Repeal the Bill: A New Look at Mark Kirk

3/21, the day that Obamacare passed the House based on false promises from the President, inexorable backdoor deal-making, and voted on against the will of We the People, marks a political event that like 9/11 reshaped our thinking for America: indeed it marks the start of Medi-geddon. We have had time to reflect on what we can to do repeal the bill and return American at least to a partially-Capitalistic system we had before instead of passing through the doors of Socialism which this bill is doing to us on its multi-year journey. It seems for now that the #1 priority for 2010 elections is voting for candidates who will embrace repeal--and this really means voting Republican as every Republican currently in the House and Senate voted in unanimity a resounding "H*LL NO"!


So how would repeal work? Realistically, we'll need 60 votes in the Senate, a majority in the House, and a President in 2012 who won't veto repeal. Sixty votes in the Senate is the most difficult to achieve because it takes 6 years to cycle through a single opportunity to change a Senate vote for the bill to against the bill. Nacilbupera believes that the Senate could gain back the majority in 2010--but not if we fail to build coalitions with those who agree with us only some of the time: if repeal is a true priority, we will have to vote for Republican candidates who have won their primaries, yet are moderates. It appears that we need to win 2 of the 3 "big state" Senate seats in order to at least get the majority back in the Senate: California, Illinois, and New York (and preferrably all 3 to set us in better shape for 2012).

If you don't like your GOP candidate for Senate and House, you MUST get involved NOW and you MUST donate NOW to the candidate you like. Primaries are quickly approaching and in the case of Illinois, it has already happened. If you like DeVore better than Fiorina, now is election day. If you like Rubio over Christ, now is election day. If you like Hayworth or Deakin over McCain, now is election day. If you like Eagar, Bridgewater, or Lee over Bennett now is election day. And so the list goes on, state by state, congressional district by congressional district.

Illinois had its day and selected its GOP candidate Mark Kirk. Nacilbupera opposed Kirk. Indeed we indicated we would seek someone else to fill the seat. However, in light of Medi-geddon we are reversing our stance on Kirk for the following reasons:

1. Kirk voted NO! to Obamacare
2. Kirk has signed the pledge to repeal Obamacare
3. Kirk's Democratic opponent supports Obamacare and indeed is using the Socialistic bill as a means of touting a vote against Kirk.
4. The sense of urgency to repeal is so great that if we don't repeal now, we may not have our Republic in 6 years when a more conservative Republican could run against a non-incumbent and thus challenge the Democrat incumbent.
5. Kirk could end up being the difference between a Republican majority and minority in the Senate in 2010. (Election Projection currently has it at 50-48 in favor of the Dems.) This is necessary to put a check on Obama who will sign whatever Socialistic legislation Congress puts forth like amnesty, cap and tax, and endless upward debt ceiling adjustments.
6. No 3rd-party conservative opponent to Kirk has any traction. Indeed, they are looking for petition signatures at this point to merely make their name on the Illinois ballot. We fear any traction they do gain at this point will end up further solidifying the Democrat and thus put in jeopardy the Medi-geddon war.

In light of these points, we therefore officially reverse our stance of opposition last month on Mark Kirk and wish him success as we fight together the battle of Medi-geddon. This is not a refutation of the wrong sides Kirk has been on in the past, but the recognition that just as we allied ourselves with Russia in World War II to fight world takeover by fascism, we must align ourselves with Kirk in order to protect our country from Socialism. Nacilbupera will continue to monitor Kirk through the election and his victory to ensure that Kirk stays true to his word.

Seeking a Voice in the Illinois Senate Seat (Update)

Both the Democratic and Republican primaries in Illinois a week ago produced candidates unacceptable to Nacilbupera's principles. As a lifelong Republican, Nacilbupera has tried in our mind every conceivable flip flop of what do to with this unacceptable outcome. Do we remain loyal to party or to principle? Might it send a strong message to the President and to Congress to elect a GOP Senator from the seat formerly held by Obama? By adding an "R" to the Senate numbers might just the GOP be able to take back the Senate in 2010?

Although Don Lowery did not pull out victory, that he garnished a full 9% of the vote when polling just 2% two weeks prior (Chicago Tribune) is a testament to the last-minute momentum he was gaining as voters began to get to know him and support him. With citizenship outside of Illinois and unable to vote for Lowery, we were proud to have supported this great Judge.

So began our reasoning for what to do in this race. Our first decision was easy: despite being Republican, we would not financially contribute nor endorse the GOP primary elected candidate Kirk. The next question we really struggled with: do we remain silent and let Kirk fight his own battle or do we oppose and support someone else?

Silence is not a great option for a blogger like Nacilbupera who likes to speak the truth and get it all out. Besides--even though we have said "silence...conveys nothing about our opinion" which we hold true as there are many, many issues we wish to speak out on but don't find the time to--we felt the need to provide our opinion on this particular race as we have already been vocal. So the truth is Nacilbupera finds both Kirk and Giannoulias revolting as choices for Senator and felt as many do in Illinois without a voice.

We found a couple of solid choices for a principled candidates we like: Conservative Libertarian Mike Labno and Conservative Independent Mike Niecestro. Were we to live in Illinois our vote in November would go to one of these candidates or someone like them.

Many will argue that a Republican vote for a Labno or Niecestro would be "throwing away your vote." First of all, Nacilbupera has learned to never let anyone demean your voting choice when you have thoughtfully and prayerfully (being so inclined) done your best to seek out someone to represent your state, your country, and uphold the Constitution. Second, not only is such a statement demeaning, but it is oft used as intimidation by a candidate who is threatened: that is, if likeminded people all "threw their vote away" they would quite probably overtake the leader and thus end up not throwing their vote away. The bottom line is that no one can dictate anyone else's vote, so to my friends in Illinois: go vote your conscience.

One of the big arguments that will arise this election will be for us Republicans to unite behind Kirk because with Kirk we can gain the majority in the Senate. Honestly, if that is the goal rather than the means to the goal, then go right ahead and Kirkify yourself. Yet it seems to Nacilbupera that the reason why we can sometimes get congressional majorities but never hold on to them is because we aren't true to principles. We claim as Republicans we are for smaller government and then go and pass Medicare Part D and institute the unconstitutional "No Child Left Behind" program. This does nearly irreparable damage to our image and all the independent voters start looking at the Democratic party. The long term best option for the growth of the Republican Party is to find Congress members who hold to principles including our party platform and most importantly our Constitution. Voting for Kirk who proved his stripes last year by voting for Cap n Tax might be a short victory for the GOP but in the long term will do greater damage to our party. Don't forget the "Obama Obsession" my fellow Republicans: how quickly that sweet taste of victory turned sour for the Democrats who elected a candidate doing irreparable damage to his own party.

Were it to come down to this, Nacilbupera would rather us lose a potential GOP majority but stay true to principles so that after Illinois saw the permeating corruption continue under Giannoulias, the Land of Lincoln too might unshackle themselves like Massachusetts and throw off the chains of corruption in 2016.

As more primaries come onto view in the coming weeks and months: let Illinois be a signal to GOP that Nacilbupera has revolted and will not support candidates like Kirk even if it means costing the GOP seats and offices. We stand unabashedly for principles over partisanship.

Finally to be clear: we will apply this same standard to our own Bailout Bob Bennett. Should by some unfortunate, remote chance Bailout Bennett become the GOP nominee we have full plans to revolt as well and seek another. Fortunately, with a plethora of good candidates to choose from (and an exceptional one in Cherilyn Eagar) Nacilbupera shouldn't have to do so and will be able to vote for the Republican nominee for Utah Senate in November 2010.

+++ Update 3/27:
In lieu of Medi-geddon we have reversed our opinion about not supporting Kirk. We also note that Bailout Bennett signed the same repeal pledge although we are hoping to defeat him in Utah's May 8th convention.

Momentum Shifts to Lowery in Illinois Senate Race

With Illinois' US Senate primaries less than a fortnight away, the quest to replace Burris (appointed by Blago) has suddenly changed. Like the Scott Brown come-from-behind last minute quest and the Hoffman NY-23 Scozzafava scandal endorsing the Democrat the weekend before the election, this one too has a last minute appeal to conservatives.

NO! to "Evil Eight" Kirk
Like a Scozzafava pick, the establishment GOP has thrown its weight behind a liberal Republican, Mark Kirk. It was only a few months ago that cap-n-tax or Waxman-Markey was the big debate prior to the emergence of healthcare. 8 Republicans joined in the Democrats and voted FOR this bill; had they not, it would have been defeated. Mark Kirk was among the "evil eight" who voted to raise our taxes in support of the manmade global warming scheme. Nacilbupera feels this alone should start the questioning of why we would want Kirk in either branch of government, let alone support his quest to change from being a Representative with 2yr accountability to Senate with 6. But in addition to cap-n-tax, Kirk also voted for TARP, and was among 9 GOPers to vote against Pence's amendment to prohibit Title X funds going to Planned Parenthood (ie as PP pays for abortions, therefore prohibit taxpayers funding abortions through PP).

Let the GOP establishment be forewarned: On Feb 2nd, should Kirk manage a GOP nomination, Nacilbupera will just as we did with Hoffman in NY-23 revolt from our party stance in opposing Kirk's election and seek another to endorse in this Senate seat.

The Rise of Conservatism in Illinois
There are some great GOP candidates in this race besides Kirk. The two leaders are businessman Patrick Hughes and Judge Don Lowery (pictured, right). While we would like to say that both would receive more votes than Kirk, it does not seem likely; therefore, the need has arisen to support the best candidate who will not fall on his own sword like John Edwards did to the Democratic Party. Wisdom was going for Hughes who received an endorsement from radio talk show host Mark Levin, but it appears the momentum has changed.

Hughes talks the talk, but has no clear track record. Lowery has been a judge for a quarter century and got involved in politics when he couldn't sit in retirement and let the country go to pieces. Most importantly has been the switched endorsement by the Illinois Conservative Action Network (I-CAN) from Hughes to Lowery. The Independence Caucus which thoroughly vets candidates through a questionnaire process reported that Hughes refused to participate but Lowery did and was vetted and subsequently endorsed as well. The video below gives a great flavor for the humble leader Judge Lowery is.



To Rally or to Risk...
With the momentum quickly and clearly shifting to Lowery, the difficult question before those voting in the Feb 2nd Illinois primary must ask: do I rally behind Lowery in defeating Kirk or remain committed to a different conservative and risk Kirk taking the GOP nomination and further risk losing the seat to a Democrat by further alienating Conservatives. Surely, this is a difficult question which should be part of study and prayer. Nacilbupera will be praying for Judge Don Lowery.