Today we announced the first YouCut winner, a proposal by Reps. Tom Price and Jim Jordan that would eliminate an unnecessary and duplicative, $2.5 billion welfare program. That proposal garnered over 81,000 votes out of more than 280,000 votes cast. Tomorrow, five new spending cut proposals will go up, and on Thursday, House Republicans will welcome their Democrat colleagues to join them in voting to consider the first wining cut. The question remains, are House Democrats be ready to listen to the American people, or are they not? Unlike the attorney general of Connecticut, the American people have been very clear.
Now, I respect Representative Cantor, but I really, really want to see more of a top-down approach to the question.
The question is not just so much, ‘Should we cut A or B’, but ‘WTF the Federal involvement in A and B in the first place?’
Something is, indeed, better than nothing. One strives not to be overly critical. But the bottom-up approach of piecemeal attacks on Federal over-reach and idiocy may not have more than a transient effect.
11:30 p.m. ET: Well, everybody else has gone to drown their sorrows, but I’ve still got to hit a late deadline for The American Spectator. A defeat is always harder to report than a victory. Maybe when I get off deadline, I’ll feel better. If anyone feels an overwhelming urge to hit the tip jar — hey, don’t fight the feeling.
Part 1 of the concession speech:
Part II of the concession speech:
10:55 p.m. ET: The people who supported his campaign “will not give up, and they will not give in,” Burns said in his concession speech. Video to come shortly.
10:30 p.m. ET: With 74% of precincts reporting district-wide, it’s Critz 54%, Burns 43% and, looking at county-by-county results, I don’t see where Burns can make up the difference.
Critz wins. Just heard that Burns called Critz to concede. Expect Burns to make concession speech about 10:45 p.m. Will update.
10:16 p.m. ET: In Indiana County — where Tim Burns went to college at IUP — it’s Burns 57%, Critz 41% with 38% of precincts reporting. The music in the ballroom now: “Don’t Stop Believing” by Journey.
10:14 p.m. ET: In rural Somerset County, 88% of precincts are reporting, dead even, Burns 49%, Critz 49%
10:07 p.m. ET: In Westmoreland County, only 14% of precincts reporting, Burns 50%, Critz 48% — three weeks ago, a campaign source said Westmoreland would be decisive. We continue watching . . .
9:55 p.m. ET: Just got off the phone with a source who is at the Fayette County Courthouse, which he says is now swarming with election lawyers watching eagle-eyed over the ballot-count after the report of double-voting. Meanwhile, Dave Weigel notes the potential for Libertarian candidate Demo Agoris to play spoiler if the race is, as my source says, “tight.”
9:45 p.m. ET: 11% of precincts now reporting — Critz 58%, Burns 39%, and 3% for the Libertarian candidate. Waiting for more numbers . . .
9:30 p.m. ET: With just 6% of precincts reporting, Critz 62%, Burns 38%, but Diana Irey said don’t worry about such early numbers. Based on previous experience, I’d say you won’t get a better idea of the result until 70% of precincts are reporting. We wait . . .
9:20 p.m. ET: Still waiting for more numbers. Meanwhile, more photos:
Tim’s father, Ed Burns, and Tim’s son, Brock Burns.
Brock Burns rocks the fedora.
9:10 p.m. ET: Diana Irey just got me some results. Five precincts reporting from a 3-to-1 Democrat area in the city of Washington, Critz 803 (55%), Burns 667 (45%). And this indicates . . .? “He’s gonna win,” Irey says — “he” meaning Burns, of course.
The music in the grand ballroom right now just hit Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Gimme Three Steps.” That’s a good omen.
8:55 p.m.: Now seriously hassling the sources: “Numbers! I want some %#&#ing numbers!” Until I get the numbers, what I can tell you is that all the Burns people who worked precincts today felt encouraged. One guy talked to a Democrat operative who was reportedly impressed with the GOP turnout. But that’s just anecdotal. I want some %#&#ing numbers!
8:50 p.m. ET: Just another completely random “man on the street” interview:
Meanwhile, that random kid’s dad gets interviewed:
8:30 p.m.: I’m currently hassling sources: “Numbers! I need numbers!”
8:10 p.m.: I was just showing the video of campaign HQ to Ed Burns — Tim’s dad — when he said, “Oh, there’s Tim. Gotta go.” Video inside the grand ballroom:
7:55 p.m. ET — Polls close at 8 p.m., and the dignitaries and media are already beginning to gather in the second-floor grand ballroom of the posh George Washington Hotel for what Republicans hope will be a victory celebration for Tim Burns in Pennsylvania”s 12th District.
WASHINGTON, Pa. — As reported via phone to Smitty earlier, turnout was light today — considered good news for Tim Burns. Here are some photos from my visit to precincts in Latrobe, Pa., today.
Fire station that was 1st Ward polling place in Latrobe.
Brian O’Connor of Red Dog Report working for Tim Burns outside the precinct.
Brian with the Tim Burns campaign flyer.
Signs displayed across the street from the fire station — note the “vote twice” theme on the Burns sigh.
Voting official Janice Smith at Latrobe Ward 4.
Polls close at 8 p.m., and I’ll have results here from the Tim Burns victory celebration the posh George Washington Hotel.
WASHINGTON, Pa. — Just now setting up at the posh George Washington Hotel on Main Street, having just scored this video footage inside the Tim Burns campaign headquarters down the street:
Now, all I’ve got to do is to Photoshop an “official” all-access campaign staff credential, and I’ll be in like Flynn . . .
Stacy McCain talked to a ‘Republican source’ at ~2:00 PM, who said “Turnout was low, which is good for Burns.” Details:
He went by Latrobe, PA, and visited three voting locations. This confirmed the low turnout. In the 4th Ward, 987 registered voters. ~200 had voted by 4:00 PM.
In the 1st Ward, the largest in town 1,200 registered, had 276 voters by 4:00 PM. According to a voting official, this is a generally Democratic ward, Republican turnout greater than usual.
In the 6th Ward, which has <600 registered voters. 138 had voted by 4:15 PM.
The day, in general, was cool, overcast, and had rain in the morning, but has sunshine peeking out.
A report that Mark Critz has been videod inside a precinct in the 4th Ward of Westmont. Campaigning is not allowed, by state law. It is not known whether he was voting at the time. Stacy is seeking comment from the Critz campaign.
The Burns people are encouraged by what they’ve seen, and cautiously optimistic.
Polls close at 8:00 PM Eastern. If you live in, or know anyone who does, call them now, now, now.
Roughly 30% turnout can be expected, which is good for the Republican candidate.
claims she thought the Special Election to fill the vacancy in Congressional District 12 required her to give a seperate ballot for the Primary and the Special Election. As of now, it is unknown the partisan breakdown of the 175 voters.
I’m waiting for Stacy to call in a field report from PA-12, from which we expect good news this evening.
To tide you over, here is Col. Patrick Murray, one of two Republican hopefuls in the 08June primary, the other being Matthew Berry. Both are rock-solid candidates. One wishes the two resumes could be blended somehow. Slight nod to the veteran. The real point is that we need to Retire Jim Moran.
[T]he difference between a Jewish liberal and a Jewish conservative is that when a Jewish liberal walks out of the Holocaust Museum, he feels, “This shows why we need to have more tolerance and multiculturalism.” The Jewish conservative feels, “We should have killed a lot more Nazis, and sooner.”
Exactly so, and you should read the whole thing. I forget who it was that once described a liberal as a man who refuses to take his own side in an argument, but it’s the same basic point.
