Accomplishments & Next Steps (E-mail from Bill Russell)

Bill Russell e-mail | 11-08-08 | Bill Russell

[smoothsailing]

Subject:

Accomplishments & Next Steps

Date:

Sat, 8 Nov 2008 15:39:57 +0000

To: (Undisclosed)

Dear Friends,

 

First, I would like to thank all of you who donated your time, talents, and dollars to this campaign. Thanks to your hard work and efforts, we made a great statement in this campaign. Although we did not win the election (thanks to the Obama mania voters who hit the Democrat ticket button), we accomplished several milestones of note.  While I would definitely have preferred to win this last Tuesday, I have learned that God usually has a lesson(s) and something better hidden in the cloud of disappointment.  WE WILL MAKE THIS RUN AGAIN IN 2010. In the meantime, we continue to give voice to values of Southwestern PA. 

 

Here are some of the things that we were able to accomplish because of your efforts:

 

#1. We helped to turn the political tide of the war against Islamic extremism on the national level.  For most of the last year, we have effectively silenced Nancy Pelosi’s biggest mouth piece against the war.  By challenging Mr Murtha endorsement of enemy propaganda from an Iraq War veteran’s perspective, we took Mr Murtha’s veil of  “moral authority” on the war away from him and were able to clearly articulate the effects of his calls for withdrawal from Iraq and accusations against the Haditha Marines were having on those who are protecting us. This helped to give General Petraeus and all of our Service Men and Women in harm’s way the political cover to complete the Surge and reduce the violence in Iraq. --- Had we not been here, the political tide in favor of withdrawal might have won the day and led to cuts in funding for the war effort. This would have led to a genocide in Iraq rivaling that of the killing fields of Cambodia after we withdrew from Vietnam.

 

#2 We stripped away the veil of invulnerability of Mr Murtha’s seat. All indicators are that a strong majority of those voters who went to the polls with an eye on the Congressional race were voting our way. (What threw everyone a curve were the extremely large numbers of first time voters who voted for Obama and hit the straight party lever in the process, without thinking about the other races.) We have every reason to believe that we would have carried the day in the district had it not been for the Obama Mania that swept the state.

 

#3 We are giving voice to a new way ahead for the people of SW PA. Many are hungry for a new vision.  We are providing it!

 

#4  You have all contributed to the development of a strong, grass roots base that is going to demand that our party stand against the status quo. You will no longer allow the Republican Party to not stand in opposition to the corruption of our economic development and political independence. --- The Party Caucus takes place soon ---- IT IS TIME TO TAKE BACK OUR PARTY!

 

In the next week or so, we will begin scheduling meetings with county committees and groups.  We must continue to demand respect to the values we hold dear: LIFE, FAMILY, & FAITH –protected by our Constitutional right to protect our families and communities.  WE WILL NOT ALLOW OUR COAL INDUSTRY TO BE BANKRUPTED! We have the means and resources to lead America to energy independence for our economic and national security.  

 

Kasia and I look forward to fighting this fight with you. Kasia grew up under communism and knows all too well the dangers that the seduction of socialism brings. We as a family are committed to ensuring that the future our children inherit will not be ruined by the radical liberals who have taken over political power in Washington.  

 

Thank you all again for all of your support and prayers. Together we will start taking our country back.

 

 

Very Respectfully,

 

Bill

 

Subject:

A Most Important Thank You Overlooked!

Date:

Sat, 8 Nov 2008 20:26:14 +0000

Dear Friends,

 

I overlooked the single most important public thank you I needed to make in my first email.  That thank you goes to the chief architect of this campaign, Peg Luksik. – The importance of her contributions and the fact that she will continue to be the captain of this ship are so obvious to me that I forgot to share them with you in my initial thank you note. …I cannot begin to measure the importance of her contributions in bringing a great campaign team together and crafting a razor sharp message to say some most unpleasant things in such a pleasant way. She truly embodies the cross between science and art that is politics.  She has been not only a great manager and organizer, but a great friend and mentor to both Kasia and me. If you could cross Maggie Thatcher and Maria Von Trapp, you might come close to having someone with her intelligence, iron will, and faith.  Besides, “Peg” is the perfect name for someone who is the lynch pin of this campaign!  ;0)

 

I am looking forward to working with this team again as we take back our country.

 

 

V/R

 

Bill

 

 

 

 

You can also check out these videos on Youtube:

FOX News Happening Now! Interview on April 8, 2008: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfcdf2r-jxw 

Campaign video:

CBS story on the good Mr Murtha: http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/i_video/main500251.shtml?id=3995059n
Human Events Article: http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=26175

Very Respectfully,

Bill

WILLIAM T RUSSELL

Moving Forward with New Ideas and New Leadership!

12th Congressional District Pennsylvania

PO BOX 630

Johnstown, PA 15907

william.russell@williamrussellforcongress.com

www.williamrussellforcongress.com

(814) 243-8662

 

Paid For By William Russell for Congress

[RedRover]

I would have expected it to be much closer.

Jinx! LOL! It's clearly the sentiment of the day!

[Eagles6]

Good guy. We’ll have to try harder next time.

[Girlene]

---- I would have expected it to be much closer.-----

Jinx! LOL! It's clearly the sentiment of the day!

I just realized I posted that twice in my comment. I must have been channelling you.

[smoothsailing]

I think we all expected it to be closer. As Bill points out in the e-mail, the one element of the election not factored into pre-election polling was the straight party line vote. I'm not totally convinced that Obama Mania and straight party line voting attributes for the entire disparity in percentage totals, but it did contribute.

Murtha's last minute ad blitz claiming Bill lived in Virginia was a down right lie, but it was an effective lie that uninformed voters believed. The carpetbagger tag can be the kiss of death in SW PA.

[piano-woman]

Thanks for all the pings, jaz. I personally am not surprised that it wasn't closer. It just followed the trend of the national election. There was just too much ACORN and no common sense. I do, however, truly believe that the next time will be much different. Thank God for, and may He bless the future congressman Bill Russell. It it the only campaign contribution that I feel wasn't completely wasted and I will contribute again.

[piano-woman]

CORRECTION: 2nd it = is

sorry :(

[freema]

Nice letter.

[Marine_Uncle]

The people have spoken, err voted, errrrr. been bought once again.

[2nd Bn, 11th Mar]

You got that right!

I’ve been to two of those Johnstown (PA) Technology Expos -they have them every year at their hockey arena around Memorial Day. Met the “Kingfish” once...Murtha in the flesh.

There are quite a few defense and other companies/organizations there that are simply beholden to Murtha’s pork. The employees of those companies are going to vote their livlihood (bought, in other words).

BTW, he’s a senile old fart that says what pops into his head.

[Marine_Uncle]

I do appreciate your comments. Sadly the ex Marine has no desire of redemption.

[firefnx]

I’m glad to hear that he will run again. Next time I pray he wins as he should have this time.
Thank You Mr. Russell.

[Marmolade]

Thanks for the ping. Great letter. I hope the outcome will be different next time. He is the kind we need more of, those willing to stand up for principles.