The Hammond Report's Five Year Anniversary

The Hammond Report went dark a few months after Obama became president back in the dark days of 2008-2009 and I let the URL expire and lost all my posts from October 2007 on.  I was so disgusted and dispirited along with changing careers that I simply did not have the motivation or time to keep the blog going and active.

I've made a few posts in June and July of 2010, December 2010, June 2011 and finally seem to have the motivation and time to be more active in posting.  I redesigned the site and plan on just maintaining my blogger site and not worry about having my own URL, especially since some Realtor now owns it and hasn't posted since May 2010.  

I was playing around reformatting my site and adding some new widgets and took a look at my archive and realized that I started it in July of 2006.  So I've been at it now for five years - plus a month.

At this time, I feel like I got a rhythm going and am enjoying putting up posts.  It is enjoyable seeing what an enormous failure Obama has become and how completely incompetent he and his administration is.  I am sad for the country but happy that through it all the Tea Party was born and the 2010 election started righting the ship.  I am excited about the GOP candidates running for President or who might be running.  I am also excited to see GOP run states like Wisconsin,Ohio, Texas, New Jersey, and Florida prove that Conservative policies do, in fact, work.  I'm excited to see Denny Rehberg run for senate and look forward to voting for him as he defeats Tester.

Things are looking so much better.  It will be a fun year and a half.

Harry Reid & MSM Trying to take Credit for Rush's Ebay Record

The "phony soldier" letter Harry Reid and 41 Democrat Senators, including Baucus and Tester, sent to the Clear Channel CEO that Rush put up for bid on Ebay has made $2,100,000 for the Marine Corps Law Enforcement Foundation. Rush has matched that amount which give the MCLEF a grand total of $4,200,000!

The amazing thing now is Harry Reid and the MSM are trying to give the Democrats credit for raising the money!

Reid said this on the floor of the Senate: (emphasis mine)

"But without qualification Mark May, the owner of the network that has Rush Limbaugh, and Rush Limbaugh should know that this letter that they're auctioning is going to be something that raises money for a worthwhile cause. I don't know what we could do more important than helping to ensure that children of our fallen soldiers and police officers who have fallen in the line of duty have the opportunity for their children to have a good education," he said.

The closing of this ABC News blog is breathtaking:

The bidding ends at 1:00p.m. No mater what, Democrats are going to make a ton of money for a charity off their political vitriol.

So in typical Liberal fashion, they are trying to take credit for something without having to "pay" for it themselves.

Come on Reid, Baucus and Tester, cowboy up and show your support by matching the $2,100,000 like Rush did!

The Left is Really Upset with the Petraeus Amendment

The local Lefty Blogs, LITW, MNR, trying to maintain their "Kos Kred", are out there expressing their dismay about the Petraeus Amendment, which simply states...

To express the sense of the Senate that General David H. Petraeus, Commanding General, Multi-National Force-Iraq, deserves the full support of the Senate and strongly condemn personal attacks on the honor and integrity of General Petraeus and all members of the United States Armed Forces.

This is in response to the Moveon.org campaign against General Petraeus last week and is simply an official expression of support of the General who is commanding our troops in Iraq. It is beyond me that there would even be Senators that would vote Nay on this, all of whom are Democrats.

It's very illuminating to see how influenced these Democrats are by the Moveon and "Kos Krowd" and cannot see how they look to the vast majority of the American population.

I give credit to Baucus and Tester for voting in support of General Patraeus. Clinton is clearly influenced by Moveon and the "Kos Krowd" and Obama is too big a weenie and coward to even vote.

This will come back to haunt both Clinton and Obama when the majority of the people start paying attention to the Presidential election.

I Thought Earmarks Were Bad!

...unless you're a Democrat, of course.

Jon Tester is getting pressure from his supporters to "bring home the bacon".

Democratic Sen. Jon Tester has found a more demanding crowd in Montana in recent weeks than the one he left last year as an upstart U.S. senator.

On his first extended trip since taking office, the senator traveled Montana during the congressional recess and everyone wanted a piece of him - and more federal money.

This was something that Conrad Burns was good at particularly since he sat on the Appropriations Committee and was able to ensure Montana was well taken care of.

Money for the state was an issue in his 2006 congressional race against incumbent Sen. Conrad Burns, a Republican who sat on the powerful Senate committee that doles out federal dollars. Burns boasted that he had brought $2 billion to the state over the years and that the state would be worse off if he were defeated.

This became a bad thing according to the Democrat's attacking earmarks as being part of corrupt and dishonest Republican majority.

Tester said he understands there is only so much he can do. He acknowledged that some small requests he had for the highway spending bill were lost in the Senate process, in part, because he got outmaneuvered.

Republicans, however, criticized Tester for seeking earmarks after making an issue out of such financing for local projects during the 2006 campaign. At the time, Tester said the process should be more transparent.

“People certainly want money coming back into Montana, but more than that they want a senator who is going to be upfront and honest with them,'' said Chris Wilcox, director of the state Republican party.

So it was bad for Burns to earmark money for Montana, but now it's bad because Tester isn't doing enough to earmark money for Montana???

Golden Boy Tester Seems to have Taken Tainted Money

It seems that the Montana Left's Golden Boy, Jon Tester, is getting himself into trouble already. According the today's Missoulian, he accepted about $4000 from people linked to the now disgraced criminal and powerful Democratic fund raiser, Norman Hsu.

Records show Tester received six donations last summer and fall from people identified in the Wall Street Journal as Hsu associates. Tester received a total of $3,750 in Hsu-related donations, records show, including $2,000 from two members of the Paw family on Sept. 18, 2006.

It may turn out that the link is just purely coincidental. It seems that the Democrats who received money directly from or just linked to Hsu are keeping the money.

Tester, however, is not alone among candidates who received money merely “linked” to Hsu and who are now either keeping the money or waiting to see if the donations are illegal.

Hillary Clinton’s campaign has chosen to keep money Hsu merely helped raise. Missouri Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill received more than $18,000 in donations associated with Hsu, including some from the Paw family. She has chosen to keep the money unless it has been determined to be illegal.

I wonder what Democrats and the MSM would be saying right now if Hsu was a Republican fund raiser. I think we all know the answer.

It might help Tester to remember this...

Problematic campaign contributions played a role in Tester’s 2006 election. Tester unseated Republican Sen. Conrad Burns amid a scandal involving Burns’ receipt of more than $150,000 in donations from disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff, his clients and associates. Months after the criticism, Burns either returned or donated the money.

Looks Like New Senate Majority Leader Might be in Trouble Already

New Senate Majority leader, Harry Reid, seems to be in trouble already. Apparently, Mr. Abramoff has implicated him.

A source close to the investigation says Abramoff told prosecutors that more than $30,000 in campaign contributions to Reid from Abramoff's clients "were no accident and were in fact requested by Reid."

Abramoff has reportedly claimed the Nevada senator agreed to help him on matters related to Indian gambling.

The Associated Press reported earlier this year that Reid wrote at least four letters helpful to the tribes that had contributed money to his campaign.

The AP reported that Reid acknowledged "routine contacts" with Abramoff's lobbying partners and intervening to block rival tribal casinos.

The AP also reported that Abramoff's billing records showed extensive contact with Reid's office over a three-year period in which Reid collected more than $68,000 from Abramoff's firm, partners and clients.

Senator Reid seems to be a corrupt individual. He also had some questionable land deals in Nevada.

Will he resign? Will Democrats circle the wagons around him? Is a corrupt Democrat the same as a corrupt Republican?

What is Jon Tester's position on this. He nailed Burns on the Abramoff scandal. Will he do the same to his new Leader? We shall see...

Congratulations, Democrats, for selecting the most corrupt Senator as your new Majority Leader!

Did You Notice?

Did you notice how gracefully Burns and Allen conceded when it was clear they had lost, even by such small margins? Do you think Webb and Tester would have done the same had the rolls been reversed?

I doubt it.

Congratulations to the Democrats

Well, the GOP got thumped yesterday in the national House election. It looks like they now have a 32 member advantage.

The Senate is currently tied at 49 to 49 with Virgina and Montana still up in the air. Unfortunately, both races have the Democrat with the number advantage and I don't really see Allen and Burns being able to win at this point. Burns is behind by 3000 votes.

It looks like Missoula County won if for Tester where Tester had 27,918 votes vs. Burns' 15,045.

Sadly, it looks as if the Democrats will take over the Senate as well as the House. We Republicans have nobody to blame but ourselves. I many of our elected officials in Washington lost their way and got caught up in the power and corrupt lifestyle of Washington DC. They became big spenders and some got wrapped up in scandal. This angered a lot of die hard Conservatives who simply lost their motivation to support the party. The Democrats were motivated by their dislike and hate for Bush and the war which is why they won.

I look at this as a serious defeat for my side. It hurts and it concerns me as to the direction that the Democrats plan on taking our country. I can only hope that the Republicans will be courageous enough to use the same techniques that he Dems used to block laws and bills that they did not agree with.

I am hopeful, however, because I know that the majority of our country lives their lives with Conservative values. I am confident that we will be back and stronger than ever. This is a set back but it will only make us stronger! I take comfort in the fact that many of the Democrat wins were by conservative democrats who will support many conservative issues despite their party affiliation.

Anyway, congratulations to all you Democrats and Liberals. Last night was a great night for you.

Callers Discourage Voters

I found this at Townhall.com blogs...

HELENA-From Missoula and elsewhere, citizens of Montana have contacted the Secretary of State's office regarding phone calls that try to make voting seem more difficult than it is.

"According to the people who've called us, the call goes like this,"said Secretary of State Brad Johnson. "First the caller asks for whom the voter plans to vote. Then the caller tells the voter that she is on record requesting an absentee ballot. Because of that request, the voter can't just go to the polls and vote. She will be required to vote a provisional ballot at the polls, and that ballot will be open to challenge.

"He continued, "There's just one problem: Our reports are that these calls do not go to people who have requested absentee ballots. They go to people who have not requested an absentee ballot at all. So it's not true that they'll have to vote a provisional ballot.

"Johnson said the intimidating talk of provisional ballots and being open to challenge can have the effect of discouraging voters from going to the polls, especially since the calls seem to go to people who have no reason to worry about these things.

Johnson said, "I urge everyone who gets one of these calls to ignore it, and to report them to the authorities. If someone claims you have requested an absentee ballot, and you know you haven't, don't take their word for it. You can go to the polls, and you can vote. Don't let yourself be talked out of voting. It's our right, and our responsibility."

I would guess that the Dems are in panic mode due to the recent polls that put Burns tied with Tester.

Hundreds Show up For Tester Rally (Schweitzer Encourages Voter Fraud) While Thousands Show up For Burns.

Over 300 people showed up for a rally and there were 100 outside the UC center at UM for a Tester rally headed by Governor Schweitzer and Max Baucus! Wow, almost 400 people in Missoula came to rally for Tester. On the same day over 5000 people attended a rally in Billings for Conrad Burns headed by President Bush.

Seems that the Conservative Base is more energized at this critical point in the election while the Liberal Base seems to be fading.

Montana Democrats must be feeling a bit desperate as Gov Schweitzer encouraged the "huge" crowd to "vote early and vote often". Publicly encouraging voter fraud is pretty bold. I am hoping the Missoulian and The Missoula Independent investigates this.

Schweitzer also said something that bothers me. I've heard a lot of Liberals say this about Burns.

Said Schweitzer: “Missoula will decide if a man of the prairie, a man of Montana,” will be the next U.S. senator, or if it will be an “auctioneer from Missouri ... a man bought and paid for by Washington, D.C., lobbyists.”

It's interesting that he is cutting down Burns for not being a born and raised Montanan. I would venture that half of Missoula's population are not native Montanans. So to use this as an argument seems to be foolish as it will alianate those who are not native.

Just another example of Liberal elitism and arrogance.

Bush Packs the Metra Last Night for Burns and Rehberg!

President Bush was in Billings and packed the Metra last night to support Conrad Burns' and Denny Rehberg's campaigns. There were over 5000 great Republicans in attendance.

Bush was fantastic as he focused on the importance of the war on terror.

"I've got a message to the terrorists," Bush said. "America does not flee in the face of thugs and assassins."

In justifying his actions and legislation sought from Congress, Bush used the "different kind of war" preface to assert the need for the Patriot Act, interception of overseas telephone calls, interrogation of terrorist captives, including the suspected mastermind of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed.

"In this new kind of war, America must take threats seriously before they come to the homeland," Bush said.

He added, "We have a plan for victory in Iraq. I'm not going to leave our troops there unless I can tell you we are going to win. And our plan for victory is an Iraq that can govern itself, sustain itself and defend itself and serve as an ally in the war on terror."

Tester had some comments, of course, and brought out the same tired argument that Bush has not plan, blah, blah, blah. What, exactly, is your plan, Mt. Tester? You fumbled that answer when you were speakingn at the Missoula Downtown Association Luncheon a few weeks ago.

Tester, in a prepared statement, said: "Today we heard more of the same from President Bush and Senator Burns. There is still no plan for Iraq and no end in sight. Our military men and women have served our country incredibly bravely in Iraq, and they deserve a senator who will fight to give them all the tools and resources they need, and who will hold the president accountable for a plan to get them home safe."

Lindeen even had some comments. In case you're wondering who she is, she's running for the House of Representatives against Denny Rehberg.

State Rep. Monica Lindeen, D-Huntley, the Democratic nominee opposing Rehberg, said Thursday afternoon that "Montanans love their country, they respect the office of the president as do I, but at the same time, it doesn't mean we agree with the direction" the country is going.

While the war is important and Bush is focused on our country's resolve in winning the war, Burns had other issues and concerns he thought were important to his re-election.

Burns said taxes, the economy, infrastructure policies and the welfare of the next generation are his focus.

"Montana has a very solid, moving economy," Burns said.When voters cast a ballot will that be their focal point?"I think so," Burns said.

"We have growth, low unemployment. People are working. That's a good thing. These are good-paying jobs and they do not want to give the money back in taxes."

Thank you, President Bush for coming to our great state and showing your support and exciting our base for Conrad Burns and Denny Rehberg. You are a great leader who history will be kind when all is said and done.

Who's Coming To Support Tester?

The President of the United States and the Vice President of the United States were both in Montana this week to show their support for Conrad Burns' Senatorial campaign.

Who's coming to help support Jon Tester this week? How about the last two Democrat Presidential candidates, Al Gore and John Kerry or the last two Democrat VP candidates, Joe Leiberman and John Edwards? They almost won their last campaigns.

Maybe Bill Clinton or even Hillary? Bill kinda did well in MT in his Presidential elections and Hillary might in 2008.

Perhaps Howard Dean can do some hollering and fire up the faithful.

Maybe Ed Kennedy can sober up for a night and fly out.

The race is tightening and looks like it's slipping away from Tester. He needs some help from the leading Liberals in the Democrat party.

Why don't they come to help Jon Tester? He's fading fast.

Two Great Leaders to Visit Montana!

VP Dick Cheney was in Kalispell last night to stump for Burns. President Bush is in Billings tonight! Seems that the GOP base if fired up! (Thanks again to John Kerry)

So much for the theory that the Republican Party has written off Conrad Burns.

Cheney was awesome last night. Here is some of what he said.

"The stakes of this campaign are high," Cheney said. "The stakes are high for America's prosperity. The stakes are high for America's security, and the stakes are high for America's families."

He said voters had the choice between "paying higher taxes or lower taxes," and "determining whether this government will remain strong and resolute on the war on terror or falls into confusion, doubts and indecision."

"This country must reject any strategy of resignation or defeatism in the war on terror,"

"It's a mixed bag in the Senate," Cheney said. "One of the senators I like and respect the most is Conrad Burns. I look forward to swearing him in for another term in the U.S. Senate."

And one of my favorites in reference to John Kerry's recent remarks.

"Of course, now Senator Kerry says he was just making a joke, and he botched it up," Cheney told the crowd. "I guess we didn't get the nuance. He was for the joke before he was against it."

Tester Comments on Kerry's Remarks

Jon Tester weighed in on John Kerry's remarks that insulted our Military Troops.

The remarks were "poorly worded and just plain stupid." Montana Democratic Senate candidate Jon Tester, battling to oust Sen. Conrad Burns, R-Mont.

Not much of repudiation. What does Tester think of the content of what Kerry actually said? We all know that Kerry screwed up but it is clear this is what Kerry and his legion of Liberal Elites actually think of our Military.

Is this what Jon Tester thinks as well? I think he does.

Update: It took Tester three days to respond. This means he issued his response for political reasons, not because he was outraged.

What Does Tester Have to Say About Kerry's Remarks?

I would like to know if Jon Tester supports or condems Sen. Kerry's remarks about our troops.

His silence speaks volumes.

"You know, education, if you make the most of it, you study hard, you do your homework and you make an effort to be smart, you can do well. If you don't, you get stuck in Iraq."
- John Kerry

Thank You John Kerry or Why Liberals Should Not Be In Charge, Part 2

Rumor has it that John Kerry is coming to Montana this week to help stump for Mr. Tester. He's in Seattle today so he should be here soon. This should be priceless.

Here is what Kerry said:

"You know, education, if you make the most of it, you study hard, you do your homework and you make an effort to be smart, you can do well. If you don't, you get stuck in Iraq."

And here is Kerry's lame attempt to defend his remarks dissing our military:

SENATOR KERRY: Let me make it crystal clear, as crystal clear as I know how: I apologize to no one for my criticism of the president and of his broken policy.

If anyone owes our troops in the fields an apology, it is the President and his failed team and a Republican majority in the Congress that has been willing to stamp -- rubber-stamp policies thathave done injury to our troops and to their families.

My statement yesterday -- and the White House knows this full well -- was a botched joke about the president and the president's people, not about the troops.

The White House's attempt to distort my true statement is a remarkable testament to their abject failure in making America safe. It's a stunning statement about their willingness to reduce anything in America to raw politics. It's their willingness to distort, their willingness to mislead Americans, their willingness to exploit the troops, as they have so many times at backdrops, at so many speeches at which they have not told the American people the truth.
I'm not going to stand for it.

Tester and His Supporters are Uniformed, Ignorant, and Dangerous

When I read the Missoulian article about the Burns/Tester debate in Billings, I got very angry at Tester and his supporters.

Republican U.S. Sen. Conrad Burns said at a debate Tuesday night that President Bush does have a plan for winning the war in Iraq, but he isn't about to share it with the world.

Makes perfect sense to me. Why would the plan be shared? Sharing the plan would be foolish and irresponsible to say the least.


Many in the crowd, which was dominated by Tester supporters, openly laughed at Burns' claim that Bush has a plan.

Talk about arrogant and condescending. Liberal plan is to "cut and run" with our tail between our legs.

The two candidates also differed greatly on the Bush administration's tax cuts of 2001, 2002 and 2003.

They disputed whether Tester had raised taxes on some businesses in passing a 2005 bill that eliminated the property tax on business equipment on other businesses.

Tester said he opposed most of the Bush tax cuts, which Burns said were worked out by Bush and Democratic Sen. Max Baucus and supported by him. Burns said Montanans' income taxes would rise greatly if the tax cuts weren't extended.

“How come you want to raise taxes on 336,000 folks in Montana?” Burns asked. Replied Tester: “It's about the middle class, Senator Burns. You're about your rich K Street lobbyists, and that's the issue in this race.”

Jon, I'm smack dab in the middle class and I benefited from the tax cuts that you want to eliminate! Let me keep more of my money! +30% is more that enough!

Bushes tax cuts are the spark that set off this roaring economy that we are currently in.

On the war on terror and taxes, Tester and his supporters are uniformed, ignorant, and dangerous. Reason enough not to support or vote for the man.

Does The State Budget Surplus Mean We Were Overtaxed??

There was a great letter to the editor in yesterday's Missoulian regarding Tester's campaign ad that brags about the $500 Million budget surplus.

The writer states that a budget surplus equates to the citizens being over taxed. I agree with him! When can we expect to get some of our money back?

Tester, Schweitzer support overtaxing

I was amused with the new Jon Tester radio ad. In it, Gov. Brian Schweitzer talks about how he and his good friend Tester worked to save and lower Montana's taxes, and now “we,” the residents of Montana, have over $500 million in the bank. Folks, if Brian, Jon and the rest of Montana's elected officials have $500 million in the bank, they overtaxed you and me.

I don't know about you, but $1 million is a lot of money, so if there are 940,000 citizens in our great state, do the math. My calculator only goes to $50 million, so I hope the math is correct: That would be about $531 per Montanan. Now, if there are two children per family, that doubles this to $1,062 per taxpayer, so that's close to $100 a month in excess taxes to live in the great state of Montana. Good job, Brian and Jon. By the way Mr. Schweitzer, in one of your first budgets, you put $350,000 away in case the motor in the governor's jet went out, and Jon, you approved that budget. Where is the money? Do you have a new motor in the jet?

Please, before you cast your vote, check the voting habit of your candidate. Tester's voting record was partially recorded in the Oct. 3 Missoulian's editorial page. Please check it out. Your vote could put a serious dent in your wallet. Know what the conservative Republican Party stands for and what the liberal Democratic Party stands for, both morally and fiscally.

Think Montana!Tim Orr, St. Ignatius

Andy's 2006 Election Predictions

Here are my predictions for the 2006 Election.

National
Senate:
According to the New York Times' 2006 Election Guide there are 40 safe Dem and 8 leaning Dem for a total of 48. There are 47 safe GOP and 2 leaning GOP for a total of 49. There are 3 toss ups.

With this information my prediction is that the GOP will maintain control of the Senate by a 51 to 49 margin.

House:
According to the NYT Guide there are 190 safe Dem and 23 leaning Dem for a total of 213. There are 187 safe GOP and 22 leaning GOP for a total of 209. There are 13 toss ups.

With this information my prediction is that the GOP will maintain control of the House by a 218 to 217 margin.

Note: I am generalizing on these predictions based on the NYT numbers. They are basically even - not the landslide that the liberals are predicting - and I think the GOP will maintain control based on National Security, Taxes, and the current strong economy.

Montana
Senate:
Conrad Burns (R) will win by 51% to 49% over Jon Tester (D)

I think Burns will pull this one out. Montana is a conservative (red) state and the only reason he is in trouble is his verbal mistakes and his association with Abramof. Tester is a true blue liberal and I don't believe that Montanans want the Patriot Act or Bush's tax cuts repealed

House:
Denny Rehberg (R) will win by 65% to 35% over Monica Lindeen (D)

This will be a landslide. Lindeen looks foolish and silly, to the average Montanan, driving around in her bio-diesel "hippy-mobile". She is in over her head.

State Initiatives:
CI-97 - Balanced Budget & Spending Limits - will pass
CI-98 - Judge Recall - will pass
I-154 - Eminent Domain - will pass
I-151 - Minimum Wage - will pass
I-153 - Prohibition of lobbying by former government personnel- will pass

These will all pass because the average Montanan will read them for the first time on the ballot and they all have a positive appeal to the average uninformed voter.

Burns Puts Taxes at Center of Campaign

The Missoulian ran their profile on Conrad Burns yesterday. In it, Burns declares that the race boils down to one thing - taxes. “I will tell you, that's what this election is all about,” Burns says. “He wants to repeal all of those tax cuts of 2001, 2002 and 2003.”

While Burns will protect those tax cuts, Tester will be more than comfortable in working to not renew them. I am one who enjoys keeping more of the money I earn. They don't need more than the +30% that they already take from me. I have little use for the government telling me that they know better on how to spend my earnings.

I really liked the profile because it does boil down to two things for me when Nov 7 comes - taxes and the Patriot Act. Both of which Tester has stated he wants to repeal.


The profile did clarify Tester's tax stance with the following:

Tester, in fact, has favored keeping two tax breaks ending the marriage penalty and the tuition tax credit while ending the others.