A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....04-05-06....Katherine Harris - Happy Birthday!

DollyCali; JulieRNR21 | April 5, 2006 | dollycali; JulieRNR21

[DollyCali]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

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Senate Campaign website:
Click on "About Katherine' for her accomplishments in several elected offices.

Congressional website
U.S. Congresswoman Katherine Harris : 13th District Of Florida

10 Million Inheritance “In the Race“
Yes, HER OWN money on the line.

Katherine‘a Blog

Katherine Harris “Car“ Trouble

Reflections on Katherine Harris
by FReeper JulieRN21

Like most of America, I first heard her name in the days following Election Day 2000 when Al Gore contested the results in FL.

There was one petite woman (despite appearing much taller on TV; she is only 5' 2" and is probably 100 pounds soaking wet)........standing between Gore and his attempt to steal the FL electoral votes. We learned later that Al Gore instructed his staff to begin a vicious smear campaign to question the integrity of Katherine Harris during the drawn-out recount process.

In 2000 Katherine Harris was the Secretary of State of FL and it was her duty to certify results of election recounts in all the FL counties. She had a specific deadline to meet that was mandated by FL election laws passed by the FL Legislature.

She upheld the FL election laws and did her job with grace and courage despite despicable personal attacks launched by the Dems and their media cohorts.

Perhaps Democrats should direct their anger at the Supreme Court if they still want to complain. In 'Bush v. Gore' the US Supreme Court ruled in a 7-2 vote that the hand recounts violated the equal protection clause of the Constitution because since different standards were used by voter counters the recount did not treat all votes equally.

Since both federal law and the Constitution require that the electoral votes for president be cast on a certain day, Florida's electoral votes would not be counted if the deadline was missed. Therefore the Supreme Court ruled in a 5-4 decision that there was not enough time left to conduct a manual recount that would pass the Constitutional requirements. That ruling left Bush the certified winner in Florida with 537 votes more and Gore conceded the election.

In December 2001 I met her in person for the first time at a Sarasota Republican Club Christmas Party. One of my first comments to her was...."Thank you for your courage in 2000 despite the hateful personal attacks from the media and the Democrats." She responded that she was 'just doing her job and her duty to uphold Florida's election laws'.

I mentioned I was a Freeper on FreeRepublic.com. She smiled warmly and said that the emails, notes and flowers sent to her office by Freepers gave her encouragement when she was under tremendous pressure.

In 2002 she announced she would run for the US House to succeed Rep. Dan Miller who was 'term-limiting' himself after 10 years in Congress. The local liberal paper, owned by the NYT, attacked her campaign incessantly (just as it is currently doing) and then endorsed an unknown unqualified lawyer who was Yale classmate of the Clintons.

I have a vivid memory of saying to her at her Victory Party on election night 2002: "Katherine, they tried to destroy your campaign this year just like they tried to destroy you in 2000....but 'We the People' of Sarasota have made you our Congresswoman! "

Her eyes suddenly filled with tears and she gave me a hug. In that moment I knew just how much she had suffered during the weeks she was under attack in 2000.

Her fellow Republicans in Congress recognized her leadership skills and made her Deputy Assistant Majority Whip under Rep. Tom DeLay.

Rep. Harris authored the American Dream Downpayment Act of 2003 helping Americans achieve first time home ownership by assisting with downpayment and closing costs. Homeownership enables individuals achieve economic stability and also benefits the national economy.

On March 30, 2004, she introduced "Carlie's Law," named for Carlie Brucia, an 11-year-old Sarasota girl who was brutally kidnapped, raped and murdered in February 2004. The legislation would revoke probation when a federal felon commits a felony crime of violence or when he or she perpetrates any crime of violence against a child under the age of 16. Carlie's Law which was passed in 2005 as the Children's Safety Act.

Veterans organizations endorse her for consistently supporting their needs such as obtaining approval for a National Veterans Cemetery in the Sarasota County area.

The NRA has given her an A+ rating for her continued defense of the Second Amendment.

When Rep. Harris ran for reelection in 2004 she was targeted by Code Pink wackos for harassment. A few tattooed 'Pink Ladies' had alerted the local TV media that they would be giving her a 'pink slip' when she spoke to a local Republican Club. I was among supporters who greeted her arrival and provided welcoming view for the TV camera.

When Rep, Harris began her speech, two of the Pinkos, who had pretended to be prospective members of the Club, jumped up and began to heckle her. I happen to be sitting next to them....so I stood up and I began to chant 'Two More Years'. The membership joined in and we succeeded in foiling their plan to attack Rep. Harris with their media cohorts recording it on video.

Since she announced she would run for the US Senate, the attacks and doomsday predictors are in full battle mode......It's 'déjà vu' of 2000.

To make her campaign more competitive, Katherine Harris has pledged her personal fortune echoing the example of our Founders who 'pledged their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor' in the Declaration of Independence.

Her book, 'Center of the Storm' details her faith, values and the principles that helped her through the aftermath of Election 2000. One of those is ' "be broken or bitter or be better"! Katherine Harris chose to be better.

General George C. Marshall said of Victory: It is not enough to fight. It is the spirit which we bring to the fight that decides the issue.

Congresswoman Katherine Harris is a true conservative who has demonstrated that she has the spirit and the 'true grit' for the fight to defeat liberal Dem Bill Nelson.

JulieRN21 with Katherine Harris

JulieRNR21 Profile Page

JulieRNR22 in Forum

03-28-05 ~ Hall of Fame #15

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 04-03-06 Military Monday 04-04-06 A Little Pet Humor

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' Every Thursday at the Finest The guy's good, folks!

[luvie]

How cute! LOL!

[tiredoflaundry]

You have to have Flamingo's at a Florida party! ;-)

[MinuteGal]

Off to the store for a little while. I shall return post haste as I can't bear to stay away from a party. Don't anyone eat the end piece, save it for me!

Leni

[luvie]

But of course!

[JulieRNR21]

Yes...we must have those FLAMIGO'S for a Birthday in Florida!

[JulieRNR21]

OKAY, Leni....we'll save the piece with the most icing for you!

[tiredoflaundry]

:-)

[LADY J]

What a lovely tribute!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to a great lady and much success for you to win your seat in the U.S. Senate, Katherine.

[LadyX]

"And we must also thank those 537 Florida voters who gave George W. Bush FL's electoral votes!"

Please pass this on to Katherine, Julie...

Proud to say - as a native Floridian (born in Miami) - while I live elsewhere now, my two sons and their wives live in Florida, so that is 4 of those crucial votes..:))

One couple is in Lake Worth - Palm Beach County - and the other in 2000 lived in Broward County... two sites of enormous tension!
This year we can add one more vote for Katherine - a grandson who will be 23 in July.

Katherine, I have the highest regard for you because of your calm and steadfast performance during the 2000 Presidential Election!
It had to be the worst challenge of your life to follow that difficult course, standing firmly on principle, rather than caving to the pressures from every direction!

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

[NautiNurse]

The lawn flamingos are perfect today! Wish I had thought of bringing them here.

I'm thinking about fixing a birthday luncheon of Gulf Shrimp Cocktail, Stone Crabs, Apalachicola Oysters, and Pompano.

[tiredoflaundry]

Nice!

[tiredoflaundry]

Mimosa anyone?

[JulieRNR21]

Yum Yum Yum.....those look delicious!

[MEG33]

Happy Birthday
*Katherine Harris*

[JulieRNR21]

Thanks, Dear Lady.....those 5 votes for Katherine Harris for Senator are very important as we all learned in 2000....evry vote is critical.

And I like to imagine that those 537 voters that meant victory for GWB were all FL Freepers!

[FloridianBushFan]

Happy Birthday Katherine Harris. A true Conservative and the Next U.S. Senator form Florida.

[JulieRNR21]

Thanks for the beautiful flowers....

Welcome to the Celebration!
Glad you are here!

[MEG33]

She is one of my heroes!

[tiredoflaundry]

[JulieRNR21]

You are cordially invited to a Birthday Party for Florida's next Senator......Katherine Harris.....