“Christ is King” is Not Enough

 

Kings made a comeback last year, when Queen Elizabeth passed away, after serving as the longest reigning monarch of the United Kingdom. Bonny Prince Charlie became King Charles III, putting aside the randy (and bloody) reputations of the previous Charles.

“Christ is King” has become a political rally cry, as well, especially among the populist, nationalist, traditionalist set taking over the GOP. I understand the desire for a restoration of our nation’s Judeo-Christian heritage. The revivals breaking out in Kentucky and Tennessee attest to this nation’s hunger for moral order and meaning.

Yet I must submit to this the Body of Christ in America, and to the political operatives seeking to make a difference in our governance: “Christ is King” is not enough.

It’s a great slogan, but Jesus, when He came to this earth in an earthen vessel, did not come to lord his kingship over us. First of all, He didn’t have to. As we sing “Silent Night” every Christmas, Jesus was “Lord at His birth.”

If we really want to honor Jesus, if we want to honor our Lord as Lord, we need to see him as Savior.

“America First” is a nice hobby, and it makes people feel good. But how do you define America, if there is no restoration of our Anglo-American legal tradition, or more importantly our Judeo-Christian heritage, which culminates in the profession of the Gospel?

Will Initiatives Save California?

Kevin Kiley's latest post shames Newsom for yet another failure in the federal courts, this time dealing with AB 32, which all but shut down ICE detention centers. The supremacy clause pushed back on this abuse of power, according to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Big Victory.

And there's more.

A number of initiatives are going through for people to collect the signatures to place the efforts on the ballot. Do you think they are worth the effort? Even if they pass, will there be political will and willingness to enforce the ballot measures?

Here's the latest blog from State Assemblyman Kevin Kiley:

Another California law has been ruled unconstitutional. With AB 32, Newsom and the Legislature tried to force ICE to close its detention facilities. Today the 9th Circuit held this violates the Supremacy Clause.

Next year, Newsom and the legislators who passed this law will face voters. Perhaps more importantly, several transformative initiatives will be on the ballot. 

The full list of initiatives soon gathering signatures for the 2022 election includes:

• School Choice. Let funding follow the child 
• Water Storage. End the era of shorter showers
• Death Tax Repeal. Restore a protection of Prop. 13
• Election Integrity. Require voter ID
• Taxpayer Protection. Require voter approval for tax increases
• Anti-Corruption. End government union collective bargaining
• Accurate Ballots. Assure accurate descriptions of Propositions

Our movement is creating a new landscape of political possibility, and the fight for California’s future has only just begun.

*Sign up below for my latest updates on the Fight for California

Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker Touts Reforms and Successes

Arthur, Yesterday I made it official: I will seek re-election as Governor. Will you please help me keep moving our conservative reforms forward? Support Friends of Scott Walker right now. Though this marks just the beginning of my re-election campaign, the Democrats did not wait until we made it official. There are already a number of Democrats lining up against me and the attacks have been coming fast and furious for weeks now. But, we are used to that, aren't we? We have fought back and won three times – I know we can do it again … but only if we stand strong together. Please show your support for our decision to seek re-election with: $10 $35 $50 $100 $250 Some other amount By working together and staying true to our conservative principles, we have led the Wisconsin comeback all the way to the top ten and fueled the country's surge to the right: More people are working than ever before;  We will deliver $8 billion in tax relief by 2018; and  Our historic funding for schools and investments in Wisconsin's workforce will keep the future bright for generations to come! Show your support for our conservative agenda today. This week, I am hitting the road to meet with people from across Wisconsin to discuss our big, bold plans for the next four years. I love nothing more than traveling this great state and hearing how the things we are doing are helping. But there is more to be done. Help us keep this forward progress going with a generous contribution today. Here is how I knew seeking re-election was the right decision: at the end of each day, after all of the miles and conversations, I can't wait for the alarm to ring to see what opportunities tomorrow will bring. Are you with me? Scott Walker CONTRIBUTE »

Repeal McConnell: Readers Write In Support

My latest Townhall.com article "Drain the Swamp: Repeal McConnell, then Repeal Obamacare", has sparked some great responses from readers across the country.

Check out this message I received after my article went live on Townhall.com.

From Kenny T., who has lived all over the world, and now resides in California:

Great work!

Yes great article about McConnell.

Bill from Ohio writes:

Mr. Schaper:

I live in Ohio.  I would be more than happy to hear ideas about how to do this.  If you can guide me anywhere that you believe will help with this endeavor, I will donate both time and money to have Senator McConnell removed from his current position.  Your assessment of his leadership is exacting and critical to the progress of the nation.

Than you for writing what needs to be said and done.

Regards

Bill B.

----- ------, OH

PS:  I realize I'm probably the ONLY person from Shaker Heights, OH that is conservative, but don't be suspicious.  I want him gone.

Let's not mince words. It's time to Ditch Mitch, the very Majority Leader who would not be in power if not for his clear-cut promises to repeal Obamacare "root and branch."

Contact McConnell's Office below:

317 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-2541
FAx: (202) 224-2499

Tweet to him here:

@McConnellPress ‏

@SenateMajLdr ‏

Here is more social media contact information:

Bio   |   Email   |   Website   |   Facebook   |   Twitter

Let Mitch have it!

Contact the National Republican Senatorial Committeee @NRSC, and make it very clear to them:

"Not one dime for donations until you "Repeal Mitch and Repeal Obamacare!"

Popcorn: Left-Wing Committee for Hispanic Causes Goes NUTS over DeVos Nominee

I receive email from the Left as well as the Right.

I have never been happier to have Democratic and uber-liberal PACs spamming my email account.

They are in full-blown panic since Trump became the 45th President.

Their biggest target yet?

Secretary of Education Nominee Betsy DeVos.

What is it about a rich (white?) successful billionaire who has donated time, energy, and treasure to help educate kids stuck in dire poverty? Why have teachers unions and other left-wing special interests raised a mighty deluge of calls, social media, and just plain alternative facts hate against this woman?

She is the ultimate reformer.

She has fought diligently for charter schools, school choice, for vouchers, for homeschooling.

She is not just a conservative, but she is an outspoken Christian woman who has done what the liberal black community leaders have only talked about.

She wants to make education great again for all kids.

Her reforms, her beliefs, and her ongoing agenda will end the easy power and the money gravy train.

The national political storms hurricaning through Washington DC are determined to wipe-out DeVos' chances in any way possible.

Even though two Republicans US Senators (Murkowski and Collins) have announced their opposition to DeVos, the anti-education, pro-indoctrination Left are already terrified of DeVos

Check out this eblast I received TODAY!

Our hearts just dropped: This is all hands-on-deck. Look -- Trump and his cabinet stand to destroy EVERYTHING we hold dear. If Democrats like you don’t step up right now to stop him, WE WILL LOSE IT ALL. We’re PLEADING -- Give whatever you can afford right now. Don’t wait until it’s too late: Chip in $5 immediately >> Chip in $35 immediately >> Chip in $50 immediately >> Chip in $100 immediately >> Chip in $250 immediately >> Or donate another amount >> We wouldn’t ask if it weren’t so important. Join us by chipping in today: http://go.boldpac.com/Impeach-Trump-Fund - BOLD Democrats

What the New England GOP is Doing (and what California Should and Should Not Do ...)

Foxes and Hounds offers some telling intel, and sound analysis on politics in California and in reference to events across the country.

Their take on what California Republicans can do to ensure a Republican governor gets elected in 2018 should give us some pause. Yes, anything is possible. In spite of this abortive Prop 14 which has shut down Republican chances in otherwise competitive seats.

Repeal Prop 14--that is a must.

Model for CA GOP Gov. May Be Found in New England

The California gubernatorial election is 22 months away but already the media is filled with stories about the coming campaign. Given the superiority in Democratic voter registration in this state it is assumed that a Democrat will succeed Jerry Brown in the corner office. Yet, for Republicans there may be hope when witnessing the success of GOP governors in another blue section of the country, New England.

For the record, I was chomping at the bit over the 2016 US Senate race as early as January 2015, and even a little sooner than that. After all, Barbara Boxer wasn't raising lots of money in 2014, and her campaign accounts were really low for a re-election bid in the most populous state in the union with expensive media markets.

I reached out to staffers in the CA GOP to see if Condoleeza Rice would run (she didn't; she didn't want to), and then a whole slew of candidates jumped into the race. One candidate connected with me two months before the primary, as well. I could not believe how disorganized the whole process had become. Democrats can put force competing candidates into a run and dwindle the numbers down to one.

Why can't Republicans do the same?

Of the six New England states, Republicans head four, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. By voter registration, four New England states are ranked in the top ten as the most Democratic states in the Union as of early last year with Massachusetts number one and Vermont number five. California was number six on the list.

There is hope. New England has been notoriously hostile to Republican politics for the last ten to twenty years. Yet today, four states have Republican governors. New Hampshire is a GOP trifecta right now, in fact, even though the state has a Democratic tinge in its federal representation.

Connecticut's state senate is split 50-50, and Maine's state senate is under GOP control, too.

The GOP model needs more attention than just who is sitting in the governor's mansion. Charlie Baker is a complete disappoint, a RINO who is more interested in placating rather than confronting liberal Democrats. The Massachusetts variety are particularly vicious and destructive to life and liberty on every level.

In a Washington Post column last month, James Hohmann attempted to discover how Republican governors captured these Democratic strongholds.

The Washington Post is not friendly to conservatives, and whether Republicans in the Northeast or California or any other Democratic stronghold like it or not, the Republican Party is the pro-life, pro-liberty, and pro-family party. Pro-individual success, too.

I am a little loath to follow any WaPo journalist's take on what would make the Republican Party successful anywhere in the country. Notice how savagely Hohmann denigrated Paul LePage, the Governor of Maine:

-- Paul LePage, the Republican governor of Maine, is in a league of his own. He was catapulted into office amidst the tea party wave of 2010 and got reelected in 2014 with a plurality because an independent siphoned away Democratic votes. He’s polarizing and profoundly ideological. He’s also term limited and will be gone in two years.

The writer neglects to mention his respect for the Second Amendment, the expansion of concealed carry, comprehensive welfare reforms which have gotten tens of thousands off of welfare and back to work. His policies have given a reddish hue to an otherwise blue state. For the first time in two decades, a Republican has been elected to Congress for two terms.

LePage has shaped the culture to be more conservative, and his model should be the guiding light for Republicans in blue states. Of course, it is worth noting that LePage become governor in a five-way race in an off-year election.

Still, his win has been Maine's win, and will pave the way for future conservative victories in the Pine Tree State.

The Post’s Editorial Board, calling on him to resign and “seek help” this fall, outlined some of the more memorable illustrations of his “unhinged racism” and “wild-eyed ramblings.” Among other things, LePage declared in October that a Trump presidency is necessary because he will exercise “authoritarian power” to pull us back from “slipping into anarchy.”

The Washington Post editorial board is an elitist fraud. Once again, we should take WaPo Hate with a grain of salt.

Still, what can we learn from the four New England Republican governors ascent for California Republican interests?

Are there lessons for California?

Phil Scott

Vermont elected Phil Scott who told Hohmann he got involved in politics because the state was an unfriendly place to do business. That’s a theme that could resonate in California. Scott is a fiscal conservative. “But not unlike most Republicans in the Northeast, I’m probably more on the left of center from a social standpoint.”

Like Maryland Governor Larry Hogan (another success story which the Washington Post chose to ignore), Republicans in blue states need to focus on the basic issues which resonate with everyone. Most working people ... are not working right now. That has to stop. This perversion of statewide economies must be overturned, and only a Republican will take steps to do that in California.

Hopefully.

California Republicans have been battling internally for years on where to draw the line on social issues.

Massachusetts governor Charlie Baker enjoys a 70-percent-approval rating. Hohmann writes: “He’s viewed as a pragmatist and admired for his effective managerial abilities, even though many of his priorities have been blocked by liberals in the legislature.”

Charlie Baker, Republican Faker

Baker has gone along with much of the Democratic program, including transgenderism as a civil right instead of a mental disorder (which it is.) This legislation is anti-free market, too, since it invites more lawsuits, regulations, and fees.

The argument about fiscal v. social is a dead on arrival distraction from the regressive left. Why do we care how they view the world anyway?

Besides ...

With Democrats overwhelmingly controlling the Massachusetts State House, Baker is seen as a check on overreach. Baker said, “The fiscal discipline issue is for real, and so is the ability to be part of the constructive friction that people like to see.” Politics benefits from competition the same way everything else does. Most people think competition is a good thing and creates an urgency and a tension that works for the so-called consumer, which in this case is the taxpayer or the person who relies on government.”

Massachusetts and Vermont have overwhelming Democratic legislatures. Instead of accommodating the culture, though, Republicans need to shape the culture and make it more in line with constitutional principles and sound governance.

The last thing that California needs is another governor who will continue the leftward lurching of the state of California. We need someone who will stop this madness and  make California great again. 

There has been talk that San Diego mayor Kevin Faulconer fits the mold associated with the successful GOP governors in heavily Democratic states. Whether he runs or not is a question.

Kevin Faulconer has gotten mixed reviews from partisans. I am not sure that he will command the open respect from all segments of the state which a candidate for Govenror will need. Can he resonate with the Central Valley as well as with Los Angeles and Orange Counties? Will he be the team player that we need?

Reflection

There are some things that California Republicans can learn from the four New England governors.

1. Message that appeals to all voters in the state.
2. Focus on ethics and quality of life issues
3. Make school choice, privacy, fiscal discipline key platforms in the campaign

It's also important to look at the legislatures which will be facing these four governors.

New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu has the best chances to reshape the culture in his state. Let's hope that the legislature takes a lead on many issues, particularly right-to-work and other economy an liberty enhancing issues.

Whoever throws the hat into the ring for Governor, they would best following the Larry Hogan model, with a staunch fiscal, pro-economic growth message, without touching on divisive cultural issues, but also without alienating the Republican base.

CAGOP Representatives: Get Off Your Candy Asses and Fight!

The Republican Party of California does not have a lot of fighters in Sacramento right now.

Most of them are content to get elected, vote "NO!"  on all the bad bills, collect their paycheck and their pension, then find another non-partisan job to drift into.

I have found very few lawmakers who fight for the issues which I care about.

But I don't see them doing much else.

Republican lawmakers will make big speeches against liberal causes.

But when it comes time to vote, some California Republicans taper off and vote for tax increases, or they vote to allow for more benefits to illegal aliens, or they vote for other statist legislation.

All of this is just crazy.

And disappointing.

We the People of the state of California did not sent up Republican representatives to get along and play nice with Democrats. When Assembly minority leader Chad Mayes chose to second the motion appointing Anthony Rendon as speaker of the State Assembly, it was a horrid and sad display of needless, feckless compromise.

I have met minority leader Chad Mayes personally, and I have found him to be all too eager to avoid conflict or discussion of controversial matters. That is not leadership. That is not what we need right now in California.

Then his latest press release, which shamed Trump as well as Democrats, was just plain poor taste. We have a new President, one who respects the rule of law and intends to see our laws enforced. The state of California, and the Democratic majority, have no interest in moderating their views or their values.

They want to fight, double-down, and force their agenda down everyone's throats.

Republicans in the state capital need to understand that they are not interested in playing fair. They have this corrupt, corrosive, Big Government tyrannical world view, all of which is dedicated to crearing power and privilege for a selected class of individuals at the expense of everyone else.

The labor unions, the amnesty advocates, and  the big corporations who maneuver through loopholes with an army of lawyers love business as usual in Sacramento.

For the small business owners, for the soccer Moms, for the farmers, and for all other citizens, business as usual has met little or no business at all for them. This is wrong.

And where are the Republicans? Still playing nice instead of fighting back. Where is the bold legislation to make the Democratic majority look bad if they refuse to pass it? Where are the smart legislative suggestions which even the Democratic majority cannot ignore, even though it would making Republicans look effective?

Why aren't Republican lawmakers in Sacramento coordinating with bloggers, writers, and social media personalities to inform the California Republic (that means all legal residents.)

We need more legislators like Ted Cruz, Rand Paul, Mike Lee, and the rest who are not afraid to make some noise and fight. We need legislators who will kick butt rather than kiss butt, who recognize that true power is not about making nice, but doing right.

I want legislators who will take advantage of the longer potential terms in office to raise their voices and reject and frustrate the Democratic majority at every turn.

Above all, I want legislators with a long-term vision for the state. One lawmaker confided to me that he would win his next election bid, but he would probably be the last Republican representing the seat. That is patently unacceptable. Every lawmaker needs to team up with grassroots leaders, activists, any conservative authority interested in expanding the brand as well as engaging the base.

A state representative--whether Democrat or Republican--does not go to the state legislature to collect a paycheck, pad his resume, then descend into semi-retirement in a county government post. We don;t need anymore government welfare queens.

I echo the sentiment of other leaders in the state of California, and direct my remarks to the entire GOP delegation who is not willing to punch back twice as hard:

Get off your candy asses and fight!

Does Betsy DeVos Support Common Core?

On Breitbart and other conservative media, I have read a number of attacks alleging that Department of Education Designate Betsy DeVos is pro-Common Core.

From Dr. Susan Berry at Breibart:

Anti-Common Core grassroots groups of parents and teachers urged Trump to abandon DeVos as his choice, citing her support for the education reform policies of pro-Common Core Jeb Bush and her influence through the Great Lakes Education Project (GLEP) in favor of Common Core.

She later reported:

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush is praising President-elect Donald Trump’s choice of Betsy DeVos to run the Department of Education.

Bush described DeVos, who is a major contributor to the Republican Party, as an “outstanding pick” for the cabinet position.

She is a key player in Michigan and Republican politics, no uestion bout it.

SHe is part of the reason why Michigan has a GOP trifecta and has turned a nice shed of red this past election.

For the record ...

I do not like Jeb Bush. I am glad that he lost, and in an epic fashion.

His words of praise or criticism are not important or essential for determining the worth or rejection of any candidate.

But does DeVos support Common Core?

Betsy DeVos (Credit: Excelined.org)

Here are Betsy DeVos' own words:

Q: What are 5 things we might not know about you?

I’m a grandmother! My husband (Dick) and I have four children and five grandchildren.

I was born and raised in Michigan. Born in Holland, MI, I’ve been a lifelong resident of Michigan.

I’m an advocate for children. I’ve been involved with education issues for 28 years. I’ve been on the front lines fighting to make education better for all children.

I’m an activist. I’m a total outsider to elective office and government, but I’m no stranger to the political process. A citizen volunteer, I have served in local, state, and national offices.

I’m an entrepreneur. I have started new and innovative companies that help make our community better.

Q: There’s been a lot of talk about Common Core. Can you provide some straight talk on this topic?

Certainly. I am not a supporter—period.

I do support high standards, strong accountability, and local control. When Governors such as John Engler, Mike Huckabee, and Mike Pence were driving the conversation on voluntary high standards driven by local voices, it all made sense.

Have organizations that I have been a part of supported Common Core? Of course. But that’s not my position. Sometimes it’s not just students who need to do their homework.

This argument deserves attention.

However, along the way, it got turned into a federalized boondoggle.

Yes, it did. A number of Presidential candidates were pro-Common Core, then backed away from it. Whether out of political expediency or principled revelation, they oppose it.

Jeb Bush doubled down on his support for the misguided, overbearing, illiberal reforms. He lost big time, despite the $100 million push behind him to get elected.

Above all, I believe every child, no matter their zip code or their parents’ jobs, deserves access to a quality education.

Q: What are your thoughts about specific education policies?

I am very excited to get to work and to talk about my thoughts and ideas on making American education great again. The status quo is not acceptable. I am committed to transforming our education system into the best in the world. However, out of respect for the United States Senate, it is most appropriate for me to defer expounding on specifics until they begin their confirmation process.  

Final Reflection

Should we take DeVos' words for it?

Should we be alarmed about her connections with Governor Rick Snyder? None of this should come as a surprise, since she was the Chairwoman of the Michigan Republican Party. I would submit that the MI GOP should be glad for her service, since Michigan became a red state over the past four years, expanding their majorities in the Lansing state legislature and producing 16 electoral votes for Donald Trump.

Let's consider the write-up from the uber-liberal Washington Post:

As a billionaire Republican power broker with no professional experience in schools, DeVos is an unconventional choice to lead the federal education bureaucracy. And while her views on choice are well known, it is unclear how she would lead a department with responsibilities that sprawl from administering student loans to enforcing civil rights in schools.

As expected, liberal WaPo Hate goes after her wealth.

She is pro-school choice and pro-voucher. What's not to like?

She has said little about Common Core, for example, and her ties to organizations that support the K-12 academic standards — including as a board member of the Foundation for Excellence in Education, started by former Florida governor Jeb Bush — raised concern for Trump supporters, who saw her nomination as a sign that the president-elect is wavering on his vehement opposition to the standards.

Has she said little on Common Core, though?

Indeed, I have found very little to support her direct support for the program.

She gets praise from pro-Common Core supporters. I wonder: is DeVos pro-amnesty too? She is pro-life and pro-family, but the press has not drawn the line connecting other Besty fans to those issues ...

Does she hide her support behind backing candidates all over the country who are pro-Common Core. Joy Pullman writing for the Conservative Review seems to think so:

Well, there you have it folks. Trump has just picked his education secretary after narrowing down his choices to two pro-Common Core, pro-micromanaging women: Michelle Rhee and Betsy DeVos. I've already discussed what a terrible pick Rhee would have been, but DeVos is no better. DeVos fails on two key promises Trump repeatedly made to voters: "Get rid of Common Core" and "keep education local." 

I am disinclined to believe that Trump is reneging on promises.

I had opposed Trump because I did not trust him to deliver on conservative reforms.

Yet his appointment designates for Cabinet are stellar, and demonstrate a commitment to a robust conservative agenda.

Henry Makow even suggested that DeVos will lead the demise of "Communist Core":

It appears that Betsy DeVos will spell the death of the Communist Core curriculum but the far-right billionaire might also open the door for the privatization of the American education system. Anything is better than the system of Communist indoctrination now in place.

I am all for privatization or localization of education.

My view: I take DeVos at her word and Trump's leadership for true.

DeVos is not going to champion Common Core.

If we looked only at Trump's prior rhetoric, We the People who have rejected him outright. He was pro-choice, but now is pro-life. DeVos is also staunchly pro-life, but no one is pointing that out. Why?

School choice will not become a negative under her tenure, but an expanded positive. Regardless of whatever the feds try to pull, expansion of choice will force schools to provide the best education for students, or go out of business.

Common Core will whither away, regardless.

I further believe that education in America will have changed so dramatically, that many of these discussions will become moot.

I welcome the DeVos appointment, I believe that more people should focus on her efforts to enact right-to-work in UAW's own backyard. Labor reforms will do even more to ensure a quality education for all kinds in the United States.

Please contact the following US Senators. Your outreach makes all the difference!

Your call will only take 30 seconds to 1 minute per US Senator, and your child’s future depends on it!

The Two Republican US Senators Currently in Opposition

Use this script:

“Hello, my name is __________, and I am calling this office to inform Senator ______ that she must reverse her decision and support Betsy DeVos as our next Secretary of Education. The future of our children’s education depends on it. Thank you.”

Susan Collins (R-Maine): (202) 224-2523

Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska): (202)-224-6665

Senators Up for Re-Election in 2018

Use this script:

“Hello, my name is _________, and I am calling Senator _________ to urge him/her to support Betsy DeVos for Secretary of Education. And as a reminder, we are well-aware that Senator ________ faces re-election next year. Thank you.”

• Angus Kings (I-Maine): (202) 224-5344
• Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin): (202) 224-5653
• Tom Carper (D-Delaware): (202) 224-2441
• Bob Casey (D-Pennsylvania): (202) 224-6324
• Bob Corker (R-Tennessee): 202) 224-3344
• Joe Donnelly (D-Indiana): (202) 224-4814
• Jeff Flake (R-Arizona): (202) 224-4521
• Martin Heinrich (D-New Mexico): (202) 224-5521
• Heidi Heitkamp (D-North Dakota): (202) 224-2043
• Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota): (202) 224-3244
• Claire McCaskill (D-Missouri): (202) 224-6154
• Bill Nelson (D-Florida): 202-224-5274
• Debbie Stabenow (D-Michigan): (202) 224-4822
• Jon Tester (D-Montana): (202) 224-2644
• Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi): (202) 224-6253

For Other US Senators On the Fence

Use this script:

Hello, My name is _________, and I am calling Senator ______ to urge him/her to support Betsy DeVos for Secretary of Education. She is a qualified nominee with the best interests of children at heart. The future of public education and our children’s future is at stake. Thank you.”

• Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nevada): (202) 224-3542
• Ron Johnson (R-Wisconsin): (202) 224-5323
• John McCain (R-Arizona): (202) 224-2235
• Marco Rubio (R-Florida): (202) 224-3041
• Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina): (202) 224-6342
• Mark Warner (D-Virginia): (202) 224-2023

This is urgent. We can’t allow the regressive left to stop education reform and school choice for our students!

Let me know if you have any questions. Email me at arthurschaper@hotmail.com.

Blue States Going Red: Maine

The Pine Tree state has changed over the last eight years.

Barack Obama's fatuous regressive liberalism has rubbed the common man, Middle America, the business owner, and every other American looking to restore the natural rights and values of our country.

Generally speaking, Maine was a center-left state for a number of years.

Barack Obama's overreach, however, fired up voters and got Republicans into the "Win" column in New England, particularly in Maine.

Five general election candidates competed for the Governor's mansion.

One of them was named Paul LePage. The former grocery store manager, owner, then councilman and mayor of Waterville, Maine surprised everyone on Election Night 2010.

He had won a plurality of 39% of the vote, but he was the new governor.

He cut food stamps, imposed a worker's requirement in order to receive unemployment and welfare.

He cut taxes, stood up to the imposition of the federal government, agitated for the restored respect for the 10th Amendment.

He also resisted taking in refugees and welfare migrants.

LePage has helped shape the culture in Maine.

He got constitutional carry passed in his state, too.

A blue haven is turning into a red bastion.

Let's also affirm a few other realities.

Because of the political as well as cultural changes in Maine, more Republicans are winning.

Republicans now control the state senate for the second election cycle in a row, and the Republicans have gained a new status which places them three seats away from a majority. The Governor is hard-nosed and uncompromising.

He has proven that conservative politics--and thus policies--can indeed shape the culture of the better, and ensure lasting victories.

For the first time in nearly twenty years, Maine has a re-elected Republican Congressman! ME-2 (the same district in which Trump won one electoral vote).

Bruce Poliquin

Bruce Poliquin represents a district still listed as D+5, but he has worked his way into the trust and respect of the Mainers in the northern part of the state.

He served as state party chair and also state treasurer. He worked his way through Maine politics gaining name recognition in connection with his conservative Governor.

The model which is turning Maine red should be spread across the country to other blue states.

If Paul LePage can work the back rooms of the Augusta legislature while he brings in more businesses, jobs, and economic growth, he might be able to pass right-to-work and further bankrupt the corrosive, divisive, and incompetent Democratic Party.