Caffeinated Thoughts

Responding to Rekha Basu’s Hit Piece on Dan Charleston
Jane Jech for Iowa Senate District 36
Jim Carley for Iowa House District 30
Jeff Mullen for Iowa Senate District 22
Support Sinclair in Iowa Senate District 14

Responding to Rekha Basu’s Hit Piece on Dan Charleston

Posted: 04 Jun 2012 02:30 AM PDT

By Gregg Lynes,

In regards to the 6/3/12 Sunday Register article by Rekha Basu:

Polk County Deputy Sheriff Dan Charleston is running against his current boss, Sheriff Bill McCarthy and Dan will win the race on November 6th. That this article was written by Basu was no surprise; we expected it. That she heard about it from "unnamed sources" in upper administration of the Sheriff's Office was not even mentioned in the article.

Mr. Brennan was certainly loved by his family and his son. That he died way too early is, without doubt, a terrible tragedy. When my Father died in 2004 I wrote and had printed in every major paper in Iowa what a great person he was and how we loved and respected him. That Gerald Brennan's death is being used as a political football by the Sheriff, the Democratic Party and Ms. Basu to smear a candidate that is running against the democrat power base that has been Des Moines for decades is truly despicable. It is Mr. Brennan's family and his memory that are being used to hurt and disparage the reputation of two Polk County officers; the first at the scene after numerous civilians, was another deputy, then some time later, the other, Sergeant Dan Charleston, who has come to expect this type of treatment since he declared his intention to run for sheriff in May 2011.

The decades old material Basu thinks she is bringing to light was known to Sheriff Rice when he hired Dan.It was not a secret; nor is Deputy Charleston's stand on cameras. Those cameras in squad cars are an important and necessary part of law enforcement. Those that are posted on overpasses to catch unsuspecting speeders and separate them from their hard earned money are in Charleston's belief, unconstitutional .Had Basu taken the time to read the web site, this would have been evident.Another attack Basu makes is on Charleston's stand regarding legal immigrants. That she "presumes" anything is simply a trait or habit that should never be accepted or tolerated by a journalist or the paper that prints that work.If anyone cares to do their own investigation: www.charlestonforsheriff.com. It is quite clear to anyone willing to read the site that Charleston is fully capable of distinguishing between illegals and tourists.

What I find objectionable about Basu's article after using the Brennan family as pawns is the blatant lie that "Charleston, 45, didn't respond to messages seeking comment." At 12:30 on Friday, 6/1, Ms. Basu was shown the tape of the Brennan scene while at the Polk County Sheriff's office. That afternoon, while at work as a deputy sheriff, Dan received a message to call Ms. Basu. Knowing that it would be a campaign issue, Dan finished his shift and then prepared and sent a response to her Facebook inquiry at 10:20 PM on Friday evening. Obviously, Ms. Basu's article was already written and too important to hold to make sure the facts were taken into account.As is so often the case with mainstream media, why let the facts get in the way of a good story?

I have known Dan Charleston for nearly ten years. A fine man, a great father and husband as well as being a strong Christian guided by his faith. For the purpose of full disclosure, I am a retired US Marine; nearly 25 years of both enlisted and officer experience, a neighbor of Dan Charleston and his family, and the husband of Dan's campaign manager.

Jane Jech for Iowa Senate District 36

Posted: 03 Jun 2012 02:30 PM PDT

The Iowa Senate District 36 primary race has Marshalltown attorney and former state senator and assistant minority leader Larry McKibben pitted against former educator and worship leader Jane Jech who also lives in Marshalltown. Iowa Senate District 36 includes Marshall and Tama Counties and the southern edge of Black Hawk County.

While I believe either candidate would be a far cry better than the incumbent State Senator Steve Sodders (D-State Center) I feel that there is plenty of contrast within this primary. Here we have an establishment candidate and former legislator in McKibben. Jech is a tea party activist and in touch with the grassroots.

It's a no brainer for me… especially when you consider McKibben's record. Some votes and positions of concern:

In 2008 he voted for the universal preschool program (2008 H.F. 877).
He supports Governor Branstad's education plan (you can read my critique here and here).
He voted in favor of a mandatory HPV vaccination coverage (2008 H.F. 2145).
He favors raising the gas tax.
He voted for the $800 Million Iowa Value Fun (2003 – HF 683/SJ 1255).
He voted in 2007 to increase Iowa's minimum wage (HF 1)
He voted to required employers to give time off for the Iowa Caucuses – (2008 SF 2355) – I'm in favor of people being active in the Caucuses, but the state should not force businesses to give time off.
He also favors exceptions for rape and incest for abortion which prevented him from getting a recommendation from Iowa Right to Life. I realize that some might feel that is extreme, but I believe it is tragic to create another victim in circumstances such as that. Innocent life shouldn't be put to death because of the sin of the father.

Jane Jech is a constitutional conservative…

Believes in local control in education and school choice. Let parents and local communities control education dollars instead of educrats in Des Moines.
Along that vein she wants to restructure the Department of Education to become a resource and have an advisory role instead of a bureaucracy that takes decision making ability and dollars away from parents and communities.
She wants to budget in a way that makes Iowa less dependent on federal dollars.
She wants to restrict the size of government.
She wants to pass property tax reform with shifting the cost.
She wants to design state laws that protect us from an ever-growing Federal bureaucracy with their unfunded mandates.
She is pro-life and favors a constitutional amendment protecting the definition of marriage.
She respects the U.S. and Iowa Constitutions.

Frankly, McKibben had his time in the Iowa Senate. It's time for fresh blodd. I believe Iowa Senate District 36 will be best served by Jane Jech. Please vote for Jane this Tuesday.

Jim Carley for Iowa House District 30

Posted: 03 Jun 2012 01:30 PM PDT

The Iowa House District 30 race hits a little closer to home for me, geographically speaking. Iowa House District 30 consists of Altoona, Mitchellville, Bondurant, Carlisle, Elkhart and Runnells. There are two candidates running Jim Carley, a tea party activist and Altoona native, and Carol Miller a farmer's wife who lives outside of Ankeny.

I know Jim Carley personally. He has been politically active through SOAR and the East Polk County Conservative Club. He is down to earth and a constitutional conservative. He's in touch with the grassroots. Miller with all of the campaign material that I have seen has avoided any discussion of social issues.

Carley believes life begins at conception and ends at natural death and should be protected. Miller says nothing about her position on life. Carley supports a marriage amendment. Miller is silent. Carley is pro-school choice and local control. Miller doesn't distinguish herself in the area of education. Carley is also fiscally conservative and wants to insure that Iowa has a contingency fund for future emergencies and not rely on federal funds to meet our budget. He wants to reduce corporate taxes and regulations in order to stimulate the economy and help to create jobs. He is an avid supporter of right to work and our right to bear arms. Miller says nothing about this.

I especially like Jim's filter that will guide him on how he will vote:

Jim Carley Iowa House District 30 – Legislative Filter

So on Tuesday please go out and vote for Jim Carley!

Jeff Mullen for Iowa Senate District 22

Posted: 03 Jun 2012 11:13 AM PDT

Jeff-Mullen I had backed Jeff back in September, but I wanted to renew my support before the primary on Tuesday. Jeff Mullen, the lead pastor of Point of Grace Church in Waukee is running against State Senator Pat Ward (R-West Des Moines) who moved into the district due to redistricting which placed her in a Democrat heavy district and facing a race with State Senator Matt McCoy (D-Des Moines).

Here we have a establishment candidate in Pat Ward versus a political newbie in Jeff Mullen. We have a moderate candidate in Ward versus a true conservative in Mullen.

A reminder to the voters of Iowa Senate District 22 of State Senator Ward's record prior to this last legislative session. She had some conservative votes, but there's nothing like a tough primary challenge to make you fly right. Don't let that fool you however.

Des Moines Dem at Bleeding Heartland points out that Ward backed adding sexual orientation to the Iowa Civil Rights Act, and she also voted in favor of the anti-bully bill which protected only certain classes of students. She did vote in favor of a marriage amendment however. Des Moines Dem points out (and I concur) that she wasn't a leader in calling for the removal of the three Iowa Supreme Court justices (all seven in 2009 ruled against Iowa's DOMA law) who were up for retention in 2010.

In contrast Mullen has been a leader through his Iowa Pastors Network and personal advocacy. He was instrumental in the retention election campaign through mobilizing pastors to communicate to their congregations the importance of being politically engaged.

Looking at the two candidates in Iowa Senate District 22 I believe the choice is clear. While I can't personally cast a vote in the district I'd encourage primary voters in that district (West Des Moines – minus Valley Junction, Clive, Waukee and Windsor Heights) vote for the candidate who is a fiscal and social conservative leader. Vote for the candidate who supports individual rights and responsibility, the respect for the Constitutional rule of law, free enterprise, restraints on taxing and government spending, limited government, inalienable human rights for the born and unborn, the integrity of the traditional family as the basic unit of society, and the freedom of religion. Simply put, Jeff shares my worldview, State Senator Ward I'm not so sure about. Jeff is man of convictions, and State Senator Ward seems to take positions that are politically expedient and comfortable, but does not lead. Jeff does.

If you are an eligible GOP primary voter in Iowa Senate District 22, please vote for Jeff Mullen this Tuesday.

Update: Jeff produced a "newspaper" that provides further contrast between him and Pat Ward.

Support Sinclair in Iowa Senate District 14

Posted: 03 Jun 2012 09:30 AM PDT

There are three candidates running in the Iowa Senate District 14 GOP primary on Tuesday, June 5th. The first is Steven Everly, a master electrician from Knoxville. The second is Stephanie Jones a stay-at-home mom and former state employee who also lives in Knoxville. The third is Amy Sinclair from Corydon who has served two terms on the Wayne County Board of Supervisors.

Looking at Steven Everly, I believe he lacks the experience comparatively to Amy Sinclair even though they are likely similar in their positions. Stephanie Jones I believe lacks the temperament to serve in the Iowa Senate.

I would like to urge the voters of Iowa Senate District 14 (Clarke, Decatur, Lucas, Marion and Wayne Counties) to vote for Amy Sinclair. Amy Sinclair understands the impact that the state government has on local government from her time as a county supervisor. That is vital experience that I wish more of our state legislators had. She is a believer in strong local control of education and we will need people like her serving to keep Governor Branstad's education policy in check.

She is a believer in limited government and we desperately need people like her in the Iowa Legislature. She is pro-life and pro-traditional marriage. Also working on a family farm with her husband she understands one of the most important issues in our state – agriculture.

On Tuesday please vote for Amy Sinclair.

Horoscop

luni, 4 iunie 2012

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