District 19: No Endorsement May 8, 2012
Posted by Adam Graham in : The Idaho Conservative , comments closedDistrict 19 is having a GOP primary for Seat A between Greg Talmon and 2010 Libertarian Congressional Candidate Mike Washburn. Neither represent conservative values, and neither will have my endorsement.
District 17 Senate: No Endorsement as Of Now May 7, 2012
Posted by Adam Graham in : Idaho Conservative, The , comments closedIn the Senate race in District 17, I’m forced to not make an endorsement. Judy Peavey Derr is a liberal pro-abortion Republican I can’t support. Mr. Thomas Bullock, her erstwhile opponent, has no campaign presence online. I’ve seen no yard signs for him around the district. He couldn’t be bothered to fill out voter guides from either the Idaho Statesman or Cornerstone Institute, so I have no idea what he actually stands for other than I gather he’s a Ron Paul supporter, but as that can mean anything from hard core pot smoker to Christian Constitutionalist, that’s no help.
I might vote for him as useless protest vote to stop us from making Judy Peavey Derr the sacrificial RINO in our district. The good news for Mr. Bullock, if he can’t be bothered with the basics of running a campaign is that being an ex-candidate is no bother at all.
Endorsements: Ada County District 3 County Commissioner
Posted by Adam Graham in : Idaho Conservative, The , comments closedI’ve observed over the years that getting re-nominated County Commissioner in the West is a hard task. I’ve lost count of the number of Republicans in both Ada County and Flathead County. Commissioners seem to be fair game for intraparty challenges and routinely get tossed even if things are going well as far as voters can see. Such was the case with 2010′s inexplicable ouster of Commissioner Fred Tilman. Voters put a high bar for re-electing Commissioner.
Sharon Ullman in her term has cleared the bar. She certainly far exceeded the expectations of the Idaho Statesman which would have had you believe that her tenure would be full of more drama than a night at the Metropolitan Opera. I’ve observed Ullman in her four years back on the job and have found her to be competent, responsive, and an advocate for limited and wiser government. Ullman has brought valuable perspective to the Commissioner’s office, and it would be a shame to lose her.
While I’ve had disagreements with Commissioner Ullman, I think she’s done a commendable job. In addition, her opponent is Dave Case, a Kuna School Board member who proudly endorsed Planned Parenthood’s Democratic Congressman Walt Minnick over Raul Labrador.
I will take a leader with a record of supporting limited government over one who chose to support a radical pro-abortionist Democrat.
For conservatives, the choice is clear. Vote Sharon Ullman for Commissioner.
The Man Who Shot Osama Bin-Laden April 28, 2012
Posted by Adam Graham in : Barack Obama,War on Terror , comments closedAbout Obama’s brilliant gutsy decision to kill bin Laden. He didn’t make it:
As reported by Big Peace, Time magazine has obtained a memo written by Leon Panetta, then-director of the Central Intelligence Agency and now-Secretary of Defense, that says “operational decision-making and control” was really in the hands of William McRaven, a three-star admiral and former Navy SEAL.
“The timing, operational decision-making and control are in Adm. McRaven’s hands,” the memo says. “The approval is provided on the risk profile presented to the president. Any additional risks are to be brought back to the president for his consideration. The direction is to go in and get bin Laden and, if he is not there, to get out.”
In other words, it was McRaven’s call to pull the trigger or not on the raid.
This makes Paul Shanklin’s parody even more salient:
Conservative Endorsements: District 14 April 25, 2012
Posted by Adam Graham in : Idaho Conservative, The , comments closedConservatives don’t face a greater contrast in a primary campaign than they do in District 14.
In one corner is Idaho Representative Marv Hagedorn (R-20) who has spent three terms in the State House. Representative Hagedorn’s conservative bonafides are beyond question. He has a 95% career Idaho Conservative voting record and in multiple years was recognized as a Lion of Conservativism.
More than just a voting record or a warm body, Marv Hagedorn is one of the legislature’s most thoughtful and intelligent lawmakers. Along with Steve Thayn, Russ Fulcher, and Cliff Bayer, he is among the Treasure Valleys’ most essential conservative leaders. He has been a fighter for conservative values and one who has led the fight for innovative conservative solutions in the State House.
On the other hand, we have Former Senator Stan Bastian (R) who represented the old District 14 in the House for one term and one in the Senate. During his years in the legislature, Bastian was a consistent friend of the IEA, choosing the support of big Teachers Unions over children. Bastian netted a 75% Idaho Conservative rating for 2007 and 2008 sessions and managed to attempt to wrangle re-election by saying one thing to conservatives before the election and doing another once in office. Well people caught on.
While there are other candidates in the race, the big choice in District 14 is between a true conservative leader and a moderate who is contstantly reinventing himself. The choice is clear. Vote for Marv Hagedorn for Senate.
I endorsed Rep. Reed DeMourdant (R-14) in 2010. DeMourdant has justified conservative faith in him by posting a 95% Idaho Conservative Voting record. Anyone can put out fliers and promise to vote conservative. DeMourdant’s done it and he deserves to be renominated and re-elected to a second term.
Conservative Endorsement: Idaho District 18 April 24, 2012
Posted by Adam Graham in : Idaho Conservative, The , comments closedThis endorsement is for my (now) former District. There’s only one competitive primary race: That between Brad Bolicek and John Hruby for Seat B.
Bolicek and Hruby provided nearly identical conservative answers to the Cornerstone Voter Guide, the big difference being that Hruby advocates for state regulation of home schoolers, who quite frankly don’t need the government intrusion and are doing quite well without it.
Beyond this single point, there are many other reasons to support Bolicek. Bolicek has prior experience as a candidate. I was a witness to how hard he worked in 2006. Unfortunately, he had the bad fortune to find himself up against a popular Democratic incumbent in one of the biggest Democratic years in history.
However, after his defeat, Brad responded by becoming an active supporter of the Idaho Republican Party. He volunteered and worked for other candidates and earned the support of Republicans to become Vice-Chairman of the Ada County GOP.
One of the easiest ways for legislative seats to slip away is for the GOP to nominate a candidate who flakes out. We needn’t about that happening with Brad Bolicek as the GOP nominee. He will flat out, work to bring Seat B back to the GOP.
In addition, he is committed solidly to bedrock conservative principles. Wise conservatives in District 18 would do well to give their wholehearted support to Brad Bolicek.
Endorsements: Legislative District 23
Posted by Adam Graham in : Idaho Conservative, The , comments closedI’ll expand outside of Ada County to discuss District 23 which includes two incumbents facing off for the Senate:
Senator Tim Corder (R) boasts one of the most liberal voting records (56% Idaho Conservative Rating) in the Senate Republican Caucus. Indeed, with the retirements of Senators Joyce Broadsword and John Andreason, and Representative Tom Trail, Corder may be the last RINO standing in the new legislature. On issue after issue, Corder has leaned left and played to the media and IEA. Corder is an avowed opponent of school choice and in 2012 opposed lifting the cap on new Charter Schools, choosing to support the interests of the IEA over the interests of Idaho students and parents.
Senator Bert Brackett, while not perfect, represents a much more center right approach (83% Idaho Conservative Voting Record). Brackett has shown his conservative credentials not only on school choice but on school reform in general. Brackett stood firmly for the Idaho Health Freedom Act to protect citizens from the Unconstitutional encroachments of Obamacare. Senator Brackett is endorsed by Governor Otter, and I’ll gladly lend my voice to that endorsement.
Idaho Representative Pete Nielsen (R) faces a challenge from Matthew Bundy and Steve Millington, both of whom seem to be well-intentioned. However, both are short on specifics. Neither chose to fill out the Cornerstone Institute’s questionnaire. Nielsen, not only provided conservative answers to Cornerstone’s questions, he has a rock solid 92% conservative voting record. Give me a solid conservative with a record any day. I wholeheartedly endorse Pete Nielsen for re-nomination and re-election as a reliable conservative.
Endorsement: 2nd Congressional District
Posted by Adam Graham in : Idaho Conservative, The , comments closedAfter the 2010 elections, I weighed in my mind whether to continue my lonely fight against Congressman Mike Simpson (R-ID.), a career politician with a big-spending tendency. Hopefully, the Tea Party revolution would send a loud and clear message to Rep. Mike Simpson.
To Simpson that message has been to go back to Washington and beg more money from his special interest masters while proposing tax increases in violation of his tax pledge. His defense for this was, “When I signed the pledge not to raise taxes… I didn’t know it was a marriage agreement that would last forever.”
Unlike most people, I’ve been in a position to sign a pledge back when I ran for the State House a few years after Simpson was elected to Congres. In addition to the pledge, Americans for Tax Reform sends out a packet of information explaining what exactly you’re getting yourself into. Their FAQ at the state level is little different than their Federal FAQ which makes it clear this pledge is a long-term arrangement:
Do I have to take the Pledge again if I run for re-election?
No. Pledge signers are bound for the duration of their tenure in the office to which they are elected.
When I signed this pledge, I resolved that if I ever made the decision that a tax increase was necessary my only honorable course would be to resign and face voters again. Of course, I doubt the question of what an honorable course would be was on Simpson’s mind when he signed this pledge. His more pressing concern was getting conservatives to give him that first term back in 1998. Did he read the FAQ? Did he even give any contemplation to what it meant to give your word?
We know what Mike Simpson’s word is worth. That’s what I’m endorsing Chick Heileson for Congress. Chick Heileson stands firmly for constitutional values. He opposed Wall Street Bailouts. Chick Heileson is a businessman, veteran, and citizen who will bring integrity back to the representation of the second district. I will vote for Chick Heileson and in the strongest terms possible, I encourage everyone to go out and cast your vote in the Republican Primary for Chick Heileson for Congress.
Stanton Health Care on CBN News April 23, 2012
Posted by Adam Graham in : Abortion,Christianity , comments closedIf you want to support Stanton Health Care, click here to donate.
2012 House Conservative Scorecard Posted April 20, 2012
Posted by Adam Graham in : Idaho Conservative, The , comments closedThe 2012 Idaho House Conservative Scorecard is posted. We had more votes than for the Senate, but still only six votes total. Probably the more important figure is the lifetime total. There are a lot of 100 percents and Democrats all scored 0 on the scorecard.
