Kirk Uhler and The Just Us Brothers

In Star Wars lore, when speaking of the Sith, “always there are two”. Similarly, the Just Us Brothers always seem to need a third member of the team to get into higher levels of mischief. In Placer County politics, their go to guy is County Supervisor Kirk Uhler.

Uhler you might recall, famously helped to loot the treasury of the Placer County Republican Assembly (PCRA) last May. Why any elected official would willingly interject himself in such a toxic situation and act so foolishly should be a concern to his constituents.

The short version was that George Park was Treasurer of PCRA and statewide Membership Secretary of the California Republican Assembly (CRA). He and his brother decided to leave CRA and metaphorically torched the place on the way out. In addition to purposely deleting all electronic records of the statewide organization, George Park liquidated the funds in the PCRA bank account on May 25th. Instead of checks, he converted the funds into money orders and disbursed the money as he saw fit. Then on May 30, Uhler—who was PCRA President at the time—presided over a sham meeting of the Board and voted to dissolve the Placer County chapter and disburse the funds of the group. (He knew the bank account had been closed five days earlier.)

CRA is a corporation and Uhler’s actions violated the CRA Bylaws and his fiduciary responsibility as President of PCRA. Had he any sense, Uhler should have kept his distance from Park’s actions. Instead he defended them in an email blast to the CRA Board and signed his name at the bottom. He also sent the email using his business account. (I don’t know about you, but I think emailing a jpg of my signature to 100 strangers is not the brightest idea.)

Uhler and his fellow travelers were threatened with both civil and criminal complaints for their behavior. Uhler’s behavior was described as “embezzlement”.

Embezzlement: Please be aware that the CRA Bylaws require all funds from units that are “seeking to leave” CRA to be forwarded to the CRA Treasurer.  The specific language of Section 5.07 says, “Any chartered Republican Assembly that has ceased to be part of the CRA for any reason, or that is seeking to leave CRA, shall relinquish the name Republican Assembly, surrender its charter certificate to the Membership Secretary, and transfer all of its funds to the CRA Treasurer.”  The Placer County Republican Assembly has ratified and agreed to be bound by the CRA Bylaws.  Failure to forward the unit funds to the CRA Treasurer as required may constitute embezzlement and the persons involved may be subject to very serious civil and criminal sanctions.
Document provided by Aaron Park

CRA decided the cost was greater than their ability to collect damages so they reluctantly dropped the matter.

Aaron Park also has a history with Uhler. Aaron is a gun for hire and worked for Uhler’s Supervisorial campaigns in 2012 and 2016. Aaron’s brand of politics involves hit-pieces and constructing strawmen that he can then knockdown while besmirching the opponents of those who retain his services.

Occasionally, Aaron forgets to pull the pin before tossing his explosives. Somehow he survives to fight in the next cycle but some of his clients aren’t so fortunate. Just Google Aaron Park and Clint Parish. Aaron helped his client, Parish, lose his job and face the wrath of the California Bar. Why? Because Aaron sent a bogus hit piece out on Parish’s opponent.

This year, Aaron has set his sights on Victor Bekhet. Bekhet—like many people in Placer County—is tired of the antics of Supervisor Uhler. Victor Bekhet however committed the unforgivable sin; he had the nerve to pull papers to run against Uhler. Kirk Uhler then decided to retain Park’s services of character assassination and dirty tricks to steamroll Mr. Bekhet.

Aaron created a fake website and assembled a bunch of nonsense to smear the character of Bekhet. Aaron’s antics got a feature story at KCRA TV. KCRA has two slightly different instances of the story.

Video
website-targeting-candidate-heats-up-placer-county-supervisor-race

Article and Video
website-seemingly-attacks-placer-county-supervisor-candidate

In the news story, Park claims “the website was created of his own accord.” The proof that this was a lie is two-fold.

First Uhler knows the contents of the fake website and approves.

Uhler responded to Bekhet’s claims in a statement to KCRA that reads in part:

“I wish my opponent the best of luck managing through what is obviously a disconcerting issue for him. Perhaps if there are items publicly available about my opponent that he doesn’t want publicly discussed, he should have considered that before running for public office.”

Any politician with an ounce of common sense would denounce Park’s tactics and distance himself from these kind of tactics. Uhler is OK with the fake website (VictorBekhet.com) and what Park said on it. Look at his quote above. He is blaming Bekhet for the content not Park.

Second, Park is on Uhler’s payroll for the current campaign. Per Uhler’s 430 filing for January 1 to April 23, 2016, Aaron scored $1,000 for Campaign Paraphenalia/Misc.

That Uhler and the Parks are thick as thieves has been well documented on Aaron’s blog and other places. All three (George, Aaron, and Kirk) claim to be good church going folks so why do they treat Bekhet like crap?

Aaron is a bully. He’s no Dirty Harry but I can picture him saying this to Bekhet

Listen, punk. To me you’re nothin’ but dogshit, you understand? And a lot of things can happen to dogshit. It can be scraped up with a shovel off the ground. It can dry up and blow away in the wind. Or it can be stepped on and squashed. So take my advice and be careful where the dog shits ya!
Clint Eastwood in Sudden Impact

A Christlike attitude would be more in line with Glen Kaiser’s quote, “The way you treat the person you love the least is the way you love God the most.”

My complaint with these guys is similar to my gripes about Ted Cruz; power politics is their goal. Their faith has no effect on their public conduct.

Park claims in a May first blog post that Bekhet has only raised $2,500. I don’t know if this is true but let’s assume that it is. Why does Uhler need to spend over $22,000 during the same period to beat this newcomer? Look at how much he paid Park to attack Bekhet. Would anyone call this a measured response?

Sadly, I think Uhler will be un-phased by my post. I picture him and Park discussing new ways to beat Bekhet like a piñata while humming the Tina Turner song, What’s Love Got To Do With It?

In a nutshell, this is why the America Church is so ineffective.

Ted Cruz: Crusader of Light

Ted Cruz, Rafael Cruz, and Glen Beck have spent the last few weeks characterizing the Republican Presidential Primary Contest as the forces of light (Cruz) versus darkness (Trump). The Senior Cruz has stated that it is the duty of all Christians to vote for Ted and that Ted is God’s candidate. Why? Because only Ted fears God and honors the Constitution.

Lest you have forgotten, here are some links that were on Drudge yesterday.

Choose between good and evil

Beck’s fast

Beck: We have Almighty God on our side

Divine Intervention

This is only a fraction of the stories on the subject. These guys (Cruz, Cruz, and Beck) really believed this stuff about divine intervention and God thwarting the will of the electorate in order to save us and our nation. Many of Cruz’s supporters believed the gospel according to Rafael. Frankly this hustle sounded strangely like the preachers that are on television; (the word “heretic” comes to mind).

Against this backdrop of the cosmic struggle of light vs darkness, freedom vs slavery, God vs Satan, the focus of their vitriol, Donald Trump, is declared the winner of Indiana seconds after the polls close. Shortly thereafter, Ted Cruz holds a press conference and throws-in the towel! How can this be?

For those of you in the Evangelical community that swallowed this very old line of crap—and I know you are legion—you must have gone to bed last night in shock wondering how could God’s will be thwarted by a reprobate like Donald Trump?

The question that needs examination is “Can man’s freewill thwart God’s will?” Is God sovereign or is he limited by the choices that men make?

Another way to ask this question is who was right Calvin or Arminius? Is Predestination, Election, and Irresistible Grace true or does man’s free-agency limit what God can do? Is this world God’s or Satan’s or man’s? Is there such a thing as “neutrality”? Is salvation man’s choice or God’s?

Clearly, I’d choose Calvin but I believe my answer was predestined before the foundation of the world.  grin

You will find both predestination and freewill in the Bible; however, they are not equal. God is sovereign and foreordains everything but man is still responsible for his actions. Both statements are true. The difference is perspective. From God’s point of view, His will is absolute and nothing comes to pass that is not part of his plan. Simultaneously, from man’s point of view, we freely make the choices and bear the responsibility of our actions.

God is separate from His creation but he is actively involved in what happens. The Bible doesn’t explain how this is true, it just is. You may not like the answer but I think C.S. Lewis explained it well in his Narnia books when Aslan would council the children that it’s not part of your story so don’t worry about it.

You need to trust God
• Barack Obama is our President because it is God’s will.
• Donald Trump is the Republican nominee because it is God’s will.
• Whichever Democrat wins the nomination of their party is God’s will.
• Whoever wins in November is God’s will.

I can hear it now; someone is asking was it God’s will that a three year old drowned in a swimming pool or some other tragedy happened? Yes.

We all deserve death. God chooses to give some life eternal and some just life for another day (common grace).

God is not the author of evil or sin; if you want to see who is then start with a mirror.

The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh, blessed be the name of the Lord.

When Cruz, Cruz, and Beck claim it’s God’s will that Ted be the next President and come January, Ted is sitting at home watching the Inauguration on T.V. that is God’s will not the stuff they said to try to get him elected.

This theological schizophrenia is yet another reason why Ted Cruz is not ready to lead. Maybe the extra time Ted has now that his campaign is suspended can be used to get his theology and his life in order. Someday I hope he is a Christian role model and statesman and not just a politician that happens to attend church.

Cruz, Boehner, and the Narrative

Last week, John Boehner said Ted Cruz was “Lucifer in the flesh” and I have “never worked with a more miserable son of a bitch.”

Cruz’s response was:

“I’ve never worked with John Boehner. The truth of the matter is—I don’t know the man. I’ve met John Boehner two or three times in my life. If I have said 50 words in my life to John Boehner I’d be surprised, and every one of them has consisted of pleasantries.”
Cruz I Don’t Know the Man

Picking up on Cruz’s explanation, some poor guy named Doug Ross, writes this whole piece painting Boehner as the antichrist and Cruz as this innocent patriot. His thesis is that Trump is the ultimate insider (corollary: Cruz is not) Get a load of this:

…As it happens, Cruz and Boehner barely know each other. They overlapped in Washington for a little over one congressional term, in different chambers. They’ve exchanged few words (none of them cross, apparently) in the few times they’ve spoken, and they’ve never worked together — at least not directly. Cruz, however, is a principled conservative,…
Trump is the Establishment

The only problem with Mr. Ross’ thesis is that it’s not true. While it does echo Ted’s recent speech in Indiana, this is wrong.

The Texas senator, who is deeply (and outrightly) disliked by many of his colleagues on Capitol Hill, encouraged voters to support Republican front-runner Donald Trump if they are content with the legacy of Boehner—who left Congress last fall as the least popular House speaker in three decades. Before a rally in Indiana Thursday, Cruz told reporters he hasn’t spoken more than 50 words to Boehner throughout his entire life.

Cruz, like the Apostle Peter has been proven a liar when he states: “…I don’t know the man”

It was the late 1990s: Boehner was a congressman from Ohio, and Cruz was a rising legal star who had clerked for Supreme Court Justice William Rehnquist. Cruz had not yet turned 30. Boehner was suing Democratic Representative Jim McDermott of Washington state for allegedly defying wiretapping laws, according to The Washington Post.

The case stemmed from an illegally intercepted telephone call that involved Boehner and other GOP leaders in December 1996. The call was about then-Speaker Newt Gingrich, who later admitted to a wrongdoing in an ongoing House ethics subcommittee investigation. A Florida couple intercepted the conversation from a police scanner and recorded it while Boehner spoke on a cellphone, then gave the tape to McDermott, who at the time was the chief Democrat on the House Ethics Committee. McDermott presented the tape to media outlets, including The New York Times. Boehner then sued McDermott, seeking punitive damages for violations of his First Amendment rights.

And who did Boehner hire for his legal team? None other than a fresh-faced Cruz, who at the time had finished two clerkships and was working with a law firm in Washington, D.C. Cruz, who worked at the firm for a year until 1998, was one of the attorneys who briefly defended Boehner during litigation against McDermott. The case dragged on for years, until in 2008 a judge ultimately sided with Boehner, awarding him more than $1 million in legal fees. McDermott was forced to step down.
Cruz Boehner History

I don’t know about you, but if I was a lawyer and won a million dollar settlement that also forced a sitting U.S. Senator to resign, somehow I think I would remember it.

Ever after their shared past was unearthed, Cruz has still not corrected his remarks.

Cruz’s narrative continues:

“John Boehner in his remarks described Donald Trump as his texting and golfing buddy,” Cruz told reporters. “So if you want someone that’s a texting and golfing buddy—if you’re happy with John Boehner as speaker of the House and you want a president like John Boehner, Donald Trump is your man.”
Cruz I don’t know the man

Trump is also a texting and golfing buddy of Rush Limbaugh and many other folks whose names you would recognize. For Cruz to equate Trump with Boehner is dishonest and the type of political stunt that I would expect from a seasoned politician.

At the same time Doug Ross is feebly trying to portray Trump as an insider, insider George Will is having a meltdown over Trump. The truth is Will would rather have Hillary for president than Trump.

The Will article is entitled, “GOP Must Oppose Trump Even If He Wins Nomination”

Donald Trump’s damage to the Republican Party, although already extensive, has barely begun.

After praising Cruz and Clinton, Will claims Trump will result in Republican Armageddon. Here are excerpts of his scenario of doom.

Trump would be the most unpopular nominee ever, unable to even come close to Mitt Romney’s insufficient support among women, minorities and young people. In losing disastrously, Trump probably would create down-ballot carnage sufficient to end even Republican control of the House.

At least half a dozen Republican senators seeking re-election and Senate aspirants can hope to win if the person at the top of the Republican ticket loses their state by, say, only four points, but not if he loses by 10. A Democratic Senate probably would guarantee a Supreme Court with a liberal cast for a generation.

Were he to be nominated, conservatives would have two tasks. One would be to help him lose 50 states—condign punishment for his comprehensive disdain for conservative essentials, including the manners and grace that should lubricate the nation’s civic life. Second, conservatives can try to save from the anti-Trump undertow as many senators, representatives, governors and state legislators as possible.
Newsmax: George Will: GOP must oppose Trump/

So there you have it, your duty is to vote for Hillary to insure Trump loses all 50 states in a landslide and vote Republican on all down-ticket races.

I don’t know if it’s that air or the water inside the District of Columbia but these guys are nuts. If Trump is unhinging the Establishment this much then maybe he’s not so bad.

George Will left the Conservative ranks decades ago but is still allowed to claim to be one. His baseball knowledge is much better than his political insight or at least it used to be. It’s sad to see how far this guy has fallen.

Rafael Cruz: Not a Christian Reconstructionist

More news stories are circulating today about Ted Cruz’s dad and his religious beliefs. All are raising the question of whether Ted agrees with his ole dad. This is not the same as Obama and Rev Wright because Ted is actively involving his dad in his campaign whereas Obama kept his distance from Wright—at least physically, ideologically might be a different story.

Here are the links on Drudge today.
wnd.com/2016/04/cruzs-evangelist-father-re-emerges-in-indiana
motherjones.com/politics/2016/02/rafael-cruz-ted-cruz-campaign-god-sign

The short version is Ted’s dad in a Pentecostal Reconstructionist. While both the Sith Lord and I find ourselves in agreement with Reconstructionism, what that looks like when blended with Pentecostal theology might be something altogether different.

Leaders of the Christian Reconstruction movement are post millennial and Calvinist. Pentecostal folks are pre-mil and dispensational so how that theological system looks to Rafael Cruz could be a different thing altogether. Some of the senior Cruz’s comments also imply an aspect of the prosperity gospel that is so popular in some dubious theological circles.

It is clear that neither Ted nor Rafael has read Gary North’s book on Exodus. Ted is drawing from Pharaoh’s toolbox and not from the faith of Moses. Ted can call himself whatever he wants but he is trying to run his campaign using the Power religion of the State and not biblical faith.

Christian Reconstructionism is a political theory that says what “ought to be” but does not map out how to get there. It does presuppose that it will not be imposed from the top down but from the bottom up. This I think is the Cruz dilemma. Cruz wants to force his idea of a Reconstructionist/Constitutional society from the top down.

I know of no leader of Christian Reconstruction that would agree with the tactics of Cruz. As I have mentioned elsewhere, North—during the height of the Reagan years—was saying that we are not ready. Our society has decayed significantly since that time. Only in the wake of a sustained national revival could Christian Reconstruction be implemented in our nation.

I’m not against standing up for what’s right and bringing reform to our society and government, but I fear that Ted Cruz would have us exchanging one form of tyranny for another.

Lastly, Ted maybe God told you to run for President but that is a far cry from promising you that you will win. Maybe he is refining you and thru this experience He will get the dross out of your heart so you will be a better candidate in the future. Next time do it His way and not yours.

Game, Set, and Match

New York Times says Trump no longer needs Indiana to win.

The main reason is Mr. Trump’s success on Tuesday among Pennsylvania’s 54 unpledged delegates. Even though none of them are officially bound to a candidate, 31 of the 54 spots went to delegates preferred by Mr. Trump. And before the election, others had said they would vote for the winner of their district (Mr. Trump won all of the state’s districts). My colleague Jeremy W. Peters reported that Mr. Trump “appeared to have won about 40 of Pennsylvania’s 54 unbound delegates.”

Trump Doesn’t Need Indiana

These delegates put Trump within spitting distance of 1,000

Also, why did Cruz give Carly half a million dollars? That’s strange.

Trump Victory Certain

Trump got 109 delegates out of a possible 118 yesterday. Pennsylvania is a little odd. Of their 71 delegates, 17 are based on the popular vote and Trump got all of those while 54 are based on that screwy ballot as shown in my previous blog yesterday. (Per RPC, these delegates are “At Large” and not pledged to any candidate.) That mess apparently has yet to be sorted out and isn’t included in the delegate totals shown on the Real Clear Politics website. Both RCP and Fox agree that Trump is now at 954 delegates.

There are 502 delegates remaining in the delegate hunt. Trump needs 283 to win outright.

Trump will clearly win in California and New Jersey. In California, Trump has increased his lead over Cruz by five points in the last week and Trump is just starting to campaign in the state. California and New Jersey are worth 223 delegates Thus Trump needs to pick up 60 delegates between 8 other states. He is leading in Indiana-another winner take all state—worth 57 delegates.

I’m still saying by this time next week, Cruz will be suspending his campaign.

The next question is who will Trump select as his V.P.?

Why Ted Cruz Deserves to Lose

Ted is campaigning as a Christian and a Constitutionalist. Unfortunately, he has failed miserably at both.

As a legislator, Ted has had many years to offer his ideas for solutions to what he sees as ailing this country. Has he done so? NO. Ted has held it back from his constituents and fellow legislators. None of the ideas he is putting forward as solutions now has he previously put forward as proposed legislation. There is no legislative package of bills that he can point to and say this is what I think should be done to make this country great again.

Ted has failed at the most basic of all government: Self-government. The gulf between his actions and words is a vast chasm. Ted claims to be a Christian. At the very least, a Christian should love his enemies and pray for them. He should strive to exhibit the love of Christ to those around him.

So does Ted Cruz love Donald Trump, Marco Rubio, and the rest? NO. Ted acts like General Sherman marching on Atlanta. If he can’t have it, then he burns it to the ground. Does he respect the process and system that has allowed him to run for President? NO. He wants to win at all costs and if he can’t then he’s willing to tear down the whole Party just to advance himself. Strip away all his rhetoric and B.S. and you will find that it’s all about Ted.

Another thing a Christian should be is a man of his word. Again, Ted Cruz seems to operate according to “Rules for Radicals” or “The Prince”. Look at what happened this weekend in Maine.

The fiery and controversial governor claimed on Friday that the Trump and Cruz campaigns had previously reached a “unity deal” to elect delegates to the national convention in proportion to results of the state’s 5 March caucuses.

Such an allocation would deliver 12 Cruz delegates, nine for Trump and two for John Kasich, the Ohio governor.

However, LePage, a Trump supporter, said on the eve of Maine’s state convention that the Cruz campaign had reneged on the deal, believing they could fill all 20 elected delegate slots on the ballot. “I can’t stand by and watch as Cruz and the Republican establishment forcibly overrule the votes of Mainers who chose Trump and Kasich,” said LePage.
Maine Governor and Ted Cruz

This pattern of repeatedly stealing delegates that he did not earn is something that is harmful to the political process not just in this cycle but forevermore.

God created government and gave us this nation. Cruz has repeatedly proven that he has a contempt for the system that he says he wants to lead. This is troubling. Isn’t that our complaint against Barack Obama?

Ted Cruz is willing to ride roughshod over anyone to thwart Donald Trump from being President. The allies of Cruz are the Republican Establishment that will do the same thing to Cruz once his utility is no more. Cruz has turned this campaign into a suicide pact. He will win at any cost or burn the place down; at this point, maybe both simultaneously.

Cruz has also joined forces with John Kasich. On social issues these men are opposites but the enemy of my enemy…

Senator Ted Cruz and Gov. John R. Kasich of Ohio have agreed to coordinate in future primary contests in a last-ditch effort to deny Donald J. Trump the Republican presidential nomination, with each candidate standing aside in certain states amid growing concerns that Mr. Trump cannot otherwise be stopped.

In a statement late Sunday night, Mr. Cruz’s campaign manager, Jeff Roe, said that the campaign would “focus its time and resources in Indiana and in turn clear the path for Governor Kasich to compete in Oregon and New Mexico.”

Minutes after Mr. Roe’s statement, the Kasich campaign put out a similar message. The Ohio governor’s chief strategist, John Weaver, said that his campaign would shift its resources to states in the West and “give the Cruz campaign a clear path in Indiana.”
Cruz and Kasich Team Up

Ted has given up winning outright because he can’t and is now committed to trying for a contested convention. Ted, by your willingness to put your thumb on the scales, you have proven you are unfit to be President.

When words like: lie, steal, defraud; are the hallmarks of your campaign, I think it’s safe to say that you are not doing it for the love of God but for yourself.  Cruz is the worst type of hypocrite because his actions actually blaspheme the Lord he claims to serve.

Many of my peers at church disagree with me but I have seen this playbook up close and personal. Some of us are trying to learn from the past and it makes us angry when folks are hell-bent on repeating it again. I told Ted to beware the Ides of March, unfortunately for us, Ted is charging full speed down the way that ends in destruction. Will he finally see the light or feel the heat?

Prediction: Cruz Will Suspend Campaign in Two Weeks

Cruz is toast but most of his followers are slow to realize it.

Trump will win all five primaries next week and Cruz is currently running third in most of these states. The result is that Trump will approach 1,000 delegates. Once this number enters the public discussion, support for Cruz will further erode. Remember success has many fathers but failure is an orphan.

Reality is setting in with the politically astute. Last week, my friend—the Sith Lord—was ready to be a city coordinator for Cruz—this is a volunteer position. After New York, he has seen the writing on the wall.  Yesterday he accepted a paid position with the Trump campaign. Trump will get virtually all the delegates in California.

Donald Trump just began to roll-out a plan to campaign in California. Ted Cruz has had an organization here for the last year. So whatever Trump is polling at now is his floor. He can only go up from his current numbers. Statewide, he is leading Cruz in California
Trump 41 %
Cruz 23 %
Politico: Trump California Poll

Cruz hit the iceberg on Tuesday and many are heading for the lifeboats. Trump is the inevitable nominee and thankfully there will not be more than one ballot in Cleveland.