Official blog of Wade Brown's 2012 campaign for Congress.

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Thank You!

First:  A deep and heartfelt thanks to everyone who helped in this campaign.  Many gave of their time or treasure or both, and we experienced safe travel and grace under the covering of many prayers.  At our gathering this evening, I called many of you by name, even in your absence, and thanked you publicly for your invaluable help.

Second:  Congratulations to Mike Conaway and Chris Younts for their first and second place finishes, and to Mr. Conaway an additional word:  We are watching you, sir!  We expect you to hold the line and we will hold you accountable if you do not.  Please, therefore, with our blessing and many prayers on your behalf, be strong and Represent us well.

Finally:  I am very well pleased with the outcome!  For those of you who poured yourselves into the campaign, be encouraged, because we positively earned 7,544 votes, and each one is of considerable worth.

Think of the obstacles we faced in this campaign:

1.  I had been away from Texas for more than a decade, serving in the Marine Corps. When I arrived home last July, I did not know a single person who was involved in politics (beyond voting) - not one.

2.  Besides family and a few local friends (most of my old Texas friends live elsewhere in the state), we had zero name recognition.

3.  We had zero full-time staff, zero paid staff, all volunteers throughout the entire campaign.

4.  We were outspent by the incumbent by over 100-to-1, yet had more than 1/7th of his votes.  We were outspent by the second place winner by about 7-to-1, yet had well over 1/2 of his votes.

Our significant returns, despite limited campaign funds and a lack of initial name recognition, became evidence of a knowledge that has been growing in my bones:  We are as a society not satisfied with money-based politics; we are rejecting the old ways of earmarks and special interests and soft corruption.  We want a true Representative whose loyalty runs to the Constitution, and to the people of his District, and to his own core convictions.  Indeed, we demand that our entire House of Representatives be so.  In this we proved our conservatism:  the discipline and strength to do more with less, and to win votes from every corner of the District.

In sum, we not only planted seed in this campaign, we put down roots.

I hope that each of you has grown deeper and stronger as a result of being involved; I know that I have.

This belief remains:  That a time is now at hand when we must intentionally self-govern, and make the hard choices that have been put off for a generation or more.  The viability of our economy, the financial freedom of our children, and the integrity of our national standing are all at stake.  Now is the time to "put on the full armor" and press even harder in the fight for our country, to defend our freedoms, and protect our Constitution.  "Let us run to the battle!"

May the Lord guide and keep us all as we so endeavor.

Godspeed,

Wade


Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Tough, Clear, Singular

Last week I sat down with the San Angelo Standard Times editorial board.  It was a very pleasant and wide-ranging discussion, and I was able to articulate what I have come to believe may very well be the only solution to our current debt crisis.

Friday, April 13, 2012

Conaway Vows to Keep on Spending!


Go to the 2:03 mark and listen to our Representative giving up on the fight before it's even begun!




A "CR" is a Continuing Resolution, which really means a Continuing Lack of Resolution.  It means a complete failure to tackle the tough problem of excessive spending, it means passing the buck - literally - to the next generation. Congressman Conaway is telling you plainly what he's going to do:  spend in 2013 at the same rate we're spending in 2012.

How much are we spending in 2012?  In February 2012, we had a world-record, highest deficit in the history of mankind $231 billion deficit.  That's $738 for every man, woman and child in this country - in one month.  In March we had a $198 billion deficit.  That's right, in two months, almost half a trillion dollars in deficit spending.  And this is the level of spending that Congressman Conaway is telling you that he will support.  Why?  "We have to keep the government going," of course.

What we really need is for someone to actually hold the line and force accountability into the national decision-making process.  This is what I've been hearing from you on the campaign trail:  "We, the truly reasonable people of this country, are ready to solve this problem now!"  

This is a false dichotomy:  "Either we pass a CR or the government shuts down."  Clearly, neither of these choices is acceptable.  But if the President - whoever is elected - cannot lead us to a solution with the power of the bully pulpit, the House that Represents the people must act to stop this runaway government train.

If you vote for me, beware:  I will demand a balanced budget, and I won't wait for a Balanced Budget Amendment to force me to act.  This is our country, in which we govern ourselves.  It is our country, where we are free to do the right thing, even if it is hard. 

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Wade's Agenda in Office

The following is a simplified list of my priorities.  It is not all-inclusive, nor is it arranged in a specific order of priority.  The "top priority" for my campaign will be a "moving target," depending on a variety of factors.  However, I intend to work every one of these issues in a systematic and enduring fashion.

It's Fair to Ask About Qualifications

Here are a few of mine:

Military/executive experience as an enlisted man and as an Officer of Marines
- Enlisted Coast Guardsman; active duty Officer in the U.S. Marine Corps for more than 12 years; deployed three times. Over 20 years of combined military service.
- Participated in high-level decision-making conferences with representation from the White House; the Department of State; the Department of Justice; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and other Federal agencies, Wade has authored operations orders dealing with real-world Counter-Terrorism and Anti-Piracy operations
- Authored and otherwise produced policy affecting c. 25% of the Marine Corps’ total active ground combat equipment (over 2.2 billion dollars), including detailed policy-effects and Cost-Benefit Analysis.  Wade has reviewed, analyzed, or authored dozens of complex and far-reaching policies.
- Wrote budgets and served as appointed Financial Officer for Marine Corps units at the Company and Battalion levels
- Served as chief procurement officer and funds executor for 1/6th of the nation’s Marine Corps active recruiting efforts (9th Marine Corps District)
- Chaired multiple Feasibility of Support boards for about half of all U.S. Marine Corps infantry battalions entering Afghanistan over a two-year period; played key role in assuring that all 2d Marine Division units deploying to Afghanistan were adequately provisioned for successful deployments.
- Served in combat with 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines in Iraq.
- Provisioned, maintained accountability policy, served as Fiscal Officer, and deployed with a 1200-man Battalion Landing Team as part of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable).
- Served as a Summary Court-Martial at Sea; served as Prosecution, Defense, and wrote judgment on a Marine accused and found guilty of assault on a Commissioned Officer; served as Investigating Officer in multiple investigations, conducting investigations and providing detailed investigation reports on various cases, including cases of criminal activities and cases in multi-national environments.
- Served as a Marine Corps Officer Selection Officer, responsible for identifying and preparing Officer Candidates for training and eventual Commissioning as U.S. Marine Officers.
- Recipient of multiple personal military awards, including the Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Humanitarian Service Medal, and others.



Personal Life
- Lifetime conservative; practicing Christian; husband of 20 years; father of four children (ages 17, 14, 11 and 7)
- Native Texan, born in Reagan County; lifetime Citizen of Texas; American patriot
- Served in both formal and informal Christian ministry roles:  served as full-time interim Youth Minister at First Baptist Church, Buda, Texas; served as Protestant lay leader of 3d Battalion, 1st Marines (preached Palm Sunday Services to three companies of Marines in Baghdad); served as substitute teacher and youth leader at the Protestant Chapel, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
- Started and ran a successful small business for three years in a row  immediately prior to accepting Marine Corps Commission; currently independent and self-employed.
- Former high school teacher of Spanish and world geography.
- Lifetime learner; summa cum laude baccalaureate; currently enrolled in Marine Corps Command and Staff College.  Has studied diverse subjects, including graduate work in Divinity and undergraduate work in the Arabic language.

"Having worked as a decision-maker with both military and civilian executives, Wade will bring senior-level retired military leaders, business leaders, and other highly-experienced professionals on-board as part of his Congressional staff to help analyze existing legislation and craft effective and enduring solutions to our problems.  He will act boldly and decisively under God to restore our Constitutional form of government and the individual liberties envisioned by the Founders."

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

For the First Time in *Your* History

Years and years ago - actually only 40 months and a day - when the national debt was a mere $10.5 trillion (as of today's date, it is $15.5 trillion), the former Comptroller General of the United States gave us this memorable quote:

"What's clear is that, while the numbers aren't final yet for the year ended Sept. 30, 2008, for the first time in the history of the United States, the federal financial hole exceeded the total net worth of all Americans. ... So we could confiscate every dime of the net worth of every American household -- including Warren Buffett, Bill Gates and every other billionaire -- and we wouldn't fill the hole."   (See the entire interview here.)

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Gone: The rule of law


Take note of the following quotes; they are all from the Wall Street Journal’s Feb 10, 2012 edition dealing with the $25 billion “settlement” between the Obama administration, state attorneys general, and the five big banks (Bank of America, Wells Fargo, JP Morgan, Citi, Ally):

“The foreclosure deal is the product of a year of secret meetings, confrontations, and brushes with failure.”

“It took months of back-channel conversations between an Obama administration official and a reluctant attorney general . . .”

Friday, January 27, 2012

This One's for You

If you elect me to be your U.S. Representative:

1.  “I will return to the Treasury all of my Congressional pay and benefits above that which I would receive were I still on active duty in the Marine Corps.  In plain language, I will not accept any pay above that which I would normally have received as a Marine, but will return it to the taxpayers from whom it was derived.  Interpretation:  I am not doing this for the money.”

2.  “I will not partake of the Congressional retirement system, no matter how many terms I serve.  Interpretation:  I am not doing this so I can ‘sit back and collect.’”

3.  “I will neither buy nor sell stocks, bonds, real estate, or mutual funds, through a blind trust or otherwise, either directly (by myself) or indirectly (through a partnership or other entity) for the entire period that I serve in Congress, beginning with the date of the primary election, and ending one year after my final day in office.  In plain language, I will not participate in insider trading or have one hair's weight of accusation leveled against me due to controversial votes or legislation.  I will not allow my position in the House to be influenced by any source other than my best understanding of the founding documents of our country, my own conscience, and the people of my District.  Interpretation:  I will reject corrupting influences.”

4.  “I pledge that I will not participate in earmarks, unless more than 50% of all voters in every county (or portion of a county) of the District which I represent sign a petition for me to do so.  Interpretation:  An earmark can only be good if it's good for everyone; otherwise, it's a special favor to someone at the expense of everyone else.”

5.  “I will not vote in favor of an unbalanced budget unless the President who presents the budget simultaneously presents a detailed plan (with draft budgets) demonstrating a balanced budget by the end of his/her term of office.  In plain language, if a President can show me how they are going to balance the budget within their current term, I will vote in favor of their budget proposal, regardless of the President's party affiliation.  Conversely, if the President does not present a balanced budget or a plan to get to a balanced budget within their current term, I will vote against their budget, be they Democrat, Republican, or Independent.  Interpretation:  I am loyal to principle above party; it's time to spend only what we take in (and less if possible).”

6.  “I will keep my oath of office in its entirety.  Interpretation:  I will take offenses against the Constitution seriously and do everything within my power and authority to defend the Constitution and to return the federal government to its Constitutionally limited role.”



Wednesday, January 18, 2012

The 99-Year Scourge and the Romney Response


scourge [noun]:  1: whip; especially : one used to inflict pain or punishment; 2: an instrument of punishment or criticism; 3: a cause of wide or great affliction [source: m-w.com]

This may be a very wide-ranging article; if so, my apologies, but I find this ugly thing (income tax) at the nexus of many important topics, namely:  privacy, liberty, the pursuit of happiness.

Monday, January 16, 2012

452 Doors

In December we knocked doors for hours a day as we sought signatures for our ballot petition.  It got cold a few times; the ink froze in our pens more than once.

In January, we continue to knock on doors and meet people.  The connections are amazing.

Sunday, January 15, 2012

A Message to Supporters of Chris Younts

I am sending this message to address the delicate topic of being a "spoiler" in the current three-way race.

Here are a couple of little-known facts:

When I returned to Texas in July 2011 after a dozen years of active duty in the Marine Corps, I made it a priority to go visit with Chris at the earliest opportunity.  We met in late July and had a hearty, friendly discussion in which we discovered

Friday, January 13, 2012

The Invisible Crossroads

Crossroads.

1820 - The Missouri Compromise deferred war for 41 years, and then the debt came due.  Might not it have been better to fight the Civil War earlier, when the necessary surgery would not have been so costly and the wounds so deep?  Yet, the Civil War became an inevitable cataclysm because

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Conaway votes to "protect" me

Congressman Conaway has a press release entitled "Conaway votes to protect hard working Texans from Washington Waste"

In order to analyze Mr. Conaway's "protection," I'll look at a couple of quotes from Mr. Conaway.

Mr. Conaway Quote 1:  " . . . we finally reached a fair and bipartisan compromise that meets the budget goals laid out last summer."

The "budget goals" that Mr. Conaway approves are those of the Budget Control Act of 2011, which he voted for, and which included a trillion dollar deficit.

When is the primary election?

As of Mar 6, 2012, the primary date remains May 29, 2012.  The interim map for Texas' 11th Congressional District is Plan C235.

The best comprehensive news source I have discovered for Texas redistricting, including maps, election dates, etc, is txredistricting.org.

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Archived entries below:

As of Feb 28, 2012:  The date for the primary is May 29, 2012.

As of Feb 27, 2012:  The tentative date for the primary is May 29, 2012.  Some sources have said that if the three judge panel in San Antonio does not promulgate a map by March 3, the primary will be pushed to June 26.  To be clear, no final decisions have yet been made.

As of January 26th, 2012, the primary election is still a unified primary and will be held April 3, 2012.  However, tomorrow, January 27th, there will be a conference to discuss changes.  Please check back at this post for updates.

As of January 11, 2012, the primary election is scheduled for April 3, 2012.  However, this date may change depending on various court rulings.  Return to this post for updates, or contact the Wade Brown 2012 campaign at the link below to request the most recent information:

http://wadebrown2012.com/Contact-Us.html

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Archived Redistricting Info

A very helpful blog is located here:  http://txredistricting.org/

The following link shows some archived information, including some previous maps:  http://wadebrown2012.com/InterimMap.html

Update on Redistricting

As of April 4, 2012:

Here is plan C235, showing the Congressional Districts.

Archived info below.

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This information up-to-date as of Mar 6, 2012:

Maps released Feb 28, 2012.

Also, here is a list of key dates.

It is still possible for maps to be changed, etc, but most of the elections machinery is moving ahead based on the above information.

Many thanks to Michael Li of txredistricting.org for his comprehensive - and fully referenced - blog.

The Supreme Court heard oral arguments Jan 9, 2012 regarding Texas redistricting.

Bottom line:  No decision was made, which means that all Texas districts, including the 11th Congressional District, are yet to be defined.