Oct 9 2017

The Red County Caucus Issues Response to Senator Collins’ Stance on Graham Cassidy

 

 

The Red County Caucus expresses its strong displeasure with the misguided approach Senator Susan Collins has chosen to the healthcare catastrophe that is the Affordable Care Act. The ACA, or ObamaCare, has burdened millions Americans across the United States, including residents of the State of Maine, with skyrocketing premiums, a labyrinth of confusing regulations, dropped coverage, and the fear of a collapsing market. The hard working people in the Pine Tree State have watched the Senior Senator from Maine adopt a Washington-first approach in a dogged obstruction of the President, catering to establishment D.C. special interests rather than joining her fellow Republicans who are desperately trying to formulate a solution to the impending demise of the American healthcare system brought on by the ACA.

It was not two years ago that Senator Collins emphatically promised the enthusiastic delegates at the 2016 Maine Republican Convention that she would work to “repeal and replace” ObamaCare. Members of The Red County Caucus were there in attendance as delegates. We now ask, what has changed since Senator Collins stood on that platform basking in the glow of the applause and approval of her promise?

Certainly, the outlook for ObamaCare is more dire and bleak than ever. Does the Senator find ObamaCare more to her liking now? The Healthcare Exchange for Maine is collapsing. Are these the repercussions she preferred when she embraced the status quo rather than reform?

The Republican inaction on the Repeal of the ACA is in no small part a result of the votes and stances Senator Collins has taken. While the Honorable Senator may revel in the notoriety it has brought her, Maine has been spotlighted in this national crisis for all the wrong reasons. We of The Red County Caucus strongly urge Senator Collins to remember this State that she represents when casting votes and remind her that the impact of those votes are not felt in the marble halls of Washington D.C. but in the rugged rural streets and roads of Maine’s fishing, farming, and logging communities.

Oct 5 2017

Lethal Weapon

 

The cry of decency has been buried beneath the din of opportunism and exploitation. The decent man has been forced into battle to protect his rights when he would prefer silence to honor the dead. The onslaught is upon us, trampling the graves that have yet to be filled with the fallen.

But is was inevitable. The shameless have become predictable, bludgeoning Americans into a dull, numb apathy. We are a tired, we are worn, and we are sick of being blamed for the monstrosities of every madman.

It was interesting to hear a recent caller to radio program insist that he enlighten the listening world that one should see by looking at a black rifle that it is designed to kill. Yes, all guns are designed to kill just as knives are designed to cut and hammers are designed to pound. A weapon’s efficiency does not preclude it from use.

So, predictably, we are here again, reminding the willfully ignorant that the Second Amendment is not for hunting or sport, but it is the fail-safe our Founders acknowledged in protecting our Natural Born Right to self-defense against the most lethal weapon of all, government. They knew that a government without the restraint of the people is by its own very nature oppressive. It must put down dissent to ensure its own survival.

This writer is a gun owner but in no wise an expert. I am just now understanding what a bump stock is. I do know, with strong conviction, that the people must have weapons that level the field with the government. This the purpose of the Second Amendment; to insure a government that fears the people.

Every government that has taken the Natural Born Right of the people to self-defense away has always perpetrated violence upon those citizens. Any voice of dissent by the populace is squashed with violence. This is without exception. So remember this simple truth as these redundant arguments boil and regurgitate again; the most lethal weapon on this earth is armed government unrestrained by an disarmed citizens.

Sep 29 2017

Audible

 

It’s not about the players. It’s not about the protests. It’s about the NFL.

The Roger Goodell NFL has been anything but glorious. For all his assurances of defending the shield, the self-righteous proclamation of the Commissioner has yielded nothing less than the opposite. The NFL shield has now become a tattered, tainted symbol of lawlessness, disrespect, and selfish hypocrisy.

Consider the pattern that has brought the nation to at least a momentary disgust with the most dominant professional sport in the United States. Goodell’s first “defense of the shield” was to ban happy dance celebrations in the end zone. Randy Moss could no longer “moon” Packers fans in the end zone.

Who can forget the improper spinning of the football? This was also regulated. Goodell was determined to make sure that football didn’t spin out of control. (I just couldn’t help myself.)

Then came the minuscule suspension for a player beating his pregnant girlfriend senseless in an elevator. Only after being publicly taken to task by Maine Governor Paul LePage, did the NFL decide to administer a more appropriate suspension. The NFL continues to tolerate repeated domestic violence within it’s ranks.

But then the NFL decided to morph into a political entity. When the sovereign State of Georgia passed legislation to protect the Free Speech and Religious Freedom rights of ministers to refuse to perform gay marriages, the NFL threatened to remove the Super Bowl from their State. In remarkable display of cowardice the Governor of Georgia vetoed the bill, effectively knuckling under to the NFL.

Now the new bully of political spectrum was feeling very full of themselves. They banned socks and shoes that had improper support of the 9-11 tragedy. They banned the support of fallen police officers on NFL helmets. They mocked Christian players for kneeling before the game prayer.

Until now. Now, it works for them. Kneeling now is another way the NFL can throw it’s weight around and tell the fans it doesn’t give a rat’s hairy hindquarters what they think; in fact, the NFL thinks that protesting fans and the President of the United States need to show the NFL, the “proper respect”, Goodell’s own words.

The NFL calls an audible on what expression is allowed and what is not because they have very little to fear in the form of reprisal in the Free Market. Given non-profit status by the Federal Government, with rabid fans who are so addicted to the game they will ignore any disgusting behavior just so they can have their Sunday fix, and a populace whose value system is somewhere between nada and nil, the NFL has very little reason to behave itself and the more reason to throw it’s shoulders at it’s viewers. They will sit there, take it,and wait with bated breath for the next game.

Sep 21 2017

THE RED COUNTY CAUCUS URGES SUPPORT OF GRAHAM-CASSIDY

THE RED COUNTY CAUCUS URGES SUPPORT OF GRAHAM-CASSIDY

In 2008, a small rural county in Maine gained national notoriety as being the only county in all of New England to vote against Barack Obama and stay red. This singular moment in political history earned Piscataquis County the title of “The Red County”. Considered by some as the most conservative county east of the Mississippi, Piscataquis holds the well deserved reputation of being a bastion of conservatism for the east.

Soon after 2008, local politicians and conservative personalities from Piscataquis County joined forces to form The Red County Caucus (RCC). The idea was to impact the Maine political arena by an endorsement from a noted conservative group. With Piscataquis’ established reputation, it was obvious this was the time. The RCC immediately impacted the political landscape of Maine by endorsing Paul LePage for Governor.

Maine, as well as the Nation, are facing crucial decisions in our future. These decisions will determine whether we become a State and a Nation of people that forfeit our freedoms or take them back from government overreach. The Red County Caucus once again will be at the forefront of political influence in our State.

The Red County Caucus is ready to speak to the challenges of a new election. The Red County Caucus will be weighing in on the crucial issues of our day starting here with healthcare. Along with statements on several issues, The RCC will give an endorsement for the Governor of the State of Maine.

Graham-Cassidy

The best government is the government that governs least and local governance is the best governance. The Free Market is the best purveyor of healthcare. Unfortunately, our government has violated these proven truths and now we are caught in the tentacles of their misdeeds, Obamacare (ACA).

When it comes down to it, all healthcare is local. Our Federal government, through the passage of Obamacare, has eliminated local control from our healthcare system and established rules that are mandated to every person and business. This is the suppression of our individual freedom.

The ability to make choices about what health insurance options we want, or if we want health insurance at all, has been taken out of the citizen’s hand. This has gone too far. We must take action.

Massive increases in premiums and deductible costs are hurting regular citizens and businesses. All around us we hear of neighbors, friends, and businesses crushed by Obamacare, yet Washington stubbornly continues to tout the ACA as the answer to protect our citizens. The time has come to make significant changes to Obamacare, since Washington is unable to repeal and replace the entire bill as promised.

The Graham-Cassidy bill is not perfect but makes significant improvements to the existing law. This bill will return much of the control to the states rather than the federal government, eliminate employer and individual mandates, eliminate some taxes, and retain protection for patients with preexisting conditions. Graham-Cassidy will begin the fight to get the federal government out of the health insurance business and curtail significantly the hardships imposed by Obamacare on millions of our fellow citizens.

The Red County Caucus strongly urges Senator Susan Collins to heed the disastrous impact the ACA has had on her constituents here in Maine and support Graham-Cassidy. We urge Maine citizens to contact Senator Collins and remind her that “We The People” want these changes. Her vote to support individual liberty in Maine is needed now.