HERE YE!

The Vermont College Republicans are holding their annual convention tomorrow and you don't want to miss it!

College Republicans from Middlebury, St. Michaels, Johnson State College, Champlain College, the University of Vermont, and the Vermont Law School will gather to elect a new state Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, Treasurer and a Public Relations Director.

Governor Jim Douglas will also be stopping by at 1pm to say hello, so be sure to arrive early!

Vermont College Republicans
Re-Organization Caucus
December 1, 2007 - 1:00pm
Champlain College, Hauke 005

A copy of the agenda is below.

Vermont College Republicans

2007 Re-Organization Caucus

December 1, 2007 – 1:00pm

Facilitator: Jeffrey Bartley

Caucus Secretary: Kristin Leupold

12:45pm Check-In

1:00pm Special Guest: Governor Jim Douglas

1:15pm Introduction / Pledge of Allegiance

1:30pm Adoption of Vermont College Republican Constitution

2:00pm Nomination of candidates to the Executive Committee

Positions Open: Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Public Relations Director, Two At-Large members

2:15pm Open floor for Candidates

2:30pm Election of the 2008 Vermont College Republican Executive Committee

3:00pm Open floor discussion on activities for 2008

3:30pm Adjourn

An interesting article to discuss

What do you think of this report published by the Heritage Foundation?

Democrats wake up to being the party of the rich
by Michael Franc

A legislative proposal that was once on the fast track is suddenly dead. The Senate will not consider a plan to extract billions in extra taxes from megamillionaire hedge fund managers.

The decision by Senate majority leader Harry Reid, the Nevada Democrat, surprised many Washington insiders, who saw the plan as appealing to the spirit of class warfare that infuses the Democratic party. Liberal disappointment in Mr Reid was palpable at media outlets such as USA Today, where an editorial chastised: "The Democrats, who control Congress and claim to represent the middle and lower classes, ought to be embarrassed."

Far from embarrassing, this episode may reflect a dawning Democratic awareness of whom they really represent. For the demographic reality is that, in America, the Democratic party is the new "party of the rich". More and more Democrats represent areas with a high concentration of wealthy households. Using Internal Revenue Service data, the Heritage Foundation identified two categories of taxpayers - single filers with incomes of more than $100,000 and married filers with incomes of more than $200,000 - and combined them to discern where the wealthiest Americans live and who represents them.

Democrats now control the majority of the nation's wealthiest congressional jurisdictions. More than half of the wealthiest households are concentrated in the 18 states where Democrats control both Senate seats.

This new political demography holds true in the House of Representatives, where the leadership of each party hails from different worlds. Nancy Pelosi, Democratic leader of the House of Representatives, represents one of America's wealthiest regions. Her San Francisco district has more than 43,700 high-end households. Fewer than 7,000 households in the western Ohio district of House Republican leader John Boehner enjoy this level of affluence.

The next rung of House leadership shows the same pattern. Democratic majority leader Steny Hoyer's district is home to the booming suburban communities between Washington, DC, and Annapolis. It boasts almost 19,000 wealthy households and a median income topping $62,000. Mr Hoyer's counterpart, minority whip Roy Blunt, hails from a rural Missouri district that has only 5,200 wealthy households and whose median income is only $33,000.

Income disparity - to use the class warrior's favourite term - is greatest among the districts of lawmakers that lead each party's campaign arm. Maryland senator Chris Van Hollen chairs the Democratic congressional campaign committee. With more than 36,000 prosperous households and a median income of nearly $70,000, his suburban Washington district even out-sparkles Ms Pelosi's. In contrast, fewer than 5,000 such wealthy households are found in the largely rural district of his Republican counterpart, Tom Cole from Oklahoma. The median income there is only $35,500.

Democratic politicians prosper in areas of concentrated wealth even in staunchly Republican states such as Georgia, Kansas and Utah. Liberal congressman John Lewis represents more than 27,500 high-income households in his Atlanta district. The trend achieves perfect symmetry in Iowa. There, the three wealthiest districts send Democrats to Washington; the two poorest are safe Republican seats.

Soon this new political demographic may give traditional purveyors of class warfare the yips. To comply with new budget rules, liberal Democrats on Capitol Hill are readying a tax increase of at least $1,000bn over the next decade. Ms Pelosi says she wants to extract all of this from "the wealthy". When has a party ever championed a policy that would inflict so much pain on its own constituency? At what point will affluent Democrats crack and mount a Blue State tax rebellion?

Will we see the emergence of a real-life Howard Beale, the television anchorman played by Peter Finch in the movie Network ? Beale was disgusted with America's deteriorating 1970s economy and culture. One night he snapped and implored viewers to get out of their chairs. "Go to the window, open it, and stick your head out and yell: 'I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take this any more!' "

Or will Democratic voters follow a different cinematic lead, that of the fraternity pledge in Animal House? Perhaps they will accept these tax rises as a political and economic hazing and greet each new tax hike with: "Thank you, sir. May I have another?"

Michael Franc is vice president of government relations for The Heritage Foundation
First appeared in the Financial Times

You Tube Debate Rap-Up

It was a very entertaining debate, overall. But the highlight was most definitely the one-on-one Immigration Battle between Romney and Giuliani.

Check it out. What do you think?



***

On another note - we're considering taking away the ability to post anonymously. Thoughts?

YouTube it Up tonight!

Don't forget; the Republican Presidential candidates will be on stage tonight on You Tube at 8:00! This is the first debate of it's kind. Thousands of people submitted their questions directed at the candidates to You Tube by video taping their question.

This is definitely not something you want to miss!

Come back Thursday to see reaction from our group members!

A Message from the Secretary

A lot has happened in the last two weeks since our last meeting and there is a lot to talk about! I present to you the agenda for tonight's meeting in SLC 309 to take place tonight at 7:30:

We will discuss our Reorganization Caucus this coming Saturday with the Federation of Vermont College Republicans. This is a big event for VT College Republicans which will be held right here at Champlain College at 1pm in Hauke 005. All College Republicans in Vermont are encouraged to attend -- Gov. Jim Douglas himself is expected to stop in and say hello.

We will also discuss the ongoing dispute between the CCR and the Champlain Current. We will discuss the myths and facts of the situation and address the concerns of the Champlain Current staff. We will open ourselves to ideas and criticisms of our handling of the situation, and how we can better deal with similar situations in the future. If Champlain Current staff members would like to drop in and voice concerns, they are certainly welcome to do so.

For our general discussion, we will talk about the controversy surrounding Republican presidential candidate Tom Tancredo's latest ad. Is he blatantly fear mongering, or does he have a point?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBK7bWh1m04

And don't forget to check out the Republican YouTube Debate tomorrow at 8:00p.m.

I have a feeling that we're in for an all-around intense and exciting meeting tonight. We hope to see you there!

-- Aaron, Secretary.

R-E-M-I-N-D-E-R!!!

Join a few of the Champlain College Republicans this afternoon in the fireside lounge for some cheese, crackers, and good conversations!

SPEAK EASY
2:30-5:00

Of course you may come and go as you please, but this is surely not a club you want to miss out on!

Also, the weekly meeting for the Champlain College Republicans will be held tonight at 7:30pm in the Fireside Lounge. Contact the Chair (Kate) at ChamplainRepublicans@gmail.com for more information.

And that's the ball game... FOR REALS this time.

The Champlain College Republicans had a very productive day - on most accounts. Two meetings at once, wee!

First, the results you've been all waiting for!! How'd the meeting go with the Editorial Staff of the "Champlain Current?"

Ba da ching! It went well. Very well. Wait what?!

Not to kill the suspense; but the Current was all that they are cracked out to be! Smart, dedicated and funny students who dedicate almost too much of there time to Champlain College's only student run publication.

From accounts of two Champlain College Republicans, Ms. Frawley ran a very smooth meeting, and leads well. When the business of the Current was complete - Aaron (Secretary) and Jeff were given the opportunity to shed light on the position of this organization.

Baring just a couple bumps; the Champlain College Republicans and Champlain Current have agreed that it's time to move on. Misunderstandings and agenda's were solved - and that's that. Yes, anti-climatic... but that's good!

As we've stated before, we are eager to help out the Champlain Current - and it sounds like the Champlain Current is looking for some help, from lots of people!!

Contact Danielle Frawley at current@champlain.edu to find out what you can do to help the Current expand as a paper; both in size and in objectivity.

Now to the Student Government Association meeting that we neglected to mention in our earlier post. The SGA had a few questions, and Peter (Vice-Chair) handled them with ease. The club should be recognized by the beginning of next semester! WOOT WOOT!

And that's the ball game... sorta, more like extra innings

It's going to be a busy week for the Champlain College Republicans! Busy, Busy, BUSY!

We'll start with the reminders...

SPEAK EASY
November 27th
2-5:00pm
Fireside Lounge

CHAMPLAIN COLLEGE REPUBLICAN
Weekly Meeting
November 27th
7:30pm
Student Life Center, Rm 309 (Conference Room next to Fireside Lounge)

REPUBLICAN YOU TUBE DEBATE
(See Video below)
November 28th
8:00pm
YouTube.com

VERMONT COLLEGE REPUBLICANS
Re-Organization Caucus
1:00pm
Hauke 009
Special Guest: Governor Jim Douglas (Pictured above)

***

The saga continues with the Champlain Current, and we swear that perhaps this appears to be fun for the Champlain Current staff. We've asked to sit down one on one and discuss our concerns with Danielle Frawley - but alas she appears not to feel comfortable with a chit-chat.

If you would like to attend our editorial meeting tomorrow, Monday, at 3:30, my staff and I would be happy to discuss any issues or questions in the time we have.

Thank you.

Danielle Frawley
Editor-In-Chief
Champlain Current

That's fine of course, we'll just attend all of the Editorial meetings, including the one this afternoon.

Many people on campus speak very highly of Ms. Frawley, so please forgive us when we say we are surprised that she is not eager to put this situation behind her and move towards a more balanced publication.

Ms. Frawley also defines herself as "Conservative" on her Facebook profile. Makes you wonder what's really going on with the Champlain Current.

More later, after we attend the meeting when the two Champlain College Republicans report back to us.