Friday, May 31, 2013

Press Release: Middletown Republican Town Committee Picnic


Letter to the Editor: A Proposal to Improve Congressional Responsibility

Below is a letter to the Editor by Middletown Republican Town Committee chairman Ken McClellan.. Opinions are that of the author and do not necessarily reflect that of Insider Staff.  
------------------------------------------------
Congressional Reform Act of 2013
A Proposal to improve congressional responsibility

1. Congress, as a body and as employees of the United States, must abide by all laws they enact.

2. No Pension. A Congressman/woman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they're out of office.

3. Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social Security. All funds currently in the Congressional retirement fund move to the Social Security system immediately. Retired congresspersons will be credited with SS contributions commensurate with their salary, and receive payments on the scale based on those payments. Congresspersons will pay into Social Security system. Social Security funds may not be used to purchase government securities. This will save taxpayer money and force congresspersons to think about the long-term viability of Social Security.

4. Congresspersons can choose to participate in 401k plans or purchase their own retirement plan (IRA).

5. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.

6. Congress participates in a health care insurance plans as the American people. They can elect to purchase private insurance or join an exchange set up under the Affordable Care Act. Any care provided in a government medical facility or by government employees (including military health care providers) will be billed, and paid for by the congressperson and their insurance plan.

7. All contracts with past and present Congressmen/women are void effective 12/31/13. The American people did not make this contract with Congressmen/women. Congressmen/women made all these contracts for themselves. It’s time to stop that practice.

Serving in Congress is an honor not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, so ours should serve their term(s), then go home and back to work.


Ken McClellan,
Middletown, CT

Middletown Kiwanis Scholarships

PRESS RELEASE: On May 22nd, the Middletown Kiwanis Club conducted its annual scholarship presentations. The Middletown Kiwanis through its Foundation each year gives a graduating senior from each of Middletown's four high schools a $2,000 college scholarship. A $500 scholarship is also awarded to a local high school senior attending Middlesex Community College in the fall. Of the fore-mentioned recipients one is selected to also receive the A. Merton & Arline W. Bozoian $500 scholarship. 
The event MC was Kiwanis member Karen Nocera. Each student was accompanied by a school representative who described the qualities and accomplishments of their schools recipient. Kiwanis President Christopher Conley then made the scholarship presentations. Starting with the $2,000 awards: 
  • Melike Tomak, a graduating senior from Middletown High School who will be attending Central Connecticut State University in the fall.
  • Majesty Reyes, a graduating senior from Vinal Technical High School who will be attending University of Hartford in the fall.
  • Maria Grant, a graduating senior from Mercy High School who will be attending Elon University in North Carolina in the fall.
  • John Cyr, a graduating senior from Xavier High School who will be attending Clark University in Massachusetts in the fall.
  • The Kiwanis scholarship committee also selected Majesty Reyes of Vinal Technical High School to receive the $500Bozoian scholarship. The two benefactors of this yearly award, A. Merton & Arline Bozoian were very involved in the education of the young people of Middletown. Mr. "Ozzie" Bozoian, as the former principal of Middletown High School and Mrs. Arline Bozoian, as a school and Central Office administrative assistant. They left an endowment to assist young students for several years to come.
  • The recipient of the $500 scholarship for an incoming Middlesex Community College freshman was Karina Hernandez a senior from Middletown High School.
The Middletown Kiwanis Foundation's annual golf tournament proceeds are used to help fund the annual scholarship awards. The tournament will be held in August. Anyone interested in playing or in being a sponsor should email kiwanis.club.middletown@gmail.com for more information. 
Congratulations to this year’s scholarship recipients.

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Mind the Cap: Were you taught to spend more than you make?

Klarides says ‘Mind the Cap’

"Gov. Malloy and Democrat lawmakers want to ignore the state’s Constitutional Spending Cap. Don’t let them. State spending has greatly outpaced population growth, median income and the gross state product. Join me in telling the Democrats it’s time to reduce spending, not change the rules that govern it.
To find out more about the “Mind the Cap” campaign, click here: http://cthousegop.com/mindthecap/
Please consider sharing this page, posting the “Mind the Cap” icon and using the hashtag #mindthecap for your social media."
Themis Klarides,
Deputy Republican Leader, CT House Republicans

Message from Len Suzio : Stop the Gas Tax Increase scheduled for July 1

Stop the Connecticut gas tax increase scheduled for July 1, 2013.

Dear Fellow Citizens, ,
"The biggest single increase in Connecticut gas tax history is scheduled to be imposed on Connecticut's hard pressed families effective July 1, this year. This increase will push Connecticut state gas taxes well above $0.50/gallon (not including federal gas excise taxes). With the increase Connecticut will have the biggest gas tax burden of any state. It's no wonder why gas prices in Massachusetts are $0.25 to $0.30 per gallon cheaper than Connecticut.
We will be holding a gas tax protest rally at Danby's Gas Station at 872 East Main Street in Meriden on Thursday May 30, from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm.
Danby's will reduce its gas price during the event by $0.22/gallon, the equivalent of Connecticut's hidden gas tax, the Petroleum Gross Receipts tax that makes Connecticut the most expensive.
This is a great opportunity to vent your opposition to Connecticut's high gas taxes and get a break on your gas that day. Please join us to protest Connecticut's outrageous gas taxes.
If you can't make it please sign the petition by clicking on the link below.
So, don't be discouraged. Be motivated and act to stop the big gas tax increase. Call the governor's office and sign the petition!
  1. Visit Us:
    Contact Info:
    Phone: (203)-530-1544
    Email: lensuzio@gmail.com

What is the Connecticut Restoration Coalition?

Press release: Connecticut Restoration Coalition 
Meeting June 1, 5 pm
75 Aircraft Road, Southington CT 06489
 KING 33 Training Center, http://www.king33training.com/

Connecticut Restoration Coalition has been formed to focus the efforts of all citizens in Connecticut.

From the CRC Website: 
"Realizing a need for timely and accurate communication throughout CT, we work with groups like CCDL, Oathkeepers, CT Carry, 1MMAGC-CT (and others) to form this coalition. We are not a group in of itself, but an organization that collects and provides information relevant to Connecticut residents when their rights and liberties are challenged.

We believe both the state and federal governments are heading in the wrong direction and we choose to fight! Bills, proposals, town hall meetings, and other events that you need to takeACTION on will be posted here.
Meeting:
We meet Saturday nights at KING33 in Southington (75 Aircraft Rd.) between 5-7pm. We welcome new like-minded speakers, have group leaders share, and have an open discussion of the next weeks calls to action in CT. We then set up plans, act on them, share information and return for the next week. Our goal is to get everyone calling, showing up at LOB/rallys/town halls and making their voices heard.
The people of the coalition are working together to maintain our constitutional rights! Please message us if you are interested in joining or come to the meeting! If you are a liberty or Constitution focused group in CT, we want to hear from you. Email us or come to one of the Coalition meetings."
___
Mission Statement:
To ensure that our Constitutional rights shall never be infringed, ever again.
Vision Statement:
It started here, we’ll restore it here.
The Constitution.
____
Contact:
eMail Here for Coalition related questions

Coalition Flyer:
Simple one is here.
Robust one (non-printer friendly) is here.
___
Visit Our Facebook Page:
“CT Restoration Coalition”
The site is updated throughout the day.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/CT-Restoration-Coalition/169947006486490

Labriola speaks about Malloy's breach of State Spending Cap

Press Release: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 29, 2013

CT GOP Chair LABRIOLA RESPONDS TO MALLOY STATEMENT

Statement by State GOP Chairman Jerry Labriola, Jr. on Gov. Malloy’s remark to Connecticut reporters that opponents of Malloy’s decision to break Connecticut’s Constitutional Spending Cap are “a bunch of people trying to score cheap political points."

“There are several points -- none of them cheap -- to make about Governor Malloy’s hypocritical comment regarding his decision to break the Constitutionally-mandated State Spending Cap in order to spend an additional $500 million in taxpayer dollars.

The spending cap language was adopted in 1991 and has served as a check against insatiable Democrat spending for 22 years, with no changes to the definition of the cap until Malloy’s proposal;
Governor Malloy using the phrase “scoring cheap political points” comes from a governor who – in the category of “Cheap Political Points” -- is the all-time leader and a future first-ballot Hall-of-Famer;
Most importantly, Governor Malloy and the legislative Democrats are breaking the Spending Cap because they have neither the will nor the control of their caucus to control spending. Deeply indebted to government unions and special interests, the Democrats broke the historical record for tax increases in their budget of 2011 – and now they are using their legislative majority to break the spending cap Connecticut voters put in place more than two decades ago for one reason and one reason only – they cannot say no to spending; and
This cheap budget gimmick only emphasizes the abysmal failure of Malloy’s budget and economic policies and breaking the spending cap will only hinder future economic recovery.”

A Poem...

“First they came…” is a famous statement and provocative poem attributed to pastor Martin Niemöller (1892–1984) about the sloth of German intellectuals following the Nazis' rise to power and the subsequent purging of their chosen targets, group after group.
I’ve employed artistic license with this famous poem making it more contemporary by applying recent developments in Connecticut and in America.
First they came for the Catholics,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Catholic.
Then they came for the Tea Party Patriots,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Tea Party Patriot.
Then they came for the Gun Owners,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Gun Owner.
Then they came for Me,
and there was no one left to speak for Me.

Xavier 8th Annual E.J.K. Car Show

Press Release:


Tuesday, May 28, 2013

LIVE! Tonight the Edge on Comcast Ch. 15


LIVE! Tonight the Edge on Comcast Ch. 15
Special guests Marisa Tomei and Joe Peschi.
Hosted by Jon Pulino
As per a live show, unusual and unexpected things can and will happen. Will William Wilson make the political announcement of his career? Has Jon Pulino overused his Christopher Walken impression? Where will the crew go out to eat after the show and if so where? (Answer: Whoever has the cheapest specials).

The show airs live at 8 p.m. and as always, the show takes live calls at 
860-613-3031.

Middletown Republican Town Committee Meets Tonight City Hall: All welcome

Press Release from MRTC: The next meeting of the Middletown Republican Town Committee will be on May 28, at 7pm, at City Hall. Please join us. http://www.middletownctgop.com/
The Middletown Republican Town Committee is holding its monthly meeting May 28th at 7 pm in the Council Chambers at City Hall.
Anyone wishing to learn more about the committee is welcome & encouraged to attend.
They may also email Vice Chairman William Wilson at :uconnone@sbcglobal.net
The Middletown Republican Town Committee is seeking candidates for the Municipal election to be held in November, 2013.  The following candidacies are available:  Common Council, Board of Education, Planning and Zoning Commission, Planning and Zoning Commission Alternate, and Board of Assessment Appeals.  Anyone interested in being considered to become a candidate must submit a letter of intent stating the office he/she is seeking.  The following information must also be included:  Name, address, phone number and email address. 
THIS LETTER OF INTENT MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE TOWN COMMITTEE CHAIR NO LATER THAN JULY 2, 2013.  
Mail to:
Middletown Republican Town Committee
Kenneth A. McClellan, Chair
P.O. Box 1121
Middletown, CT 06457

Don't Tread on Me - The Gadsden Flag

Benjamin Franklin sketched... and published the first known political cartoon in an American newspaper. It is the first image in the video below. The rattlesnake image continued to be used in various forms on flags and banners in the early days of the Republic. One such banner is the Gadsden Flag with the rattlesnake and the "Don't Tread on Me" admonition. Read the history of the Gadsden Flag here.

The song, "The Gadsden Flag" was composed by Michael O'Donoghue of the early National Lampoon and Saturday Night Live years. I have never been able to discover who sings this song although I once communicated with a woman who said she was the producer. However she would not reveal the artist's name.


 The Gadsden Flag

In some old dusty attic
Undisturbed for many years
There lies a tattered banner
That is stained with blood and tears
By men who knew that freedom
Must be fought for by the free
And died to save a ragged flag
That said Don't Tread on Me

Don't Tread on Me
I'm a rattlesnake with
Diamonds down my back
When other men retreat
That's just the time that I attack
Because a dream that's worth defending
Is a dream that's bound to be
A ragged flag that said
Don't Tread on Me

Two hundred years of glory
And the glory's just begun
We may have lost some battles
But these colors never run
We drew the line at Valley Forge
We held at Bunker Hill
The cannon smoke is lifting
I can see that banner still

Don't Tread on me
I'm a mountain lion
And courage is my name
I tamed a wild country
But I'm wild just the same
And from that rocky Boston harbor
To the California Sea
A ragged flag that said
Don't Tread on Me

This nation isn't what we've done
It's what we've got to do
Remember that United States
Can only start with you
We better be recalling
What this country's all about
And rally round that ragged flag
And hear the people shout
Don't Tread on Me

Letter to the Editor: Lesser's Support of Drivers Licenses for Illegals is Exploitation & Self-Serving

Letter to the Editor:

Once again Middletown's representative at the capital Rep. Matt Lesser acts in his own best interest instead of that of the citizens he is supposed to advocate for in his support of the bill to allow illegal immigrants to get Connecticut driver's licenses. The  latest poll from Quinnipiac University  found that citizens oppose  allowing illegal immigrants to get drivers' licenses  65% to 31%. Voters don't want licenses given to illegals.

 The argument of granting drivers licenses to undocumented illegal immigrants in order to make roads safer is flawed. The facts surrounding not supporting licensing illegals have been manipulated as well. Conservatives who do not support drivers licenses for illegals are not bigots as the left wants everyone to believe; all of our ancestors are immigrants in some capacity. The difference is our ancestors had to became legal citizens before getting the benefits and rights of being a full citizen; it is that process that should be maintained. 

Because of the flawed logic used to justify support of this bill, we are left to assume that Lesser voted for  undocumented illegal immigrants to be allowed to obtain drivers licenses because the influx of new registrants will help fill the state coffers. Support of licensing illegal immigrant drivers will also garner sympathy votes from supporters of big government. Social services and non profits that support, and at the same time exploit the hardship of these individuals, are also the same special interest groups who's affiliates shell out big campaign contributions to progressive's like Lesser.  

Holding true to form, Lesser puts the potential earning of his re-election campaign before  the Constitutionality of the law at hand, as he did in supporting the stricter gun control laws recently passed in Connecticut that violate the 2nd Amendment.  My question is: How do the state legislators think it is okay to break Federal law?
.
The legislators are not doing what's best for, or what is  being asked for  by the taxpayers who pay their salaries. Lesser and other legislators who supported this bill are pandering to the special interest groups who fill their campaign war chests.

Bill Wilson
Vice Chair of The Middletown Republican Party

Monday, May 27, 2013

Councilman Shares Thoughts on Memorial Day in Middletown

Resident Ed Dypa rides in an antique fire truck in the Westfield Memorial Day Parade this past weekend,
 Photo Credit :Jean Dypa Newman
















To all the Veterans who are home today, those that are on duty and those who have made the supreme sacrifice, I salute all of you with my prayers and thoughts for your safety.

This weekend my heart is heavy for my Uncle Peter who died on the beaches of Normandy and my Nephew Victor who was a wounded Vietnam War Veteran who died much to early!

I am so proud of our Middletown Veterans who have chosen the Vietnam Veterans as the theme of Monday's Parade.

I will be marching with pride as a Veteran of the Vietnam War Era and as a City Councilman dedicated to ensuring that we never forget our American Heroes, who contribute so much to our City of Middletown, State and Nation!

Sincerely,
Councilman Phil Pessina,(R)

Freedom Isn't Free: Thank a Veteran

Tribute to Veterans on Memorial Day 2013

A popular forward from around the web sums up our thoughts on this Memorial Day: Photo credits are unknown.
Our European arrogance
in alphabetical order

1. The American Cemetery at Aisne-Marne, France... A total of 2289
2. The American Cemetery at Ardennes, Belgium... A total of 5329

3. The American Cemetery at Brittany, France... A total of 4410 

4. Brookwood, England - American Cemetery... A total of 468

Guest Blog: Greetings Patriots by Palin Smith Conservative Roundup

Below is a roundup of Conservative events being held this week. Complied and submitted by Palin Smith. Opinions are that of Palin Smith and do not necessarily reflect that of Insider Staff.  
GREETINGS PATRIOTS
The highly anticipated union protest against Wisconsin Governor, Republican Scott Walker, was even more entertaining than expected. On Monday, May 20, over 200 people representing various unions arrived at the vest pocket park adjacent to the entrance to First Stamford Place. Several very large inflated animal chariacatures were designated as Governor Walker’s escort committee by CT AFLCIO President, John Olsen. The plastic creatures actually more resembled Democrats than Republican symbols.
A counter rally supporting Walker fizzled. Only a handful of patriots made the effort to attend. It’s all captured in this you tube play list. http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5wsVsNCEygoKfxhQ_WMzs240bxvzzhdI
The tiny counter rally debuted a “Win With Walker” yard sign, but it was the “John McKinneyMust Go” sign that made the biggest splash.
If you were not one of the approximately 700 establishment Republicans who paid $250 each to witness Sen. John McKinney receive the annual Prescott Bush award, but regretted missing Governor Walker’s speech, you are in for a treat. Thanks to William Landers of Ameriborn News, we can share Walker’s message of optimism.
Don’t miss the highlighted comments below the video.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In part of his speech, Governor Walker spoke about campaigning in Milwaukee neighborhoods where the people “had never seen a Republican before”. Walker is a rare Republican. He actually did what others only talk about.
In Connecticut there is a man very similar to Scott Walker. A Republican who goes where Republicans are an endangered species. His name is Wayne Winsley. If you take the time to read this weekly newsletter, you viewed an attachment a week ago showing Winsley’s “Brave Enough To Fail” presentation.
On Tuesday and Wednesday mornings this week, Wayne Winsley spoke to the entire student population of Warren Harding High School in Bridgeport. A thousand of those students will be eligible to vote in 2014. All will have a chance to vote in 2016. Wayne Winsley’s message is positive and hopeful, the rarest seed in a Connecticut inner city. Watch Wayne in this three set video play list as he speaks to 850 teenagers on the first of two days.

Sunday, May 26, 2013

The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner

      "The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner" by Randall Jarrell (1914-1965)


From my mother's sleep I fell into the State,
And I hunched in its belly till my wet fur froze.
Six miles from earth, loosed from its dream of life,
I woke to black flak and the nightmare fighters.
When I died they washed me out of the turret with a hose. 

Jarrell's explanation: "A ball turret was a Plexiglas sphere set into the belly of a B-17 or B-24, and inhabited by two .50 caliber machine-guns and one man, a short small man. When this gunner tracked with his machine guns a fighter attacking his bomber from below, he revolved with the turret; hunched upside-down in his little sphere, he looked like the foetus in the womb. The fighters which attacked him were armed with cannon firing explosive shells. The hose was a steam hose."
                                                    
Inside the Ball Turret - B24


It is hard to conceive of a more exposed position in any military situation.  In reality, however, analysis of war time casualties showed that the belly gunner was the least often killed while the pilot was most often lost. In the belly of the beast the airman had a panoramic view of enemy fighters attacking from below.
"It hard to imagine a worse place to go to war in then the ball turret position of the B-17 Flying Fortress. Isolated from the rest of the ten man crew, the ball turret was extremely cramped quarters and required a man with a slight build. In almost every case, there was not enough room for the ball turret gunner to wear a parachute...Once inside the ball, the gunner sat all curled up in the fetal position, swiveling the entire turret as he aimed the two guns. The turret had a full 360 degress of motion horizontally and 90 degrees of motion vertically. The gunner could be in any attitude from laying on his back to standing on his feet. " Source

         
Sperry Ball Turret
- B 17

Saturday, May 25, 2013

Vietnam POW's Reunion Dinner at Nixon Library

May 24, 2013

Nearly 200 Vietnam POWs and their spouses gathered for a banquet gala at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library tonight on the 40th anniversary of the White House dinner hosted for them by President Nixon on May 24, 1973 – the largest dinner in White House history.

                                                  Ross Perot and Tricia Cox Nixon

The program featured remarks by President Nixon’s daughter Tricia Nixon Cox, business leader and POW advocate Ross Perot, and Congressman Ed Royce, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, as well as a video tribute from former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.

                                                              Tricia Cox Nixon

The events also included a special performance from the POW choir, who sang at the original dinner.

                                                                                   POW Choir

40 years ago, First Lady Pat Nixon had 126 tables set for the more than 1,300 guests, and arranged for the construction of a canopy over the South Lawn, which itself covered more area than the entire Executive Mansion.

The men and their families were entertained by a Hollywood star-studded lineup including Bob Hope, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Irving Berlin. They were paid a special tribute by John Wayne, who told them: “I’ll ride into the sunset with you anytime.”

Many wept openly when Irving Berlin led the chorus of heroes in “God Bless America.”

“Some of the men almost seemed to be shouting so that the words could be heard all the way to Hanoi,” President Nixon later said.

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