I am filling in for Thunder Pig this weekend as he takes the weekend off.
I am a member of his social network Conservative Thunder.

According to my twitterfeeds...Michael Steele has been selected the new Chairman of the RNC after six rounds of voting.
I was hoping that it would be either him or Ken Blackwell, and anybody except Mike Duncan or Katon Dawson...either of whom would have been disastrous for our party.
As is typical for national US political parties after losing an election, many senior Republicans promised big changes at the RNC after losing control of the White House in 2008. Former Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele described the party as having lost its sense of purpose while announcing his candidacy to succeed Duncan. "I think I may have some keys to open the door, some juice to turn on the lights," he said.[1]
Besides Michael Steele, who coined the mantra "Drill baby drill" at the 2008 Republican National Convention, Michigan State Republican Party Chairman Saul Anuzis, former Ohio secretary of state and member of the Republican Platform Committee Ken Blackwell, former Tennessee Republican Party Chairman Chip Saltsman, during whose tenure Al Gore lost his home state in the 2000 election,[2] GOP Chairman of South Carolina Katon Dawson,and incumbent Mike Duncan are all seeking the position of National Republican Party Chair.[3] Saltsman's candidacy was marked by controversy when he distributed, as a Christmas gift, a CD that included the song Barack the Magic Negro, a parody of Puff the Magic Dragon.[4]
Other Republicans said the RNC will focus its efforts on congressional and gubernatorial elections in the coming years rather than worrying about the next presidential election. "When I was chairman of the Republican National Committee the last time we lost the White House in 1992 we focused exclusively on 1993 and 1994. And at the end of that time, we had both houses of Congress with Republican majorities, and we’d gone from 17 Republican governors to 31. So anyone talking about 2012 today doesn’t have their eye on the ball. What we ought to worry about is rebuilding our party over the next year and particularly in 2010,” ex-RNC chair and Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour said at the November 2008 Republican Governors conference.[5]

Since I don't watch football, I don't see the Super Bowl commercials until the next day when they start showing up on the Internet. This year is different, because Ad Week has some of them right now. Just be aware that the player will keep right on playing through to the Super Bowl ads of yesteryear...
This is a video of the remarks made by Senator Basnight in the NC Senate yesterday after he was sworn in for another term as President Pro Tempore of the North Carolina Senate. It was a long distance collaboration between myself and two other members of Conservative Thunder, a social networking site I started last July, and has only recently started to gain some traction (thanks to several recent energetic members).
We have a group formed specifically for the purpose of monitoring the NC General Assembly, and we look forward to the challenges ahead, and welcome new participants in our quest...
Our homes, businesses, property and way of life are in danger because the North Carolina General Assembly is back in session, and according to the speech given by Senator Marc Basnight, they will be looking for ways to "save us". [top audio player]
| 11:00 AM | Session Convenes(House) [listen live] | House Chamber |
| 11:00 AM | Session Convenes(Senate) [listen live] | Senate Chamber |
| 11:00 AM | Press Conference / Rep. Blue [listen live] |

And of the natives who have joined them, they should be tarred and feathered and rode out of town on a rail.
Here are the take-away numbers:

“While Senator Burr enjoys a slightly higher overall favorable rating than the other two, none of the three potential candidates are widely known among the electorate,” said Francis De Luca, executive director of the Civitas Institute. “Congressman Shuler is a virtual unknown outside of his district in Western N.C.”
Current N.C. Attorney General Roy Cooper and US Congressman Heath Shuler are among the two most publicly speculated candidates to challenge Burr.
“Despite being in office an additional three plus years, taking over the highly publicized Duke lacrosse case, and just recently spending in excess of $2.5 million on re-election, Attorney General Cooper has only marginally improved his favorability since October 2005,” said De Luca.
Civitas tested voters’ opinion of Roy Cooper back in October 2005:
Favorable: 23%
Unfavorable: 4%
Unsure: 25%
Not aware: 47%
“All three candidates have a tremendous amount of work to do to familiarize themselves with voters over the next two years. It is almost as if voters are starting off with a blank slate of candidates to choose from for their next US Senator,” De Luca concluded.
Source: Civitas Institute
Please allow me to introduce you to Congressman Heath Shuler...
And Congressman Shuler wasn't through running...a couple of days later, he ran from Richard Bernier of the URTV program "Sound Off Buncombe".
If Congressman Shuler is indeed interested in "trying out" for the U.S. Senate, he'll find that a lot more people will be interested in seeing debates, and it won't be so easy to duck with a whole state watching. I certainly hope the Main Stream Media won't be as deep in his pockets as they are out here in the west...
A cute little video I found on you tube about a two week poster hanging campaign for Grupo Fantasma by a guerrilla marketing effort called Guerrilla Street Team:
The NC General Assembly has released the program for tomorrow's today's events in the Senate and House, and I have embedded a copy below that is downloadable for your convenience:
Josh Allem provides an entertaining look at the world from a christian conservative point of view, with some humor thrown in...
Join TCOT Radio every Tuesday at 1pm PST. Join me by calling in 646-929-1981 or tweet in via Twitter @tcotradio. We talk about everything that is happening in the world of TCOT - Top Conservatives on Twitter - and beyond. All callers and tweeters of all political persuasions are welcome.
Here is the latest:
- Status Report
Unrest at Redoubt Volcano continues. Seismicity at stations closest to the volcano's summit has declined somewhat starting at about 4:00 AKT this morning, but remains well above background levels.
Nothing unusual has been seen over the past 24 hours in clear to partly cloudy satellite views. AVO conducted an overflight of the volcano yesterday afternoon, and observations confirm that an eruption has not occurred. Increased steaming through previously observed sources in the snow and ice cover were seen and sulfur gas emissions were noted. There was no significant disruption of the glacial ice, nor any apparent increased water discharge down the Drift River. A gas-measurement flight to the volcano is underway today.
The current activity at Redoubt could be precursory to an eruption, perhaps within days. A further increase in seismicity is expected to accompany an eruption. Staff are currently monitoring the volcano 24 hours a day.
Beginning at 00:58 AST (9:58 UTC) yesterday morning, nearly continuous volcanic tremor was recorded at stations near Redoubt's summit, prompting AVO to raise the Aviation Color Code to ORANGE and the Alert Level to WATCH at 02:09 AST (11:09 UTC). AVO had raised the Aviation Color Code to YELLOW and the Volcano Alert Level to ADVISORY on November 5, 2008, in response to increased emissions of volcanic gases; melting of snow and ice near the volcano’s summit; and a subtle increase in seismicity.
Source: Alaska Volcano Observatory, where you can view a live webcam of the volcano and browse through reports on other volcanoes in the state.
Related: Google Map of Volcano
Related: Wikipedia Article
On the right is a photo from Wikipedia of the 1989-1990 eruption of Mount Redoubt.

Come on over and sign up, give a little money and help build a warchest for 2012.

Roll Call Vote
Italy recalled its Ambassador to Brazil yesterday after Brazil granted political asylum to Cesare Battisti, a terrorist who was convicted in absentia by Italy for murders committed in the 1970s. The Lula government refused to extradite Battisti to Italy, and a Brazilian court has revised its prior decision. What does this mean for the Hemisphere? Read More>>
Rush Limbaugh Fills GOP's Leadership Void;
Obama Knows It, As Do Conservatives: Let's Make It Official
Brian Maloney, of Radio Equalizer, has an interesting piece on the emerging war of words that President Obama has launched on the chief proponent of conservatism in America today, radio host, Rush Limbaugh.
Republicans senators voting for Geitner's confirmation were; Bob Corker (Tennessee), John Cornyn (Texas), Mike Crapo (Idaho), John Ensign (Nevada), Lindsey Graham (South Carolina), Judd Gregg (New Hampshire), Orrin Hatch (Utah), Richard Shelby (Alabama), Olympia Snowe (Maine), and George Voinovich (Ohio).
This is the last day of committee meetings for the old NC General Assembly, the new one will be sworn in tomorrow at about noon. I'll try to have the podcast up by the end of the day on the Conservative Thunder network.
| 9:00 AM | CANCELLED - Courts Commission | N/A |
| 9:30 AM | Revenue Laws Study Committee [Docs] House Appt: D Hill, P Luebke (Cochair), W Wainwright; Senate Appt: D Clodfelter, D Hoyle, F Hartsell, Jr., H Webster, J Kerr III (Cochair), W Dalton, P Brunstetter; Clerk Appt: DeAnne Mangum (919) 733-2405; Staff Appt: Rodney Bizzell (919) 733-4910, Cindy Avrette (919) 733-2578, David Crotts (919) 733-4910, Martha Walston (919) 733-4910, Joy Hicks (919) 733-4910, Barry Boardman (919) 733-4910, Dan Ettefagh (919) 733-6660, Trina Griffin (919) 733-2578, Judy Collier (919) 733-2578; | 1228/1327 LB |
| 10:00 AM | House Appt: B Faison (Chair), A Bryant, J Gulley, P Haire, J Harrell, III, T Tillis, J Tolson, T West; Clerk Appt: Lavada Vitalis (919) 715-3019; | 544 LOB |
| 10:00 AM | N/A1 | |
| 1:00 PM | House Appt: J Crawford, Jr. (Cochair), D Saunders (Cochair), L Coleman, B Goforth, H Holliman, C Justice, D Lewis, P Luebke, J Langdon; Senate Appt: M Graham, M Nesbitt, D Clodfelter (Cochair), R Stevens, R Pittenger, C Albertson, F Hartsell, Jr. (Cochair), L Garrou, C Jenkins; Clerk Appt: Doris Gilbert (919) 301-1402; Staff Appt: John Turcotte (919) 301-1402; | 544 LOB |
| 2:00 PM | House Appt: R Rapp, T Tillis, G Martin, J Tolson (Cochair), M Hilton, D Clary, R Tucker, G Pierce; Senate Appt: V Malone (Cochair), T Foriest, A Allran, J Cowell, K Hagan, K Dorsett, R Atwater, R Stevens, J Jacumin; Staff Appt: Brenda Carter (919) 733-2578, Peter Capriglione , Phyllis Pickett (919) 733-6600; | 421 LOB |
All I can say about the JPA Live Radio Show is that you will be entertained and informed.
The show starts at 5pm Eastern Time and lasts for an hour. Shortly after the show, the program will be available for podcast in case you missed it live.![]()
For even more fun, you can join in the chatroom and listen from there.
Josh also has a blog, and an entertaining youtube channel.
Perhaps Volume 14 of the Best of the JPA Live Show will serve as an example of the antics that take place on his show. (This includes the hilarious audio of some whacko eniromentalists crying over the death of some trees).
“RNC Chooses Whites Only Chairman,” the headline blares.
The subheds: “White House Rejoices With GOP Selection.”
And: “GOP Leaders and Independent Voters Upset.”
The “front page” does specify that it’s a “parody.” The idea, obviously, is to hit Dawson by pointing out that electing someone who was a member of a whites only club as the new public face of the GOP won’t exactly help the party counter charges that it’s become a southern regional party that’s been hijacked by intolerants.
Source: The Plumline
I certainly hope that RNC members aren't behind this attack on Dawson. I suspect that it is more likely a Democratic PsyOps campaign to sow chaos and dissention among RNC members and to make the GOP look bad.
I urge anyone near Chatham County who can attend this meeting to do so...
Hat Tip: Ron Woodard of NC Listen
PRESS RELEASE
Attention all North Carolina ALIPACers!
ALIPAC's President, William Gheen is going into Chatham County on Tuesday night for an important meeting.
We need as many of you as possible to join us to learn more and show your support.
As you may have heard, Chatham County's Commission has voted to prohibit their law enforcement agencies from working closely with Immigration and Customs to deport illegal aliens arrested for other crimes.
This will make Chatham County our state's lone "Sanctuary County" and at a time when we have made a lot of progress getting many other counties into the 287(g) program.
The 287(g) program saves lives and the decision in Chatham will cost lives, if we do not act swiftly.
Concerned citizens are gathering on the ground in Chatham county and they need our attendance and support. Here are the event details, please spread the word and join us if at all possible.
Time/Date: Tuesday, January 27, 7pm EST.
Location:
Virlie's Grill - Pittsboro, NC 27312
58 Hillsboro St
MAP LINK
http://tinyurl.com/anwywm
Host Organization: The Chatham Conservative Voice
http://www.tccv.org/
All concerned citizens and elected officials should join us.
Guest Speaker: William Gheen, President of the national organization ALIPAC (Americans for Legal Immigration Political Action Committee)
www.alipac.us
Topics: How to reverse Chatham County's refusal to work with federal immigration agencies and save lives by implementing the 287(g) program like most other counties in NC are doing.
---
Article
N.C.: Chatham County not involved with ICE program
http://www.alipac.us/article-3922-thread-1-0.html
Press Release
NC Sanctuary County Policy In Chatham Challenged by ALIPAC
http://www.alipac.us/ftopicp-838718.html#838718
_________________

Dr. Carl Mumpower, ever the faithful watchdog, has issued a letter [copy available here] on the recent effort by others on the Asheville City Council to seek Federal Monies.
The list of projects will cost $122 million, according to a recent article in the Asheville Citizen-Times, include:
Projects for Asheville include:
Hendersonville Road sidewalk
McDowell Street sidewalk
Beaverdam Road sidewalk
Replacement buses
installation of bus stops
Brian and Burton Street drainage/Roadway
Old Toll Road Drainange/Roadway
Victoria Road Drainange/Roadway
Traffic Signal at Charlotte and Edwin Place
Traffic Signal Upgrade at Charlotte and Chestnut
Complete Wayfinding Project
Bike Lockers
Bike racks
North Fork High Pressure Pumping Station
Black Mountain Pumping Station
Mills River Pumping Station
Walnut Cove Pumping Station
Upgrade parks to become ADA assessible (sic)
AB -Tech Connector to Depot Street
Expansion Buses
Bike shelters and sidewalks
Patton Avenue sidewalk
Edgewood Road sidewalk
Backwash loggon at Debruhl Water Treatment Plant
Brookside Circle 12-inch water line
Monte Vista Road/Sand Hill Road 16-inch water line
Beaucatcher Road 30-inch water line
College Street 24-inch water line
Tunnel Road 8-inch water line
Swannanoa River Road 12-inch water line
Reid Creek - Phase III greenway
Building Lighting Retrofit (T8's,motion sensors, exit signs, CFL)
Parking Deck LED Retrofit
Community Center/ Public Pool/Fire Station Solar Thermal
Electric Golf Cart Solar PV
Nature Center Solar PV
Building HVAC Retrofitting
Multi Site Solar PV Project

Fausta has scheduled a show for this morning at 11am called, "Carnival Monday: Bolivian election, Mexican drug wars & other stories 15 Minutes on Latin America" and you can listen to it live (or archived) on the player below:
Or, if you prefer, listen from the chatroom.
The show starts at 11am, and should last for about 15 minutes. If you miss it live, it will be archived to play in the same player above a few minutes after the show is complete.
Fausta has a blog called Fausta's Blog, and she covers Latin American issues in addition to all things conservative...along with the occasional food show. [listen to one here]
None of these meetings are available via the web audio feed, so there will be no podcast today:
| 2:00 PM | Housing, Joint Study Committee on [List] House Appt: A Adams (Cochair), P Gibson (Cochair), D Goforth, L Hall, P McElrath, T Walker; Senate Appt: J Queen (Cochair), A Rand (Cochair), K Dorsett, J Forrester, E Kinnaird, F McKissick; | 1124/1224 LB |
| 2:00 PM | Joint Urban Growth and Infrastructure Issues [List] | 414 LOB |
| 3:00 PM | House Select Committee on a Comprehensive Rail Service Plan for NC [Cache] House Appt: B Stiller, R Sutton, M Dickson (Cochair), R Rapp (Cochair), C Allred, J Barnhart, B Carney, L Coates, N Cole, B Goforth, M Goodwin, M Hilton, D McComas, E Parmon, L Pate, Jr., D Ross, J Dockham, B Earle, J Farmer-Butterfield, F Steen; | 1228/1327 LB |
| 3:00 PM | Partition Sales Study Committee [List] House Appt: A Bryant (Cochair), H Michaux, Jr., L Allen, P Stam, T Spear; Senate Appt: C Albertson, D Weinstein, E Jones, P Berger, R Atwater (Cochair); | 421 LOB |
Here is my morning brief linkfest...
20 January 2008: Over the last several months, the Northeast Intelligence Network has been quietly conducting a number of investigations into threats posed to the safety, security and sovereignty of our homeland. Our core network of highly trained, professional veteran investigators located in three countries on two continents have developed - and continue to develop - information that we feel is critical to the safety, security and sovereignty of the U.S., Canada and in fact, all Western countries. The United States, Canada and the West is under attack by several enemies - externally and internally - by Islamic terrorists and their supporters, and by individuals and organizations with globalist agendas. To exacerbate the threats, our media has fully succumbed to pressure exerted by special interest groups and those in positions of power. We have the evidence. The manipulation does not stop with the media, but also extends to various Internet sites once considered valuable and accurate sources of accurate and unbiased news.
In our quest for the truth, we have stepped on a lot of toes, but we have also developed a network of informational assets within various levels of the government and the corporate media. They are our allies, and they have reaffirmed their commitment to insure that the truth gets to the people. This is especially necessary at present, when even the most dismissive among us must admit that the confluence of national and global events is far from coincidental. From the purposely manipulated oil prices, to the manufactured economic crisis, the rise in geopolitical tensions and other watershed events of epic proportions, it is important not to be myopic in the scope of investigations and analysis, and to encompass all aspects of the various threats facing us, no matter where the evidence leads or how uncomfortable the results.
To provide a better method of disseminating information and publicizing the results of our investigations, we are in the process of changing our web site structure and appearance. Please be patient as we complete our integration over the next few days. We promise it will be worth it.
Douglas J. Hagmann, Director
William S. Lind has noted that Israel doesn't get 4GW. I am afraid that I will have to agree. At about three weeks into Operation Cast Lead, I came to the same conclusion, which leads me to Israeli bloggers...Israel Matzav has a video on how to make a Hamas Hero, and Israelly Cool has a daily update on what is going on in Israel, as does The Muqata, who has also posted some amazing images from Operation Cast Lead.
The American Power blog has an article entitled, "The Complexity of American Ideology" that is very interesting, as well a piece on the Ugly Side of Obama's Inauguration, and what that tells us about Obama and the Left.
And, from Alaska, Syrin has this to say about the failure of the pipeline Sarah Palin said she was building in Alaska, and addressed in her latest radio show:
(1/26/09) Admit it; you've been in a theatre and you've had the strong urge to yell at the characters on the screen during the tense moments of the movie. "What are you going to do now!? You lost your gun when you broke the window...what are you going to do now!?"
For those of us who have been keeping tabs on the Palin administration's efforts to secure commitments for the construction of a natural gas pipeline, we've been yelling at the characters for almost two years.
From the first day they rolled out their AGIA fantasy in March of 2007 to August of 2008 when they awarded the AGIA license to TransCanada, we've been yelling that "AGIA is a waste of $500 million because it ignores critical legal and fiscal realities."
And yes, even when Governor Palin stood before God and country, not to mention 70 million viewers watching the Vice Presidential debate and lied by saying "we're building that $40 billion pipeline, the most expensive infrastructure project in the history of the United States," we yelled at the screen then as well; "What the hell are you talking about?"
And looking to the south, Fausta has a disquieting article regarding Mexico's Ominous Drug Wars that bears checking out.










