Monthly Archives: November 2010

A Few Odd Things in The “DREAM” Act

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I’m still shaking my head wondering what Obama and Reid were thinking when they asked Congress to move forward and pass the DREAM Act during the current Lame Duck Session.  Maybe I’m wrong in thinking that American citizens, who voted on November 2nd, did not want Amnesty.

Here are some excerpts from the Act, commentary included. I’ve pulled this information from the Dream Act of 2010 text located online at the Library of Congress. I’m sure you’ll get my point or points.

Current Requirements –

  • Alien has been in the U.S. for no less than 5 years, but alien is undocumented and has no proof. Yes, illegal immigrants are referred to as “aliens” :-) .
  • Alien came with parents or others illegally prior to being the age of 16, but again, alien is undocumented and has no proof.
  • Alien has been a person of “good moral character” – according to individuals like Harry Reid, Charlie Rangel, Maxine Waters and who?
  • Alien is younger than 35 years of age on the date of the enactment of this DREAM Act. Thought this was for children?

Benefits -

  • Obtain an education in the US and we’ll grant you citizenship? Huh, do we have issues recruiting individuals to go to college? Is there a shortage of American Citizens who want to receive an education? Spaces in public colleges are often insufficient for qualified citizens, so we want you to join in the insufficiency. Oh yea, and yes, you are eligible for Higher Education Assistance.
  • Serve in the United States military for 2 years and we’ll give you citizenship. You came her illegally, but if you serve the Country that you’ve already broken the law in, then you can be a citizen. Huh, how do we allow non-citizens to serve and defend a country they hold no loyalty to?
    Hello Mr. Taliban, you too can serve in the U.S. Military with the Dream Act.

Wait there is more…
If you provide false statements on your application, no worries! You’ll receive a fine or imprisoned for no more than 5 years or both – NOT DEPORTATION.

“If the Secretary Likes You!” we have a… “Hardship Exception”
The Secretary of Home Land Security may remove or extend the “conditional resident” status at discretion. Which means, amnesty with no requirements- congratulations, you are now a permanent resident.

Oh yea, one more little benefit, here is your free pass to go to the front of the line, in front of all those who came to our Country legally and have been waiting.

Why not just call this the “Amnesty for under 35 Act”? Supporters don’t want to grant old people amnesty, which would be creating additional financial hardship on our already financially strapped nation! I’m thinking supporters also think that people over 35 don’t vote and “the younger generation” is easily purchased.

Call Your Representative Today! Let them know, you don’t support Amnesty for those under 35 aka The Dream Act.

I can’t wait until 2012.

Steps to Serving in the GA GOP

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2012 is just around the corner and will get here before we know it – we must be prepared.

Last week I announced that I am running for the First Vice Chairwoman of the Georgia Republican Party. Here’s how you can help!

The Georgia Republican Party elects State Party Officers at the State Convention being held on May 13-14, 2011. In order to vote at the State Convention, you must become a delegate and attend. Here’s how to become a delegate:

Step 1 – Precinct Caucus/Mass Meetings on Saturday, February 12, 2011
- Meetings are held in locations designated by the County Party and published by the Party in the newspaper.
- Delegates and Alternatives are elected to attend the County Convention

Step 2 – County Convention on Saturday, March 12, 2011
- Elect County Chairman, other officers, and County Committee members.
- Delegates and Alternatives are elected to attend District and State Conventions.

Step 3 – District Convention on Saturday, April 16, 2011
- Elect District Chairman and other District officers.
- Elect District members to serve on State Committee

Step 4 – State Convention on Friday and Saturday, May 13-14, 2011
-Elect State Chairman and Other State Party Officers!

Please mark your calendars, contact your County Chairman for locations and become a Delegate!!!

Here is the PDF Document “Steps to Serving in the Georgia Republican Party – 2011” – it shows the steps to become a Delegate. Please print and share!

Happy Thanksgiving!

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Happy Thanksgiving!

Tomorrow is a day of gratitude for the blessings in our lives. It is a day we gather with family and friends to celebrate, eat, watch football, play games and enjoy the company of others. This year, more than any other, I’m thankful for the support of family, friends – old and new, leaders who inspire and individuals who aspire to do more to help others in need.

Even with all the economic uncertainty, we live in an amazing country. A country founded on the beliefs that all men are created equal, that all men are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Those fundamentals are in place today and continue to be so, because of brave men and women who serve and have served to protect our nation and because of the spirit of the American people. Give thanks to our troops and your fellow Americans.

I encourage you tomorrow to celebrate family and friends, old and new.

Happy Thanksgiving!
God Bless.

Liz Carter

Liz Carter Announces Bid for GA GOP 1st Vice Chairwoman

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Carter shares campaign and business experience

(ATLANTA)— Today, Liz Carter, a former Republican Nominee for the 4th Congressional District announced she is staying involved and running for the First Vice Chairwoman of the Georgia Republican Party.

“The experience and ‘behind the scenes’ knowledge I have gained over the past year can only help the efforts of others who have the desire to run for office. I want to share and help provide the necessary resources for fellow Republicans to be successful in 2012 and beyond,” Carter stated.

November 2, 2010 was a tremendous success for Georgia and the GOP. Success was propelled by the incredible efforts of the Tea Party, the National GOP and the State Republican Parties. The knowledge and momentum we gained and deployed to take back the House of Representatives must be magnified to beat the campaign machine we will see in 2012. Georgians will have to defend our recent wins and help others across this Country.

We have taken the first step in ending the fiscal irresponsibility and liberal agenda of President Obama, Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi. The actions we are seeing, from the Democrat Party, during this “Lame Duck” session are just a preview of what our Country will experience if we are not successful in 2012.

Carter would like to see the position of the First Vice Chair utilized to enhance and build stronger partnerships with the County Republican Parties, Young Republicans, College Republican chapters, Women organizations, Conservative Coalitions, Tea Party Organizations and the National GOP. Strong partnerships will enhance our grassroots and build a stronger State party.

“I look forward to working with our Georgia Chair to continue to build on our grassroots efforts, enhance our technology, and empower our candidates,” Carter expressed. “I’m excited to help fiscally responsible leaders, who will uphold the Constitution and represent the Republican Party, and our conservative values and principles.”

To learn more about Liz Carter please visit the following sites –
Business Profile http://www.linkedin.com/in/lisbethcarter
Company http://www.lisbethcarter.com
Political Writings  http://lisbethcarter.wordpress.com/
Facebook  http://www.facebook.com/lizziecarter
Twitter https://twitter.com/lisbethcarter

Lame Duck Plungers

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When an outgoing Congress attempts to shove as much bad legislation down the throat of the Country… they are not acting like lame ducks, they are plunging.

A lame duck is when achievement is impeded and the duck is weak. Typically a lame duck does not fly and move forward easily. The outgoing members of Congress need to understand they’ve been voted “Lame” and should take it easy. Attempting to shove every piece of bad legislation, call special “Saturday” sessions and ignore the American voters is simply wrong.

The American people rejected the policies of Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid and President Obama. If the Democrat party does not understand this, they are blind, deaf and stupid.

What does Harry Reid not understand about “NO AMNESTY”? His use of unions to be re-elected in Nevada was not a “pass” to move forward with the “Dream Act”. Mr. Reid, we asked Congress to secure our borders and fix the immigration issues – not grant amnesty.  On this matter, every Representative and Senator who votes “Yea” on this act, better be ready to go home in 2012.

Did President Obama not hear loud and clear that the majority want the Bush Tax cuts extended for everyone? We want a more efficient government, not increased taxes. We want small business owners to invest in their companies and hire more people, not pay more taxes.

How does Nancy Pelosi not understand her “Pass it, then we’ll know what is in it” and catering to “special interest” leadership is what we rejected? She still refuses to take responsibility and stated, “The reason they had to try to take me down is because I’ve been effective in fighting the special interests in Washington, D.C.”  Nancy Pelosi, we want a full repeal because we know what’s in Obamacare.

HELLO –  I’d like this session to become “LAME”, so I can have a peaceful Thanksgiving and Christmas season. I just got done fighting for a year, with the majority of my fellow proud American Citizens, to help the future of our Country from being “FLUSHED” down the toilet.

Go home or have a “LAME” session – if you don’t plan on a plunger visiting you soon.

Ouch, don’t mark my ear!

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Earmarks need to go, here are two examples to show why.

Earmarks are provisions that provide funds to specific named projects or recipients without any public hearing or review. Earmarks are hidden in legislation that typically has nothing to do with the piece of legislation, causing issues with transparency and accountability.

Example –
To pass Obamacare, Rep Stupak and 10 of his closest friends were able to add $3.4 Billion in earmarks, after all 11 had previously stated they would vote no. The requests by the 11 equal as follows:

• Rep. Costello of Illinois.: $1,418.7 million ($256.4 million in 2010)
• Rep. Ortiz of Texas: $618 million ($726.1 million in 2010)
• Rep. Stupak of Michigan: $578.9 million
• Rep. Driehaus of Ohio: $332.2 million
• Rep. Kaptur of Ohio: $294 million ($305.7 million in 2010)
• Rep. Dahlkemper of Pennsylvania: $236.8 million ($54 million in 2010)
• Rep. Oberstar of Minnesota.: $207 million ($226 million in 2010)
• Rep. Ellsworth of Indiana.: $115.4 million ($82.3 million in 2010)
• Rep. Wilson of Ohio: $84 million ($62.3 million in 2010)
• Rep. Kanjorski of Pennsylvania.: $67.1 million
• Rep. Donnelly of Indiana: $19.8 million ($11.65 million in 2010)

In the above example, I believe the earmarks were more like “Pay for my vote”!

Earmarks are also great ways for Representatives to gain support during elections and appear as though they’ve been bringing home the “pork” at the expense of Americans across the country.  God forbid our Representatives do their job and create legislation that encompasses spending on similar projects across the country, allowing for planning, transparency and accountability.

Example –
Rep Hank Johnson requested and awarded the Gwinnett Village Community Improvement District over $1 million to heighten economic development, relieve traffic congestion and revitalize the Jimmy Carter Boulevard area.

Oh yea, earmarks are also used as “tools” to help steer support during an election. Prime example and direct quote from the Gwinnett Village CID after I commented on Hanks lack of support for all the CIDs over the past two years –

“I spent a considerable amount of time on the phone yesterday with Congressman Johnson’s office who was very upset with the quote in the GDP made by Liz Carter concerning CIDs in Gwinnett.…Although this was cleaned up after numerous phone calls yesterday and has actually turned into a positive for us, … As you may or may not be aware, we have spent a lot of time fostering a relationship with the sitting Congressman (including expending funds for a lobbyist in DC) ….  We even have several pending earmarks that this comment almost jeopardized.”

Yes, I’ll be accused of the “sour grape” attitude with the above example, but I’m a firm believer in transparency and accountability. Why is a community improvement district that is collecting a voluntary tax from business owners to “improve their business district” receiving monies in “earmarks” instead of legislation specific to infrastructure and revitalization that encompasses all similar types of spending and can be reviewed by the public and accounted for by the public.  We all know Georgia is behind in transportation, but we will continue to be if we have fragmented efforts. Shouldn’t a CID be working through the State for transportation issues?  Need more sarcasm…  I love that Georgia received over $14 million to conduct yet another study for high speed rail between Atlanta and Chattanooga.

So, if you like your tax dollars being spent on special pet projects that make your Representative “look good” in his district, instead of doing their job and being accountable for every tax dollar spent… well, I guess you don’t mind earmarks.  For me, I believe ever dollar should be accounted for and spent in a transparent way. I believe our Representatives need to create legislation that clearly articulates purpose and cost. In business, we plan and account for every penny – it’s time the Federal Government does the same thing.

End the earmark abuse and we are one step closer to transparency and accountability.  Put the ban on, change the process and realize “because it is, doesn’t mean it has to be”.

A message to the GOP Leadership- 2012 is two short years away, do what is right, not necessarily easy. The earmark moratorium should be a top priority.

Rhetoric and Stereotyping

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When leaders of an organization advance an agenda of division, instead of unification, it actually holds the people they are advocating for back. Self-segregation is as damaging as the segregation that took place in the past.

If the NAACP doesn’t stop stereotyping and claiming “racism” simply because someone doesn’t agree 100% with their personal agenda it is going to create more division in our community. The latest “New Tea Party Report” published by the NAACP is a huge disappointment.

When we celebrate diversity and our differences, we win. When you play the “victim”, you get stuck in that role.  I choose years ago to be the victor and take responsibility for my own life. I refuse to be beholden or allow a group of individuals to define who I can and cannot be.  Simply because you look one way or are raised another, does not mean you are placed within the confines of a box. I reject the notion that we have to be segmented and divided, instead of united.

Organizations that promote special treatment and work to tear down others create a further divide within our communities. Those advocating for special treatment end up behind the curve more often than not.  Look around and open your eyes.

Individuals must take responsibility for their own actions and lives, until they do they remain victims of their own rhetoric.

Step up, take responsibility, be a leader and be victorious.  If you want to advance one group or another, do so by working with, not against, others. Leave the past and move forward.

Not So Fast….

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Republicans winning the majority of the house is not victory. I continue to be amazed that our focus is on political party, instead of results.  Both parties have fundamental issues that must be addressed to move our Country forward. The American people have provided the ultimate test and did not shift the power in both the Senate and the House.

Over the next month key decisions on leadership committee members will be made, alliances will be formed. There are two very clear paths I see being developed. The first is the “status quo” establishment building of operational focus only. The second is moving out of the establishment and engaging with the American people with the combination of marketing and operations.

Let me remind, marketing is the art of communicating, gathering and moving the masses. When you combine operations with effective marketing you are recognized as taking action.

Republicans have an opportunity to prove they can engage and move forward, who ends up on committees will be the first test. If leadership continues to take the form of the “operational good old boys” club we lose.

Keep a keen eye on what alliances are formed. The first step has been taken, now it’s time to see results.  I’ve been behind the scenes and am watching closely.

After committees I’ll be watching the agenda and the delivery of legislation. I’m hopeful that the House will not “combine” issues within legislation to cover up the good, bad and ugly – honesty and transparency is the key.