| Message from the Chairman:
What a Difference Two Years Make
After the November 2008 elections, with a new President and strong majorities in the House and Senate, the Democrats appeared that they might have the opportunity to transform American politics and government.
Roughly every 25-30 years American politics seems to change in a new direction. If the election of Ronald Reagan in 1980 marked one era, perhaps it was time for another. As much as we Republicans were wary to admit it, maybe the times were changing in a way that we were not prepared for.
Now we know better. The Democrats squandered their chance to govern by pursing a narrow ideological agenda, with dismal results. If you put your hands to the ground, you can feel the once faint vibrations growing louder and louder with the signs of pending upheaval. There will be a political earthquake this year, the kind that comes very infrequently. And it is a change that favors Republicans.
We now know that not only did the Democrat Party's stimulus package not work, it may have made economic conditions worse. The Obama Administration shows little appreciation that the private economy is the primary motor that can drive recovery. No other recent Administration, Republican or Democratic, has had so many officials without any practical business experience. Voters continue to reject the Obama healthcare plan and want it repealed.
Here in Maryland, the Democrats seem determined to chase job creators to other states. A recent study from the University of Baltimore's Jacob France Institute concluded that employers who describe Maryland as "pro business" has declined 58% since the 2nd quarter of 2006. In October 2006 - the last publicly available survey - the Institute reported that 74% of Maryland businesses considered the state business-friendly or pro-business. The Institute reported last month that only 31% of employers rated Maryland as being pro-business or business friendly.
Earlier this year Northrop Grumman announced that it would move their corporate headquarters from Los Angeles to the Washington metropolitan area. Because aerospace giant Lockheed Martin is already headquartered in Bethesda, our state might have had a strong claim at snagging the corporate giant. Instead Northrop Grumman chose Virginia.
In Maryland we have first hand experience that when you tax an activity more, you get less of it. The number of Marylanders with more than $1 million in taxable income fell from 7,000 to 4,900 during tax year 2008 - a 30% drop. Out of the people who filed as millionaires in 2007, 542 of them did not submit a full-year return in Maryland in 2008 - a drop of 8%. In short, fewer millionaires have meant less tax revenues.
Nationally the markets already seem to be anticipating the likely impact in four months when the Bush tax cuts expire. When these cuts were first passed during the last recession, the unemployment rate began to decline within months. So what should we expect in January?
Despite higher taxes, local Democratic have failed at providing services. In Montgomery County, for two year in a row, the county has failed to meet the "maintenance of effort" standard for school funding required by state law. Think of it, Montgomery County is one of only two counties in the state failing to maintain the minimum level of education funding. At the same time the number of our schools with declining test results has increased.
Our county also fails at providing public safety. Gang member committing murders has increased dramatically. Yet County officials prevent individual police officers from directly contacting Federal authorities when arresting someone in order to check immigration status.
Just as the 2008 elections presented our party with a challenge, the 2010 election present us with an opportunity.
As a party we need to be faithful advocates of our Republican values and ideas, including a commitment to individual responsibility, free markets, limited government and the defense of our liberties. Given the challenges our communities and country currently face, these core principles are essential to getting our county, state and country back moving in the right direction. As a party we are confident that we can do much better. And when we do that, perhaps a new political era really will begin.
Mark Uncapher
Montgomery County Republican Chairman | Know your Republican Candidates Featuring Candidates from District 39:  A little more than a decade ago, District 39 had Republican representation with 3 delegates and a State Senator. The ensuing years with one-party Democrat rule in the District, as in other parts of Montgomery County, has seen a widening gulf between the electorate and its legislative representative where the will of the people has been subverted by escalating taxes, burdensome problems of transportation, deteriorating infrastructure and less taxpayer monies being returned to the County where it belongs. District 39 needs a change and we believe the Republican Party has the candidates who will truly represent its constituents in Annapolis.
Jim Pettit - Candidate for State Delegate  Jim Pettit, candidate for House of Delegates in the 39th Legislative District believes he has the background and the resolve to tackle the myriad problems plaguing the State. As a former member of Bob Ehrlich's administration: in the MD Department of the Environment and as a member of the core group directing the Governor's newly-established state Department of Homeland Security, Jim Pettit knows how State government works. In Jim Pettit's opinion, the most pressing problem facing the State is the anti-business climate in District 39 and the Legislature which has driven businesses out of Maryland and to surrounding states in the process losing thousands of jobs. "Creating jobs is the biggest dilemma" says Jim Pettit, adding that "watching public officials do photo ops every four years wearing tool belts and construction hats is absurd while Maryland bleeds jobs to other states." How can this alarming job exodus be reversed? Jim points to the fact that MD's corporate income tax is 25% compared to the 6% in VA, a state which announced a budget surplus this year. The first thing he would do in the legislature is to examine the anti-business laws on the books in the state and work to repeal or revise them. In Jim's opinion, it is the one-party death grip we have in Maryland that guarantees lost jobs.
In Jim Pettit's opinion, the General Assembly needs to use its power of oversight to review EVERY penny of state spending instead of delegating this authority to the Board of Public Works. "Under the State Constitution," Jim Pettit explains, "the Legialature can reduce the Governor's budget but they don't preferring to introduce 1000's of meaningless bills while Maryland's budget deficit is papered over with transfers and fund raids." http://www.pettit4delegate.com/ Al Phillips - Candidate for State Delegate Al Phillips, a Gaithersburg resident, filed for the House of Delegates because he believes that his District 39 and the State need better representation in Annapolis. Al says he is a "common-sense" candidate who will try to advance legislation to end the spiral of taxation and over-regulation which is ruining the State's economy. Together with other Marylanders, Al is not pleased about the flight of over-taxed and over-regulated businesses from the State and the high unemployment which has resulted. He also shares the frustrations of people in his community with career politicians in Annapolis who advance their own special interests rather than pay attention to the concerns of their constituents. He's amazed that even in this deep recession, the professional politicians keep raising taxes with no regard for the burden these taxes are placing upon the people they are supposed to represent. "If elected,", says Al, "I plan to be a citizen legislator, to do the best for the people I represent and try to restore common sense solutions back to the legislature." For more information, check: http://www.alphillipsfordelegate39md.com/
Bill Witham - Candidate for State Delegate As President of the Quince Orchard Knolls Citizens Association from 2000 to 2007, as well as a member of the North Potomac Citizens Associations (2000 to 2005), House of Delegates candidate Bill Witham is in tune with the problems and concerns of District 39 constituents at the grassroots level. Using this experience at the local level, Bill believes that he can formulate the solutions to resolve problems such as transportation where he believes that sound planning and bringing tax dollars back to the County are key. As Bill says: "Right now, we tax and spend before we think." As an activist for Special Education and Quality Schools, Bill Witham is well aware of the problems in the schools in his District and the County. He believes that teachers' salaries and benefits must keep pace with the nation, seeks to end portable classrooms and wants to assure that special needs children and children that need remedial help are not shunted to the sidelines. Most of all, Bill Witham believes he will be a true voice of the people in District 39 who will change the current business-as-usual atmosphere where the legislators in Annapolis rubber-stamp policies and legislation according to the wishes of the dominant Party and not the wishes of the people they represent. http://www.billwitham.com/
Robert Smith - Candidate for State Senate Robert is a lifelong resident of the state of Maryland, and a 25 year resident of his current neighborhood - the Flower Hill community in Gaithersburg.  Educated and employed as an architect, Robert also has impressive, well-rounded experience in local politics and community organizations. Over the years, he has served his community by filling various volunteer roles in business, religious, artistic and athletic organizations. His most visible role was as Board Member and Chairman of the Metro/WMATA for 3 years. This particular experience gave him unique insight into the transportation needs of state and county citizens. During his tenure on the board, he brought greater efficiency to the bus system by eliminating poorly used routes, worked to make Maryland the first signatory to the historic Metro Matters funding agreement to stabilize infrastructure, and put together the coalition that brought hybrid electric bus technology to Washington. In the past few years, the transportation fund for Maryland has been looted to prop up the teetering budget - Robert believes that this fund must be rejuvenated. He also believes that Marylanders deserve a fiscally responsible, stable, transparent budget plan, and that the ability of taxpayers to fund government is not infinite. He believes that job growth in Montgomery County can be fueled by changing the corporate tax structure to make the County a more business-friendly place. For more information about Robert and his views on the issues, visit his website at: | | Pick up and display yard signs for your favorite Republican candidates!
Visit your favorite candidates' websites for information about where and how to obtain yard signs. | | Information about early voting
F or the first time, the State of Maryland is implementing Early Voting for the Gubernatorial Primary Election. Montgomery County will open 5 Early Voting Centers from September 3 - 9, excluding Sunday, from 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. Voters are able to vote on the same voting equipment used on Election Day, but at a time that is more convenient. Early Voting Centers are located at: -
Bauer Drive Community Recreation Center, 14625 Bauer Drive, Rockville 20853 -
Germantown Recreation Center, 18905 Kingsview Road, Germantown 20874 -
Marilyn J. Praisner Community Recreation Center, 14906 Old Columbia Pike, Burtonsville 20866 -
Montgomery County Executive Office Building, 101 Monroe Street, Rockville 20850 -
Silver Spring Civic Building, 8525 Fenton Street, Silver Spring 20910 | Ellen Sauerbrey's Comments on the U.N. Human Rights Commission The Obama Administration's comfort in the presence of international dictators and thug regimes is well known by now. Most recently, his administration has sought Obama warmly greets Venezuelan President Chavez in April '09  | the company and approval of the United Nations Human Rights Council. Investor's Business Daily reports that Hillary Clinton recently held up Arizona as a human rights violator before the U.N. Human Rights Council. Arizona Governor Jan Brewer, to her credit, wrote a letter expressing "concern and indignation" to Clinton on Aug. 27, demanding that the reference to Arizona be removed. Ellen Sauerbrey, a 2001 delegate had this to say about the U.N. Human Rights Commission, and its recent replacement, the Human Rights Council: "In 2001, I was a delegate to the United Nations Human Rights Commission, the predecessor of the current Human Rights Council. I quickly found that the Commission was under the thumb of the despots, dictators and tyrants of the world. The likes of Syria, Cuba and China sought membership on the commission to protect their own human rights violations from the spotlight of world opinion. Gross violators of human rights like Sudan and Zimbabwe were able to block action on their own abuses. "You vote to protect me and I'll vote to protect you" was how it worked. Under the Bush Administration, the U.S. boycotted this sham organization. It was ultimately dissolved and reconstituted as the Human Rights Council but the same problems quickly reappeared. Unfortunately President Obama was happy to rejoin with current Council members like Saudi Arabia, China, Cuba, Russia, and Kyrgyzstan. Thirty three members of Congress wrote the President pointing out that "The decision of your administration to join the Human Rights Council in March 2009 marks a backwards step in recognizing the human rights of individuals across the globe." The Council spends much of its time condemning Israel, ignores egregious human rights records of many of its own members, and honored Cuba with the position of Vice Chairman. Our membership on the Council lends credibility to an organization that is worse than worthless. Now in an outrageous affront to the citizens of Arizona and in a dastardly act of self flagellation Barack Obama and the U.S. State Department are once again apologizing for the United States and have taken their feud with Arizona to the U.N as an example of American violation of human rights. This is truly disgusting." For detailed description and analysis of this issue, please consult the original articles on which these comments were based: | | Hiding the Truth
By Marta Hummell Mossburg Originally Published in the Frederick News-Post The narrative coming from Annapolis reads like a weather report from early June: Sunny with months of balmy breezes ahead.
Whenever given the opportunity, Gov. Martin O'Malley talks about how much better off Maryland fares than the rest of the country. "Maryland's unemployment rate remains about 25 percent below the national average, and our private sector has now added jobs for five consecutive months," he said last month upon the release of the most recent employment numbers. (State unemployment is 7.1 percent compared with 9.5 percent nationally.)
He always adds that there is a long way to go, but the implication is that his leadership is behind the state's relative success, not the federal government making up nearly one-third of the economy in the state. Why, then, did his administration recently remove an economic analysis of federal employment numbers from the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation website, hours after it was posted, showing Maryland's economic recovery stumbled in July? Administration officials deny any political motive for the removal, saying it was an "internal document" never meant to be posted.
First, everything the government does and writes is public. Only a few items can and should be shielded from the public eye, including, for obvious reasons, personnel information. So for administration officials to remove the document giving context to the state and national economic situation makes no sense. And it is reprehensible coming from a governor purportedly committed to transparency through regular data drops on StateStat (www.statestat.maryland.gov/), the website created to hold government accountable. Taking down the document also shows the administration's disregard for the truth. Maryland may be doing better than the rest of the country, but don't state residents deserve a fair approximation of the economy coming from someone other than a governor fighting a tough re-election battle?
Listening to the governor means missing lots of key economic information, not just the analysis of recent jobs numbers. For example, has anyone heard him talk about how bankruptcies surged 36 percent in the past year in Maryland, according to the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts? Nationally, they increased 20 percent.
And he has been silent on how the state will plug $1.5 billion-plus structural gaps in coming years. To be fair, neither has his opponent, Republican Robert Ehrlich.
According to a recent Government Accountability Office report (www.gao.gov/products/GAO-10-899) on state finances throughout the U.S., "closing the fiscal gap over the next 50 years would require action to be taken today and maintained for each and every year going forward equivalent to a 12.3 percent reduction in state and local government current expenditures. Closing the fiscal gap through revenue increases would require action of a similar magnitude ..."
In Maryland that analysis can mean only one thing: higher taxes, since the governor and legislators are incapable of reducing spending. The governor can spin the job numbers any way he likes. But he should not give residents a false impression of the state's financial outlook by denying them access to public documents. Not trusting the country's leaders is the reasons hundreds of thousands of Americans came to the National Mall last weekend to listen to commentator Glenn Beck. That turnout should serve as a warning to politicians who hide the truth.
Marta Mossburg is a senior fellow at the Maryland Public Policy Institute. Contact her at mmossburg@mdpolicy.org.
| | Come to one of the county's labor day parades on September 6th to show support for the MoCo GOP and the Republican Candidates
The 43rd Annual Kensington Labor Day Parade & Festival, -
September 6, 2010
The parade will feature exciting dance groups, equestrian show groups, circus groups, and of course local marching groups from area schools, churches, and other organizations. All this followed by an afternoon street festival along Antique Row with great musical entertainment, a wide variety of tasty foods, and lots of crafts.
The District 18 Republicans will be #51 in the Parade line up on Wheatley St in Kensington (which is one street below St. Paul going towards Georgia Avenue). (This between #50 IATSE 22 and #52 Son of Davis Messianic Congregation. Marchers should be there at 9:30 am. Step off time is 10:00 am
The 72nd Annual Gaithersburg Labor Day Parade - September 6, 2010
The Gaithersburg Labor Day Parade next Monday is a major Montgomery County public event. The Montgomery County Republican Party has two vehicles in the parade and Republican candidates are welcome to join us. ALL Republican candidates, and their supporters, are welcome to march with us again this year. Many campaign have also arranged for their own position in the parade. Central committee member Gus Alzona, 1-202-288-8011 (cell 24/7 no text) is again chairing this event for the party.
Our line-up position is #70.
· Please allow plenty of time to meet your group and take the bus to the 12:00 pm lineup at Girard Place.
· In order to reach your lineup location on time, be at the bus stop at Lakeforest Mall before 11:15am
· This is the last bus to the lineup area. (If this bus is full, you will have to drive to the lineup area.)
***
| | Join the effort to remove the Stalin Statue from the D-Day Memorial  The National D-Day memorial is located in Bedford, VA. The purpose of the memorial is to "honor the valor, fidelity, and sacrifice of Allied forces on D-Day," June 6, 1944. In the fall of 2009, local veterans became aware of plans to erect a bust of mass murderer Joseph Stalin as part of the memorial. Members of the Bedford American Legion Post 54 made the story known to the wider public and, on November 17, 2009, unanimously passed a resolution calling for the termination of plans to erect the bust. Despite protests, the bust was unveiled on June 1, 2010. The effort to remove the bust continues. If you agree that the bust of Stalin has no place at the D-Day memorial - please help the efforts to remove it by signing the petition. Signers of the petition acknowledge that, on the basis of overwhelming historical evidence, that neither Joseph Stalin nor Soviet forces played any part in the D-ay landings in Normandy. Further, the presence of the bust is an affront to all the victims or war and of communism, as well as an affront to the memory of those who serve to defend freedom. Sing the petition by clicking this link: http://stalinstatue.com/
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Learn about Republican Candidates in your District by clicking here:
This link will include links to the websites of various candidates.
In order to identify your specific district (whether for Congress, for legislature, for county council, for school board), simply check here:
Board of Elections | | Quote to remember: "Everywhere that freedom stirs, let tyrants fear." George W. Bush
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Upcoming Events
Please also check events listings at www.mcgop.net
and www.mdgop.org
MCYR Happy Hour
Sunday, September 5th
5:30 p.m.
Location varies Contact: Michael Gibble president@mcyr.org MCYR Happy Hour with
Brian Murphy for Governor Campaign
Tuesday, September 7 5:30 pm Location: Tommy Joe's in Bethesda Congressional District 4 Tuesday, September 7 7:00 pm Location: Earle Wood Middle School 14615 Bauer Dr., Rockville, MD Evening Reception in support of William H. Campbell
Republican Candidate for Comptroller
Weds, September 8
7:00 - 8:30
Special Guest: Anthony J. O'Donnell (House Minority Leader)
Location: Home of Katja Bullock
3333 University Blvd, Unit 1212
Kensington, MD 20895
RSVP to Pam Campbell
301-596-2041
whcampbell@verizon.net Montgomery County GOP Pre-Primary Rally for District 39
Friday, September 10
7:30 - 10:00 Flower Hill Community Center 8100 Mountain Laurel Lane Gaithersburg, MD 20879 Contact: Bob Smith smithcolen@aol.comPrecinct Bags Pick-up By Precinct Chairmen Sat, September 11 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm Ehrlich-Kane for MD, Montgomery County Headquarters 718 Rockville Pike (across from Marlo Furniture) - call 301-417-9256 Bob Ehrlich honors Emergency Service Workers
Sat, September 11 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm Live Music and hot dogs! Ehrlich-Kane for MD, Montgomery County Headquarters 718 Rockville Pike (across from Marlo Furniture) Rockville, MD 20895 RSVP: www.BobEhrlichMC.com Or call 240-565-5036 We the People United in Action - March on D.C.
September 11
(Events September 9 - 12) http://marchondc.org/912dc.org Champagne Brunch for Kurt Osuch
Sunday, September 12
1:00 - 3:00 PM Location: Home of Jayne Plank Kensington, MD Guest of Honor: Mary Kane Candidate for Lt. Governor Cost: $45 per person RSVP: Sandy Tuttle 301-589-3601 vote@kurtosuch.com Let's Talk Politics
Thursday, Sept. 16
6:30 - 9:00 12437 Ansin Circle Drive Potomac, MD Topic: Income Tax, Maryland Tax Contact: Nancy Griffin Volunteer Orientation & Precinct Training Sessions
Saturday September 25th
10:00 a.m.- 12:00 Noon
MCGOP Headquarters
15833 Crabbs Branch Way Rockville, MD
Contact Dan Cuda at 301-926-1095
Tour Deux Montgomery bike ride (60 miles)
Saturday, September 18
7:00 a.m.
Contact: Robin Ficker
robinficker@msn.com
301-919-9068
Fundraiser for Carol Bowis
Sunday, Septebmer 19 5:00 - 7:00 5512 Devon Road Bethesda, MD, 20814 RSVP: 301-279-0927
MCYR Campaigns Volunteer Night #1
Tuesday, September 21
7:00 pm Location: MCGOP Headquarters Chevy Chase Women's Club Political Lunch Bunch
Thursday, Sept. 23
1:30 PM
La Madeleine Restaurant
Rockville Pike
Contact: Anne Dickey
301-983-1854
MCYR Campaigns Volunteer Night #2
Thursday, October 7
7:00 pm Location: MCGOP Headquarters First Monday
October 4 Location: Montgomery County GOP headquarters Volunteer Orientation & Precinct Training Session Saturday October 9th 10:00 a.m.- 12:00 Noon
MCGOP Headquarters
15833 Crabbs Branch Way Rockville, MD For more info see item in this newsletter. Contact Dan Cuda at 301-926-1095 Rural Women's Republican Club Saturday Night in the Country
October 9th 5:00 pm (dinner served at 7:00)
Location: Isaac Walton on West Willard Road in Poolesville. Featuring singing auctioneer Anne Lynn to run the fun auction of neat stuff.
MCYR Campaigns Day in District 17 Saturday, October 16 Meet for Breakfast and Strategy Session. Location: MCGOP Headquarters Note: This is a listing of all the events that we know of. It is not our intention to favor any one Republican candidate over the others. If you would like details about your next event to be featured in this section, please send the information to Jennifer Pasenelli - pasenelli@comcast.net | Mark your calendar for the Upcoming Precinct Training Session Saturday September 18th.
at MCGOP HQS 10:00 a.m.-12:00 Noon15833 Crabbs Branch Way in RockvilleLearn how to Organize Republicans in your Precinct (there are more than you realize!)and to elect Republicans in Montgomery County This training session is fun, free and informativeFor more information call Dan Cuda at 301-926-1095 or e-mail at dcuda54@juno.com | 
Also: Our Organization Committee - which recruits for our precinct organization is looking to fill these volunteer positions:
Newsletter Co-Editor -
Help prepare the MCGOP newsletter which is put together on a Constant Contact template. The co-editors coordinate and review major news items of MCGOP interest and gather stories and photos which are easily plugged into the layout of the newsletter. To get an idea of the features and information included, take an overall look at this newsletter and click on some of the archived copies listed below.
Volunteer Welcome Chair- Responsible for contacting new volunteer prospects, identify activities for them to get involved with, communicate with volunteer contacts, follow-up up to make sure the volunteer "hand-off" to committee chairs and other leaders has been completed.
Contact Mark Uncapher Mark@uncapher.net
| CONTACT YOUR CENTRAL COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Hon. Robert Dyer, III. - 16 ****
J. David Cotter
Jdavidcotter@gmail.com
Treasurer
| Past Party Line
Newsletters
August 21, 2010
May 2010
April 24, 2010 January 9, 2010
December 19, 2009
December 5, 2009
November 21, 2009
November 7, 2009
October 24, 2009
October 3, 2009
September 19, 2009
September 5, 2009
August 22, 2009
August 8, 2009
July 25, 2009
July 4, 2009
June 20, 2009
June 6, 2009
May 23, 2009
May 9, 2009
April 25, 2009
April 2009
March 28, 2009
March 14, 2009
February 28, 2009
February 3, 2009
January 2009
| Receptionist and Administrative Help Needed at MCGOP Headquarters as Campaigns Kick into High Gear
The Potomac Women's Republican Club has committed to helping out with receptionist and administrative duties at our headquarters every Monday afternoon (1-4 p.m.) from September 13 until November 1. This is a very welcomed offer as the campaigns will be in high gear at that time. Many thanks to the PWRC for reaching out to help MCGOP in this way!
Would you or your club also be willing to take on a time slot at headquarters as well? If so, please contact Mark Uncapher at 202-423-5344 or mark@uncapher.netThere will be a lot of activity at headquarters, especially after the September 14 primaries, but beforehand as well. We will need help throughout the week, morning hours Monday-Friday. Afternoon hours Tuesday-Friday. Anything you can do to help would be much appreciated. There are yard signs to distribute, phones to answer, volunteers to sign up, and much more!
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MCGOP CONVENTION!