Katy's Conservative Corner

Reader Mail: Oil/Gas Exploration Points by Kent Misegades

On Saturday, your blogger posted an update from NC Senate Republican Leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham), calling on Governor Beverly Perdue to consider drilling off the North Carolina coast for oil and gas.  This letter provides more information than did the previous post:

Katy,

Your comments on oil/gas exploration are appreciated. I have worked with this industry for many years.  A few additional points:

1. Modern extraction of oil & gas is done mostly from the sea floor.  One platform can cover an entire reservoir that would have required a dozen in years past.

2. Spills of oil are found mostly in history books. "Spills" of gas go harmlessly into the atmosphere. Most of what is now known off our coasts is gas, not oil.

3. The oil & gas industry brings many, many high-paying jobs, and not only for those working on the rigs: R&D (including funding of university research), engineering, major equipment sales/fabrication/maintenance, specialty ship-building, refineries,aviation (helicopters), etc.  One only needs to visit Sugarland (oil company office complex near Houston) or Calgary to see the immense wealth the industry has generated.

Kent

Editor's Note: Kent Misegades is an activist and expert in many areas, including education. He is chairman of Thales Academy, a low-cost private school in Apex.  

Sen. Phil Berger Urges Gov. Perdue To Act On Offshore Oil/Gas Exploration

 In a Friday press release, North Carolina's Senate Republican Leader, Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) urged our Governor to follow the Virginia State Senate in supporting offshore drilling for oil and gas so that Virginia would not get ahead of NC in job creation.  

In a letter he wrote to Gov. Beverly Perdue (D-Chapel Hill/Trent Woods-outside of New Bern), he urged her to:

"'take the necessary steps to ensure that North Carolina is not outpaced by Virginia when it comes to offshore oil and gas exploration and the new industry and jobs that could bring to our state."

Perdue said in pre-election debates, that she favors drilling only in "existing tracks" which are basically in the Gulf of Mexico and are far away from North Carolina and wouldn't help NC job seekers. 

During the 1998 RNC National Convention, the popular call became "Drill, Baby, Drill".  That has since been printed on lapel pins and bumper stickers, nationwide.  

Coastal environmental groups, such as the NC Coastal Federation, strongly oppose offshore drilling. 

Download the entire press release, below, in pdf along with Berger's  complete letter to the North Carolina Governor.

Download Republican Leader Brings Idea for Job Creation to Governor_2.26.10

Download Letter to Gov. Perdue re oil and gas exploration_2.26.10

EDITOR'S NOTE:  Your blogger has a cousin who worked on offshore oil platforms in Louisiana for years.  He would work for a certain amount of time on, then fly home for two weeks off, so he could rest and have time with his wife and family.  

The work is hard, the hours are tough, but the pay is extremely high for a blue collar job.   It allowed this man to take good care of his family, and save for a good retirement, if he wanted.  

Help AFP Keep This Health Care Ad on TV (Video)

 The Americans for Prosperity is fighting hard against Obamacare 2.0 and they need your help.  They are raising money to keep this ad on the air and need your donation.  Please watch the video and join us in sending whatever you can.  This group is fighting for all of us.

North Carolina is one of the founding states of AFP with more joining each year.  Let's show that we are here for them again.  So many of KCC's fellow conservatives join her and her husband at their annual summit entitled "Defending the American Dream".  Last year, NC took up (at least five bus loads), with many more people driving or flying separately.   

Watch this short video and see what you can do to help this important cause out.  Dallas Woodhouse and Chris Marie Farr are fighting hard for us in NC and a small staff of hard workers are doing the same in DC.  God bless them all!

Barbie The Computer Engineer

 When your blogger was a young girl in the late 1960s and 1970s, her only career options consisted of  the following:  secretary, nurse, or teacher.  These were the traditional roles that women took in the work place and  a woman was supposed to give up this role as soon as she was married.  Afterall, that's what our favorite girl, Barbie, did and KCC's mom was a hardworking young secretary, too.

Your blogger didn't realize until she was in 7th grade, that she could do anything she wanted to.  In 1979,  couple KCC babysat for, told her to go for it in life and not be held back by anything.  That was the first your blogger had heard of this.  

By this time, KCC was winning her Jr. High School's science fairs, and was doing well in science classes.  But she had never considered going into anything science-related.  When she attempted to study biology in college, it was too late.

Today's little girls don't have those limitations.  They even have toys that grow up to participate in careers once thought of as traditionally male.  Take Barbie for example.  The 126th career for Barbie is Computer Engineer (above, left).  

KCC's  husband is also an engineer, and says that companies located in the US often complain that domestic engineering schools do not turn out enough native born graduates.  Thus, they have to turn to imported talent, which involves more red tape and is thus more difficult to work with.  Companies today are working hard to help recruit young ladies into engineering schools.  

 Your blogger's husband encourages young girls to study math, as early as possible.  Boys are not naturally better in math, as previously thought.  Girls were just never before encouraged, as popular thought was that they would not need it.  KCC was once such a girl and today is very weak in her math "skills".

KCC applauds Barbie's latest career and hopes that she will bring more girls into the field. Gosh knows, we need them!  

For More Information:  Download Barbie's New Career

Editor's Note: In 1992, your blogger's mother proudly graduated with her B. A. degree. Since then, she has has enjoyed a successful sales career.

Tea Party PAC Endorses Roche in NC's 4th

The Frank Roche campaign has announced that it has received an endorsement from the Tea Party PAC.  Roche is running against B.J. Lawson (and another little known candidate) in the primary race to take on Congressman David Price in North Carolina's 4th Congressional District.  

Download the press release, in PDF, to check it out for yourself.  

Download TEAPARTY Endorsement Roche

Dority Drops Out of 4th Dist Race, Takes on Watt in12th Instead

 Apparently Greg Dority  read the writing on the wall, and knew that he had no chance in the crowded, four-man, 4th Congressional District primary race.  Despite the fact that the gerrymandered district was drawn up specifically for Congressman David Price, they lined up to take him on.

In a surprise, Dority sent a press release with the unusual announcement.

Dority's Press Release

Washington (NC) Republican, Greg Dority will challenge Democratic incumbent Mel Watt for the North Carolina 12th District congressional seat. Dority had earlier announced plans to file for NC-4 but dropped out of the race after last week's surprise filing by 2008 nominee B.J. Lawson.

"B.J. is a rock star in the Fourth District," Dority said Thursday.  "His name ID, funding capacity and similar economic views make my candidacy redundant in the Fourth."

 

Instead, Dority (left) filed paperwork at the Beaufort County Board of elections Thursday to challenge Watt.  His candidacy will be official upon receipt by the State Board of Elections.  

"True unemployment in Davidson and Rowan counties exceeds 17%," Dority said.  "Mel Watt is always ready to bail out the large financial institutions that have gambled away our children's future, but in the meantime his constituents cannot find jobs and continue to slip down the economic ladder."

Whether Dority will face primary opposition is unclear.  In 2004 he won the Republican First District congressional primary.

EDITOR'S NOTE 

Frank Roche was the first GOP candidate to challenge David Price, entering the race in May 2009.  The race became a primary when he was later joined by a candidate censured by his own party, George Hutchins.  

Dority lives in the Third Congressional District of North Carolina, and has run, not only in the first and fourth, but now also in the Twelfth.  In 2008, he ran in the GOP primary for Lt. Governor but lost to Charlotte businessman Robert Pittenger.  Pittenger went on to lose in the general election. 

KCC wishes Dority the best of luck as we need Watt out of Washington.  However, with the numerous high offices he has run for and lost, we wonder if perhaps he shouldn't start out with a city council, county commission, state House or state Senate race first.  

What Everyone Wants to Know About Scott Brown

 Senator Scott Brown (R-Mass) stopped by Blogger's Row after speaking to CPAC, and by doing so, he answered the question everyone has been asking.

No, he's not as good looking as he is on TV.  He's BETTER.  

He gave an excellent speech was treated to rock star status.  Fox News even reported Monday that  a rumor was floating that he might run for President.  

Wow, slow down cowboy, let's just get you settled in in Washington, first.  

Twas great to see our newest Senator!  He represents all of us.  

The second question: Where was "the truck?"  

"Parked just outside", he said to grand applause.

Editor's Note:

Many thanks to RedState and Erick Erickson for sponsoring Blogger's Lounge/Row.  If it weren't for RedState, KCC would have been unable to bring these reports to you

Check out RedState's CPAC Wrap-Up.

Marco Rubio Kicks Off CPAC (Video)

 State House Speaker Marco Rubio (R-Fla) as he kicks off CPAC 2010. The Roman Catholic son of Cuban exiles, got most people excited and in the mood for some good old-fashioned politicking.  

He said all the right things on all the right issues for hawkish conservatives, such as terrorism and standing by our allies like Israel and still lives in a working class neighborhood.

Speaker Rubio is running against Governor Charlie Crist (R-Fla) in the GOP primary for the United States Senate. Rubio is the conservative in the race, and thus the one who got the special invitation to keynote CPAC.  This speech is one for the ages, and is worth watching again and again.  We'll see him at the next Republican National Convention.

Enjoy the video and leave your respectful comments on the blog: 

Mark Sanford Quietly Visits CPAC (Video)

 Liberal website Salon.com caught up with disgraced and censured Gov Mark Sanford (R-S.C.)  as he was leaving the speaker's room at CPAC.  Sanford did not appear on any invitee list and your blogger wondered how he managed how to get back there, although your blogger had access.  Your blogger hates any corrupt politician and Sanford is no exception.  

KCC doesn't appreciate Salon's hack-job coverage of our top political meeting of the year.  Sure, we conservatives are working out growth problems but we have growth!  That's always a good thing.

Here is Sanford trying to leave the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Georgetown, the same hotel where your blogger stayed, compliments of Salon.com:

Does Security Trump Freedom? by Rob Benningfield

Former Attorney General John Ashcroft  (left, photo by Ryan J. Reilly) won the Defender of the Constitution Award Friday afternoon at this year's CPAC, right before a panel discussion, called Does Security Trump Freedom?

Moderated by the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLU) Chief Counsel Dr. Jay Sekulow,  panelists included former Congressman Bob Barr, California Representative Dan Lungren, former Virginia Governor Jim Gilmore, and Georgetown University Law Professor Viet Dinh.

Bob Barr, a Board Member of the National Rifle Association and Patrick Henry Center for Individual LIberty, began his comments by plugging the film "The Book of Eli", which he happily found to be pro-Bible.  

 Barr (right, with Dinh, courtesy Washington Post) noted that when he speaks in Britain, folks there, especially their college kids, tell him that they wish the UK had a written constitution like we do.  Barr maintained that Ronald Reagan would oppose any legislation that puts security over freedom. 

 Barr prefers civilian trials for terrorists, and considers waterboarding to be torture.  I must note he had a large Libertarian cheering section in the audience, made up of mostly 18-23 year old college kids, imported in on buses. The group was known as "Campaign for Liberty" and was working hard to raise money.  They even had a pep rally Friday evening, in a large private room, behind closed doors.   

Rep. Dan Lungren noted that as California Governor, Reagan supported tough anti-crime measures to preserve domestic security.  Lungren argued that you can't have freedom without having to have security.  He maintained Al Qaeda and its allies don't hate us because of Guantanamo Bay.  They hate us because of the Statue of Liberty. 

  Lungren, opposing Barr, believes (as I do) that foreign terrorists should be tried by military tribunals instead of civilian jury trials.  He supports waterboarding, and agrees with Katy and me in that  "we must prevent another 9/11-style atrocity to prevent an inevitable backlash against indivdual freedom".  He persuasively maintained that the Constitution allows us to defend ourselves. " It's not a suicide pact".

Jim Gilmore, now President and CEO of the Free Congress Foundation, opposed the federal stimulus bills and auto/bank bailouts, considering them an overreach by government.  However, he supports wiretaps and government eavesdropping when necessary, including those measures as laid out in the Patriot Act, as long as they are supported by judicial revew.  

He opposes the government logging/tracking your Internet usage without judicial fiat.  Gilmore thinks terrorists captured on foreign battlefields should receive military tribunals, but that terrorists caught on US soil should have civilian trials.  He believes the Patriot Act has been effective.

Viet Dinh had served as Assistant Attorney General from 2001-2003 during the Bush administration.  Born in Saigon in 1968 (in the same city I was, and one year later), Dinh managed to escape communist Vietnam and flee to America in 1978.  

Dinh maintains the Patriot Act has been very successful.  That's why the Act continues to be renewed.  Dinh agrees that the purpose of government is freedom, not security.  However, security is a needed condition to achieve freedom.  Dinh asked "What is freedom?  Unbridled individuality?  No.  It's structured liberty that achieves virtue." 

  He offered a brilliant analysis about how actions have consequences.  Dinh insists US laws support using military commissions to try terrorists, who are akin to war criminals.  Dinh said America's great gifts to the world are our institutions and principles.  He related global Jihadist terrorism as today's overarching threat against freedom, like Nazism used to be in the first half of the last century.  

John Ashcroft then said our Founding Fathers would be pleased by this civil, intelligent, and transparent debate.  He noted how the US government tried and hanged Nazi spies who were US citizens, during WWII, via closed military tribunals.  Ashcroft argued that our anti-terror laws need to be clear so that the government knows how to properly and legally keep us safe.

Editor's Note:

Rob Benningfield is loving husband of your blogger and is at CPAC helping to write stories for  KCC.  

He received both an undergraduate and graduate degree from North Carolina State University's College of Engineering and currently works as a senior systems engineer at an international telecommunications company, where he's been for nearly 20 years.

See also: John Ashcroft Gets Mixed Reaction at CPAC by Ryan J. Reilly

Thanks to: Erick Erickson at RedState, who brought you this coverage from CPAC2010.  Without RedState, KCC wouldn't have been able to bring you the photos, video, and words.  Check them out.  They have their collective fingers on the pulse of the national political scene. 

Glenn Beck Closes Out CPAC by Rob Benningfield (Video)

Was there a preacher in the house?  There had to be, but that voice, it was unmistakably that of TV personality Glenn Beck.

The popular Fox News host started by saying how Rush Limbaugh and Ronald Reagan are his personal heroes.  

He admired Reagan's optimism.  Like Reagan, Beck believes "it's still morning in America", though, he said, we may have to wake up with a hangover puking in the toilet first.  

He warned that progressivism "is the cancer eating up America, and that it unfortunately not only infects the Democrat Party, but many Republicans as well."  

Beck even condemned President Theodore Roosevelt (who I admire) as an early progressive.  Beck argued:

 "it's not enough for Republicans to just suck less than the other side.  The GOP must admit its mistakes (an addiction to spending and big government) and reform itself".

He compared the GOP's failings to those of golfer Tiger Woods.  Beck asserted that, like Woods, all addicts will continue their behavior as long as they do not get caught.  

 He then asked the same question everyone has been asking Woods, to the GOP: "You got caught!  Are you sorry?" 

Beck says he'd be more than happy to support the Republican Party if they only admitted their mistakes and showed genuine contrition.  He wants them to do honest soul searching.

Then Beck noted that progressives are a political minority in this country, yet they keep advancing their agenda.  How?  Because they know how to package and sell their ideas.  They've got Hollywood's help, too.

Beck stated that we have a right to fail. 

Without failure, how do we learn and grow and improve?  Why should a company be "to big to fail", so that it gets a taxpayer-funded bailout?  

Beck cited his own battle to overcome alcoholism and the long way back. .  He asserted conservatives believe everybody has the right to *pursue* happiness or success, not to be given happiness or success by the government.  He insisted you don't have a right to free food, free housing, free higher education, or free medical care.  You have to work for it and earn it.

Beck noted he couldn't afford to attend college, so he educated himself.  He said there's no shame in being a self-made man, in showing ambition and working hard to become successful, so government shouldn't punish small businesses for working hard to be successful.  Beck reminded the Marriott Ballroom crowd  that business creates jobs, not the government.  

Beck ended his sermon by promising that the future is not cast in stone.  Our best days are not behind us.  Our grandchildren do not have to have a lower standard of living than we have.  

Watch Glenn's speech, as he delivered it on Saturday evening:

Editor's Note: This post, like all others at CPAC, was brought to you by our sponsor, RedState.   RedState provided the Blogger's room and gave KCC the ability to cover the conference in a unique way. Not every blogger who applied received credentials, yet there were over 100 different conservative blogs represented, with a few liberals amongst us, as well.  We all had a great time, and many thanks go to our fearless leader, Erick.  

Read RedState's take on Glenn Beck's speech.

Ann Coulter's One Liners AT CPAC (Videos Added-Updated)

 When the time came for conservative columnist and humorist Ann Coulter to take the stage at CPAC, the audience roared in approval.  She told one liners as if she thought of them right on the spot and reminded everyone that she is truly a hard core conservative. 

Overview

 She mentioned, how she "loved bombs", supported national security, the defense of our allies, and she mentioned a few social issues that are important to her. (She reminded this blogger a bit of her own mindset as blogger's high school nickname was " 'Ole Nuke 'Em 'Till They Glow". )

A large group of Ron Paul followers appreciated that she paid tribute to their cause by saying that she appreciated that he was pro-life and that she liked everything except his foreign policy.  

She also got a lot of laughs when she weighed in on your blogger's least favorite former U.S. Senator.  "John Edwards may go down in history as earning the National Enquirer it's first Pulitzer Prize."              
 Coulter told punchline after punchline and your blogger couldn't even begin to take notes of them all.  However, Coulter did close with this:

"Keith Olberman is a girl.  Yes, Keith Olberman is a girl." Yes, out of left field, but it was still funny!

North Carolinian Gets First Question

In the ten-minute question and answer session, Wake County's Jonathan Bandy (below, left in a 1998 file photo) went to the microphone asked the first question.

"I'm from North Carolina and what can we do to get more newspaper coverage of slimeball John Edwards?"

  Coulter shot back, "I can't believe anyone at this conference is still reading newspapers. I'm sure the National Enquirer is available in North Carolina." 

 Probably not the answer the former State Young Republican Chairman was looking for.  Your blogger thinks he probably meant more fair coverage of Edwards.  

KCC believes that the worst culprit in the state in the John Edwards love fest, remains a Triangle-area TV station ( that streams online, for national readers).

WRAL's "Special" Relationship With Edwards?

This blogger dislikes WRAL-TV relationship with the former U.S. Senator.  It has disgustingly followed Edwards around for 16 years and have covered every single move Edwards makes. When it came to Elizabeth's cancer, their marital problems, their children, his mistress, his hair, his former aide's book, or his cars, nothing was too "up close and personal" for channel 5.  

Back when the former Senator was running as John Kerry's veep, people complained to the station about "too much Edwards", but co-anchor Pam Salsby, with her ever-rotating hairdos, took to the airwaves to explain that "this is a local story and people want to know".  

-Another question from the audience was: "Did you ever date a liberal?"  Coulter paused, smiled,  and slyly answered, "He wasn't (liberal) for long".  

Catch the entire speech, along with the funny Q&A session, in the videos below.  You'll laugh your socks off and you'll wonder how someone could be so quick on her feet.  Fellow blogger and top selling author Michelle Malkin, doesn't particularly like Coulter, because Coulter has a tendency to shoot from the hip.  However, Coulter likes to make light of situations and make people laugh.  She's more of a conservative comedian, while Malkin is a serious writer and conservative journalist.  KCC enjoys them both.

Ann Coulter Speech Part I:

Part II of Ann Coulter Speech:

Ann Coulter Q&A Part I (after the speech)

Ann Coulter Q&A Part II

Editor's Notes

KCC picked up the nickname "ole nuke 'em 'till they glow" in 1983, when she was a Junior at New Bern Senior High School.  Her Advanced United States History teacher (and the following year, her Advanced United States Government teacher) Howard Matthews, was a solid conservative, which often sparked debate in class amongst the students.  

Your blogger was the hardest of the hardliners in class, regarding Communism, and the running gag in class was "why don't we just nuke 'em and be done with them"?  Naturally, your blogger knew, even at such a young age that such a thing wouldn't be a practical solution, but received the nickname anyway. 

She believed then, as she does now, that we should NOT negotiate with Communists or terrorists. Those people are irrational and cannot be trusted to keep their word.   

Liz Cheney Speaks To CPAC by Rob Benningfield

 Liz Cheney, the brilliant daughter of former Vice-President Dick Cheney and Co-Founder of Keep America Safe, was introduced by ACU & CPAC Chairman David Keene.  Unfortunately, I had to leave her midday Thursday speech prematurely.

I did get to hear her lambaste President Barack Obama, though.  Liz said that "experts" had predicted the death of the conservative movement after the brutal 2008 elections.  They were wrong.  Scott Brown's win in Massachusetts shocked and frightened Obama and the Democrats, who had misjudged America's tolerance for socialist politics.

Liz decried how Obama did not govern from the center, as many people naively thought he would.  Instead he raises taxes to pay for nationalized healthcare.  He does not believe in American exceptionalism. Instead he traveled the world to apologize for America's perceived "transgressions."  He even incredibly wants to give foreign terrorists the same constitutional rights as US citizens.

Later, Liz surprised the audience by introducing her father.  Vice-President Dick Cheney, who I wish had been our former *President*, spoke briefly to a delighted audience.  The senior Cheney earned a standing ovation by predicting 2010 would be a great year for Conservatives, and that Obama would be a one-term President.  He even received such an ovation just for entering the room.

EDITOR'S NOTE:  Rob Benningfield is loving husband of your blogger.  He is at CPAC helping to write stories for this blog, and seems to be having a great time.  Thank you Rob for putting up with me! I love you.

Rob is an electrical engineer with both an undergraduate and graduate degree from North Carolina State University's College of Engineering.

 Sponsorship of Blogger's Lounge:

Blogger's Lounge at CPAC is generously sponsored by RedState.

RedState is the leading blog for right of center online activists. Established in May of 2004 by Ben Domenech, Mike Krempasky, and Josh Trevino, RedState has played an integral role in the right’s fight online against the left. RedState continues to be the most widely read right of center blog on Capitol Hill and is the most cited right of center blog in the media.

RedState has a community of tens of thousands of readers. It has a Board of Directors of six members, four permanent and two who rotate annually.  Katy's Conservative Corner is very proud to be a part of the blogging team here and thanks RedState for their help in providing access.

Phyllis Tells It Like It Is (Video)

 Mrs. Phyllis Schlafly, author, speaker, and trail blazer, spoke Wednesday at CPAC.  Your blogger captured most of her talk via her digital camera.  (Please forgive the occasional shaky image.)

Mrs. Schlafly is a heroine of your blogger and has been since she took on 1972 Democratic Presidential candidate, George McGovern in a debate at her alma mater in the late 1980s.   She virtually slaughtered him on stage at Jones Auditorium, on the Meredith College campus.

Many of KCC's classmates complained at the time, about Schlafly, saying "we aren't getting an education to stay home and cook dinner". They clearly didn't realize how educated that the lady on stage was.

 Apparently her words did resonate, however, as most of those same women are proud stay-at-home moms today.  In general, most are happily married, and providing their children a home with a two parent family (a mom and a dad).   

Hearing Mrs. Schalfy's remarks was a true breath of fresh air.  It seems as if social issues are taboo these days. In North Carolina, people are talking only of economic issues and are kicking social issues to the curb.  

She was pointed,  and explained how she built coalitions to achieve her goals.  She also complained about the "Rockefeller Republicans",  known by some as "RINOS" or Republicans in name only. (KCC doesn't like the term RINOS. She prefers the term, moderate Republicans.)

Issues Divide NC Republicans

In North Carolina over the past twenty-five years,  one thing that has traditionally divided the Republican party is this failure to address certain key social issues. 

 Issues like two parent families, traditional marriage, and overturning Roe v. Wade should be addressed by candidates running for legislative office.  In this blogger's experiences, the typical "religious conservative" will stay home and not vote if their needs are not addressed. While KCC does not agree with this tactic, she does acknowledge that it does occur. (Your blogger has had to go to the polls and "hold her nose to vote" many times, rather than just not vote.)

While these "economic only" conservatives do have many valued points upon which we agree, it is imperative that GOP candidates at least "throw a bone" to the social conservatives, to keep them coming out.  To get elected, our cause needs every single voter it can get, without sacrificing major principles.

Listen to these brief remarks and continue reading below:

 About Phyllis

Phyllis Schlafly has been a national leader of the conservative movement since the publication of her bestselling 1964 book, A Choice Not An Echo.  She has been a leader of he pro-family movement since 1972, when she started her national volunteer organization, now called Eagle Forum.  Her monthly newsletter, The Phyllis Schlafly Report, is now in its 42nd year.  She is the author or editor of 20 books on subjects on subjects as varied as family and feminism, nuclear strategy, education, and child care.  

Her most recent book,The Supremacists: The Tyranny of Judges And How To Stop It (which your blogger owns and appreciates), is a look at how our nation's judiciary and its slide toward dominance of American LIfe through judicial activism.  

Schlafly is a graduate of Washington University and received her J.D. from Washington University Law School.  Additionally, she received her Master's in Political Science from Harvard University.  

CPAC Day Two - The Back Story

 Good morning from CPAC, day two.  Thursday, your blogger, spent the day listening to the speeches, networking and learning all she could.  Her beloved husband, Rob Benningfield, took great notes and turned them into pieces which will soon be posted.  

KCC didn't try to take notes on every speaker, as it is virtually to do while writing articles, taking photos, getting video, locating graphics and finally editing the story.  Just one post can take two hours. Thus, she is focusing on the back story, about life at CPAC this morning.

Day One Wrap Up

Wednesday, your blogger spent the day in the cramped media room, rather than the more spacious blogger room.  The media room was full of reporters from such places as CBS (groan), the Wall Street Journal, Investors Business Daily, the Huffington Post, and the typical lamestream media outlets that conservatives tend to tune out.   There was only one table, and everyone else had to sit and file their stories from their chairs. 

There were few electrical outlets and the WiFi was either overloaded or non-functional.  Luckily, your blogger, came prepared with her own WiFi card, and plenty of power.

After "scratching and clawing" for one of four spots at the only table, KCC wasn't about to give it up to move to the blogger's room, where a spot, might or might not be open, so she decided to remain there for the day.

Media Room Culture

The culture in the media room was quite different than any bloggers room KCC has ever experienced.  Bloggers tend to be friendly, like to network, exchange ideas, have fun, socialize, and share information, photos, videos, etc.  

Members of the  "real media" as they like to think of themselves, didn't want to chat, they wore headphones, and they were not friendly at all.   A polite smile was the best most of them could manage.  There were a few exceptions, such as the gentleman from Investor's Business Daily, and the intern from the Wall Street Journal, but the rest were as stiff as a 2 x 4.  

They let me know, that they were the "professionals", they had deadlines and stories to file, and were not there to chat.  Also, when it came time to get photographs, one notable member of the media tried to tell this blogger to squat down, when to shoot, etc.  That lady should remember that many bloggers ARE professional bloggers and we don't sit around in our pajamas anymore.  We aren't new at this and yes, many of us did go to J-school or majored in English.

Your blogger thinks that some members of the lamestream media are simply threatened by the blogosphere.  Readership of blogs is rising exponentially, while their ink and subscription base is drying up.

Blogger's Room 

Day two finds your blogger in her rightful place, in a room, sponsored by REDSTATE, behind a balcony, overlooking the podium and the attendees.  There are at least 100 blogs represented, both national and state-based.  

 Some of the conservative media have moved over here, just to get away from the liberal media that KCC experienced Thursday.  For example, Raleigh native, Fox News analyst and Weekly Standard columnist Mary Katharine Ham (left, and daughter of the Locke Foundation's John Ham) was originally "stuck" in the media room, but quickly moved into the blogger room to be with like minds.  

North Carolina Attendees

There are a number of people from the Tarheel state in Washington this week. If your blogger tried to name names, there would certainly be would be some forgottne.  Thus she doesn't  want to offend any of her fellow NC conservatives.

More to come ....  Keep watching the proceedings live at Katy's Conservative Corner, even while you are at work, so you don't have to miss a single minute.

Free Media

Candidates and Causes have been in search of free media since the invention of handwriting.  Getting a favorable piece in the press or in a blog can be worth many thousands of dollars in advertising costs.  Thus, candidates of all levels have been coming through the bloggers' room, further slowing the process of posting articles.  For example, your blogger just met  Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-Minn., left).

Final Note:

Speaking of notes, Thursday's "bumper music", the short sequences the producers play between speakers, was all popular country music.  That is, it's the type of music that either is on or has hit the country charts in the last year or two.   

Today's music seems to be all rock, including the tune "Beautiful Day" by the band U2, one of your blogger's favorites.  We shall see what tunes Saturday will bring.

Spies In Our CPAC Midst?

 Katy's Conservative Corner has discovered that there are spies (gasp in sarcastic horror) in our midst here at CPAC. Turns out, your blogger has run into on of her favorite liberals at CPAC, here on media row.

The Back Story

Last August, your blogger arrived in Pittsburgh, where the lefties were having their NetRoots conference, described on their website this way:

"It's about taking the passion, activism and attention that we drum up each year during the convention to an area that will be a crucial region in upcoming progressive policy fights."

 Your blogger was in town for another conference.  The Americans for Prosperity (AFP) decided to take the same passion to conservatives and sponsored an opposing event known as RightOnline.  Organized by AFP's Erik Telford, RightOnline is, each year,  a great place for bloggers and newbies to get together, exchange ideas, and flood the Internet with information about the conservative movement.  Both events are held in the same city.  RightOnline exists, in part,  to "drown out" the "progressive" calls.

In the taxi on the way to the hotel, your blogger shared the ride with a nice lady named Adele Stan.  In our conversation, we realized we were both in Pittsburgh for "the conference" and chatted about it.  It several minutes before we realized that we were going to different events.  

 At CPAC

Fast forward until now.  A nice lady asked to plug into your blogger's power strip and KCC gladly agreed.  She recognized your blogger immediately as Katy "from Pittsburgh".  She handed me her card and I realized who she was.  Adele Stan is the Washington Bureau chief for AlterNet.  

Naturally, much of the lamestream media here are pretty liberal, but not all.  For example, KCC is sitting next to Fred Lucas, senior writer at Cybercast News Service.    

Editor's Notes

- There are no pure Libertarians (with a capital 'L') here, to our knowledge, but there are plenty of libertarians who have joined the Republican party.

- Conservatives often refer to NetRoots, affectionally, as "NUT roots".   Not this blogger.  :-)

-You can follow Erik Telford on Twitter.   His user id is JoeTaxpayer  You can also follow your blogger on Twitter, who goes by Katys  Her tweets also appear in the right bar of this page.

More On RightOnline

-RightOnline, hosts a Twitter contest and the attendee who tweets the most about the conference, during the event, is declared "the winner".  No prizes were awarded,  to KCC's knowledge, as she "won" and didn't received anything.

-RightOnline, like NetRoots, will be held in Las Vegas August 2010.  Your blogger hopes to attend, should the budget allow.   If you are interested in starting a blog, learning to Twitter, or just meeting some of the top conservative bloggers in the nation, this writer strongly encourages you to attend.  You will leave with a level of expertise on how to organize a cause via the Internet from the very best.  

Young People Lead Off at CPAC

 What we need to do is a movement is spend a lot of time on college campuses and with young professionals and get these people involved, stated Josh Mandel, a young attorney, Marine Corp veteran, and Ohio state house representative.  From the Cleveland area, Mandell is used to running against Democrats. 

 Young Mandell's state legislative district is stacked against him:  Two to one Democrat to Republican, yet they re-elected him with over 70 percent of the vote!  This was despite the fact the Dennis Kuninich is his Representative in Congress.

How?   Mandell organized and reached out to these Democrats and explained that for reasons of economic freedom and peace throu strength, they should be voting for Republicans.  He did it though old fashioned shoe leather, much like Patrick McHenry did in our own state.  It's the old fashioned way, but voters appreciate being able to touch the candidate and feel like he's one of them.  

Because it's such hard work, most candidates hate it, but not Mandell. In 2010, he's running for Ohio Treasurer and this blogger thinks he will make it.  Go Josh!

Josh's Tips for Young People Entering Politics:

1. Don't follow the leader.  Don't blindely follow. Stand on own principles, and don't be told to "wait your turn".   
2. Don't ever be out worked.  When he fought in Iraq, he learned what hard work was.  He wore out pairs of shoes knocking on doors, which he hung up in the state house, instead of nice  of the Browns or the Indians

Editor's Note: CPAC is hosted annually by the American Conservative Union Foundation (ACUF) and is co-sponsored by more than 90 other conservative organizations.  CPAC is headquartered at ACUF and it is the American Conservative Union Foundation's Largest annual conference.

Overhead: Your blogger hears that there are more than 12,000 people here at this event, both nationally and internationally. Last year's event set the previous record at an attendance of 8,500.

CPAC 2010 Streamed Live

Watch CPAC 2010 here on Katy's Conservative Corner, North Carolina's official CPAC blogger.  As long as activies are taking place, this feed will be live.   Enjoy.  We'll keep this post at the top of the page through Saturday evening and individual stories will be posted beneath.

If you can't be here, stay with KCC.

Online video chat by Ustream

Wishing You An Unhappy Birthday - Stimulus One Year Later

 The 80s song by the alternative group "The Smiths" comes to mind today, when thinking of the money President Barack Obama  poured down the proverbial drain he signed the so-called Stimulus bill, which has mortgaged the future of our children and grandchildren. KCC's young son doesn't know it, but he'll spend his life working to pay it off.

Young Bobby is already angry at Obama for cutting NASA and the American space program.  As his mommy and daddy have explained, the Chinese will now beat us back to the moon.  Bobby dreams of being an astronaut and KCC hopes it is not already too late for him.  In fact, he's ready to head for Pluto tomorrow, when called upon.

 Meanwhile, Congressman Mike Pence (R-Indiana, right), chairman of the U.S. House Republican Conference, told Congress his own opinions about the Spendulus bill, on the eve of the CPAC 2010 conference:

"One year later, one thing is clear: the stimulus bill has failed.  One year later, not one net job has been created as unemployment rose from 7.6 percent to nearly 10 percent nationwide. Mr. President, millions of Americans are asking, 'where are the jobs?'

"It is time for Washington to take a new approach to get this economy moving again based on time-honored solutions:  fiscal discipline in Washington, D.C. and immediate tax relief for working families, small businesses and family farms. Let's put American families first, set aside the big government schemes on health care and energy and take decisive action to get this economy growing again."

For More Information:  Please read A Stimulus Time Line One Year Later

Richardson To Announce for "Basnight's" District

 Your blogger normally doesn't cover many NC House and Senate races, simply because there are so many.  To give the best coverage with our limited time, we  prefer to focus on Congressional, U.S. Senate, and Statewide Judicial races, as well as current events and scandals.

However, there is one race so important, that KCC would be remiss if we failed to announce this man's impending candidacy.  From the press release from the NC Senate Republican Committee:

 Hood Richardson, (left, photo courtesy, Beaufort Observer) a four term Beaufort County Commissioner, will announce his candidacy for the North Carolina Senate’s 1st District February 18th at a press conference at NCGOP Headquarters in Raleigh at 4:00 p.m.  He will be joined by NCGOP Chairman Tom Fetzer and Senate Republican Leader Phil Berger.

The 1st District is currently represented by Marc Basnight, President Pro Tempore of the Senate. 

Editor's Note: Read more from the Beaufort Observer. That article examines the race in depth.