Free Republic

Tim James is running for Governor of Alabama in the 2010 elections. Born in Opelika, James attended Auburn University where he earned his degree in Finance. Even though he is the son of a former Alabama Governor, James says, “I’m a total outsider to the system,” James said. “I’m the only businessman in this race with a career in building jobs.”

Dr. Don-Terry Veal, director of the Auburn University Center for Government Services, said James’ position as a business owner sets him apart from other candidates. It also puts him in an authoritative position on the economy, which, Veal said, is the number one issue plaguing Alabama voters. “Tim James sees his business background and entrepreneur experience as a reason why he can lead the state to better economic days,” Veal said. Veal said James’ plan to spend tax dollars more efficiently, instead of raising taxes, will also appeal to voters. James is also pushing bio-fuels and wants Alabama to take the lead in developing green industry.“Clearly, I don’t think any agenda can go wrong with that,” Veal said. “Alabama has been tracking in that direction.”Veal likes James’ plan to promote existing small businesses.

Why does he want to be the Governor of Alabama? He explained very earnestly, “The United States is in the shape its in because a generation or so [my generation] did not involve themselves with government and were involved with their lives. Things were good. While this was happening, the federal government went off track. We have a massive debt load that our grandchildren and great-grandchildren can never hope to pay back. We have seen a moral slide in this country, as well. I want to work to help get it back on track.”

“A year ago, I was concerned and didn’t know if we would make it or not. But, I see in the United States of America signs of a great awakening occurring. We’re teetering on the edge right now. 2010 could be one of the most important election cycles since the 1860’s. We are either going to be a totally socialistic nation or we’re going to turn this thing around. “

“The problems we face here will not be solved overnight. What we must do is rebuild. Rarely does one change anything from the top to the bottom. Change must begin with us. It must begin with Alabama, at the state level. The Governor’s role has expanded because of what is happening between the federal government and the states. I want to work with other governors and light the fire of resistance to what we see occurring today. I would like to help build an effective Governor’s Coalition so that we can help push back Federal government.”

Mr. James was asked about the issue of the 10th Amendment and standing firm on State Rights. He said, “We already have a law on the books. Its not only a law, it defines the separation of powers between the state and federal government and outlines how power is delegated to each of the three branches of the federal government. It is called the Constitution.”

“The fact that so many Alabamians [as well as citizens of other states] are concerned about our state rights shows that people are paying attention. It creates an awareness that people are learning what the Constitution says and means to us.”

“Nothing we do can be accomplished over night. This decline we are seeing so profoundly began in the early 1960’s with the massive federalizing of the public education system. Prayer was taken out of the schools, we lost control at the local and the state level. It’s been all downhill from there. The federal government has no business in education. It is not their responsibility, it is the responsibility of parents, local and state leaders. I will personally say that the No Child Left Behind Act never accomplished what it was meant to do and should be dropped.”

One of the things Mr. James has made a priority is the education system in our state. He has several common-sense solutions to help improve our education system here. Among them, reading mentors for every child in Alabama who needs one. Tim will call it the “Alabama Reading Corps.” The goal is to fortify existing reading programs while empowering Alabama universities to develop and manage the college student mentors to help primary school children to read.

Tim James does have plans to help existing small businesses here in Alabama. During our interview James explained, “There isn’t an ‘easy fix’ to helping the struggling small businesses in Alabama. In this economy, we must support those businesses that drive our economy. I want to provide our existing small businesses a program so that they may receive incentives similar to what we offer in order to attract new businesses to Alabama. We must take care of our own first.” He outlined the following in regard to assistance with business:

“The message our State Government gives to small businesses should be a comfort. We are going to get our economic house in order. Right now, no one has confidence in our economy or in many cases, the future. Alabama is going to meet it’s budgetary obligations just as individuals do and just as the federal government should do. We are going to do just exactly as our businesses and citizens must do; live within our means. The last thing we should do is raise taxes, particularly on businesses. We can cut spending. This must be done in order to meet our budget. I want to provide tax incentives for small businesses that will enable them to stay in business and grow. Together, our state government, our businesses and citizens can ‘push back’ on regulations from the federal government that are costing our state a tremendous amount of money. We must not allow these expensive and harmful regulations and legislation to continue because they hurt our state in many ways.”

We asked Mr. James about the parental rights issue because those in power in Washington, D.C. Seem eager to sign UN Treaties that would, in fact, strip parental rights. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has stated on more than one occasion that the UN Treaty on Children would be signed. We discussed the Parental Rights Amendment now in the House of Representatives which was introduced by Rep.Peter Hoekstra (MN). Mr. James said that those in the federal government with the desire to give away our nation’s sovereignty is troubling.

He said parents having the right to raise their children according to their principles in the State of Alabama will be protected. He added, “and there will be no changes to our home schooling laws here in Alabama. Parents have the right to see that their children are educated and this will never change. Those parents who wish to dedicate themselves to teaching their children will continue to have that right.” He added, “I believe this move toward the UN isn’t good. We are not Europe, we are America and we are Americans. These things we see happening will lead to a one world government and that is everything our Constitution protects us from. A Governor can be alert and together with other Governors we can awaken a nation. Some Governors may not understand the sovereignty of our nation. The states must resist any action that takes our sovereignty and invalidates our laws. “

Mr. James is very concerned about recent events surrounding elections in our state as well as events that have occurred across the country. “The integrity of elections is the cornerstone of America. Our election and voting system must be clean from top to bottom.”

Since gambling has been in the news so prominently, we asked him what he thought about the issue. “I feel gambling is a tax on the poor people. If we look at gambling, those prominent in that industry are Mississippi, New Jersey and Nevada. Their budget shortfalls are terrible; much worse than here in Alabama. Gambling has not helped those states financially. I believe the gambling issue is on shaky ground, it can only develop a certain level of weight.

“But, if Alabama voters want it, then a Constitutional Amendment has to be passed by a majority of the voters. The Governor never sees that as legislation on his desk. It is not up to me, it’s up to the voters of Alabama.” We asked if he had received any money from that industry. “We have not received money from the gambling industry, in fact, if we receive any PAC money, we research to see what industries make up that PAC. I haven’t received much PAC money at all.”

One issue that has caused problems for every state in the union is potential further mandates on Alabama by the federal government, an attempt to force them they must add more to their budgets to cover health care costs. “Medicaid expenses in Alabama consumes 30% of the general fund. Every state Medicaid program should be tailored to the people of that particular state.”

“We can’t have a ‘one size fits all’ program. It just doesn’t work. Our Medicaid expenses are exploding and just one reason is fraud within the system. With unlimited prescriptions, it gives some a way to exploit the system. The expense of that is enormous. Some people will sniffle and run to the emergency room. We need to focus on early diagnosis and preventative medicine. A health savings account makes perfect sense to me, it’s there when a person really is sick and needs it. We must cut down on fraud in Medicaid.”

Tim James wants to serve as our next Governor. He says we must no raise taxes; but cut on the spending side instead. “Elect me, we will get our fiscal ‘house’ in order. We will live within our means and we will set the tone for the rest of the country. Alabama can be an example for the other states. Alabama can be a leader in this country. We will speak loudly against the policies coming out of Washington, D.C.”

For detailed information about Tim James’ views on issues that affect every Alabamian, please visit his website at Tim James.

A Governor’s Candidate Forum will be held March 2, 2010 at The Alabama Space and Rocket Center. Details follow.The pre-event begins at 5:00 and the forum begins at 6:15. General admission to the forum is FREE for everyone.

There will be a pre-event reception/meet and greet with the Republican Governors candidates and other local and state elected officials and candidates will be in attendance as well. The cost to attend the pre-event reception is $50.00 per person and includes reserved seatng for the forum. Tickets are available at www.huntsvillegovernorsforum.com.

Dr. Robert Bentley, Bradley Byrne, Kay Ivey, Tim James, Bill Johnson and James Potts will each provide their insight on why he/she should be the next Governor of our great State of Alabama.

Tuesday, March 2, 2010 Alabama Space and Rocket Center – Davidson Center One Tranquility Base Huntsville, Alabama 35805 Reception (tickets only): 5:00PM to 6:00PM Forum (FREE General Admission): 6:15PM to 8:00PM

For more information and to purchase tickets to the pre-event reception and meet and greet, visit the official website at www.huntsvillegovernorsforum.com

Bamabelle

That’s a great suggestion! If it would help, oh wait! We have sent letters, faxes and e-mails to the White House! Nevermind.

The reality is that Parker Griffith is not a conservative. Here are the reasons why:

Griffith is far from conservative. Granted, he voted against the Big 4; Obama’s first budget, no-voted the Stimulus, Cap and Trade, and Obamacare. However, his vote on the budget is slightly deceptive since he originally voted for 9 of the 12 spending bills that make up the budget. And, he voted against all the Stimulus Amendments that would have reduced its size.

Not only that, obviously he voted for Pelosi, and he voted along party lines the majority of the time. Only after extreme pressure from Alabama constituents did he try to seem more conservative. He came out in favor publicly in 2008 FOR government-run health care. Is that conservative? I think not.

Griffith voted YES on the 2009 pork-filled Omnibus; YES on Cash for Clunkers, NO on waiving the harmful Davis-Bacon provision, and had a pathetic 0% score on the 2009 RePORK Card. So, with Griffith, we have a pro-pork moderate Congressman, and as the NRCC reminded us in 2008, he has some naivete on the issue of terrorism:

“Democratic State Senator Parker Griffith has been under fire in recent weeks for comments made to a local Baptist association in which he suggested radical Islam isn’t a threat to the U.S. ‘We have nothing to fear from radical Islam. We have nothing to fear from any other religion if we are strong on our own beliefs. I don’t fear radical Islam’, said Griffith. This is from an audio tape made of his appearance. Adding insult to injury, Griffith had already pointed a finger at American culture: ‘I think America’s greatest enemy is America and its materialism’, he said. “

Griffith has a record of not holding town hall meetings in the Huntsville/Decatur [AL] area, not answering The Tea Party’s call for a town hall meeting locally and basically “stonewalling” citizens who showed up at his local office in Huntsville [AL] in order to leave messages and drop off letters. At one point, his office was closed early; the staff peering through windows at voters as they came by in order to drop off letters in person, only to find it closed.

The point is, there is a constitutional conservative running as a GOP against Griffith. The contrast is amazing.

So, no, Griffith IS NOT a conservative.

Wow, what a great response! I live in the Congressional District that this blog is addressing and your comment that this wasn’t worth posting in the first place seems just a little bit condescending. What would you think is “worth posting the first time?”

The Big Government in Your Pocket is a private blog, from what I understand. I don’t think anyone was “pimping” anything. LOL.

What is important is that what is happening in my district is happening all over the U.S. AND it IS happening to us, as Americans.

As we saw with the Scott Brown campaign, he was totally ignored by everyone. But what made the difference in that campaign? It was people such as the blogger, Big Gov’t in Your Pocket and others who shared the news about a great candidate who was for the people. He was accountable to the people of his district. That seat didn’t belong to anyone but the people.

This person who shared this blog post has done us all a favor because if we get MORE people in office who are accountable to us, we have won the battle!

I don’t understand your attitude but I hope you have a better day.

Thank you for posting this blog. I have done some research on Les Phillip and he IS the American Success story. He is proof that people can pull themselves up from the lowest place without the help of special interests or favors and represent the best of what our country is. He represents the right and good way to do immigration, the way people from other countries USED to view the United States of America. He represents the opportunity that our country USED to present. He represents what we are fighting for. He represents everything we have to lose.