late nights and early parades

Nikki Haley on ObamaCare

2010-09-10T14:47:00.001-05:00

Just got off of a 10-minute live chat with Nikki Haley. Here's her answer to my question if anyone's interested.

How will you work to defeat ObamaCare?

I will fight against Obamacare by getting a coalition of Govs together
We will let the Federal govt know that the answer to the healthcare problems
are not by mandating healthcare but by incentivizing small businesses to offer health care
by having a strong tort reform system like Texas
by reforming Medicaid
and asking the Federal govt to allow insurance cos to cross state lines

A Note to My Dear Readers

2010-09-06T20:02:00.001-05:00

Dear readers,

I haven't been at this long, but already it seems I'm running out of steam.

I've suddenly become ridiculously busy with homework, starting a new organization at school, homework, getting involved with College Republicans, homework, and all my other activities... and consequently I have very little time to devote to this blog. I'm certainly not going to stop writing - in fact I'm probably writing more now than I ever have - but at the moment I have other priorities. I hope I won't disappear permanently, I just wanted to apologize for my absence.

This blog has done wonderful, wonderful things for me: It's given me an outlet to further develop my political ideology and presented me with some real career opportunities. So thanks to you, my readers and commenters, for your support and encouragement.

Best,

EP

Candidate Profile: Dr. Donna Campbell

2010-08-22T17:57:00.002-05:00

Running for: House of Representatives, Texas District 25

Primary: March 2, won with 69.9%

Notable Endorsements: Texas Alliance for Life, Central Texas Republican Assembly, Team America PAC, John Cornyn, Jerry Patterson (Texas Land Commissioner), Dick Morris

Background: Born to hardworking parents in San Diego, California, Donna Campbell worked her way through high school and college before becoming an emergency room medical director and ophthalmologist.

Issue Breakdown:

Abortion: Pro-life
The Economy: Stop uncontrolled government spending, reduce deficit
Education: Wants greater parental choice, less bureaucratic interference, control back to families and away from the government
Energy: Supports domestic drilling and diversification, opposes cap and trade
Healthcare: Opposes ObamaCare
Immigration: Border security a priority, opposes amnesty
National Defense: Supports strong, fully-funded military, opposes civilian trials for terrorists & enemy combatants
Taxes: Supports tax code simplification, lower taxes, fair tax, taxation on consumption rather than income

My Assessment: Where Lloyd Doggett promotes Washington liberals’ progressive agendas, Donna Campbell promises fiscal responsibility. Where Doggett literally runs away from unhappy voters, Campbell promises accountability. Where Doggett is a career politician with agendas and strings to pull, Campbell is an ordinary citizen who is concerned with the direction in which our government is going.

Donna Campbell will keep the government answering to the Constitution. She brings real-world experience to politics; her medical background gives her an especially unique perspective on the Obama administration’s healthcare plan.

Future redistricting may weaken Lloyd Doggett’s hold on this area of Texas, but until that happens, we need to “dump Doggett.” His progressive ideals are both destructive to and ignorant of his constituents. Donna Campbell promises real leadership and accountability – she is the kind of congresswoman we need in District 25.

In Her Words:

On the Web: Website / Facebook / Twitter / YouTube / Flickr

The best ten minutes you will ever watch

2010-08-13T10:50:00.000-05:00

Hands Off Texas!

2010-08-10T14:44:00.000-05:00

Last night I attended the Hands Off Texas rally at the capitol... "Nice to be among like-minded company for a change," as one woman put it.

I've posted pictures of some of the best signs at my Flickr page. Here are a few samples:

Pro-Choice Hypocrisy

2010-08-02T19:13:00.000-05:00

Widely heralded as an intensely philosophical, very "real" analysis of humanity and its problems, Battlestar Galactica is one of the only science fiction television shows that ever drew mainstream attention. And to some extent, I agree with the critics that heap praise upon the series. Battlestar is generally very satisfying to watch, with compelling characters and a plot so intricate that you never quite know who's on which side. And, admittedly, the show does an excellent job of addressing social issues without smacking its viewers in the face with an agenda.

That is, until the abortion episode.

Here's the long story short: Sharon is a cylon, a bad-guy robot. She and Helo, a human, conceive a child (before he knows that she's a cylon). Since the cylons are hell-bent on destroying the human race, a hybrid baby would undoubtedly pose a serious security threat. When the powers that be discover Sharon is pregnant, they decide to terminate the pregnancy in order to protect the fleet.

The only character who shows any reservations regarding the abortion is Sarah Porter, a representative from Gemenon, a religious faction equivalent to Christian creationists. Porter is unsympathetically portrayed as an uneducated, totally irrational religious fanatic. It is considered preposterous that anyone would object to abortion, so she is written off as unreasonable.

With the Bible-thumping (or "sacred scroll-thumping," as the case might be) lunatic out of the way, the consensus is quite clear: abort.

In the end, the baby is allowed to live, but only because of a blanket abortion ban intended to keep the dwindling human race, now short of 50,000 souls, afloat. The President announces this new law to the press with tears in her eyes, selflessly defying her own beliefs to protect the greater good. The orchestral music swells, the camera pans out dramatically, and we are clearly supposed to be filled with pride and respect for the fleet's fearless leader.

In the very next episode when the child is born, security concerns must again be addressed. And everyone is horrified that one might even consider killing the child.

In its quest to analyze and call judgment on social issues, Battlestar inadvertently revealed the hypocrisy of pro-choice philosophy.

The concept that a child is not really a "child" until birth is totally unfounded. Is the word "baby" defined as a young human, with the condition that it has been born? No. Does morality suddenly kick in the moment a baby's head pops through the birth canal? No. Does a pregnant woman say that a cluster of cells are multiplying in her belly? No, she is "with child." She is "having a baby."

Doctor Zero wrote that abortion supporters, particularly young men, "find it easy to dismiss the entire issue by talking about 'a woman’s right to choose,' which simultaneously allows them to sound enlightened… and lets them off the hook for doing any serious thinking, or defending a morally serious but difficult position."

The Declaration of Independence defines a human being's natural rights, rights which are inherent just for being a human: "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."

LIFE.

Never mind the "right to privacy" or the "right to choose" or the "right of a woman to control her body." A child is a child, whether it has been born yet or not. To kill an unborn child, or to condone such a procedure, is a shameless act of disrespect for human life. By committing an abortion, you are destroying a human soul and denying an innocent child the right to live.

This country cannot and will not live up to its professed assurance of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" until abortion is made expressly illegal. There is no excuse for killing a child.

No moral system can survive under the weight of pro-choice hypocrisy.

Seven Reasons I'm Looking Forward to November

2010-07-31T17:27:00.000-05:00

1. Nancy Pelosi

2. Harry Reid

3. Charlie Crist

4. Lloyd Doggett

5. Ciro Rodriguez

6. Barbara Boxer

7. Thanksgiving

Excited yet?

Feeling stimulated?

2010-07-20T21:53:00.001-05:00

Remember that picture I tweeted a few days ago? The stimulus sign that popped up near where I live? Well, at least we know the $787 billion stimulus package has created at least one job - someone to take off the Obama-is-a-Socialist-Joker stickers that reappear out of nowhere every few days.

Here it was then:

And this is it now:

'Nuff said.

UPDATE 7/21: Sticker's gone again.

"Ford, I lift your name on high..."

2010-07-18T19:14:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite comedians on what happens when churches sell out to corporations:

Check out Tim Hawkins' YouTube channel for more hysterical videos!

Palin for President?

2010-07-17T19:01:00.001-05:00

Speculation is rampant as to whether Sarah Palin will pop back into politics in 2012. Some say it's inevitable - what else could she be planning with the millions that SarahPAC is raising? Some say she can't win. Others say it's too soon. But it certainly seems that a 2012 ticket is looming on the horizon. And I say she should go for it.

Back before the 2008 elections, listening to Mike Huckabee got me interested in politics. I liked what he was saying, and for the first time politics was something more than some lofty, ill-defined concept that only my parents cared about. I started paying attention when we watched the news every night.

But it was Sarah who really got me into it. I still have her VP nomination speech on my iPod. I really felt (and still feel) a personal connection to her. It was through her charismatic interviews and speeches, "you betchas" and all, that I pursued and became fully aware of my political and personal values. The cheerful, unapologetic manner with which she conducts herself seemed so different than the stiff, stodgy old men I recognized as traditional politicians. To her, it's all right to be a country girl, to love America, and to be a strong, outspoken conservative woman. Sarah Palin was something new and exciting for me.

Granted, there are women like Michele Bachmann and Jan Brewer, and there are the newly crowned "mama grizzlies," but still there is no one else like Sarah Palin.

And her prospects are looking better and better. As President Obama's approval ratings are sinking, Palin's fan base is growing. A recent PPP poll shows Palin and Obama tied in a hypothetical 2012 race.

Former Bush and McCain media advisor Mark McKinnon wrote of Sarah Palin, "This one inspires deep loyalty, and deep fear." That fear is evident, as the Left still resorts to the same cheap tactics they used when Palin first entered the political scene: assaults against her intelligence, her experience, and her conservative beliefs. Precious few of their allegations stand up to scrutiny (remind me again what exactly a community organizer does that's better than having actual executive experience?), and yet the media continues to propagate them. I don't think they realize that with each petty dig, Palin's followers grow in both loyalty and numbers. She exerts a staggering command over the conservative sector of America.

McKinnon also said that it was impossible for Sarah Palin to win the general election if nominated. But just remember that Ronald Reagan unsuccessfully sought the nomination twice. But when he did win, it came at exactly the right time.

History has a funny habit of repeating itself. Maybe it’ll happen again with Sarah.

Candidate Profile: Sean Duffy

2010-07-11T18:54:00.012-05:00

Running for: House of Representatives, Wisconsin District 7

Primary: September 7

Notable Endorsements: Sarah Palin, Tim Pawlenty, Erick Erickson, Wisconsin Right to Life PAC

Background: Raised in Wisconsin. Tenth of eleven siblings. Graduated from law school and practiced law for two years. Former county Special Prosecutor and District Attroney. Under his direction, Ashland County began investigating and prosecuting child Internet sex crimes before many other counties. Enjoys logrolling. Was once on a reality TV show. Married with six children.

Issue Breakdown:

Abortion: Pro-life
Cap and Trade: Opposes
Constitution: Strict constructionist
Defense: Supports full funding of military operations and intelligence agencies, best-quality care for veterans and military families, decisive action against global terrorism
Economy: Committed to stopping unsustainable spending and neutralizing the deficit, wants to reduce regulation and lower taxes
Energy: Wants independence
Education: Wants local school districts to have more control over education, to reform special interest influence, and to encourage university/technical college enrollment
Entitlements: Supports reform (without abandoning those already relying on Social Security, Medicaid, or Medicare)
Healthcare: Opposes ObamaCare, wants preexisting conditions to have no effect on insurance, supports competition across state lines, supports tort reform
Immigration: Wants borders secured
Marriage: Between a man and a woman
Second Amendment: Defender of individual gun ownership rights
Taxes: Supports flat tax, tax reduction for small businesses, tax cuts on overtime, and increase of child tax credits

My Assessment: Duffy is running for the seat held by David Obey, the author of the $787 billion stimulus package and a 40+ year representative who's about as incumbent as you can get. His Republican opponent Dan Mielke also ran against Obey in 2008. Duffy's campaign fundraisers have been quite successful, and he has an excellent record. To quote the National Review, "the Democratic strategy against Sean Duffy is to repeat 'reality star' a lot and hope everyone ignores that he's been a successful prosecutor." What little dirt his opponents have managed to dig up on him is hardly damning.

Duffy certainly looks promising. If everything keeps running smoothly, it's likely he will defeat Mielke. And from there... well, let's just say it's time for Wisconsin-7 to clean house.

Pun intended.

In His Words:

On the Web: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Flickr / YouTube

Supreme Blandness

2010-07-08T18:26:00.007-05:00

When listening to Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan speak, one can't help but be struck by the lack of... well, anything.

Kagan has no remarkable record, no conviction, no charisma. She can never bring herself to answer for her past actions without shirking and circumvention. She rarely seems to know exactly what the Senators grilling her are referencing. And she can't even decide whether she supports strict constructionism or a "living" Constitution. She is without a doubt the most bland, but still liberal, candidate to be found.

With Kagan's nomination, President Obama is just filling slots. He needs another liberal Democrat in the Court; Kagan fits the bill. Other than that, she's got almost nothing going for her. And it has become increasingly clear that the bar has been lowered to include her, as it similarly was for the "wise Latina" Sonia Sotomayor.

But where are the feminists? Shouldn't the self-appointed defenders of womankind be up in arms against the injustices their sex is suffering? Shouldn't they be outraged, and rightfully so, demanding to know why Washington couldn't find a woman of intellectual weight equal to that of the men serving on the Court? If feminists aren't going to stand up for Sarah Palin and Nikki Haley, shouldn't they at least stand up for the women who adhere to their liberal agendas?

Kagan may not be particularly decisive, eloquent, or seemingly intelligent, but she's a woman... with progressive tendencies. And for some, evidently that's enough.

Ravishing Light and Glory

2010-07-04T08:47:00.016-05:00

After a long and hard-fought battle of both blood and reason, arguably the most important document in all of history, the Declaration of Independence, was adopted. Our nation achieved its freedom.

John Adams, the father of independence, wrote:

I am apt to believe that [Independence Day] will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more...Yet through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory.

And to this day 234 years later, American patriots still get a chill thinking of the actions of those brave men. We are proud to have inherited the greatest country on this earth. And even when we disagree with its leaders, we take up responsibility for its defense. We, like the founding fathers before us, will not stand for tyranny or usurpations of our liberty.

This Independence Day, take a few minutes to read the Declaration and remember the courage of our founding fathers and the values they instilled in us: "Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness."

We are Americans. We will stand for nothing less.

HELL NO!

2010-07-03T20:29:00.021-05:00

Last night marked the first time I ever really appreciated Rick Perry, governor of my home state, when I heard him speak at the Texas Defending the American Dream Summit. Armed only with a few scribbled notes, a charming country twang, and a captivating passion for his fellow Texans, Perry easily surpassed the eloquence of Barack Obama's ubiquitous teleprompter.

He was comfortable on stage, loose enough to joke with fellow speaker Joe the Plumber, and fervent enough to command our full attention. In some of the most intensely emotional moments his voice sank to a mere whisper, at others he raised his voice to boom across the ballroom "not just no, but HELL NO!"

Perry quoted the central tenet of conservatism - "Get the hell out of the way, government!" - and wrapped it up with the most basic concepts of freedom.

Last night I began to appreciate how blessed I am to live in a state like Texas.

Texas is not like the rest of the United States. We are ranked the top state for entrepreneurs, lead the nation in job growth, and, thanks to the lack of state personal income taxes, have created a supportive environment for small businesses and economic growth. We have more Fortune 500 companies than any other state and have enacted tort reform to curtail frivolous lawsuits. As the 11th largest economy in the world, Texas leads the country in energy production and created more new jobs in 2008 than all the other states combined. And we're still growing jobs. Texas is the number one relocation destination in the United States (especially from the quickly tanking California).

Thanks to our precautionary "rainy day" fund, Texas now has a budget surplus. Next year may bring about a deficit, but with continued economic vigilance that deficit can be averted.

Texas is proof that solid conservative principles are the way to economic security, to the American Dream. With "guaranteed throwdown long-range fiscal conservatives" like Perry who are unafraid to get the government the hell out of the way, we have put the nanny state and big government tactics to shame. Because that's not the way this country works, and that's certainly not the way Texas works.

Washington, D.C., could learn a bit from us down here in God's country.

This November, and again in 2012, we're saying HELL NO! to economic ruin and progressive liberal agendas. We're taking our government back.

Texas Defending the American Dream Summit

2010-07-02T21:41:00.016-05:00

I just got back from the Texas Defending the American Dream Summit... and it was AWESOME! (Just a quick post before retiring so I can be up bright and early for day two tomorrow. Contrary to the title of this blog, I don't actually enjoy staying up particularly late.)

I learned a ton from the various sessions I attended and had some great conversations. It was such a positive environment - I've never met so many people on the same wavelength, so excited to be there sharing what they know. The gentlemen from Texas College Republicans were especially nice, and there were quite a few other young people there as well. After a whole year at an extremely liberal university, it's so nice to see that I'm not really alone!!

There were some great sessions on how to effectively use the Internet for conservative activism, featuring Raz Shafer (@razshafer), Melissa Clouthier (@melissatweets), Will Franklin (@willisms), and Matt Lewis (@mattklewis). I'm quite new to Twitter in particular, so these speakers were very helpful.

Keynote speakers for dinner were:

Steven Crowder, who was hysterical as usual
Rick Perry, whose awesomeness I can't say I fully appreciated until now (more on that in a later post)
Stephen Moore of the Wall Street Journal, from whom I learned more economics in an hour than I ever did from my high school economics teacher (which, granted, isn't saying much, but still...)

Next time Americans for Prosperity holds a summit in your state, I highly encourage you to go. The Texas summit is only halfway through, but already it's been well worth the time and money.

DAY TWO UPDATE: The conservative people of Texas are a truly remarkable bunch. I met dozens, even hundreds of fellow Texans who are concerned by the direction their government is going. And I was lucky enough to make a few new friends along the way.

Before attending sessions on cap and trade, states' rights, and the textbook controversy, everyone gathered in the ballroom again for speeches by some of the most well-known conservative political figures - Michael Williams, Joe the Plumber, John Fund, and Herman Cain (my new favorite person in the entire world).

Clips:

I don't think I've ever been so proud to be Texan and so proud to be American as I am today. And I encourage all of you to look into Americans for Prosperity.

Tyranny v. Liberty

2010-06-29T19:49:00.029-05:00

A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

The wording of the Second Amendment is often questioned: The pointed reference to a "well-regulated Militia" led to the Supreme Court’s decision that the Second Amendment promised a collective right, not an individual right. But that precedent has been shattered.

On June 28th, the Supreme Court ruled in McDonald v. Chicago that the Second Amendment does indeed guarantee the right of individuals to keep and bear arms for their own protection. This decision, coupled with 2008's D.C. v. Heller, represents one of the most critical triumphs for individual liberties this century.

Gun-fearing leftists claim to be advocating for your safety and well-being. But the entire foundation of their argument is faulty. Why? Because guns actually keep people safe.

If you were a common criminal - bear with me here - and you wandered into somebody's house to steal stuff, only to have someone point a gun at you, would you bother? Probably not.

Research has consistently failed to show that gun control helps at all. Miguel A. Faria - who is actually a neurosurgeon, not a pundit - wrote about how strict gun control laws harmed Britain while gun ownership helped America:

Violent crime is steadily coming down in American cities, despite the fact that there are more guns in America than ever before… and record numbers of citizens carrying permits for concealed firearms… To make matters worse for British citizen disarmament… crime has steadily increased in Britain in the last several years.

And furthermore, according to the CDC only 0.3 in 100,000 people died because of "accidental discharge of firearms" in the United States.

Taking guns away doesn't keep America safe. And it certainly doesn't keep them out of the hands of criminals. As my favorite blogger, Doctor Zero, observed, "'Gun-free' cities like Chicago produce bumper crops of bullet-riddled corpses."

When the founders talked about a "Militia," they meant that the people could freely build a network of trust and help keep each other safe. With guns. They also meant that an armed populace could keep a tyrannical government at bay. It's about time the Court recognized that.

This quote is falsely attributed to Thomas Jefferson, but it sums up the issue perfectly: "Where the people fear the government there is tyranny. Where the government fears the people there is liberty."

I don't know about you, but I'm all for liberty.

Candidate Profile: Rick Barber

2010-06-28T19:25:00.019-05:00

Running for: House of Representatives, Alabama District 2

Primary: Took 28.51%, runoff scheduled July 13

Notable Endorsements: Liberty First PAC, Iraq Vets PAC, iCaucus, Pamela Geller (Atlas Shrugs), Erick Erickson (RedState), Michael Johns (founder of National Tea Party), Alabama Tea Party Express

Background: Raised in Texas. Became a door-to-door salesman and lawn mower as a child. Joined the Marine Corps in 1995 as an information technology expert. Honorably discharged in 1999. Started a small technology business and is now the Corporate Vice President of a large technology firm. Started a second small billiards business. Joined the Tea Party movement in 2009. New to politics. Married with one daughter.

Issue Breakdown:

Abortion: From his website: "I am pro-life. Period." Couldn't have said it better myself.
Agriculture: Will advocate for rights of landowners and farmers
Card Check: Opposes
Economy: Recognizes the importance of small businesses, will oppose tax increases, will attempt to shrink Washington and stop wasteful spending
Education: Believes in school choice, higher standards, and tuition tax credit for private school and homeschool families
Energy: Opposes cap and trade, questions global warming "science," supports diversification and use of natural resources
Healthcare: Supports Rep. Tom Price's reform bill that increases state competition, reduces restrictions, and gives patients more say in their plans
Israel: Supports Israel as an ally and wants to keep it safe
Immigration: Supports enforcement of immigration laws, wants immigrants to speak English
Marriage: Between a man and a woman
Second Amendment: Member of the NRA, supports right to bear arms
Taxes: Supports FairTax
Term Limits: Supports
Welfare: Will seek reform and incentives for recipients to find work

My Assessment: If you ask the media, Rick Barber is the Tea Party poster boy, just another right-wing nutcase who hates everything. A recent Washington Post headline read: "GOP candidate talks to dead presidents, invokes Holocaust." The lefties are disgusted by the anger Barber portrays in his commercials. And granted, there is a risk of alienating viewers with an ad of such emotional magnitude. But isn't he right? Shouldn't we be angry? Shouldn't we have "gathered our armies" - whether metaphorically or otherwise - a long time ago?

I don't see Barber as an extremist. Maybe his ads are a little provocative, but that's arguably just a rookie mistake. Barber is an ordinary guy like you or me. He's created two successful businesses, started a family, and realized that he doesn't like where the government is going. He's new to politics, but he - and many other people - think he has something of value to contribute.

He was the ultimate underdog, making it to the runoff despite the odds being against him. And since opponent Martha Roby won over 48% of the vote, the odds may still be against him. Even if Barber doesn't win this time around, I hope he sticks around.

In His Words:

On the Web: Website / Facebook / Twitter / YouTube

Latin is NOT dead!!

2010-06-25T18:42:00.002-05:00

As someone who took Latin for seven years in middle school and high school - and loved it - I feel obliged to share this video. To everyone who thinks Latin is boring, dead, and useless:

The Right Victory

2010-06-24T11:07:00.034-05:00

This Tuesday, conservatives claimed exactly the victory they needed. November 2010 is looking more and more promising. If we can win Nikki Haley, we can win anything.

Haley’s opponents pulled out every lie they could think of. They insulted her marital loyalty, her faith, and even her race. They called her a liar and a "raghead." The media reported from their altar on high that a win was unlikely: there were too many strikes against her. They all but abandoned her.

But we proved that petty lies and smear campaigns won’t dupe us. We aren't gullible fools waiting to be preyed on by politicians and reporters. We are better than that.

It's just like Nevada. Legal Insurrection summed up the Reid-Angle war thus: "Sharron Angle only has to tell the truth about Harry Reid to win. Harry Reid has to tell lies about Sharron Angle to win." The same analysis works for the South Carolina race. In spite of the untruths propagated by Haley's enemies, voters came out to support her because of her conservative principles.

In her victory speech, Haley said:

To our friends in the media across this state and across this country who are analyzing what this victory means and what barriers this may have broken, I will tell you there might be some truth to that. But this is so much more than that. This is a story about determination and a story about a movement. This is the movement about the idea of government being open and accountable to the people.

And she’s right – this isn’t about breaking barriers. At least not the barriers they mean. This is about a new conservative movement.

We want solid conservative values that won’t waver once bitter runners-up, thrill-seeking bloggers, and the blamestream media come in full force. That strength of conviction America so desires is exactly what Nikki Haley showed us. She didn’t get distracted by rumors and falsehoods – she dismissed them and went right on back to policy. She believed in herself, Sarah Palin believed in her, and we believed in them both.

The elephant sure does look pretty in pink.

Candidate Profile: Allen West

2010-06-21T14:41:00.026-05:00

Running for: House of Representatives, Florida District 22

Primary: August 24

Notable Endorsements: Sarah Palin, Vets for Freedom PAC, Liberty First PAC, Republican Campaign Majority PAC

Background: Raised in Georgia. Retired Army Lieutenant Colonel. Masters in Political Science, and Military Arts and Sciences. Taught high school for one year. Awarded numerous military honors. Now lives in Florida with wife and two daughters. Ran against incumbent Rep. Ron Klein in 2008 and lost.

Issue Breakdown:

American Exceptionalism: !!!
Capitalism: Believes in free-market principles and individual accountability
Economy: Wants to transition to flat tax and redefine the tax code, support small businesses with tax cuts and incentives, stop government spending, end porkbarrel spending
Energy: Wants to explore alternative energy sources to become independent
Healthcare: Opposes ObamaCare, pledged to repeal it
Immigration: Will enforce Constitutional mandates regarding illegal immigration, supports Arizona bill
Israel: Committed to friendship with and support of Israel
Military: Believes in strong defense, supports staying on the offensive to fight terrorism and other military threats, will grow and modernize the military

My Assessment: Allen West is quintessentially and wholly American: he worked hard to make a better life for himself, without the government's interference. Born without wealth in an urban environment, he learned to make his way honestly, diligently, and on his own. He served honorably in our military for years, and his success in life has catapulted him into the public eye. I've been unable to find a recent poll, but - especially after his endorsement from Sarah Palin - I think he has phenomenal chances.

Words cannot explain how completely I agree with and enjoy this man. Every time he opens his mouth, he says something that is exactly in line with my personal and political values. West knows what America is and what it should be. I almost wish I lived in Florida just so I could vote for him.

In His Words:

On the Web: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Flickr / YouTube

Candidate Profile: Marco Rubio

2010-06-17T19:21:00.014-05:00

Running for: Senate, Florida

Primary: August 24

Notable Endorsements: Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee, Paul Ryan, Jeb Bush, Dick Cheney, Jim DeMint, Rudy Giuliani, Rick Santorum, Eric Cantor, National Right to Life PAC, Family Research Council Action PAC, Associated Industries of Florida, Associated Builders and Contractors of Florida, Steve Forbes, Conservative-Republican Alliance, Irish-American Republicans, Luis Fortuño (governor of Puerto Rico)

Background: Son of Cuban immigrants who fled from Fidel Castro’s regime. Lived most of his life in Florida. Obtained juris doctor from University of Miami. Served as city commissioner. Served in Florida House from 2000-2008 and was Majority Whip, Majority Leader, and Speaker of the House. Helped lower taxes, improve public schools, and shrink government. Chaired the House Select Committee on Property Rights. Traveled the state seeking people’s ideas on how to strengthen Florida and converted many of those ideas into laws. Practiced law, taught, and chaired a PAC.

Issue Breakdown:

Abortion: Pro-life, supports mandatory ultrasounds
Card Check: Opposes
Constitution: Strict constructionist
Economy: Opposed the stimulus package, supports balanced budget amendment and line-item veto, has formulated a plan to cut government spending
Energy: Supports exploring alternative energy sources, wants to create jobs in the (private) energy sector, opposes cap and trade
Immigration: Opposes any form of amnesty, wants to secure the border, opposes the Arizona law in fear that it will put officers in “an incredibly difficult position”
Schools: Is passionate about rigorous curriculum and performance-based accountability
Second Amendment: Supports individual right to bear arms
Stem cell research: Opposes embryonic, supports adult
Taxes: Supports tax cuts (especially for businesses), elimination of death tax and capital gains tax, wants to streamline the tax code

My Assessment: Young, but not inexperienced, Rubio is a prime candidate for the Senate. Although a recent Rasmussen poll stated that he and Crist are tied, Rubio’s conservative record will, hopefully, pull him back to the top. Born to Cuban immigrants and raised in a modest, hardworking family, Rubio embodies the American Dream. And in an administration that no longer believes in that Dream, candidates like Rubio are all the more captivating.

I fully support the Arizona bill, but I suppose I can understand his reservations. As far as I know that's the only place we explicitly disagree. After researching him, I don't find Rubio quite as appealing as Adam Kinzinger or other candidates, but I still think he can do good things for Florida if he wins.

In His Words:

On the Web: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Flickr / YouTube / Ning / RSS

Make No Mistake: Obama Floundered in the Oval Office

2010-06-16T16:05:00.008-05:00

I don’t know about you, but I’m feeling severely underwhelmed by President Obama’s flaccid response to the Gulf oil spill. He took advantage of a prime opportunity – speaking from the Oval Office – and wasted it by saying exactly what he’d been saying all along. There was no plan, no decisiveness. In fact, there wasn’t much of anything at all.

A recent poll stated that half of Louisianans think President Bush did a better job with Hurricane Katrina than Obama is doing with the oil spill. While Bush’s response wasn’t perfect, so far Obama hasn’t done much more than sit around with “experts from academia” who provided “ideas and advice,” not action. He exploited the disaster for a potentially approval-boosting photo op, snapped collecting tar balls on a Louisiana beach. Obama said, “The one approach I will not accept is inaction.” But 58 days after the spill, still nothing definitive has been done.

Obama has been spoiled by the Left-dominated Congress, sitting back and letting them carry out his agenda for him. This oil spill is the first time he actually has to act for himself. And he’s floundering under the pressure.

The speech was full of hyperbolizing (the worst environmental disaster ever?), demonizing BP, and reiterating lifeless promises. (And by the way, Mr. President, you don’t need to punctuate every single syllable with a gesture. We get it. You’re angry. You already illustrated that by kicking your rhetoric up a notch. By the way, how’s that ass-kicking coming?)

And after all that, Obama only met with BP for 20 minutes this morning – just enough time for another photo op.

I’ll give him some credit. He tried. And this time, his emotions seemed sincere. He wrapped up the 17-minute speech with an uplifting, religious hope (real hope, not Hopey-Changey hope) almost Reaganesque in texture. Obama gives the appearance of having everything under control… Now let’s see if he really does.

The POW Flag

2010-06-13T21:28:00.005-05:00

Just visited the National Museum of the Pacific War in Fredericksburg, Texas. It was by far the most informative museum I've ever been to - so much so that there's no way you can absorb it all in one visit.

One exhibit in particular struck me, especially since tomorrow is Flag Day.

Paul Spain, Joe Victoria, and Eddie Lindros were ordered to burn the American flag that was flying over an air base at Del Monte on Mindanao in 1942 to prevent its capture by the Japanese. Before the flag was destroyed they decided to remove the 48 stars and hide them. For the next 42 months the three men were moved to several different prisoner of war camps and eventually taken to Japan on a "hell ship." During this time they concealed the stars in their clothes, barracks, and a steel factory. In the days before their liberation, they sewed together a new flag using a rusty nail for a needle, an old sewing machine, parachute material, and the stars that they had saved. The new flag was flying over the camp when American troops arrived on 7 September 1945.

Candidate Profile: Adam Kinzinger

2010-06-10T17:04:00.017-05:00

Running for: House of Representatives, Illinois District 11

Primary: won Republican primary (Feb. 2) with 63.67%

Notable Endorsements: Susan B. Anthony List, Sarah Palin, Liberty First PAC, Mitt Romney’s Free and Strong America PAC, Vets for Freedom PAC, Tim Pawlenty, National Federation of Independent Business, Gary Dahl (State Senator), Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times

Background: Born and raised in Illinois. Defeated Democrat incumbent on McLean County Board at age 20. Opposed elected officials’ pay raise and Internet taxation on local businesses, facilitated greater citizen participation in local government. Was reelected. Joined the Air Force in 2003 and served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Was awarded the United States Air Force Airman’s Medal for saving a young woman’s life by wrestling a knife out of her attacker’s hand. Also awarded the National Guard's Valley Forge Cross for Heroism. Should he win the election, Kinzinger will be serving his country in two ways: continued service in the Air National Guard and representation in the Illinois House.

Issue Breakdown:

Abortion: Pro-life all the way (endorsed by the Susan B. Anthony List)
Economy: End unnecessary spending, support small businesses
Energy: Move towards energy independence, support off-shore drilling
Healthcare: Opposes ObamaCare, wants to allow Americans to buy insurance across state lines, tort reform, tax deductibility, opposes denial due to preexisting conditions, supports cost reduction measures
Immigration: Secure the border
Iran: Strict economic sanctions
Second Amendment: Supports individual gun ownership rights
Taxes: Lower taxes by making 2003 tax cuts permanent, implement tax incentives on investments, opposes cap and trade
War on Terror: Favors military and political surge against Taliban and Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan, opposes timetables, hopes to foster an alliance with free/democratic Iraq

My Assessment: Adam Kinzinger is a sharp thinker and sharp speaker. Having served in both our military and in local politics, Kinzinger’s record of public service shows his passion for the wellness of his fellow citizens. He talks the talk and walks the walk when it comes to solid conservative values, both fiscal and social. He's an honorable man and an upstanding citizen; if I lived in Illinois, Kinzinger would get my vote, hands down.

Kinzinger took almost 2/3 of the primary vote, so his support base is substantial. And although his incumbent opponent, Rep. Deborah Halvorson, is running unopposed, I hope that the Illinoisans who have seen Kinzinger in action will come together and help him make it to the House of Representatives.

In His Words:

On the Web: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Flickr / YouTube / RSS

PS. Anyone else think he looks a little like Ben Browder?

Attack of the Mama Grizzlies

2010-06-10T10:22:00.007-05:00

It all started when Sarah Palin blew the good ol’ boys away with her country girl twang and unabashed Alaskanness. What’s happened since then not even the queen of modern conservatism could have predicted.

The freshest, most promising faces for the GOP are female.

Suddenly Nikki Haley, Carly Fiorina, Susana Martinez, and others like them have risen from the depths of mainstream America. Dubbed the "Mama Grizzlies" in response to Palin’s recent comments, these lovely ladies have emerged from their ordinary families and ordinary lives to plunge into the political scene – making them anything but ordinary in politics.

Solid conservatives, the Mama Grizzlies are strong in their convictions and refuse to bow to pressure from either side. Even the dirtiest smear campaigns can’t shake them. Sarah Palin herself has received some of the nastiest criticism (read: "hatred") encountered in the political world. Lefties hate her almost as much as *gasp* Bush!! And yet she remains true to herself, her family, and her beliefs. Each mindless attack just makes her dimpled smile grow even wider.

And Nikki Haley, who came out ahead in the South Carolina primary last night just shy of 50%, endured multiple allegations of extramarital affairs, challenges to her faith, racial slurs, etc. And yet her constituents came out on voting day to support her anyway, seeing through the shallow games her opponents stooped to play. There will be a runoff, granted, but Gresham Barrett is being pressured to drop out of the race since he trailed her by over 20 points. And if the strength of her support base so far is anything to consider, I think she’ll take the win easily.

Like Palin, the Mama Grizzlies are fully female. They are proud to be women, wives, and mothers; they are also accomplished professionals and outspoken voices for conservatism. They are, as I like to call them, the “new feminists”: Instead of living their life in a sullen daze because they can never be exactly equal to men, these women embrace their femininity. They are proud of their womanhood, not ashamed of it. They aren’t angry to be the minority in their field. They got where they are today in conjunction with their sex, not in spite of it… But at the same time, they didn’t run "as a woman" like Hillary did. It really doesn’t matter whether they’re men or women – they speak their mind and hold firm their beliefs. They are well-rounded, happy, wholesome.

Wholesome. That’s what Washington needs.

The Mama Grizzlies are strong, they are fierce conservatives, and they are winning.

Notable GOP women:
Michele Bachmann - not new to politics, but still a Grizzly
Jan Brewer - ditto, current AZ governor
Carly Fiorina - running for CA Senate, won primary
Nikki Haley - running for SC governor, primary runoff to come
Susana Martinez - running for CA governor, won primary
Kristi Noem - running for SD Senate
Sarah Palin - obviously

Have another favorite conservative woman? Leave a comment and I'll add her to the list.

Obama: "I'm not just blaming Bush!"

2010-06-09T20:51:00.006-05:00

This funny little piece has been making the rounds in chain emails. Thought I'd share in case anyone hasn't seen it:

Press Secretary Robert Gibbs points out, "President Obama has been forced to clean up the mess left him by Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, Adams, Jackson, Van Buren, Harrison, Tyler, Polk, Taylor, Fillmore, Pierce, Buchanan, Lincoln, Johnson, Grant, Hayes, Garfield, Arthur, Cleveland, Harrison, Cleveland, McKinley, Roosevelt, Wilson, Harding, Coolidge, Hoover, Roosevelt, Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush, Clinton, and George W. Bush."

LOL

2010-06-07T08:43:00.001-05:00

Well, I got my first negative comment yesterday. It's actually quite amusing.

Here's what I wrote on YouTube in response to the tea party video I posted yesterday:

Simply beautiful. Anyone else have goosebumps?

And here's what someone responded within about five seconds:

I'm not a fascist so no I didn't sorry

Oh yeah. That's mature. Because obviously, y'know, all fascists enjoy listening to The Star Spangled Banner.

Must-Watch!

2010-06-06T10:58:00.009-05:00

A former Marine sings the oft forgotten second verse of the Star Spangled Banner.

Anyone else get goosebumps?

The Essence of Conservatism

2010-06-03T19:35:00.002-05:00

What does it mean to be a conservative?

A few days ago I was texting my friend Victor, and we got to talking about politics. He’s normally not the type to care much about what’s going on in Washington, but when I told him about my blog, he seemed interested. He asked me exactly what it means to be a conservative. I defined a few key issues (namely small government) pretty succinctly, trying to squeeze an explanation into one text message.

But I realized later that I had defined conservatism incorrectly. Here is what I should have said:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.

That is the essence of conservatism.

We believe in the principles on which this country was created. The founders, who were ordinary men like us, are perhaps – excepting God – our greatest inspirations. We believe in their vision of a nation free from tyranny.

We believe in the Constitution, the foundation of our country. We believe that it is a set of restrictions on government activity, and that is the way it should be. It is not open to reinterpretation. It is what it is.

We believe in values like diligence, charity, and hard, honest work. We shape our lives by these virtues and strive to do well in all aspects of our lives. We believe that it is our duty to help out others in need – when we can and when we want to, not when the government tells us to.

We believe in life above all. We believe that every life – no matter how young, how weak, or how seemingly insignificant – is a miracle. We fight to preserve it in any way we can.

And while we do not smile on death or war, we believe in a strong military. Only by maintaining our strength can we bring that same strength to others. We will not accept indecisiveness or pandering to our enemies. We believe in the men and women who willingly sacrifice their lives to keep us safe. We pray for them, we cry for them, and we support our soldiers with everything we have.

We believe that all citizens deserve the great opportunities that America can give them. We will stand for neither hatred nor preferential treatment because of skin color. We enjoy the many cultures we are exposed to in this melting pot of a nation, and we hope that people can embrace both their ethnic background and their American citizenship.

We understand that this country was founded mainly by Christian men and mainly upon Christian values. Even if we don’t believe in the same God, we think it’s all right to acknowledge our religious roots. We are grateful that we have the right to practice whatever faith we see fit.

We do not believe that the government should have unlimited spending powers. We do not believe that bailing out those who fail will solve anything. Tax money should be spent responsibly, and the government should not be allowed to accrue $13 trillion in debt. We believe in fiscal sanity, in basic capitalistic principles, in spending only what we can afford.

We believe that the government’s role is to serve and protect its people, not the other way around. We elect our officials in the hopes that they will respect and protect us, not lord over us. When they disappoint us, we show up at the next election to vote them out of office.

We believe that America is the greatest country on this Earth. We believe that all Americans are keepers of freedom, and that somehow we may be able to bring liberty to other nations. We love our country.

To me, at least, that is what being a conservative means.

Memorial Day Pictures

2010-06-01T18:09:00.007-05:00

I hope everyone had a great Memorial Day weekend. Here are some pictures I took of the 9/11 monument at the Texas State Cemetery.

As you walk around the columns, each point of the star on the ground corresponds to a specific time of the day, beginning with the time of the first impact and ending with President Bush's remarks: "These acts shattered steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve."

Remember Our Veterans

2010-05-30T17:52:00.003-05:00

This Memorial Day, thank God that you are an American. Remember our soldiers, who are the real heroes in our lives. Make them proud.

Listen to Trace Adkins' song "Arlington." If that doesn't make you tear up, nothing will.

Have a wonderful Memorial Day, everybody.

Quit Facebook Day

2010-05-26T14:23:00.013-05:00

May 31st is Quit Facebook Day. Will you?

In response to Facebook’s constantly loosening privacy policy, many users – over 22,500 as of today – have pledged to give up Facebook forever. Many dismiss their concerns as mere paranoia, but the fact is that posting personal information on the Internet – especially when you can’t trust a company to keep it personal – is dangerous.

I do not have a Facebook. I never have, and I don’t expect that I ever will. I refuse to subject my identity to the whims of Facebook’s executives. And with the 31st approaching, it’s refreshing to see others taking a stand too.

Here are a few reasons I refuse to get a Facebook, and why you should join the thousands of others quitting this Monday.

Obviously, the privacy policies.

This link details how Facebook’s infamous regulations have changed over the years. Here’s what the privacy policy started out as:

"No personal information that you submit to Thefacebook will be available to any user of the Web Site who does not belong to at least one of the groups specified by you in your privacy settings."

Sounds legit. But here’s the latest development:

"When you connect with an application or website it will have access to General Information about you. The term General Information includes your and your friends’ names, profile pictures, gender, user IDs, connections, and any content shared using the Everyone privacy setting. ... The default privacy setting for certain types of information you post on Facebook is set to “everyone.” ... Because it takes two to connect, your privacy settings only control who can see the connection on your profile page. If you are uncomfortable with the connection being publicly available, you should consider removing (or not making) the connection.”

Now that, to me, sounds a little sketchy. Basically, they've dumped all responsibility for the safety of your information back on you. Obviously you should be careful about what you post to begin with, but the fact that Facebook has been gradually loosening standards is unsettling. Users join the site with the belief that their information will be guarded, but since Facebook can change its privacy policy whenever it wants to, more and more information is becoming viewable to the public and to third parties. And that's unsettling, to say the least.

Today Facebook reversed a few of the more controversial issues, and CEO Mark Zuckerberg apologized, sort of, for upsetting users. But it's a little late for that, buddy.

Information availability.

When you post something on Facebook, it’s out there for good. 100% stealable if someone has enough motivation to get it. Everything stays on their servers, even if you delete it.

Maybe you were smart and took care not to give Facebook any personal details when you signed up. But you’ll still be easy enough to track down:

Your friends will probably call you by your real name.
Your friends will wish you happy birthday. (Some studies have concluded that all someone needs to extrapolate your Social Security number is your birthday and birthplace.)
It’s easy enough to guess where you live from where most of your friends live.
When you create an event, you’re revealing where you’ll be, when you’ll be there, and when your house will be nice and empty.

“But there are privacy settings,” you say. “Nobody’s going to see that stuff. It’s totally safe!”

Well... not really.

Creeper employees.

Facebook employees can – whether they’re technically allowed to or not – easily access people’s profiles, even if they’re set to private.

I won’t try to summarize it all here, but some things that go on behind closed doors are scary. Like, Big Brother scary. This article is an interview with a Facebook employee divulging a number of company (and personal) secrets. Please read it - it's a bit of an eyeopener.

And finally, if the above isn't enough to bother you, Facebook ≠ social life.

Someone I know constantly tries to pressure me into getting a Facebook, evidently thinking that it’s an absolute necessity in order to have any semblance of a social life. Now, granted, I’m not the most outgoing social butterfly to begin with: I enjoy and always have enjoyed being by myself, so maybe I’m not an expert in the area. But I don’t buy that.

Sitting in front of a computer not constitute a social life. Nor does commenting on someone’s status or photo imply a significant relationship. It’s also a bit lazy - do you really need a website to tell you what your friends are up to? Why don’t you just ask them yourselves? It would probably lead to much more meaningful conversations, and it wouldn’t be such a colossal waste of time. (Think about it – how long do you spend flipping through your friends’ pages without actually doing anything? I already spend too much time on the Internet. I don’t need another website trying to addict me.)

If I want to hang out with my friends, I’d much rather actually hang out than exchange comments online.

Think about what Facebook means for you personally. Do you really need one? Are you comfortable with what you’re putting out there for others to find? Is it worth the risks?

Visit www.quitfacebook.com. Sign the pledge to delete your Facebook and get back your privacy.

UPDATE: A good lesson from the JournoList scandal: nothing you put on the Internet is private.

Arizona Followup

2010-05-22T11:19:00.006-05:00

Hilarious, isn't it? But disturbing at the same time: Apparently our elected officials need cute little froggy puppets to remind them what their jobs are. Ouch.

Secure Our Borders!

2010-05-16T11:06:00.018-05:00

In case anyone's been living under a rock for the past few weeks, the Arizona immigration bill has caused quite a stir. If you pay any attention to the lamestream news, it seems Arizona's Governor Jan Brewer and Sarah Palin (scroll down see her speak on the bill) are alone in supporting it. Suddenly everyone thinks that Arizona hates Mexicans.

But nobody's even read it. Janet Napolitano, Secretary of Homeland Security, didn't bother reading it. Attorney General Eric Holder, whose job is to advise the President on legal matters like this one, admitted to not having read it. And judging by his recent comments, even our own President hasn't read it.

Erroneous news reports are being cited over and over until finally they have become, in the public's eye, the truth.

But this bill is not what people are saying it is. (And yes, I have read it myself.)

Here’s the gist: If you’re pulled over by the cops for a traffic violation or other offense, they can ask you to prove that you are in fact a citizen of these United States. Which pretty much makes sense anyway.

It’s exactly like the federal law. And there are no civil rights violations. You can’t get pulled over just for looking Hispanic on your way to get some ice cream, as President Obama oh-so-tactfully put it. In fact, it states rather explicitly that your immigration status may be checked if you are already suspected of committing a public offense. You cannot be pulled over because of your apparent ethnic origin.

If you don’t believe me, you can read the bill for yourself here. The entire thing's only 13 pages.

SB 1070 does not infringe upon anyone's rights, and Arizona is correct in implementing it.

If we can’t ask people from other countries to respect the law, how can we expect our own citizens to?

See Sarah Palin speak on the bill:

Viral Politics: Social Media's Role in Upcoming Elections

2010-05-04T18:33:00.000-05:00

Many pundits believe that Barack Obama’s effective use of the Internet contributed to his victory. And over the past several months, a few high-profile Republican candidates have made the most of social networking and wormed their way into blue-state offices. Despite its relative youth, social networking has become nearly as influential and dominant in the American consciousness as traditional media outlets. Web users can become friends or fans on Facebook, follow on Twitter, subscribe on YouTube, and share their opinions on a person-to-person level. And that, for politics, is key.

A simple, low-cost form of advertising, social media has already begun to change the election process for two reasons. Politics is no longer local: What began as meetings in the town square has evolved into a massive, virtual platform for dialogue on critical issues. This allows not only virtual contact with potential constituents, but also out-of-state support. Even state, county, and city elections now draw attention from across the country. And politics isn’t just for “old fogies” either. Using social networks helps politicians appear more accessible to younger generations, especially teenagers and young adults, who are usually – and accurately – pegged as the demographic least likely to vote. Simple awareness of a name or a face could spark interest and a desire to vote.

Scott Brown knew how to work the Internet. His special election campaign exemplifies how social media can be used to a politician’s advantage. Since Brown entered the race as the underdog, his campaign relied heavily on advertising and launched a website; Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Flickr accounts; an iPhone app; and a customized Ning network, Brown Brigade. He presented potential voters with frequent updates, pushing for word-of-mouth support. A study by Larry Kim, founder of WordStream Internet Marketing, reveals just how effectively Brown used social media to his advantage. As of January 14, Martha Coakley had acquired only about 9,000 Facebook fans while Brown had 41,050. Coakley had a mere 2,674 Twitter followers; Brown had over 7,000. Also notable is that Brown frequently replied to other users’ tweets, effectively creating a channel of communication with voters. Coakley had just over 24,000 YouTube upload views… and Brown had over 223,000. His online fundraising efforts were wildly successful, with 97 percent of over $15 million in donations coming from individuals and a significant portion from states other than Massachusetts. Alexa, a company that rates Internet usage, reported that Brown had a 10:1 advantage in overall web traffic.

Despite the heavy liberal history weighing him down, Scott Brown managed to stay afloat – and win – in Massachusetts. Politicians who put effort into using social media intelligently, in addition to usual campaign strategies, can achieve an unprecedented level of contact with constituents. Upcoming candidates would do well to take advantage of social media early in the process.

Politics has gone viral. And November is coming.

Swift vs. Cyrus: Starlet Smackdown

2010-04-25T18:25:00.000-05:00

I recently fell off the Miley bandwagon.

In and of itself, that's nothing spectacular. A girl my age - and with my taste in music - has no business being on it in the first place. There was no one event that jolted me off of the notorious, blinged-out Conestoga wagon, but I began to realize that two processes were acting in opposite directions. (Isaac Newton, anyone?) As my distaste for Miley Cyrus began to fester, I started to really enjoy Taylor Swift.

Weird, right? The two singers market to almost exactly the same audience, so you’d think I wouldn’t care much for either of them. Nevertheless, I’ve been steadily expanding my T-Swift iTunes collection. Whenever I’m feeling like some upbeat, happy music, I put Fearless on shuffle and bebop my way to contentment. But what exactly is it about Taylor Swift that is so appealing?

First, there’s her voice. Realistically speaking, she doesn’t have the strongest pipes in the music industry. She’ll probably never be able to out-belt Martina McBride. But neither will Miley, who seems to have spontaneously lost the ability to sing high notes.

But Taylor sounds natural. Her voice isn’t over-embellished by studio tweaks or Auto-Tune. She knows her range and sticks to it. She doesn’t punctuate every phrase with an exhale (an off-putting habit of Michelle Branch and many other female singers) or try to melt your brain with excessive, gratuitous runs (Mariah Carey). She doesn’t sneer her way through mindless, half-rap mish-mashes (Ke$ha). She just sings. And that, in a world where music has become about commercial appeal more than talent, is engaging.

There are her lyrics. Miley now alternates between screeching about clubs, fame, and swinging hips and ~~crooning~~ screeching about how awful her life is, but how much better her new boyfriend makes her feel. (I’ll talk more about him later.)

Taylor Swift wrote almost every song she’s released, many with sole credit, and it shows. Maybe she’s not the next Tennyson, but what teenage girl could claim that? She sings about the exhilaration of a new crush, spite after being treated poorly, longing after feeling left out. First kisses, daydreaming, and dancing in the rain wearing a pretty dress. Feelings that are strong both in her world and in ours. Feelings that everyone can relate to. Her best songs are her happiest, and they make other happy – the lyrics are light and enjoyable, but when they do turn sour, they sound frank rather than whiny. She sings about what she knows, and because of that, we feel what she feels.

And there’s her handle over the media. Miley’s tabloid escapades are many, ranging from her 19-year-old not-boyfriend to the infamous Vanity Fair bed sheet photoshoot. The media has become almost vicious in a way it hasn’t been since the muckraking days, and it’s rare that any celebrity manages to avoid its clutches.

But Taylor Swift has come out surprisingly unscathed. She doesn’t thrust her political views out there for everyone to see and then delete her Twitter account because she can’t handle answering for it. She doesn’t whine about being criticized. She doesn’t claim that she and her hottie co-star arm candy are “deeper than normal people.” (Really? How pretentious can you get?!) She doesn’t dye her hair black after a highly publicized breakup, as if looking for even more attention. Swift has had two fairly high-profile relationships, but neither generated any real controversy. She wrote Joe Jonas out of her life with one of her catchiest songs and laughed off both former BFs on SNL. She’s been very smart about how she acts and handles her stardom well. The media can’t even touch her.

Her clothes. Sounds shallow, I know, but attire has become a real issue for stars who are raked over the coals for an ugly getup and praised like a god for a particularly fancy designer dress.

All of the sudden, Miley’s “modest is hottest” motto seems to have been tossed out the window. Shorts have been getting progressively shorter and tops less and less substantial. The human body is a beautiful thing, but there is a way to show it off without flaunting or exploiting it. Taylor Swift’s clothes are classy and age-appropriate, and always fitting to the occasion.

There’s her attitude. We all remember her acceptance speech at the CMAs, where she said that getting the Horizon Award was “definitely the highlight of her senior year.” Her naiveté, humility, and youthful sincerity were endearing, and as she’s matured, appeal that hasn’t waned.

Miley recently told the world she wouldn’t go country because of the “politics.” (Side note: Honestly, what genre is farther from being political?) Miley Cyrus seems to try way too hard to shed the Mouseketeer image and become an “artist.” But poignant expressions and headbanging don’t make a dull song more appealing. (I refer to her performance on American Idol a few weeks ago, so I’ll borrow a term from Simon Cowell. I think it’s rather fitting: “indulgent.”)

Taylor Swift doesn’t seem to have a problem with picky fans, unrealistic expectations, or the world out to get her. She seems to approach everything with a smile. Sappy, I know, but it’s something that should happen more often. She doesn’t expect to be treated specially. But she’s gracious when she is.

And finally, there’s her normalcy. (Yes, I just used the word normalcy. Bear with me.)

I won’t say that Miley Cyrus was cast in Hannah Montana because of her father, but it had to have been a factor. (Nothing against Billy Ray. Who can’t resist a little toe-tapping to “Achy Breaky Heart”?) Her dad was a star years ago, and her older brother is getting there too. Now her youngest sister is acting too. That kind of recognition has to have an impact on their family.

Taylor Swift, on the other hand, is a normal person. She was raised by normal (and extremely supportive) parents, has normal siblings, and went to a normal school. She knows who she is. She is balanced, happy, and real.

I don’t think I’m the only teenage girl who’s become disillusioned with Miley Cyrus and celebrities in general. Taylor Swift is an artist that stands out because she’s not a typical celebrity.

I was raised on country music, so I’ll always be partial to it. And Swift’s wholesome image and added humanity is even more satisfying.

My top 10 Taylor Swift songs:

1. Jump Then Fall

2. Fearless

3. Forever and Always

4. You Belong With Me

5. Love Story

6. Picture to Burn

7. White Horse

8. Should've Said No

9. Our Song

10. Teardrops on My Guitar

In Defense of Bristol Palin

2010-04-11T18:22:00.001-05:00

Here’s a shocker for you: the mainstream media is raking Bristol Palin over the coals again. This time, though, it’s not because she had a child as an unmarried teenager, or even because her mother is one of the most formidable (and charming) enemies of the Left. It’s because she’s supporting abstinence for teens.

Really?

Apparently Bristol said in an interview a while back that teen abstinence is “unrealistic.” So, obviously, she’s going against her word – and revealing a shockingly depraved moral character – by encouraging it anyway.

Again: Really?

Curing cancer in the next few years is unrealistic. So let’s just not bother trying. Stopping crime is unrealistic. So why don’t we let all the murderers run free and keep killing people?

I’m pretty sure that when Bristol said “unrealistic,” she meant that it’s impossible to stop all teenagers everywhere from having sex before marriage. (From the conversations I hear around my college campus, I’m regrettably inclined to agree.) But if just a few abortions can be prevented, if just a few girls can be saved from growing up too soon, then we have done something right.

Watch the PSA: