WHAT IS THE BIG DEAL?

I’ve had a lot of conversations over the past week asking me just exactly what the big deal is about the announcement we made about Congressman Souder signing on as a co-sponsor.

WHAT IS THE BIG DEAL?...


We are one congressman closer to forcing the Speaker to open debate on H.R. 25. We are one congressman closer to making the FairTax a news story that can’t be ignored. We are one congressman closer to making all of our hard work for the FairTax pay off. We are one congressman closer to slipping our National neck out of the noose of a tax code that has been choking productivity, innovation, efficiency and motivation for nearly one hundred years. That noose has tightened so much in this economic downturn that it is dangerously close to accomplishing that which a noose is designed for. Our tax code is on the verge of killing our economy entirely. Not just hampering our economy but bringing it to a screeching halt. There are congressman starting to wake up to this fact and that is turning the tide in favor of our cause.

THAT IS A BIG DEAL…


As a grassroots movement, we rely entirely on volunteers to take the message to their friends and family. They are depended on to man booths at fairs, speak to groups, do radio and print interviews, and provide all the resources that it takes to get all these things done. They… you… pass out flyers, put the bumper stickers on your cars, put the signs in your yards, do the sign waves, attend the rallies, and promote the movement on different websites and blogs all over the internet.

All of that work can be tedious and thankless. A lot times it seems like we are not getting anywhere. It feels like we are spinning our wheels. The efforts that were spent bringing Congressman Souder on board paid off! It showed that perseverance and hard work still get things accomplished. It showed that grassroots efforts can rise up out of nowhere and change things… even things that have been choking our prosperity for a century.

THAT IS A BIG DEAL…


Congressman Souder coming on board strengthened our movement. We now have better than fifteen percent of the House of Representatives on our side. That is almost one in five congressmen saying that it is time to FIX the problem! They are saying that it is time to jumpstart our economic engine and put us back on top. They are saying that it is time to bring back the “MADE IN AMERICA” label. They are saying it is time to give you back control of your financial future. They are ready to finally cut the legs out from under the tax lobbyists and power brokers in Congress that pick the winners and losers. They are the leaders of a growing group of lawmakers that are ready to set our financial ship right.


AND YES…

THAT IS A BIG DEAL!

Indiana has a new FairTax Co-sponsor---Congressman Mark Souder, Indiana District 3

Thank you Congressman Mark Souder (District 3) for signing on as a FairTax Co-sponsor!



FAIRTAX INDIANA

Press Release

For Immediate Release

CONTACT:

Sean Shepard, Media Contact

Email: sshepard94@gmail.com

317-513-2406



Danny Higgins, State Director

Email: fairtaxindiana@gmail.com

765-346-5029




GRASSROOTS FAIRTAX SUPPORTERS WELCOME THE ADDITION OF REP. MARK SOUDER (R – 3rd) AS A CO-SPONSOR

FT. WAYNE, IN – Grassroots activists and supporters from Indiana of the non-partisan tax reform legislation known as “The FairTax” (H.R. 25) applaud the addition of Congressman Mark Souder of Indiana’s 3rd Congressional District as a co-sponsor.


Representative Souder joins Representatives Mike Pence (R – 6th) and Dan Burton (R – 5th) as co-sponsors of critically needed legislation to restructure the United States tax code from one based on ones income and productivity to one based on consumption that will completely un-tax the poor and improve America’s competitiveness in the World economy.

Congressman Souder praised the consistent and persistent efforts of grassroots volunteers and voters who ensured that their support for The FairTax was noticed. Congressman Mark Souder said, “After meeting with state and district leaders of FairTax Indiana to answer some of my additional questions, I have concluded that the Fair Tax is the best current option to reform our broken income tax system. While I continue to believe that a modified flat tax is another option, passing the Fair Tax would fix the unfairness of the current system and become an engine for economic growth.”


Danny Higgins, State Director of FairTax Indiana, said “The current state of the economy and the need to ensure American competitiveness in the World is causing many to re-examine and embrace The FairTax as the best and most fair reform plan before Congress.”

ABOUT THE FAIRTAX

The FairTax plan is a comprehensive proposal that replaces all federal income and payroll based taxes with an integrated approach including a progressive national retail sales tax, a prebate to ensure no American pays federal taxes on spending up to the poverty level, dollar-for-dollar federal revenue neutrality, and, through companion legislation, the repeal of the 16th Amendment.

The FairTax Act (HR 25, S 296) is nonpartisan legislation. It abolishes all federal personal and corporate income taxes, gift, estate, capital gains, alternative minimum, Social Security, Medicare, and self-employment taxes and replaces them with one simple, visible, federal retail sales tax administered primarily by existing state sales tax authorities.


More information is available at http://www.fairtax.org or join the FairTax Indiana grassroots effort at http://infairtax.ning.com


###



If you would like more information about the FairTax or this topic and to schedule an interview with FairTax Indiana, please call Ron Heilman at 260-760-7294 or email FairTax Indiana at fairtaxindiana@gmail.com

Exciting Times for FairTax Indiana!

Exciting Times For FairTax Indiana!

There are a lot of exciting things happening for FairTax Indiana! The new website is growing and has become a great place to share ideas and network with other supporters. We are seeing growth in our supporter database and online petitions. Our group members have been very successful this year attending Tea Parties, gun shows, statehouse rallies, meeting with community groups and have had the opportunity to speak to thousands of people about the greatest “stimulus” package there is… The FairTax! It is awesome to be a part of the Leadership here in Indiana. As the District 5 Director, I have had the pleasure of attending the Leadership Institute in Lafayette with our State Director and other District Directors. It was an intense two days of training that we have found ways to integrate into our work to make the FairTax a reality.

There are a lot of exciting ideas circulating inside FairTax Indiana… We are planning a blitz of county and community fairs in 2010. (We are exploring the possibility of having a FairTax sponsored race car to have on display at some of these events.) We are looking at new ways to use social networking. We are continually working to improve the website and make it more user friendly and compatible with other social media. There are discussions of starting an email newsletter that will better serve those who want the news and information about the FairTax, but aren’t comfortable in the FaceBook/Ning/Twitter world.

There is a lot of excitement and discussion about making a push for a state version of the FairTax a reality here in Indiana. We can once and for all put an end to the Property Tax issue! We are seeing that people are very receptive to the idea of abolishing the property tax, state personal income tax, and corporate income tax and replacing it with a broader based consumption tax. If you are interested in learning more and being a part of this push, please join the Hoosier FairTax Bill Group

We are seeing our long hours and hard work payoff. As a District Director I want to thank all of our volunteers for all they do. Without all the sent emails, FaceBook posts, conversations with friends and family, bumper stickers and the like, FairTax Indiana would be going nowhere. I also want to thank the whole team of Leaders for all their dedication and hard work. AND thank their SPOUSES and families for all their support and enduring the lost family time.

VERY SOON there will be an announcement made that will prove just how effective all our volunteers and leaders have been this year. It is going to be evident what a passionate, consistent, and PERSISTENT group of activists can accomplish working together. We all hope you enjoy the news as much as we have been. Lets enjoy it together, spread the news and get ready to push to the finish line… 2010 is going to be a big year for the FairTax movement!


John Jessup from Shirley, Indiana is the District 5 Director and a FairTax Indiana Spokesperson. If you live in District 5 (Dan Burton), please feel free to contact John to see how you can get involved, to schedule a FairTax Presentation, or schedule John to speak to your local group or at your local event.

Spoke on the FairTax at the Tipton, IN- Tea Party

Thursday's Show: Special Guest...Jim Tomasik of FairTax Tennessee

I will have Jim Tomasik the state director of FairTax Tennessee on my show this Thursday to discuss what is going on in his neck of the woods with the FairTax movement, some exciting news of a new co-sponsor on board with the FairTax, talk about www.FairTaxNation.com and gain some perspective on the FairTax from the Democratic side of the aisle. I hope you will join me Thursday at 5:00 pm at www.radio.jjessup.com.

John Jessup Show: Special Day and Time This Week

The John Jessup Show will air live Friday at 5:00 pm. I will have special guest Brian Donegan back again LIVE in studio! We will recap Thursday's Life Centers Banquet keynoted by Governor Huckabee and be passing on some developments in the HuckPAC'n Across America Tour. Please join us for the live broadcast at 5 pm on www.radio.jjessup.com This week will be a one hour special addition. If you would like to call in you can do so at 347-884-8068. You may also use this number to listen live if you are mobile or away from your computer. Thanks for all your support!

DHS Terrorism Assessment...read this they may be talking about you.

http://www.fas.org/irp/eprint/rightwing.pdf

Read the Dept. of Homeland Security Assessment on right-wing extremist groups...i.e. gun owners, veterans, pro-life advocates, those concerned about illegal immigration...

Live John Jessup Show at 5:00 p.m.

I will have special guest, Danny Higgins on the show. He is the State Director for FairTax Indiana. We will be recapping yesterday's TEA Parties, discussing the FairTax Proposal before Congress, and talking about some of the resources out there for FairTax supporters.

Also, tomorrow is "National Day of Silence" which was started by GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network...to raise "awareness" of gay rights. Schools all over the country will be allowing students and even teachers to remain silent all day to "give a voice" to the issue. Some schools are putting a different twist on the day allowing kids to be silent for other issues as well. My childrens' school is apparently allowing kids to support gay marriage or pro-life. I appreciate the attempt for fairness, but feel it is misguided. This day of silence has no place in our schools... I'm suggesting a twist of my own...more on this later...

Live in 10 minutes!
www.teapartylive.tv

I will be on www.hoosieraccess.com Live feed discussing FairTax at 2 pm. Please spread the word! Thanks!

FairTax Featured on Live Video Webcast Coverage of Indy Tea Party Tomorrow!

I will be interviewed and taking call-in questions tomorrow during HoosierAccess's live webcast coverage of the Indianapolis Tea Party. The coverage will also be featured at www.teapartylive.tv I will be discussing HR 25- The FairTax Act... The TEA Parties are all about demanding our elected officials to rein in spending, be more transparent, give us smaller more efficient government, and quit financing our government on the backs of our children and grand-children. The FairTax is the common sense answer to all of the above. Passage of the FairTax is the only REAL stimulus we could ever pass. It will create jobs, tax the underground economy, bring home $13 trillion dollars of U.S. capital parked off-shore avoiding our tax system and make America the tax-haven and business hotspot of the world once again. Would you like to keep your whole paycheck? Would you like to choose how YOUR hard earned money is spent before Uncle Sam gets his greedy inefficient paws on it? Would you like to see a stimulus package that will create jobs, grow the GDP, shrink the national debt, return your financial privacy and send America in warp speed into the largest economic expansion since WWII? Then go learn more at www.infairtax.org. Also, check out www.FairTax.org and www.FairTaxNation.com.

I, unfortunately, do not have the exact time of my appearance tomorrow. I will post it here in the morning as soon as it is made available to me.

Don't forget to tune in Thursday at 5:00 at www.radio.jjessup for a full Indy TEA Party recap and more discussion about the FairTax and FairTaxNation on The John Jessup Show.

Go be heard tomorrow!


God Bless,

John Jessup

Obama Administration Proposes New Tax... (Satire)

In an admirable attempt to provide better access to reproductive healthcare for American women and cut down on unwanted pregnancies, the President today announced plans for a comprehensive program to fund abortions for women who are struggling with the effects of unwanted pregnancies. The program will be available to any woman who just don't want that pesky baby. When pressured by reporters on how he expects to fund such a program since there is such widespread opposition to taxpayer funded abortion, the President said, "We have a plan to fully fund this program while remaining sensitive to those who, while clinging to their guns and religion, are against funding such activities." He added, "If we can find a way, in a free market economy in a free country to force big tobacco to advertise against itself, and make people who use a legal product pay punitive taxes to fund healthcare for low-income children...Surely we can find a way to get this funded in way that only affects a small group of people that can't do anything about it. Our Founding Fathers called this a bill of attainder...I call it CHANGE"

The reporter was surprised and said, "You can't do that..."
Obama replied, "Yes, We Can!"

He added arrogantly, "We won...we get to make the rules."

Realizing he had been distracted by the same hypnotic "change,change,change,yes we can" mantra that got the President elected, he got back to the issue at hand.

"Mr. President, how exactly are you going to fund this program?"

"Its going to be necessary to make fiscal adjustments to our revenues." he replied.

"Mr. President, does that mean you are going to cut spending in other areas?"

"Like I said, adjustments are going to need to be on the table" he replied.

"Mr. President, does that mean you are proposing a tax hike or a new tax?"

"Again, we live in a big country and we have big tables... I think there should be alot of plates, spoons, forks, knives and even a centerpiece on that table. Believe me, theres alot on my plate, but that hasn't stopped me. So, to sum up, we should put everything out there...on the table. The days of bare tables are behind us. There are those who say we can't fill that table. Can we fill that table? 'Yes, We Can!'"

"MR. PRESIDENT, how are you going to fund this program?"

The President reassured the reporter, "I am sorry, I can't give a straight answer without my tele-prompter, it was necesary that I stall for awhile until it was set up."

Irritated now, the reporter asked,"Now that you have your prompter online, could you please answer the question...Are you going to impose a new tax to fund this program?"

"Yes"

"You are?" he pressed.

"Yes"

"Can you elaborate?"

"Yes"

"WILL you please elaborate?"

"We have decided to let Congress work out those details."

"Mr. President, the blogger writing this is getting very tired of typing...the only way he can quit typing is if you tell us...What kind of tax are you going to impose to pay for these on-demand abortions?"

"Fine, in the interest of bringing this post to an end, I will tell you the brilliant plan we have come up with. We are going to impose a $2 tax on each condom sold in the United States. Only the condoms we give away in schools will be exempt."

"What? Are you serious?"

"Absolutely, this is exactly the kind of sense America voted for in November...We won."




This is the kind of assinine thinking that comes out of Washington. Not just from one party or the other...Not just from the Left or the Right. We have to return common sense to Washington D.C.

This is a silly parody, but everyday we get sillier and sillier solutions out of Washington.





"

Marriage Takes Another Hit...

From Mike Huckabee via the Vertical Politics Institute...


Today the Vermont legislature attacked traditional marriage by voting (by only one vote) to override Governor Douglas' veto. Vermont becomes the fourth state to legalize same sex marriage. The other three states, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Iowa did so by judicial rulings. Now the Vermont legislature has joined in the assault on the most critical foundation in our society - the American family.
Governor Douglas, when he vetoed the original legislation on Monday, said "I believe that marriage should remain between a man and a woman." I agree with Governor Douglas. We must not continue to undermine the traditional American family. Once again, the right to decide an issue of such importance has been taken out of the hands of the voter.
The actions of the Vermont Legislature, coming on the heels of the judicial ruling by the Iowa Supreme Court, should make it apparent to each of us that conservative values and conservative principles are under attack as never before. We must take action now.
It is up to each of us who believe in traditional marriage to increase our efforts to protect the foundation of our society. I continue to support a constitutional amendment defining marriage as between one man and one woman. It is now an absolute necessity. We must stop the liberal legislatures and activist judges from undermining the moral fabric of our society. Fighting for passage of a constitutional amendment is critical to conservative principles.
Join me in waging the battle for the protection of the family - help rally support for a constitutional amendment.


Fighting for our principles

Mike Huckabee

Tea Party in Indianapolis...

April 15th on the south side of the Statehouse at 4:30!!! Glenn Beck show has predicted 5000-8000 to be in attendence. FairTax Indiana is planning on having a large presence. Please email me at john@jjessup.com if you would like to volunteer...

Thanks...

Caleb-ism of the Week

I am going to start showcasing my favorite Caleb-isms... Caleb is my thirteen year old son. He has always had a special way of seeing things and communicating things. Things don't always come out of Caleb's mouth in quite the right way...Hence: Caleb-isms...

This trait has seemingly jumped over his younger brother Aaron and sister Hannah, but it is becoming clear that our youngest...Rachel may also be "blessed" with the trait...


This weeks Caleb-ism of the Week:

Sqwuz... the past tense of squeeze.

"I sqwuz the toothpaste, but none came out."

57% Favor Military Response to North Korean Launch??

57% favor a military response to North Korea's long-range missile launch? This doesn't make much sense to me, since I thought everyboby was wanting out of Iraq and Afganistan... I don't necesarily disagree with responding militarily, but it makes me wonder why so many Americans are always ready to rush in and START a military response...But not as many have the resolve to stay and FINISH one.





http://www.facebook.com/ext/share.php?sid=66565012482&h=hjqmt&u=y8K-O&ref=mf

More disturbing powers for the Executive Branch...

Disturbing... People, especially the Left, would be going nuts if this had taken place during the Bush Administration.

http://hotair.com/archives/2009/04/04/can-obama-shut-down-the-internet/

Obama Administration doing an "end around"

Administration Seeks an Out on Bailout Rules for Firms - washingtonpost.com
Source: www.washingtonpost.com
The Obama administration is engineering its new bailout initiatives in a way that it believes will allow firms benefiting from the programs to avoid restrictions imposed by Congress, including limits on lavish executive pay, according to government officials.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/03/AR2009040303910.html

Treasury Secretary deciding if you make too much?

First we have the President of the United States firing the CEO of a major private corporation, General Motors...Now we are going to let the Treasury Secretary, a man who can't even figure out how to use TurboTax, decide how much is too much to make? Not just for CEO's and CFO's and the like, but for any employee of a company that receives federal bailout funds. This is not good. Timothy Geitner has enough to do administering a tax system for us that he has never apparently thought applied to him. Do we really want him deciding how much a bankteller or assemblyline worker should make?...I DON'T.

Enough already!!! Quit Taxing Tobacco and BAN it!!!

Give me a break! Congress enacted a tax increase that today raised the federal tax on a pack of cigarettes by $0.62. Sure, you can argue that smoker's cause health problems, health problems cost money, and increased costs demand higher taxes on the evil tobacco to offset the nations growing bill caused by this hideous group of products and those who consume them. Problem...Does the increases revenues go to health care? Or, is it just another tax hike that you are ok with because it doesn't affect you? Is it just class warfare? Those people smoke...THEY are the problem? Listen to the media and government officials, they are not talking about where the money is going to go. They are saying the tax is being raised for one reason...to "encourage" people to quit smoking and using other forms of tobacco. There are so many things wrong with this it is hard to know where to start. I'll start with a few...

1. What about no tax increases on families making less than $250,000? (or $200,000, or $150,000 depending on which Obama speech you flip back to.)

Statistics show that the percentage of people who make $90-100 k who smoke is 13%
As income continues to go up...tobacco use continues to decline to as low as 7% for those reaching way up there in Obama's Evil Range of $250 k+
Thats a lot of people getting a tax hike; the tax hike hurts more the less money you make.
Statistics prove that this tax hike is hurting the very people Obama promised to help the most...the "working poor"

Like Obama was fond of saying during the campaign, "Facts are pesky things", and the FACT IS that percentage of Americans making between $18,000 and $30,000 ("the working poor") who smoke is over 30%

So I guess if I wanted to use one of the liberals most cherished tactics I'd say..."This is a tax cut for the rich that leaves the working poor paying the bill!"

2. What about that little part of that seldom used document we wrote a while back? (The Constitution) This tax is nothing short of a bill of attainder. We can't target certain consumers! Remember the Stamp Act? We fought a little war over that and other bills of attainder. Americans don't like being singled out like that... Would we institute a tax and then raise it by over 100% on say...feminine products? Hey, we could say we are going to use that money to pay for the rising costs of uterine cancer. Why should I have to fund that? Its not my problem, I don't have a uterus or use tampons, so go for it.

(note: the House of Representatives has recently taken an eraser to whats left of the Constitution...Remember the 90% tax/bill of attainder on wall street bonuses? So, disregard argument 2...sorry)

3. The argument that we are "encouraging" people to quit is bull! We didn't "encourage" people to quit buying lead-based paint by taxing it. We didnt "encourage" people to quit using asbestos in the constuction field. We didn't "encourage" the manufacturers of either to quit producing it by forcing them to spend millions in advertisement dollars advertising against themselves. No...We demanded that lead-based paint and asbestos NOT BE PRODUCED OR SOLD in the United States of America! We KNOW that the use of tobacco kills thousands of Americans every year. Don't interfere with peoples' lives by saying they can't smoke in public, smoke at work, smoke around a child, smoke in their cars, smoke in a bar, or smoke in their own homes! Tell them they CAN'T SMOKE! If it is that big of a national health risk and cost...Pull tobacco off the shelves.


PERSONAL DISCLAIMER

I use smokeless tobacco and occasionally still smoke a cigarette now and then. I have been addicted to nicotine since I was about eleven years old. I don't mean I smoked one of my dad's cigarettes or tried a dip of Skoal...I started smoking a pack a day at age eleven. When I couldn't smoke because my parents or teachers were around, I chewed Skoal. Thats 4th grade people. I chewed everyday at school, all day and swallowed it. Not telling you that to gross you out, but to let you know that I understand addiction. Smokeless tobacco introduces 5-9 times more nicotine into your body than smoking. So, someone who chews tobacco from the time they wake up until they go to sleep gets roughly the equivolent amount of nicotine as if they had smoked 5-9 packs of cigarettes that day. I tell you this for two reasons... If I could quit, and stay quit, I would. I try all the time. And two, give smokers a break, they have made countless concessions over the last twenty years amid the growing movement to snuff out smoking. Most of them, like me, would quit if they could figure out how.

I am diametrically opposed to any legislation that will further encroach on a smoker's personal freedoms or property rights. I will never be FOR telling someone what they can or can't do in their car or their own home. I'm against all these bans on smoking in bars...I think its silly. If tobacco is a consumer product KNOWN to kill American consumers, then the only thing I will advocate is the ban of the sale and production of tobacco in the U.S.

Sorry...this just keeps going and going...

The government will never try to ban it because it makes too much money off of it... So who is the EVIL ONE? That "dirty smoker"? or the government that is profiting off of his death and the deaths of those around him?

One last thing... We can't ban it because of what that would do to the economies of tobacco states...Guess what? Alot of people lost their jobs in the Asbestos industry, too



Thanks for Reading...

John Jessup

April 15th-- TEA PARTY! INDIANAPOLIS

I was informed that the Indianapolis TEA PARTY on April 15th at the Statehouse has been changed to 4:30-6:30. This will allow for better attendance by people who DO still have jobs in this economy. We need to let our lawmakers know that we are Taxed Enough Already!!! AND we are MAD!!!

Sure the local news is probably going to give us sour news coverage, just like they did at the Revolt at the Statehouse... Thats ok. Our legislators, state and national, need to know we are not sitting idly by anymore. It is time to WAKE UP and do something! Our government is not the saviour they seem to think they are... We need only remember that...

~~~A government big enough to GIVE you all you need, IS big enough to TAKE all you HAVE~~


And... They will; If we let them. So...Come downtown on April 15th at 4:30-- Let them know its time to reign in spending. Its time for them to tighten THEIR belts just like we all have to. Its time to quit spending like there is no end to the money supply, because there is...And its coming soon.

Thomas Paine...Impersonator

Cool video... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKFKGrmsBDk

Launch of new HuckPAC Website!!!

April 1st, 2009 at 3:00 p.m.!!! TEAM HUCK will be rolling out the new 50 state-based www.huckpac.com Go there and sign up for your TEAM HUCK account and get plugged in to this grassroots effort to take our country back with real Conservatism!

Decided its time...

Well, I have finally decided its time... I started this blog a few months ago to keep a little New Year's Resolution with myself. I've always enjoyed writing, especially about politics and history, so I told myself...START A BLOG. I did. I posted twice. I quit. Well, now I'm back! I will probably fail, but I intend to post everyday... You who know me, will be able to guess what my subject matter will probably focus on. I'm in the tank for Mike Huckabee, the FairTax movement, and if it involves the left wing devalueing our currency, rewarding what we want less of and penalizing what we want more of...I'M AGAINST IT!!

Thank you to those who supported me in November...

Thank you to every voter who entrusted me with your vote for state representative in November. It was a very exciting and humbling experience running for public office. As a new session of the General Assembly starts this Wednesday, I ask that all of my supporters join me in supporting and praying for Mr. Cherry as he represents our district. With the current economic crisis I feel it is more important than ever for all of us to be involved and educated about our political system. Both Bob Cherry and our Senator Beverly Gard do their very best to be responsive to our needs as constituents and deserve our support and our input. Indiana’s state government website ( www.in.gov ) is a very valuable resource for information about current issues, bills, etc. I encourage everyone to start watching what goes on in the General Assembly. Be educated and informed. Be a part of the solution to the problems our state faces. Email our legislators with your thoughts, ideas, and opinions… They actually do read these emails and respond to them. As for those of you who wander if I will be running for representative again in 2010… I am going to reserve judgement at this time. I ran as an independent for a number of reasons. The chief reason was that I felt that the Republican Party had become exactly what the critics were saying it had become… The “old white guy’s party”. I feel that the party establishment passed up a very good opportunity to win the Presidency last November by pushing John McCain merely because it was “his turn”. I feel we missed a huge opportunity in Mike Huckabee of Arkansas. Mike Huckabee represented a shift in the party. He had the ability to bring along the younger voter. He had appeal across all age groups. Mike Huckabee could communicate to the people like no one has since Ronald Reagan’s time. He was pidgeon holed by the national party as only appealing to evangelicals which was simply not the case. Anyway, a young, vibrant, talented speaker like President-Elect Obama had a field day with Mr. McCain. I hope that this election cycle has helped the national party see that it is time to adjust. I believe it has seen just that. I have always identified myself as a Republican and I believe in what the Republican Party stands for. For that reason, I am committing myself to the Republican Party and any future runs I make for any office will be on the Republican ticket and not as an Independent. Throughout my campaign, I met a lot of people from the local parties. I believe that the members of each party are sincere in their beliefs and their efforts to support their party’s platforms. I see now that the opportunity to affect change lies in involvement in my local party and not as a lone Independent. To those who supported me only because of my Independent status, I sincerely hope that your opinion of me does not change, because my beliefs and politics have not changed.