Happy New Year everyone. The House vote continues tonight in Washington, D.C. as votes dial down to one or two needed for U.S. Congressman Kevin McCarthy (R-CA 20) to become the House Majority Speaker once again.
Why it hurts: McCarthy has been disappointing in his track record in previous terms, failing to make needed policy gains or any real difference outside of bipartisan policies that continue to fail America.
Why it needs to be done: Although U.S. Representatives have been sworn in, they are being held in recess until there is a House Speaker in the majority party. Until there is an elected House Speaker, committee assignments and important investigations can not move forward.
Like most viewers that are knowledgeable about politics on a daily basis, I expected tonight’s interviews given to President Donald J. Trump and former Vice President and Democrat Party Nominee, Joe Biden, to be hardball vs. softball. Trumps questions – hardball; Biden’s questions – softball. The results were worse than anyone could imagine. All of the questions were a complete retread of the lefts tired talking points for the President, which have all been answered by Trump a multitude of times and have no bearing.
The shrill NBC broadcaster given tonight’s assignment, Savannah Guthrie, was chomping at the bit to ask absurd questions, glibly interrupt and in her own mind seemed to believe she knew more than the President. She was a complete embarrassment for the left. Guthrie had complete disrespect for a sitting President, who has immense popularity that proves the mainstream medias ignorance in recognizing this status.
All questions were clearly written before the televised event, for both the voters selected to ask President Trump a question, and for Guthrie. Guthrie did try to rebut Trump off her cards, but this breach only showed her partisanship.
Bizarrely, within the first ten/fifteen minutes of the televised program, she showcased questions which included sexual pedophilia that she masked just for the words to be transcribed. Ms. Guthrie, you’re talking to the wrong Party Candidate. (This is all Democrat scandal – look up Jeffrey Epstein and all who willingly went to his private island to have sex with under aged girls; Huge Clinton Fundraisers and their close relationship with contributor Harvey Weinstein – I just realized writing this paragraph the list is too long to post now. ) Regardless, I can’t imagine network personnel asking any sitting President any questions of this kind – if so, they certainly could have asked President John F. Kennedy many similar queries.
Trump did his best to be polite to the blatantly partisan interrogator, who could be called many other words, but I’ll let the people decide as I’m sure they’ve already come to the same conclusion. Another premeditated hit job by the left that wastes President Trump’s time, as well as American voters.
Moving on to the Biden town hall interview. Out of curiosity, I tuned in when Trump’s broadcast went to advertisements, and briefly afterwards. At least it wasn’t as bad as where interviewer Barbara Walters back in the day, Biden would be asked what tree he would be if he could be a tree – or what his favorite color was – or what his favorite toppings on a pizza were – but, there was no discussion of any serious scandal relevant in the news currently. He continued to vacillate on fracking emphasizing it needed to be “managed very very well” and said he would finally give his answer on whether or not he would pack the Supreme Court after the Senate results on Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s nomination.
There were no questions about former Vice President Biden’s son Hunter, and the big current news story from the New York Post, which is being censored by social media icons, which details the incriminating emails and video found on a computer left at a store for repair. The store’s consumer agreement made clear that if any computer was not picked up after 90 days, it would become their property.
Whether it was Hunter himself who left it at this shop, an aide or friend, no one returned for it, so the owner of the store kept it. Seeing what was on the hard drive, he turned it in to Rudy Giuliani or one of his staff. If this had been turned into the New York Times, no one would have ever seen this data.
Voters need to realize whenever President Trump is in a debate on national television hosted by a major network, the moderator will be a democrat holding loaded questions that have little to do with truth and much to do with alienating Trump voters for the purpose of electing the addled former VP Biden. Biden, as well as running mate Harris, another story for another day, will only be given easy Q and A’s with no real journalism behind them to find out the real truth.
Businessman Donald Trump speaking at the CPAC convention 2013 {photo: ibtimes.com}
Written by Juliana Simone
National Harbor, MD – The man known for more than a decade to native New Yorkers as “The Donald” took the stage this afternoon to address an enthusiastic crowd convened for the 2013 Conservative Political Action Conference celebrating its 40th anniversary on the shores of the Potomac River in Maryland. Self-made billionaire Donald Trump opened his monologue by telling the audience our country is in terrible trouble.
He cited we owed seventeen trillion dollars and have more than a trillion dollar deficit a year. “No country’s ever heard of numbers like this!” he observed. “Likewise, the Republican Party is in terrible trouble,” he continued. “As you get more and more conservative – they get nasty. They don’t like what we say.” Trump segued into the mainstream media and how the President is given unprecedented media protection.
To offer solutions on how we solve our country’s problems, Mr. Trump first pointed out how even the Tea Party, who he loves dearly, says to leave their Medicare and Social Security alone. “To keep these things affordable then the solution is to build a great economy.” “We don’t have one,” he noted. “China does.” “We have to make America great again,” he said in appeal to the room.
On the issue of immigration, Trump stated that when it comes to immigration, eleven million people will be voting Democrat. He believed a candidate can be out in front but (when it comes to Election Day) those eleven million will be voting Democrat. “Republicans are on a suicide mission,” he said. “You’re just not going to get those votes.” Donald Trump inquired further, “Why aren’t we letting Europeans in?” and told the attendees how he had many friends who want to move here and work here – that have been educated here – but we throw them out of the country after earning a degree at Harvard or Wharton and say you can’t move here – so they work somewhere else and work against us. “How stupid is that?” he asked.
The realtor and casino owner gave a nod to fellow Republican Newt Gingrich next saying he loved Newt because he was a member of his club down the road. Trump said he loved anyone who was a member of his club and jested maybe Obama should become a member. He talked about offering to build things at his own expense for Washington but never heard back from anyone.
“Conservative Republicans have to win elections,” he proclaimed. In his observations on the Republican Party, Trump said “Governors are saying it’s the stupid party.” He thought this was a horrible statement for a Governor to make because it was something that could come back to haunt you when the Democrat’s now will turn around and use it against you. Trump told fellow conservatives he believed a Party that spent four hundred million dollars on ads that made Obama look like a super hero was a failure, and that spending money like this with not one victory showed something was seriously wrong.
About himself, he revealed he’d made over eight billion dollars in his life and employed tens of thousands of people. When he filled out his financial forms (when considering running for President in 2012) people were surprised. He said he was continually criticized by “total light weights” – guys in dirty shirts who would say about him, “Donald Trump? He’s nothing.”
Donald went on to explain people liked success and though he liked Mitt Romney, he felt the one mistake he made was that he didn’t talk enough about his success and the great things he did. He reflected they were on the defensive instead of being on the offensive where they should have been.
In regards to Iraq, Trump said we spend 1.5 trillion dollars there and we lose great great young people – for what? He said at first he was told it was for the oil, so he thought, okay, I get that – but we didn’t take the oil. He reminded viewers we’re the second largest oil reserve after Saudi Arabia. He believes for soldiers that are killed we should give those parents a million dollars for the son they lost because a million dollars is nothing compared to the money over there.
He described how he just had to place a huge order for televisions from South Korea. Why? People asked him why he didn’t buy the televisions here. “We don’t make televisions here anymore,” he explained.
“We’re run by either very foolish or very stupid people. Our country is a total mess. What we need is leadership,” he opined. He projected if we build and grow our economy, Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security all can be affordable again when we have a strong economy. North Dakota has a great supply of energy, but we can’t go get it, he mused, so we go to Saudi Arabia to get it! They can’t believe what they’re getting away with. “The Republicans, and the Democrats, say we gotta cut, we gotta cut, we gotta cut…it’s because we’re not cutting the mustard!”
In closing, Trump said, “We have to bring money in and take back our jobs from China. We have to start building again, manufacturing again and our problems will be solved. Let’s make this country strong again!” The Donald left the stage to strong applause.
Businessman Donald Trump speaking at CPAC 2013 (photo: newgroopspeak.com}
Ed.: This article written and reported by Juliana Simone, also appeared on a CT internet news site.
Speaking with the Connecticut Republican State Party Chairman J.R. Romano yesterday morning from his hotel room in Cleveland, the Republican Chairman who is serving his first term, when asked how the convention was going, said, “It’s been tremendous. The first night was outstanding.” He added all of the 125 delegates from Connecticut were very happy to be there.
Romano is one of the three super delegates of the twenty-eight given to this New England state. The other two are Republican National Committeewoman Pat Longo and and Republican National Committeeman John Frey for the state of Connecticut.
Veteran Connecticut Republican National Committeewoman Pat Longo in Ohio at 2016 convention with friend Ben Proto.
Longo, a veteran member of the GOP who’s served under a variety of titles, is attending the 2016 national convention for the last time in this role. Leora Levy was elected earlier this year by State Central members to be Longo’s replacement in the RNC upon her retirement.
Frey, (R-111) is a state representative in the Connecticut General Assembly, serving his ninth term for the town of Ridgefield. He was appointed by RNC Chairman, Reince Preibus, to be one of three Sergeant-at-Arms, where his job will be to help keep order within the convention.
CT State Rep. John Frey at the 2016 convention in Ohio.
In the Connecticut presidential primary, Republicans voted big for the New York businessman Donald J. Trump, with 57.9% and 123, 367 votes. Ohio Governor, John Kasich, came in a distant second with 28.4% and 60, 481 votes. Third place went to Texas U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, with 11.7% and 24,969 votes. Connecticut Republicans backed Trump and after his strong finish were always clear they would give all of their delegate votes to the candidate their party members strongly preferred.
After an exhilarating opening Monday night at the convention that was filled with moving and passionate speeches made by the nights speakers, the Connecticut Party Chair when asked what his favorite moments were from last night, answered, “Marcus Luttrell.” The former Navy Seal known as “The Lone Survivor,” going off teleprompter, gave a heartfelt call to action to attendees and viewers from the next generation for heroes to step up and fight the war that is already here.
Romano continued with his thoughts and said he teared up during the time the mother of the son killed in Benghazi was on stage (Patricia Smith), but even sadder to him were the parents who all lost loved ones who were killed by illegals in our country, even if deported on prior occasions. He said as sad as the stories of the losses were within the military families, they sign up to do this. They know this is a possibility. “When I heard about the 17 year old boy on his cell phone…when you hear this, you feel helpless.”
The father, Jamiel Shaw, was on the phone with his son at the moment he was shot in Los Angeles by an undocumented gang member who mistook his son for a rival gang member because of his Spider-man back pack. Shaw told the convention, “My son’s life didn’t matter.” He said, “when they heard it was an illegal alien, they stopped calling.” Shaw went on to say only Donald Trump called him after this to offer his help.
In terms of the mainstream media’s and its predictable biased coverage of the Republican event, Romano observed, “The only thing the media is focused on is discrediting the Republican Party and making us not look unified.”
When asked about the unexpected spotlight on Trump’s wife, Melania, that the media took to this morning as their major talking point, in that she repeated a couple of lines current First Lady, Michelle Obama, used in her convention speech, Romano broke down the liberal narrative being broadcast today. In terms of this subject, their focus is “fifty word vs. email scandal; fifty words vs. national security; fifty words vs. terrorist bombings.”
He found their continued censorship of damaging news stories against the democrat nominee-to-be, former First Lady/New York U.S. Senator/2008 Democrat Presidential candidate/Secretary of State with her multitude of scandals and lies were illustrated more today with making such a small subject out of Melania’s speech their top news story.
In terms of predictions, Chair J.R. Romano has a positive view. He said, “Hillary’s not going to gain ground. All we’re going to see is Trump’s rise in the polls.”
When asked about Indiana Governor Mike Pence as Trump’s V.P. pick, Romano said he adds to that…
As for whether or not he believes there will be coattails for fellow Republicans seeking federal and state seats in Connecticut with a Trump win, Romano replied, “We’re making all the right moves in Connecticut for a Trump victory. There are built in benefits for our candidates.” He thinks in the Fifth District, for example, with coattails, a seven point spread might be enough to beat incumbent democrat Esty. (The Fourth District also has the same returns.)
On Tuesday evening, Party Chair J.R. Romano from the floor of the Cleveland Convention Center announced in his time at the mike, Connecticut is the land where we manufacture Pez, nuclear submarines and the home of WWE. The delegation delivered as promised and pledged all 28 delegates to presumed-nominee, “the next President of the United States, Donald J. Trump.”
Under the administration of Governor Dannel P. Malloy (D) and the Democrat dominated General Assembly, Connecticut has been in last place in so many important ratings for years, that a first place finish in Slate magazine, not a conservative publication, must have pleased the Connecticut delegation. Slate chose Connecticut as numero uno in best “Best Job Bragging at the RNC.” It took Republicans to do this.
Connecticut Republican Party Chair J.R. Romano announces delegates for Trump. (CT RNC rep Pat Longo to his right)
In regards to Wednesday evening’s drama during Texas U.S. Senator Ted Cruz’s speech, where delegates and guests shouted from the floor to Cruz to endorse Trump when it appeared he was clearly evading this direct choice of words, it appears this cheer was started from Connecticut’s own Avon RTC VC Stephen Hunt. As he divulged to me today: “I might’ve started the whole controversial Cruz thing…it was me that started yelling “endorse Trump”…then, everyone else did…then he’s like “I can appreciate the NY delegations enthusiasm”, and we all respond “and CT!” He’s at the end of his planned speech, and just sort of stuck there, as we were all drowning him out…now, I’m yelling “come on, you can do it…just say the words”…I’m only like 30 feet away…when he didn’t, everyone boos him off the stage…
Tonight should be another exciting night for all Republican National Convention participants with another impressive line-up of speakers to inspire all supporters “To Make America Great Again.” Enjoy.
U.S. Senate Candidate August Wolf Petitioning to Primary
Written by Juliana Simone
May 11th, 2016
Hartford, CT –
Arguably, for all of America, the best thing Trump and Sanders have done for the general public today, is awaken them to how the political insider system works and why their vote prior to Election Day, doesn’t matter in terms of who they want to see become the next President of the United States. I’ve been saying this for weeks.
For the newly informed Donald Trump or Bernie Sanders backers who have only recently learned about conventions, delegates and super-delegates, when it comes to who their nominee will be regardless of how people voted in state primaries, our own Connecticut Republican Party’s state convention held on Monday evening is a good example of the process.
Delegates who volunteer or who win by a majority vote usually through their party’s town committee, but less often through a popular vote as a town registered party member who does not sit on the committee, are by large, a group of party members who toe the line. In Connecticut, 79 of the super delegates are members of the republican caucus in the General Assembly and the rest are members of the State Central Committee.
This is because most delegates are affiliated in some way with the party leadership – whether it’s as an elected official serving a municipality, state house or state senate district, or as a town committee chair, officer, staff worker at the capitol, or seasonal campaign staff member. There is a minority who does not belong to this group, but for the opportunity to experience a state convention for the first time, perhaps, the appointed delegates usually agree to vote for who they are told to vote for by those appointing them. There may be a few renegades here and there, of course, but they won’t be asked back.
With the presumed Republican nominee New York businessman Donald Trump, beating out all of the other original seventeen challengers which included many respected sitting and former Governors and Senators, who were also seeking the title of the next President of the United States, as well as a retired brain surgeon and retired CEO who was the only female in the group, Trump learned a little late in the game that the party nomination was not just a matter of winning the most state primaries, vote totals cast or delegates.
Businessman and Republican Presidential candidate 2016 Donald Trump
On the Democrat front, Vermont U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, is the equal to Trump, as someone who entered his party’s race but was expected to go nowhere. As with Trump, he lit up his party on the campaign stump, bringing out huge crowds at his rallies and events. He was considered by his party leadership as someone who would just serve as a vehicle in debates for the presumed nominee, former First Lady, New York U.S. Senator and Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, to allow his opponent to make her comments look more moderate and put her in the middle. Sanders quickly showed among his voters, especially the millennials, he had the popularity and appeal Clinton has never been able to achieve.
Clinton was the presumptive nominee in 2008, but a new freshman Illinois U.S. Senator Barack Hussein Obama, quickly swept registered Democrat’s away, along with the unaffiliated and even some Republicans, who in casting their vote, despite feeling proud to help elect the first African American, just found him more likable.
As it stands today, Sanders has won 19 states in primaries to Mrs. Clinton’s 23 – something unimaginable to the Democrat leadership initially. Maybe more notably, Sanders has won the last ten of the fifteen primaries held in the U.S.
Sanders, a proclaimed socialist, actually resonates more with voters than Mrs. Clinton. Despite the resume full of titles, but thin on accomplishments made while holding these positions, she continues to showcase this paper a second time around, yet her connection to voters largely falls flat.
Donald Trump, despite any verbal gaffe according to the politically correct, which is then repeated ad nauseam by the mainstream media, has prevailed to outlast and out survive every opponent regardless of credentials, history or message. Voters have noticed finally how the many problems with Mrs. Clinton and her past with every title she’s worn, have been muted by the media, including her own consistent verbal gaffe’s that come out as regularly as Trump’s.
Back to Connecticut where its Republican State Convention was held Monday evening, and where it was quite clear how candidates get the nod at their conventions.
Dan Carter (R-2), a state representative in the Connecticut General Assembly, getting the nomination among delegates made up of a majority of party colleagues, is comparable to August Wolf, a former Olympian, getting the nomination among delegates made up of a majority of Olympic team members.
Though Wolf has been working for almost a year to earn the nomination, and has raised five hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars in his effort to beat incumbent U.S. Senator and former Connecticut Attorney General, Richard Blumenthal, he’s also put in two hundred thousand dollars of his own money to show his commitment to this cause. Monday’s winning nominee, State Representative Dan Carter, had managed to raise six thousand dollars pre-convention and post announcement.
Wolf says, in his own words, he is not a rich man. Certainly, compared to many recent Republican federal candidates selected at the CT state conventions like World Wrestling Federation’s wife of Vince McMahon, in back to back U.S. Senate races the multi-millionaire lost both times by the same notable percentage points.
One of the most glaring examples of convention tinkering from the establishment is the Republican race for the U.S. Senate nomination between former U.S. Congressman and retired U.S. Army Colonel, Rob Simmons. Going into the 2010 convention, Simmons was assured of a win on the first ballot. Once McMahon achieved enough votes to primary, the “switching” began until the numbers for McMahon finally beat out the experienced and respectable Simmons.
Former U.S. Congressman Rob Simmons (CT-2), retired Army Colonel and First Selectman of Stonington.
If the right person had been nominated, many don’t doubt Simmons would have beaten Blumenthal in the Senate race, and for the first time since Congressman Chris Shays was voted out as the last Republican in all of New England still serving in D.C., a Republican would have been sent back to Washington. For the record, Shays was the opponent in the second race where McMahon hoped to become a United States Senator, and he fell victim to the same negative advertising and lack of support from the party as Simmons.
It is the same with the entire sitting federal democrat delegation in Washington that represents Connecticut. All five congressional districts are represented by democrats, Congressman Larson (serving since 1999) and Congresswoman DeLauro (serving since 1991) the most tenured, and both U.S. Senate seats are also represented by Democrats, former Attorney General Richard Blumenthal and former Congressman Chris Murphy.
The Republican Party leadership and establishment, clearly choose the wrong candidates time and time again at the state conventions time and time again. Whether it’s the money that motivates their bad decisions, as with McMahon, who spent 100 million dollars over two campaigns to lose to both Blumenthal and Murphy, but provided many jobs to Republicans, or whether it’s promoting one of their own in the General Assembly over an outsider, either choice remains ineffective. They can orchestrate the convention, and believe they’ve won once again with the choices they’ve made, but their record produces nothing more than one big zero with federal candidates. It’s not always the candidates fault. Many complain they received no help from the party once earning the nomination, but this is usually from the newcomers who have no affiliation with the party establishment.
For candidate August Wolf*, a proud father of four wonderful adult children, three in college and one about to enter her freshman year in college after finishing high school, he has personal priorities that take a toll on his income. Your children come first for most people, and Wolf’s are all achievers. But apparently this is not enough for the Connecticut leadership to endorse him. They cited dramatic issues with his campaign and even made condescending remarks about his qualifications, saying someone who just threw shot put in the Olympics, was hardly enough….maybe they prefer wrestling. Wolf, a business leader, after his Olympic career and a graduate of Princeton University, qualifies more than some of the candidates the CT GOP has promoted. He even received high approval ratings in the polls, a rarity for any Republican in CT.
August Wolf, CT U.S. Senate Candidate 2016
Arguments for not choosing Wolf, and throwing in Connecticut State Representative, Dan Carter one month before the convention, was the drama the Wolf campaign produced. One, was a personal relationship between staff members, that Wolf knew nothing about, and two, interestingly, came from someone party leadership themselves interjected into his campaign for a decent monthly fee. A State Senator suggested Wolf hire his friend as his Campaign Manager if he wanted to get anywhere with his candidacy.
Not knowing any better, or who any of these people were, as is often the case with all new entries into the political field, he did so, and this move also proved to be a problem. The referred hire left Wolf as soon as it seemed well-known CNBC conservative television host Larry Kudlow might enter the race for U.S. Senate in Connecticut. He told Wolf that he needed to move on to a race that could win.
As any true athlete would do, the former Olympian kept running, and hired reputable staff from resumes that included national winning campaigns. Together, they were all moving forward on the right track until running into the same wall as 2016 President of the United States candidates, Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders find themselves.
Regardless of how voters vote on Primary Day, the delegates and party leaders will determine who their nominee is at their convention, and that is someone who is often one of their own or someone who has a great deal of money that will provide jobs to friends of the party and needed donations to GOP staff.
With Wolf earning the needed 15% to primary Monday evening, actually even originally having 17%, a third candidate whose run for two offices prior to this without success in 2004 and 2010, seventy-year old Jack Orchulli, had someone make a motion for him to take the stage to address the delegates, which was seconded with some inaudible grunt from the back row but accepted. Taking the stage, as if he was a party uniter and the man of the hour, he asked all of the delegates who casted votes for him this evening to give them now to State Representative Dan Carter.
State Rep. Dan Carter (l) and Jack Orchulli (r) CT State Convention 2016
Allegedly, it’s reported that he has said his sole goal in joining the race late and running was to prevent August Wolf from receiving the nomination. Those analyzing this now after the fact, wonder if Orchulli’s entrance in the race wasn’t a canard in the first place, and was a placement just to set up this whole event where knowing he’d never get the nomination, could take votes from Wolf and then throw them to Carter during the convention.
In case these votes weren’t enough to take away Wolf’s 17% to below the needed 15% to qualify for a primary, the famous “switching” or Act II at conventions took place, known now to those following Trump, as the second ballot.
The usual party loyalists ran up to the microphone to announce their delegations switches from Wolf to Carter. For the record, our delegation never “switches” and remains true to their original casted vote. In terms of election law, if anything should be looked into or stricken from the books, it’s “switching.” A totally false concept which either allows party members who temporarily strayed to move back into the fold for re-admittance, or for the rules committee or establishment to call the shots, and achieve the outcome they’ve planned all along.
This convention in itself was a first of a kind, in that under a newly elected state chair, the U.S. Senate candidate videos which used to be produced and shown to delegates before voting, were not allowed. More strikingly, the traditional projection screen that has always hung behind the stage to show the counts of delegates as they were announced for each candidate and what number their percentage was as the voting went on, was nowhere to be seen. Delegates were left in the dark as to which candidate had x amount of votes and what their percentage was as votes were cast.
The chair quickly offered to the convention that they could just load or click an app on their phone and follow along. If a delegate was a senior who didn’t use apps, or was someone who couldn’t afford an expensive mobile phone to provide this app, or was someone who didn’t have the app loaded going into the convention, among other possibilities, then a large portion of the delegation was blacked out. People just stared at the one or two people on stage who seemed able enough to punch in numbers on their laptops as they came in as reported from the five congressional districts.
Another change of note was where delegation Captains no longer were required to hand in a paper form that checked rows to show how many of their delegates were for which candidate. This paper record now no longer needed, apparently whatever was said in the microphone was fine. The party leadership keeping track got it. The only paper they did take was the “switching” forms at the end. Perhaps they believed this might be some cause of concern so hard copies were necessary.
With two congressional nominations that were contentious, in the Fifth, where an exceptional and conservative candidate Bill Stevens*, did not achieve enough to primary, and the win went to party-endorsed Sherman First Selectman Clay Cope. Stevens, who entered late, said in his words, when he saw who the choices were that would go up against incumbent Elizabeth Esty, he felt he had to enter the race. Negative literature about Stevens was even left on every Fifth District delegates chair prior to the vote, something normally not allowed. In the Second, conservative Daria Novak, the candidate who has run twice before and lost, squeaked out a win for a third try over newcomer and challenger Ann Brookes by 5 votes. First District Matthew Corey will run again against John Larson; Angel Cadena, Jr. will run against DeLauro in the Third; and John Shaban will take on incumbent Jim Himes in the Fourth.
Veteran CNBC host Larry Kudlow addressing delegates at the Connecticut Republican State Convention 2016
The only highlight of the evening was Larry Kudlow’s speech to the convention. People had been asked to pay to hear him at a fundraising event before the gavel at 4PM not knowing he was going to address the whole delegation for free later where he addressed the entire delegation from the stage. Nevertheless, despite this ruse, Kudlow gave a sincere and passionate speech which left him so emotional in closing, he fought tears to stress his love for his country and concern for its future.
Post-convention, August Wolf, made the decision to petition his way on to the ballot and collect the needed signatures to primary. If party members respect the process, they should not slander Wolf now for this choice. In terms of election law, and the process, this is something any candidate can decide to do. It’s their choice and their campaign.
CT Republican’s should also remember their current party Chair also chose the petition option for a former U.S. Senate candidate he was the campaign manager for in 2010.
Knowledgeable political veterans say a primary is the best thing for two new candidates facing the public – it gives them extra publicity and more name recognition. As an outsider and congressional candidate has always maintained with insight and conviction, “let the people decide.”
With what appears to be a disingenuous convention which left delegates not in the wink or in the fist-bump crowd totally disenfranchised, this convention could very well be a prelude to what lies ahead in Ohio for both Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Bernie Sanders, despite their numbers, money and popularity.
Donald Trump? Bernie Sanders? Take note.
http://www.ctv13.net/ – tab Watch Online; search “Conservative Chat” episodes #105 to watch half-hour interview with Bill Stevens; episode #106 to watch half-hour interview with August Wolf.
Former MA Governor and 2012 Republican Presidential Nominee Mitt Romney
February 10, 2012
Written by Juliana Simone
Washington, D.C. – The Marshall Ballroom at CPAC 2012 is similar to a strip of beach with the tide flowing in and out at different peak hours. It ebbs and flows with the crowd according to whomoever is taking or leaving the stage. When a big draw comes on, attendees, press and campaign staff come crushing in to pack every imaginable corner of open space. After they leave, whole aisles of CPAC supporters stand up to walk out in single file and the droves who were standing in the back cram through the exit doors to leave first. The best thing about the duller moments in the CPAC agenda is the Wi-Fi suddenly flies at MACH speed. When the masses descend, the Wi-Fi lags dramatically, if not dropping the connection all together from the maximum capacity of users plugging their laptops into every imaginable outlet.
Though all of the Presidential candidates have had this effect the last couple of days, the two winners, if you will, were definitely Rick Santorum who preceded Mitt Romney, and then the former MA Governor himself who came on a short time after the former Senator. I will give Romney the win in terms of the media, who seemed to only have been here to see him, as they swarmed in like bees to double the amount of press in the media balcony and spill over onto the staircase filling each step and hanging against balcony rails. Since many of them were Main Stream Media reporters, they naturally looked pained to have received this assignment, wrote few notes, and made it clear they were unimpressed with his speech at the conclusion.
I write all this to preface the impact Romney had on the room when his speech came up on the schedule. For those who find him wooden or flat his magnetism was felt even if you prefer another candidate to Mitt. Even if its more physical than intellectual its charisma nevertheless. A keen businessman who does not apologize for his success, he recognized this was the room beyond most others where he had to emphasize the word conservative and make it clear he is indeed conservative despite what his distractors say. He made his case.
Amusing CPAC with his opening words, “Obama really is a good community organizer – and I want to thank him for this – but, I don’t think this is the community he hoped to organize” he declared with amusement. Laughter.
“This country we love is in jeopardy” he said changing tones. For two or three years we’ve suffered (under a) weak leader with bankrupt idealogy. “This is the last gasp of liberalism’s great failure. It’s not enough to show how they failed but to show how we will lead. Conservatives all agree departing from these founding principles would depart from our purpose. We’re not just proud to cling to our bibles and guns but to our constitution,” the candidate affirmed.
Government doesn’t exist just for the people but it’s been made a success by the people. Politicians have fallen under the spell of Washington. They begin to see government as the solution to every problem. Government knows better. Government can do better. Barack Obama is the poster child for the arrogance of government. Cheers. Romney pointed out this can be a nation of and by Washington or of and by a free people.
The former Governor told on-lookers my path to conservatism came from my family and my life’s work. He talked about his grandparents coming to America from England for a chance at religious liberty, how his father couldn’t finish college but worked hard in a car company (Chairman and CEO of AMC) to later become the Governor of Michigan, and how he met his wife Ann and had five fine sons. “These conservative constants have shaped my life.”
In talking about his career as a businessman he noted, “In business if you’re not a fiscal conservative you’re bankrupt.” (Applause) He said he became successful as a businessman by eliminating waste, balancing budgets, by starting new businesses, and turning away broken ones. “I’m not ashamed to say I was successful doing it,” he beamed to more applause.
Talking about his years as Governor of Massachusetts, he noted how he took office with the state in a three billion dollar deficit, had a 85% democrat majority in his legislature, cut taxes nineteen times, balanced the budget all four years he was Governor, made 800 vetoes, cut entire programs, and put two billion dollars in a rainy day fund before leaving office. “I served in government but I didn’t inhale,” he laughed. “I want to get my hands on Washington, D.C.”
Continuing his review of office in Massachusetts, once nicknamed “Taxachusetts” he said on his watch we prevented MA from becoming the Las Vegas of the marriage act. Romney says he believes marriage is defined by a relationship between a man and a woman.
“I was a severely conservative Republican Governor. I was on those front lines and expect to be again.” There are two choices for America. Candidates with two different backgrounds.
Leadership is sharing credit when things are good and taking responsibility when they’re not. Romney was proud to tell the audience he is the only candidate who hasn’t served a day in Washington. “To get America back on track we need bold and sweeping reform. We borrow forty cents of every dollar we spend. It’s reckless, immoral, irresponsible, and it will end under my Presidency.” He said before he agreed to spend any money he would first ask, can we afford it, and then can we really risk borrowing money from China to pay for it?
Ed.: This article written and reported by Juliana Simone, also appeared on Ameriborn News Network, a CT internet news site taken down in October 2015.
Businessman Donald Trump won seven states: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Vermont and Virginia. The numbers vary, but according to the New York Times, Trump now has 319 delegates, gaining 237 Tuesday night. He was in the lead before Super Tuesday with 81 delegates from wins in New Hampshire, South Carolina and Iowa.
Texas U.S. Senator Ted Cruz won three: Alaska, Oklahoma and Texas. He now has 226 delgates, with a gain of 209. The state of Texas on Super Tuesday, had the largest amount of delegates to award at 155. Cruz, like Rubio, going into Super Tuesday were tied with 17 delegates each. It’s interesting Alaska went for Cruz, when their former Governor and Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin, had just endorsed Trump for President. But Cruz was also endorsed by Palin, and she stumped for his Senate win in Texas.
Florida U.S. Senator Marco Rubio finally won one something with a win in Minnesota, which was a caucus and not a primary. He also was able to inflate his flagging delegate numbers from 17 to 110 with Tuesday returns. He came in second in Virginia, losing to frontrunner Trump by 3%.
Kasich came in second in Vermont with 30% of the votes tallied after Trumps 33%. He gained six votes yesterday, coming into this important primary day with 19 delegate votes. He now has 25.
Revered Dr. Ben Carson did not win a state and with Super Tuesday had eight delegates, and gained three at the final count for a total of eleven delegates. These results produced a statement from his campaign released this afternoon:
I have decided not to attend the Fox News GOP Presidential Debate tomorrow night in Detroit. Even though I will not be in my hometown of Detroit on Thursday, I remain deeply committed to my home nation, America. I do not see a political path forward in light of last evening’s Super Tuesday primary results. However, this grassroots movement on behalf of “We the People” will continue. Along with millions of patriots who have supported my campaign for President, I remain committed to Saving America for Future Generations. We must not depart from our goals to restore what God and our Founders intended for this exceptional nation.
I appreciate the support, financial and otherwise, from all corners of America. Gratefully, my campaign decisions are not constrained by finances; rather by what is in the best interests of the American people.
I will discuss more about the future of this movement during my speech on Friday at CPAC in Washington, D.C.
So what do these results mean? For starters, the assault on Donald Trump by the RNC and its leadership, in addition to the state party leaders who quickly tow the line, is really a disgrace and more proof the Republican Party will never be able to pick the candidate who can actually win an election when it comes to our nations’ highest office. It’s more important to them to control the choice, regardless of what their actual registered voters believe, so they can maintain power and essentially keep their jobs.
This history with party leadership, is what has led the public to casting so many votes for any anti-establishment candidate. For those U.S. citizens paying attention, they are choosing Trump, to yes, as his campaign slogan states, “make America great again.” Tired of politics as usual, with the elected officials driving around in their limos, flying to events in chartered jets, staying safe with their security details, and living the high life on taxpayer’s dimes attending cocktail parties and cutting occasional ribbons at some local event to keep it real with their actual constituents, the general public is sick of this decades old pattern, and want someone from the outside who does not drink from this well.
The media has blatantly been against Trump from the beginning, way back to the first Republican Presidential primetime debate in August of 2015, with Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly foaming at the mouth on her first question to Trump. She addressed him believing she was still a prosecutor, not mentally making the transition she was now simply a debate moderator and journalist, who should not appear biased. Thinking their daily diatribe could quickly eliminate him that evening, or soon after time, they’ve dug deeper as his popularity has grown.
The only Republican candidate they perhaps despise more than Trump, is New Jersey Governor Chris Christie who dropped out of the race for the nomination more recently. Christie, a strong, bright alpha-male who made it clear to the media on assuming office during his press conferences, he was not going to address their questions that bore only progressive agenda for a daily soundbite. As a result, they made a mountain out of a mole hill on a non-story, that involved a Christie staffer who organized two lanes on the Tappan Zee Bridge being closed for a short while during rush hour, when in the media’s view, the Mayor of Fort Lee, a Democrat, did not endorse Christie for President.
This high profile story dictated by the media, actually makes no sense since no Republican, or few and far between, would expect any Democrat to endorse the Republican candidate over their own party’s candidate for any office. Nevertheless, the staffer was fired, and Christie, who always maintained he knew nothing of the call to the DOT, was cleared of all charges in this small incident. The mainstreammedia, however, dragged it out for weeks as a top news story.
Guns still aimed at Christie, his endorsement of Trump couldn’t have been better news for the media’s narrative…it kept him in their sights while they were lamenting his pulling out of the race, so he could no longer be daily fodder for their vitriol.
To their delight, Christie stood behind Trump on stage Tuesday evening, which oddly allowed collective hours of commentary ensued on how Christie even appeared in the background. Totally bizarre. Rush Limbaugh noted this today, as well, during his nationally syndicated talk radio show, and asked, well, what was he supposed to do?
To anyone normal watching, obviously not jumping jacks. I suppose like so many anchors on network shows, the botox could have kicked in, and he could have worn a frozen smile or stern frown.
Voters should see what the media has done to Christie over his years in service as a Governor, a candidate for the President of the United States, and now colleague of Donald Trump, that this is what they will continue to do to anyone anytime unless things change in Washington. More importantly, voters should notice how there is hardly any equal time given to Democrat President nominee Hillary Clinton, who is laden with so many scandals, the dedicated broadcast time could fill at least a year of discussion.
Moving on to Texas U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, who is placing second in the Republican challenge, and like Trump, is controversial in that his party does not want him to get the nomination either, as someone who bucks the status quo of how things get done in Washington. Cruz, has his devoted fans and an education a minority of Americans will achieve. Most reading this piece know his history, as Canadian born to an American mother and Cuban father, a Harvard Law graduate who went on to be the captain of the Harvard debate team, earning the highest of praise from even Professor Alan Dershowitz, a staunch liberal,who publicly acknowledges Cruz is one of the best debaters he’s ever seen.
The negatives with Cruz today, are some foul play outcries from competing campaigns that say he has used social media, robo calls and public remarks to mislead voters prior to primary dates in hopes of switching their votes. His likability is also considered, as D.C. colleagues argue he does not get along with any of his fellow legislators and has few allies there. Cruz supporters would say this is a good thing. How this resonates with voters and delegates is a more serious concern.
Florida U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, as of Super Tuesday, had the one state of Minnesota under his belt, interestingly the only state Ronald Reagan did not win in his landslide victory in 1984. For someone perceived by party insiders and Rubio himself, as the candidate most like Reagan, this is an odd note. Minnesota also chose Democrat candidate Bernie Sanders over the presumed nominee Hillary Clinton. Rubio is under-performing among voters despite the push he’s getting from Washington and party supporters. His answer to this, he told the press as polls closed, was it did not matter as only the delegate count at the Republican convention mattered, so he was staying in the race because it was up to the delegates to pronounce the nominee, not the people.
This comment, illustrates how voters in terms of party nominees, have little to do with who the nominee is that appears on the ballot. In published stories weeks ago, former First Lady, New York State Senator and SOS Hillary Clinton, already had the Democrat superdelegates sewn up in the bag, so it ultimately didn’t matter how much of the youth vote competitor Vermont U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders had, or how many states he eventually wins during the primary process. He will not win the nomination at the National Democrat Convention. The fix is in for Hillary and had been before Bernie even knew that much about the process.
The question is, will Sanders supporters roll over in the traditional democrat way regardless of outcome, and just say, ‘okay, not happy it’s not Bernie, but we’ll just vote for Hillary instead.’
1,237 delegate votes are needed at the Republican Convention. Although even higher numbers were expected for Trump on Super Tuesday, he still was way ahead of any contender even with the RNC and their state leaders nipping at his heels.
In terms of funding, anyone who has ever worked or volunteered for a campaign, or their state party, a primary argument for choosing a nominee is always the money – who has the most funds or can raise the most funds to use them to get elected?
Many unqualified candidates have been given the nod because they could bankroll their campaign regardless of outcome. Additionally, the usual party insiders with multiple lost races on their resumes, can be rehired or business contracts can be signed that will leverage support and votes.
With Trump, within the Republican Party, has anyone heard mention of how much money he has to spend? How he could even top the Clinton’s with all of their questionable donations to their foundation and typical donators like George Soros and other liberals? The only large treasure chest the public ever heard about on the Republican side was former Florida Governor Jeb Bush’s, who spent over one hundred million dollars for naught.
He had the Bush family influence behind him, but in regards to the so-called political wizards backing him, they somehow failed to recognize what the general public did. In a Bush vs. Clinton race, Clinton would win – no matter how damaged a candidate she is, for two reasons.
One, the mainstream media hammered the Bush name for years, tarnishing it among the younger generations and uniformed voters, however wrongful the message was, and two, the mainstream media will never hammer the Clinton’s on the innumerable crimes, lies and corruption under any elected office they’ve held, or Hillary alone on anything unethical that’s plagued her throughout her career even before ever going to Washington.
For once, the Republican Party establishment needs to stop meddling with the nominee and start endorsing the candidate favored by the public. Their current excuse for not standing behind Trump is because if he wins the nomination, the U.S. Senate and Congress will lose the majority’s they hold today. But to anyone who follows politics, we’ve seen the majority gifted to these legislators in the past two elections, has amounted to little to nothing.
The power they were bestowed they did not act upon, and left them lamely and publicly shrugging their shoulders, basically asking, what can we do? So, this argument holds no water at all. Ultimately, it just sounds like they’re worried about keeping their jobs and the luxurious lifestyle that goes along with it. So much for “We the people…”
The momentum from the GOP establishment to stop Trump is in full swing.
Florida U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, competition for the nomination for President with Trump, spent every moment speaking in public up to Super Tuesday, insulting Donald Trump with words and comments that made him look anything but Presidential. With catty remarks about Trump’s bad spray tan and small hands, he also continually calls the successful businessman and Wharton Business School grad, a con-artist. Rubio, is not problem free and should have taken a higher road to appeal to the public.
On Super Tuesday, House Speaker Paul Ryan, came out publicly to pick up the media’s latest anti-Trump message that former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke had endorsed him, and basically say the Republican Party could not have anyone as their nominee who did not reject any group that is built on bigotry, as the party of Lincoln. The story turned out to be false, like so many mainstream media attack pieces, with Duke himself saying he’d never even endorsed Trump. Regardless, Trump said innumerable times in every venue, including a press conference he disavows any endorsement from Duke.
This Thursday morning, 2012 Republican Presidential nominee Mitt Romney, also took a turn at trying to tear Trump down from becoming the nominee, and urged voters to vote for three good candidates still in the race: Rubio, Cruz or Kasich. “Dishonesty is Donald Trump’s homework,” Romney said, giving examples of contradicting statements the front-runner has made on what he’s supported over the years. Romney scolded Trump for his insults, conduct, use of profanity, and lack of conservatism.
Donald Trump greets Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, after announcing his endorsement of Romney during a news conference, Thursday, Feb. 2, 2012, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)
Romney has demanded Trump release his tax returns. Romney said it’s an issue to him personally, since he was repeatedly asked to produce his tax returns when he was running. In tweets on Twitter, Romney has called Trump a phony and a fraud and claims his domestic policies would put the nation into recession. One tweet included this: “He has neither the temperament nor the judgment to be president. And his personal qualities would mean that America would cease to be a shining city on a hill.”
Critics of Romney making these tweets and calling for this press conference today, wonder why Romney never came out this strongly against his Democrat opponent in 2012, Barack Obama, and if he had, maybe he’d be President today and would have spared the country of four more years of Obama’s bad policies.
Remember when Romney was running for President, he was happy to receive Donald Trump’s endorsement and had completely contrary things to say about Trump at that time, in that they were all positive. For me, Romney is just another Republican doing the Democrat’s work for them and another who failed to honor Reagan’s eleventh commandment where no Republican should speak ill or another Republican.
We’ll have to see what else Washington will pull out of their hat next as they continue to attack the popular front-runner. An older argument the GOP maintains today, is that Trump’s background is a problem. I’ll take his background over Hillary Clinton’s any day.
Lastly, “likability.” A very important component to anyone who knows or works in politics and something that still holds fast and true. If you don’t have it, it does not matter how long your resume is, how many colleagues you have in D.C., how much money you have, or how hard you try…the public either likes you or they don’t. True, Trump has his haters, but Clinton certainly does, too. As the only Republican candidate bringing in cross-over votes from democrats and independents, which are unquestionably needed to win the general election in November, clearly he has many more supporters than adversaries.
Hollywood, CA – Sunday night’s airing of the 88th annual Academy Awards, the highest award ceremony presented to those who work in the film industry whether in front of the camera or behind, received the second worst ratings to date. (Editor: Other reports are saying third worst. In an eight year low, 34.5 million or a viewing of 23.4% according to households)
Each year, they have steadily declined among worldwide viewership. Worst ratings on record were in 2008, when Jon Stewart hosted and only 32 million tuned in to be the lowest on record. As far as Nielsen can track, 1998 was the best year for viewership, when the film “Titanic” won for best picture of the year, with 55 million viewers.
With no NFL Super Bowl, debate among President Candidates or a final episode along the magnitude of a popular long-running show like “The Soprano’s” airing simultaneously during the broadcast, analysis has to strike this reason from the menu. What’s left?
To advertisers, the aforementioned declining ratings, but that’s business, and does not address the people at home tuning in. The films that were nominated? The actors who were nominated? Always a consideration, as a respectable blockbuster in terms of returns does beef up the interest. But none of the films listed under more than one category for ‘best’ had the buzz of former winners over the decades. Still, for the millions of people who used to love to watch the Oscar’s, regardless of how much a film earned, we’ll have to strike this off the menu, as well.
Granted, the late comedienne Joan Rivers was no longer on the red carpet to provide hours of pre-show off color comments and rude remarks about celebrities attire, acting abilities and private lives. This maybe could have kept a slim margin of fans from tuning in who only liked that part of the exhibition.
Traditional day of the week, Sunday, and starting hour, 8-9PM; for forty-hour a week people living in the Eastern Time Zone, who have to get up early for an eight hour work day, a true devotee could hang in until midnight to see the best picture winner. So, for film enthusiasts, program scheduling gives us another strike.
The Oscar’s have always had teasers preceding the show of what viewers could expect from this year’s ceremony. Advertisements and promotions would either feature a popular host, such as comedian and film actor Billy Crystal, or clips from a movie that reached millions around the world in terms of vast revenue and enthusiastic reputation. 2016? Bleak results.
Which leads the dismal ratings to the message. When the Academy of Motion Arts, announced the nominees for Oscars, and none of them were African American, the Academy voters were called out as prejudiced by some in the black community. Long-time members of the Academy, found this charge both insulting and false, and some notable Oscar winners made contrary statements to this charge. Boycotts called upon from both sides ensued saying they would not be attending the ceremony.
Outspoken comedian Chris Rock was the emcee of the award show, and industry people in addition to viewers, expected the black actor to turn the live venue into a show emphasizing that no black Americans were nominated for Oscar’s because of bigotry. Particularly, prejudice among the veteran Academy voters, whose majority of votes choose both the nominees and the winners in each category.
This year’s message was one that neither resonated with the general viewing public, or the Hollywood A-list. Anyone watching, whether a regular viewer or not, had to notice none of the seats in the room, even in the front rows, had any A-list actor or actress watching the ceremony.
There was no Jack Nicholson wearing his traditional black shades and big smile; no multi-Oscar award winning Meryl Streep; no old-school trophy winners like Ford, DeNiro, Hoffman, Dreyfuss, Caine or Pacino. The next tier was absent as well: Clooney, Pitt, Jolie, Aniston, Fiennes, Willis, Cruise, Depp; The youngest tier also was missing – Johannson, Stewart/Pattinson/Lautner, Hedlund, Radcliffe.
The only people in the room were people who were nominated for an Oscar Sunday evening, were presenting, or who were affiliated with a film that was up for an Oscar. Short list. Matt Damon, Michael Keaton, Leonardo DiCaprio, Theron and Russell Crowe.
Rock, thought it was okay to announce the first two presenters with this introduction, “You want diversity? We got diversity. Please welcome Emily Blunt and somebody whiter, Charlize Theron.” Imagine a Caucasian Master of Ceremonies introducing two female African American actresses, and suggesting one of them was blacker. Al Sharpton would still be on our television today demanding someone to give back their Oscar, or that they were never hired again or the movie would be boycotted.
Both women admirably took Rock’s comment in stride, didn’t bat an eye and continued with the job at hand, reading their lines, opening the envelope and announcing the winner.
As a gimme, most Academy people not on hand but watching, and viewers in the know, would have given Rock one cause-oriented commentary as host, to make a statement and move on, but unfortunately, the message continued throughout the entire broadcast at every opportunity, shortchanging many award recipients who had little to do with the discussion.
Black comedian, actress and Oscar winner Whoopi Goldberg, joined Rock throughout the night in different skits as a cynical commentator dressed as a cleaning woman.
Ironically, most of the actors who participated in the opportunity to insult the Academy, peers, colleagues and perspective audiences, have earned millions of dollars from this industry, including multiple awards, accolades and continual work in the entertainment business – whether on Broadway, or through film, television, publishing, live appearances, etc.
Interestingly, among the top five highest grossing actors of all time, are Samuel Jackson at number two, Morgan Freeman at number four, and Eddie Murphy at number five. (source: IMDb)
To call Hollywood biased against minorities is a bit of a stretch. Ask any family going movie fan, young or old, let alone a conservative; or a liberal, happy to see all of these corners of the human experience exposed. Barrier after social barrier has been broken by filmmakers, whether the audience was going to approve of the story or not. Social acceptance of anything beyond the norm, or former norm, is something they gravitate towards when exposing stories to the majority, regardless of outcome.
The only downside for the studios, something they originally may not have considered, was low viewer turnout and negative box office receipts. Perhaps they consoled themselves with the idea that pay-per-view or DVD rentals at the time would make them even, if not profitable. Regardless, the end-all message seems to be more important at times to Hollywood and its foreign contributors, even if it has to trickle down to Independent Film with a more cult following than blockbuster status.
Sadly, the Hollywood agenda has taken the thrill out of newly released movies that used to keep the masses standing in line for a ticket, however cold the evening or long the wait. The only films to witness this kind of enthusiasm anymore is a formula that’s always worked before – like another episode of a long-running action/adventure series like “Star Wars,” “Indiana Jones” or “James Bond.” Or, even further back in time, classic films like “Gone With The Wind,” “King Kong,” “The Ten Commandments,” and “Rear Window.”
As much as Hollywood has had the advantage of dictating their message on Americans who simply wanted to go watch a film, modern technology has taken that away from them today. In today’s society, consumers possess screens of any size at their fingertips 24/7, whether through their smart phone, tablet, laptop, desktop, cable TV, or Internet options like Hulu and Netflix. This myriad of choices today now rests with the audience and not the studios.
In conclusion, if African Americans want to say the Academy Award members didn’t choose one member of their race for an Oscar this year, and continue to argue it was due to their race without considering the idea that others may have deserved the nomination more, then they can leave it up to the people. Viewers of film every day have the choice of picking their favorite films as mentioned earlier, through so many formats. If the movies they participated in are better than those the Academy recognized this year, the numbers will be available, which should appease the objectors. Additionally, the residuals will be so high, income will be the reward no one seemed to want to address during Oscar night 2016, regardless of a gold statuette.
Dr. Benjamin Carson, director of Pediatric Neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, delivers remarks to the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) 2013 in National Harbor, Maryland {Photo:REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst}
Written by Juliana Simone
March 16th, 2013
National Harbor, MD – Dr. Ben Carson, a new and articulate face among conservatives, talked at length about a variety of subjects at the fortieth Conservative Political Action Conference on Saturday. The pediatric neurosurgery doctor who practices at Johns Hopkins Hospital, came to the attention of the mainstream media and thus the general public when as an invited speaker he made conservative remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast held by President Obama in February.
It appears the Obama’s knew little about the man before asking him to address their guests perhaps other than his title and race since they took umbrage to the words he delivered that morning that were in direct contrast to their own beliefs and policies. Dr. Carson’s words were not to the liking of the President and his wife, the media with its liberal bias and most of the room since they sharply conflicted with everything the current administration believes and is trying to legislatively push through while time is on their side.
Carson talked about Hillary Clinton and how her choice of words in public speaking engagements changed ‘freedom of religion’ to ‘freedom of worship.’ “Freedom of worship,” the esteemed brain surgeon explained, is something that is allowed in China and was also allowed in World War II Germany.
The definition of marriage is also an attack on freedom of religion the good doctor said…by trying to change the definition of marriage and make churches recognize the new definition. In words to religious leaders, Carson said, “The church needs to stand up and be the church. When did America allow church into the public square?” he asked. He noted that Christians started the anti-slavery movement and suggested to the CPAC audience to please read “A Free People’s Suicide” by Os Guinness.
Carson asked, what’s logical – what’s common sense? “Common sense shouldn’t just be for conservatives, but liberals, too.” Dr. Carson told listeners he’s received many letters since his breakfast speech with President Obama; many letters from seniors who said they’d given up until they heard him speak. He said he got a few ‘nasty grams,’ too, saying ‘how dare you insult my President!’ Some of them mentioned his race and Carson asked, “when did it happen you had to have a certain philosophy because of the color of your skin?” A reporter once asked me why I didn’t talk about race, he reminisced. I said, “Because I’m a neurosurgeon – when I operate and open the Dura I see who they really are…it’s not the color of their skin.”
He remembered how difficult his upbringing was with a single mom who worked three jobs until midnight and told the convention how she made them turn off the TV at some point and read three books a day. Friends would ask him, why were we reading when our mom wasn’t home? He said, “Because back then you did what your parents said.” (laughter) We couldn’t call 911 and complain to someone…he reflected with a hint of sarcasm.
Addressing his experiences at school, he revealed how as a child he went from being nicknamed ‘dummy’ by his classmates to being top in his class – and helping the other kids in seventh grade when they went to him for the answers.
In regards to the election process, Dr. Carson said people go in the voting booth and say ‘there’s a name I recognize – I’m going to vote for that one.’ They have no idea how they represent them. “This is a country that’s for, of, and by the people – not for, of, and by the government. And if we turn it over to them, we cannot complain about what they’re doing… because this is the natural course of men, and we have to hold their feet to the fire.”
Speaking about what he knows best, Dr. Carson detailed the human mind saying the brain is amazing…it can process billions of bits of information in one second – remember everything – see everything – strategize – not react like animals…People now would rather react than strategize.
Segueing into America’s debt, he added, “If we begin to spend ourselves into oblivion we’ll destroy this nation.” Enjoying his moment in the new political spotlight, he puffed up and supposed to supporters, “Now, let’s pretend you magically put me into the White House.” (cheers/applause; he laughs and takes it back)
“First, I’d divide everyone against each other,” he inflected with irony to point out the current administrations agenda. “A house divided against itself cannot stand’ a wise man named Jesus Christ once said.”
He continued by laying out a plan that if he were an enemy of the United States, he would set about destroying the nation in four simple steps:
Create division among the people, encourage a culture of ridicule for basic morality, undermine the nation’s financial stability through excessive government debt, and weaken the military. “It appears, coincidentally, that those are the very things that are happening right now,” he observed. ”And the question is, how do we stop it? Can we stop it, or must we inexorably follow the same kind of path that other pinnacle nations have followed before their destruction?”
Additionally, his plan would undermine the financial stability and drive it so far into debt it couldn’t rehabilitate, weaken the military and undermine the moral of the military. All of those things are what happened to other pinnacle nations before they fell, he observed.
We all have responsibility to recognize what’s going on and change it.
Dr. Carson, an advocate for education improvement, talked about the scholarship he created for great students instead of all the trophies given out to kids for everything now that he and his wife saw when visiting schools recently.
“Education is a fundamental principle of what made America a success,” he stated, reflecting on the importance of education in his own life, and noting that well-educated people are better equipped to pursue opportunity and provide for themselves – not lapse into social safety-net dependency. Carson cited the thirty percent high school dropout rate today and suggested a plan to create reading rooms where schools had no libraries. For motivation on the money spent on educating our young, Carson reminded his audience “for every student we save that’s one less person you have to save your family from or pay for in the penal system.” “We can’t afford to throw any young people away,” he professed.
Reflecting on United States history and its industrial empires, Carson reflected American barons didn’t just become European land barons that just passed their wealth down to future generations. They built transcontinental railroads, museums and {became manufacturers.}
On America’s wealthy, the renowned surgeon stated that forty percent of the wealthiest families give half their wealth to charities. “No other country in the world would do that…”
In regards to taxes, he said someone criticized him at the prayer breakfast for bringing up God. “I don’t understand that – it’s a prayer breakfast.”
God – you make ten billion you put in one billion – you make ten dollars you put in one dollar. What’s not fair is when you exempt someone. To me, that’s offensive.
The superior elite people say, ‘there, there, little thing, I’ll take care of you.’ The other ulterior motive is if everyone doesn’t have skin in the game, not everyone will care about raising taxes and you’ll to explain to all.
As he did at the National Prayer Breakfast, Carson warned of the dangers of allowing government to control health care, which represents one-sixth of the economy. “If the government can control that, they can control everything,” he said. Instead, he proposes that 80 percent of the interactions between doctors and patients could be easily handled through health savings accounts, a proposal discussed in more detail in his book, “America the Beautiful: Rediscovering What Made This Nation Great.”
“We need to understand what is going on, because there are much more economic models that can be used to give us good health care than what we have now. And we were asleep at the wheel to let it happen, but we have to find a way still to make it work,” said the neurosurgeon.
Addressing economics, Carson said his critics would say he’s a neurosurgeon so he couldn’t know anything about economics. “It’s not brain surgery,” he mused. (applause)
“Corporations aren’t there to be social welfare programs. They’re there to make money,” he said in terms of pro-business growth. He said there is an awful lot of money floating around beyond America’s borders, and our government could bring it home by “treating businesses as friends, not as enemies.” He repeated his comments about truly fair taxation he stated at the National Prayer Breakfast where he talked about truly fair taxation and a low and flat tax system which would punish no one and exempt no one.
Moving on to social issues and religion, Dr. Carson told the convention “We need to resist this war on God. People don’t want to talk about God and don’t dare mention Jesus Christ. What happened to freedom of religion? Freedom of speech? Let’s let everybody believe what they want to believe,” he countered. ”And that means, P.C. police, don’t you be coming down on people who believe in God and who believe in Jesus.”
“We need to understand that we are not each others’ enemies in this country. And it is only the political class that derives its power by creating friction. It is only the media that derives its importance by creating friction… that uses every little thing to create this chasm between people. This is not who we are. We have much more in common with other people than we have apart. And we have to be smart enough to understand that, and we have to live by Godly principles of loving your fellow man, of caring about your neighbor… of developing your God-given talents to the utmost, so you become valuable to the people around you… of having values and principles to guide your life. And if we do that, not only will we remain a pinnacle nation, but we will truly have one nation – under God – indivisible – with liberty and justice for all.”
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An interview follows with biographer Eric Metaxas. It is noted Dr. Carson will be retiring from medicine in 106 days. The surgeon will be 62 years of age soon. Carson says he understands why pilots are asked to retire before they crash planes. He’s asked if he is leaving medicine to get into the political sphere. Carson is amused and says he’s very dedicated to education and asks people to go to his scholarship website…then, who knows? The interviewer muses that Dr. Carson must be getting into politics because he didn’t answer the question. {they laugh}
Dr. Carson came into the national political spotlight after criticizing President Obama and his Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as Obamacare, at a national prayer breakfast attended by the president in February, where Carson delivered a staunch defense of conservative and Christian values. His remarks were completely unexpected by President Obama and the First Lady.
Ed.: This article written and reported by Juliana Simone, also appeared on Ameriborn News Network, a CT internet news site taken down in October 2015.
Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush CPAC 2013 (photo:USA Today)
Written by Juliana Simone
March 15, 2013
National Harbor, MD – Delivering the Reagan Dinner speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference Friday night, the former Florida Governor Jeb Bush presented some viewpoints that would have contradicted those held by his brother, the beloved former President of the United States, George W. Bush (43), as well as perhaps his father, George H.W. Bush (41). These perspectives would include the continued need for more government which is a true faux pas to not only the conservative base, but Reagan himself who always stood for smaller government. Speaking very fast, listeners had to be challenged to absorb every remark.
Bush started off by outlining some common pro-American growth goals shared by the Republican Party such as drilling for oil in the U.S. to make America an energy leader, increasing food production to become the Saudi Arabia of food resources in the world and bringing back manufacturing jobs from China by allowing U.S. made robots to do precision work at a faster and less costly rate. He listed a few future visions for robots including driverless cars that will make deliveries without getting lost or having accidents, car designs built by computers and 3-D imaging that are indeed impressive in terms of modern technology but where that leaves humans who used to do these jobs he didn’t say.
The potential future Republican Presidential nominee perhaps didn’t properly consider what arm of the Party he was addressing when half of his speech consisted of moderate remarks that echoed those of his similar minded colleagues when it comes to future strategies on how to rebuild the party going forward after losing the Presidential race and failing to regain the Senate in 2012.
The tug between Tea Party conservatives and establishment insiders still continues with both sides finding the other wrong in their vision and at fault for election losses. As much as insiders wince at extreme social positioning by the far right, conservatives bristle at the watered down strategies of the moderates who continue to argue they need to move more to the left to appeal to today’s voters by remaining more in the center.
Conservatives feel sounding more like Democrats concedes to the left’s agenda and keeps Republican voters at home. Moderates believe demanding stringent moral values today on a more liberal electorate made up of a whole different demographic from decades ago will make Republicans less and less electable. The right wing of the GOP asks if our candidates are going to sound just like Democrats why not simply vote for the Democrat? The moderate wing of the GOP asks if our candidates don’t become more equal on the issues with the liberal views of the Democrats voters, how won’t Republican legislators become more and more in the minority?
To illustrate Bush’s moderate thinking, he told CPAC diners that Republicans have lost five of the six popular votes in the elections because, “We’re associated with being anti-everything. Way too many people believe that Republicans are anti-immigrant, anti-woman, anti-science, anti-gay, anti-worker. Many voters are simply unwilling to choose our candidates because those voters feel unloved, unwanted, and unwelcome in our party.” He said never again can the Republican Party write off whole segments because we feel we have the right ideals.
Conservatives would counter this part of his speech with the fact that since they are all ardent Constitutionalists, they believe more than any group in inclusiveness and freedom for all as long as the laws of our country are followed. They also believe it is how the liberal mainstream media en masse portrays them as being exactly the opposite of who they are as why the public views them in this negative preconceived notion.
In excerpts both sides of the Republican Party would have to agree, he continued saying greater personal freedoms and opportunity should be available to everyone. We need to be the party of inclusion and acceptance; it’s our heritage and our future and we need to couch our efforts in those terms. Bush told viewers that “real relationships take time to grow.” He stressed they did not grow from Facebook or Twitter. “We used to be the Party that understood personal connections….and that they mattered; we need to do that again.”
How the economy effects voters attitudes, Bush observed “if you’re fortunate enough to count yourself among the privileged than you should know everyone else is drowning.” He continued surmising the liberals have channeled the anger and frustration from this oppressive dynamic to attack the very idea of success itself. The former Florida Governor reflected on success as something good and said, “Innovation should be the by-product of achievement.” He believes everyone has the right to rise.
Concluding his speech he listed four points he sees as a necessity for the Republican Party and America to be strong again:
One: Reestablish the idea of success is a good thing. Success needs to be cool again…success isn’t about taking but creating.
Two: Equip every child with the best tools to rise. He reminded members that we spend more per student than any country in the world only to rank further down the list in test grades than other countries, and projected some child being born will build the next “Watson” (a computer he detailed earlier in his speech who became well-known on the show “Jeopardy” and now gives medical diagnosis at hospitals like Sloan Kettering.) – and that a hundred children could have done the same thing but are being squandered in our schools. “We are squandering American’s greatest resource…the greatest waste of human potential,” he said in reference to American’s youth adding we need a system that rewards improvement and excellence.
Three: A government that allows small businesses to rise and large companies to fail. Government should have a level playing field – not just pick the winners and losers.
Four: The conservative movement has a political realm and a social realm. “The government should fill pot holes; it’s our individual duty to fill holes in the human heart.” Jeb Bush told the CPAC crowd all of us should help our neighbors and mentor our children and that this is immensely more powerful than a thousand government programs.
Ed.: This article written and reported by Juliana Simone, also appeared on Ameriborn News Network, a CT internet news site taken down in October 2015.
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