H.R. 1424: To amend section 712 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, section 2705 of the Public Health Service Act, section 9812 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to require equity in the provision of mental health and substance-related disorder benefits under group health plans, to prohibit discrimination on the basis of genetic information with respect to health insurance and employment, and for other purposes.

451 PAGES, up from the H.R. 3997’s 110 and the original’s 3.

Senators Voting “Nay” on Federal Intervention in the Financial Markets: Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2008:
Sen. Wayne Allard (R-CO), Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY), Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS), Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY), Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Sen. Thad Cochran (R-MS), Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID), Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC), Sen. Elizabeth Dole (R-NC), Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-ND), Sen. Michael Enzi (R-WY), Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI), Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK), Sen. Tim Johnson (D-SD), Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA), Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL), Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS), Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL), Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL), Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT), Sen. David Vitter (R-LA), Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS), Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR)

Official roll call for vote number 213.

Both of the senators from the state of New Jersey where I am a resident voted in the affirmative. They’ve already received emails indicating my displeasure with their actions.

To Frank Lautenberg:

I am disappointed by your vote in the affirmative on H.R. 1424. I will be doing what I can to to assure you are not reelected in November.

“We will not let this economy fail” -Senator Reid
“This bill creates jobs here at home.” -Senator Reid
“Inaction is not an option.” -Senator Reid
“America I hope saw  Congress, the United States Senate, acting as the forbearers and the Founders intended it to act.” -Senator Dodd

Dear Friend,

This morning, I flew to Iowa to join and endorse my friend, John McCain, for President of the United States. John McCain is a true American hero and I’m proud to stand with him today. He is the only candidate who can rally the Reagan coalition of conservatives, Independents, and conservative Democrats needed to defeat Hillary Clinton or any other Democrat in the general election next year.

While I respect all of the Republicans running for president this year, John McCain is the only choice to lead our country in the global fight against Islamic fundamentalism. He has the experience, the knowledge, and the courage for this fight. He alone among the candidates for President recognized years ago that our strategy in Iraq was failing and had the guts to call for change. We need that leadership in the White House.

John McCain also represents the values that are the core of our Republican party. He has spent a lifetime standing up for human rights around the world, including a consistent 24 year pro-life record of protecting the rights of the unborn. We do not have to abandon our principles of life, faith and family to defeat the Democrats next fall; we can stand with John McCain.

With momentum growing, we need to rally around John McCain today. Please take the time to contribute to his campaign. With less than 60 days before voting begins, it is important that John have the resources to get his message out in the early primary states. I am standing strong with John and ask that you join me.

Sincerely,

Senator Sam Brownback

http://www.zogby.com/…

The online survey of 9,718 likely voters nationwide showed that 50% said Clinton would never get their presidential vote. This is up from 46% who said they could never vote for Clinton in a Zogby International telephone survey conducted in early March. Older voters are most resistant to Clinton – 59% of those age 65 and older said they would never vote for the New York senator, but she is much more acceptable to younger voters: 42% of those age 18–29 said they would never vote for Clinton for President.

Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback, who announced Friday he would end his campaign, was included in the poll. He might have sensed the nationwide opposition to his campaign, as 47% said they would never vote for him for President. The survey showed he was tied as the third most objectionable candidate, behind Clinton and Congressman Dennis Kucinich (49%). Tied with Brownback was Democrat Michael Gravel, a former Alaska senator, and GOP Congressman Ron Paul.

I’d read a comment somewhere that only 3-5% of those answering the poll knew who Paul was before the poll. If so these numbers are completely useless. I’ve not been able to find that info first hand though. I really doubt though that all almost 10k people knew all those on the list. Regardless, it would seem from this poll that the front runners aren’t the best possible candidates. Seems Huckabee and Richardson would be.

UPDATE: This poll says that among 40 year olds Ron Paul beats Clinton 47% to 44% and down by 2% with 30 y/o’s. The other age groups it’s not so good however.

Press Conference

http://www.ronpaul2008.com/fundraising

Below are more details about 3rd quarter fundraising in the GOP race for president. You may download this information in PDF format by clicking here (Adobe Acrobat Reader required).

• Both Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani spent more than they raised in Q3. Romney brought in $9.9M and spent $21.3M. Giuliani raised $11.6M and spent $13.3M.
• Mitt Romney often cites his executive prowess as a key credential in his White House bid. However, if the race ended today, his organization would have lost over $8M.
• John McCain is in the red. McCain claims to have $3.4M in the bank, but due to debt and money earmarked only for the general election, he is in the hole $53,446 for the primary.
• Dr. Paul outraised Duncan Hunter, Mike Huckabee, Tom Tancredo and Sam Brownback’s combined efforts by 61 percent. Dr. Paul’s $5.4M is 8.5 times greater than all of their cash on hand combined.
• Dr. Paul is the only top-tier candidate who carried no debt into the fourth quarter.
• Because of outstanding debt of $678,432, Fred Thompson actually has $6,443,312, less than $1M more than Dr. Paul.
• Rudy Giuliani has $11,428,979 available for the primary. While impressive, this is far from insurmountable for Dr. Paul and Mr. Thompson.
• Dr. Paul stands alone in fundraising growth, trajectory and organizational health. Much work remains ahead, but the Paul campaign is in a strong position to make a run down the stretch toward the nomination.

I should have posted this last week…

Tonight, Monday 17th, 2008 at 7:30PM American Family Association Online will be streaming the Value Voters 2008 presidential debate. Ron Paul, John Cox, Duncan Hunter, Mike Huckabee, Tom Tancredo and Sam Brownback will be attending. Rudy Giuliani, Mitt Romney, John McCain and Fred Thompson all declined the invitation.

http://blog.ronpaul2008.com/…

Congressman Ron Paul placed third in today’s Texas GOP Straw Poll with 16 percent of the vote. The solid outcome marked the conclusion of a highly successful weekend during which the campaign had a rally with over 1,000 attendees, raised well over $100,000. Today’s results continue a trend around the nation of top or middle tier finishes for the Paul campaign.

The presence of Dr. Paul supporters dominated the straw poll site, and campaign leaders were pleased with the results in light of the difficult voting restrictions. Only recent party delegates were allowed to cast ballots, meaning that most of the thousands who turned out for Dr. Paul could cheer and celebrate but not vote. In addition, the straw poll was held several hours away from the Paul’s stronghold of south Texas.

Dr. Paul is the only candidate who voted against the Iraq war and favors early withdrawal, a position supported by over 70 percent of the American people. Many experts believe that Republicans cannot win the presidency in 2008 if they nominate a pro-war candidate. Texans appeared to support this position by opening their wallets as the Paul campaign pulled in more money over the weekend from grassroots supporters than the Texas GOP raised from the entire straw poll.

Duncan Hunter: 534
Fred Thompson: 266
Ron Paul: 217
Mike Huckabee: 83
Rudy Giuliani: 78
Mitt Romney: 61
Ray McKinney: 28
John Cox: 10
John McCain: 8
Sam Brownback: 6
Tom Tancredo: 6
Hugh Cort: 3

3rd place… not bad. Considering they only allowed people who had been Republicans who had been delegates prior, they had the poll on the opposite side of the state from Ron Paul’s district, and the governor supposedly making the comment that there were no Texans running this time around but the state is still important.

UPDATE: It seems there was more explicit acts of keeping down Ron Paul’s numbers. http://youtube.com/watch?v=YDnWT4gCJSE