Criminalizing Conservatism

We all knew this would happen. When Democrats took Congress, we knew they would begin relentlessly investigating prominent conservatives and Republicans on charges of . . . being prominent conservatives and Republicans! The most recent of these witch hunts involves high-ranking members of the Bush administration being compelled to testify before Congress (in what is tentatively being called the House Pro-American Activities Committee) so that Democrats can trick them in to committing perjury. Rumor even has it that Senator Chuck Schumer has a list of 57 Republicans in the Justice Department! If Democrats went after Al Qaeda as furiously as they are Republicans, there would be no terrorism anywhere in the world.

Their first target was Tom DeLay, who was officially charged in Texas for . . . well, that doesn’t matter, he’s Tom DeLay! The DNC couldn’t be more pleased with the district attorney if they chose him themselves. Ronnie Earle, a staunch Democrat with a history of persecuting Republicans who had dared win elections in Texas (like Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison) actually attended a Democrat fundraiser promising to get DeLay. He made good on his promise by shopping for a grand jury that would bring an indictment against him (I guess the eighth time is a charm). In the meantime, rather than risk attracting negative attention to himself and his party, DeLay resigned his House seat, dropped out of the race for his own re-election, and moved to Virginia. In an unprecedented and ironic twist of American democracy, DeLay was actually forced by a federal judge to stay in the race and relegate the GOP’s replacement to write-in status, thus giving the seat to the Democrats on a silver platter.

Next on the Democrats’ hitlist was Lewis “Scooter” Libby, former Chief of Staff to Vice President Cheney. Since they couldn’t actually prove in a court of law his boss was Satan incarnate, Democrats charged Libby with perjury because he couldn’t remember who told him about the wife of a man with an overactive fantasy life. Even when it was revealed that Richard Armitage was the one who outed Valerie Plame, the investigation continued as zealous as ever. They even found a sympathetic jury to convict him. Perhaps “sympathetic” is the wrong word, as jury members made statements after the verdict wondering why Rove, Cheney, and Bush weren’t on trial instead.

Now, perhaps finally concluding their seven-year odyssey for “George Bush’s Watergate,” they’re going after the Department of Justice because the President fired a few federal prosecutors who serve at the pleasure of the President anyway. Never mind that President Clinton fired all 93 prosecutors so he could provide enough cover to dismiss a single prosecutor in Chicago who was investigating the Chairman of the House Ways and Means committee for corruption. Democrats already succeeded in springing their perjury trap on Libby, now they’re setting it for Rove, Harriet Miers, Alberto Gonzales, and God- sorry, DARWIN- knows who else.

There is no merit behind whatever Democrats are alleging and they even admit no laws have been broken and that the President is within his power to remove federal officials (unless they want to bring the unconstitutional Tenure of Office Act out of mothballs). The sad and simple truth is all their actions are driven by nothing more than an unrelenting quest for vengeance. They’re desperate to get back at President Bush for Iraq, they haven’t forgotten what they imagine happened in Florida almost seven years ago, and they’ll never get over the impeachment of President Clinton. Yes, it seems that at long last, liberals have no sense of decency.

Conservatives Should Not Be Allowed On Television!

With the coming backlash related to comments of one Ann Coulter in the recent Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), it is becoming clear that conservatives are being met with increasing hostility by liberals in the media on the pretense of saying controversial or outrageous things. A number of newspapers have dropped Coulter’s column and a number of other media outlets are refusing to book her for this reason. Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean has made his views on the matter clear by calling on practically every Republican everywhere to condemn her words and disassociate from her immediately.

The effective blacklist levied against Ann is only the most recent attack by liberals in the media against conservative or even differing viewpoints. Liberals dominate the media. Take that as simplistic or misguided, but it is a statement of fact. The left dominates the three-letter broadcast networks, CNN and MSDNC in cable news, NPR, and the lion’s share of American newspapers. What’s more is they constitute a vast majority of the nation’s editors and reporters. Just ask them. Of course, the left is not content with owning the majority of the nation’s media outlets; they want to control them all, as they once did. They want to bring back the “Fairness Doctrine” in order to silence conservative talk radio. They want to return to the good old days where all Americans (and a good portion of the Vietcong) received their nightly dose of news from Uncle Walter.

In so condemning Ann Coulter for her “hate speech,” the left is showing the rest of America how committed they are to freedom of speech (which, the last time I checked, was still part of the First Amendment) and how tolerant they are of differing viewpoints. And it’s not as if the left is just reacting to extreme statements in general. Contrast the visceral “holy-water-poured-on-Satan” reactions to Ann Coulter’s statements with their reaction to what Bill Maher said recently. What, you hadn’t heard? Maher said as many on the left’s blogosphere did that he wished the recent assassination attempt against Vice President Cheney had been successful. So let’s recap: Ann Coulter insults a presidential candidate and is blacklisted by the American media, Bill Maher openly wishes the Vice President of the United States had been killed and is ignored or even praised.

The recent inconsistency of the left in this matter should come as no surprise to anyone who has not had a large portion of their brain removed. Democrats have always been committed to upholding two sets of standards: one set for conservatives and a different set for themselves. It’s simply hatemongering for Senator Trent Lott to congratulate a southern statesman on his 100th birthday, but it is perfectly acceptable for Senator Robert Byrd to say the n-word on national television. It’s OK for Randi Rhodes to imply killing the President of the United States in front of her dozens of listeners across the country, but it’s not OK for Rush Limbaugh to do pretty much anything these days. The simple truth in this matter is that conservatives are committed to freedom of speech and are tolerant of views that differ from their own and liberals, quite simply, are not. Just ask the pack of Democrat presidential candidates who won’t appear on Fox News.

CPAC 2007: Ann Shines, McFeign Stays Away

The big story among conservatives at CPAC 2007 was not the work of the annoying squad of lackeys for first and second-tier Republican candidates, nor was it the speeches of the candidates pretending to be conservatives themselves. It wasn’t even the inspiring words of former Speaker Newt Gingrich, the only man in or out of the presidential race with any positive ideas for the future of the Republican Party and the country. Nor was it the performance of Ann Coulter this weekend, who was her old, controversial, vitriolic, inflammatory, hatemongering self that conservatives like me have grown to love. The story conservatives were talking about at the Omni in Washington this weekend was the cold shoulder they received from phony conservative John McCain.

About the same time the conference began on Thursday, McCain released a statement refusing CPAC’s invitation to speak to what he called "Washington insiders." Apparently three trips to the DC area makes me a Washington insider. Go figure. All this while other candidates and explorers like Sam Brownback and Jim Gilmore had practically bent over backwards to get in long ago. McCain’s “diss,” as American Conservative Union’s executive vice president William Lauderback put it, was not well-received on the convention floor with delegates booing his fifth place straw poll finish. Quite frankly, one has to wonder who McCain hopes will support him after telling the conservative base of the Republican Party- the one responsible for winning three out of the four elections this decade- to screw off. This is especially true with McCain trailing Rudy Giuliani by double digits.

As for the rest of CPAC, the usual activities, speakers, and groups were there, whether they were expected or even wanted by other attendees. Personally, I’m as much at a loss to explain the presence of the Catholic Crusaders as most were to explain the ACLU’s. The purpose of CPAC should not be merely to point fingers at who was to blame for November’s loss, especially since there was plenty of blame to go around. Nor should it be to endorse and impose one form of conservatism over another. The presence of groups from the Libertarian Party to Muslims for America should show how diverse a movement American conservatism really is, and is an asset rather than a liability to that movement in showing the many ideas present on the right side of the spectrum.

CPAC also showed conservatives how much work we have to do to prepare for 2008. The fact of the matter is if the election were held tomorrow, the Republican candidate- whoever it may be- would lose. Badly. Democrats have all the momentum of November’s victory, all the name recognition, and it would seem all the charisma. The current crop is one without a visible front-runner, or at the very least a conservative front-runner. Rudy’s speech largely avoided the domestic issues for which he has drawn criticism from those in attendance. The party needs a serious candidate with leadership experience on the national level; an unquestioned conservative, but one who doesn’t make opposing gay marriage and abortion the cornerstone of his campaign; someone with bold solutions to face our nation’s problems; someone who can show America that conservatism can do for Americans what liberalism was supposed to. In short, the Republican Party and the conservative movement need Newt Gingrich.

Shakeups occur in Michigan, Kentucky, and Connecticut

Over the last few days, several major shakeups have occurred in the state federation elections of Michigan, Kentucky, Connecticut, and a slate of candidates came to the forefront in New Jersey. Michigan has been the most contentious of elections thus far, starkly contrasting the prior three months of the race. Awhile back, Ryan Thompson of Hillsdale dropped out of the race for Co-Chairman and swore off CR politics. Now, as Michigan's Justin Zatkoff, currently Dan Carlson's Executive Director, enters the fray against Steve Japinga of Michigan State, Thompson is back with a vengeance. While he holds many a grudge against Carlson, the outgoing Chairman of MFCR, he resents Japinga and Co-Chairman candidate Jeff Wiggins, also of Michigan State, much more.

Thompson has sent out no less than five blast emails to members of MFCR trashing the pair for their 2008 Primary affiliations, challenging Wiggins' attendance to a college, and bashing both for their dealings thus far in this election. It is essentially a direct-mail hit piece in a College Republican election, something that we never thought would happen, or was necessary. It is ironic in a sense that these emails focused on Japinga's ties to Dan Carlson in the very week when a slate of candidates emerged that appears to have his backing. In any case, the heat seems to be on Japinga and Wiggins, if not from these emails, but from the emergence of opposing candidates in their campaigns. Zatkoff entered the race against Japinga for good after first mulling a run at Chairman back in December and then ending a short run for Co-Chairman a few weeks later. Michigan will be holding convention later this month, so the race is very much becoming a heat to the finish line.


In Kentucky, a long-rumored switch has happened. Morgan Wilkins ended a bid to succeed Brian Weber as KFCR Chairman after seemingly performing well in her first debate against opponent Michael Wray of Louisville. Jeremy Hughes is the man that Wilkins stepped aside for; she had promised to step aside if a better candidate emerged in the race. She will now be moving down ticket, taking a little of the pressure off and, should she win, giving her a year to gain experience and make a later run if she wishes. Hughes is a former deputy of former KFCR Chairman Derek Hall, and a student at Morehead State, which is coincidentally the school of current KFCR Chairman Brian Weber. In an apparently unconnected story, Matthew Ballard, currently Executive Director of the UK College Republicans, is planning to run for KFCR Vice Chairman. Kentucky will be holding convention and elections in April, on the 13th and 14th.

In Connecticut, sources say that UConn student and College Republican David Brewster has met with CUCR Chairman Sarah Armstrong about being a candidate to succeed her in their upcoming elections. Brewster is a relative unknown, and we could not find any connections to current current or past CUCR Chairmen. Not much is known beyond this, but we will be following up on the matter shortly. We are also still waiting to hear if the rumors of another so-called "Opposition" candidate having Connecticut locked up have any grounds.

In New Jersey, a full slate has emerged with the backing of NJCR Chairman candidate Christopher Stark, who is seeking to succeed outgoing NJCR Chairman Frank Luna. Terence Grado of TCNJ will be running for Co-Chairman, and Joseph Grennon of Rutgers will be running for Vice Chairman. The Treasurer candidate is Ben DeMarzo and Executive Director candidate Matt Mowers are both Rutgers CRs as well.

In other news, Iowa CRs elected Ben Johnson to succeed Bobby Kaufmann as their State Chairman. Ohio Chairman Brian Siler was in attendance, but no other national figures were spotted at the convention. Mason Harrison's designated successor, Ryan Clumpner, and his Team Activate appear set to win easily in California. Clumpner, of UC Davis, appears to have no significant opposition, if any real opponents at all. Ohio CRs are playing a game of wait and see with their fast-approaching elections, which will be held April 20-21. The location of Ohio's convention is not yet set, but will be known in roughly ten days. No candidates are announced, but there are rumors of a single ticket emerging, with the focus of the elections being more on issues than on candidates.

"DC" equals Dudes and Cock

The supposedly stellar College Republican hangout Hawk and Dove may as well be known as Cock and Balls. Thursday evening's edition of DC Fest was full of College Republicans glad-handing and feebly attempting to work a room full of their peers, making sure to give each a freshly-printed, but equally ridiculous business card. Not only were all bars inside the joint locked down tighter than Fort Knox during a security drill, but at least half of the attendees appeared to be well beyond the College part of College Republican. In another key shortcoming, random observation revealed the male to female ratio to be at least 6:1, although this figure has been disputed as being quite generous. These things happen, though, when you are trying to challenge the likes of Mainefest and other more established parties. My Sam Adams bobblehead is shaking his head in disgust.