My Letter of Resignation

To the Executive Board and the Members of Hoosiers for a Conservative Senate:

My name is Cody Reynolds and I had the distinct pleasure of meeting many of you at the January 22^nd meeting in Sharpsville Indiana. Most of you may remember me as the young man who stepped up to the microphone and asked the standing Board Members to run for reelection in order to insure that all of our group’s leaders had stood in a fair and formal selection process. In my mind, if we as a group are to truly embody the morals and values of the conservative movement that is sweeping across our great nation, then we should apply them also to our own group. I cannot thank you all enough for the warm words and spirited conversations that each of you shared with me on Saturday. Your patriotism and love for our great nation was palpable and truly warmed my heart.

The Fast Track to Sainthood

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A Modern Day Saint

On May 1st, the late Pope John Paul II will have come one step closer to becoming a saint. The Vatican has agreed that he is to be beatified after evidence of miracle has debated and finally confirmed as real. This momentous occasion is perhaps even more relevant today because it is on course to be accomplished in record time. Ironically, the current record holder, Mother Theresa, obtained this honor in record time partially due to the urging of John  Paul II. In fact, the late pope will only break the record by a matter of days. And yet, it is even more personal than that. The Venerable Pope John Paul II was a beacon of light in a world where all else was dark or dimming. Through the power of the papacy, Pope John Paul II became one of the world's greatest communicators, helped end communism, and most importantly, he brought the spirit of love back to religion.

In Review: America By Heart by Sarah Palin

Photo: Courtesy of HarperCollins

Reflections on Family, Faith, and Flag

With a busy speaking schedule, doling out endorsements across the nation, and starring in her own reality television show; who would have thought that Sarah Palin would find time to write a second book? Well keeping with her tradition of defying expectations, Sarah Palin's second book America By Heart hit shelves on November 23, 2010. Coming out just over a year after her record breaking memoir, Going Rogue, flooded bookstores across the nation, Palin's second book had high expectations waiting for it. Most political observers and astute citizens believe that Palin will probably run for president in 2012 and some considered this a good way for Palin to recast herself in the eyes of most Americans. I personally hoped for a policy book, something reminiscent of Mitt Romney's No Apology. Instead she carved her own vision of America, from the very moral fabric that that our society is woven of, to our far reaching international policy. Palin uses excerpts from some of her favorite readings, prayers, and speeches to justify her worldview. Although the book allows for an interesting glimpse into the morals that guide this gifted woman, it falls far short of doing her the amount of good a policy book would have. Still it is a good read with some very powerful moments throughout.

In Review: Decision Points by George W. Bush

Photo: Courtesy of Crown Pub.

14 Decisions that Changed America

For the last ten years, everyone political pundit, politician, and every day American has had there say about the Bush Administration. But finally former President George W. Bush has broken his long held silence and has delivered a weighty tome highlighting the fourteen most important decisions he made throughout his life. From quitting drinking to the 2008-2009 economic crisis and everything in between, his new memoir, Decision Points, provides an intimate and shockingly honest account of the last eight years from the very man who sat behind the resolute desk. Decision Points by George W. Bush landed on shelves everywhere on November 9th, 2010 but with class and the actual length of the book, its taken quite a while to read through it. But I am happy to finally provide Center Write Nation's In Review of this long awaited book.

Playing Politics, A Wiiventure

Photo: Courtesy of The Game Play Book

Politcos Got Game

With today's instant news media, politics is everywhere. Its on every TV station, on every book shelf, and now it has even entered into video games. With the release of the NBA Jams, politicians may have found another medium to increase their face time, and possibly there own popularity. As a bonus feature, the designers of the new NBA Jams game created both a Democratic Team and its Republican counterpart. While incorporating real life political basketball players like former Governor Sarah Palin (R-AK) and President Barrack Obama (D-IL), other famous (or infamous) politicians also made their way into the spotlight. With a full playable political cast including: Bill (D-AR) and Hillary Clinton (D-NY), Al Gore (D-TN), Joe Biden (D-DE), John McCain (R-AZ), former President George W. Bush (R-TX), and former Vice President Dick Cheney (R-WY); politics has again found a new (albeit fun) way to capture the public conscience. Even more interesting, it may in fact prove an invaluable tool for reaching the most finicky voting block of all, college students.

On Taking Oath

Photo: Courtesy of Suzy Barnhart

Inauguration Day

On Thursday January 6th, 2010 Indiana's three constitutional officers, State Treasurer, Auditor, and Secretary of State, were inaugurated in State House. I was honored to be invited to attend this prestigious event in support of Indiana's State Treasurer. A true conservative, and true person, Richard Mourdock criss-crossed the state this past year, shaking more Hoosier hands than any other candidate. And as always, Mr. Mourdock's genuine and compassionate nature showed as he was sworn in, not by his wife who was ill, but by two young children with whom he had maintained correspondence with well after the campaign ended. Even more touching was his emotional and heart felt speech which capture the heart and mind of all who heard. It is my honor to bring this fantastic acceptance speech to the online world.

The American Decline?

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The Idea of East v. West 

Since the birth of our great nation, the naysayers and pundits have always claimed that the fall of the United States is just around the corner. The media and social elite have always identified an opponent and defined the world with an ‘us versus them’ mentality. Black vs. White, Democracy vs. Communism, East vs. West, Good vs. Evil; sound familiar? Throughout American history there has always been someone that was supposed to have toppled us, an ideology that was destined to one day replace our own. And historians and scholars have provided countless zombie theories speculating about the fall of the United States, always pointing for evidence to the great Empires of old like Rome and Han China. Yet with the rise of each new boogieman, America has always also arisen to meet the challenge. And just like waking from a bad dream, when Americans blink the sleep from their eyes and set to the task at hand, the great threat that once seemed to linger just beyond the horizon dissolves into nothing more than a faint, distant memory. Recently the website The Daily Beast published a review of the book, Why the West Rules – For Now. The author concludes that it is impossible to reverse the trend of America’s decline and the eventual rise of China as the world's super power. His reasoning, in a word is geography. Yet his concept of geography seems to lack a modern vantage point, thoroughly under appreciating the interconnectedness of the entire world. While It is true that the era of the singular super power has ended, it is also true that the age of coalitions and transgovernmentalism has only just begun. America may no longer be the sole super power, but it still has the strongest international coalition through which it will still take the lead in world governance.

The Cast and Crew of the Chicago Coup

Photo: Courtesy of AP

No Longer A 'Daley' Routine

With the shocking announcement that Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley will not run for reelection this year, the political scene in Chicago erupted into chaos after being dominated by the Daley machine since 1989. A man of nearly unlimited power in Chicago, Daley has not had a serious opponent in years. With this changing of the guards, the 'Daley' routine has ended and Chicago is wide open for a new power to lay siege to it. Soon after his announcement, a field of eighteen candidates flooded the election office with their forms and signatures in order to be on the ballot come election day. Some have already fallen to the way side like former Illinois Senator Roland Burris (D-IL) and US Representative Danny Davis, but the race is far from over. Chicago earned its nick name as the Windy City, not because of the Winds that blow across Lake Michigan, but because in Chicago politics, nothing is ever as it seems.