On October 27, 2010, Pat Martin, the Editor of the Imperial Leader Newspaper published his candidate endorsements for the upcoming election. He did not endorse me and that was to be expected since he stopped publishing my letters and endorsed my opponent, Ryan McKenna in the primary. That is why I did not waste my time meeting with him for an interview to find out who he was going to endorse. I guess he took exception to that.
As expected, Pat Martin endorsed Ryan McKenna, which is his prerogative, but in doing so he wrote that I was a Tea Party style “bomb thrower.” Apparently, Pat Martin is not very fond of the Tea-Party Patriots and uses the term as a pejorative. The Tea-Partiers stand for following the Constitution, limited government, reduce spending and limited taxation. Therefore, I would wear the term Tea-Partier as a badge of honor. In prior editorials, Pat Martin tried to demonize the term “conservative.” I responded with a letter to him, but he refused to print it. (Letter is Attached) After all it is his paper and he has Freedom of the Press to print what he wants to print.
As for being “bomb throwers,” I do not know of any “bomb throwers” in the Tea Party. I am aware of a disgruntled staff worker of Russ Carnahan who did throw a fire-bomb at one of Carnahan’s offices. Another “bomb thrower” would be Barack Hussein Obama’s mentor Bill Ayers, who was a leader of the Weather Underground and was responsible for bombing buildings in the 60’s. Pat, you may not know that because you are an ardent supporter of President Obama and are blind to the facts of what he is doing to this country.
Obama is the one who pits one group of Americans against another. He is a POLARIZING and DIVISIVE figure whose policies endanger American citizens. What would Pat say about Obama's call to arms to Hispanics and Latino’s to "Punish their Enemies," referring to American citizens who are concerned about their SAFETY. Then Obama sues a State for trying to protect their citizens, because he is lax in protecting them in violation of his oath of office. By putting a blind eye to the detrimental policies of the Obama Administration Pat Martin is failing at his responsibilities afforded to him under the First Amendment to the Constitution, as being a Watchdog over government.
Another reason for not receiving his endorsement is because I say there are too many laws and criticized McKenna’s bill to ban texting while driving. He writes, “Apparently, the safety consideration hadn’t occurred to him.” As a former police officer I know safety is a factor, however when it comes to laws like this it is all about the money. There are Careless and Reckless Driving laws on the books that would cover texting while driving recklessly. The reason for a specific law is for the revenue. Some people can walk and chew gum at the same time, i.e. they can drive down the road in a safe manner and use a cell phone. With a primary texting or cell phone law the person could be driving safely and still be pulled over and cited. If on the other hand a person is on their cell phone and they are all over the road they can be cited for Reckless Driving by use of cell phone, or texting, or putting on makeup, or eating etc. It is the “Reckless driving” that is the “Safety Issue” and can be addressed without any additional laws.
Governments get money through TAXES, FEES and FINES and that is why the Federal Government is making a push for this type of legislation (texting law) and holds the purse strings against the States to get it passed. Governments need the REVENUE and are coming up with all sorts of ways to get more money from the citizens.
Obviously, Pat Martin has not read my blog or face-book or heard my speeches because he knows nothing about my positions. The irony is he calls himself an objective journalist, but in my case, does not bother to get the facts. My philosophy is to teach and encourage people to be self reliant and less dependent on government. I want less government intrusion into citizens’ lives. I believe in following the Constitution, limited government, listening to your constituents, actually reading legislation and cutting out needless and duplicitous laws. I encourage everyone to find out about the Candidates through reliable sources prior to the election so they can make an informed decision about the people who will affect their lives. The citizens of this state and country need people like me to stand up to the Statists/Bullies. There is much work to be done to get America back on track and it starts with electing common sense conservatives to be representatives for the people.
Greg Zotta
Republican Candidate for MO Senate 22
http://www.zottasperspective.blogspot.com/
"Conservatives" v. "Liberals"
Pat Martin of the Imperial Leader Newspaper wrote an editorial about "Conservatives" and "Liberals" trying to demonize Conservatives. The following is a letter I wrote to him, which he did not print.
Patrick Martin, in your editorial you compared Conservatives and Liberals and stated Conservatives are proud of the label, where Liberals are not. “Liberals” prefer to call themselves progressives, and why not, it’s such a nice term, progress, who could be against that. In reality, they should be called what they are oppressors, Socialists, or Statists. I got the sense you were trying to demonize conservatives with your statements of what Conservatives should say (but only think the material in parenthesis).
You wrote, I am pro-life and support the Second Amendment (even though the job I’m running for has nothing to do with abortion or guns). If someone does not care about the sanctity of life, how can you be sure they have the moral character to make the right decisions? The Second Amendment is in the Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land. People have a God given right to protect themselves and their families, unless you live in a city like New York or Chicago run by Statists Bloomberg and Daley.
You wrote, I am for enforcing immigration laws (even though my great-grandfather was an immigrant…). The key word you forget to mention is LEGAL immigration. The Statists DO NOT CARE about illegal immigrants, they promote amnesty to garner their vote.
You wrote, I am for less or smaller government (even though I reserve the right to reach into your pocket by accepting my salary…). Their pay is stipulated in the Constitution.
You wrote, I am for lower taxes (who isn’t). Democrats, but they have a tendency of not wanting to pay them, Tim Geithner, Charlie Rangel, Tom Daschle.
The Democrat/Statists are for bigger government, raising taxes, increased spending and amnesty; where Conservatives believe in following the Constitution, limited government, (not no government), and less taxes, let the people keep their money.
Greg Zotta
Republican Candidate for MO Senate 22
Friday, October 29, 2010
Monday, October 25, 2010
Response to Leader Story
Kim Robertson of the Imperial Leader Newspaper did a story on me for the upcoming election. She called again and said they did some digging and found that I was arrested for a DWI in 2009 and wanted to know if I would comment on it. I informed her that issue was resolved and was supposed to be sealed.
I asked her what did that have to do with the election or the issues? She stated her readers would want to know and that there are other candidates in this election with similar issues. I informed her that I should not have been arrested and I would post my explanation of the incident on my blog. She stated she would note that in the follow-up story.
In December 2008, I had left a party where I had a few beers. I was not intoxicated and was driving home. It was around 1:00a.m. when I was travelling southbound on I-55 in the center lane and was passing another vehicle, which was on my right. I drive defensively and moved over into the left lane while I passed the vehicle. I do this to give myself room to react if the vehicle came into my lane. All of a sudden there was a car with their bright lights on right up on my bumper. I did not know what the driver of the vehicle was trying to do and thought he was a drunk. After travelling a short distance with the vehicle still riding my bumper I tried to take evasive action and changed lanes in the hope the vehicle would drive by. After changing lanes the vehicle changed lanes with me still riding my bumper with the bright lights on. Red lights then came on and I realized it was a police officer in the vehicle behind me. Immediately, I cautiously pulled over to the shoulder of the road. I turned on my dome light and waited for the officer to approach my vehicle.
The officer asked me to exit the vehicle to which I complied. I informed him that I was a retired police officer and was headed home. The officer asked me where I was coming from and if I had been drinking. I told him I had left a party where I had a few beers, but I am not intoxicated. He asked me why I was driving into the other lane. I told him I drive defensively especially this time at night. He stated he had a ride along reporter with him in his vehicle and when he spotted my vehicle changing lanes he told him “we’ve got a drunk.” I told him I thought he was a drunk the way he came up on my vehicle riding my bumper with the bright lights on. He told me that since I had the ride along with him he had to do something and asked if I would take some sobriety tests. I agreed.
It was very dark where we had stopped and he shined his flashlight into my eyes and told me that was one of the tests, to check my eyes. He asked me to recite my ABC’S and I did with no mistakes. He then asked me to walk a straight line, heal-to-toe, to which I complied and walked a straight line. He then asked me to stand on one foot and extend my other leg without losing my balance. I told him I had a bad ankle. I tried to hold my leg out and maintain my balance, but could not. After all, I am not a ballerina.
He told me I failed the eye test and the one-legged balance test. He stated he had to do something because he had a reporter with him and that he was going to arrest me. He then placed me under arrest and read me my rights. Therefore, I claimed my right under the Fifth Amendment and refused to answer any more questions. He locked up my truck, conveyed me to the station, where I was booked for DWI and Improper Lane Usage and released.
I contacted my attorney and informed him of the incident. After consultation I was advised to plead guilty to which I did. I paid a fine, did community service, was put on probation and the record was supposed to be sealed.
I should not have been arrested; however, I was stopped by a young officer who told his ride-along reporter that “We’ve got a Drunk.” I guess he did not want to be proved wrong in front of the reporter. I am not an alcoholic, I drink on rare occasions and I do not drive drunk.
I asked her what did that have to do with the election or the issues? She stated her readers would want to know and that there are other candidates in this election with similar issues. I informed her that I should not have been arrested and I would post my explanation of the incident on my blog. She stated she would note that in the follow-up story.
In December 2008, I had left a party where I had a few beers. I was not intoxicated and was driving home. It was around 1:00a.m. when I was travelling southbound on I-55 in the center lane and was passing another vehicle, which was on my right. I drive defensively and moved over into the left lane while I passed the vehicle. I do this to give myself room to react if the vehicle came into my lane. All of a sudden there was a car with their bright lights on right up on my bumper. I did not know what the driver of the vehicle was trying to do and thought he was a drunk. After travelling a short distance with the vehicle still riding my bumper I tried to take evasive action and changed lanes in the hope the vehicle would drive by. After changing lanes the vehicle changed lanes with me still riding my bumper with the bright lights on. Red lights then came on and I realized it was a police officer in the vehicle behind me. Immediately, I cautiously pulled over to the shoulder of the road. I turned on my dome light and waited for the officer to approach my vehicle.
The officer asked me to exit the vehicle to which I complied. I informed him that I was a retired police officer and was headed home. The officer asked me where I was coming from and if I had been drinking. I told him I had left a party where I had a few beers, but I am not intoxicated. He asked me why I was driving into the other lane. I told him I drive defensively especially this time at night. He stated he had a ride along reporter with him in his vehicle and when he spotted my vehicle changing lanes he told him “we’ve got a drunk.” I told him I thought he was a drunk the way he came up on my vehicle riding my bumper with the bright lights on. He told me that since I had the ride along with him he had to do something and asked if I would take some sobriety tests. I agreed.
It was very dark where we had stopped and he shined his flashlight into my eyes and told me that was one of the tests, to check my eyes. He asked me to recite my ABC’S and I did with no mistakes. He then asked me to walk a straight line, heal-to-toe, to which I complied and walked a straight line. He then asked me to stand on one foot and extend my other leg without losing my balance. I told him I had a bad ankle. I tried to hold my leg out and maintain my balance, but could not. After all, I am not a ballerina.
He told me I failed the eye test and the one-legged balance test. He stated he had to do something because he had a reporter with him and that he was going to arrest me. He then placed me under arrest and read me my rights. Therefore, I claimed my right under the Fifth Amendment and refused to answer any more questions. He locked up my truck, conveyed me to the station, where I was booked for DWI and Improper Lane Usage and released.
I contacted my attorney and informed him of the incident. After consultation I was advised to plead guilty to which I did. I paid a fine, did community service, was put on probation and the record was supposed to be sealed.
I should not have been arrested; however, I was stopped by a young officer who told his ride-along reporter that “We’ve got a Drunk.” I guess he did not want to be proved wrong in front of the reporter. I am not an alcoholic, I drink on rare occasions and I do not drive drunk.
Saturday, October 9, 2010
To the St. Louis Police Officers Association:Endorsements
My name is Greg Zotta and I am a retired St. Louis Police Officer. On September 24, 2010, I attended the League of Women Voters Candidate forum held at Forest Park Community College, where Russ Carnahan, Ed Martin, and Nicholas Ivanovich, the Candidates for the Third Congressional District of Missouri answered questions posed to them by concerned citizens. As I drove past the Police Association’s headquarters I saw a Russ Carnahan sign in front of the building. Apparently, the Police Association has endorsed Russ Carnahan to remain the US Representative for the Third Congressional District of Missouri. I have just one question for you, “What are you thinking?”
It is the Democrats that are pushing for City control over the St. Louis Police Department in order to steal your pension. The Democrat/Statists are bankrupting this country and are burdening our children with massive amount of debt. Russ has voted for all of the Obama agenda without reading the bills.
Russ Carnahan voted for Obamacare, which will destroy the greatest healthcare system in the world. Obamacare was about CONTROL, not healthcare and it was forced upon us. Peoples premiums will go up and the care will go down; there will be rationing. Other things in Obamacare, which have nothing to do with healthcare are: a 3.8% sales tax on the sale of your home, 1099 forms will have to be completed for sales above $600, and the takeover of Student Loans. There is a lot more in it, after all Nancy Pelosi stated, they had to pass the bill to find out what’s in the bill. Furthermore, Obamacare is unconstitutional. He supported the bailout of GM and Chrysler, which as a condition of the bailout thousands of profitable auto dealerships were forced to close costing jobs. He supports Cap and Trade, which will cause our energy prices to skyrocket and make it difficult to sell your home. He supports the moratorium on offshore drilling, costing more jobs. He supports amnesty for illegal immigrants. There is a Value-added tax on their agenda. He helped funnel $107 million to his brother Tom for a wind farm.
Russ Carnahan’s sign says, “Russ delivers for us.” Unfortunately, what he’s delivered are Higher Taxes, More Regulation, and Higher Unemployment and if the Statists get their way Higher Energy Costs and more loss of Freedom. Russ is a rubberstamp for Obama’s radical agenda.
You cannot like the direction this country is headed. There is much work to be done to get America back on track and it starts with electing common sense conservatives to be the people’s representatives. Therefore, I ask you to reconsider your endorsement of Russ Carnahan and take a look at Ed Martin to represent the citizens of the Congressional Third District of Missouri. Check out his website or face book page to find out about his positions or you can contact him for an interview.
Greg Zotta
Republican Candidate for MO Senate 22
It is the Democrats that are pushing for City control over the St. Louis Police Department in order to steal your pension. The Democrat/Statists are bankrupting this country and are burdening our children with massive amount of debt. Russ has voted for all of the Obama agenda without reading the bills.
Russ Carnahan voted for Obamacare, which will destroy the greatest healthcare system in the world. Obamacare was about CONTROL, not healthcare and it was forced upon us. Peoples premiums will go up and the care will go down; there will be rationing. Other things in Obamacare, which have nothing to do with healthcare are: a 3.8% sales tax on the sale of your home, 1099 forms will have to be completed for sales above $600, and the takeover of Student Loans. There is a lot more in it, after all Nancy Pelosi stated, they had to pass the bill to find out what’s in the bill. Furthermore, Obamacare is unconstitutional. He supported the bailout of GM and Chrysler, which as a condition of the bailout thousands of profitable auto dealerships were forced to close costing jobs. He supports Cap and Trade, which will cause our energy prices to skyrocket and make it difficult to sell your home. He supports the moratorium on offshore drilling, costing more jobs. He supports amnesty for illegal immigrants. There is a Value-added tax on their agenda. He helped funnel $107 million to his brother Tom for a wind farm.
Russ Carnahan’s sign says, “Russ delivers for us.” Unfortunately, what he’s delivered are Higher Taxes, More Regulation, and Higher Unemployment and if the Statists get their way Higher Energy Costs and more loss of Freedom. Russ is a rubberstamp for Obama’s radical agenda.
You cannot like the direction this country is headed. There is much work to be done to get America back on track and it starts with electing common sense conservatives to be the people’s representatives. Therefore, I ask you to reconsider your endorsement of Russ Carnahan and take a look at Ed Martin to represent the citizens of the Congressional Third District of Missouri. Check out his website or face book page to find out about his positions or you can contact him for an interview.
Greg Zotta
Republican Candidate for MO Senate 22
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