Posted on 04/14/2006 3:48:23 PM PDT by Impeach98
Friends,
I wanted to write to you and thank you in the aftermath of the Special Election for the 50th Congressional District.
Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, we were unable to claim victory in this past Tuesday’s Special Election.
The good news is that we managed to keep the anti-war liberal Democrat, Francine Busby, below 50% - and therefore kept her from winning this seat outright. Spending over a million dollars in the final few weeks, the liberal, anti-war extremists were dealt a stunning blow. There will now be a runoff election in June between the top two finishers.
I want you to know that I am extremely proud of the campaign we ran and so very much appreciative of the support you provided to our campaign.
We championed the conservative causes that we hold dear to our heart. We stood up proudly and resolutely for the heroic men and women of the United States military. And we took a strong stand that for the rule of law and advocated for real immigration reforms that would secure our borders and stop the process of rewarding those who break our nation’s laws and enter this country illegally.
During my time in politics I have often been advised to campaign on issues that are inconsistent with my personal beliefs – so that I can “win the seat” and then worry about good governance once in office.
I have always rejected this approach and will continue to do so. For me, elections are not about resorting to whatever it takes to win, it’s about fighting for your beliefs and leading others to back you and your principles. That was the model used by Ronald Reagan, and I have been proud to follow his leadership.
The problems we face in Washington, D.C. today are because too many politicians campaigned one way, but then act another once in office. That’s why too many members of Congress spend like drunken sailors. That’s why we are told to accept amnesty proposals that dishonor those who immigrate into this country illegally. And that is why we don’t hear enough people standing up to the “Blame America First” crowd and pointing out all the things that are going RIGHT in regards to the war on terrorism.
We must never abandon our principles, even if it means we might lose an election or two. Because, my friends, in the end truth will always prevail. I wrote to you on Ronald Reagan’s birthday to remind us all that during Reagan’s presidency many people questioned his policies and his intentions. Some people called him a “warmonger” or “naïve” or a “cowboy.” They said he was wrong to provoke the Soviet Union by calling it an “evil empire.” But Reagan was right, and the truth won out without our having to fire a shot.
Now on to the future; I must decide how best to proceed and I must also wait to see what doors God opens for me to walk through.
I intend to spend this Easter Weekend with family and friends, taking a few days off from thinking about politics.
I have many things to consider in the coming days. As you may know, my “day job” involves work I do for the best private conservative college in America, Hillsdale College, in Michigan. I must re-focus my efforts on my responsibilities to Hillsdale.
I’ll never retreat from being a conservative activist to fight for our shared and common beliefs and values. So many of you worked with me in the organizations I started including the Recall Gray Davis Committee, Defend Reagan Committee and Move America Forward. I’ve devoted my free time to these efforts because I believe in them, and always as a volunteer and never for any compensation.
Many of you have written to me and urged me to run in the June primary for this 50th Congressional District. Were I to run and win the Republican primary, we would then face off against Democrat Francine Busby again in November.
I’ve made no decisions on what to do in this regard. I welcome your counsel and opinions on this matter.
Feel free to drop me an email at: howard@kaloogianforcongress.com
For now I wish you and your family a blessed Easter. Please know that I have given much thought to how fortunate I have been to have the backing and support from so many thousands of wonderful people who contributed or volunteered on my campaign. We have much to be proud of, and we should hold our heads up high.
And we must not stop working to advance the beliefs we share. For now let us ponder the best way to move forward in this regard.
With greatest respect and admiration.
-- Howard Kaloogian
www.KaloogianForCongress.com
PING
He was the best candidate. A true conservative leader on so many fronts. Also a class act.
I agree... but what the hell happened to him in this episode??? He didn't even register in the final results!!! Holy Toledo! (America's ONLY "holy city!")
The good news is that we managed to keep the anti-war liberal Democrat, Francine Busby, below 50% - and therefore kept her from winning this seat outright.
Excellent, and now will Howard help to make cartain that Busby is denied the seat by helping to elect Brian Bilbray?
Roach really stepped it up at the end. I think he spent almost THREE MILLION dollars in this campaign. Whew!
Question:
I understand the June runoff and the call for "unity" around the Republican winner (Bilbray) in this special election (open primary) to fill the remaining Cunningham term. Bilbray is clearly better than Busby(D), but doesn't resemble much of a Republican.
So, what's the plan for the regular June PRIMARY? 70% of Republicans did not support the liberal Bilbray in this election. There is a chance to put someone more conservative in the seat for the full 4 year term. Will there be any uniting of conservative candidates for a strong conservative coalition? With 12 Republicans officially on the ballot, anything less will result in a re-do of what we just saw.
I don't know the answer to your questions. I don't know what Howard thinks about all of this either. I know he's "sorting it out" in his head.
I think John Gizzi in Human Events has it right. Conservatives divided up the vote so many ways that liberal Bilbray could win.
Out of the 18 candidates, I read on one of the blogs that Kaloogian surprised everyone by raising the most money of any of the candidates. The problem was that Roach put in $3 million of his own money and used Kaloogian's message.
A half of million does not stand up to $3 million very well, especially when other conservatives like Morrow and Turner are draining away conservative votes.
Roach will probably run against Bilbray in the primary and beat him. This is a conservative district. But, the horror is that Busby has a great chance to win the Special and kill Bilbray for being a DC lobbyist. Conservatives are discouraged and will not vote in huge numbers.
Bad election all around for conservatives.
Howard endorsed Bilbray for the Runoff election yesterday on Hedgecock's show. He said he respected the will of the voters and in the Special Election they voted for Bilbray and he would support Bilbray therefore for the RUNOFF.
The election for the Primary has not yet taken place and Howard has yet to decide if he will be a candidate in that SEPARATE election ballot.
GOOD on Howard.
Glad to hear it.
Thank you.
Howard is an OK egg, his webmaster is looking for work too. ;-)
LOL! regarding the webnerd.
Howard is more than an OK egg. I have met him and liked him best of all. We even joked about his name and then decided it had a major plus: easily spotted on the ballot...lol.
He will always be Special K to me. :)
Melanie Morgan and Howard have been workin the Move American Forward.ORG and trying so hard to clear up the dreadful confusion that Vacaville mother has caused ever since the Crawford ditch episode... I just expected Howard to do better.
I got a clue off a thread here on FR the other day that things were shaping up in rather strange ways, but goodness... I had no idea!!! Whew!!!
Um...you do realize Bilbray has been a "lobbyist" for border control, right?
I'm sure those who voted for him in the 50th are, because Hedgecock has testified that every single voter there has stated their 1st, 2nd & 3rd most important issue is border control, border control, border control.
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