The Countdown to Election Day Tour

And We're Off

At 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday night I was doing Spanish homework and checking my email. By 5:30 I was going on an adventure. A friend of mine, Diane Hubbard, had emailed me asking if I would like to join Richard Mourdock (R-IN), the Indiana State Treasurer, and herself on a two day van tour of northern Indiana. I had previously had the privilege to work with Mr. Mourdock on multiple occasions before hand so I immediately accepted. This one email set off a chain reaction that has since whisked me out of Bloomington, Indiana; through central and northeastern Indiana finally landing me in a beautiful bed-and-breakfast called the Oliver Inn, located in South Bend, Indiana. But I am getting ahead of myself, the end of Day 1 is not important; rather what is important is the journey we all took to get here.

A Lesson in Leadership

Hope on the Horizon

What does it mean to be a leader? A leader is someone who stands up for others, who takes responsibility on his or herself in order to help others, and who is ready to take the blame and share the credit for his or her policies. In Porter County, Indiana, incumbent Democrat Bob Harper is looking to retake his seat as a county commissioner; however, before one can go any further, one important question begs to be answered: Is Bob Harper a real leader? Is a leader someone who costs his county over $600,000 in fines for late taxes? Would a real leader idly sit by and watch as his constituents face financial hardships, all the while sitting upon $8.9 million dollars of unallocated funds earned from the interest of the sale of the hospital? The answer is simple: Bob Harper is not a leader. His policies have impeded the growth of Porter County as a whole and have led to increased financial burdens on its citizens when all along he had the ability (never mind the obligation and responsibility) to help. Porter County deserves a real leader, and fortunately it has one in the form of the Republican nominee for county commissioner, Nancy Adams.

Let's Go International, September 2010

Revelations and Relevance

The international world has been set on fire this past month with announcements of leadership changes, attempted coups, and bizarre acknowledgments by world leaders. In North Korea, Kim Jong Il promotes his heir apparent; in Ecuador the President is attacked during a coup; and Fidel Castro admits communism has failed. Let's dig deeper into these game changing and bizarre developments.

To Cut or Not to Cut, That is the Question

He's Found his way back Again

It seems that Republicans and Democrats alike may not agree with President Obama's plan to cut the Bush Tax Cuts. In the past months, former advisers, and current members of his administration have spoken out and asked the President to leave the ta cuts alone. Even more recent, The Heritage Foundation has released the results of a study they conducted that implemented all of Obama's planned tax increases and their effect on the economy. This report is truly astounding and truly terrifying.

Lower and Lower

A Downward Spiral

As if things couldn't get worse for the one of the most popularly elected presidents in recent memory. His Chief-of-Staff is leaving, he's losing his party's majority in the House, and possibly in the senate. Unemployment filings have risen once again and the unemployment rate continues to stubbornly hover near ten percent. Except that now, a recent POLITICO George Washington University Battleground poll indicates that forty-four percent of the nation currently will vote to replace Obama while thirteen percent are considering voting for someone else. Only thirty-eight percent of those questioned said that he deserves to be reelected. With his own approval ratings tumbling and his own party distancing themselves from him, what is a president to do.

Castle Throws open the Gates

A Possibility No More

Rumors had been swirling that Representative Mike Castle (R-DE) might follow in the foot steps of another Republican and launch a write-in campaign after his upset loss to now Republican Senatorial Candidate Christine O'Donnell. Publicly his spokes people admitted that he had convened a group to run a poll to figure out if the option was even viable. Results are in but with mixed results. However, shortly afterward, Castle announced that he would not seek the senate seat once held by Vice President Joe Biden and he also remained firm in his decision not to endorse O'Donnell.

I Like This Guy

A New Hope?

November 2009 marked a year since Barack Obama had descended upon the country with Republicans in full retreat, tails tucked between their legs. It was Obama's world now, the second coming of the Democrats, and the Pelosi-Reid Agenda was in full throttle. Then like a  shot in the dark, the illusion of the all powerful Democrats was shattered like a shot in the dark when an attorney from New Jersey captured the New Jersey Governor's Mansion. Chris Christie (R-NJ) became the first Republican to win a state wide election in New Jersey in twelve years. This was the shot heard around the world and all around the nation Republicans awoke from their slumber and depression; a new day had dawned. Following Christie's example Republicans began making gains the with the capstone being Scott Brown's (R-MA) victory in his race to take the late Senator Ted Kennedy's seat. Now Chris Christie is at it again, making waves, and fighting the good fight to once again awaken the Republican Party as well as the nation to the power of derisive and divisive language.

Invasion of the Mama Grizzlies

The Rise of Women in the GOP

Sarah Palin (R-AK) is a political powerhouse whose every word is devoured by both sides of the political spectrum and the national media. Her personal charisma and sheer will power allowed her to reenergize the 2008 Presidential Election as well as redefine an entire political movement. However her largest impact may have been on the ascendancy of women to prominent positions within the Republican Party. Palin and her Political Action Committee (SarahPac) have helpe fund and campaign for Republican women across the country, and helped to propel many, such as: Nikki Haley (R-SC), Christine O'Donnel (R-DE), Carly Fiorina (R-CA), and Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) to victory in hotly contested primaries. In the two years since America asked 'Who is Sarah Palin', the role of the Republican woman has been reshaped and empowered to a new level.