...I'll be at the Boise Young Professionals Happy Hour today at Chandler's Steakhouse downtown - it's part of Hotel 43. Runs from 5-7 pm. Swing by and say hello.
Sid Smith
Executive Director
Friday, November 21, 2008
Obama Transition Team's Puzzling Gun Question
President-elect Obama's transition team is asking potential cabinet members about their gun ownership. Considering Obama's troubling views on Second Amendment rights, one has to wonder what the purpose of the question is...
Sid Smith
Executive Director
Sid Smith
Executive Director
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Don't Call It a Comeback
After several newspaper reports about his death had been published, Mark Twain famously said “Rumors of my demise have been greatly exaggerated.” Remember what the media said about the Idaho Republican Party this past summer? They said we were in “disarray” and hopelessly divided. They labeled us as out of touch. And they tried to overwhelm us with negative press coverage. Above all, they said Idaho Republicans had lost their edge and couldn't win. Funny thing is they forgot to check-in with the voters.
All the while, Idaho Republicans stuck to their traditional values: limited government, less spending, lower taxes and a basic respect for private property, personal liberty and the sanctity of life -- as well as a strong commitment to national security and our troops.
Nothing fancy. Nothing difficult to understand. Just time-honored, Constitutional principles that have kept our nation strong – and a lot of hard work out on the campaign trail. We believed in Idaho voters, instead of browbeating them or suggesting they were backward or behind the times, as some liberals did.
After a long, difficult campaign season, the win-loss record is certainly gratifying, especially given the media's gloom-and-doom predictions following the GOP State Convention in June. Turns out that competition is good. It actually strengthened our party. Rather than resting on our laurels, Idaho Republicans dared to be better. And it paid off this fall.
Bucking the national swoon over Barack Obama, Idahoans gave John McCain and Idaho native Sarah Palin a huge 26-point margin of victory in Idaho. Also, the Idaho GOP actually gained a state legislative seat this year – a vast improvement over the seven legislative seats lost to Democrats just two years ago.
The House totals are now 52 Republicans and 18 Democrats. In the Senate, the margin remains 28-7 in favor of Republicans. While we were unable to maintain an all-GOP Congressional delegation – the direct result of Congressman Bill Sali being heavily outspent by national Democrats and their liberal out-of-state allies – Jim Risch ran a nearly flawless campaign to become our next U.S. Senator and join Senator Mike Crapo in representing Idaho.
And don't forget the overwhelming re-election of Mike Simpson to Congress.
Aside from losing more ground in the State Legislature, Idaho Democrats also lost out in the courthouses. Most notably, the Democrats' much-trumpeted plan to take over the Ada County Courthouse was thwarted. Republican Sharon Ullman defeated incumbent Paul Woods, while incumbent Republican Rick Yzagguire easily fended off a challenge from David Langhorst, giving Ada County an all-Republican Commission.
Ada County voters knew where to go to keep their property taxes down, and traditional stronghold counties like Canyon, Kootenai and Bonneville all stayed in the hands of Republicans. Even more important than wins and losses, however, the Idaho Republican Party increased its strength and vitality, adapting to the needs and demands of the future. Change was the clarion call of this year's elections. Leading the way, Idaho's GOP was up to the challenge and all of Idaho will be the better for it.
Norm Semanko, Chairman
All the while, Idaho Republicans stuck to their traditional values: limited government, less spending, lower taxes and a basic respect for private property, personal liberty and the sanctity of life -- as well as a strong commitment to national security and our troops.
Nothing fancy. Nothing difficult to understand. Just time-honored, Constitutional principles that have kept our nation strong – and a lot of hard work out on the campaign trail. We believed in Idaho voters, instead of browbeating them or suggesting they were backward or behind the times, as some liberals did.
After a long, difficult campaign season, the win-loss record is certainly gratifying, especially given the media's gloom-and-doom predictions following the GOP State Convention in June. Turns out that competition is good. It actually strengthened our party. Rather than resting on our laurels, Idaho Republicans dared to be better. And it paid off this fall.
Bucking the national swoon over Barack Obama, Idahoans gave John McCain and Idaho native Sarah Palin a huge 26-point margin of victory in Idaho. Also, the Idaho GOP actually gained a state legislative seat this year – a vast improvement over the seven legislative seats lost to Democrats just two years ago.
The House totals are now 52 Republicans and 18 Democrats. In the Senate, the margin remains 28-7 in favor of Republicans. While we were unable to maintain an all-GOP Congressional delegation – the direct result of Congressman Bill Sali being heavily outspent by national Democrats and their liberal out-of-state allies – Jim Risch ran a nearly flawless campaign to become our next U.S. Senator and join Senator Mike Crapo in representing Idaho.
And don't forget the overwhelming re-election of Mike Simpson to Congress.
Aside from losing more ground in the State Legislature, Idaho Democrats also lost out in the courthouses. Most notably, the Democrats' much-trumpeted plan to take over the Ada County Courthouse was thwarted. Republican Sharon Ullman defeated incumbent Paul Woods, while incumbent Republican Rick Yzagguire easily fended off a challenge from David Langhorst, giving Ada County an all-Republican Commission.
Ada County voters knew where to go to keep their property taxes down, and traditional stronghold counties like Canyon, Kootenai and Bonneville all stayed in the hands of Republicans. Even more important than wins and losses, however, the Idaho Republican Party increased its strength and vitality, adapting to the needs and demands of the future. Change was the clarion call of this year's elections. Leading the way, Idaho's GOP was up to the challenge and all of Idaho will be the better for it.
Norm Semanko, Chairman
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Idaho Republican Party Independent Expenditure
Check out our new radio ad!
http://www.idgop.org/Player.aspx?guid=5e4d47b2-2276-4648-9759-13833eece995
*This ad was paid for by the Idaho Republican Party and is not authorized by any candidate or committee.
http://www.idgop.org/Player.aspx?guid=5e4d47b2-2276-4648-9759-13833eece995
*This ad was paid for by the Idaho Republican Party and is not authorized by any candidate or committee.
Monday, October 27, 2008
In Case You Missed It- Statesman calls Idaho Republicans "Old and Lazy"
Dear Idaho Republicans,
In case you missed it, the Idaho Statesman reported today that Idaho Republicans are getting "old" and "lazy".
It is time to show them once again what Idaho Republicans can do.
After discussing Republican efforts in Canyon County and elsewhere in Idaho, the article quotes College of Idaho professor Jasper LiCalzi as saying: "They get lazy and they get old. . .This will be a real test of the Republican organization."
The Democrats' old reliable friend, the Idaho Statesman, is trying desperately to help carry them across the finish line. But these attempts to discourage Idaho Republicans will fail -- just as they always do.
The Idaho Republican Team is organized, energized and ready for victory on November 4.
What the Idaho Statesman and other liberal media outlets don't understand is that the Idaho Republican Party is not about one person; and we are definitely not a top-down organization. Our strength has always come from the grassroots -- rank-and-file Republicans. From the precinct and county level up; that is where our strength lies; garnering one vote at a time.
As Republicans, our drive and determination comes from within. Our belief is in a calling greater than ourselves.
Our motivation stems from a deep concern and conviction about the future of our great nation. That is why we win; because we have no choice but to fight for our children and our grandchildren; to protect what generations before us have fought and died for. That is what drives us as Republicans.
Democrats continue to field candidates that believe the answer is more government, more taxes and more spending.
They say they support the 2nd Amendment, but they support gun control measures. They say they are for balance on natural resource issues, but they support radical, out-of-state environmental groups. They say they are concerned about the economy, but they want to take more money out of our pockets.
The choice for Idahoans in this election is stark: GOP candidates that support core, conservative Republican principlies against the Democrat Party of Barack Obama and his plan to redistribute wealth and grow government; the Republican Party of bold ideas and innovative solutions vs.
the Democrat party with the same old, tired plans to tax and
spend.
It is no mistake that Walt Minnick has publicly support Barack Obama since January; they believe in the same things, and they will both do all they can to help further the liberal agenda of Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid. While Walt Minnick may be ashamed to admit that he is a Democrat -- or find it politically expedient to pretend to be something else -- he is definitely not a Republican. Let's make sure we get the vote out for Republicans!
The challenge has been issued. They say that we are "old"
and "lazy"; that we are doomed to failure as the coming tide of Barrack Obama and his liberal, "spread the wealth"
Democrats descends upon Idaho. As the reddest-of-the-red states, it is time to once again show that we are up to the test.
I know that each and everyone of us is up to the challenge.
Let us now re-double our efforts and make sure that every Idahoan gets out to vote -- and vote Republican -- on November 4.
Thank you.
Victory 2008
Norm Semanko, Chairman
Idaho Republican Party
In case you missed it, the Idaho Statesman reported today that Idaho Republicans are getting "old" and "lazy".
It is time to show them once again what Idaho Republicans can do.
After discussing Republican efforts in Canyon County and elsewhere in Idaho, the article quotes College of Idaho professor Jasper LiCalzi as saying: "They get lazy and they get old. . .This will be a real test of the Republican organization."
The Democrats' old reliable friend, the Idaho Statesman, is trying desperately to help carry them across the finish line. But these attempts to discourage Idaho Republicans will fail -- just as they always do.
The Idaho Republican Team is organized, energized and ready for victory on November 4.
What the Idaho Statesman and other liberal media outlets don't understand is that the Idaho Republican Party is not about one person; and we are definitely not a top-down organization. Our strength has always come from the grassroots -- rank-and-file Republicans. From the precinct and county level up; that is where our strength lies; garnering one vote at a time.
As Republicans, our drive and determination comes from within. Our belief is in a calling greater than ourselves.
Our motivation stems from a deep concern and conviction about the future of our great nation. That is why we win; because we have no choice but to fight for our children and our grandchildren; to protect what generations before us have fought and died for. That is what drives us as Republicans.
Democrats continue to field candidates that believe the answer is more government, more taxes and more spending.
They say they support the 2nd Amendment, but they support gun control measures. They say they are for balance on natural resource issues, but they support radical, out-of-state environmental groups. They say they are concerned about the economy, but they want to take more money out of our pockets.
The choice for Idahoans in this election is stark: GOP candidates that support core, conservative Republican principlies against the Democrat Party of Barack Obama and his plan to redistribute wealth and grow government; the Republican Party of bold ideas and innovative solutions vs.
the Democrat party with the same old, tired plans to tax and
spend.
It is no mistake that Walt Minnick has publicly support Barack Obama since January; they believe in the same things, and they will both do all they can to help further the liberal agenda of Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid. While Walt Minnick may be ashamed to admit that he is a Democrat -- or find it politically expedient to pretend to be something else -- he is definitely not a Republican. Let's make sure we get the vote out for Republicans!
The challenge has been issued. They say that we are "old"
and "lazy"; that we are doomed to failure as the coming tide of Barrack Obama and his liberal, "spread the wealth"
Democrats descends upon Idaho. As the reddest-of-the-red states, it is time to once again show that we are up to the test.
I know that each and everyone of us is up to the challenge.
Let us now re-double our efforts and make sure that every Idahoan gets out to vote -- and vote Republican -- on November 4.
Thank you.
Victory 2008
Norm Semanko, Chairman
Idaho Republican Party
In Case You Missed It-UN Pulls for Obama
At the U.N., Many Hope for an Obama Win
By Colum Lynch
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, October 26, 2008; A17
UNITED NATIONS -- There are no "Obama 2008" buttons, banners or T-shirts visible here at U.N. headquarters, but it might be difficult to find a sliver of territory in the United States more enthusiastic over the prospect of the Illinois senator winning the White House...
Obama supporters hail from Russia, Canada, France, Britain, Germany, the Netherlands, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Indonesia and elsewhere. One American employee here seemed puzzled that he was being asked whether Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) was even a consideration. "Obama was and is unstoppable," the official said. "Please, God, let him win," he added.
"It would be hard to find anybody, I think, at the U.N. who would not believe that Obama would be a considerable improvement over any other alternative," said William H. Luers, executive director of the United Nations Association. "It's been a bad eight years, and there is a lot of bad feeling over it."
Conservatives who are skeptical of the United Nations said they are not surprised by the political tilt. "The fact is that most conservatives, most Republicans don't worship at the altar in New York, and I think that aggravates them more than anything else," said John R. Bolton, a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. "What they want is the bending of the knee, and they'll get it from an Obama administration."
For Full Article, Click Here.
By Colum Lynch
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, October 26, 2008; A17
UNITED NATIONS -- There are no "Obama 2008" buttons, banners or T-shirts visible here at U.N. headquarters, but it might be difficult to find a sliver of territory in the United States more enthusiastic over the prospect of the Illinois senator winning the White House...
Obama supporters hail from Russia, Canada, France, Britain, Germany, the Netherlands, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Indonesia and elsewhere. One American employee here seemed puzzled that he was being asked whether Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) was even a consideration. "Obama was and is unstoppable," the official said. "Please, God, let him win," he added.
"It would be hard to find anybody, I think, at the U.N. who would not believe that Obama would be a considerable improvement over any other alternative," said William H. Luers, executive director of the United Nations Association. "It's been a bad eight years, and there is a lot of bad feeling over it."
Conservatives who are skeptical of the United Nations said they are not surprised by the political tilt. "The fact is that most conservatives, most Republicans don't worship at the altar in New York, and I think that aggravates them more than anything else," said John R. Bolton, a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. "What they want is the bending of the knee, and they'll get it from an Obama administration."
For Full Article, Click Here.
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