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PACHYDERM PRESS
THIRD DISTRICT REPUBLICAN NEWSLETTER
Go elephants!! It’s a great election
year – one election is down. The Primary is over, now it is time to
unite behind Republican candidates and get them elected in November.
This newsletter gives us an opportunity to find out what is
happening in the GOP, to hear from Republicans and discuss the
issues that face our nation and state. And to synchronize our
calendars. Let’s go!
IMPORTANT GOP NATIONAL CONVENTION NOTICE!!!
If you want to be a delegate to the Republican National
Convention in New York City, then on or before Tuesday, May 25,
2004, you must submit to the State Republican Party a notice of
intent to be a delegate or alternate to the National convention.
Forms are available from NEGOP. Call 402-475-3541. That is the first
step.
The second step – get elected as a delegate or alternate delegate to
the State Republican Convention at your County Republican Convention
during the first 10 days of June. Only individuals elected to be
state convention delegates or alternates at their June County
Convention are eligible to be elected as delegate or alternate to
the national convention. You cannot just show up to the State
Convention and run for delegate to the national convention.
Finally, the third step is to attend the State Republican Party
convention on June 26 in Lincoln at the Holiday Inn Downtown and run
for election as a delegate. At that convention, three delegates and
three alternate delegates will be elected in each of the three
Congressional District Caucuses. After the caucus delegate
elections, an additional 23 delegates and 23 alternate delegates
will be elected at-large by all the delegates to the State
convention.
Delegates to the State Convention. At the SCC meeting in
Omaha, State Republican Convention delegates were allocated by
Congressional district as follows:
First District 126
Second District 120
Third District 154
Total 400
The Third District gets more votes because of our loyal Republican
voters. Yea TD GOP!
National Committeewoman and Committeeman
decide not to run. Pat Dorwart and Duane Acklie announced
at the SCC meeting in Norfolk that they would not run for
re-election to the positions of Republican National Committeewoman
and Committeeman. New people will serve in these two important
positions in our state party.
Article IV of the State Republican Constitution reads, “In each year
when a President of the United States is to be elected, the State
Convention shall elect a National Committeeman and National
Committeewoman to take office at the close of the succeeding
National Convention.” Duane and Pat will serve through the National
Convention in New York. Then new people elected at our June State
Convention will take over at the end of the National Convention
proceedings.
In Norfolk, De Carlson of Crofton and Kerry Winterer of Omaha
visited the district causes to express their intention to run for
these positions at the State Convention. There may be others who
will put their hat in the ring. Some nail biter elections have been
held at the State Convention for these positions in the past.
FEC Drops Back 15 and Punts. Free-For-All Begins.
The Federal Election Commission delayed a decision on the complaint
filed by the Republican National Committee and the Bush/Cheney
campaign against 527 political groups and the John Kerry for
President campaign. Barring a miraculous reversal, the 527 political
groups will create a lot of noise and will have a major impact on
the 2004 elections.
With the complaint under consideration at the FEC, Republicans
discouraged the formation of 527 political groups supporting GOP
candidates and causes. Now that the FEC has failed to make a
favorable decision on the Republican complaint, a number of
Republican oriented 527 groups are sure to be created and enter the
fray. Brace yourself for a huge political free-for-all among a large
number of diverse 527 political groups.
Urging that the FEC should control 527 groups, Senator Chuck Hagel
said “Elections should be about elevating the debate in an honest
and open way. Instead, because of these 527 groups, we are seeing
shadowy, unaccountable groups defining down political standards and
accountability. These groups spend unlimited amounts of money in raw
partisan attacks. This fails the American people.”
To Senator Hagel’s comments, all we can add is Amen.
Moving Time. NEGOP New Home. Nebraska
Republican Party headquarters is being moved from leased office
space to our own building at 1610 N Street in Lincoln. “We have
worked very hard to get the building remodeled to meet our needs,”
said David Kramer, NEGOP Chairman, “and it will be a wonderful
facility for our staff, volunteers and candidates.” One of the first
events will be a reception for the State Convention Delegates on
June 25, the night before the Convention which is to be held on June
26.
Our First District Candidate for Congress. Jeff
Fortenberry won an eight way Republican primary on May 11.
Congratulations! The GOP is united behind him to win this important
election. Let’s all give him a hand. Here’s some information about
Jeff.
Education
Jeff's education includes a Bachelor of Economics, a Master of
Public Policy from Georgetown University, and a Master of Theology.
Lincoln City Council. Jeff served in public office as an
at-large Lincoln City Council Member from 1997-2001. During his term
in office, he worked on numerous economic development and urban
revitalization projects, including the transition of a major public
hospital and a new baseball stadium. He took a particular interest
in neighborhood concerns and environmental and beautification
projects. While on the City Council, Jeff also focused on public
safety, adding twenty-four new police officers-all of this while
keeping the tax rate flat.
Public Policy. Jeff has extensive background in public policy
analysis and urban planning, having helped direct a city urban
redevelopment agency. He formerly worked on a special project for
the United States Senate: During the farm crisis Jeff examined the
way in which falling agricultural land values were affecting local
municipalities.
Publishing Industry. Jeff is currently employed in the
publishing industry, helping trucking companies and truckers sell
their equipment through the industry's leading trade publication and
innovative use of the internet.
Personal Highlights
• Married to Celeste; four children
• Parishioner, St. Joseph Catholic Church
• Republican Party Member
• Nebraska National Guard Civilian Leadership Council
• Hometown Security Committee, City of Lincoln, 2003
• Lincoln Rotary Club
• Lincoln Independent Business Association
Jeff Fortenberry is a Good Candidate. Where doe he stand?
Politics is full of complexities and difficult decisions. Issues
come and go, but good judgment should be constant. Jeff’s political
philosophy can be summarized in a simple sentence: The strength of
our nation depends upon the strength of our nation’s families and
communities. This will be his fundamental guide as he makes
decisions. Here is what he says about his positions on important
issues in Washington.
Social and Cultural Issues
• Life Issues: I am pro-life. I will work to reignite a love
for life and respect for all persons. Life begins at conception and
must be protected from that moment until natural death. Abortion is
an injustice to women and their unborn children. Women deserve
better, especially women who may feel coerced into abortion. I will
be a compassionate voice on their behalf, working to form our
community as a place of life and love for all people in need. I
oppose unethical scientific research. Human cloning and research
that uses aborted fetal tissue or destroys human embryos should be
banned.
• Marriage: Marriage, by its essence, is the union of one man
and one woman. Like our President, I support a carefully constructed
constitutional amendment protecting the institution of marriage from
those who seek to redefine it. While all persons should be able to
live without fear or harassment in the community, a society cannot
reorder the most basic form of community life without severe
consequences. I also support the appointment of judges who will
bring reason and restraint back to the federal bench.
• Hunting and Self Protection: The Second Amendment to the
U.S. Constitution says, "The right of the people to keep and bear
arms shall not be infringed." As your congressmen I will protect our
right to bear arms, to hunt, and to defend ourselves with firearms.
I support the rights of law-abiding gun owners.
• Judges: Our founding fathers gave us a government with
checks and balances, so that no one branch could have too much
power. This system is greatly threatened by today’s judicial
activism. Some judges are creating constitutional “rights” out of
nothing. They are suspending laws they don’t like, or not enforcing
them. They are ordering legislatures to craft laws according to
their political agenda. It is time to reassert the original,
delicate balance of power created by James Madison and the other
constitutional framers.
Economic Issues
• Taxes: Taxes should be simple, reasonable, and moderate.
Especially in difficult economic times when salaries are flat, I
think it is wrong for the government—at any level—to increase the
tax burden on hard working families. When we Americans are able to
keep more of our hard-earned money to save, invest, and spend as we
see fit, it strengthens families and it strengthens the economy.
• Deficit: The right way to beat back the deficit is by
reducing government spending and by strengthening the economy. One
way to do that is by giving small business owners better access to
capital. I have proposed an innovative idea that I call the “Capital
IRA”. Like a regular IRA, this would give tax incentives to workers
who may wish to start, expand, or buy a business. The small family
farm could use the money to expand into direct marketing of its
products, entrepreneurial young people could get a jump start into
creative business opportunities, more senior workers could start
spin-off side activities—perhaps from home. Most families work in
small business; and family economic security is a top priority to
me.
• Health Care: The Health Savings Plan is the medical care of
the future-allowing families to be smarter consumers of their own
health care, partnering with doctors for treatment that is targeted
and manageable, controlling runaway health costs. I'm a strong
supporter of this innovation.
• Agriculture: We Nebraskans are rooted in the land. The
values of hard work, family life, neighbor helping neighbor, and
personal responsibility are found most profoundly on the family
farm. Our rural way of life must be guarded, cherished, preserved,
and rebuilt. I pledge to support and help create innovative policies
that encourage agricultural diversity and creative entrepreneurship.
Defense Issues
• Immigration: Immigration policy should be based on justice
and compassion, particularly for those fleeing political or economic
persecution. My friends from Vietnam, Nigeria, and El Salvador
attest to the goodness of American society, and to Nebraska, which
welcomed them. Immigration policy should also be based on common
sense and order. Uncontrolled borders and automatic amnesty are
unacceptable policy positions that undermine America’s ability to
help people in need.
• Homeland Security and the War on Terror: I have supported
President Bush in his hard decision to go to war. We were attacked
by an unconventional enemy, and we must remain open to
unconventional ways of responding. Waiting until we are attacked
again is too late. Our children must be able to lay their heads down
at night feeling safe. I honor the men and women of our military and
their families for their sacrifices to keep our homeland secure.
Jeff is a great candidate and someone that his fellow Republicans
can support with pride. This is an important 2004 battle ground and
each of us should do our best to help win this election. You can
contact Jeff at jeff@supportfort.com.
What about Jeff’s Opponent? Democrats Select
Liberal. Matt Connealy is the Nebraska Democratic running
against our Republican candidate Jeff Fortenberry. During the
primary, Matt Connealy relied on support from very liberal Democrats
and big unions. For example, Connealy sought support from
Congresswoman Steny Hoyer of Maryland.
Chris Peterson, executive director of the Nebraska Republican Party,
had this to say, “Matt Connealy has chosen to align himself with one
of the most left-wing members of Congress. Steny Hoyer has a voting
record at odds with the views of a majority of Nebraskans on a
laundry list of issues, especially abortion. Matt Connealy should
explain to Nebraskans why he would welcome the support of one of the
most liberal members of Congress with a long record of voting
against Nebraska values.”
Rep. Hoyer is a staunch supporter of a woman’s right to abort her
unborn child and he believes taxpayers should pay for such
procedures. Hoyer even voted against the federal ban on
partial-birth abortion seven times and against the “Laci Peterson
Bill” which criminalizes violent crimes against a pregnant woman’s
unborn child.
“Nebraskans have a right to be concerned when Matt Connealy brings
liberals like Steny Hoyer to Nebraska to campaign for him, and Matt
Connealy has a responsibility to explain how far he will go to
support the liberal Democrat agenda in Washington. What do we want
in Washington? Nebraska values or the liberal Democrat agenda?” Your
work and support will make the difference.
Ann Batchelder Leadership Program Inaugurated. An
Inaugural luncheon was held at the Nebraska Club in Lincoln,
Nebraska, announcing the beginning of “The Anne Batchelder
Excellence in Public Service Series”. This series is named in honor
of Anne Batchelder of Omaha, Nebraska. The program is a yearlong
Education Leadership program, sponsored by the Nebraska Republican
Party. For more information please contact the Nebraska Republican
Party 1-800-829-3459 or Pat Dorwart at 308-254-4333.
Anne Stuart Batchelder settled in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1945. After a
career with the American Red Cross as a club mobile driver in the
European Theatre of Operations, she served in England, France,
Belgium, Holland and Germany. While in Germany she met and married
her husband, Lt. Col. Clifton Batchelder.
Anne served on numerous boards and foundations including:
Brownell-Talbot School, Omaha Public Library, Methodist Hospital
Foundation, Uta-Halee Home for Girls and the Hasting College
Foundation. Anne was a long time board member of the Midland Chapter
of the Boys Scouts, the National Federation of Republican Women, a
Director for the Omaha National Bank and a member of the Board of
Trustees, an Elder and a Clerk of Session for her church.
Anne has always had a keen interest in Republican politics. Serving
as Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Nebraska Republican Party,
National Committee Woman, Finance Chairman for Bush/Quayle and a
nominee for Lt. Governor as well as helping many Republican
candidates throughout Nebraska. She has attended the last thirteen
Republican Conventions as a delegate or alternate delegate and was
inducted into the Nebraska Republican Party Hall of Fame in 1984.
In Anne’s honor and in recognition of Anne’s long history for
working for her community, church and the Nebraska Republican Party,
the Winning Women’s Program in the state of Nebraska is named “The
Anne Batchelder Excellence in Public Service Series”.
Democracy. Will it endure in our Country? At about the
time our original 13 states adopted their new constitution, in the
year 1787, Alexander Tyler (a Scottish history professor at The
University of Edinburgh) had this to say about, "The Fall of The
Athenian Republic" some 2,000 years prior.
"A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist
as a permanent form of government. A democracy will continue to
exist up until the time that voters discover that they can vote
themselves generous gifts from the public treasury. From that moment
on, the majority always votes for the candidates who promise the
most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that every
democracy will finally collapse due to loose fiscal policy, which is
always followed by a dictatorship."
"The average age of the world's greatest civilizations from the
beginning of history, has been about 200 years. During those 200
years, these nations always progressed through the following
sequence:
>From Bondage to spiritual faith;
>From Spiritual faith to great courage;
>From Courage to liberty;
>From Liberty to abundance;
>From Abundance to complacency;
>From Complacency to apathy;
>From Apathy to dependence;
>From Dependence back into bondage."
Interesting Facts. Professor Joseph Olson of Hamline
University School of Law, St. Paul, Minnesota, points out some
interesting facts concerning the most recent Presidential election:
Population of counties won by:
Gore=127 million
Bush=143 million
Square miles of land won by:
Gore=580,000
Bush=22,427,000
States won by:
Gore=19;
Bush=29
Murder rate per 100,000 residents in counties won by:
Gore=13.2
Bush=2.1
THIRD DISTRICT OFFICERS -- DEDICATED TO SERVING YOU
Elroy Bartels, Chairman 402-243-2283
John Hanson, Vice Chairman 308-390-0449
Herb Knudsen, Member-at-Large 308-284-8403
Shirley Peterson, Secretary 402-925-5882
KEEP UP TO DATE! SEE OUR THIRD DISTRICT WEB SITE!
www.megavision.com/gop
Our Thanks to Linda Aerni for Hosting this Site
QUICK DATES
Tuesday, May 25 – Final day to submit to the State Party
notice of intent to be a delegate or alternate delegate to the
national convention.
Tuesday, June 1 to Thursday, June 10 – County Conventions
Saturday, June 26 – State Republican Convention Holiday Inn
Downtown, Lincoln
August 28 to September 2 – Republican National Convention,
New York City
Tuesday, November 2 – General Election:
VOTE REPUBLICAN
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