our sleeves, respectfully choose the statesman we believe can best "undo" 2006 & 2008 and work like never before to identify like minded voters and then get- them to the polls in March
Unite together and respectfully remove any and all ill effects resulting from the competition of the primary.

We have never faced more important elections than in 2010 and 2012, but...neither have we ever faced a greater opportunity (this year's optimistic shift in conservative momentum) to take back the House, the Senate and the Presidency. We must keep it this time by returning to basic conservative principles that were so successful in the Reagan era, which was the last time there was a true connection of dots between Washington and Grassroots America. Let us all unite working together to reconnect those dots and with God's help save this great nation.

And special thanks to Don Shipe for allowing me to use his county legislative report as the basis for this article.

Laraine Bethke, 4th Vice President
Legislative Alert