Republicans - Time for a Change!

[Liberty Belle]

This e-mail is making the rounds in California. You can easily delete the local sections and pass it on to Republican friends, neighbors and coworkers anywhere in the country. Permission granted from author to reprint in full.

Dear Republican Friends,

The Republican Party has lost its way. True conservatives, those who believe in fiscal responsibility and moral values, are joining together to take a stand against the wrong turn taken by today’s Republican leadership nationally, as well as locally in our community.

Conservative Magazine just ran an editorial titled “GOP Must Go.” http://www.amconmag.com/2006/2006_11_20/feature.html

A new Time Magazine poll finds that nearly half of all Evangelical Christians have also abandoned the GOP: http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1555024,00.html

Conservatives, liberals and moderates agree. The New York Times, in a blistering editorial, endorsed NO Republicans for Congress for the first time in its history: http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/washington/politics-usa-elections-nytimes.html?_r=1&pagewanted=print&oref=slogin

The Republican-controlled Congress has presided over the worst deficit spending in the history of our nation. The Republican administration failed to stop the worst terrorist attack on U.S. soil, started a war that has become a quagmire in Iraq, and proved a shameful failure at protecting its own citizens in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast states.

Dozens of Republican leaders and prominent party members (including San Diego’s own Randy Duke Cunningham) have been convicted of crimes or are under investigation for criminal charges. That includes both the House and Senate Republican leaders! Allegations of insurance fraud have been raised against Rep. Duncan Hunter, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune. Congressman Mark Foley and numerous other Republican officials have been exposed in sex scandals--including homosexual liaisons with underage boys serving as pages—a fact known and covered up by the Republican leadership. For details, see The Record of Republican Corruption or Republican Hypocrisy Revealed.

Republican President George W. Bush, with help from the Republican-led Congress and Senate, has signed new laws taking away our Constitutional rights--including freedom from unreasonable search and seizure, the right of a citizen to have a trial if arrested and charged with a crime, and the right to privacy (such as keeping your medical, phone and e-mail records private unless there is due cause for suspicion).

Here in California, Governor Schwarzenegger, a Republican, has appointed foxes to watch over the henhouse – naming timber, mining, oil and energy executives to head up agencies overseeing our state forests, parks, and environmental protections. Far from avoiding special interests as he pledged in his campaign, Schwarzenegger has taken far more money from special interests than his Democratic predecessor.

Our Republican State Senator, Dennis Hollingsworth, has the insurance industry as his biggest donor – and voted against both bills that would have provided money to help wildfire survivors. He took huge contributions from big oil and voted against a bill to reduce global warming. He took money from the banking industry and voted against bills to stop predatory lending and prevent identity theft of consumers’ personal information. Who is he really representing? His opponent, Democrat Mark Hanson, is a fire survivor and founder of a charitable organization that raised money to help fire survivors rebuild. Who would you trust to protect us?

Rampant corruption, cronyism, immoral behavior and fiscal irresponsibility is rampant in the Republican Party at all levels. Many conservatives now believe it is time to clean house—and sweep out leaders at all levels who don’t represent our values!

In Southern California, an unprecedented number of Republicans and Independents have decided to send a clear message: by voting Democratic, or casting protest votes for Libertarian candidates. Even some long-time Republican office holders, disgusted with their party’s immoral, illegal and irresponsible actions, have come out in support of local Democratic candidates. For instance, La Mesa Councilman Ernie Ewin, a conservative Republican, has endorsed Ken Sobel, Democrat, for the Grossmont Union High School District school board. So has La Mesa’s Republican Mayor Art Madrid.

In San Diego’s East County, Democrats have chosen a slate of moderate candidates who share many common values with conservatives. For instance, State Senate candidate Mark Hanson supports fiscal responsibility and cutting bureaucracy to help small businesses. He has a plan to bring 80,000 new jobs here in clean energy manufacturing, helping us to achieve energy independence.

Democrats running here believe in REAL family values – such as making healthcare affordable for working people, families, employers and employees—WITHOUT raising taxes.

Speaking of taxes, the Republican leadership in Washington D.C. and Sacramento has been squandering your tax dollars on corporate welfare – huge tax giveaways for corporations like Wal-Mart and Exxon-Mobile, while at the same time cutting funds for programs like Medicare and veterans benefits! Meanwhile, middle class families are feeling the squeeze of soaring prices on everything from gas to housing prices. Isn’t it time for leaders who will restore tax fairness for us all?

If you believe it’s time for a change, please join the growing ranks of Republicans and Independent voters who plan send a clear message to the Republican leadership this election. How? By not voting for Republicans in any partisan races. Cast your votes for a straight Democratic ticket. (To learn more about the Democratic platform, see http://www.dnc.org/a/party/stand.html ) Or vote for minor party candidates. Or vote only on propositions and leave the rest of your ballot blank.

If you’re still not convinced, please check this out: http://journals.democraticunderground.com/top10/267. Now send this e-mail to your friends and print copies for your off-line acquaintances.

Tough times call for tough medicine. Together, we can send a clear message: We, the people believe it’s time to restore honor and integrity to our government at ALL levels!

Republicans For Change
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