Gun Manufacturers Praying for Obama Reelection
When my brother and I went to our local shooting range on a cool day in January 2009 we planned on draining a few magazines from his Beretta 9mm. We didn't have the time to pick up our own ammo, so we thought we'd just grab some at the range.
We were wrong...
As we approached the counter and asked about loading up on some ammo, the burly, flanneled gentlemen chuckled with mirth...
“No can do son, we're all outta' bullets for that one...”
But this is a gun range, right? Does that mean there would be no blasting today?
He took notice of the disappointed and perplexed look on our faces.
“Sorry, but since Obama got elected we're on backorder for just about everything...”
Enter the strange dichotomy of gun manufacturers and Democratic administrations. Though gun rights advocates and the NRA strongly oppose Obama and the gun control lobby, there is one fact that is irrefutable: Gun sales go absolutely wild when they gain power.
When President Obama took office, sales soared to record levels. While the government doesn't actually track sales, per se, FBI criminal background checks for gun purchases have soared to record numbers every year Obama has been in office.
This year those background checks are projected to hit 15 million for the first time in history.
Those numbers have led to a massive payday for gun manufacturers like Strum Ruger. If you thought gold had a good year or two, check out the following chart:
NRA head Wayne LaPierre appeared at the Florida CPAC convention this week to speak out against the Obama administration and urge voters to vote against him:
"The president will offer the Second Amendment lip service and hit the campaign trail saying he's actually been good for the Second Amendment, but it's a big, fat, stinkin' lie, just like all the other lies that have come out of this corrupt administration. It's all part of a massive Obama conspiracy to deceive voters and hide his true intentions to destroy the Second Amendment in our country."
But in secret, the gun manufactures may be rubbing their hands together, praying that Obama gets another four years. He may not be good for gun owners, but he sure as hell is the best thing to happen to the industry since the invention of the pistol...
Just ask Strum Luger CEO Michael O. Fifer...
“I think half of the people in the firearms industry, if asked, would hope [Obama] is not President, but then will secretly go out and vote for him again,” Fifer said in a company sales call.
House Seeks to Replace Dollar With Gold Coin
Republican House members have proposed a bill that would replace the one-dollar bill with a dollar coin, ultimately saving taxpayers money.
David Schweikert (R-AZ), Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) and another House Republican proposed the bill titled the Currency Optimization, Innovation and National Savings (COINS) Act.
The House members say the U.S. would save $184 million a year just by switching to the use of the coin. According to Newsmax.com, “Schweikert said his proposal would save taxpayers billions of dollars over the next few decades by switching to a dollar coin in four years, or as soon as $600 million worth of dollar coins have entered the money supply. A whopping 3 billion paper dollars are shredded every year, and continuing destruction and construction of the paper dollars costs the government too much, he said.”
Utah is already ahead of the game. We told you in a previous article that the state is allowing its citizens to use gold and silver coins as currency. Utah residents are allowed to store their gold and silver in a vault and use a “debit-like card” to make transactions.
Not everyone is in agreement with this proposal. Massachusetts Senators Scott Brown (R) and John Kerry (D) have proposed an opposing bill, the Currency Efficient Act, which they claim is to protect the paper dollar bill.
Brown argues "The one dollar coin is misleading because it costs taxpayers so much more. In fact, we have over $1 billion worth of extra one-dollar coins sitting idle in vaults and that's set to double over the next several years.”
Are Brown and Kerry really that concerned about the paper dollar bill, or is their another motive behind their proposed act?
The Dollar Coin Alliance claims the two senators are trying to protect Crane&Co., a business in their home state of Massachusetts that supplies the paper used to create dollar bills.
Keeping the dollar bill around will only cost U.S. taxpayers even more money.
"At a time when the government needs to be looking to save every dollar, we can't continue to play the same Washington game of serving narrow special interests with half-measure legislation,” said former Arizona Rep. Jim Kolbe, the honorary chair of the Dollar Coin Alliance.
The Federal Reserve says that a 2008 Harris poll found three fourths of people prefer the $1 note, but with America’s struggling economy a savings of $184 million a year in taxes can go a long way.
But Massachusetts Sens. Scott Brown, a Republican, and John Kerry, a Democrat, disagree. Opponents claim Kerry and Brown merely want to protect Crane & Co., which is based in Massachusetts and is the sole supplier of the paper used to make dollar bills.Read more on Newsmax.com: 3 GOP Reps Propose Replacing Dollar Bill With Coin Important: Do You Support Pres. Obama's Re-Election? Vote Here Now!
Electoral College changes
A graphic representation of gains and losses in the 2012 electoral college. Orange indicates losses, and blue indicates gains.
The 2010 Census changed the Electoral College vote apportionment for the Presidential elections from 2012 to 2020 in the states listed below and mapped right.[2]
Eight States in blue represent states that gained votes, due to reapportionment based on the 2010 Census. Ten States in orange represent states that lost votes. In the political climate of 2011, this would give the Democratic Party a net loss of six electoral votes in states won by Al Gore, John Kerry and Barack Obama in the past three presidential elections, rendering the party a national total of 242. Conversely, the Republican Party will achieve a net gain of six electoral votes in states won by George W. Bush and John McCain in the past three presidential elections, rendering the GOP a national total of 181. Votes allocated to remaining states remain unchanged from the national total of 115.
In 2011, several states enacted new laws that the Democratic Party attacked as attempts to improve the Republican Party's presidential prospects. Florida , Georgia , Ohio ,[3] Tennessee and West Virginia Florida and Iowa Ohio
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania proposed a bold new plan that would change its representation in the electoral college from a winner-take-all model to a district-by-district model.[12] The Governorship and both houses of its congress were Republican-controlled, and the move was seen as an affront to Obama's re-election.[13][14][15]
States won by Democrats in 2000, 2004, and 2008 § § § § § § § | States won by Republicans in 2000, 2004, and 2008 § § § § § § § | Remaining states § § § § |
Party conventions
Charlotte
Tampa
Nashville
Las Vegas
Los Angeles
Cullman
Sites of the 2012 National Party Conventions (new)
Cullman
Sites of the 2012 National Party Conventions (new)
§ June 20–22, 2011: Prohibition Party National Convention in Cullman, Alabama[16] Jack Fellure won the nomination.
§ October 14–16, 2011: 2011 Socialist Party USA National Convention to be held in Los Angeles, California[17]
§ April 18–21, 2012: 2012 Constitution Party National Convention to be held in Nashville, Tennessee[18][19]
§ May 4–6, 2012: 2012 Libertarian National Convention to be held in Las Vegas, Nevada[20][21]
§ June 2012: Americans Elect National Convention held over the internet[22]
§ August 27–30, 2012: 2012 Republican National Convention to be held in Tampa, Florida[23][24]
§ September 3–6, 2012: 2012 Democratic National Convention to be held in Charlotte, North Carolina[25]
Candidates
The following are individuals who have either formally announced that they are running for president in 2012 and/or have filed as a candidate with the Federal Election Commission (FEC), or have formed an exploratory committee for a possible presidential run in 2012.
Democratic Party
Formally declared candidates:
§ Barack Obama, incumbent President of the United States from Illinois[26][27]
Candidates gallery
§
Other candidates
§ Warren Mosler, businessman from Connecticut, withdrew April 2010[31][32]
Republican Party
Formally declared candidates:
§ Herman Cain, former Federal Reserve banker and businessman from Georgia[35][36]
§ Jon Huntsman, Jr., former U.S. Ambassador to China and former Governor of Utah[39][40]
§ Gary Johnson, former Governor of New Mexico[41][42]
§ Ron Paul, U.S. Representative from Texas[43][44]
§ Rick Santorum, former Senator from Pennsylvania[51][52][53]
Withdrawn candidates
§ Tim Pawlenty, former Governor of Minnesota, (campaign), withdrew August 14, 2011[54][55]
Candidates gallery
§
Representative Michele Bachmann of Minnesota (campaign)
§
Former Federal Reserve banker Herman Cain ofGeorgia (campaign)
§
Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich ofGeorgia (campaign)
§
Former Ambassador to China and former Governor Jon Huntsman, Jr. of Utah (campaign)
§
Former Governor Gary Johnson of New Mexico (campaign)
§
U.S. Representative Ron Paul of Texas
Former Governor Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota (campaign) (withdrew on August 14, 2011)
§
Governor Rick Perry of Texas (campaign)
§
Former Governor Mitt Romney of Massachusetts (campaign)
§
Former Senator Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania (campaign)
Other candidates
These candidates are or were running for president, but were not invited to the debates.
§ Perennial candidate Jack Fellure of West Virginia[56] Withdrew June 22, 2011 to accept Prohibition Party nomination.[57]
§ Political consultant Fred Karger of California[58][59][60][61]
§ U.S. Representative Thaddeus McCotter of Michigan, (campaign)[64][65] withdrew September 22, 2011[66]
§ Perennial candidate Jonathon Sharkey of Florida[72][73][74] Withdrew August 17, 2011[75]
Third party and independent
1. Green Party
Withdrawn candidates:
§ Stewart Alexander, see below.[78]
2. Libertarian Party
3. Prohibition Party
§ James Hedges, Prohibition activist and former Thompson Township Tax Assessor from Pennsylvania[84][85]
4. Socialist Party USA
§ Stewart Alexander, activist and 2008 Socialist Party USA vice-presidential nominee from California
5. Independent
See also: Independent (politician)
Candidates Must Follow Logical Steps
This article originally appeared in Winning Campaigns Magazine.
Every year campaigns start earlier and earlier. The 2006 mid-term elections were not even over and we had presidential candidates crisscrossing the country meeting potential voters and donors. The 2008 elections have already seen causalities.
Senator John Kerry has apparently ended his chances of a comeback with a “botched” joke. Sen. Evan Bayh announced the end of his candidacy. Others will fall by the wayside after the exploratory committee route they start with shows the route is closed. So it is not premature for many to think about running for re-election to the office they seek to move from or, for some, to run for elective office for the first time.
Every year campaigns start earlier and earlier. The 2006 mid-term elections were not even over and we had presidential candidates crisscrossing the country meeting potential voters and donors. The 2008 elections have already seen causalities.
Senator John Kerry has apparently ended his chances of a comeback with a “botched” joke. Sen. Evan Bayh announced the end of his candidacy. Others will fall by the wayside after the exploratory committee route they start with shows the route is closed. So it is not premature for many to think about running for re-election to the office they seek to move from or, for some, to run for elective office for the first time.
Campaigns in this modern age of electioneering have to start early due to the expense in running. The earlier you start the more likely you are going to be able to raise the necessary funds to win.
The first steps you take as a candidate are crucial. The voters, press, party officials, volunteers, and donors will closely judge your initial candidacy. Following is an initial list of steps for any candidate to take to kick-off their campaigns with momentum.
Step 1 Discuss it with your family.
You need to discuss your potential candidacy with your family. If they are not on board, you will never win. The impact of a campaign can be devastating on family life both financially and emotionally. Once you throw your hat into the ring, your family will be living in a fishbowl. Be prepared and have them prepared.
Step 2 Can you afford to run?
When you run for office, your mind is no longer devoted to outside of politics efforts, including your job or your business. If you are self-employed or a business-owner be certain you can afford the time away from your office financially. You don’t want to be writing bad personal checks. News like that travels quickly through the political world..
If you are an employee, you discuss your political ambitions and the time for campaigning with your employer. Will they let you take a leave of absence? Can you have the time off? Will the paychecks continue? Hopefully, they will be supportive and even become major donors.
Step 3 Make a good decision to run.
Here are a few questions to consider: Can you win? Can you raise enough money? Is this the year? Is the incumbent vulnerable? Can you devote the time to do this? Analyze previous voting patterns. Does the district vote Republican or Democrat? Is there a large swing vote in the district? How many votes will you need to win?
Depending on the size of your race you may want to consider doing a poll.
A poll can tell you what issues are hot in the minds of the voters, the biggest liability for your opponent, your potential negatives, and what voters you may be able to swing into your camp.
Time is the most valuable resource in a campaign. Don’t waste too much of it making your decision to get in or stay out. Candidates who wait too long to enter a race can often jeopardize valuable early support. However, making the final decision to run does not mean you have to announce immediately. It only means you need to get organized.
Step 4 Update your resume.
Much of a campaign’s written material includes personal and professional data from the candidate’s background. Therefore, you should update your resume. It will make designing commercials, mail pieces, press packages, and other campaign literature much easier. Your resume must be completely accurate because the press will certainly scrutinize every detail. Exaggerating your background will be a costly mistake.
Step 5 Decide why you are running.
What is your rationale for seeking the office? Does it make sense? Can you make a difference? How can you interest people in your campaign?
The best example of a candidate not knowing why he was running is Ted Kennedy when he decided to campaign for the presidency. His campaign for President never got off the ground, because he failed to articulate why he was running. Know your reasons for running.
Step 6 Find the key team members
The first persons you need to join you on the campaign trail is a treasurer and a lawyer. Often they can be one and the same person. But, this legal member must know or learn the campaign and finance laws. Missing a filing deadline can be not only embarrassing but also illegal. When can lawn signs be put up? Do you need to collect signatures? Is an ethics report required? When can you raise money? When are signatures due? Not meeting all of the legal requirements can end a campaign before it has started. How can you make laws if you don’t obey them? Furthermore, you cannot start raising money until you can deposit it into the appropriate account.
Step 7 Raise seed money.
Now that you know the rules you can start asking for donations. It is a given fact that no campaign can sustain momentum without money.
This is one of the most important steps. As it has been said over and over again –money is the mother’s milk of politics. No campaign can get off the ground without the seed money to buy office supplies, signs, bumper stickers, rent office space, etc..
You will be able to “test the waters” by raising funds. The best way to raise the first dollars is to make direct solicitation calls to your friends, family, and business associates. Candidates who cannot create a list of at least 100 people to call for money should probably not run. You need friends and family to invest before strangers will. Don’t count on PAC money in the early stages. It comes much later in the campaign.
The amount of money you will need will depend on the size of your race. For example, for the first reporting period a Congressional candidate should raise at least 6-figures to be competitive when an overall budget is expected to be over $1 million.
Step 8 Go to a campaign school.
Whether you are a first time candidate or have run before attend a campaign school. Learn from experts on how to run a successful campaign and how to be a good candidate. These courses will save you valuable time and money by preventing you from having to reinvent the wheel. If you are starting your campaign early enough, you should have the time to attend. Also when you hire a manager have him or her attend as well.
Step 9 Organize your Brain Trust.
Don’t operate in a vacuum. You need a sounding board for your ideas and to troubleshoot potential problems. This group will help keep you grounded and allow you to discuss options frankly. They also tend to hear the “whisper” campaign. This is your kitchen cabinet. Schedule regular meetings to update them on your progress.
Step 10 Hire the Right Manager.
Every campaign needs a manager. A candidate who manages his or her own campaign will certainly lose. There are two main responsibilities for a candidate; meeting voters and asking for money. The manager handles almost everything else. Choose someone that has lots of energy, able to organize, is determined, and has experience. Be sure to check the manager’s references.
Step 11 Write a campaign plan.
Develop a plan starting with Election Day and planning backwards. Make sure to include key components of a budget, fund raising plan, organizational chart, earned media strategy, and implementation timeline. Set goals that are realistic.
Step 12 Go for it!
Once you have made your decision, involved others, raised money and started your campaign, be determined to stay the course. Your opponent will comes out swinging against you, friends and family will be dismayed at some things that will be said about you and the road to victory will be filled with many unforeseen potholes, but victory at the end is sweet.
About the Author
Holly Robichaud
Holly Robichaurd has 17 years experience in managing campaigns at the local, state and federal levels. As a fund-raiser, she has set records for statewide and local campaigns and Political Action Committees.
You can reach Holly Robichaud at:
holly@Tuesdayassociates.com
Holly Robichaud
Holly Robichaurd has 17 years experience in managing campaigns at the local, state and federal levels. As a fund-raiser, she has set records for statewide and local campaigns and Political Action Committees.
You can reach Holly Robichaud at:
holly@Tuesdayassociates.com
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