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Newsletter of the Republican Party of Palm Beach County, Florida May 2012
Meet Candidate For Palm Beach County State Attorney Dina Keever
My name is Dina Keever and Im privileged to announce that I am running for Palm Beach County State Attorney. Ive lived in Palm Beach County since 2008 with my husband of 14 years, Mark Agrama, an ear, nose and throat surgeon. We have two wonderful sons, Michael and Gabriel. I am a graduate of Florida State University College of Law. After law school, I clerked for Federal Judge Peter Fay of the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Miami. I am a former federal prosecutor and have prosecuted over 250 cases in Miami, Tallahassee and Philadelphia, ranging from public corruption to drug trafficking to financial fraud. For the past three years I have worked with other former federal prosecutors at the law firm Lewis Tein. I am not a politician; I do not have a hidden agenda. I am a prosecutor. I am running for this position to put an end to the corrupt political machine that has been controlling the State Attorneys office in this county for far too long. It is time that the office of the State Attorney returns its focus to prosecuting crimes and seeking justice. I look forward to being your next State Attorney. Thank you.
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Officers
Sid Dinerstein, Chairman Margi Helschien, Vice Chair Michael A. Barnett, Secretary Ira Sabin, Treasurer Fran Hancock, State Committeewoman Peter Feaman, National Committeeman
In This Issue
Are You Ready? By Margi Helschien Geoff Sommers for State Senate Melanie Peterson for State Senate America, Changing Course. By Sherry Lee Adam Hasner Addresses the Ronald Reagan Club Rep. Club of the Northern Palm Beaches FAU College Republicans Protest Obamas Visit Cindy Tindell for State Committeewoman Boca Raton Rep. Club Hosts Peter Feaman and Blaise Ingoglia Beware! By Pete Stubben 3 4 4 5 7 8 8 9 9 10
REPUBLICAN PARTY OF PALM BEACH COUNTY Mission Statement The Republican Party of Palm Beach County is committed to promoting Republican ideals and principles; recruiting and electing qualified candidates for public office; developing a grassroots organization that will motivate the electorate to vote; and raising the funds necessary to complete these objectives. www.pbcgop.org
Message from our Palm Beach State Committeewoman on the National Convention:
For the first time in 40 years, Florida will be hosting the Republican National Convention, to be held in Tampa during the week of August 27th. If you would like to be a part of this historymaking event, I would encourage you to sign up to be a volunteer. The 2012 Tampa Bay Host committee will recruit, train, and manage thousands of volunteers to work the Convention. Volunteers will welcome guests at the airports and hotels throughout the area, as well as support Host committee programs and a variety of events leading up to the convention. Anyone interested in becoming volunteers can register online now at www.2012tampa.com/get-involved. All volunteers have to sign up through this website.
[Photo of Fran courtesy of Marisol Guntkowski.]
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Optimize your social networks to tell everyone what you are doing, and take lots of pictures. Not only is this a fun way to share in what you are doing, you will have memories for a lifetime. Dress appropriately, no cut off shorts or midriffs. You are representing the candidates and you want to look professional. It is hot outside in the Florida sun, so bring your suntan lotion, your hat and a bottle of water. Cell phones: you have heard this before, turn off your cell phone before you attend an event. Be attentive if you are helping a candidate out so that they get your full attention while you are there. Take time each week to get some social time win your family and friends. Elections do end, but you will need to continue your life after the election. Take some time for yourself each week. Do not neglect yourself, as you need to be in tiptop shape! Say your prayers each night and remember to thank God for everything. Every morning take a deep breath and be ready to go, as this is your life and your country. You can make the difference each day in the outcome of an election. Let's make this a Republican year!
Its
political season and you need to be ready. Whether you are a volunteer or a candidate you need to be in shape for the heavy duty days ahead. You need to be ready mentally and physically for the coming season. As we get closer to November we will be seeing more and more activities and political events that we need to attend to. Campaigning for a candidate is a great way to meet new friends and create lasting relationships. The bonds you will form through campaigns will last you a lifetime. Are you getting enough sleep? This really is important as this is what will revitalize you and keep you feeling energetic. Make it a habit to get in bed each night at a reasonable time. Turn off the TV, and get under the covers and get those zzzzz's. Are you taking your vitamins? I know you have heard this before. But a Vitamin C every day is a great way to start the day! Are you eating right? It is so easy to eat the wrong foods. A lot of fundraisers have fried, greasy foods. Choose wisely, as greasy foods will put on the pounds, make you feel bad, etc. There are many venues that do not offer any food. Bring a healthy snack and some water. Keep a small bag of apples, a granola bar, or a bottle of water with you at all times so that you will be ready when your stomach starts to growl. At the end of a campaign you could end up 10 pounds heavier if you do not plan ahead. Do not let yourself get stressed out. Life has a way of creeping up on you even in the best laid out campaigns. Take a deep breath and breathe. Take a yoga class, or go for a swim. Or take your campaign group out and go dancing to unwind. The physical exercise will help you feel better and help you to unwind.
The Boca Raton Republican Club, Inc. presents: Governor Rick Scott MAY 15th, 6:00PM
More details coming soon
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Geoff Sommers for State Senate, Lifelong Boca Resident Launches Campaign
Geoff Sommers, pictured above with Congressman Allen West at a recent community dinner, is running in the new State Senate District 25, which includes most of Palm Beach County west of Floridas Turnpike, and Broward County west of the Sawgrass Expressway. He grew up here, he earned his Eagle Scout Award here, and Geoff tells us, its my home, and its a community I care deeply about. Geoff is ready to raise the issues that local residents care about most, and he has energetically kicked off his campaign. First we need jobs, he says, explaining that he has, friends out of work, and theres no excuse for well-qualified people being unable to find opportunities. Geoff travels weekly to Washington, DC to teach international law at The George Washington University, where he completed much of his education. He says he sees far too many students preparing to graduate who are uncertain about where they will find work. Geoff earned four degrees, including both law and international relations, and in his professional career he has specialized in international trade. Geoff tells us he wants to bring this expertise to Tallahassee, saying Florida should be the most attractive place to do business in the entire United States. And he says he knows exactly how it can be. Geoff has seen first-hand what companies look for in determining where to expand and create jobs. He says companies grow and hire new employees when they have resources, and higher taxes and oppressive regulation do nothing to promote growth. He says that in a time when state and local governments are being pressed to raise taxes, we need to do the exact opposite. In addition to job creation and economic growth, Geoff says, It is equally important we ensure our schools continue to improve. He says it is essential that our schools prepare every student to be competitive in an increasingly demanding economic environment, and that it is only through ensuring this opportunity, that we as a community will continue to embody the values that have always made America exceptional. Geoff explains that education, above all else, determines the opportunities the children of our community will have. Sommers Continued on page 6
Page 5 word essay on what it means. Also, upon graduating, I am sending him and a friend to Washington, DC to attend the Leadership Institute. The program is only two days and nights and costs $30 each, meals included. The big cost is airfare, and if I decide to let them stay an additional night or two to do some sightseeing, a hotel. This works because my son loves to travel and he knows he will be getting a graduation gift if he does these things for me. I would like to challenge our members to sponsor at least two students per year. Every child we can affect is a child who will be exposed, not by us but by others, to conservative principals. All of this at such a crucial time in their lives when they are thinking about their futures and where they want to go in life and all in the setting of our nations capital! What could be better? Take a look at the summer schedule and see if there is an opportunity to send a young person in your family, your neighborhood or church who would benefit from the experience. http://www.leadershipinstitute.org/training/ Its like their website says, Invest in a generation that will fight for conservative principals.
Its interesting to watch Obama and his left wing liberal administration arrive at their moment of power after so many decades of careful preparation. Weve learned that Obamas network consists of many radicals who decided long ago that America was the enemy that had to be destroyed and they made it their lifes work to do so. They raised money, created organizations, got elected, took government jobs and basically infiltrated every aspect of American society to set about sabotaging the greatest form of government, the healthiest economy, and the freest place on Earth. Mission accomplished? Not so fast. Conservatives are waking up to the reality of the enemy within and the depth and scope of their mission. We are going to have to plot and plan as the Obama radicals did back in the 60s and chart a course for regaining control of our government, our institutions, our economy and our values. But where do we start? We start here. We start today. We make a commitment, as our founding fathers did, to the children who will inherit this country. Of course we continue to give to our party and our churches. We continue to raise money for the candidates we believe in and who believe in the same America that we do. We continue to educate ourselves so we can educate others. But then we can do something more. We can commit to guiding young people in a direction they will never learn about on Facebook or MTV by offering to educate them in areas that are not being taught in school. But we have to be clever and we have to make it fun! I have placed conditions on my sons graduation gift. In addition to good grades, I expect him to read the book, The 5000 Year Leap, and complete a 2000
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their shared history. Geoff explained simply, my family fled Communism in search of freedom, and so did the Senators. Geoff says the American people are the kindest in the world, and that with the right leadership, the United States will once again be the beacon of hope for freedom and opportunity that drew so many of our families long ago. Geoffs campaign is well-organized, full of enthusiasm, and we expect great things to come. He and his staff are passionate about improving the lives of our communitys families, and we look forward to seeing more from this impressive young man as the 2012 campaign continues. You can visit Geoffs www.geoffsommers.com campaign website at
Peterson continued from page 4 Council and the Florida Farm Bureaus Young Farmer and Rancher Leadership Committee and Equine Advisory Committee. In the coming days, we look forward to announcing the endorsements of our faithful supporters as well as many exciting aspects of our campaign. We will bring nothing but a positive winning attitude every day on this journey. For more information call Joe Russo at 561-513-7306.
REC Member and Club President Jeffrey Ruthizer with Adam Hasner, Candidate for the U.S. Congress
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FAU College Republicans Protest Obamas Campus Visit April 10, 2012 - Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton
Campus. Approximately 2 dozen members of the College Republicans, along with about 60 local conservative activists gathered to welcome the President, who was escorted by his complete secret service detail, about 60 motorcycle sheriffs deputies, at least 2 helicopters, several marked and unmarked federal law enforcement and state trooper vehicles, and his evershrinking legion of sycophants waiting to enter the basketball stadium to absorb his hopelessness and changeiness. The University reportedly was unable to fill the venue and began passing out tickets to anyone passing by.
The visit was sold as a working trip rather than just another campaign event. But the young people pictured above, sweating outside with their homemade protest signs, knew better. Many of them (including your humble Newsletter editor who was present but not pictured) demanded to know who was paying for the Presidents high profile campus outing.
Page 9 billion dollar business, as well as having personally raised tens of thousands of dollars to help elect Republican candidates, I can help make the RPOF more successful in managing our contributions and getting Republican candidates elected in Florida. Issues: Improve the Republican Party of Florida o Professionalism o Accountability o Oversight Communicate with YOU about what is going on o With state Republican party affairs o With our candidates at the State level o With gaining more attention from the RPOF for our local candidates
Work with the Republican Florida Legislature on issues important to us, such as keeping all our delegates to the national Presidential convention
I would very much appreciate your support. Please feel free to call or email me if you would like to discuss at electcindytindell@gmail.com.
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Affordable Health Care expensive, it's getting more expensive by the year. Unknowable is the ultimate cost, but we do know that the President's initial cost projections have already been doubled to $1.7 TRILLION by the Office of Management & Budget (OMB). Coast to coast, count on it, hospitals will go broke paying for affordable care. Tom Jefferson feared too much power being held in the central government and was a big proponent of 'states rights' and the 10th amendment. Supreme Court Justice Brandeis popularized the notion that "it is one of the happy incidents of the federal system that a single courageous State may, if its citizens choose, serve as a laboratory; and try novel social and economic experiments without risk to the rest of the country." Rockaway perilously foretells impending doom for health care but also fabulously personifies that laboratory. That recent Rockaway experiment is called participatory budgeting. Budgeting and Spending here in New York are an interesting process. On the one hand, State and City politicians are 'given' certain funds - Member Items or Slush Funds - to finance local projects; and all-too-often those funds finance local non-profit organizations run by these same politicians' immediate family-members, their big donors, their campaign counselors, etc., etc. On the other hand, most of the city budget is handled @ City Hall by planners who decide who gets the money and for what. Last Fall and this Spring a Justice Brandeis experiment in city budgeting & spending took place here in Rockaway thru the offices of Councilman Eric Ulrich. The people proposed last fall, and then the people decided this spring. Groups were formed and committees tasked...all locals. The results: $230,000 to upgrade teaching technologies @ PS 47, PS 317 and PS 114; $60,000 to purchase oxygen refill systems for Rockaway's Volunteer Fire Departments; $39,000 to buy water pumps to alleviate flooding; $48,000 for pagers for the volunteer fire-fighters; $45,000 to upgrade a bathroom for the handicapped in Rockaway's Knights of Columbus Hall (where many civics meet monthly); $150,000 for an outdoor Gazebo to host summer concerts; $200,000 to furnish Breezy with a library vending machine; $100,000 for 6 security cameras for the 100th Precinct; and, finally, $500,000 to modernize Peninsula Library. All this by locals in 6 months! Athenian Democracy is not Dead, nor Dying...at least not here in Rockaway....but Beware Feds Bearing Gifts!
When that phone call comes at 7:30 - you know, just after dinner
- and the guy offers you free health care 'for life!!!', aren't you just a little bit skeptical? Of course he'll point out that his firm is a 5star, triple-A, S&P-certified firm with a 230-year history of happy customers. All he asks is for your social security number. Are you gonna give it to him? That healthy skepticism on your part dates back some 2,500 years to the Greeks. In Homer's awesome epic he recounts that the Greek expeditionary forces could not defeat the Trojans; and so after nine long years of battle they abandoned the siege but left the Trojans a commemorative piece, a horse. The triumphant Trojans wheeled the horse into town and celebrated the great victory. Most unfortunately, Greek warriors were hidden inside the horse and opened the gates for the massslaughter and annihilation of the city of Troy. In fact, thru the centuries many considered Troy not a real city but just a narrative motif by Homer until 1870 when it was rediscovered....so brutal was the annihilation. Hence the 2,500 year-old adage, 'Beware Greeks Bearing Gifts' Gifts today from the US Congress and The Office of the President include free health care for life, free contraception for all, and no additional cost to insure the youth up to the age of 26. All for nothing...well almost nothing anyway...just don't forget to send 'em your social security number (your tax-payer ID, that is). The Affordable Health Care Act of 2010 that provisions all this, has also provisioned an additional Billion Dollars for the IRS to hire new tax assessors to handle the overload. Beware Feds Bearing Entitlements...Be Not Befuddled by the Undulating, Mellifluous Tones of Presidential Oratory! Two recent examples ring out here on The Rockaway Peninsula: one terribly prescient for this Health Care Act; the other a great tribute to Tom Jefferson and the 10th amendment. As the coal mine's twittering canary foretells impending death from poisonous gases, Rockaway's recent Peninsula-Hospital bankruptcy foretells impending doom from 'Affordable' health care throughout America. A 104 year-old facility catering to Rockaway's elderly, middle class & the poor files for bankruptcy because city, state and federal agencies squeezed her dry. Government - at the request of President Obama and former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D, California) - is reducing Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements to local hospitals to pay for Affordable Health Care. This bankruptcy here at a Rockaway Hospital is less a case of inadequate or insubstantial care and more a political and financial situation. Rockaway's bell tolls for all: as implementation continues, hospitals across the country catering to our demographics will teeter too...regardless of who tweets to whom! Not only is
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190 Atlantis Drive, Atlantis, FL 33462 561-602-3777 rccpbc.gopclubpb.org President: Tami Donnally
Republican Club Of Central Palm Beach County Featuring Michael Solomon, May 3
Please invite all Republicans you know to join us Thursday, May 3rd, 6:00 p.m. Our May 3rd speaker is Michael Solomon, bestselling author of business and political books. His Where did My America Go inspired us when last the spoke at the club a couple of years ago and his inspiring talk at the April 22nd tea party in Wellington moved the crowd there. His message is current and powerful come and hear it and join in on the discussions following: http://www.michaelsolomonbooks.com/MainPage s/aboutmichaelsolomon.htm The Republican Club of Central Palm Beach County meets on the first Thursday of each month at the Atlantis Country Club, 190 Atlantis Drive in the City of Atlantis from 6 PM to about 8 PM. After a social period the meeting begins at 6:30 PM. $12 Members & $15 non-members (which includes a drink from the bar and nice hors d'oeuvres) Annual dues to join the club $25. Call with any questions or if you need help with the directions: club president Tami Donnally 561602-3777 or program chairman George Blumel 561-543-4971 Bring a fellow Repub and enjoy!
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If you would like information on volunteering for one of our several Republican Party committees, or if you would like to contribute financially, visit our website at www.pbcgop.org or call (561) 686-1616. Bring your Republican friends to the next REC meeting and sign them up! We are always accepting new REC members who have the grassroots determination to help our candidates win in 2012!
NEWSLETTER PAID FOR BY THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF PALM BEACH COUNTY. NOT AUTHORIZED BY ANY CANDIDATE OR COMMITTEE. POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS ARE NOT TAX DEDUCTIBLE.
2011 REPUBLICAN PARTY OF PALM BEACH COUNTY Regions Financial Tower, 1555 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd, Suite 210, West Palm Beach, Florida 33401-2301 Phone: (561) 686-1616 Fax: (561) 686-1898 Email: info@pbcgop.org
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