Russ Vought, the former Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for the Trump Administration, is a long time acquaintance since his days at Heritage Action. Russ ran the OMB with the utmost integrity. He is an amazing individual and he is the reason for my post today.
Now aligned with the work Russ is doing at The Center for American Restoration and the activity arm, American Restoration Action (ARA), you are invited to learn more about ARA. Especially, I invite you to join in on the Thursday Calls to be enlightened on important issues that should drive the Constitutional agenda to Restore America.
I love to watch CPAC but this year my schedule did not allow me much time for keeping up with everything on this opening day. Thank Heavens for the Internet and YouTube for providing live streaming of the event and especially for all of the organizations that have posted videos.
Deneen Borelli is wonderful, powerful and I know that for a fact because I met her once and watched speak LIVE at a Freedom Works event. Today I thought she was spectacular with this recap and her personal insight:
Jim DeMint, a Consistent Conservative, is someone I have watched for years and I was fortunate enough to have met with him when I lived in Florida. I have learned a lot from watching and listening to Jim and today was no different. Jim understands how, like all of my favorite Consistent Conservative do, to frame a debate.
This segment with Governors discussing Federalism was excellent. I particularly enjoyed Governor Walker with his dollar bill object lesson.
I heard a small portion of Ted Cruz’s segment with Mark Levin earlier today but I am excited to watch the entire interview now, well, as soon as I finish this post because Ted mentioned #FireBureaucrats and that was music to my ears!
To learn more about CPAC go to CPAC.org and check out the agenda for the rest of this annual event.
In case you missed it and need a moment of diversion from the mainstream media and the oppositional defiant subversion movement, and before I post more stuff below:
If you have not yet discovered theNational Center for Conservative Studiesplease take a moment to check out their website and specifically look for the5000 Year Leap. If you have not yet read it you might consider getting a copy.
It is your right and civil obligation to join with good men and women in honorable organizations to increase your capacity to make your voice heard in Government. You also have the right and civil obligation to be well informed in order to speak your mind. So allow me to introduce you to the wonderful world ofHeritage Action (HAction).
First of all, standing against tyrant-progressive agendas is notbullying. Disagreeing with fervor is not bullying. And speaking for yourself, lobbying independently as a citizen is not bullying no matter what organization you choose to join with in order to keep yourself well informed. Well, let me rephrase that last part: No matter which sensible organization you join.
Another way to be well informed is to know what the Progressives are doing to be organized and how they are now working to take on Conservatives who are tired of being bullied. Check out the following to see how they operate:
HAction understands how to #FrameTheDebate to be effective in connecting with legislators. Because HAction stands for freedom, for transparency, and is notoriously thorough in discussing issues the HAction team members can usually present both sides on an issue, no matter how wrong one side is, for HAction team members embrace the opportunity for discourse in foundational principles steeped in the United States Constitution.
Those I know in HAction are usually calm and not prone to obnoxious outbursts. They speak well. They believe in the grassroots individual being equal to taking on responsibility to become self-educated on subjects that are of concern to the nation. HAction leadership trusts You and Me, The We in the people, to help keep legislators informed.
Together, we work to keep information flowing to our neighbors, our friends, and especially to our members of Congress. HAction team members, Sentinels, are all about being free to choose, not being coerced or “nudged” into doing things against our will.
Mike Needham has a great Op-Ed Open Letter in response to a recent Wall Street Journal Op-Ed. Mike is my hero when it comes to speaking plainly, fairly, and pointedly.
My thoughts on his op-ed?
“but they are appear eager to dismiss its root causes.” ~ Yes. The Lame Duck Continuing Resolution through December 8th is an example. The excessive increasing of the National Debt is an example. The insane Drafting of Women is an example.
And how is Paul Ryan any different than his predecessor, John Boehner, as an example? (1)
What has Mitch McConnell offered the American people and is he as good as his word? (2)
“Failing to deliver promised electoral consequences will have consequences”said Lester Jackson.(3)
As a member ofHeritage Foundation, having used their research in conjunction with other think tank ideas, I cautiously watched the Heritage Action (HAction) program unfold. I wanted to see how things were going work, how consistent HAction was going to be, what it would become. It did not take me long to appreciate the focused educational approach HAction takes in promoting and framing debates for Constitutional centered ideas. Mike Needham exceeded my expectations as CEO.
Remember when Mike said:
Here we are in 2016 and Mike is still correct. And he is right today when he talks about theOpportunity for All: Favoritism to None Solutionsthat matter most, fair solutions that any candidate, especially Donald Trump, should be focused upon if serious about winning this election and serving as President of the United States.
Do your own research.Download your copy here. Read it. Study it. Challenge your thinking and stand on common ground for the common good.
And then educate your House and Senate members. #MakeDCListen
This is not a comprehensive list of sites or people that I follow for news and political information. It is in relative order of importance to me when I want to double check what I am hearing or reading from other sources. The list is compiled and posted here thanks to my friend JL’s inquiry to become self-educated. I thank her for trusting my opinion enough to ask where to go for information that is easy to read and understand.
My suggestion is to visit one site at a time searching for information that is of interest to you. When you feel brain-fried simply step back, take a break. Discuss what you read with someone else you trust if you feel unsure or confused about what you are reading. You might find that you understand more than you think you do.
I usually get all of my immediate or important news off my Twitter Feed as I follow all the afore mentioned sites along with the ones below. There favorite research/writers from each site that I follow because their personal styles work for my reading comprehension level.
An important site for you to check out is Hillsdale College. Hillsdale offers Online Courses, many for FREE, on the Constitution and our Founding Fathers at hillsdale.edu.
If you follow me on Twitter you can see my favorite follows and view my Lists or just tweet me at @JSWardell and I will send names directly. Perhaps I will put a #FriendlyFollow list together in another blog post in a couple of days?
Until then, have fun discovering what is important to you and putting your own foundational information together to share with others! Have fun developing your confidence because you are smarter than you think you are. Speak up. Speak out. Defend Freedom! Preserve your Constitutional Rights!
Do those in your spheres of influence have a love-hate relationship with the media? Are they afraid or have a disdain for social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook yet believe what they see in their timelines? In working to help others voting in the 2016 Presidential cycle become better informed voters do you encourage them to check out ORIGINAL sources, complete sources of information regarding Ted Cruz?
The owner of a great auto mechanic shop I have gone to for a few years now, talks about religion and politics with me just about every time I go in there. We have great conversations leading to our becoming good friends.
Just yesterday he shared with me why he turned into a Ted Cruz supporter. It was all due to that something I said:
Ted Cruz knows how to frame the debate. He knows how to embrace the debate. Ted Cruz is a constitutional conservative and he speaks plainly so that you can clearly know and understand what he says regardless of your educational background.
Based upon my opinion, he looked up videos online to learn more about Ted Cruz. He found one in particular, watched it, and for himself learned all he needed to know from an #OriginalSource that swayed him to #ChooseCruz.
I believe as we #EmbraceTheDebate and send people to learn from an #OriginalSource about that which is of a personal concern for themselves, we speak #TruthToPower, the Power of Voters to #ChooseCruz of their own free will and volition.
Another example on #FrameTheDebate is shown below as Megyn Kelly ends up agreeing with Ted, defends Ted Cruz’s record, after the damage she seemingly tried to willingly cause in the debate, Ted took her on. Here you can see her admit Ted’s record, clear record, proving herself wrong in the discussion after the fact and what a great #OriginalSource to have it posted by Fox News!
To promote Ted Cruz is to #EmbraceTheDebate by knowing well and sharing an #ORIGINALSOURCE. Encouraging the alleged middle ground or undecided voters to go to an original source for themselves is the best way to win friends and influence people the Ted Cruz way.
Remember how he embraced the debate in spite of the arrogance, the ignorance, and rudeness of the Code Pink People interrupting his press conference?
Fact is Ted Cruz is the Dignified Candidate. He is the Respectful Candidate. He is the Well-Educated Candidate as evidenced in how he chooses to #FrameTheDebate and #EmbraceTheDebate.
Ted Cruz is the very example of Peace through Strength.
Last week the flu, this week bronchitis with lots and lots of time to obsess over news, politics, the Iowa Caucus, Twitter and other social media. So now I want to discuss a thought that keeps coming into mind as the attacks against Ted Cruz are mercilessly relentless.
The anti-Ted Cruz faction keeps hammering the line that Ted Cruz is not likeable therefore he is not electable, but IT IS A LIE. And I am sick of hearing that lie.
Ted Cruz is a Nerd. He is a political Nerd and I use all but one thing in Zachary Levi’s definition of Nerd to define Ted:
“One whose unbridled passion for something, or things, defines who they are as a person without fear of others people’s judgment.”
Ted Cruz is like every Nerd I know, passionate, smart, and all too often goofy. And best of all, he has trained himself to bridle his passion, whichis evidenced in his familial relationships. That is what makes him an exceptional Nerd.
Ted Cruz’s ability to bridle his passion is evidenced in the debates. He is well-tempered. His Nerdiness slips out from time to time but it is never in the form of a temper tantrum or harsh words hurled to those with whom he disagrees. His Nerdiness is simply personal awkwardness or goofiness, never hurtful toward other individuals.
How is that not lovable? How does that awkwardness not remind one about all the goofiness in oneself?
I came to watch the NBC series CHUCK through Netflix last year. I was busy trying to finish college (late in life) so was not into it’s first television run other than seeing a commercial from time to time. The commercials never enticed me away from my studies. In fact, I only decided to watch it after seeing Zachary Levi in a Hallmark Movie REMEMBER SUNDAY. He was delightful in that role. Goofy, but delightful.
So that lead me to watch CHUCK, the entire series, once by myself, once with my Pops, and now a third time with my sister (though we are but halfway through the series). So I consider myself somewhat familiar with the Nerd Herd and especially Chuck Bartowski.
A few weeks ago I was watching Ted Cruz on some program and it smiling for the umpteenth time I chuckled saying outloud He is such an adorable Nerd. And then I FLASHED! He is so #ChuckBartowski!
Those of you who “know” Chuck Bartowski know exactly what I mean about Ted Cruz. CHUCK isn’t perfect either. But CHUCK is likeable and he grows on you. Just ask SARAH and CASEY.
Ted Cruz IS likable. He is LOVEABLE. He is a delightful, lovable, charming Nerd.
THEREFORE Ted Cruz IS electable. He is electable for many reasons. 1) He is smart. He is wicked smart. 2) Ted is tough when he needs to be and equally tender when appropriate. 3) He embraces the debate, he welcomes people who challenge his ideas. 4) He is adorable and awkward at times. 5) He infuriates the opposition yet 6) Ted charms with a smile. 7) His eyes light up when people, like Megyn Kelly, realize they have misjudged him. 8) He relishes being part of the team and likes to make sure We, The People, are included as his friends. 9) He loves and fears God and equally accepts others whose faith differs from his own. 10) He is conscious of his family, treats his wife with great respect and adoration. And that is just the beginning of all the things that make up the man, Ted Cruz.
His passions for life, liberty and happiness run deep, interwoven into the fibers of his being. He is a Nerd. He is a LOVEABLE, likable, electable, Political Nerd.
Having lived in my “deed restricted” community since 2006 and having placed political signs in my yard each election cycle, and having seen political signs in my neighborhood all these years, guess what came in my mailbox this week?
Who would ever think that section was meant to stifle free speech during an election cycle? Who would think that would be used to deny Chelsea Park Residents their First Amendment Right to place a sign to support of a Candidate during a Primary Election Cycle or to override the United States Constitution?
Seriously. When did the HOA decide to enforce this rule and apply it to Political Signs during a Primary Election Cycle? Especially THIS political cycle?
How is it the HOA allows that one can put up all sorts of holiday decorations and holiday signs throughout the year but not a Candidate sign during an election cycle? And how is it one can put up a Football or Baseball Team Flag but not a sign for a Candidate during an election cycle?
Did someone say Mother HOA, May I?
Perhaps I need to get a flag for my Candidate made and fly it from a flag pole like the Sport flags or banners I see in some yards. Or maybe getting a partial wrap on my truck so I can park it on the street or my driveway for my Candidate is in order?
Mother HOA, May I?
Oh wait. I hate that game. So allow me to #FrameTheDebate by asking some other questions:
Why would any HOA Board of Directors stifle any resident from exercising the right and moral obligation to uphold civic standards by being Politically Active during any election cycle?
Why has the HOA Board of Directors chosen this particular year to attack political yard signs during the most critical Republican Primary in Florida?
Why, when my candidate’s sign has been up for over one month’s time, is this now an issue when Absentee/Early voting ballots are being sent out on January 30th?
Did a neighbor complain?
Does the current HOA Rule Enforcer have a Political Sign issue? (We all have our issues.)
Was it the original intent of the Covenant/Rules writers to kill a homeowners unalienable right to exercise the 1st Amendment during any campaign season?
How does the HOA pick and choose which signs are yard worthy for display outside of the for sale-for rent restriction?
Honestly, it has never occurred to me that placing my candidate(s) sign on my personal property during an election cycle was a violation of the sacred HOA covenants. After all, seasonal items are placed in someone’s yard all year round because like I said, we all have our issues that mean something to us in their season.
The phrase “the system is broken” when it comes to Congress makes me irate. The problem is too many Politicians are Corrupt and Abusing Power for Personal Gain. It appears they, miscreant politicians, are the ones employing sophistry in by trying break honorable men and women who are working to reclaim America.
The huge Omnibus bill was not critical. An Omnibus bill is never essential or necessary to getting things done on the hill. The Omnibus Bill is and continues to beperpetuated by those who are THE BROKEN SYSTEM and by those who do not frame the debate to stop it.
The Shutdown, to stop totalitarianism, is never a bad thing. It should have been used to protect taxpayers from 1.1 Trillion in spending that burdens taxpayers. The Shutdown should be used EVERY time to press forward with a Conservative Agenda. Bill Posey needs to learn how to frame that debate if he is serious about his Libertarian-leaning Republican claims as a financially conservative guy.
Shutting down the government to push for smaller, more responsible spending in government is not a bad thing. Therefore Posey must lead from the front, not behind, in teaching his constituents that fact.
Shutting down the government is the responsibility of Congress, of which Bill Posey is member. The onus is on Congress to effectively use the Power of the Purse to stop any Totalitarian from living out of taxpayer pockets while bankrupting America. Congress can and must have the will to shut down the government, just as it must have the will to force Obama to veto bill after bill to reclaim America thus allowing Obama to solidify his Anti-American agenda with the swish of his pen.
Please understand that I, with many others in Florida, really want to support Bill Posey in any well-stated conservative position that he adequately frames for debate. But he must articulate what he will do, as a l-e-a-d-e-r, to reclaim AmericafromProgressive Totalitarians.
What are you doing or What will you do as a LEADER to limit the size and scope of the federal government and return authority to states and to the American people?
What are you doing or What will you do as a LEADER to cut taxes and spending and rein in the debt?
What are you doing or What will you do as a LEADER to get rid of Obamacare and promote healthcare solutions based on free enterprise, not government controls?
What are you doing or What will you do as a LEADER to protect America from foreign threats, secure the border, and develop a robust, principled foreign policy that puts America first?
What are you doing or What will you do as a LEADER to ensure that our judges and lawmakers uphold the Constitution of the United States, starting by halting executive overreach?
Those I know in HAction are usually calm and not prone to obnoxious outbursts. They speak well. They believe in the grassroots individual being equal to taking on responsibility to become self-educated on subjects that are of concern to the nation. HAction leadership trusts You and Me, The We in the people, to help keep legislators informed.
Sentinel2Sentinel 