Sunday, May 30, 2010

You are not forgotten

"You are not forgotten". These words scroll across the bottom of the POW-MIA flag as a reminder of those who never made it home.  Tomorrow, Memorial Day, we honor all those who served this country in military service.

As you are attending your various events with family and friends, stop and think about who it was that preserved your right to do just that.  To be with your family, your friends, to enjoy your private property.  Remember who it was that died so you can do all those things while speaking English.

We live in a day and time where there are some who would assume you forget why it is we celebrate Memorial Day.  There are those who would have you believe we celebrate it just as another excuse to take a day off work and have a BBQ.  But it means so much more.  It is the day we honor those who have sacrificed it all so you and I don't have to.  It is the day we give thanks and show our respect to those who we owe so much to, but could never re-pay.  I would hope that tomorrow, and any other day of the year, when you come across someone who has served in the United States Military, you would thank them.

Many members of my family have served in the Military.  I would like to thank them.

Jerry Bradbury (Grandpa)
Mike Palmer (Uncle)
Scott Palmer (Cousin)
Cade Palmer (Cousin)
Joe Palmer (Dad)
Chuck Palmer (Grandpa)

Back in my high school days, I wrote a brief, one-page history of my relationship with one of these brave men.  I dedicated my then oddly popular website, TyPalmer.com, to him.  A flood of memories come to me as I read what I wrote about him on the dedication page nearly five years ago.

These are just the few members of my family that have served our country in military duty.  I honor and thank your family members just as much.  It is incumbent upon us all to honor and thank all those who have undertaken the sacred duty.

Thank You,

Ty Palmer

Thursday, May 27, 2010

What happened in the election and what does it mean?

For those of you who love and honor the freedoms that millions have died for and the right to vote and took advantage of that by voicing your opinion at the polls, thank you.  To the 79% of you who didn't, shame on you!

Now, on to the info.  This primary election season has brought on a lot of controversy, and brought out a lot of skeletons.  We know more about the candidates of this election than most people care to know about their own family members.  But the people have spoke, decisions have been made, and it's time to come back together as a party and get behind the nominees to ensure they are elected on November 2 to their respective offices.

Congress (Idaho CD 1)

Undoubtedly the most hotly contested and widely published race was between State Rep. Raul Labrador and Vaughn Ward for Idaho's First Congressional District seat.  The winner will face current Congressman Walt Minnick on November 2.

A quick history:

Vaughn Ward jumped into the race 15 months ago.  He had done a great job of raising money and obtaining the support of nationwide political leaders.  He was born and raised in Idaho, but left Idaho to serve in the Marines and CIA, as well as run Nevada's effort in the failed Presidential campaign of John McCain.  After Obama was elected, Vaughn returned to Idaho to run for Congress.

Raul Labrador was supporting a different candidate, Ken Roberts, the current Majority Caucus Chairman in the Idaho Legislature.  Ken experienced some health issues and backed out of the race in December of 2009.  Not more than 90 minutes past the press release of Ken's withdrawal came another announcement of candidacy, Raul Labrador.  Raul had spent the last three years in the Idaho Legislature representing Idaho's 14th Legislative District (northwest boise, eagle, star, north meridian).

Raul jumped into the race with a very late start and no money.  He found trouble raising money due to the little confidence in him being able to pull off a win with his opponent having a 9 month head start and over $100,000 ahead of him.  Raul largely funded his campaign with his own money, paying himself back as he raised funds.

During the last 6 months, a lot of information has come out about each candidate, but none more than in the last 2 weeks of the race.  Vaughn experienced set back after set back as details about his life and bad campaign decisions surfaced.

A brief list includes his wife's full time work for a bail out receiving Fannie Mae, plagiarism on his website, new plagiarism on his website, failing to pay property taxes, majority of his campaign contributions coming from DC and New York, his failure to even vote in the 2008 election despite being a campaign leader for a presidential campaign, and the final nail in the coffin, this video of Vaughn Ward and Barack Obama giving almost identical portions of the same speech.



At the time of this posting, the two versions (one short one long) of this video have received a combined 100,000+ views in the three days it has been online.  It has been seen on The Politico, The Hill, Vanity Fair, MSNBC, UK Press, Idaho Statesman, KTVB, Spokesman Review, and the list goes on.  The video even made an election night appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

Though polls still showed Ward with a small lead, Raul Labrador won the night by 9% with nearly 10,000 votes more than his opponent.  As I sat in the ballroom of the Doubletree Hotel in Boise after all the results were final.  I sat in a small circle with a few close campaign volunteers and Raul himself at 2am, we sat in awe of what had just happened.  Despite being outspent 6 to 1, despite having many paid campaign staff and Raul having just volunteers, the people still came out to renew our faith in the process.  They showed that money can't buy government officials in Idaho.  Not even Sarah Palin can persuade the conservative masses in Idaho to vote for the wrong candidate.

Idaho Legislature


There was almost as much excitement in the Legislative races around the state.

Idaho House:

A couple change ups happened in the House.  In District 21 (southwest Boise, south Meridian, Kuna), John Vander Woude beat out 1st term Rep. Richard Jarvis.  Two years ago, Richard beat Vander Woude by 65 votes, but John took back his seat.  Richard was involved in the Steven Ricks mess and was likely the cause of his demise.

District 13 (Nampa), unfortunately, Christie Perry took out 1.5 term Steve Kren.  Steve was a great proven conservative.  There were some lies put out by the Perry campaign which, in my opinion, will come back to bite her at the polls in two years.

There was a scary hour as various news sources reported that 100% of District 20's precincts had reported in and current Rep. Joe Palmer and his more moderate challenger Shaun Wardle were in a dead tie each with 627 votes.  This went on for a solid hour before all of a sudden, Ada County's election website showed a huge jump in numbers as Joe Palmer won re-election with 2,400 votes while his opponent received 2,000.

Idaho Senate:

There were four incumbent senators who lost their seats to more conservative prospects.  My two favorites are Sen. Jorgenson and Sen. Schroeder, both self avowed moderate republicans.  Hopefully with these four gone, we will be able to see the continued rise in leadership of the Idaho Senates most conservative member, Russ Fulcher of District 21.

Ada County Commission


It was bittersweet, mostly bitter, as Vern Bisterfeldt won the race between himself and Fred Tillman.  Vern and his "buddy" Roger Simmons have a rocky history with the Republican Party. Vern himself is the treasurer for Senate Candidate Branden Durst.  Roger Simmons, luckily, lost to current Commissioner Rick Yzzaguire. Early in the campaign, the Ada County Republican Party voted to endorse Rick Yzzaguire and Fred Tillman in the hopes that the true Republicans would win re-election.  Fortunately, with only Bisterfeldt winning his race, he won't be able to accomplish much being only 1 out of 3 votes on the commission.  Both Yzzaguire and Ullman will be able to outvote his ridiculous plans for the county.

Final thoughts


Other than those races, pretty much everything else went according to what was expected.  All in all, the candidates elected show Idaho is tired of the liberal agenda being pushed on us. We elected those who will voice our ideas and know who they work for.

With the Idaho Legislature moving yet further to the right, I believe we will be able to continue to hold the line on taxes, curb spending, and promote the furthering of conservative ideals we believe in.

As the campaigns wind up for the general election, look to this blog for my endorsements, which may not always be the Republican candidate.  Remember, I'm always fair and bias...

...But thats just me.

Sunday, May 23, 2010

The Cause of Freedom...

This Tuesday we all have the opportunity to stand for something, stand for a cause our forefathers believed in, stand for a cause countless soldiers have laid down their lives for, stand for a cause God himself has provided us with in this great country, the cause of freedom. Though we support different candidates, that cause should unite us as we participate in an event not granted to all the people of the world, but held sacred by those who are true to the cause of freedom. Please join me at the polls and cast your vote for those you believe will hold to the principles you believe in. It's your duty as an American.


I believe it was William E. Simon who once said Bad politicians are sent to Washington by good people who don't vote.”  You may think your vote doesn't affect much. Tell that to the Floridians who's votes were counted again and again deciding the 2000 Presidential Election.  Tell that to the congressional candidate in California that won by 8 votes. Tell that to my father who won his last election by 45 votes.


Silence is acceptance, if you don't vote on Tuesday, you better not open your mouth and complain for one second about anything. Don't you dare complain about taxes, don't complain about fuel prices, about the economy, about traffic, laws, environment, health care, roads, crime, education, etc. Everything in your life is affected by those who are elected to lead our cities, our states, our nation, and if you don't voice your opinion in the election booth, don't voice it any other time.


It is your duty as an American to vote... but that's just me.


Ty Palmer