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Our goal is to retire Nancy Pelosi by electing Republicans who represent your values in government.

By: Congressman Pete Sessions (Diary)  |  June 25th, 2009 at 04:00 AM  | 

RESIZE: AAA

Three votes on the stimulus and budget…three times House Republicans stood unified in opposition to wasting taxpayer money on trillion dollar boondoggles. Yet each time these disastrous bills passed the House.

Even with such a unified caucus, House Republicans cannot control the agenda in Congress. Our goal is to retire Nancy Pelosi by electing Republicans who represent your values in government. A Republican Majority will apply fiscal sanity to our national spending…lowering taxes and putting more money in your pocket.

But to achieve a majority we need to retain our current Republican numbers before adding to them. That is where the Patriot Program comes in to play. The Patriot Program’s goal is to work with incumbent Republican Members of Congress to provide them with the necessary support and organization to win reelection. It is imperative we limit the number of incumbents who fall victim to the Democrats and their far-left money machines such as ACORN, Big Labor and Hollywood. Even though some of these Members are in tough districts and know they will be targeted by the Democrat attack machine, they stood by their conservative principles and courageously voted against the trillion dollar boondoggles. It wasn’t an easy vote to take and they’ll be attacked for it – so we need to give them the defense they need.

Today is the first Patriot Day of the 2010 cycle. We have unveiled our first ten Members who have qualified for the program by achieving, or surpassing, a series of goals and standards. I hope you will visit the NRCC’s Web site to learn about these Members and make a donation to the NRCC or to the Member(s) of your choosing. Please also continue to check back often as we continue to unveil new Patriots throughout the cycle.

Nancy Pelosi and her puppets are pushing an agenda that may be acceptable in San Francisco, but is far left of main street America. That is why she is working 24 hours a day to widen her majority by recruiting and campaigning for out-of-touch Democrats who will do nothing but raise your taxes to pay for bloated, failed government spending.

Reelection is often won before election day through fundraising, organization and connection with the voters. The Patriot Program provides Republican incumbents with a blueprint to ensure they are reaching and surpassing these goals. Democrats are pushing hard to increase their majority and without your help House Republicans can only do so much to stand against their unchecked control of Congress.

House Republicans are ready to fight to regain a Majority in Congress, and I ask you join us in standing up to Nancy Pelosi and her puppets.

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COMMENTS

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  • http://JoeZilch.com joezilch

    I appreciate that the GOP is united (sans Snow, Collins, Specter before he became the defector, et al) but it’s easy to stand united when you have almost nothing to lose.

    Let us be honest here – every GOP member in contentious districts, the very few not gerrymandered, would have to fight the “Democrat Attack Machine” irregardless of how they voted on the recent spat of socialist drivel.

    The trouble I see with this Patriot Days Idea is that it sounds good until the GOP regains power with the same incumbents who sat and did nothing when they had power last time.

    How are voters to trust that we won’t get a lame duck congress with the same old largess and waste as last time? Because the GOP promises?

    Use me once shame on you. Use me twice…

    At least with Obama and the fast tracking of socialism we’ve got a chance that the whiplash will wake people up whereas if we get more cowardice from the GOP (voting no to spending when it’s only symbolic) we’ll lose our Representative Democracy without so much as a whimper from the people.

  • http://www.RedState.com/ETCartman Kenny Solomon

    The word is bullcrap, as in we’re tired of it from you and every single person we elected to uphold and defend The Constitution and our rights, freedoms, liberties and the defense of our nation…. You know, what you were sworn to do before God and country.

    Since taking office, the current administration has committed to legislation or simply ordered by fiat, blatant violations of their Constitutional authority…..and have never been challenged to any real degree by you or anyone else.

    Push is coming to shove. If you and the rest of the folks don’t get off your duff’s and do what you are sworn to do, we just might not have any more elections to try and restore what remains of America as a nation of free people.

    Now please do us a favor and stop posting on websites, stop sending out bullcrap-laden mass-mailings ostensibly just begging for money and do your job.

    Have a nice day.

    • http://moelane.com/ Moe Lane

      Do you understand me?

      • http://andrightlyso.com/ civil_truth

        …but Kenny does need to explain himself, as when I look at this again, I see how you came to your conclusion as to the nature of Kenny’s threat.

        (And I’m deliberately being vague here so that Kenney becomes the one to clarify his intent.)

        • http://andrightlyso.com/ civil_truth

          …and that Kenney indeed was referring to the totalitarians of the left.

          • http://www.ssce.net/Web-Articles/Web-articles-indexed-authors.html#authors-l JLenardDetroit

            I certainly didn’t take it as a threat but it is indeed a VALID WARNING that things may not have to go too much farther before some folks loose their homes in the name of saving someone elses, and I’ll avoid going over the endless other items in the list, that can cause some to lose their minds and that line between Ballot Box Revolution and the other gets blurred/crossed… WE MUST maintain PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATION, while those on the Left do anything/everything they can to deny us our Rights to Lawfully Assemble and Voice our First Amendment Rights, through the TEApeats (info below again)…

            I wish I could find the link I had where we were discussing “WORK-AROUND” options to denied TEApeat permits, if anyone has one let me know, but I’ll just briefly remind/sum-up — NO-ONE can stop people from organizing a SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL MERCHANTS DAY that does NOT require any Permits! You pick the day, you encourage people to wear their TEApeat shirts/etc, and we all converge on the area in question and line up outside the Eating establishments and patiently, peacefully, respectfully, quietly, wait outside for our time to be seated — all the while making our point by our numbers overflowing out the doors for all to see that walk/drive by! That is, of course, if areas continue to REFUSE to Permit, or Insurance cannot be obtained, etc…

            These things can be done via Twitter, emals to friends/family/lists, etc… NO REAL MAJOR PLANNING IS REQUIRED nor dedicated websites (or those can just hint at the dates being “considered” wink wink nod).

            Plan to attend a TEApeat July 4, 9/12, Thanksgiving, etc…

            ReTeaParty (for 4th of July) site

            Contact the other sites and urge them to organize for the subsequent dates also:
            09/12/09 DC Tax Protest
            Tea Party Revolution site
            FreedomWorks
            Alliance Defense Fund
            archive:
            Tax Day Tea Party site (w/ Daily email update option)
            Tea Party Convention (June 13, 2009)

  • http://www.RedState.com/ETCartman Kenny Solomon

    Moe (and everyone):

    I’m not exactly sure what the problem is here, so please spell it out…. I’m serious in that I didn’t make any threats to anyone. I simply and yes,VERY strongly, told a sitting Congressman and the rest to do their job.

    If it’s the ‘no more elections’ thing, that is meant as our friends on the left will do everything in their power to stay in power, including, in my opinion, finding a way to cancel the 2010 mid-term vote. Probably should have worded that differently.

    Apologies for starting the day off badly for you and anyone else.

    (PS: The ‘reply to this’ feature doesn’t work through my Blackberry).

    • http://moelane.com/ Moe Lane

      Thank you for clarifying that you weren’t threatening a Second American Revolution. You’ll understand that we have to jump on that sort of thing.

      No harm, no foul.

  • rmullins

    The in the House GOP on things is great, but to a point what do we do with Congressman No(Paul)?

    That’s not the only question I have either. How is your plan to gain back districts that were GOP and now Democrat? I hope that the Lyle Larson’s as canadates are not ones the party will fall back on as a rule.

    • rmullins

      I did mean The Unity( the system is acting alittle slow even with 8 GB of RAM and Fast processor[Athlon 64 X2 4850e]) in the house.

  • Marcus_Traianus

    In all the years I have been at RS, I have never heard such bitter, contemptible and rude behavior. Is this what we believe it will take to win, attacking every congressman that posts here and fanning the flames lit by trolls who walk away as we self immolate?

    Perhaps I am a bit old-fashioned, but there was a time when people would actually prefer some intellectual engagement on the issues. Admittedly, everyone has there own style and indeed many are frustrated with the current status of our party. But resolution of these issues requires honesty, ideas, discussion, decision making and acknowledgement of successes.

    Perhaps a good place to start is admitting that Congressman Sessions has been there many times for us and is putting into action what he believes are sagacious programs- such as the Patriot Program. Is he perfect and are we always happy with his decisions? Silly question to which the answer is no. But Mr. Sessions didn?t come here claiming to be a perfect being in search of approbation. EH came here to engage us and perhaps gain some comments with substance.

    Now if one actually takes the time to read and understand the program it appears to be a pretty good start. Perfect? No, but are we seeking perfection or a place to start; a place from which we can establish ourselves and grow? I say the latter and we could use some ideas around which critical mass could start to be achieved.

    So in my humble opinion, if you want to throw rocks go to Iran. However, if you want to provide comprehensible, material comments which will lead to our party?s resurgence let?s have the debate or hear your accolades.

    A final note to Congressman Sessions; this works two ways my friend. It you post here, my experience has been that engaging folks who have serious queries or ideas to share will do more to build support than launching blogs and walking away. The latter is potentially viewed as self promotion or fund raising- which we can frankly be exposed to in many other venues.

    • http://theminorityreportblog.com David Hinz

      too often it feels like were are being used — that is to say, that congresscritters us forums like Redstate to put out talking points, while not actually engaging in dialogue with the people who make up their strongest base.

      Not that I believe the congressman will actually read this comment, but maybe a staffer will see it and pass along the message that WE are the activists who our congresscritters need if they intend to be reelected.

      While a pat on the head is nice, and the occasional bone helps to placate the base, an actual dialogue — answering questions and talking about ideas — might do more good.

  • penguin2

    Respectfully, Congressman Sessions, your letter seems just like the form letter and phone calls we receive at my house. The caller goes through the same spiel, words sound almost identical. At the end of the call, I tell them I’ve heard all of this before. Since 2006 for sure. And I don’t see that any of you have done anything different from what got you into this spot in the first place. I also tell them, we’re holding off right now. Will probably help in the future and on individual candidates we really can believe in.

    To me and my family, the tsunami of the Obama Dem left is accomplishing everything in their agenda, and right now my distress is overwhelming any belief that the GOP will do a better job than the poor one they have been doing.

  • http://andrightlyso.com/ civil_truth

    Since Nancy has decided to run the U.S. House like the old Soviet parliament and completely silence the Republican minority in order to railroad through legistlation, and unprecedented violation of custom and decorum in our nation’s history (as Erick pointed out last week), it’s not enough to simply vote no as a block.

    Though I will commend you for maintaining a unified caucus on critical votes like the stimulus bill and going on the record in opposition so that the media can’t provide the Democrats with a fig leaf of “bipartisan support”.

    Of couse, if there is some chance of actually defeating a measure, then by all means stand up and fight. But if the “fix” is in, then you need to go outside the box and change the script.

    And by “changing the script” I mean do some theater. For instance, a mass walkout (leaving one behind in the chamber to prevent subsequent skulldruggery by “universal consent”) so that we see 240-0 type of votes – that would get attention.

    Or how about wearig duct tape across your mouths to symbolize how the Republicans are being gagged during the floor “debate”.

    Or there are other creative ways to visually get your protests across to a generation of Americans that live by visual cues and entertainment – to reach these people (which may at this point be a majority), you have to “speak” their language, which is not boring words but spectacle.

    You’ll need to pick you spots, but at least, you won’t be the boring, predictable Republicans just following the old collegial rules that the Democrats have repealed – marching to oblivion.

    • http://JoeZilch.com joezilch

      If the GOP would unify and stop being so stodgy and boring it might be easier to explain issues in actual terms people can understand and appreciate.

      If the DNC doesn’t get their way they run out of the building, cut the lights and turn off the interwebs. It’s time the GOP realized there’s a fight going on and turned the tide. Use Twitter, Facebook, et cetera and put on a show we can understand.

      If Teachers unions across the country can lie and run around in pink t-shirts to save their jobs the GOP can figure out a few things to help save our country. At this point anything less is just hyperbole and vote-mongering. Get to work, fight a real fight and put on a show people can understand and get behind.

    • janis

      get more people to pay closer attention to votes like yesterday’s if they knew that the Republicans had a plan to show the Dems for the traitors and tyrants they aspire to be.

    • Achance

      And the Majority Leader can be the stay behind after the walkout and use every means at his disposal to interfere with the Politburo’s functioning.

      Don’t know if you can do it under US House rules but a good trick under our Legislature’s rules is to have somebody go over and vote for the bill you’re opposing so that you can ask for a reconsideration vote. Then you can let the bill’s supporters feel the love of the people and the lobbyists for another day.

  • jcincy

    The National Republican Congressional Committee has targeted Leonard Lance and Dave Reichert as two of ten candidates to be specially supported through their “Patriot Program”.

    Leonard Lance and Dave Reichert just voted in favor of the higher taxes and increased regulation on energy. They voted to expand the federal government and to cripple the U.S. economy. These two NRCC Patriots supported the democrat’s “Cap and Trade” legislation.

    Congressman Sessions, will Leonard Lance and Dave Reichert remain on the NRCC “Patriot” list after this anti-Liberty vote?

    • nessa

      There must be a price to be paid for yesterday’s behavior and it must come quickly, waiting till re-election time is not fast enough. Withholding my support from everyone in this program may, if enough people agree with me, apply enough pressure to see that justice come to fruition.

      Maybe when you and your peers see that Lance and Reichert are about to sink your Patriot Program before it’s even left the port and those who were looking forward to well earned support see that the Traitors actions have consequences that will be felt by all (much like yesterday’s legislation), they will be made to feel the heat. They still have time, Lance and Reichert can post their apologies here or on Fox News, or you-tube or any other public media and change their votes.

      Voting has consequences, America is learning it; Congress needs to learn it too.

      • penguin2

        we get rote speeches and appeals. Then two of the very 10 they have singled out for support give lie to the sincerity. Maybe we needed to double check with those you chose for the program-were they worthy of the selection? From what happened, two were not. That is 20%! I don’t blame you personally Congressman Sessions, but please do understand what we as supporters see. The voting of yes by 8 Republican Representatives was reprehensible.

        It gave the other side a Darn Moral Victory!

      • Achance

        On the very day that Cong. Sessions is here touting a program, the Party lets two of the people he’s touting off the hook to vote with the majority. EVERY ONE of the people who voted with the Ds should be disciplined by the caucus and the Party and if they like voting with the Democrats so much, they can go over and sit with them.

  • petesessions

    I wanted to thank everyone for the comments regarding my post. My goal was to alert people to our new Patriot Program and elicit feedback ? and I believe I have succeeded.

    The Patriot Program highlights the ability of our party to bring together people of various interests from across the country, who share common goals and beliefs. We have a long way to go, but this start provides these initial ten Members with the support and exposure they will need to fend off the Democrat attack machine.
    I also saw someone asked about how we intend to go on the offensive as well ? we cannot take back the House solely playing defense. I encourage people to check out our Young Guns Program. This program was begun by Reps. Cantor, Ryan and McCarthy during the 2008 cycle and has been brought in-house at the NRCC for the 2010 cycle. The Young Guns Program aims to provide challenger candidates with the support they need to succeed ? but only if they work to meet mutually agreed upon goals for their campaigns.

    Finally, I know there is some concern by people at Red State that we are only dropping occasional posts to serve our own interests. This could not be further from the truth. The NRCC, and I personally, want to be partners with the Red State community, We share a mutual goal of retiring Nancy Pelosi and as many of her puppets as possible. But to achieve this goal we need to be on the same page working together. Now this does not mean we will always agree, but it is important we maintain an open and honest dialogue. To ensure this happens I am hoping to set up a live chat on Red State after the July 4th recess to personally and directly answer your questions and listen to your feedback on how we are doing.

    Thank you for your support and I hope you all have a wonderful July 4th as we celebrate our nation?s birthday.

    • Jack_Savage

      We are pretty frustrated in that we have what appears to be a party who has turned from Democrat to Socialist before our eyes, and no one to call them what they are.

      Tell the truth, no matter how uncomfortable it may be for the media and the Dems. You MUST stick together, or you will be separated from the herd by the lap dog media, one by one, and disemboweled.

      And most of all, remember that for whatever they once were, elected Democrats are not your friends, nor are they friends of what made America great. Punch them in the nose (haven’t heard much about torture from them since Liz Cheney took them to the woodshed, have we?) and keep punching.

      Good luck.

    • eburke

      for taking the time to actually dialogue with us instead of posting and running as some of your other leadership colleagues have done. My sincerest thanks.

      Since you obviously take the time to read what’s on here (thank you again) you’re well aware at the level of anger toward the 8 Republicans who voted for what may be the most egregious (and with this Congress that’s not easy to achieve) socialistic, nanny-state, anti-Constitutional bill to ever pass the House and having provided the margin of victory for said legislation.

      How any Republican could have voted for this abomination after listening to John Boehner shred it for over an hour is beyond my comprehension. What those of us who carry the water and are the foot soldiers and volunteeers for the Party want to know is: are they going to be able to cast this vote with impunity?

      I ceased contributing to all national party apparatuses 4 years ago after watching my hard-earned dollars go to support folks who couldn’t even bring themselves to vote for the nominee of our Party. Because of the steadfast and unanimous opposition to the Stimulus boondoggle by House Republicans I have been rethinking my support (or lack thereof) to the NRCC (the same cannot be said for its counterpart the NRSC but that’s another story).

      But to lay it all out on the table, Congressman, if one dime of NRCC money goes to Reps. Reichert or Lance, through the Patriot Program or any other conduit, or the other 6 individuals who voted for this legislation, I will not contribute one thin dime to the NRCC.

      These people continue to provide cover for supposed “Blue-Dog” Dems in conservative districts by allowing them to vote “No” on bills such as this, and they do nothing but help muddy the waters between the Party of Big-State Nannyism and the Party of Freedom and I cannot in good conscience send money to an organization which rewards them for such disloyalty.

      Thank you for your time, and thank you for your sterling record of standing up for the Constitution of the greatest country in the history of this world, and for consistently voting for the freedoms on which our liberty and prosperity are based.

    • mbecker908

      I appreciate it.

      You indicate that the NRCC would like to “partner” with RS. If that’s the case, it would be good if someone from the NRCC could be assigned to post AND RESPOND regularly. Someone with fairly thick skin and the ability to respond directly to direct questions would be very good. Someone who offers “political” answers won’t last long.

  • louisiana

    I, too, thank you for coming to this site. In the Louisiana House, a
    Republican (Rep. “Bodi” White) introduced a 15-cent surcharge
    for monthly internet access. Ironically, the loudest opponents to this
    bill were Democrats . About a week ago, I received a letter from the
    LA GOP, in which they lambasted Dem’s for their tax & spend agenda.
    Mixed signals. Obama recently announced that he is ready to deal
    with immigration reform. Where does the GOP stand on that issue?
    The GOP must clearly state their platform before I will support them
    financially, or otherwise.

  • mbecker908

    1. Is the Republican leadership going to discipline the members who voted for Cap & Trade? If so, how. If not, why not.

    2. Any chance of you or someone coming back here to actually answer any of the questions or are you dropping by to just throw stuff on our wall to see if it sticks?

    • eburke

      back, read, and respond (something that can’t be said for the head of the NRSC) That’s worth brownie points to me.

      .

      • http://www.ssce.net/Web-Articles/Web-articles-indexed-authors.html#authors-l JLenardDetroit

        And is it a high level staffer that actually passes info along or is just here to re-update with the latest form letter information and platitudes.

        I’d like to come into these Diaries that our Reps are putting in and praise and pat on the back (constant whining will, of course, just lead to continued form-letter info trial balloon drops and run)- but we have to make sure they understand and are ALL OVER those who have not yet gotten the message yet that we are majorly irked at their sometimes seemingly unwillingness to bother to oppose the ObamAgenda with much vigor.

        • http://www.ssce.net/Web-Articles/Web-articles-indexed-authors.html#authors-l JLenardDetroit

          [from Conservative Candidates (the Diary)]
          the “Republican Revolution” of the 90′s was mis-labeled, it was really the “CONSERVATIVE Revolution” and it brought Republicans to power; likewise, it was the “Reagan Conservative” Revolution, not a Republican Revolution. Many Republicans forgot that along the way. That led the way for CINO/PLINO Democrats to lie their way back into power, but it was a “Conservative” co-opted (read: they lied about their intent) that voters allowed themselves to be duped into. Republicans need to REMEMBER that! Conservatism did NOT lose Elections, bad Politicians (with R’s beside their name) did!

          I have caught, almost each and every time, grief when I speak to “keeping the lines of Communication open,” working together, how constant RINOism calls provides nothing but a self-fulfilling prophecy if we drive them away from ourselves as Conservatives, Blue-Dog-ism is a myth (we need real Red-Dogs), etc…. So many of us want to help, but there constantly is a new line drawn in the sand that Republicans shouldn’t cross and some do!!!!

          So, Pete, if you’re really here….. WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP YOU YANK BACK FELLOW REPUBLICANS THAT HAVEN’T GOTTEN THE MESSAGE YET?!?!?