Katy's Conservative Corner

New Bern Bears Defeat Raleigh's Leesville Road High, Return to Div 4-AA State Championship Game

Update:  Your blogger is pleased to report that her New Bern High Bears have earned a return trip to the State Championship game, to once again face Charlotte Independence High.  Congrats Bears!  NC Eastern Division 4-AA Champs.

Previous Story:

It's prep playoff time, and as usual, your blogger's alma mater is right in the thick of things, this time in the Eastern Division 4-AA finals. 

After defeating Raleigh Millbrook last week at home, the Bears are facing another Raleigh team, Leesville Road High, in New Bern. 

The Bears, undefeated at home this season, and 12-2 overall, face a never-say die, 13-1 Leesville Road team that has taken ten buses to your blogger's hometown.  The Pride last week, defeated Hope Mills South View High to advance to this week's contest.

The New Bern team features Senior linebacker Anthony Reddick, who will play in the Shrine Bowl at the end of the prep season.

The amazing thing about New Bern football, is that the total population of the city is so small.  Yet, they are always in there, fighting for those championships against teams from larger areas with bigger talent pools of players. But, they manage to win, year after year.  Your blogger attributes this to desire and heart. 

The Bears have defeated teams from Raleigh two straight weeks.  A win tonight, would make it a three-peat.  Wake County has nearly one million residents, yet their teams cannot defeat a team representing a much smaller town.  No wonder WRAL-TV reported that Leesville is truly playing for all of Wake County and Wake County "Pride".

Two years ago, your blogger's family sat in a cold, windy, Carter-Finley stadium, and watched the Bears lose to a much stronger Charlotte Independence team.  Clearly a more talented team, Independence was able to draw the best of the best from a two-state area.  Watching the Bears miss tackle after tackle, it was like watching a pee-wee team play the Dallas Cowboys.  Yet those boys in the red and black were inspiring. 

Charlotte is a major metro city that hosts three professional sports teams (if you include the AAA Charlotte Knights).  New Bern is one of the smaller cities in North Carolina, have not even college sports, and they were simply outplayed.

Tonight's Bears/Pride winner faces the winner of the Western 4-AA Championship game, either Charlotte Independence or West Charlotte, two very powerful teams!  A possible rematch of the 2004 and 2005 games could be in the works if both New Bern and Independence win this evening.

According to the Time-Warner Cable website, the 4-AA State Championship will be held in Chapel Hill on Saturday, December 8th at 7:30 p.m.  Time-Warner cable will broadcast the game.

Let's get there again, New Bern. This member of NBHS Class of 1985 may have called Raleigh home for 25 years, but her heart is still at New Bern High.

Editor's Note:  Your blogger won 10 varsity letters during her years at New Bern High.  She played varsity basketball, tennis, and softball. 

Her most coveted high school sports award is the Roy T. Holton Sportsmanship Award, voted her by her fellow Tennis team members.

Her Senior year, she was voted "Most Athletic" as a senior superlative.

She also played soccer in the summers, as the school then did not field a girl's soccer team and ran road races as a hobby and to keep in shape, as well as surfed, sailed, and waterskiied. 

She later went on to play soccer at Meredith College. 

Did Congressman Walter B. Jones, Jr Plagiarize A Mailing?

Congressman Tom Cole (R-Oklahoma) must feel mighty honored today.  It's not everyday that another sitting Congressman copies your work and passes it off as his own.  Yet, that's just what former Army Ranger and NC Third District Congressional Candidate Joe McLaughlin is accusing Rep. Walter Jones, Jr. (R-NC, left) of doing.

According to an e-mail from the McLaughlin campaign:

Not only does Walter Jones no longer speak for the people of eastern North Carolina, he no longer speaks for himself.   Allow me to explain.

Most of you who live in the district received a mailer from Walter Jones a few weeks back ...  In Congress, the ability to send out mail to inform your constituents about important issues is called “franking privilege” but frankly, this mailer crossed the line. 

The full-page mailer was termed an “Immigration Update”, but it was clearly a re-election mailer.   However, there was a major problem with the mailer, besides the fact that your tax dollars were used to send it:  it was plagiarized!

Why are NC's citizens Paying So Much Attention to the Presidential Races?

It's that time.  Once every four years, our nation relects on what we want in the next leader of the free world. 

This year has been especially interesting, as both major political parties will conduct their primaries and caucuses to see who we choose to represent them in next Fall's elections. 

The primary season is earlier than ever and within just a few weeks, the nominees will be all but selected.  So why all the hubbub in North Carolina?

North Carolinians are just like citizens of every state.  We like to have a say in the political processes. 

But, let's face it:  our presidential primary isn't until May, and that gives us NO SAY in the selection process.  NO SAY at all. 

But, instead of whining about how "left out" North Carolina is in the process, let us focus on what we do have control of, and what is actually the more important elections. 

We have a lot of important state and local primary races on the ballot in May.  Members of both parties will choose a nominee for Governor, State Treasurer, and other important offices. 

We'll have judicial candidates and congressional races on the ballot, as well.  In the Fall, I don't want to see our state and local candidates left behind in a blur behind the glamorous presidential candidates.

It's up to us, as voters, to be informed on every single race all the way down the ticket.  For example, did you know that judicial races are non-partisan and a straight party ballot won't cast a vote for them?

Raleigh Democrat D.G. Martin has written an interesting column in the online Raleigh Chronicle that your blogger highly recommends, entitled, January is the END of the Campaign.

Bill Clinton Coming To Raleigh, Not Bringing Hillary

According to Under the Dome online, former President Bill Clinton will appear in Raleigh on Dec. 13 at the Brier Creek Country Club.

The cost is $1,000 per person or $2,300 for a smaller reception that includes a photograph with the impeached former president.  Stained dress and beret not included.

Thankfully, wife Hillary, will not attend.

State Sen. Robert Pittenger To Run for Lt. Governor

According to a post on the NC Republican Roundtable, it's official.  After much speculation, state Senator Robert Pittenger (R-Mecklenburg) has thrown his hat into the ring.  He joins five Democrats seeking the position.

Read the full story here.

Watch for more information about the Pittenger campaign, coming soon.

Are You Gay or Bi and Use Meth? Research Triangle Institute Wants YOU!

Are you homosexual or bi?  Do you also use meth?  This, then, is your lucky day, as the Research Triangle Institute International wants you!

According to an ad found on the back page of your blogger's favorite liberal rag, the Independent, RTI International is interested in talking with gay and bisexual males about sex and meth use.  They want to speak with males 18+ who live in the RDU area.

Incredibly, "reimbursement" is provided.  Thus, gay and bi males can tell all, and then use the money to purchase more drugs and engage in further reckless and dangerous behavior. Way to go RTI.

Move America Forward to Sponsor "Support the Troops Rally" Dec 12 in Raleigh, Fayetteville

  Move America Forward brings their Christmas tour to Fayetteville and Raleigh on December 12th.  The Raleigh Rally is set for 12:30 at the State Capitol and the Fayetteville venue has not yet been announced.

Move America Forward has been crossing the country and holding pro-troop rallies in more than 40 different cities.  As they go, they are collecting Christmas greeting cards for delivery to our soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.

North Carolina Gathering of Eagles member Tina Medlin has been working to make the Old North State stops successful.  She and the Gathering of Eagles ask that "we let our troops know that ... the majority of Americans, appreciate the sacrifices they make."

Please come, bring your Christmas cards, and your American flags, and show our thanks to our troops, past and present.

For More Information:

http://www.gatheringofeaglesnc.org/upcoming.html  (Maps and Directions to be posted soon, the GOE reports)

Presidential Candidate Huckabee in Greensboro December 6th

The Mike Huckabee Presidential campaign invites everyone to meet their candidate at a reception on December 6th from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at 2102 West Market Street in Greensboro.

Cost per person is $100.  Sponsorships are available.

For more information or to RSVP:

Please e-mail [email protected] or call 336-272-8687 or 336-282-1040.

Download the invitation here:

huckabee-12-6-07.pdf

"An Evening With Juan Williams", Jan 17, 2008, Raleigh

Don't miss "An Evening with Juan Williams" on January 17, 2008 at the Raleigh Woman's Club.

Williams, a senior correspondent for NPR, political analyst for Fox News, panelist on "Fox News Sunday", and author of Thurgood Marshall, will discuss his new book, Enough: The Phony Leaders, Dead-End Movement and Culture Failure that are undermining Black America - And What We Can Do About It. 

He will also present his views and solutions on how black Americans can overcome the "culture of failure" and fully participate in America's freedoms and prosperity.

For complete information, please visit see the Civitas Institute website or contact Jason Bennett for more information (919) 834-2099.

Happy Belated Birthday USMC

"Some people wonder all their lives if they've made a difference.  The Marines don't have that problem."

Ronald Wilson Reagan, 40th President

Happy Belated Birthday, United States Marine Corps!  Thank you for defending our freedoms that we so often take for granted.

SEC Championship Game This Saturday features Katy's Beloved Vols

This isn't exactly a political entry, but your blogger takes a point of personal privilege from time-to-time to commemorate a special event. This Saturday, the Volunteers of the University of Tennessee take the field in the Georgia Dome to face the LSU Tigers in the SEC Championship Football game.

Your blogger sat in Carter-Finley stadium for the final time in 2007, last Saturday, watching the final seconds of the season tick off the NC State clock.   Watching the Wolfpack lose at home 37 - 0 to Maryland was a bitter pill to swallow, but she hopes the Vols will redeem the season for her by winning the SEC title.

Go Vols!  If you want to join in the fun, the Raleigh Vol Nation meets for a game-watching party at High 5, located in the Glenwood South district. Sure, the game will be on national television, but come and root with fellow fans.  The N & O's very own Rob Christensen, a Vol alum, might just be there.

 

AIDS: What is North Carolina Losing?

With a job, a toddler, and volunteer activities, I occasionally get behind on my reading.  Thus, I didn't get to read Tuesday's Raleigh News and Observer until today. 

On the front page of the "City and State" section, I noticed an article entitled "Raising Awareness of 'What the World is Losing'".  It was an article about the traveling AIDS quilt that is visiting the Triangle area. The idea is to raise awareness about the disease and how it can be acquired.

The sad thing about AIDS is that the vast majority of those with the disease are homosexual or bisexual males.  The article didn't report that because it's not popular to acknowledge that fact in the "drive by" media. 

AIDS certainly can affect anyone from newborn babies to hemophiliacs like Ryan White who received at least one tainted blood transfusion and eventually died of AIDS, proving there are those who deserve our sympathy.

Though any loss of human life is tragic, others who indulge in reckless sexual behavior might not be as deserving.  Those who are most successful in life, know how to control their impulses, sexual and otherwise.

According to the article, one-quarter of the people infected with the virus that causes AIDS don't even know they have it.  So get tested already. 

Every pregnant woman is encouraged to have an AIDS test, and your blogger had hers.  It's a simple procedure that is painless. 

If you've been having reckless sex (i.e. with multiple partners), stop.  For those who have the AIDS virus, stop having sex, period!  Your temporary gratification is not worth one human life!  This is what the mainstream media won't tell you.

That may seem like a difficult concept to grasp for some, but it can be done.  Then, and only then, will this disease stop killing people.

In the early days of AIDS, people like Senator Jesse Helms were abused in the press for calling AIDS a "social" disease.  I'm not so sure he was wrong.

Ron Paul Supporters Learning the NC GOP Ropes

According to Buncombe County sources, Ron Paul supporters are continuing to learn the rules of the North Carolina Republican Party so as to become delegates and eventually disrupt the State Party convention.

According to an e-mail obtained by Katy's Conservative Corner, Paul's supporters in Western NC figure that it is much easier to learn the rules to become delegates themselves instead of persuading others to support Paul at the convention.  "Jerry" wrote:

After reading the NC GOP rules, here's what I get:

The delegates to the county conventions are chosen at the precinct level. Most precincts are not organized, and preference is given to republicans who attend who wish to be delegates. So, for example, if you were a new republican went to the precinct convention in Charles Taylor's precinct, (sic) said you wanted to to be a delegate and he did not attend, you would get the seat. The same is true for the county conventions, and all the way up the line. So, this must start at the ground level.

There is a Buncombe County GOP meeting Monday evening at Ryan's at Biltmore Square. Dinner at 6, meeting at 6:30. I plan to go and find out about organizing for the precinct.

Henderson County GOP Has Great New Site

The Henderson County Republican Party has launched a brand-new site for the 2008 election cycle.  The site is clean, information is easy-to-find, and Katy's Conservative Corner gives it "two snaps up".

Please visit our friends in the western part of North Carolina and see the how high they've raised the bar for the rest of us. 

Congratulations to Robert Danos and his team of crack conservatives:  http://www.hendersoncountygop.com/

Buy Nothing on Black Friday? Another Anti-American Scheme!

According to the many leftist blogs and websites, nationwide, today is "Buy Nothing Day".  According to North Carolina's own OrangePolitics.org,

"Buy Nothing Day is a simple idea with deep implications. It forces us to think about the 'shop-till-you-drop"imperative and its impact on the rest of the world. The Buy Nothing Day movement began thirteen years ago in Canada and has since spread around the globe."

While we here at Katy's Conservative Corner can certainly understand their sentiments of not wanting to get stressed out at every mall and store in North Carolina, your blogger feels that our liberal friends need to understand that this day is called Black Friday for a reason. 

Most Americans have the day off.  After stuffing themselves full of traditional fare on Thanksgiving Day, many feel it's time to catch the sales on the first traditional day of the Christmas shopping season.

What the so-called Buy Nothing Day is really about, is a stab at capitalism.  It's a stab at merchants, large and small, who are employers, family members, and business owners. 

They are chasing the American dream to make life better for themselves and their children.  As usual, our liberal friends do not understand that this is not the greed they fear, but rather, what is wonderful about our fine nation.

The leftists like to think that, by not buying anything, they are sending a message.  They'd rather sit around at a pointless poetry reading than help the American economy, but what they are actually doing, is making space in the checkout lines for the rest of us.

Your blogger usually doesn't have the toughness to venture out on Black Friday, as she had to work that day numerous times during her "career" in retail.  However, she and her family went out to pick up a few items for tomorrow's final NC State home game against Maryland.  She is pleased to report that crowds were healthy and steady.

If your blogger's leftist friends really believe that this day is about resting and staying out of the crowds, she urges them to sit home at the computer, and exercise that credit/debit card at online shopping sites.

Just stay off eBay, as your blogger has learned that the fabled auction site is anti-second amendment.  (More on that in another entry.)

Here's to Black Friday and to capitalism everywhere!

A Conservative Christian's Deliberation Continues by Kevin Watts

The various headlines read:

Anti-Abortion Group Backs Thompson For President; Christian Right Backs Giuliani On GOP Ticket, McCain Reaches Out To Religious Conservatives, Giuliani Endorsed By Televangelist Pat Robertson, etc.

For me, a conservative Christian, it is nice to feel so wanted.

Fred Thompson, who I am currently supporting for President, received an endorsement from the National Right to Life Committee. Yet, we continue to see the divide among Christian conservatives, as displayed in the above headlines.

Thompson supports the overturn of Roe vs. Wade  and for the states to decide such an issue. It seems that many Republican hopefuls are in step with this decision.

However, no one wants to support a Human Life Amendment because they know it will not be passed. So the Republicans are left with the hope that, once in office, they can appoint conservative Justices to the Supreme Court to correct Roe vs. Wade and hand the decision over to the states.

I was pleased to see that Ron Paul stands firm on his pro-life stance, especially with his medical profession and background. However, Ron Paul's stances seem to veer off track. Dr. Paul's Libertarian views get in the way of his conservatism. Libertarianism seems to support "alternative lifestyles" and be weak on defense.

Dr. Paul supports bringing all US troops back home from every nation in which they currently serve. He iseems to be an advocate of 'circling the wagons" and waiting on us to be attacked instead of taking the fight to them.

Personally, I would rather see us defeat terrorism in the foreign lands we now help defend land and not wait until it arrives in North Carolina. 

What Paul doesn't understand is that we are in a war that is not of our choosing. Terrorism will never stop, unless the United States stops it first. This is why we must fight to the end and win.

Nevertheless, my deliberation on issues and candidates continues. I will keep watching and reading. As for now, my Fredmobile will continue to display bumperstickers of Fred Smith and Fred Thompson. Two solid conservatives.

Liberalism: America's Cancer! 

Editor's Note: The writer, Kevin Watts, is a Smithfield political activist.  His views are not necessarily those of Katy's Conservative Corner. 

Katy's Conservative Corner agrees that the decision to find a Presidential candidate to support was difficult, but the fact is, in 2008, North Carolina won't matter very much.  Our primary is not until May, long after the nominees will have been chosen.  Thus, unless you are able write huge checks to the candidate of your choice, your voice will virtually NOT matter in the presidential campaign. 

The Deal for Randy Parton? Even Better Than Before by Rob Benningfield

My wife and I were watching a report on our local evening news last night about the latest fallout from the money pit of Roanoke Rapids, the Randy Parton Theatre.

You recall that the venue was built with State incentives and $21.5 million from the city itself.  Carolina Journal and other conservative media have documented this waste of taxpayer money (http://www.carolinajournal.com/exclusives/display_exclusive.html?id=4031).

Anyway, the news says that the Theatre's budget is getting slashed to save money.  "Headliner" Randy Parton himself will have to take a pay cut in his salary from $1 million/year to $250 thousand/year.  "That's fair," I thought at first. 

Then the news said that Randy Parton's performance schedule would be slashed too, from four shows per week to 36 shows per year.

Wait a minute.  The math doesn't add up to me.  Sure he's getting a pay cut in annual salary from his namesake theatre. 

However, for a million dollars he would've at least performed 200 shows per year (at 4/week, and I'll give him two weeks off).  That would've been $5,000 per show.  Now he gets $250,000 for 36 shows.  That's $6,944 per show. 

So, Parton really gets paid more for each performance.  He's getting paid >25% more per show even as he works less.  Of course, as part of his contract, he still gets a free house and car.  Not a bad deal.

That's a better deal, really, than what the citizens of NC (at least $500 thousand in State funds spent on marketing for the Theatre) and especially Roanoke Rapids (which borrowed that $21.5 million) are getting.

Not bad for a famous country singer's little brother with one top 200 hit, ages ago.

Editor's Note: Rob Benningfield is a Systems Engineer with Alcatel-Lucent and resides in west Raleigh with your blogger and their son, and dog.

Making Thanksgiving Meaningful Again by Newt Gingrich

Editior's Note: Your blogger is a huge fan of American history and wishes she could have been taught by Professor (and former US House Speaker) Newt Gingrich.  Please enjoy Thanksgiving post for 2007.

Thanksgiving: The First Uniquely American Holiday

The history of Thanksgiving goes all the way back to the second decade of English-speaking people in North America. Thanksgiving was the first uniquely American holiday.

Yesterday, President Bush visited the site in Virginia -- Berkeley Plantation -- where the first Thanksgiving was celebrated in 1619 -- 12 years after the founding of the Virginia colony at Jamestown.

The first Thanksgiving was a religious celebration -- an occasion to thank God -- that featured only a modest meal. It wasn't until two years later, in 1621, that Thanksgiving was expanded to include a banquet by the pilgrims in Massachusetts.

President Washington Makes Thanksgiving a Day for a Free People to Acknowledge Their Debt to God

During his first year in office, President George Washington issued a proclamation calling for a day of "public thanksgiving and prayer." Washington had been a general who had spent eight years on the field of battle winning our freedom from Great Britain. Then he spent another six years creating the Constitution and the government that we still have 218 years later (the longest continuing constitutional government in the world).

So Washington understood well the nature of a free society and its obligation to both thank God and seek His guidance. In his Thanksgiving proclamation, Washington wrote: "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."

Continue to Lincoln Builds on Washington's Tradition below.

NC DEMs Plan "Holiday" Party, Afraid they Might Offend

In an e-mail to North Carolina Democrats, chairman Jerry Meek has invited supporters to a "Holiday" Reception on December 11th at state party headquarters on Hillsborough Street in Raleigh. 

Apparently, afraid to re-offend the "chronically offended" (see previous post), Meek invites the faithful to shell out $50 per person to have the chance to rub elbows with "fellow supporters and democratic (sic) legislators" as they get ready for 2008.

I think I might just ring up my Democrat friends to wish them  "happy holidays" or my personal least favorite "season's greetings".  (What the heck does that mean, anyway?) 

This argument to be continued in your nearest local newspaper, which will, most assuredly waste gallons of ink "discussing" the issue.

Guilford YRs to Host NC Young Republican Convention

  The Young Republican State Convention returns to Greensboro in April 11-12, 2008, at the Koury Center.  Hosted by the Guilford County YRs, the convention promises to be a hotbed of political activitity, in the midst of the primary season. 

Guilford County was selected to be the host club in May 2007, at the executive meeting of the North Carolina Federation of Young Republicans.  Convention Committee members include chairman Kyle Suggs, vice chairman Theresa Yon, and treasurer Daryn Iwicki.

Your editor, a 20-year member of the Young Republicans from Wake County (until she aged out), has been selected as the event's official blogger.