Down in D.C.

Mary Lou and I consulted with the RNC in D.C. There was discussion about all aspects of campaign strategy, and we met some very smart and dedicated people, including Michael Steele, John Boehner, Mike Sessions, Dana Perino, and Eric Cantor. They are aghast at what damage the Democrats are doing to our economy, and are determined to win back the House in 2010.

Of the 40 candidates that were there, I was the only active candidate from New England. I believe that made me a novelty.

It was fascinating to sit in on a congressional morning briefing, while Mary Lou got to talk to a Congresswoman about the life style of a Congressional family....which is not easy.

Now, I'm stoked.

A Very Good Day

Saturday October 17: Stumping through district 2 with Charlie Baker, Christy Mihos, and Scott Brown.

First, in Springfield. An excellent event put together by Paul Santaniello and Chanel Prunier for the benefit of the municipal candidates of Springfield. All of the candidates spoke to our core values of the advancement of individual liberty and fiscal responsibility. We all recognize the need to build up local candidates as the foundation of our future success in Massachusetts.

Mary Lou and I made a quick stop to talk to folks at the Harvest Festival on the commons of Sturbridge.

Lastly, a literal barnstormer in Sutton, put on by local committee members Ryan Fattman and Carl Copeland. A very large crowd was present. Besides the candidates for governor, Senate and U.S. Congress, again, a host of local candidates presented.

The Mass Pike got a workout by us that day.

On the Road

We are barnstorming the district. We started with a meeting of the Wilbraham town committee. As usual, it was rewarding to meet with a great group of people, and the conversation ranged from the construction of a new high school in Wilbraham, to health care reform and government deficits. Thanks for the support, Wibraham.

A new 9/12 group invited Mary Lou and I to Chicopee, and I was the guest speaker at a health care town hall meeting. Richard Neal won't come out in public to talk to the voters, but I will. We spent an hour and a half talking about the health care reform bills in Congress, and the discussion was enthusiastic. People are quite involved.

Next was Sturbridge. Mary Lou and I met with members of the new town committee from Wales. State Reps. Jeff Perry and Paul Frost were there, as was the prior candidate for Lieut. Governor Reed Hillman. Again, the opportunity was there to meet good people, and a have discussions on important issues.

We then met in Longmeadow with the town committee chaired by Dean Rogeness. Present was his wife, prior State Rep Mary Rogeness. Two members were at the Tea party in Washington DC, and told of the huge number of people who actually attended, a fact not accurately reported in the press. I had the chance to answer questions on my positions on major issues. There were a number of familiar faces present.

Next up, Springfield, Sutton, and East Longmeadow.

Richard Neal, The Gift That Keeps Giving

ACORN! Richard Neal was one of the small group of Congressmen that voted to continue federal funding of Acorn.

Richard, what is it going to take for you to stop giving taxpayer dollars to this organization? They have members being indicted for voter fraud, they have been caught on film helping to create a business plan for importing teen age prostitutes from Central America, and that's not enough for you. How about bank robbery? Piracy on the open seas? What?

Campaign Fund Raising

Running a campaign of this dimension has given me a very different perspective on fund raising and politics. I'm sure I'm like everyone else; getting fund raising solicitations is a nuisance, and I'll usually contribute only when an election is getting close or a news event occurs which infuriates me and then I have to make some kind of statement.

There is a different quality to it on this side of the process. There is pressure early on to raise money . Resources are needed early to build an organization, and develop a workable structure (particularly professional fund raisers). The political world outside your campaign is looking to see if you can raise money as a marker of viability, so that you are worthy of the investment of further contributions and resources. In order to be able to raise money, you first have to raise money.

Later on in the campaign, if you don't have the money to hit the airwaves on television and radio, you are crippled.

I'm getting practice in fund raising, and I am getting much better at it. My experience has been that personal contact is important, and the contributor needs to know not just what you stand for, but also who you are.

I have been concentrating first on getting out through the district and meeting people. I'm very, very happy with how this is going. As people are getting to know me, the support has been growing. The public needs to know that all contributions, no matter how small, help push forward the effort. Large contributions are terrific, but many small contributions add up fast as well.

I can't speak for other candidates, but each time I get a contribution, it reminds me that I have to work as hard as I can and be as good at this as I can be in order to justify the faith that this person has shown in me and the political process. Receiving campaign contributions is encouraging, but it is also sobering.

Where's Richard????

Congress is planning a massive overhaul of a key element of our society, all of us may be affected, our ability to decide on our personal health care may be abrogated by a government grab of centralized power, and it will cost the taxpayer One Trillion Dollars. Citizens want to communicate with their representatives.

WHERE'S RICHARD???? (Neal, that is) No town meetings, what's that about? Where are you hiding?

You have to love the 9/12 group. They are performing an vital civic duty for all of us. They won't let these politicians run and hide. I'm talking to members of the group during a demonstration about health care reform outside of Richard Neal's office in Springfield.

Jay and the Giant Peach

This blog is mostly an excuse to post this photo. The Wilbraham Peach Festival, home of the excellent peach pancake and sausage breakfast. This is me with the chief economic strategist of the state Democratic Party (he's the one in the hat).

Mary Lou and I visited both days, and had the chance to talk politics with folks from Wilbraham, Springfield, and Ludlow. Health care reform is the topic, and just as it is everywhere else we've gone, people are not happy with the government's plan to take over 15% of the economy and really screw up our system. Fix what needs to be fixed, and then stay away: nobody wants the government involved in their decision making around our private health care choices.

It doesn't surprise me anymore how very well informed the voting public is.