January Calendar of caucuses, primaries, and debates

▪        Jan 1 Sun “Pull for a kid” oyster roast fundraiser. See Jan 14 event for more info.

▪        Jan 2 Mon 6:00 – 8:00 pm Glynn County GOP Social. Bennie’s Red Barn. 5514 N. Frederica Rd, SSI, 31522. CHANGED TO JAN 9

▪        Jan 3 Iowa Caucus

▪        Jan 7 Sat 9:00 pm ET GOP Presidential Debate from NH sponsored by WMUR and ABC news

▪        Jan 8 Sun 9:00 am ET GOP Presidential Debate from Concord NH sponsored by NBC and Facebook

▪        Jan 6-8 Fri-Sun. Awakening. Sanctuary Resort, Kiawah Island SC. Conservative policy weekend - by invitation only.

▪        Jan 9 11:30 social, Noon luncheon. Golden Isles Republican Women luncheon. Bonefish Grill, St. Simons Is., $17/person. RSVP Ruby Robinson 912-261-8807

▪        Jan 9  Mon 6:30 – 7:30 pm Golden Isles Tea Party. Strike Zone Brunswick. Contact goldenislesteaparty@gmail.com

▪        Jan 10 NH Primary

▪        Jan 14 Sat “Pull for a kid tug ‘o war” to send a local kid to summer camp with the Boys and Girls Club. Sponsored by The Rugby River Men. $100 to sponsor a team. $15 individual donation suggested. Contact Brent Nichols riverwolfchief@gmail.com; send checks to “Rugby river men” c/o Brent Nichols, P.O. Box 1881, Brunswick GA 31521.

▪        Jan 14 11:00 am – 2:00 pm Friends of Jack Kingston Family barbecue. Ottawa Farms, 702 Bloomingdale Rd., Bloomingdale GA  RSVP susan@jackkingston.org

▪        Jan 16 Mon 9:00 pm ET GOP Presidential Debate from Myrtle Beach SC sponsored by Fox News and the SC GOP

▪        Jan 19 Thu TIME TBD GOP Presidential Debate from Charleston SC sponsored by CNN and the SRLC

▪        Jan 21 Sat South Carolina Primary

▪        Jan 23 Mon 6:00 pm Indigo Coastal Shanty Beer Tasting with True Vine Wine & Gourmet. $25/person. Contact Brian Green, truevinewine@gmail.com 912-280-0380

▪        Jan 23 Mon TIME TBD GOP Presidential Debate from Tampa FL sponsored by NBC, St. Petersburg Times, National Journal and the Florida Council of 100.

▪        Jan 26 Thu TIME TBD GOP Presidential Debate from Jacksonville FL sponsored by CNN, Hispanic Leadership Network, and FL GOP

▪        Jan 26 Thu 6:00 – 8:30 pm Sons of Confederate Veterans Lee-Jackson Birthday. Speaker: GA Division Chaplain / 6th Brigade Commander Rev. James "Jim" Cavanah (Anglican Orthodox), of Savannah “General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson.” Ole Times Country Buffet, Brunswick. Contact: Scott Newbern (912) 230-1125

▪        Jan 31 Tue Florida Primary 

Learn more about Ron Paul supporters in Iowa: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vgxgn4OO4J0

Ron Paul for Liberty

Watch this 10 minute video which nicely captures Ron Paul's 30+ year unfailing crusade for liberty.
http://girls4ronpaul.blogspot.com/2011/09/ron-paul-only-one-we-can-trust_22.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GirlsLoveRonPaul+%28Girls+Love+Ron+Paul%29

This is not politician. not a partisan. not another special interest. a pro liberty conservative in the pre pro war GOP tradition. I've followed this man's in / out of office more than 30 years, in economics 20 years... no one can touch what he knows and lives by. Would an ordinary 76 year old politician dare to make this race? No. He is not ordinary. and not a politician. He's a statesman. 

You've heard of Arab spring? it's time for American spring for freedom

September 19: Revolution PAC Super Bomb for Ron Paul

June 5 Money Bomb for Ron Paul

Join the June 5 Money Bomb for Ron Paul

Please vote FOR HB 387 - the Tax Reform Bill

THANK YOU Senator William Ligon for QUICKLY posting the latest version of the Tax Reform Bill passed by the Joint Committee on Georgia Revenue Structure. And thank you for requesting feedback and giving instructions on how to do it more effectively.

I just read the entire 68 page bill (my eyes only glazed over occasionally). 

I hope you will vote for it either AS IS or with corporate tax rate breaks added (not specific business exemptions but general rates that apply to all corporations) Please don't let them pick it apart and add back any additional special favors.

It seems to keep intact many key points of the commission to seek a broader flatter consumption based tax.

Lowering the income tax ceiling to 4.5% is a baby step but it IS much simpler and that alone is progress.

Fine with me if we remove or reduce the dependent's exemptions but I wonder a little how/why this one was singled out.

It's also ok with me if charitable deductions are limited/eliminated. First of all the benefit / purpose of deductions is not logically simply for tax deductions. Second, the greatest value of those deductions is at the federal level.

If I have to choose between a lower income tax rate or keeping a minimally valuable deduction against a HIGHER income tax rate... duh, I'll take the lower rate.

I do see LOTS of sales tax exemptions (several pages worth) eliminated and that is also progress.

I see new sales taxes on used car sales and auto related services. Why were those targeted?

Since I purchase ONLY used vehicles and generally in private sales, I don't like the sales tax but I do not oppose it. 

I only ask why target automobiles? why not tax more services?

Why not sales taxes on ALL services? It would be detrimental to me in the short run but I think it would be fairer to tax all goods and services. It would remove price distortions.

Currently none of my recurring expenditures are taxed: hairdresser, fitness center, doctors, vets, groceries.

How is that fair? I benefit from being at a stage and age where I don't need a lot of clothes, appliances, or "store bought" tangible items. Seems unfair to younger people that their goods are taxed but my services are not.

I read the press - I know there was lots of whining that a recession is not the time to "raise" taxes on services and groceries (even as part of a revenue neutral restructuring).

I also know many people those interests were trying to protect already receive extensive government subsidies and tax benefits.

Obviously those of us who favor a Fair Tax approach to replace ALL income taxes with consistent broad (and as low as possible) sales taxes didn't sell it well enough.

Two things about the bill miss the mark in my opinion:

 There's something wrong with the elimination of some and institution of other communication taxes when it takes approx TWENTY pages to spell out the so called simplification (most of pages 37-59)

And I do not see the key provision of lowering or eliminating corporate income taxes. I'd think abolishing / lowering corporate income taxes is more important to our competitiveness than "simplifying the communications" taxes.

Glynn County Republican Convention 2011 Elects new leaders

Attendees: 80 certified participants. This is significantly higher participation than in 2009 when we had about 50 registrants. Many of us think this turnout might have been even higher with a lower registration fee OR by having the precinct meetings in Feb and the county meeting in Mar as done in 2001, 2003, and other years. Thanks to Kevin Gough for his robocall and emails which helped turn out new people and of course thank you to Dawn Forbes and others with the Golden Isles Tea Party who encouraged so many people to attend.


QUICK FACTS:
OFFICERS were elected about 3.5 hours into the meeting:

• Ron Sadowski, Chairman
• Jeff Kilgore, 1st Vice Chair
• Sandy Dean, 2d Vice Chair
• Janis Boland, Secretary
• Marlene Parmley, Treasurer
• Karen Ross, Asst Treasurer

SPEAKERS
Congressman Jack Kingston spoke about his vote against extending the Patriot Act and why he supports oil exploration in the ANWR 
Freshman State Representative Alex Atwood focused on the progress of his legislation to curtail the incidence and costs of the illegal immigrant population in GA.

Congressman Kingston with Marjorie Peters

RESOLUTIONS This is my best recollection but I welcome details from others; our precinct had no copies of the resolutions

1. State Government SUNSET - PASSED without dissent.  Presented by Dawn Forbes, it called for all state agencies to have an expiration or SUNSET period so that they would be required to justify their need and authority periodically. It passed unanimously by voice vote without discussion. 
2. Opposition to alcohol generally, Opposition to all Sunday Alcohol Sales - DEFEATED by deafening voice vote though there was dissent obviously from the authors of the resolution.
3. Opposition to all abortion except in cases of rape, incest, or to protect the life of the mother. PASSED with dissent.
4. Opposition to any extension of gambling including Native American Indian Tribe casinos - PASSED without dissent.
5. Opposition to any new or renewed SPLOST or eSPLOST - Passed.
6. Opposition to the Tax Reform Commission recommendations. PASSED with dissent.

Largest precincts were Marshes of Glynn Baptist (11 voting members) and St. Williams SSI (10 voting members).  Others with more than 5 attendees included Beverly Shores, Christian Renewal SSI, City Rec, First Baptist SSI, and Oglethorpe Point SSI.
No attendees from American Legion, Burroughs Molette, College Place Methodist, or Selden Park.


Committees:

• Credentials - Ken Trobaugh
• Rules - Kathy Strickland and Helen Minton
• Resolutions - Kevin Gough and Dawn Forbes
• Nominating - Richard McMinn, Charles Lewis, Gussie Gammon, Joann Cook, Larry Lynch. The committee met nearly an hour and decided they could not make a report. All nominations were from the floor.
• Parliamentarian, Alex Atwood and then Charlie Crumbliss

More about the new officers.   
All of the officers are Tea Party supporters and many are also supporters of Defend Downtown Brunswick

• Ron is one of our youngest chairmen in the past 40 years but he is a veteran GOP activist.. The former Eagle Scout has been very active in the Glynn GOP since at least 1988 and was also active in the Ga YRs.
• Jeff served on the Glynn GOP issues committee in 2007 when George Skarpalezos was chairman. Two of their big issues opposing amnesty for illegal immigrants and opposing expanding the jail in the downtown location and using eminent domain.
• Sandy is very active with Defend Downtown Brunswick, was a nonpartisan candidate for Brunswick City Council, and very involved in former State Senator Chapman's gubernatorial campaign.
• Janis was also on the GOP issues committee in 2007 and has been active in St. Williams precinct and in the Golden Isles Republican Women.
• Marlene Parmley was also on the GOP issues committee, held other roles on the county committee when George Skarpelezos was Chair, and has been a member of both the Coastal Republican Women's Club and the Golden Isles Republican Women.
  
• Karen Ross was previously heavily involved in Glynn County GOP. She served on the Executive Committee 1973 while a college student;  1980-1981 while teaching at Brunswick Junior College and 2001-2005 after returning to the area.

About the elections: Only the races for Chair and First Vice Chair had contested votes. The Nominating Committee could not agree on a slate to nominate so all nominations were from the floor.
Ron Sadowski and Ruby Robinson were nominated for Chair. A voice vote was too close. The precincts were polled and Ron won - but no vote total was announced. For First Vice Chair Jeff Kilgore and Gussie Gammon were nominated and Jeff won in a voice vote. For Second Vice Chair Sandy Dean and Reba Reyna were nominated; Reba declined and Sandy was elected by acclamation.  For Secretary Janis Boland and Kathy McMinn were nominated; Kathy McMinn declined and Janis was elected by acclamation.  For Treasurer only Marlene Parmley was nominated and for Asst Treasurer only Karen Ross was nominated.  

Little was organized or communicated in advance aboutr committees. However, the valiant logistical and procedural work by Shaw, Ken, and Ruby was obvious. My apologies if I don't remember everyone. I was busy too with the St. Williams precinct.    
THANK YOU:

• Susan Wendel for a beautiful rendition of our national anthem.
• Shaw McVeigh for outstanding service as convention chair. 
• Ken Trobaugh to whom the credentials process was trusted for accuracy, completeness, and inclusion of all qualified. 
• Gloria Burns for working registration and serving as convnetion secretary. 
• Barbara Dieterman  - didn't I see you at the registration table? I'm not sure!
• Ruby Robinson for securing the space, the food, and setting up the physical arrangements. Ruby stayed 'til the last table was put away and the doors were closed. She stands ready to work with new chairman  Ron Sadowski.
• Joanne Cook and Larry Lynch for Nominating Committee service 
• Dale Provenzano for taking on chairmanship of the St. Williams precinct! 
• my brother and so many others who attended their first GOP convention
• City Commissioner Brooks, County Commissioners Coleman and Hunt, and Education Commissioner Allen  for being there!

If you have corrections or additions to this account, please let me know

NOTE: Added Mar 27, 2011. The sign in form, rules, resolutions and minutes are posted at https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B9p3TJzco4oJZTQzMWVhMWEtODY3Ni00NWViLThjZjAtYzZmYTkzYzBjOTIz&hl=en

Take back the GOP 8:30 am Saturday Mar 12

Glynn County registered voters who believe in less government, lower taxes, and more freedom:

 

Please attend the 2011 Glynn County Republican Party organizing convention Sat am, TOMORROW, 8:30 am.

Please bring $15, some patience, your voter card, and your fervor for freedom.

Enjoy speeches by US Congressman Jack Kingston and State Rep Alex Atwood. Participate in this grassroots process.

 

Mar 12 Sat Glynn County Republican Precinct Meetings and Convention, Glynn Academy cafeteria, Mansfield St.

8:30 am Registration opens for both the mass meetings and convention; $15 for both.

This fee covers the rental cost + the continental breakfast (whether you want it or not).
It is uncommon to charge to attend precinct meetings but because the meetings are back to back in the same location, it’s highly impractical to charge only for the county convention.

9:00 am Precinct Meetings will:

Elect precinct Chair and Vice Chair to serve 2 year terms

Elect a precinct meeting secretary - who serves only for this meeting.

Elect delegates to the county convention starting at 10:00.

The rules require you must be elected at the precinct meeting to be able to vote at the county convention.

For practical reasons, you MUST be present at the precinct meeting where you are elected even though the rules do NOT require you to attend the precinct meeting to be elected by the precinct meeting.  It appears the convention promoters will close the doors for BOTH the 9:00 am precinct meeting and the 10:00 am county meeting at 9:00 am - so be there before 9:00 am!

10:00 am County Convention will:

Elect officers to serve 2 year terms

Elect 28 delegates and 28 alternates to the First District Convention in St. Mary’s April 16 - this is the tedious part 1

Elect 21 delegates and 21 alternates to the State convention May 13-14 in Macon. - this is the tedious part 2

Hear speeches

Potentially revise rules and pass resolutions

I have no info on nominating committee members or recommendations. The Glynn GOP has distributed very little timely info about meetings, committees, or any other Party business the last 6 months. Party Secretary Gussie Gammon has made heroic efforts to distribute information but she is dependent on having timely decisions and information to distribute. I thank Gussie for her stalwart and ever faithful GOP support.

Ironically, I have received MORE information on GOP candidates from the Golden Isles Tea Party than from the GOP!  The Tea Party, a non-partisan grassroots group, has Republican members who would like to see an open, transparent GOP committed to the principles of limited government, fiscal responsibility, and free markets. 

The Golden Isles Tea Party verified that these candidates for GOP office ARE also Tea Party spuporters. Ron Sadowski for Chairman (Ron is a former Glynn GOP exec comm member)

Jeff Kilgore for Vice Chairman (Jeff served on the GOP Issues Committee 2007-2008)

Sandy Dean for Vice Chairman

Janis Boland for Secretary (Janis served on the GOP Issues Committee 2007-2008)

Marlene Parmlee for Treasurer (Marlene served on the GOP Issues Committee 2007-2008 and is active in the Golden Isles Republican Women)

It is time to have officers who want to open and improve the GOP. It's time to focus on issues within a respectable, collaborative operation that respects the rules.

I know all of the nominees listed above are issue oriented. They have strong opinions. They are fearless. They favor open discussion and argument. 

They work - for a living and for their causes.

I trust Ron to abide by the rules. He won't run the GOP like a one main railroad. Neither will he be run over by a train.

It is very difficult to get people to commit to hold a Party office. If they want to do it, let's help them.

Resources.  You'll save time if you print the registration form and bring it with you - already completed.

If you're really into Saturday meetings, you might also want to print the GOP rules.

Glynn GOP Precinct registration form http://bit.ly/conventionform

Glynn GOP Rules http://bit.ly/GlynnGOPRules

    Glynn GOP video explanation of process. It states you only have to SAY  you are Republican.
    http://youtu.be/Z9rWBYuG0Cw  (see 4 min 30 sec mark

Ga GOP Call http://www.gagop.org/documents/2011_Convention_Call.pdf

Ga GOP Rules http://www.gagop.org/documents/2009Rules.pdf

Fulton Convention 101 http://fultongop.org/news/fulton-gop-convention-101 (good info)

I hope to see former regular Republicans, new members, Tea Party supporters, and any Republican voter at the Saturday meeting.

Karen Ross,

Glynn County GOP Executive Committee  1973-75, 1980-81, 2001-2005

Fulton County GOP Executive Committee  1979, 1987-1989, 1995-1999

Senator Ligon - please PASS, don't PUNT

Note - my last post was very favorable towards Senator Ligon. And I still wish him and his family well. I hope THIS lapse in leadership is temporary.

State Senator Ligon punted on 2d down when he said it was too hard and time consuming to even schedule a vote on SB10 - the local option bill for Sunday package sales.   It's one of the simplest shortest bills I've ever read. It surely lacks the complexity of major tax reform or budgeting which SHOULD take the bulk of their time. Those issues "chew up the clock" and take a ground game. Voting to put Sunday package sales in the hands of each of the 159 counties does not require great study, deliberative time, or expense. It may require LEADERS who can take the heat from sideline demagogues who falsely frame it as fostering “Sunday sales so the alcoholics can get likkered up”. SB10 actually ALLOWS counties who wish to call for a vote to treat Sunday package sales consistent with their existing local laws on alcohol sales. There is great variety across Georgia except in this area where the state has maintained a unique prohibition. Unique in Georgia. And one of only three states in the country with this remnant of prohibition.  Senator Ligon, if you can’t take heat, don’t punt. PASS it on to the counties who WANT the opportunity to vote.  This bill comes up every year decade after decade.  Some mistakenly thought with the GOP super majority, it would finally pass. Didn’t Republicans say they believed in smaller government, less government, local control, and free enterprise?

Triple Congratulations to Freshman State Senator William Ligon

TRIPLE congratulations to freshman State Senator William Ligon! In his first week in office, Senator Ligon scored

1. Appointment as a senate deputy whip. This is really good news for the coastal area which lost so much leadership with the departures of Senator Eric Johnson and State Rep Jerry Keen. And it’s good news to all those who support Senator Ligon’s focus on constitutional principles. As deputy whip he’ll first be TOLD what the majority supports that day/week and asked to secure a headcount for the votes. I hope he quickly becomes one who does the telling and leading to make the tough decisions. Early indicators are completely positive.
2. Appointment as Vice-Chairman of the Senate Education Committee. That’s the hot seat for making tough decisions since well over half the strained state budget is in education and government schooling.
   Plus he’s a member of Health and Human Services, Judiciary, Public Safety, and Ethics committees. And those are all vital areas. In my view Public Safety and the Judiciary are the cornerstones of the state’s role in society. And Ethical practices among officeholders and bureaucrats are essential to protect taxpayers and every day enterprise from favoritism and pork.  Five committees. That’s a lot of committee work. Add in the constituent services and other legislative duties and it’s no job for the feint hearted. While I want our legislators to put heart and soul into critical issues, they ARE (fortunately) part time citizen legislators.  I wish Senator Ligon and his young family well as they balance the demands and keep their roots strong and healthy.
3. a bold first legislative initiative to curtail Medicaid fraud. In the Brunswick News last week Ligon said Medicaid fraud costs the states an estimated $300 million per year. Optimistically, eliminating that fraud could close up to 15% of the $2B gap in the state budget.  I’m glad to see Senator Ligon tackle a big issue head-on and not waste time pandering on feel good issues that cost vital taxpayer dollars.

If you want to keep up with Senator Ligon, please visit his new website at http://www.senatorligon.com/ and keep up with the legislature at http://www.legis.ga.gov/en-US/default.aspx