Comments from SupportersWell said. I agree with you. As Judd said, if they don't pass this legislation, they don't deserve to be called a Congress. I am concerned with the inflationary effect of the rescue program but trust Bernanke to do what is necessary to protect the value of the dollar. Whoever called it a "bail out" should be shot. One of the commissions first tasks should be to expose what I suspect is an overly cozy relationship between Washington and Wall Street.Regards, Rod **************** Rollie, Well said. I happen to agree completely, and it's very possible that this Liquidity Backstop plan (not bailout) will end up not costing the taxpayer nothing and may even make money for the government (depending on the prices they pay for the securities, and the future level of home prices). We need you in Washington! By the way, I think your yard sign helped me convert a democrat to vote for you. Keep the faith, Bob ***************** As a lifelong Democrat, it surprises and pleases me to find myself in full support of, and general agreement with Rollie Straten on all of the issues he's been addressing since he threw his hat in the ring. He is a straight-talking, practical, ethical candidate who would bring a much needed commonsense approach to governement. It's not too great a stretch to imagine him as a latter day Jimmy Stewart in "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington." He says what he believes and believes what he says, and I wish I could cast a vote on his behalf. - Les Kozerowitz ***************** Rollie - I was just driving back from a meeting and listened to an interesting talk on NPR. The director from the CBO - Central Budget Office - was speaking about the type of work that their 230 staff do. I thought his approach is right along the lines of your "data driven" analysis and rationale decision making approach that you are talking about in your campaign. Among the highlights - he said most Americans are missing the boat on budget issues. It isn't "retiring baby boomers" and paying out benefits that's the issue, it's health care costs that we are paying today. He also said that most Americans view the health care budget issue as out-of-pocket expenses, but this isn't the real issue either - that's only 15% of the total costs. The real costs are burdened by the employer and are passed through to the employee in the form of lower wages. If employees knew the true cost they were paying in unseen wages due to inefficiencies, they'd make it an issue so Congress would do something about it. He gave one example of an inefficiency as a Medicaid expense for someone's last 6 months of life. He said UCLA hospital charges $50k/mo and the Mayo clinic charges $26k/mo -- both are high quality institutions and provide the same benefit. So why is one twice as much as the other? Because nobody can quantify the value of a service. He's trying to examine data to start to put this in perspective, but clearly it's an area where significant dollars could be saved just by better understanding the data that should be available to look at. Ok, back to work for me ... Brandon **************** Very much liked your message on oil. It is right on and an example of what you should be saying and how to say it. Liked Mark's message, too. Unseating Codey is even more impossible that beating Pascrell. I think that a strategy/tactic should be to comment on every story opportunity with a press release showing your differences from Bill. It would be really good to see how he votes on every issue to see if there are opportunities there. I don't know how to do that on the web, but I bet it is not that difficult. Maybe Brett, or someone with more facility on the web, could do it. Meanwhile try this release as an example: "National debt is the greatest domestic threat to our country," Roland Straten, the Republican candidate for Congress in the 8th District. "The latest information pegs the debt as the equivalent of $500,000 per household...who could pay that?" The Institute for Truth in Accounting, the source of the information, attributes the growing debt to the mushrooming cost of Medicare and Social Security. "I have been saying that we need to focus on entitlements to address our debt," says Straten. "We need legislators with the courage to face those issues, not more tax and spend liberals, like my opponent." According to Straten, Democrats pander to the public, rather than telling them the truth about the perilous problem. He says that those across the aisle promise spending that will make people feel better for today without explaining how it will mortgage and threaten the very near future. "Where is the Democrat who could say what John Kennedy had the courage and foresight to say: 'Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask, rather, what can you do for your country.'?" asks Straten. Dennis **************** "Don't be tense, And keep the faith, 'Cause you make sense For the good old eighth!" - Judy Pinkerton and Alan Tikotsky ******************* Very Wise Words During this political season let us be reminded of these wise words: You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich. You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong. You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift. You cannot lift the wage earner up by pulling the wage payer down. You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred. You cannot build character and courage by taking away men's initiative and independence. You cannot help men permanently by doing for them, what they could and should do for themselves. --Abraham Lincoln Submitted by Sam Cabot ******************* "He has the education, credentials, and track record to say, 'Yes, I am going to change things in Washington.'" - Former Mayor Pat Kramer **************** "There is a real vibe out there that Republicans will win." "He is the best candidate in the district." - State Senator Kevin O'Toole ******************* "Roland is the guy to win this seat." "He has been an outstanding businessman...that has the experience we need in Washington." "I am 1000% behind Roland's candidacy." -Assemblyman Scott Rumana |
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