E!!

I know quite a few people who are planning to go to Washington DC for the 9/12/09 March on Washington.  And quite a few people who say they are not.  Here’s what one Nevada blogger says about why he and his family are going.

I admit I’ve been a little ambivalent about the upcoming Las Vegas Tea parties (July 3rd or 4th depending on which you choose).  The one on April 15 was great fun, and I made some friends and gained new contacts – but I’ve wondered since then, what really came of it?  And what’s next?

Ralph Benko has a suggestion in his latest Examiner column, and I kinda like it.  As they say, “Go big or stay home.”  Or – and I happen to know this is one of Ralph’s favorite quotes - ”Lost causes are the only ones worth fighing for.”  (Clarence Darrow) 

Here’s the core of the piece:

There are plenty of targets for the tea parties. Most ambitious is the call for repeal of the 16th Amendment — the income tax amendment.

A declaration is circulating on the Internet pointing out that July 12 is the Centenary of Congress’s passage of the 16th Amendment and proclaiming a National Day of Mourning coupled with a demand for repeal. The key proponent of the demand for Repeal is John Hanson, an old Cajun chased out of Louisiana by Katrina and resettled in rural Virginia.

With no money to speak of, little exposure, and just a handful of very part time volunteers, he is using www.RepealIncomeTax.com to enlist thousands of signers of the declaration demanding repeal. On July 12th, Hanson will start a three-year campaign to raise awareness of the issue in the states.

Before all we roll our eyes and say, “yeah, like that’s gonna happen,” Ralph reminds us that the 18th Amendment – Prohibition- was repealed after a concentrated national outcry. No constitutional amendment had ever been repealed before and many naysayers laughed at that one, too.  Notably, the income tax has something in common with prohibition:   it is starting to be hated with a passion.

A movement for repeal, if not succesful, could perhaps at least spur major reform.  A welcome thing indeed, and what a wild wonder if the Tea Party Movement could one day point back and say, “We helped do That!”

Excerpted and condensed from an email from Erick Erickson at RedState:

Obama has proposed sending the International Monetary Fund (IMF) billions of dollars as a quasi-bailout for European banks. 

The word is, House Republicans are going to vote in a block to oppose this, which means around thirty Democrats are needed to defeat the bill.   Blue Dog Dems are the key, along with Dems in districts that tilt Republican.  

Call 202-224-3121. Ask for the members of Congress below and tell them to oppose H.R. 2346, the 2009 Supplemental Appropriations Act.

Bobby Bright AL-02
Parker Griffith AL-05
Ann Kirkpatrick AZ-01
Suzanne Kosmos FL-24
Walt Mitnick ID-01
Frank Kratovil MD-01
Glenn Nye VA-02
Tom Perriello VA-05Travis Childers (MS-01)
Harry Mitchell (AZ-05)
Gabby Giffords (AZ-08)
Jim Marshall (GA-08)
John Barrow (GA-12)
Bill Foster (IL-14)
Baron Hill (IN-09)

An update from my friend, Heather Kydd, who co-hosts a great show with Casey Hendrickson on AM 840 KXNT:

Due to a greater-than-expected anticipated turn-out, it’s been decided to move the Tea Party a little ways down the road from the original location – and to extend the hours so more people can participate at times that are convenient for them.

We will now be gathering at the Sunset & Eastern intersection sidewalks as it provides more room and there is considerably more parking in this area.

when:  April 15 from 12 – 7 PM
where:  Sunset & Eastern intersection

Parking will still be somewhat limited, but people can park at Sunset Park and perhaps surrounding businesses.  It is recommended that you carpool or catch a ride if you can.

Please spread the word!!

NPRI has posted an easy to look at historical graphic of the housing crisis here in Vegas, complete with circles and arrows (ok, just arrows).

So…what are you doing on September 18-21, 2008?

If your answer is “nothing, why?” then may I suggest that you attend the 2008 Conservative Leadership Conference at the Tuscany Suites Resort in Las Vegas?  The event is being co-hosted by Citizen Outreach and Americans for Tax Reform.  The Honorary Conference Chairman is Rep. John Shadegg of Arizona.

CLC is a yearly gathering of conservatives and libertarians focused on bridging differences and finding common ground in their mutual desire to limit government – as well as discussing the best political means of achieving that goal.

Your truly (yes, E!!) has been asked to be the Press Liason so I will be hanging around assisting the media (and anyone else in need) all weekend.  I’d love to meet any/all of you so please stop by and say Hello if you can.

Confirmed speakers for CLC ’08 include (to name just a few):

*  Bob Barr, Libertarian Party candidate for President
*  Chuck Baldwin, Constitution Party candidate for President
*  Grover Norquist of Americans for Tax Reform
*  Rich Galen of Mullings.com
*  John Fund of the Wall Street Journal
*  Richard Viguerie, author of “Conservatives Betrayed”
*  Pat Toomey of the Club for Growth
*  Talk-show host Roger Hedgecock
*  David Keene of the American Conservative Union
*  Ward Connerly of the American Civil Rights Institute
*  Paul Jacob of the Sam Adams Alliance
*  Former Congressman and talk-show host J.D. Hayworth
*  Chris Simcox of the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps
*  Erick Erickson of RedState.org
*  Matt Sheffield of Newsbusters.org
*  Danny Vargas or the Republican National Hispanic Assembly
*  Michael Tanner of the Cato Institute

Over the course of the weekend there will be an Exhibit Hall featuring a variety of conservative organizations and vendors, various policy panels and workshops, book-signings, “live” radio broadcasts, awards, keynote addresses, luncheons, BBQs, banquets, raffles, etc. 

Saturday night’s gala banquet will be held at the Venetian and will feature the annual “State of the Conservative Union” address by a major conservative figure.  (I know who they’ve invited and if he says Yes, you will Definitely want to be there!)

To find out more and/or register, click HERE or call (202) 558-7162.

 Just got a shout-out from Don Turner, the manager of the under-construction Clark County Shooting Park (CCSP) opening here in Vegas in June 2009.  For my out-of-state readers, this is going to be the mother of all shooting parks. 

At 2,900 acres (most of which is a “buffer zone” – less than 1,000 acres will be dedicated to facilities and ranges), the CCSP will be the largest public shooting park in the U.S.  At final build-out, there will be 22 buildings and 100,000 square feet of usable space including meeting rooms, classroom space, and indoor ranges.  By all accounts, it’s going to be a world class facility that will serve the local population while also attracting gun enthusiasts and competitors from all over the Southwest.

Project Update:

Infrastructure (electricity, water, flood channels, grading) is almost done.  The first building pad will be completed by October 1^st, and with six buildings out to bid we should soon be seeing some vertical construction.  The Clark County Board of County Commissioners has approved all the Park ordinances, rules and procedures and has awarded the contract for the design of the Tourism Center.

Notable Note:

Don reminds me that the Park has been a long time coming.  Back in 1984, a local citizens group identified the current parcel on the north end of Decatur Boulevard as the preferred site and began negotiations with BLM to build a public shooting range.  The park will finally open 25 years later and after a lot of red tape and some hard-fought battles.

You can read the full history of the Park here.

With 47% of all Nevada households owning a firearm, I assume the Park will be busy.  I know the Venerable Mr. Crum is looking forward to taking our 13-year old son over there (to practice with the Ruger 22 rifle he got for his birthday last year).