Round 2

Hello all,

I felt the need to get started a little early for round 2.

2008 was a jump start year for me. I was unknown and being a presidential election year I knew it would be difficult for a third party candidate. Now, people have seen my name. I am better known. 2010 will not have those draw backs.

I have already begun to build my campaign for 2010. New Web site that will be updated as time goes by. More time to get my name to more people. More time to build a bigger war chest for advertisement.

Our constitution needs to be protected. I will do everything in my power to protect it but I need your help. Please check out the new Web site and join the email list. I promise not to overwhelm you with emails, I know many campaigns tend to get tenacious with email lists. I'll only post with important information and maybe the occasional reminder about the campaign.

Look for me on the ballot for U.S Representative Texas Congressional District 18 in 2010. Thank you all for your continuing support and together, we can make a better tomorrow.

Mike Taylor,
http://www.miketaylor18.com

The day After, 2008

I would first like to start by thanking everyone that supported me and helped to get my name into public view. There were many factors in this years election. Unfortunately, those factors worked against me.

On a positive note, I have learned a lot, this year. I learned that, even though a few thousand people wouldn't know me if they saw me on the street were willing to vote for me on the basis of principle. People were willing to look past the social engineering that the big two parties have built upon over the last century.

This gives me hope. I will restructure, I will rebuild and I will come back. As long as hope survives, I will be there to help it along. All of you that gave me the opportunity to be heard, you are my inspiration.

Keep me in mind over the next couple of years. I will be there. Help me support other liberty minded candidates. 2010 is an important year for Texans. Governor, Rick Perry, won re-election with a total of 39% of the popular vote. Yes, that's 39% and not a typo.

Look on the ballot, in 2010, for the name Jeff Daiell. I've met the man and still speak with him at times. He is a good man with will and strength to lead Texas. Perry is not well liked. I ask that you give Jeff a chance, just as you gave to me. He wants the best for Texas. He is the best for Texas. http://www.jeffdaiell.com/

Thanks again,

Mike Taylor

Libertarian Candidate U.S. House TX-CD18

myspace.com/mikeforcongress

Effects of Ike

Mike Taylor for U.S. Congress TX-18

Effects of Ike

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

I wanted to take this opportunity to say that I am very proud of the city of Houston regarding the community response to hurricane Ike. I, like most of Houston and the surrounding areas, have been without power, cable and phone since we were hit.

I also wish to make note of the heartless use of this disaster to garner political gain. It’s disgusting to see TV Ads being paid for with political campaign funds from people like John Cornyn. I saw an Ad were he was talking about relief funds and then openly had the disclaimer that the Ad was paid for by his campaign and approved by him. I’m not running against Cornyn so this is not an attack against my opponent. I am simply pointing out an obvious fact that Cornyn is taking advantage of his position as an incumbent to make allegations that he is the only one that would do something to help the community struck by disaster. It’s sickening to me and I hope I am not alone.

Another person that has taken full advantage of the chance to jump in front of every TV camera in her district is my opponent. One has to ask, if this were not an election year, would Sheila Jackson Lee even bother making a statement? I would say no. When Rita caused damage and loss of homes in 2005 (Not an election year) I never heard a peep from Mrs. Jackson Lee. She never made so much as a radio sound bite for the people affected by the high winds from Hurricane Rita. Nothing!

As a U.S. Representative Mrs. Jackson Lee has ZERO authority to do anything. Once a national disaster has been announced, recovery efforts are performed and authorized by state and local governments in concert with the President of the U.S. and federal disaster recovery agencies. The house and senate members have ZERO say in anything unless as bill is presented to provide funding for recovery costs. Even then, congressional members cannot promise anything not provided in such a bill.

Mrs. Jackson Lee, while playing her game of “find any active camera”, is doing nothing more than getting in the way of city and state officials trying to do their jobs in such a crisis. She is, in essence, abusing her power as an incumbent to gain political favor through free media coverage in an election year. This is a luxury that none of her opponents have. The same goes for Mr. Cornyn.

Abuse of incumbency and taking advantage of a crisis situation is deplorable. These people should be ashamed of themselves. I am ashamed to admit that these people keep their jobs as my representatives in light of these events. Mayor White, a fellow Democrat with Mrs. Jackson Lee, has been more than happy to help his fellow Democrat find every spotlight available. He, too, has shown willingness to abuse his incumbency for the advancement of his fellow party members. I imagine he will eventually seek high offices once his term as mayor has expired and he is making sure he stays in good favor with his party.

Even if you do not vote for me, I would encourage you vote for anyone but the incumbents during this election year. Many of them have been in office too long and their only purpose to keep their jobs. They no longer have the welfare of the people in mind and have completely self-serving in their positions.

Mike Taylor

http://www.miketaylor08.us

Why women should vote.

I got this in an email from a fellow LP Texas candidate. I felt it should be passed around. Women need to know what happened during the time women were fighting for their right in the ballot box.


Not sure who the original author was but this is too important not to pass around, even if I can't give credit to who wrote it, originally.


>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

WHY WOMEN SHOULD VOTE


This is the story of our Grandmothers and Great-grandmothers as
they lived only 90 years ago.


Remember, it was not until 1920 that women

were granted the right to go to the polls and vote.


The women were innocent and defenseless, but they

were jailed nonetheless for picketting the White

House, carrying signs asking for the vote.
And by

the end of the night, they were barely alive.


Forty prison guards wielding clubs and their

warden's blessing went on a rampage against the

33 women wrongly convicted of 'obstructing sidewalk traffic.
'


They beat Lucy Burn, chained her hands to the cell

bars above her head and left her hanging for the

night, bleeding and gasping for air.
They hurled

Dora Lewis into a dark cell, smashed her head

against an iron bed and knocked her out cold.
Her

cellmate, Alice Cosu, thought Lewis was dead and
suffered a heart attack.
Additional affidavits

describe the guards grabbing, dragging, beating,

choking, slamming, pinching, twisting and kicking

the women.


Thus unfolded the 'Night of Terror' on Nov.


15, 1917, when the warden at the Occoquan

Workhouse in Virginia ordered his guards to teach

a lesson to the suffragists imprisoned there because

they dared to picket Woodrow Wilson's White House

for the right to vote.


For weeks, the women's only water came from an

open pail.
Their food--all of it colorless slop--was

infested with worms.
When one of the leaders, Alice
Paul, embarked on a hunger strike, they tied her

to a chair, forced a tube down her throat and

poured liquid into her until she vomited.
She was
tortured like this for weeks until word was smuggled

out to the press.


So, refresh my memory.
Some women won't vote this

year because--why, exactly?
We have carpool duties?

We have to get to work?

Our vote doesn't matter?
It's raining?

Last week, I went to a sparsely attended screening

of HBO's new movie 'Iron Jawed Angels.
' It is a

graphic depiction of the battle these women waged

so that I could pull the curtain at the polling booth

and have my say. I am ashamed to say I needed the reminder.


All these years later, voter registration is still my

passion.
But the actual act of voting had become

less personal for me, more rote.
Frankly, voting

often felt more like an obligation than a privilege.


Sometimes it was inconvenient.


My friend Wendy, who is my age and studied

women's history, saw the HBO movie, too.

When she stopped by my desk to talk about it, she

looked angry. She was--with herself.
'One thought

kept coming back to me as I watched that movie,'

she said.
'What would those women think of the

way I use--or don't use--my right to vote? All of

us take it for granted now, not just younger women,

but those of us who did seek to learn.
' The right

to vote, she said, had become valuable to her

'all over again.
'

HBO released the movie on video and DVD.
I wish

all history, social studies and government teachers

would include the movie in their curriculum I want
it shown on Bunco night, too, and anywhere else

women gather.
I realize this isn't our usual idea of

socializing, but we are not voting in the numbers that

we should be, and I think a little shock therapy is in

order.


It is jarring to watch Woodrow Wilson and his cronies

try to persuade a psychiatrist to declare Alice Paul

insane so that she could be permanently institutional-

ized. And it is inspiring to watch the doctor refuse.


Alice Paul was strong, he said, and brave.


That didn't make her crazy.


The doctor admonished the men: 'Courage in women

is often mistaken for insanity.
'

Please, if you are so inclined, pass this on to all the

women you know.


We need to get out and vote and use this right that

was fought so hard for by these very courageous

women.
Whether you vote democratic, republican or independent party -
remember to vote.


History is being made.

>>>>>>>>>

Mike Taylor
http://www.miketaylor08.us

A chance to be real

Mike Taylor for U.S. Congress TX-18

A chance to be real

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

All too often the people are provided "dead pan" press releases, simple policy issues talking to the people. When was the last time a candidate actually requested a chance to talk WITH the people? I'm not talking about focus engagements where the audience is pre-selected or events that are only for a certain group of people. I'm talking about a chance to for people to really get to know the person they are considering or may consider.

Mrs. Jackson Lee is good at talking to people. She jumps in front of a microphone/camera at every opportunity. I bet if you were to email her or her campaign office you would probably get a form-letter style response sent by a staffer or volunteer, not from the candidate, herself.

I want to take this time to type up a request to people that will or may be voting this November 4^th. I have a regular job while also working to build my campaign and I do need time with my kids so asking people to call would be impractical but through email, the conversation can be more easily handled and you can get the answers you need to make an informed decision. You will also not have to worry about getting form-letter responses. I will make it a point to reply to everyone, myself. That's right; you will have a chance to get information directly from the horse's mouth.

If you want to know where I stand on any given issue, ask me. Not being a candidate from either of the two largest political parties, I will not be allowed access to many of the same media events that my opponents are allowed access to. This is most unfortunate for the voters because it limits them to only what the media wants them to know about. That does not give you, the voter, a real chance for freedom choice, does it? Thing is, both the Democrats and Republicans like it that way. Yes, you read that right. Neither of them wants you to have full choice of information to make a decision. This is how they win elections, by working the system of ignorance to the wider spectrum from being seen or heard.

Ask yourself, do you really want to vote for someone that would rather you not be informed? You may or may not like what I have to say about any given issue. The point, though, is that you have the right and ability to get that information.

Please, visit my Web site. Email me questions or suggestions. Join my email news letter list (I promise not to overwhelm you with email). If I am at the computer, you can get replies within hours or even minutes. Granted, I can't stay in front of the computer 24/7 so there may be times when a reply might not come for a day or two but I do promise to get back with you on any given issue you wish to know about at the earliest possible chance. Remember, like you, I have a regular job and family plus the added time consumption of a campaign but I will get back with you as soon as I can with the answer you need.

A voter filled with knowledge is a voter filled with power.

Mike Taylor

http://www.miketaylor08.us

Email: mike@miketaylor08.us

Mike Taylor for Congress endorsed by Nate Peele!

Sunday, March 30, 2008 Web blogger Nate Peele officially endorsed Mike Taylor for U.S. Congress.

http://thatsrightnate.wordpress.com/2008/03/30/i-endorse-mike-taylor-for-congress/

Excerpt:

"I know that the 18th is Barbara Jordan’s district and I do reallize there are strong reasons why an African-American representative makes sense for the district, but if people are serious about change in the district, I believe that the 18th District’s Mike Taylor has the best chance for making the change a reality. Taylor (http://www.miketaylor08.us/) is an advocate of smaller more managable government and though I am in no means a libertarian, Taylor may be just what the 18th needs. His chances of winning are small, but the impact of every vote for him over a simple straight ticket or leaving the contest blank is huge. That’s why I’m making Mike Taylor my first endorsement on this blog."

Mike Taylor for congress
http://www.miketaylor08.us

Kudos to donorschoose.org and Stephen Colbert

I would like to give kudos to http://www.donorschoose.org and Stephen Colbert for promoting the private assistance to funding education in America. This effort is being done by utilizing one of the most media churning event in the U.S., a Presidential election year.

Funding education is extremely important to a free society. I have said many times that an uneducated or under-educated populous is far too easy to control and manipulate. The efforts of Mr. Colbert, through the Web site http://www.donorschoose.org, has raised immense amounts of money to help education in America. I only hope the giving spirit of giving continues to the learning process once this election year is over.

I believe it needs to be stressed that individuals and local companies can help build education in America. Local companies can provide not just funding but also volunteer to help teach young people through work programs setup with local schools and school districts for of-age eligible teens. This helps improve the future employee choices for employers by giving more qualified workers to the work force. This will also help these young people to develop a feeling of accomplishment and give them a sense of self worth at an early age.

Please visit http://www.donorschoose.org and donate under the name of your candidate of choice. Our future depends on a well educated population.

Mike Taylor for Congress. U.S. House TX-18

http://www.miketaylor08.us

Education: The Importance of Students and Educators

Mike Taylor for U.S. Congress TX-18

Education: The Importance of Students and Educators

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, January 31, 2008

Education is one of the most important components of who we are as a nation. Providing funding for education must be done in whatever way possible to ensure that our children have a solid path for their future. Allowing education professionals to make decisions on how to best perform their duties must be considered a Constitutional mandate. Our forefathers dreamt of a nation of strength and prosperity and provided a guide in our Constitution to build a powerful nation of people determined to embrace life and liberty. Education is the only way to continue those dreams.

Sheila Jackson Lee has turned her back on her oath to the American people and the Constitution of this great nation. This type of action needs to stop this November. This is not something new, she has been doing it for years. In 1997 Mrs. Jackson Lee voted no on the "Education Savings Account bill". This bill was to raise the annual voluntary contribution cap for education savings accounts (ESA) from $500 to $2000 per child. This bill also assisted 'special needs' students by exempting them from the age limit of 18 to benefit. This bill also allowed businesses to contribute to ESAs. I feel that education funding for our youth should have no limitations in regard to sources. Anyone willing to contribute to education should be allowed to do so and without limits.

In addition, in 1997, Mrs. Jackson Lee voted no on the "HELP Scholarships bill". This bill would have allowed states with 'parent choice' of schools in poverty level homes to send their children to better rated schools. This bill would have also given more power to the state and local school boards, as it would have prohibited the Secretary of Education from interfering with the curriculum and administrators of participating schools.

In 1999, Mrs. Jackson Lee voted against the "Teacher Empowerment Act". This was to provide additional funding to hire more teachers and reduce classroom sizes in public schools. This legislation would have also provided more power to the state and local education boards to determine the quality of our educators and provide for mentoring programs to assist new teachers. This would have also provided the power to local school systems to improve professional development of educators by way of training for new technologies and incentives by way of compensation increases based on merit.

2001, introduced the most destructive joint venture of Democrats and Republicans to hit our education system since the excessive empowerment of the federal Department of Education. Sheila Jackson Lee voted yes on the "No Child Left Behind Act". In name, this piece of legislation sounds positive. Names can be deceiving. By implementing a nationwide testing standard for students and legislating curriculum this act has driven a wedge between our students and educators. Teachers are no longer able to take the time to identify with their class. "No Child Left Behind" forces teachers to shove information down students' throats with no methods available for retention beyond taking the tests. Students are only learning for the tests and not for life. Teachers are forced to remove the personal aspect of teaching to allow only for test subject matter. In my experience in life, the teachers that made the biggest impact were the ones that were able to connect with students on a personal level. This act has taken that away. The U.S. now ranks much lower than we once did on primary education. To add insult to injury, Mrs. Jackson Lee has voted yes on supplemental legislation that builds on this failing program. I will work to restore our educational system to its previous glory.

Finally, Mrs. Jackson Lee didn't even bother to vote on the "Reverse the Raid on Student Aid Amendment" in 2006. This important legislation provides for a reduction in fixed interests rate on student loans from 6.8% to 3.4%. This legislation also provides a total of $84 million in grants for lower income/under privileged students looking to earn degrees in higher education.

Every elected member of our federal government, as well as our armed forces, takes a vow to protect our nation from all enemies both foreign and domestic, even if that domestic enemy is our own government (Implied). An uneducated or under educated populous is all too easily manipulated and controlled. It is the duty of our government to build a defensive posture for our citizens so they are protected from a foreseen possibility of a tyrannical government. Education is the best defense against such a possibility.

For More Information Contact:

Mike Taylor for Congress
Houston, Texas

Web Site: http://miketaylor08.us

Email: mike@miketaylor08.us

Libertarian Presidential Candidate Rejects Pay-off!

George Phillies for President 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, January 9, 2008

Phillies Rejects Massive Pay-Off

Today, Libertarian Presidential Candidate George Phillies rejected out of hand a massive pay-off offer conditioned on his changing his campaign stands. "I read my morning email, and there it was," he said. "I suppose I should be honored. So far as I know, no one has ever tried to pay off a Libertarian Presidential candidate before."

The message read, "I might have donated to your campaign had you not attacked Ron Paul. I raised over $50,000 for Ron Paul's presidential campaign, and could have helped you too. Please retract your statementsand say something to the effect of "Ron Paul is a champion of liberty and an essential part of the freedom movement." Thank you. Feel free to have your finance director give me a call."

Phillies discussed the numbers. "For a Libertarian Presidential campaign, that's a huge amount of money. $50,000 is about what Libertarian Aaron Russo spent on his 2004 Presidential nominating campaign. But I'm not for sale."

"Furthermore," Phillies noted, "The offer was public. In the same morning email was a request from a Libertarian Party county chair that I answer the message. Ignoring the message was not an option. I immediately answered:

"I'm not open to bribery.

"You may rest assured I will continue to make fair and honest comparisons between my positions and those of my opponents. That's why I said that Senator Obama's words prove that he is incompetent to manage American foreign policy. That's why I will continue to make fair comparisons between myself and your candidate.

"Let me urge you to look at your candidate's actual stands."

Phillies urged all Americans to give honest support to candidates they actually agree with. "Don't be discouraged by horse-race handicapping coverage of campaigns," he said. "Remember, your support counts twice: once for the candidate, once for the candidate's issues. Even if your man or woman is not elected, your donations and volunteer time advance their causes and yours and send a message to Washington about what Americans really think."

-30-

*The reference to Senator Obama appears in the August 16th press release, "Phillies: We Don't Invade Our Allies."

To support the George Phillies campaign, please visit http://phillies2008.org/donation today.

Contact Information:

Carolyn Marbry, Press Director pressdirector@phillies2008.org
(510) 276-3216

George Phillies for President 2008 http://phillies2008.org

Ron Paul and the Libertarian idea. Keep the fire burning!

This is not an official press release but a chance to talk about a man that has done quite a bit to bring my party into the mainstream media (Whether intentional or not), Dr. Ron Paul. Feel free to reproduce this post in part or in it's entirety but please provide proper citation to the original source, thank you.

Ron Paul has done quite a bit to bring the reality of Constitutional awareness back into public view. For this, I applaud Dr. Paul. In other areas, Dr. Paul's previous party affiliation (The Libertarian Party) has gotten a huge boost in the media spotlight. Again, Dr. Paul, I applaud you for your assistance to the American people to re-evaluate our Constitutional Republic and see where we should be rather than where elitist politicians have taken us.

I have to say that I can neither openly support or denounce Dr. Paul's presidential bid under the GOP as I feel either position on the matter would be a conflict of interest for me as a Congressional candidate under a different political affiliation than Dr. Paul. This doesn't mean I have to ignore his contributions in building a base of Constitutional awareness.

Dr. Paul has been a powerful instrument in raising awareness for the need to overtly change the tax system of America. Our current system allows for bloated government that is overly intrusive in the lives of Americans. The Federal Government uses it's fiscal power to influence and even, in many cases, forcefully coerce states into doing what the Federal Government wants. It is the job of the Federal Government to provide for the common defense and to act as a representative of the collective states to the rest of the world, not to be a controlling factor in how the states are governed.

The Federal Government has overstepped it's boundaries on a consistent basis for almost a century. It's time that this body of government is put back in its place. I applaud Dr. Paul in injecting the Libertarian view of smaller government into the mainstream media. Many functions currently performed by the Federal Government should be left in the hands of state and local governments. This is not an opinion but a fact.

Education is the number one issue of importance. No Child Left Behind – a joint effort of the Republicans and Democrats – should be repealed. As a part of the common defense, because an un-educated and/or under educated populous is easy to manipulate by potential domestic enemies (Which is what our elected officials are suppose to defend against), education should be funded, at least partially, by the government. However, government should NOT legislate education, especially on the federal level. Curriculum should be left to education professionals that have experienced what it is to be in a classroom and know what it takes to make a difference in a child's life. It can be suggested that private entities, including but not limited to small businesses and personal donations, should be able and encouraged (Not legislated) to invest in the education process to improve future employee candidates and build a better community. The Federal Department of Education should be abolished and responsibility of education handed over to the state and local communities. This will allow for smaller, more manageable, bodies of educators to be more productive in reaching our nations youth and helping to build pride and self reliance for their future.

Taxation is a burden for everyone. We must take responsible steps toward reducing the need of excessive taxation. Dr. Paul is a strong advocate for reducing the Federal Government and I have to say that I agree with that sentiment. By streamlining the Federal government and providing more control to the individual states, the need for excessive taxation is greatly reduced. By looking to encourage private entities to invest in projects to help their communities, we will reduce the need for conditional funding by the government. That's right; our government puts conditions of what we can do with our own tax dollars in our communities. The people must take the power of the dollar back in order to properly place funding where it needs to be.

I'm not trying to write a book, here, so I will leave this as it is. I think I have made my point. Dr. Paul has re-opened the American people's eyes to Constitutional duties and obligations. Let's keep the momentum going. Whether you agree with Dr. Paul on every issue or not, the idea getting back to our Constitutional foundation where people are free to make a life for themselves and their families has been re-ignited. Let’s keep the flame burning and build a better America, the way our founding fathers would want us to.

Mike Taylor
http://miketaylor08.us

Eminent Domain: Why is the Senate dragging their feet?

Mike Taylor for U.S. Congress

Eminent Domain: Why is the Senate dragging their feet?

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, January 9, 2008

In 2005, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that it was within the constitutional rights of the government to take the private property of a citizen to redistribute that property to another private entity for the purpose of providing a greater tax revenue in the name of 'eminent domain'. This was an outrage to the rights of the American people. It took a couple of years before Congress decided to put a bill on the floor to amend the Constitution to disallow private entity to private entity theft of property by the Federal Government.

I have to give credit where credit is due. I applaud Representative F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr. (WI-5) for his honor to the American people in presenting this bill for passage. Thank you, sir. You have done right by the people on this matter. November 3, 2005 the House adopted H.R.4128 with a vote count of 376 - 38. However, there is still more to do.

On November 4, 2005 this bill was received by the Senate and sent to the Committee on the Judiciary. Nothing more has been noted to have happened with this bill. This brings us to another outrage. Why is it so complicated to approve such a bill in favor of citizens rights to own property without fear of the government taking that property away from them for use by another private entity? If you ask me as well as the vast majority of the American people, it should be pretty well cut and dry. The courts took away the rights of the people and it is up to the other two branches of government to set that injustice right.

The Mike Taylor for U.S. Congress campaign calls on the U.S. Senate to expedite this bill to a vote on the floor of the Senate and restore the rights of the American people. To decline passage of this bill only strengthens the power of Corporatism that has been raising it's ugly head for several decades. Accepting the power of Corporatism is no worse than accepting the power of Socialism.

We cannot allow elite powers to control our government or side step the rights of our citizens. The people of the United States deserve more, they deserve better. Once in office, I will strive to work hard for the rights of the people to own property without fear of government theft. Lower and middle income people should have just as much safety in owning property as the wealthy elites and government should never favor any entity on the basis of wealth.

---

For More Information Contact:

Mike Taylor for Congress
Houston, Texas
Internet: mike@miketaylor08.us
Web site: http://www.miketaylor08.us

Mike Taylor for U.S. Congress. Texas Congressional District 18

Hello all,

I just wanted to post why I haven't been very busy on the blog, lately. I have been working on my campaign for U.S. congress!

That's right. I am running for U.S. Representative in the 18th Congressional District of Texas. I am running under the Libertarian Party and am proud to be given the opportunity to be on the ballot.

Please, visit my campaign Web site: http://miketaylor08.us

I will be updating as time allows. Keep in mind, I am not an elitist millionaire so I have to actually go to work everyday so I can't spend every waking moment on the campaign trail like other, career, politicians.

Pass the word. There's a new kid in town!