Bill is a candidate for the Georgia General Assembly House District 95, and is running against incumbent Toney Collins

Bill has forwarded his platform to us for your consideration.

POLITICAL PLATFORM

Let me start off by giving a brief introduction of myself. I’m a 62 year old Vietnam veteran. I was born and reared mostly in New York State. I have also lived in; Kentucky; Indiana; Missouri; California; and Illinois before coming to Georgia. While I was in the Army I served in Germany and Vietnam, as well as here in the United States. I consider myself an American Patriot.

I’m a graduate (B.A.) of Kentucky Wesleyan College in Owensboro, Kentucky. I also graduated (M.Div.) from Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary in Mill Valley, California.

As for what I believe politically:

I believe in the Constitution and the principles it contains. It is the foundation upon which all of our laws are based. Some people believe that it is a “living” document. I do not. For if you have a foundation that moves and changes, anything built upon it will come down. We are a nation of laws. If you break the law, you face the consequences of those laws. Also, no one is above the law. They apply equally to everyone.

I believe in a strong National Defense program, for it is our military that keeps us safe. I am proud to have served my country, and I will stand side by side with all others who have served.

I believe in secure National borders. I do not believe that illegal immigrants should be given amnesty. There is a process for coming into this country legally, and that process needs to be respected by everyone. I do not believe that illegal immigrants should be given benefits they have not earned. Also, I do not believe they deserve a public education at the expense of the rest of the citizens of this country.

I am fiscally a conservative. I support the Fair Tax, a balanced budget, and fiscal responsibility. This applies to all levels of Government, from the city to the Federal, especially at times like these. We as families have to adjust our expenses when our budgets become tighter. The Government needs to do the same, but not at the expense of the safety and security of the public. It is irresponsible for the Government to add to the burden of our families when we are already struggling to meet our financial obligations.

I believe in individual freedom and responsibility. I believe in the individual right to privacy. I believe in the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. But that does not guarantee equal results to the next person. If I work hard, it is my right to the benefits which I obtain from my labor. I can legally do what I want with those benefits. It is not the Government’s right to come and take them from me to give them to someone else.

I believe in a free market economy. Not one that is controlled by the Government. A true free market economy is the strength of this country. It is what has made this country the strongest and most productive nation in the world. It is the envy of other people around the world and thus nothing to be ashamed of.

Lastly, I believe we need to re-exert our States rights and have the Federal Government return to its original role of “protector of our rights,” rather than trying to dominate and subjugate the States. The Federal Government derives its power from the people. It does not grant power to the people.

The Many Ways Judge Don Lowery Stands Above the Other Candidates for U. S. Senate for Illinois

* Judge Lowery has demonstrated he is a strong defender of Americans’ personal liberties guaranteed by the U. S. Constitution. Judge Lowery served 26 years as a Circuit Court Judge in the First Judicial Circuit of Illinois defending the individual liberties of Americans afforded by the U. S. Constitution. Prior to serving as a Judge, he was a States Attorney and a public defender. He believes lawmakers should adhere to the principles of the U. S. Constitution in the legislative process.
* Judge Lowery is ProLife and believes life should be protected. Judge Lowery believes life is a gift that should be protected, and respect for life should apply at both ends of life’s spectrum. Components of Judge Lowery’s ProLife philosophy are his opposition to partial-birth abortion, euthanasia, and embryonic stem cell research. He opposes using Americans’ tax dollars to fund abortions. As Judge Lowery believes America’s people are America’s greatest asset, he unequivocally subscribes to the principles that our rights to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” must be protected.
* Judge Lowery has demonstrated his commitment to America’s national security. Judge Lowery has served in the United States Military. As a member of the U. S. Army, he was serving a tour of duty in Korea during the 1967 Pueblo Crisis. He then volunteered for a tour of duty in Viet Nam. While in Viet Nam, he was promoted to the rank of Captain and was awarded the Bronze Star, Air Medal, and Army Commendation Medal. He has seen first hand the effects of a weak national security policy and will work as your U. S. Senator to keep America strong and safe. He will also work to increase support for America’s military.
* Judge Lowery believes in securing America’s borders. Judge Lowery believes all of America’s borders should be secured through manpower, technology, and comprehensive inspections. He also believes illegal immigration should be stopped as it is a drain on the national economy and a threat to America’s national security.
* JudgeLowery has demonstrated his commitment to protecting Americans’ rights under the Second Amendment. Judge Lowery is a longtime Life/Endowment member of the National Rifle Association. He is also a member of the Illinois State Rifle Association. As a sportsman, Judge Lowery believes restrictions in gun ownership should be applicable to criminals, not to law abiding citizens.
* Judge Lowery believes in lowering the tax burdens on Americans. Judge Lowery believes all laws that contain expenditures of public money should have an automatic sunset provision that will mandate review of these expenditures on a periodic basis. This could be one component of solutions toward ending wasteful spending by government and saving taxpayers’ money. He supports a complete audit of the Federal Reserve.
* Judge Lowery believes it is time to safeguard the integrity of the legislative process. Judge Lowery believes we as a nation should adopt a single-subject law in the legislative process that only allows matters relating to the primary subject of the legislation to be attached to the bill. This will eliminate costly earmarks and coercion to vote for legislation that contains unrelated, unpopular matters. This will also help stop purchasing legislators’ votes on issues they do not generally favor unless tax dollars are promised them for their vote.
* Judge Lowery believes in a comprehensive national energy policy. America needs to explore and develop all areas of domestic energy including solar, wind, nuclear, and bio-energy including fossil fuels and agricultural products. Therefore, Judge Lowery opposes the current “Cap and Trade” legislation because of its negative effect on the economy through job loss, increased energy costs for households and industry, higher transportation and higher food costs, premature technology, and the lack of cooperation of other nations.
* Judge Lowery believes we have to protect Social Security, Medicare, and all pension programs. Judge Lowery believes the raiding of the Social Security Trust Fund is akin to embezzlement by Congress from the American people. We must remove the ability of Congress to breach the Social Security Trust Fund. Money paid into Social Security retirement benefits must only be used for those benefits. He supports passing a law that protects all pension plans from being plundered by any government or business entity. Individuals paying into any pension fund or Social Security fund should be guaranteed those funds will be available when they reach retirement age. As Medicare is tied closely to Social Security, Medicare funding should be fueled out of a Medicare trust fund without the ability of Congress to raid that fund for such things as earmarks for other bills. Current reductions in Medicare benefits are unacceptable, especially coupled with no cost of living increase in Social Security benefits. Responsible fiscal management in the operation of government must be restored.
* Judge Lowery believes America is great because of its economic foundation. Judge Lowery believes the strength of our economy is based on the free market system, and government should only be minimally involved. He supports reducing the national debt and balancing the budget. He adamantly opposes raising the debt ceiling!
* Judge Lowery believes term limits are necessary. Judge Lowery believes the roots of the problems in Washington, D. C. today are a result of politicians saying or doing anything to get re-elected. It is time to stop this “madness!” It is time to return to the concept our forefathers envisioned which is “citizen legislators.” Therefore, Judge Lowery pledges he will not serve more than two terms as a U. S. Senator.
* Judge Lowery believes in downsizing the federal government. Judge Lowery believes the federal government has become too large and too demanding on the American people. Judge Lowery believes we should get government out of our wallets, out of our doctors’ offices, out of our homes, and off our backs!

Judge Don Lowery is a traditional conservative candidate, both fiscally and socially! For all the above reasons, Judge Lowery, first on the Republican Primary ballot, is the best choice for U. S. Senator for Illinois. Judge Don Lowery will be a U. S. Senator you can talk to!

Right for Illinois! Right for America!

“I am a free enterprise advocate who believes that lower taxes can encourage economic growth. Raising taxes stifles growth, weakens the economy and puts more people out of work. Our economy works best when individuals have more of their income to spend, and businesses have money to invest and add jobs. I have been a fiscal watchdog in the state legislature fighting bigger government, higher taxes and wasteful spending.”

America should brace for the biggest vote fraud and election theft caper of all time on election night 2010 — and in the months following. We now know as well that the Dems are guaranteed to win any statewide recount where there is a Democrat Secretary of State. And who, we must ask, is there to enforce the election laws now?

http://www.americanthinker.com/2010/01/understanding_the_democrats_sc.html

Our country’s forefathers labored extensively to provide the people a government which would not be under the thumb of a central bureaucracy. Yet, since the turn of the 20th century, the elements of socialism, progressivism and Marxism have worked to undermine our own liberties and freedom, while having us concentrate on being the policeman, and caretaker of the world.

Our country has been stolen from us!

The People are no longer in control of the government. Special interest lobbyists pad the pockets of hired gun politicians who were placed there by the dollars generated from purchases by the American people. You buy goods, the company finds their? ” Golden Boy”? politician or party, and then fund them into a seat in our “republican” government.

These same politicians, once in the seat of power, lay out, propose, and vote in the agendas being paid for by their special interest financiers. The American people, who this so called “statesman” is supposed to represent, is ignored, even though its crys are heard loudly? and visually, even unto the steps of the Capital in Washington DC.

It is given to us the right, the duty, to call to account those who would bind us in the chains of tyranny. We are to work to identify the individuals, special interests, and lobbyists who are pushing us to be subjugated under the power of an ever increasing central government.

Our call to action is to unite with those who would fight for the cause of Liberty and Freedom. Align ourselves with? people working to identify and remove the sickness which has corrupted our political system.

Let us identify and support statesmen who will represent the People, and restore honor to the office? of those who would walk away from their everyday life with their family and friends, and would raise their right hand and swear an oath to uphold the U. S. Constitution.

Let us get representatives that actually work to fulfill their oath.

For Freedom and Liberty.

Short Bio for Chuck DeVore

Chuck DeVore represents 500,000 constituents in the California State Assembly. Chuck DeVore is a common sense conservative candidate for United States Senate in 2010 against Barbara Boxer. He is the Vice Chairman of the Assembly Committee on Revenue and Taxation and serves on the Veterans Affairs Committee, and the Joint Legislative Audit Committee. Chuck was elected in 2004 and reelected in 2006 and in 2008. Chuck has been honored as the Legislator of the Year by seven groups: including the California Veterans of Foreign Wars, the California chapter of the American Legion and others.

Chuck worked in the aerospace industry for 13 years and was vice president of research before leaving work to begin serving as an elected official.

Chuck served as a Reagan White House appointee in the Pentagon from 1986 to 1988. As Special Assistant for Foreign Affairs his duties included working with Congress to advance the President’s foreign and military policy.

In 1983, Chuck enlisted in the United States Army Reserve. He earned an ROTC scholarship that allowed him to attend Claremont McKenna College where he graduated with honors with a degree in Strategic Studies in 1985. He also studied overseas at the American University in Cairo, Egypt. After more than 24 years of service, Chuck retired from the Army National Guard with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

Since age 19, Chuck has been a volunteer for the Republican Party, serving in the leadership of several groups. He was elected to the Orange County Republican Party Central Committee in 1992 and was reelected four times.

Chuck is also the author of the internationally acclaimed novel, China Attacks. Written in 1999 and translated into Chinese in 2000, the book, banned in China, sells well in Taiwan where Chuck met with Taiwanese government and military leaders in 2001 and again in 2005.

2008, he authored a scholarly piece entitled, “Relative Risk: Global Warming and Imported Fossil Fuels vs. Nuclear Power,” for the UC Berkeley School of Law’s inaugural edition of Ecology Law Currents. In 2004, The Claremont Institute named Chuck a Lincoln Fellow.

A native of De Soto, Missouri, Jay Nixon was raised to believe that faith and family always come first — and giving back to one’s community comes next.?

Jay’s parents taught him the value of public service and the principle of neighbor helping neighbor. Jay’s mother, the late Betty Willson Nixon, served as the president of the De Soto School Board. His father, Jerry Nixon, dedicated his life to serving the public — including a term as Mayor of De Soto when the town was selected by Life magazine as an “All-American City.”

Jay is a proud product of the Missouri public school system and received his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Missouri.? After practicing law for several years, the people of Jefferson County elected Jay to the State Senate in 1986.? As a legislator, Jay quickly built a reputation as a hard-worker who gets results.? The people of Missouri elected him to be their Attorney General in 1992 and have since elected him to an unprecedented four terms as the state’s chief law enforcer.?

As Attorney General, Jay Nixon represents Missouri families by taking on the toughest fights — and winning.? He has a track record of protecting our communities by standing up to the special interests.? Jay has demonstrated how innovation and imaginative leadership can help solve problems for everyday Missourians. In 2000, Jay helped found the Missouri Foundation for Health, which provides health care services to needy Missourians throughout the state.? The foundation is the result of aggressive action by Jay’s office and the creative settlement of a law suit filed against one of Missouri’s biggest insurance companies.

Read the full story http://www.jaynixon.com/meetjay/

From the candidate’s web site:

About Bob McDonnell

• Married 32 years to Maureen McDonnell

• Father of 5 children

• Oldest daughter, Jeanine, served as a U.S. Army officer and is an Iraq War veteran

• McDonnell served 21 years in the U.S. Army, both on active duty and reserves, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel

• Business manager for a Fortune 500 health care company, American Hospital Supply Corporation

• A former Virginia Beach Prosecutor who successfully put rapists, murderers, and drug dealers behind bars

• Served 14 years in the Virginia House of Delegates from Virginia Beach, rising to Chairman of the powerful Courts of Justice Committee, and Assistant Majority Leader

• Named “Legislator of the Year” by both the Fraternal Order of Police and the Virginia Sheriff’s Association

• Effective Attorney General

• As Attorney General, 92 of his 105 legislative proposals passed, most with bipartisan support

• As Attorney General, he kept all 7 of his campaign promises

Bob McDonnell was one year old in 1955 when his father, USAF Lt. Colonel John McDonnell, moved the family to Fairfax County. Four years later, John was assigned to Germany, but the time away from Fairfax would be short. At age 8 Bob and his family were back in Fairfax, this time calling a house on Wagon Wheel Road in the Mount Vernon area home. They would remain there for Bob’s childhood. Bob’s dad retired from the Air Force in 1964 and went on to a second career with the Naval Investigative Service. He still lives in the same house today. Bob’s mom worked for a Democratic Congressman from Texas, Rep. Olin Teague, and later at George Washington’s Mount Vernon. She passed away in 1994.

Bob went to St. Louis Catholic School for third through fifth grades, Woodley Hills Elementary School for 6th grade, and Walt Whitman Junior High School for grades 7 and 8. For high school Bob went to Bishop Ireton in Alexandria. It was while attending Bishop Ireton that Bob has his first, and only, brush with gridiron greatness, scoring a touchdown and a two-point conversion against the famed 1971 T.C. Williams Titans of “Remember the Titans” fame. You can read the Alexandria Gazette article about the game by clicking here.

After high school Bob was off to South Bend, Indiana to live his dream of attending the University of Notre Dame. He could only afford college through a full Army ROTC scholarship. For Bob McDonnell a higher education came with a commitment to serve his country. Like his father before him, Bob would wear the uniform as a military officer. Bob graduated in 1976 with a BBA degree in management.

Bob went on active duty in October 1976, heading to basic training in Texas and then being assigned to Grafenwohr, Germany. He didn’t go alone. Earlier that year Bob married Maureen Gardner, of McLean, Virginia. The two have been married for over 30 years.

Read the full story http://www.bobmcdonnell.com/index.php/site/meet_bob/

Who will do the rating? The non-profits that are doing it now, e.g. “Consumer Reports”.

What about other factors, like performing as advertised (e.g. over the counter drugs), price, resale value, market share, customer service, markup, …? They can be rated too. Reliability is just a starting point.