It just keeps getting better and better!  Below is list of Congressmen who have explicitly refused to sign the Drill Here, Drill Now petition.  See if you can spot Newt's 'loyal Republican'!

Members who said "No" to the petition:

(From Congresman Lynn Westmoreland's site:  http://westmoreland.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=94435

Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R-Md.)        Rep. Allen Boyd (D-Fla.)
Rep. Ben Chandler (D-Ky.)           Rep. Travis Childers (D-Miss.)
Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.)         Rep. Mike Ferguson (R-N.J.)
Rep. R. Frelinghuysen (R-N.J.)       Rep. Wayne Gilchrest (R-Md.)
Rep. Bob Inglis (R-S.C.)                Rep. Tim Johnson (R-Ill.)
Rep. Nick Lampson (D-Texas)       Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-N.J.)
Rep. Jim Ramstad (R-Minn.)           Rep. Dave Reichert (R-Wash.)
Rep. I.Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.)           Rep. Jim Saxton (R-N.J.)
Rep. Chris Shays (R-Conn.)            Rep. Heath Shuler (D-N.C.)
Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.)               Rep. Gene Taylor (D-Miss.)

Dear Lt. Gov. Parnell,

I just found out about your campaign to unseat Don Young, from the Club for Growth.  Beating an entrenched incumbent can be done.  We did it here in MD's District 1, where Andy Harris beat 9-term Congressman Wayne Gilchrest.

Now, I want to urge you to be wary of the establishment Republicans who will try to stop change from happening in Alaska and in Congress as a whole.  Despite the fact some of them write books entitled "Real Change," they will come to your District and campaign for the status quo.

No matter how liberal and embarassing he is to conservative Republicans, they will come and stump for Don Young.  I am posting this on my blog at Newt.org (http://newt.org/tabid/97/pid/238/Default.aspx), and I amd sending a copy to your GOP chairman and to Gov. Pallin.  The message will be get behind Real Change in Alaska or get out of the way.

Stick to your conservative principles, eschew the politically correct lexicon of the liberal left, and show Alaskans, the toughest people on earth, that they don't have to be represented by a pork-barrel politician; that they can add the voice of a conservative statesman instead, one who will help lead the GOP back to its noble roots in limited government and a strong defense.

Show them what a real Republican can do to support reforms in National government for the good of all Americans, not just a few living on a remote island in Alaska.

I could go on and on.  But you get the message.  Conservatism can win when clearly articulated.  By the way, John McCain has no coattails, in case you haven't noticed.  It's one thing to support his campaign, but don't feel obligated to mimick his campaign.  There is very little redeeming about the candidate other than he is not a Democrat.

Thanks for taking the time to read this and GOOD LUCK!!!

Newt,

Regarding your petition:  I'll sign it when Wayne Gilchrest does.  Please see my blog post of Nov. 2, 2005: http://mikenetherland.blogspot.com/2005/11/to-drill-or-not-to-drill.html.

No thanks to you, we now, potentially, have a Congressman who WILL vote to drill here and now.

Guess who was one of the 10, loyal and environmentally sensitive Republicans voting to increase taxes on those who would "Drill Here..."  From the Club for Growth's Pat Toomey:

"The House voted to patch up the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) this week. That's the good news. The bad news is that they combined it with a massive tax hike on oil and gas companies, hedge fund managers, and foreign companies operating in the U.S. ..... Unfortunately, with the help of 10 "Republicans," the Democratic-led House passed it, 233-189." (HR 6275)

That's right, Wally!  Wayne Gilchrest.  The man who would be getting ready to spend a 10th term in Congress helping the Pelosicrats to raise taxes and starve our economy of the energy it needs.  Helping the socialists show the American electorate how their policies have "bi-partisan" support.  All with Newt Gingrich's support and blessing!

Off to Alaska, now, Newt!

"[Don] Young was just recently endorsed by the liberal AFL-CIO - a sign that Young cares more about pleasing the union leaders who line his pockets than standing up for conservative values.....You might be wondering what such an appalling liberal Republican is doing in Congress. Good question. Well, now's your chance to send Don Young packing.

"Lt. Governor Sean Parnell, has a good chance of beating Don Young in the August primary."

Not if Newt can help it!   Right Wally?  I think this blog will be following this primary very closely.

This is rich. The Hill on June 8th featured remarks by our Dear Leader on the House floor following the latest record price per gallon:

“Boehner touted the GOP’s plan to reduce the burden at the pump and blasted House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) for not bringing it to a vote.”

But Boehner himself campaigned for an incumbent Republican who would vote AGAINST drilling for oil anywhere. He and Newt Gringrich came to MD’s District 1 to campaign for Wayne Gilchrest, whose record on drilling and other attempts to increase the supply of energy to Americans is clear.

Thank God, his and Newt’s attempts were unsuccessful. No thanks to them, Dear Leader Boehner now has another vote he can count on (assuming, of course, that Andy Harris wins in November).

By the way, I am going to lead a fund raising campaign to have Andy Harris visit Ohio’s 8th District and campaign for the GOP Primary challenger.

Are you getting tired of reading about the irony?  The irony obviously lost on the clueless Gingrich and Boehner?  Too bad.  Because I am going to keep writing about it until these clowns, and others that are sure to follow, finally get it.  Maybe, just maybe I'll save some poor Congressional District Republicans from another term under their moderate or liberal GOP "leader."

Oh, hey, Newt, the Club for Growth is targeting Don Young of Alaska.  Did you hear?  Are you going to stump for him as well?   I am sure he was a loyal member of the team when you were Speaker!  Yeah, so we need to keep jerk like him in office.  And are you stumping for Jeff Flake's primary opponent?  I know, you can't be a hypocrite everywhere at the same time, alas.

"The Republican brand has been so badly damaged that if Republicans try to run an anti-Obama, anti- Reverend Wright, or (if Senator Clinton wins), anti-Clinton campaign, they are simply going to fail."

Well, it's about time that other observers weighed in on the Gingrich-as-defender-of-the-liberal-status-quo spectacle.  Now Bob Novak has come to the same conclusion, albeit A Bit Late! in his latest column on TownHall.com:

"Newt Gingrich's efforts to restore his standing among Republican conservatives for a possible future presidential bid have suffered a self-inflicted setback because of the former House speaker's support for liberal Rep. Wayne Gilchrest's unsuccessful attempt to save his seat in Congress representing Maryland's Eastern Shore. "

Now that I am no longer on the fringe, perhaps Mr. Gingrich would like to explain himself.

Some snippets from the Club for Growth news release...

"Polls taken in the weeks before the election showed Gilchrest and Harris neck and neck, but last night Harris won 44% to 32%, with 95% of the precincts in Maryland Congressional District 1 reporting. State Sen. E.J. Pipkin placed third with 21%."

"This was no small victory. Gilchrest is an 18-year incumbent who has staved off challengers twice before. Although he is an economic liberal Republican in a conservative district, he had the advantage of incumbency and endorsements by President Bush, Newt Gingrich, and former Maryland Lieutenant Governor Michael Steele. Gilchrest's campaign also got a $180,000 boost from one of the biggest most liberal labor unions in the country, the Service Employees International Union!"

Thanks for nothing, Newt!

Loyal member of the team?  Here's the latest stab-in-the-back by our "loyal" Republican "representing" MD-Dsitrict 1:

Once again RINO Gilchrest has voted with Pelosi, Hoyer and other fellow travelers. Yesterday on the vote to override the Bush veto of SCHIP aka Hillary Healthcare Gilchrest voted against Bush AGAIN.

For some reason Bush has decided to endorse Gilchrest in the primary. This is a prime example why our party goes nowhere fast. The President should have stayed out of the primary.

Newt should withdraw his endorsement and back Andy Harris...NOW!

Well I am greatly disappointed that neither the Speaker nor any his close advisors thought it worth a few seconds of their time to reconsider Newt's endorsement of Wayne Gilchrest at a Gilchrest fundraiser Jan. 10. The Washington Times in an editorial had this to say about the Speaker's remarks:

"At the fundraiser, Mr. Gingrich warned against "purging" party members they disagree with."

Now, This rubs me the wrong way for two reasons: 1, the act of of purging a political organization is a direct association with Stalinism, and; 2, Mr. Gingrich would disenfranchise Republicans in Maryland during the Primary, prefering instead, I assume, that Congressmen and Senators should be elected for life.

I have provided ample evidence of Gilchrest's transgressions far enough in advance of the Jan.10th event, to convince many on this site that Gilchrest is NOT a true Republican, or at least to prompt sentient beings to take another look at the candidate to whom the former Speaker, who many in the GOP, despite it all, still hold in high regard, would lend his good name.

But no.  Not a peep.  I have yet to see a rebuttal or a justification for the Speaker's remarks.  If I have missed it, I would appreciate knowing where it has been published or broadcast.

Thanks, Mr. Speaker, for giving conservative Republicans yet another stupid stunt to have to explain and make excuses for; for tarnishing yet another icon of the conservative movement.

Hello?  Is there anybody out there?  This is my trademark and patented method of getting attention from those who would otherwise ignore me.

I will go away when somebody in the Newt.Org or Winning the Future or other organization affiliated with the Speaker can tell me why Newt is trying to destroy my future and contribute to the malaise in Congress by endorsing the status quo in the form of Wayne Gilchrest.  This what one commenter has advised:

....Not Wayne Gilchrest!  If you needed any more proof who is the more conservative candidate, I can't imagine whatit would be.  See Andy Harris press release below:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                Contact: Chris Meekins
December 26, 2007                                                                        443-553-4794

Eagle Forum PAC Endorses Andy Harris
 
Annapolis - A nationally recognized conservative organization, Eagle Forum PAC, has endorsed Andy Harris in his bid to unseat incumbent Wayne Gilchrest. Eagle Forum PAC supports candidates who are committed to a conservative philosophy of limited government, national sovereignty, and traditional values.
 
In the endorsement, Eagle Forum Founder and President, Phyllis Schlafly said, "Andy's articulate conservative voice in the Maryland General Assembly shows he's the right man to represent the first district. From his support for the unborn to limiting the size of government to ensuring that illegal aliens do not receive driver's licenses, Andy knows the issues facing America and is willing to address them head on,"

In response to a comment below that I should have included a few examples of the liberal, anti-Republican votes and quotes of Rep. Wayne Gilchrest, in order to be persuasive, I here below include links to my other blog which I have been using to chronicle the last term (hopefully) of Wayne Gilchrest:

On the Second Surrender Timetable: http://mikenetherland.blogspot.com/2007/07/gilchrest-votes-again.html

On the First Timetable to Surrender http://mikenetherland.blogspot.com/2007/03/re-thepublicsquare-fwd-retreat-and.html

Victory Caucus and WeeklyStandard website news: http://mikenetherland.blogspot.com/2007/02/gilchrests-last-term.html

On Just One of Tax Hikes he Voted for: http://mikenetherland.blogspot.com/2007/01/36-republicans-vote-for-tax-hike.html

On why Glchrest would rather not be a Republican!: http://mikenetherland.blogspot.com/2005/11/gilchrest-shepherd.html

Voting to allow adults to transport minors across state lines to receive an abortion without parental consent:  http://mikenetherland.blogspot.com/2005/11/gilchrest-fuel.html

I caught these votes simply by accident.  I can only imagine how he was voting when I wasn't paying attention.

Thanks, John and Wally, for commenting on my Newt-Blog.  To be truthful, Wally, there are a great many conservatives in Maryland, it's just that they are too timid, easily imtimidated, or simply have grown tired of fighting the good fight.  Many of them turn away from politics and away from other social interactions, afraid, as John says, of letting slip a politically uncorrect reference.  So with them goes many of the distinguishing features of the MD GOP.  As a result, many of our elected leaders, like Wayne Gilchrest, turn into spineless mush.  Saying and voting for the "politically safe and correct" things that barely pay lipservice to conservative values.  The squishes in the MD GOP are gutless smear merchants who hide behind bloggers and former party chairmen.

And when we, the few consevatives find a real Republican, a conservative leader willing to take on an incumbent Congressman, what happens?  The national GOP comes in to defend Gilchrest!  A liberal!  I am giving Newt the benefit of the doubt here.  He may not be acquianted with just how liberal Gilchrest has become.  But John Boehner of Ohio came to stump for Gilchrest, too, last week or so.  He, more than anyone, has been stabbed in the back by Gilchrest so many times that it is just ludicrous that he would support Gilchrest's re-election.

Well, sorry for the rant.  Thanks, again!

Folks,

Here is my recent plea to Newt regarding his plans to endorse MD District 1 Congressman Wayne Gilchrest in his reelection bid.

Dear Mr. Speaker,
I write to beg you to reconsider your decision, as I understand it, to lend your name to the campaign to re-elect Wayne Gilchrest.

Mr. Spreaker, we true Republicans  in MD's First Congressional District have been trying to free ourselves of this yoke for several terms now.  The incumbent is not a true Republican and he proves it with every single vote he has cast.

I don't know what your relationship was, if any, with him during your tenure, but he does NOT represent us.  We troubled and disenfranchised Republicans in MD are working hard, damn hard, to elect Andy Harris, a true Republican and conservative after your own heart, Mr. Speaker.

Your appearance with him, scheduled for 1-10-08 I believe will only make it that much harder for us to elect a real Republican to represent us.  P lease do not hesitate to contact me if I can explain further.

Thank you and Merry Christmas.

That was sent Friday 12-21-07.  I have not heard from the organization in this matter.  Please, if anyone has Newt's ear, beg him to reconsider his endorsement.  If Newt wants to help make a real positive change for Maryland and for the country, he'll endorse Andy Harris instead.