Worcester County Freedom Trail

Here are a few excerpts from tonight’s upcoming address by President Bush. You can read the full speech at http://www.gop.com/News/Read.aspx?ID=6096.

America is always at its best when we are shaping events, instead of being shaped by them. Tonight, the President will chart a clear path forward for our Nation:

“In this decisive year, you and I will make choices that determine both the future and the character of our country. We will choose to act confidently in pursuing the enemies of freedom – or retreat from our duties in the hope of an easier life. We will choose to build our prosperity by leading the world economy – or shut ourselves off from trade and opportunity. In a complex and challenging time, the road of isolation and protectionism may seem broad and inviting – yet it ends in danger and decline. The only way to protect our people…the only way to secure the peace…the only way to control our destiny is by our leadership – so the United States of America will continue to lead.”

About America’s leadership role in protecting our country:

“Abroad, our Nation is committed to an historic, long-term goal – we seek the end of tyranny in our world. The future of America depends on it.”

“Ultimately, the only way to defeat the terrorists is to defeat their dark vision of hatred and fear by offering the hopeful alternative of political freedom and peaceful change.”

On competitiveness:

“We must continue to lead the world in human talent and creativity. Our greatest advantage in the world has always been our educated, hard-working, ambitious people – and we are going to keep that edge.”

On the character and compassion of America:

“…our greatness is not measured in power or luxuries, but by who we are and how we treat one another. So we strive to be a compassionate, decent, hopeful society.”

We have a chance to gain another R spot in the House in the special elections on Feb 7th!

Jonathan Dennehy is running for an open seat in the 2nd Worcester House District which includes Gardner, Ashburnham, and Ashby. His campaign can use more help this weekend as he pulls out all the stops to turn this into an R seat. For more information, see http://www.dennehy.us or call the MassGOP at 617-523-5005.

Ginny Coppola is also running on Feb 7th for her late husband’s seat in the 1st Bristol District in the Foxborough area. She’s well known and well liked, so we’re confident she’ll do well. For more information, contact her campaign manager, Holly Robichaud, at 781-344-7346 or the MassGOP at 617-523-5005.

I met an interesting fellow last night, Earle Stroll from Bolton. He’s the R candidate running for State Auditor in 2006. Impressive background — lots of corporate experience, MBA in forensic accounting from Northeastern. His platform is fighting the waste and corruption that infiltrates so many of our state’s departments and programs.

Earle pointed out that a jail in the Boston area was recently given a pass on its audit even though it was unable to account for $6 million. Can you imagine the heads that would roll if that happened in corporate America? And that was a fairly small budget program. What about the rampant abuses in the state’s tobacco settlement, school funding, and homeland security programs?

It’s high time Massachusetts had an auditor with morals who is beholding to none. Someone who will help keep our bureaucrats honest (at least when they’re spending money) and fight wasteful spending of our hard-earned dollars. Tell all your friends about Earle Stroll!

Be forewarned about the spin about to emerge from the Democrats after the State of the Union address. We’ve seen this before and this year is no exception. A story line has developed that says the President has to move his approval numbers up coming out of the speech. A “State of the Union Bounce,” if you will.

While that would be great, history shows there is almost never such a bounce. The average over the last 50 years is a slight drop of -0.2%. Even President Reagan averaged -2.6% after his State of the Unions.

So keep the data in mind as everyone starts analyzing President Bush’s speech. But do let us know what you think!

This great letter from local activist Vinnie DiLeo appeared in the T&G on Jan 27, 2006…

As a Massachusetts resident, I have been embarrassed by Senator Edward M. Kennedy’s guilt-by-association tactic used against Judge Samuel A. Alito, Jr., during the confirmation hearing for the 110th Supreme Court Justice.

I was appalled at Senator Kennedy as he hit a new low trying to cast Judge Alito as a bigot for being a member of a Conservative Princeton Alumni Group — which he was never active in, only joining when Cadet Alito was removed from campus at the time Princeton threw out its ROTC program.

The son of a hard working Italian immigrant, Judge Alito has always strived to achieve the highest moral standings. He did not shrug his military duty or get thrown out of college for cheating. He wasn’t an adulter. And he wasn’t a drunk who drove off a bridge producing a death.

Let’s take a hard look at Senator Kennedy’s background and see how his moral standards hold up.

The proof of the confirmation hearings show Judge Samuel A. Alito, Jr. on the high road.

I don’t know why more Massachusettts residents aren’t speaking up on this issue. Ted Kennedy’s performance, most recently during the Alito hearings, is a complete embarrassment to the residents of this state. I don’t understand how he can denigrate Judge Alito’s behavior when Kennedy himself has absolutely no morals. No, let me correct that. He’s not amoral, he’s immoral. When is this state going to stop voting for a man who’s broken more laws than can be counted?

For the record, I have never voted for a Kennedy!

Welcome to Worcester County — the red part of the bluest of blue states!

The Worcester County Republicans blog is here to give you hope. Hope for a Teddy Kennedy-free tomorrow and for a truly balanced legislature. We’re here to remind our leaders that we meant it when we voted to lower the state tax back to 5%. And we’re not really happy about the government usurpring parents’ authority in our schools. So it’s time we started speaking up. It’s time our elected officials began to listen.

This blog is new, so bear with us as we sort things out. We will include posts from a number of activists around the County. We’ll hear from Republicans who are fiscal conservatives, from Republicans who are social conservatives, and from those who are both. All Republican views are welcome here.

And we especially want to encourage local views on the issues. We’re an interesting bunch here in Central Mass. Sure, we love Rush and Sean and Laura, but we need to express Republican views on local issues as well. So get involved, make comments, and don’t forget to read the other articles on the web site.

– Shari Worthington