Women of the GOP

Karen Harrington - Keeping Debbie Wasserman-Schultz Down To Size

2012-01-17T15:38:00.017-05:00

Growing up in Cleveland I learned many various lessons, none more important than when I would come across a challenge or crossroads. Such was the case, in what may seem silly now, at a time when I was 4 and standing in my yard.

I was no bigger then 3 feet tall and I wanted to climb an extremely large oak tree. I would jump repeatedly up and down trying with every last ounce of my energy to catch the first branch.

Exhausted and frustrated I let out a high piercing scream that generated panic in my mother who heard the scream from inside the house. Racing to my aid and thoroughly giving me the once over for possible fever, lacerations, or broken bones, she was perplexed when she discovered nothing was wrong.

“Why on earth are you screaming?” she said looking at me with her enormous brown eyes.

“Because I can’t climb it,” I sniffed, pointing to the dreaded slender old oak tree.

Laughing and relieved I wasn’t in immediate danger, she brushed my hair back off my face, straightened the beige knit hat on my head and kissed my forehead. “Maybe you will one day, but until then you may just want to stick with something smaller like the swing set.”

Disappointed and having climbed the swing set before due in part to the fact that there was a ladder which made it easy for me to get up the slide, I dried my eyes and scampered up to the top of the swing set from the slide refusing to use the ladder and never letting the behemoth tree disappear from my sights.

Now I am a smart girl, or my grandparents lied to me. But I should have been able to achieve the desired goal of my preschool self, hence the ladder from the swing set. I couldn’t see it because I could never push past the fact it was a BIG tree.

We would eventually move from that house and I would never have the chance to climb the daunting oak. However, I would climb other oaks and maples just as big and metaphorically face challenges throughout my life that would require me to overcome the BIG thought process.

Still, I used to think of that dumb oak from time to time until one day on a visit home I decided to drive past the old house. I remember being excited about seeing the forty-year-old domicile and couldn’t wait to see the huge front yard loaded with trees and the giant hill the aged split-level sat on.

Driving down the street, I felt a nervous pang in my heart at the excitement of seeing the memories of my youth. Filled with hundreds of snippets racing in my blurred memory, I pulled up slowly to the address.

“Wait a minute,” I thought. “This can’t be the house.” Yet it was.

I was stunned, and as I rubbed my eyes in disbelief I thought, the hill I had taken my sled down had to have been MUCH bigger! The yard was not nearly as vast and wide, and the final blow, the scourge of my 4-year-old existence was not as tall. Adding to further my heartbreak, if I used my current adult height (nearly double that of my 4-year-old self), I could reach up and touch the first branch!

As I grew up I came to the understanding that nothing in life is ever as big as it appears: not a tree, a hill, or a challenge. Visiting the house simply cemented that theory.

I know I am being long-winded getting to my point, but look at the current situation the country is in. Is it really as big as one may think? If it is change we want-- is it just the President we have to vote out?

I ask this question in order to present a challenge.

The other night I was watching Huckabee having a Q & A session with the people of South Carolina who were asking questions directed at the five candidates. In Newt Gingrich’s session the question of change came up. His message (as I paraphrase) “As the President I can do nothing alone. We have to create change at all levels, by voting change in the House and the Senate then and only then we will be able to give Americans the change that is needed.”

I looked deeper and I recalled a Twitter conversation with a South Floridian friend. He was telling me about a candidate in Florida’s 20th district he liked and I knew nothing about. I literally gasped when I saw who held the current congressional seat.

Debbie Wasserman-Schultz.

My immediate response was “Whoa! Un-uh, this isn’t happening! She’s everywhere! Who would take on such an enigmatic figure?”

My answer would come in the form of a woman who has been a small business owner and had moved to South Florida as a child. Searching through Karen Harrington’s website (KarenHarringtonForCongress) and plowing through YouTube videos available on her (just by searching name), I became impressed by her accomplishments.

I was mostly taken in by the campaign motto “Fire Debbie”. “Wow! How big is that?” I thought.

Well….Not really. Just like climbing trees and facing challenges, nothing is as big as it appears to be. What once may have looked too big to tackle eventually comes into focus, allowing the learning and growth it takes to go after the goal head on.

If Karen thought something was too big, then she and her sisters wouldn’t have taken the humble family-run restaurant Ricky’s and expanded to three locations employing hundreds of employees. If she thought raising a family was tough, she wouldn’t have gotten married and had three children. If Karen thought she wouldn’t survive, she wouldn’t have beaten cancer.

And if she thought challenging Debbie Wasserman-Schultz was too huge, she wouldn’t be running for Congress in a democratically saturated area again even after losing to Wasserman-Schultz in 2010, not to mention garnering the endorsement of Mark Levin.

Karen is standing up and taking what she has already accomplished in life and adding the fight for change in this country. Just imagine, if Karen were to take this seat away from Wasserman-Schultz, the impact it would have if at the same time the President were voted out of office. The reverberation would be huge. Wasserman-Schultz and the Democratic Party would receive a crushing blow.

Karen is not spending her time looking up at a branch and trying to leap up to catch it. She is being smart by looking at the ground around her and then building a ladder to get to the next level. With each rung she places her foot on she is putting this race into focus and breaking down the unreachable branch of the behemoth in Debbie Wasserman-Schultz and slowly cutting her down to size.

Whether it is climbing trees or ladders of success, it is the steps we take to diminish the immense size of the desired outcome. Just like the tree I thought was too big, unseating Debbie Wasserman Schultz carried the same perception until I discovered a self-driven woman with love for God, family, friends, community and country. She is doing all this with little or no fanfare outside of the 20th district.

Karen, in her own way by taking on this challenge, is an inspiration that should cause us to look within ourselves and act as true patriots. This inspiration can inspire in us the courage to branch out and reclaim the country we so truly love. If she is not afraid to leap from branch to branch, then we shouldn’t be either.

Face it, the old adage is true. Perhaps that is why it is called old and not new. Nothing is ever really as big as it seems.

If you want to learn more about Karen Harrington, I suggested these websites:

http://www.publiusforum.com

http://dailycaller.com/2011/08/11/meet-the-woman-taking-on-debbie-wasserman-schultz/#ixzz1UjbCPXRo).

If you wish to support Karen Harrington:

http://www.karenforcongress.com/

http://www.FireDebbie.com/

About the author: Beth Pepoy has written several published articles for Yahoo Voices and for Yahoo News. She has been featured on the website PolitiJim’s Rants for Reasonable People, and has been published on several on line newspapers including Redeye Daily.

She currently blogs on her own site: http://runinmystocking.wordpress.com and has been nominated for a Shorty Award.

Beth resides in Baton Rouge, Louisiana

You can follow Beth on twitter: http://twitter.com/bpepoydensmore

The author welcomes feedback and comments, and is not affiliated with Karen Harrington For Congress.

Computer Service Now

NFRW: Year of the Republican Woman

2010-11-26T17:51:00.003-05:00

Sandy Adams won her Representative Seat in the 34th District of Florida. Adams is a member of the Atlantic RW branch of the NFRW. Congratulations Sandy Adams, this is your year.

The National Federation of Republican Women is calling this, the Year of Republican Women. The organization is "Celebrating Victory as Voters Take Back America!"

From the NFRW website:

Republican Women Make Historic Election Gains Across Nation
Republican women enjoyed widespread success in the general election and made a significant contribution to the historic federal and state gains made by the GOP. Both incumbents and newcomers were popular with voters, and several milestones were crossed.

It truely is the year of the Republican woman as evidenced by a 75,000 member increase in the NFRE. In a press release dated November 17, 2010, the NFRW stated:

Lynch attributes the NFRW's membership gains to many factors, including improved dissemination of information, expanded public relations and outreach efforts which have included national media exposure, increased usage of new media such as Facebook and Twitter, and collaboration with like-minded groups. Lynch says the elections also played a role. Republican women were energized by the Republican message and by the quality of Republican candidates, particularly the distinguished group of Republican women running at the federal and state levels.

Key Statistics from the Recent Election

Every incumbent Republican woman running for federal or statewide office won reelection Tuesday, with the exception of U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, whose race is still undecided.

According to the Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP), at least eight new Republican women won seats in the U.S. House, beating the previous record of seven Republican women newcomers in a single election. In addition, Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire won her race for the U.S. Senate. Two additional Republican women are still waiting for final calls on their close House races.

At the state level, three new Republican women were elected governor: Susana Martinez of New Mexico, Mary Fallin of Oklahoma and Nikki Haley of South Carolina. In addition, Jan Brewer won reelection as governor of Arizona, and at least a dozen Republican women were newly-elected to other statewide offices.

Republican women also made gains in state legislatures across the nation. The National Conference of State Legislatures reports that preliminary data shows Republican women gained more than 100 seats in state legislatures, from 529 in 2010 to 633 in 2011.

Founded in 1938, the NFRW has thousands of active members in local clubs across the nation and in several U.S. territories, making it one of the largest women’s political organizations in the country. The grassroots organization works to promote the principles and objectives of the Republican Party, elect Republican candidates, inform the public through political education and activity, and increase the effectiveness of women in the cause of good government.

Planning on a convention, trade show or conference?
Consider Renting your AV Equipment. Save time, we set it up and save money. Save up to 50% off the rates that most hotels and convention centers charge. Rentacomputer.com has a wide range of AV rentals delivered and installed, worldwide. Call today at 800-736-8772.

Women in Elective Office

2010-09-13T11:37:00.002-04:00

In 2010, 90 women serve in the U.S. Congress. A record 17 women serve in the Senate, and 73 women serve in the House. The number of women in statewide elective executive posts is 72, while the proportion of women in state legislatures is 24.4 percent.

It is expected that Women of the GOP will pickup many seats this November despite Emily's List Attack on Rebuplican Women.

Here is the most recent statistics regarding women in eletive offices in the US.

CONGRESS
Women hold 90, or 16.8%, of the 535 seats in the 111th U.S. Congress -- 17, or 17.0%, of the 100 seats in the Senate and 73, or 16.8%, of the 435 seats in the House of Representatives.

• Seventeen women (4R,13D) serve in the Senate.
• Seventy-three women (17R, 56D) serve in the House.

STATEWIDE ELECTIVE EXECUTIVE OFFICES
In 2010, 72 women hold statewide elective executive offices across the country; women hold 22.9% of the 315 available positions. This is less than the number of women -- 88, or 27.4% -- serving in 2002.

Governor - 6 (3R, 3D)

Lieutenant Governor - 9 (3R, 6D)

Attorney General - 4 (4D)

Secretary of State - 12 (2R, 10D)

State Treasurer - 10 (2R, 8D)

State Comptroller - 4 (2R, 2D)

State Auditor - 8 (3R, 5D)

Chief State Education Official - 5 (1R, 3D, 1NP)

Commissioner of Insurance - 3 (1R, 2D)

Commissioner of Labor - 1R

Corporation Commissioner - 3 (2R, 1D)

Public Service Commissioner - 5 (5D)

Public Regulation Commissioner - 1D

Railroad Commissioner - 1R

STATE LEGISLATURES
In 2010, 1,799 (24.4%) of the 7,382 state legislators in the United States are women. Women currently hold 435 (22.1%) of the 1,971 state senate seats and 1,364 (25.2%) of the 5,411 state house seats. The number of women serving in state legislatures has increased more than four-fold since 1971.

The states with the highest percentages of women state legislators are:

New Hampshire – 37.5%
Vermont – 37.2%
Colorado – 37.0%
Minnesota – 34.8%
Hawaii – 32.9%
Washington – 32.7%
Nevada – 31.7%
Connecticut – 31.6%
Arizona – 31.1%
Maryland – 30.9%

MAYORS
As of February 2010, of the 100 largest cities in the United States, 7 had women mayors: Baltimore, Md.; Fresno, Calif.; Tampa, Fla.; Stockton, Calif.; Glendale, Ariz.; Chula Vista, Calif.; and, Houston, Texas.

As of January 2010, of the 249 mayors of cities with populations over 100,000, 36 (14.5%) were women. Of the 1,158 mayors of cities with populations over 30,000, 204 (17.6%) were women.

Source: Center for American Women and Politics, Rutgers University (Updated: 04/10)

--------------------------
Technology Rentals for National, State, and Local Campaigns

Condoleezza Rice & Aretha Franklin Raise Money for Children

2010-08-06T02:16:00.003-04:00

What do you get when you put a former Secretary of State together with the Queen of Soul? Apparently, you get beautiful music and lots of money raised for a good cause. Dr. Condoleezza Rice and Aretha Franklin took the stage together at the Mann Music Center in Philadelphia last week. Their goal was to raise money for music and arts awareness for children in Detroit and Philadelphia's inner city schools.
Before a crowd of over 8,000 people Franklin and Rice performed two songs together: "I Say a Little Prayer" and "My Country 'Tis of Thee." Earlier in the three-hour concert Rice also played a selection from Mozart's "Piano Concert No. 20 in D Minor." During her tenure as Secretary of State, many people were surprised to learn Rice was not only an important diplomat but a classically trained pianist as well.
Rice and Franklin first met at a White House event several years ago. The two were chatting when Franklin suggested they do a duet together. Franklin said she was surprised that Rice "really does play" and called her "formidable." According to the Associated Press, Rice said this particular night was born out of both women's desire to keep music accessible to children.

Music has always been close to the former Secretary's heart. Rice began taking piano lessons at the age of three and gave her first recital at the age of four. Growing up in Birmingham, Alabama, Rice became known as a musical prodigy in the area and could often be found playing at community events and schools. When she was 15, she played at the Denver Symphony and though she does not play professionally, she does play regularly with a chamber music group in Washington, DC. She has performed for Queen Elizabeth and played alongside cellist Yo-Yo Ma.
She has stated that her favorite composer is Johannes Brahms because his music is "passionate but not sentimental." She has also said her favorite band is Led Zeppelin. Rice's name even has a musical background. Her mother, Angelena, a teacher and church organist, loved opera so much that she named her daughter after an Italian music term "con dolcezza." It means "to play with sweetness."

Suggested Read:
THE NEW NORMAL: DOING MORE WITH LESS IN EDUCATION

Considering a projector rental or a plasma rental for your your next convention or event? Then Call a Tech Travel Agent today at 800-736-8772.

Most Hated Women of the GOP

2010-06-25T22:30:00.004-04:00

When it comes to the American Left, negative feelings towards anyone on the other side, especially anyone who is successful, run rampant. And it's that kind of attitude that's prompted the editorial team at Townhall.com to compile a list of the "100 Americans the Left Hates Most." As you can imagine, many of our favorite GOP women made the list. Here is a look at the ones who did and how they manage to get under the skin of liberals.

#2: Sarah Palin - It's no surprise Sarah Palin tops the list at number two (just behind TV and radio host Glenn Beck). When GOP presidential nominee John McCain chose her as his running mate, the right immediately embraced her and the left immediately tried to find something wrong with her. They attacked her looks, her family, and her patriotism. They attacked her success in raising her family and success in her career. They attacked her Conservatism and they attacked her strong will. But in the end, Palin continues to be a start among Conservatives, Republicans, and Tea Partiers, and you can bet that really makes the Left mad.

#5: Ann Coulter - Love her or hate her, you have to respect her for saying what she thinks and not letting anyone or anything keep her from speaking her mind. Writer and political commentator Ann Coulter has been telling it like it is about liberals for years and causing controversy wherever she goes. Political correctness isn't something Coulter knows anything about and for that reason alone, the Left can't stand her.

#6: Michelle Malkin - Michelle Malkin has become a Conservative star in recent years. She blogs, she writes columns and best-selling books, and she appears on Fox News, exposing left-wing hate like no one else can. The victim of everything from racist remarks to personal threats, Malkin seems to get under the skin of every liberal she crosses.

#10: Michele Bachmann - Bachmann, a Conservative Congresswoman from Minnesota tops the list for many of the same reasons as Sarah Palin. She has made a name for herself as a woman with a family and a career, but she touts Conservative values verses wild left-wing feminist views. She's been a strong voice against Obama's health care plan and a strong voice for the tea party movement. This fall, she is up for re-election and the Left is doing everything it can to stop her.

#17: Laura Ingraham Anyone who listens to Laura Ingraham's radio show knows she's in a constant battle against the left to prevent the perversion of our culture by left-wingers who think their way is the only way. Whether she's debating politics or promoting conservatives in Hollywood, Ingraham is always on the lookout for liberals who want to ruin the country.

Other GOP women who made the list? Hannah Giles, the young journalist who posed as a prostitute and brought down ACORN; Jan Brewer, the governor of Arizona who is doing what the federal government won't do: standing up to illegal immigration; Liz Cheney, co-founder of Keep America Safe and strong voice for American security; Condoleezza Rice former Secretary of State under President George W. Bush; Phyllis Schlafly, columnist and author; Peggy Noonan, columnist, author, and former assistant to President Ronald Reagan; and S.E. Cupp, author, commentator, and columnist.

Considering a projector rental or a plasma rental for your your next convention or event? Then Call a Tech Travel Agent today at 800-736-8772.

Women of the GOP In the News: Governors Race Edition

2010-06-06T17:35:00.006-04:00

As election time draws closer, several Republican women are making headlines, all across the country. Here is a look at some who are running for governor and have been in the news this week:

- In January, we wondered if New Mexico would see a female governor. Tuesday, that prediction became a reality when prosecutor and Dona Ana County district attorney Susana Martinez won the Republican nomination for governor. Martinez, whose entry into the race was called a "game-changer" by the media, will face Democrat Diane Denish. There are a lot of "firsts" in this race. Either woman has the chance at becoming the first female governor in the state, while Martinez is also the first Hispanic woman of either party to be nominated for governor of any of the fifty states. Also, this is only the third time in United States history that two women will go head-to-head in a gubernatorial general election.

- Former Georgia Secretary of State and current gubernatorial candidate Karen Handel might have been pretty shocked when pro-life group Georgia Right to Life (GRTL) failed to endorse her this week, considering she has definitely established herself as a pro-life candidate. Handel, who has spoken publicly about her inability to have children of her own, disagrees with the group's desire to prohibit invitro fertilization and fertility treatments. She has also stated that, like many pro-lifer's, she believes abortion should be allowed in the case of rape or incest. Unfortunately, GRTL president Dan Becker chose to twist Handel's words, by saying, "...she does not believe that an embryonic human is a child,” something Handel immediately denied. Becker also used very insensitive language to describe women who are incapable of conceiving, which probably didn't help his case with several female voters in the Peach State.

- South Carolina's sweetheart, Nikki Haley, also found herself fighting false allegations this week, when blogger Will Folks decided to announce he'd had an affair with the gubernatorial candidate. Haley, with her husband by her side, immediately said the allegations were "totally false." Another Women of the GOP fave, Sarah Palin, stood up for Haley by saying, "for traditional media to rely on an accusation via some blog entry is almost laughable, but I know the seriousness of it because that's exactly what my family and colleagues have had to put up with, every single day, for the past couple of years." Former Massachusetts Governor and presidential candidate Mitt Romney also voices his support for Haley, who is hoping to replace South Carolina governor Mark Sanford.

Considering a projector rental or a plasma rental for your your next convention or event? Then Call a Tech Travel Agent today at 800-736-8772.

Linda Biamonte for New Jersey's 2nd

2010-05-31T20:26:00.003-04:00

New Jersey's 2nd District is the largest in the entire state. It includes the entire Atlantic Coast, Cape May, Cumberland, County, Salem County, and parts of Gloucester, Burlington, and Camden Counties. All in all, it houses 82 municipalities. If New Jersey native Linda Biamonte gets her way, she'll be representing them all in Congress next year. As her website says, Biamonte wants to put "the 'represent' back in Representative."

Linda Biamonte grew up with her single mother in Ocean City, New Jersey, where she attended public schools and participated in a number of sports. She lettered in basketball and softball, and enjoyed surfing and skating. But she was also a good student, excelling in English and history, who could often be found in the library, doing research. According to her website, her upbringing helped her develop the values she'd like to bring to Congress,

"Because she is an only child raised by a single parent she learned independence and responsibility at a young age. Naturally, she came to appreciate teamwork, the value of a dollar and the closeness of community."

Biamonte, who is currently an Egg Harbor resident, is a strong supporter of our military. She has been a member of the Gathering of Eagles for four years, a group who works to "thwart unjust attacks against our Military" from groups such as Code Pink. The group is non-partisan and compromised of many smaller groups, including Band of Mothers and vets for Freedom. As a matter of fact, one of the main issues Biamonte is campaigning on is support of troops and veterans, including providing health care funding for soldiers who are deployed or injured in the line of duty, and ensuring that troop and veteran funding is never cut.

Biamonte is also a member of many other groups and causes; these include Operation Baghdad Pups, the ASPCA, Toys for Tots, Just Give, We Are a Republic and the NRA. As an NRA member, she supports Second Amendment rights, firearm ownership, and the right to bear arms, stating that "people kill people, not firearms," and "the lawless don't care about gun control laws, only the law abiding citizens care about laws." She's also pro-life and says there is no distinction between the born and unborn. She believes current abortion laws are "poorly constructed."

With a strong desire for self-improvement, Biamonte started out as a boardwalk waitress and went on to work in the food and beverage field, where she held a Union position, public relations, computers, and advertising media. She current serves as Vice President of Sales Americas at Civolution, an advertising technology firm. She put herself through school, advanced her education by retaining a Project Management IS/IT at Villanova, and considers herself, a self-made woman.

So what does Biamonte want to do for the business world? A true fiscal Conservative, she believes in putting "more money in the hands of investors and small businesses through investment tax cuts," cutting payroll taxes, and giving an investment tax cut to small businesses within the first year. Biamonte recognizes that small business owners are the backbone of the country and create the majority of the nation's jobs, and does not believe that creating more government jobs is the answer.

To read more about Linda Biamonte, vist her website here. The New Jersey primaries will be held on June 8.

Considering a projector rental or a plasma rental for your your next convention or event? Then Call a Tech Travel Agent today at 800-736-8772.

Sandy Adams for Congress in Flordia's 24th

2010-05-12T12:01:00.000-04:00

"I have devoted my life to my family, my profession, and a personal crusade on behalf of the citizens of Florida." - Sandy Adams

Sandy Adams is no stranger to serving her country or the people of Florida. As a deputy sheriff, member of the United States Air Force, and member of the Florida House of Representatives, Adams has been doing just that for years. In addition to taking care of her family, she sees it as a top priority and that's probably why she's decided to take her service to the United States Congress. Here is a look at a true Conservative, who is running for Congress in Florida's 24th Congressional District.

Sandy Adams was born in Wyandotte, Michigan in 1956 and moved to Florida eight years later. After serving in the United States Air Force, Adams became a Deputy Sheriff and Investigator for the Orange County Sheriff's Office. She worked in law enforcement for nearly two decades, dedicating her life to the people of Florida. During that time, she also served as the President of the Central Florida Chapter Concerns of Police Survivors Incorporated. According to her official website, Adams knows what it's like to struggle, as many Americans are now. As a young woman, she found herself a single mother of a daughter, attempting to finish college. Today, both she and her daughter are college graduates. She got her BA in Criminal Justice Administration from Columbia College in 2000.

In 2002, Adams decided to take a different route to serving the people of her state. She ran for office, hoping to become a member of the Florida House of Representatives. She was elected and has been serving ever since. Once she was elected, she was tapped to head the Homeland Security Workers’ Compensation work group and served as Chair of the Seminole County Legislative Delegation. She went on to serve as Chair of the Orange County Legislative Delegation and is currently the Chair of the Seminole County Legislative Delegation again. She also currently serves as Chair of the Criminal and Civil Justice Appropriations Committee, Vice-Chair of the Criminal and Civil Justice Policy Council, Vice-Chair of the Public Safety and Domestic Security Policy Committee and Vice-Chair of the Select Committee on Seminole Indian Compact Review, and is a member of the Full Appropriations Council on General Government and Health Care and the Rules and Calendar Council.

As chair of the House Domestic Security Committee, Adams was a strong voice for security. She passed legislation that promoted security at seaports, general aviation airports, and hurricane preparedness and recovery. She helped schools receive adequate funding, helped promote sales tax relief, worked on getting tougher sentences for sexual predators, protecting victims and protecting personal information for concealed weapon permit holders. She also worked to ensure services for seniors and stood up against eminent domain laws. Recently, Adams has filed Enforcement of Immigration Laws legislation.

The Orlando Sentinel endorsed her runs for the Florida House and has called her, "an expert on public-safety issues and committed to the thankless but essential task of juvenile-justice reform." In 2006, the Sentinel printed, “Her success in that area and others, coupled with her ability to work across party lines, makes Ms. Adams the best…Her leadership skills are reflected in her ability to push successfully…Ms. Adams ‘ passion for public safety is understandable…But she’s branched beyond that expertise."

So, where does she stand on the issues? Adams has said that small businesses are what drives the Florida economy and believes the best thing the government can do for entrepreneurs is offer incentives for new technology and to attract businesses to areas where they are needed, not offer regulation and higher taxes that often drive small businesses away. She believes the tax code should be made simpler and people should not be penalized because they are married or own businesses. She has also proposed we remove the death tax.

Adams believes the nation should become energy independent. From her website,

"We need an energy policy that encourages all forms of energy including nuclear, clean coal, natural gas, wind, solar, geothermal, hydro power, and safe off shore oil drilling. I am opposed to the Cap and Trade legislation that would place a national energy tax on all American families and small businesses. If Cap and Trade passes, our local economy---more so than other states---will suffer. Families will pay higher utility rates and thousands will lose their jobs. We need an energy bill that saves jobs, improves our economy and promotes technology and innovation while moving our country towards energy independence."

Sandy Adams and her husband, John, live in Orlando. The couple has three children.

Considering a projector rental or a plasma rental for your your next convention or event? Then Call a Tech Travel Agent today at 800-736-8772.

Anna Little: From Mayor to Congresswoman

2010-05-09T13:32:00.006-04:00

When it comes to immigration, Anna Little knows a thing or two about it. She's represented clients from several countries as an immigration lawyer. And with her experience as mayor of Highlands, New Jersey, she has experience managing a "fiscally responsible municipality by reducing the budget, and implementing an economic growth vision for her hometown." Now, Little wants to take those skills and that knowledge to Congress. Here is a look at her life, experience, and stances on the values important to Americans.

Anna Campbell Little was born at Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank, New Jersey. She grew up in Middletown, New Jersey, where she attended Harmony School, St. Catherine's, St. Mary's, Thompson Junior High School, and Middletown High School South. She attended Seton Hall University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Modern Languages, as well as her Juris Doctor degree at Seton Hall's School of Law. She also studied at Sophia University in Tokyo.

It seems as though Little has always had a passion for the international, which may be why she ended up in private practice as an immigration attorney. In that capacity, she has represented clients from all the world, including Canada, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Honduras, Costa Rica, The Dominican Republic, Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica, Colombia, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, Venezuela, England, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Germany, Poland, Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, Hungary, Israel, Greece, India, Iraq, Egypt, Pakistan, Congo, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Japan, Philippines, Vietnam, Korea, Mongolia, Tibet, and Thailand. Little is fluent in French and Spanish and has a "working knowledge" of Japanese and Russian.

Perhaps it is her work with legal immigrants that has helped build her ideas about illegal immigration. From her website,
The United States is a country of immigrants. A sincere and common sense immigration policy will help ensure a prosperous future. However, a country, which does not secure its borders, will cease to be a sovereign nation. Stopping the flow of illegal immigrants into our country is the first step in the process of regaining control of our Republic, and insuring our national security. Our borders need to be sealed to incoming illegals by all means necessary. In addition, all our systems and institutions must be reformed to prohibit illegals from receiving any public services. Having these services available to illegals becomes an incentive to illegally come here, or coming here on a visa and then illegally overstaying. We must not “allow” employers to hire illegals for the benefit of “cheap labor”, and laws must be enforced to sanction employers who hire them. I would not support legislation that grants “amnesty”.

Little says she would support the Border Fence Act of 2006 and vote to support funding it, as well as the E-verify System.

Little says she wants become a Congresswoman because she want "serve the people of the Congressional District according to the core values derived from the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States of America and the Bill Of Rights...," which is something many Americans are in search of this year. She believes that it is the individual's right to keep and decide how to spend what they earn and that government involvement in our lives should be limited. Little would also like to see the country return to the concept of free market principles.

Little is a supporter of the Enumerated Powers Act, which requires Congress to add a statement to any bill introduced, citing specifically how it fits under Constitutional Authority. She is also a supporter of the Fair Tax, saying it "would unleash the private economy... Companies from all over the world would relocate to the US instead of leaving our shores; domestic industry would likewise thrive." She is against the current government health care plan and feels the "public option" will destroy the industry as we know. She doesn't feel health care needs to be reformed, but instead, a few changes should be made, including tort reform, selling insurance across state lines to increase competition, removing anti-trust protection for insurance companies, and encouraging Health Savings Accounts. Little is pro-life when it comes to abortion, pro-choice when it comes to education, and a strong supporter of the Second Amendment.

As mentioned, Little currently serves as the mayor of the Borough of Highlands, New Jersey. From 2006 to 2008, she served as a Monmouth County Freeholder, where she exercised her desires to create a more responsible government. She established the Continuous Budget Review Committee and hosted an Economic Development Summit. From 2002 to 2006 she served on the Highlands Borough Council.

Little and her husband have three children and in her spare time, she enjoys singing in the choir at her church. She is also a member of the Historical Society of Highlands, the Highlands Republican Club, the Highlands Community Singers, and the Baykeeper's Oyster Reseeding Project.

Considering a projector rental or a plasma rental for your your next convention or event? Then Call a Tech Travel Agent today at 800-736-8772.

Dr. Deborah Honeycutt for Congress in Georgia's 13th

2010-04-26T13:28:00.004-04:00

Dr. Deborah Travis Honeycutt calls herself an "independent Frederick Douglass Republican." She says she's running for Congress because she's "angry" at what our government is doing. "Congresspersons are supposed to be leaders, servant leaders, serving the people and leading them toward solutions... I do believe that anyone in leadership must exhibit honest, integrity at the highest levels. Otherwise, we need to allow them the opportunity to do something else," she says on her website. And if Honeycutt has her way, Congressman David Scott of Georgia's 13th Congressional District will be allowed "the opportunity to do something else." Here is a look at Honeycutt's life and where she stands on the important issues facing Georgia and the United States.

Dr. Deborah Honeycutt was born in Chicago, Illinois and attended the University of Illinois - Urbana, where she received her Bachelor's degree in Dance Education, Master's degree in Dance, and eventually attended the school's College of Medicine, where she became a doctor and laid the foundation for what would be a very extensive career in the medical profession.

She's worked as a faculty member at Atlanta Medical Center's Family Practice Residency Training Program and has also worked as an educator at Emory University's Family Practice Residency Training Program. She's worked as a family physician at Georgia Baptist; at her own private practice, Five Points Family Practice in Fairburn, Georgia; and Eagles Landing Family Practice in Hampton, Georgia.

In 2004, Dr. Honeycutt became the President of the Georgia Academy of Family Physicians and later served as Chairman of the Board of Directors. She's been appointed to the American Academy of Family Physicians' Commission on Education and served twice as the Minority Constituency Delegate and twice as the Georgia State Delegate to the American Academy of Family Physicians. In 2005, she was appointed Medical Director of Good Shepherd Clinic, a free clinic located in Morrow, Georgia and she worked in this position until her decision to run for Congress.

She has been instrumental in lobbying for better health care at both the state and federal level and is very involved with the community and health care-related activism. She often speaks on topics that often affect African Americans such as diabetes, obesity, and domestic violence, and has served on the board of the CareNet Pregnancy Resource Center of Atlanta, as well as the Board of Directors of the Georgia Partnership for Caring. Currently, she is a member of the Georgia Free Clinic Network Board of Directors and is co-chair of the Georgia Department of Community Health Minority Health Advisory Council.

With all of this experience in health care under her belt, Dr. Honeycutt strongly opposes nationwide, government sponsored health care, saying the issues failed in other countries, and "a government sponsored one size fits all solution won't fit anyone." Instead, she feels we should rely on "free markets and multi group efforts that allow government to do its part and citizens to do their part." She says that when she was working in her own private practice, she was not able to help the people who most needed help because of government restrictions in place that prevented her from doing so and feels people should be empowered to help themselves, not to be helpless.

Dr. Honeycutt is also a proponent of the Fair Tax system. From her website,

"I have examined alternatives and found the FairTax to offer the best hope of returning our tax system to our constitutional principles, providing both increased fairness and dramatic simplification, as well as positioning this country to continue to prosper in the increasingly competitive global marketplace of the 21st century. "

Even though she's currently campaigning, Honeycutt continues to work as a volunteer physicians at the Good Shepherd free clinic. She has also taken an active roll, becoming a voice for issues in her community, such as community values and public education. She attends school board meetings in Clayton County, as well as Clayton County Home Owners Association meetings, and regularly meets with elected officials.

Dr. Honeycutt is married to Dr. Andrew Honeycutt, a Distinguished Fellow of Business at Shorter College. They are members of the Word of Faith Family Cathedral in Austell, Georgia and reside in Fayetteville, Georgia.

Considering a projector rental or a plasma rental for your your next convention or event? Then Call a Tech Travel Agent today at 800-736-8772.

Angela McGlowan: From Fox News to Congress

2010-04-13T22:45:00.004-04:00

If you watch Fox News, you've probably seen Angela McGlowan giving her sassy, conservative opinion on any number of programs. McGlowan, who has done everything from start her own business to write a book, certainly doesn't hesitate to share her opinion and now she's taking her tenacity and strong will to Congress, or so she hopes. Earlier this year, McGlowan announced she's running for Congress in her home state of Mississippi. Here is a look at the woman who feels she's ready to fight for Mississippi's First Congressional District.

McGlowan says she's running for office because she's "fed up [but] will never give up." She describes herself as a "conservative, pro-life, pro-gun, pro-small business Mississippi Republican" and says she will "fight for North Mississippians like no one has ever fought for them before."

McGlowan was born in Oxford, Mississippi to James Thompson McGlowan, a minister, who she says installed a many important values in her, just before his death that occurred when she was just twelve years old. She was educated in the public school system and graduated from the University of Mississippi with a bachelor's degree in Public Administration, with an emphasis in Criminal Justice and Political Science.

She is the founder and CEO of Political Strategies and Insights, a government affairs, political strategy, public relations, and advocacy consulting firm based in Washington, DC. McGlowan served as the Director of Governmental Affairs and Diversity Development for News Corporation from 1999-2005, where she developed and implemented diversity initiatives. She also worked as a Congressional advocate on News Corp's behalf. Public service is not new to McGlowan. She served as the Director of Outreach for the Better America Foundation, an organization founded by Senator Bob Dole aimed at promoting community empowerment and helped set the stage for the Senator's 1996 presidential run.

McGlowan served as Government and Public Affairs Manger for Steve Winn of Mirage Resorts, Inc, where she lobbied initiatives with the American Gaming Association, in an effort to help start Mirage Resorts gaming properties at the Bellagio in Las Vegas and the Beau Rivage in Biloxi, Mississippi. She also worked as an aide to Congressman Roscoe Bartlett of Maryland and Representative John Ensign of Nevada, as well as serving as a publicist for Ensign's 1996 re-election campaign.

Perhaps most people know McGlowan as a political analyst for the Fox News Channel. But she has quite the television career under her belt. She worked as a host for Good Day Street Talk for New York's' Fox 5 WNYW, and has appeared on several other shows and networks, including PBS's To the Contrary, America's Black Forum, BET Tonight, This is America with Dennis Wholey, and ABC's Politically Incorrect. A seasoned writer, McGlowan's work has appeared in the Washington Times, Clarion Ledger, Athens-Banner Herald, Oxford Eagle, American Newspaper, Ebony Magazine, Jet Magazine, the Washington Post, Insight Magazine, New York Magazine, and her book, BAMBOOZLED: How Americans Are Being Exploited by the Lies of the Liberal Agenda, was a national bestseller.

You can read more about Angela McGlowan at her website: www.mcglowanforcongress.com

Considering a projector rental or a plasma rental for your your next convention or event? Then Call a Tech Travel Agent today at 800-736-8772.

Delia Lopez Wants to Take Back the Country

2010-03-24T08:54:00.004-04:00

Delia Lopez says she was watching a Republican debate during the last election cycle and was not very happy with what she saw. When one candidate suggested people follow the Constitution, the others laughed, and Lopez says it was at that moment she decided that, "We the people had to take our country back!" That's possibly why she is running for Congress in Oregon's 3rd Congressional District.

On her website, DLopezForCongress.com, she writes,

"The Constitution is supposed to be the law by which our country is to be governed! It was written to restrain the power of the government and to protect the rights of the people. Our freedoms as spelled out in the Constitution, were given to us by our Creator, and are not to be denied us by any Government. There is no way permitted under the constitution for our rights to be suspended!"

Lopez says she is a Republican because she believes the "strength of the nation lies with the individual and that each person's dignity, freedom, ability, and responsibility must be honored. She is pro-life, because she feels the Constitution guarantees the right to life for everyone. A mother of three, and grandmother of three, she is against federal control of education. She would also like to see the United States leave Iraq immediately, leaving the rebuilding of the country to its people.

In 1989, Lopez and her husband (who have been married for 26 years) began investing in real estate. She created and manged the budget for their project. Her familiarity with the topic could be one reason why Lopez has strong feelings about property rights and why it's one of her top issues. She believes many people try to simplify the pro-property right argument by saying those who fall in line behind it are simply anti-environment. Lopez says this is not the case.

From her website,

"When one has a proper respect for property rights, environmental concerns go away. In a society that respects the property of others, it is cause for legal action if someone pollutes your land, or the water coming across your property, or the air which floats above it. With a proper respect for private property, people can and should be allowed to do whatever they would like with their land - barring any restrictions they agreed to when they purchased the land - up until the point that their actions physically affect their neighbors."

Lopez also has strong feelings about border security. She wants to physically secure the borders as soon as possible and feels that amnesty simply rewards people who have broken laws. She wants to enforce Visa rules and end birthright citizenship. She also feels that illegal aliens should not be allowed welfare and that taxpayers should not be forced to pay for illegal immigrant use of schools, hospitals, roads, and social services. Lopez would also like to see "true" immigration reform passed. She says currently, the system is "incoherent and unfair."

To read more about Delia Lopez, visit her website at DLopezForCongress.com.

Considering a projector rental or a plasma rental for your your next convention or event? Then Call a Tech Travel Agent today at 800-736-8772.

Cynthia Lummis: Wyoming's Congresswoman

2010-03-17T09:56:00.005-04:00

Most people do not realize that the state of Wyoming has had only one Congressional District since Statehood. Wyoming's "at-large" district is the fourth largest in the country and is also the least populated. It has been held by notable people such as former Vice President Dick Cheney and Senator Craig L. Thomas and is currently the largest district in the country being represented by a female. That woman is Cynthia Lummis, who was elected to the seat in November 2008. Here is a look at Wyoming's only Congresswoman.

Cynthia Marie Lummis was born on September 10, 1954 and raised in Laramie County, Wyoming, on her family's ranch. She was active in 4-H as a child, raising Hereford calves for the annual county fair. In 1919, her great-grandfather started the Lummis Livestock company and Lummis still runs the ranch today, as well as ranches in Wheatland and Lincoln Counties.

After graduating from high school, Lumis attended the University of Wyoming, where she graduated with two bachelor of science degrees: one in animal science and one in biology. A year later, she entered politics at the age of 24, becoming the youngest woman ever elected to the Wyoming Legislature. She eventually returned to the University of Wyoming, graduating with a law degree in 1985.

Lummis was a member of the Wyoming Senate for twelve years and the Wyoming House of Representatives for three. She was the first woman to serve on the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo Board and became "Miss Frontier" in 1976. While serving in the Legislature, her main focuses were taxes and natural resources. She was a driving force behind Governor Jim Geringer's Open Spaces Initiative and edited Wyoming's Open Lands Guidebook, and she has served on the Board of the Institute for Environmental and Natural Resources at the University of Wyoming, as well as being the former interim director of the Office of State Lands and Investments.

Many people accredit Lummis with sharp increases in state revenue during her time in local office and in 1998, she was elected State Treasurer. She served two four-year terms. During that time, she, according to her website, "converted Wyoming’s primarily fixed income investment portfolio of $3.5 billion to a fully diversified portfolio of equities, real estate and fixed income investments, public and private, domestic and international, totaling $8.5 billion."

While serving as State Treasurer, she was named a "Women in Business Advocate of the Year 2005" by the Small Business Administration. She was also honored by the University of Wyoming (UW) College of Agriculture as an "Outstanding Alumni." Lummi was affiliated with the American Women's Financial Education Foundation, the Center for the Rocky Mountain West Advisory Board, Cheyenne's Vision 2020, the Wyoming Business Alliance, and the Wyoming Stock Growers Agricultural Land Trust.

In 2007, upon the death of Senator Thomas, Lummis was just one of 31 Wyoming Republicans looking to replace him in the Senate. She was chosen as one of three finalists for the position but eventually lost to John Barrasso. Many believed she would challenge him in the 2008 special election but instead, she announced she'd be running for Congress. Despite not receiving report from the state's Governor and not having the same financial backing of her opponents, Lummis won the seat by 10%. She campaigned on a pro-life, fiscally conservative platform.

Though she's only been in Congress for a year, Lummis is already making her voice heard. She serves on the Committee on Agriculture, Committee on the Budget, and Committee on Natural Resources. She has been a critic of the current administration's excessive government spending and of health care reform. You can see more about what she has to say on health care and her constituents' concerns about their health care choices and lack of competition here:

Lummis is married to attorney and businessman Al Wiederspahn. Widerspahn, like his wife, is also a former member of the Wyoming legislature, but unlike his wife is a Democrat. The couple has one daughter, Annaliese. They are members of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Cheyenne.

Considering a projector rental or a plasma rental for your your next convention or event? Then Call a Tech Travel Agent today at 800-736-8772.

26 Year Old Princella Smith for Congress in Arkansas

2010-03-09T12:13:00.007-05:00

Anyone who has ever called the GOP the "party of old white guys" has obviously never met Princella Smith. Not only is she a proud member of the GOP, but she's young, she's black, and she's a woman. Oh, and she's running for Congress in Arkansas. So just who is this young woman who's taking the "Natural State" by storm? Here is a look at her short life leading up to her not-so-typical run for Congress.

Princella Smith has been public speaking since she was four years old and by the age of nine, she and her brothers were in high demand as keynote speakers at a number of church and education-based events, where they were often asked to recite Martin Luther King's entire "I Have a Dream" speech. But that's not all she did at a young age. Smith was involved in a number of academic and civic groups as a child. According to her website, she came in first place at two county spelling bees, won awards for writing, won quiz bowls, and was involved with Girl Scouts, Key Club, and Boys 2 Men/Girls 2 Women.

Smith attributes her success at such a young age to being raised in a small town with a strong foundation. She grew up in Wynne, Arkansas, raised by her father John Smith, a former school board vice president and the minister at Christian Fellowship Church and her mother Sandra Smith, the vice principal at Wynne High School.

In high school, she developed a passion for politics when she was sponsored by the Wynne chapter of the Women’s American Legion Auxiliary to attend Arkansas Girls State. There, she was elected out of about 900 girls as the 2001 Girls State Governor. That summer, she was awarded an internship with the state's Lt. Governor Win Rockefeller. During that internship, she was part of a life-changing moment. The Lt. Governor asked her to write a speech for him to give a college graduation. She did and he read it word for word, something he usually didn't do with his staff. Smith has said of that moment, "To see your billionaire, world-famous, Lt. Governor quote your words verbatim is overwhelming. Do you know what that does to a kid from the Delta?" In high school, Smith went on to letter in women's basketball, leading the team to its first state playoff appearance in years. She was elected to the Arkansas All-Star Basketball team, was her class president, and graduated with honors.

She went on to college at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkansas, where she majored in political science and minored in communications and history, and played for the school's women's basketball team. She is also a graduate of the Buckley School of Public Speaking. Smith went on to take part in internships with former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, U.S. Congressman John Boozman of Arkansas, and served a clerkship at the U.S. Department of Labor. In 2004, she won a speech/essay contest sponsored by MTV called "Stand Up and Holla." That same year, she spoke at the Republican National Convention, just before First Lady Laura Bush addressed the nation.

In 2006, she served as the E-Campaign Director for then Maryland Lt. Governor and current Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele. In that position, she managed all electronic communications for the campaign, including the official campaign website. She has also served as a Communications Director and as the National Spokesperson for American Solutions and has been a guest lecturer at the Leadership Institute, speaking on topics such as "New Media" and "Grassroots Activism." She is also a visiting fellow at the Independent Women's Forum and has worked as a political contributor for the following media outlets: FOX News, FOX Business News, CNN, CBS, MSNBC, BET, Bloomberg News, PBS, France 24, EuroAmerican News, Danish Broadcasting, NPR, the New York Times, USA Today, XM Satellite Radio, The Chronicle of Higher Education, Essence Magazine, YouTube News, XM Radio, AOL Radio/TV, Black America Web, RocktheVote.com, Huffington Post.

You can read more about what Smith stands for and why she's running for office at PrincellaSmith.com.

Considering a projector rental or a plasma rental for your your next convention or event? Then Call a Tech Travel Agent today at 800-736-8772.

Valerie Meyers: A Lifelong Republican for Georgia's 8th

2010-02-23T00:35:00.004-05:00

Valerie Meyers describes herself as a "lifelong Republican." That's because she's always believed in limited government in our lives, as well Constitutional rule. She believes that current leadership and representatives are betraying the country's principles in the name of self-interest, and feels that the base of the GOP needs to reclaim the party. Above all, she feels it's important for citizens to be able to take advantage of their right to life and liberty as granted by the Constitution. From her website:

"Our personal liberties have gradually been eroded. The federal government has asserted that it has the authority to mine, collect, and store information on the personal matters of American citizens based on security or expediency, often in violation of our 4th Amendment guarantees against illegal search and seizure, and our 5th Amendment guarantees against self-incrimination.We can prosper and protect our national security without intruding into the personal lives of American citizens. I vow to fight on behalf of preserving our personal liberties."

Like many Republicans, Meyer is pro-life, pro-gun, and pro-free markets. She feels the country needs to return to its capitalistic roots to become prosperous again. Meyers feels this can be done by, "removing all government imposed barriers that impede or prevent business and industry from conducting business," including the corporate income tax. She also feels the 16th Amendment must be repealed and supports the proposed, much-talked-about Fair Tax system.

When it comes to education, she supports a parent's right to choose where and how their children are education. She attributes Georgia's 22% high school drop-out rate to federal government control and a malfunctioning statewide system. She is also in opposition to government-controlled health care, again feeling that an individual has the right to choose what kind of health care they receive and where they receive it.

She is an active member of the Georgia Republican Party and has served as vice chairman in her district, as well as serving as a delegate at the county, district and state conventions and as a precinct chairman. She has been campaigning and fundraising for GOP candidates for twenty years. In 2008, she served as the Houston County Coordinator and 8th Congressional District Coordinator for Congressman Ron Paul's presidential campaign. She still remains active in Campaign for Liberty, a movement that began after Congressman Paul's presidential run. She is considered one of many "Liberty Candidates" running for office across the country.

A true Southerner, Meyers grew up in Huntsville, Alabama and graduated from the University of South Alabama. She currently attends Mercer University in Atlanta, where she is working on her Master's Degree. She also works as a technical writer and information technology business analyst for Computer Services Corporation. Her work there involves product development for United States Air Force bases around the world.

Meyers and her children, Isabel and Zane live in Bonaire, Georgia. She attends the Warner Robbins Church of Christ and runs in her spare time. She has participated in several marathons and triathlons.

Considering a projector rental or a plasma rental for your your next convention or event? Then Call a Tech Travel Agent today at 800-736-8772.

What Has Laura Bush Been Up To?

2010-02-20T19:14:00.004-05:00

A few weeks ago, a billboard with a picture of former President George W. Bush that reads, "Miss me yet?" popped up in Wyoming, Minnesota. With the current president's approval ratings falling lower and lower, it's no surprise Americans are finding themselves longing for the former occupant of the White House. Aside from joining with former President Clinton to raise money for Haitian earthquake relief, President Bush has been fairly quiet lately, but his wife, former First Lady Laura Bush, has been popping up at a number of events over the last few weeks.

In early February, Mrs. Bush helped the Boy Scouts celebrate their 100th anniversary in Evansville, Indiana, by delivering the keynote address. A girl scout herself, the First Lady reminisced about her days hiking and canoeing and talked about how she still goes camping and hiking to this day. She even took the time to answer some questions about everything from what it was like to live in the White House to her favorite book.

Speaking of her love of reading, Mrs. Bush joined the NBA Cares All-Star Community Caravan at a Texas school, earlier this month, to promote her infamous love of reading. She told students, "It's the most important skill you learn in school. If you can read, you can do well in every single subject." Mrs. Bush joined the Mavericks' Jason Terry and former NBA player Dikembe Mutombo to read a book to the students and told students they should read as much as they watch TV.

According to the Associated Press, the former First Lady has also signed on to serve on the advisory board of the Smithsonian's Museum of African American History and Culture. The museum is scheduled to open in 2015 and the board is currently working to raise money.

Next month, the former First Lady will take part in the United States -Afghan Women's Council Conference on Afghan literacy programs at the Bush Institute. The program will focus on literacy in both countries, for people of all ages. The session will be led by Mrs. Bush, who worked tirelessly with the women of Afghanistan during her time in the White House.

In addition to her many appearances, Mrs. Bush's memoirs will be published later this year, on May 4. Spoken From the Heart will be published by Scribner and has been described as "an intimate account of Mrs. Bush’s life experiences.” The book will tell of her life, growing up as an only child, her college years, how she met her husband and future President and tell of her family's life in the White House.

Considering a projector rental or a plasma rental for your your next convention or event? Then Call a Tech Travel Agent today at 800-736-8772.

Sarah Palin's Tea Party Convention Speech February 6, 2010

2010-02-06T23:52:00.004-05:00

If you missed the speech Sarah Palin delivered to the Tea Party Convention on February 6, 2010, here it is in its entirety, including a Q&A sessions afterwards:

Considering a projector rental or a plasma rental for your your next convention or event? Then Call a Tech Travel Agent today at 800-736-8772.

Patricia Sullivan, a Mom on a Mission in Florida's 8th

2010-02-04T15:36:00.000-05:00

It's no secret Sarah Palin has inspired thousands of Americans since becoming a part of the national political stage in 2008, but this year, it's becoming more apparent, as Conservative women across the nation are stepping up to the plate and speaking up for their values and political beliefs. Some are even taking things to the next level and running for political office. One such candidate is Patricia Sullivan, a self-described "Domestic Engineer," who is running for Congress in Florida 8th Congressional District.

In a November interview with Fox News' Gretchen Carlson, Sullivan said she is running for Congress because her children's futures have already been "mortgaged away" and because the current person representing Florida's 8th District, Congressman Alan Grayson, is not representing the people like he should. Sullivan, who had the opportunity to meet Governor Palin at a book signing before the interview, told Carlson that Palin is an inspiration because, "she's a real person, a mom who has a family, but she works hard for effective change."

According to Sullivan's website, she is campaigning on four main principal issues: fiscal responsibility, limited government, strong national defense, and free markets, but there are a number of other issues close to the Conservative's heart. She is a strong proponent of the 10th Amendment and states' rights and she believes that the current "spend the country into prosperity" politicians need to be replaced with a more responsible group of legislators. She believes energy solutions should be dictated by free markets and that regulatory policy that is meant to help the environment should be based only on proven sciences and even then should be monitored so that it does not burden people. In addition, Sullivan is pro-gun and Second Amendment, pro-life, pro-stronger border security and pro-educational choice.

Sullivan may not have a resume full of fancy positions or an extensive political background, but what she does have is passion and common sense. She calls herself a patriot, not a politician, and says she has a passion for people, not programs. Sullivan wants to take the government back and put it in the hands of the people and took her first step towards that goal last year on April 15th. Inspired by the passing of the Stimulus bill, Sullivan organized the North Lake Tea Party. She hoped at least 50 people would show up and was shocked when over 1,000 attended. Her second North Lake Tea Party, on July 4th, saw a similar turnout. Sullivan currently maintains the website for the North Lake Tea Party and continues in the movement with a leadership role.

In addition to being a longtime homeschooler, Sullivan is an active member in her church. She is a Precept Bible study leader, a 4-H leader at both the local and state level, and was named "Volunteer of the Year" in 2007 by the Florida State 4-H Youth Development Program. She even founded the Lake County 4-H Foundation and currently serves as President.

On a personal note, Sullivan was born in Alabama but her family moved to Seminole County, Florida in 1973. She received an Associate of Arts degree from Seminole Community College and has been married to her husband, Scott for eighteen years. They have four children, Jennifer, Danny, Ben and Emily, and currently reside in Lake County.

Considering a projector rental or a plasma rental for your your next convention or event? Then Call a Tech Travel Agent today at 800-736-8772.

Profile of Christine Todd Whitman

2010-02-01T09:23:00.000-05:00

In 2004, Christine Todd Whitman became the first female Governor of New Jersey and only the second Republican female Governor (Kay Orr of Nebraska was the first) in the history of the United States to be elected to the post. Here is a look at her life and accomplishments.

Christine Todd Whitman was born in 1946 in New York City to Eleanor Prentice Schley Todd and Webster B. Todd. She grew up in Hunterdon County, New Jersey and attended Far Hills Country Day School and the Chapin School in Manhattan. She also attended Wheaton College, earning a degree in government. She went on to marry John Whitman, a private equity investor. Whitman wasn't the first member of her family to enter politics. Her husband's grandfather, Charles S. Whitman, served as Governor of New York, and her maternal grandfather, Reeve Schley, was a member of Wolf's Head Society at Yale, vice president of Chase Bank, and president of the Russian-American Chamber of Commerce.

Upon graduation from college, Whitman worked on Nelson Rockefeller's presidential campaign and during the Nixon administration, she worked in the Office of Economic Opportunity, under Donald Rumsfeld. There, she was Deputy Director of the New York State Office in Washington. She was eventually appointed to the Board of Trustees of Somerset County College and served two terms on the Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders, as well as serving as Deputy Director and Director of the Board. In 1988, she served as President of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities.

In 1990, Whitman ran against Bill Bradley for a seat in the United States Senate. Even though she lost, the race was close, despite her being called a "longshot." During her campaign, she spoke out against James Florio's tax hikes, which may be why she chose to run against him in 1993. She won by one percentage point and went on to serve two terms, beating Jim McGreevey in 1997.

As Governor of New Jersey, Whitman lowered taxes in the state. Most notably, she reversed the one percent sales tax Governor Florio had imposed and lifted the excise tax on professional wrestling, which brought the World Wrestling Federation back to New Jersey. She worked to reform education. She even appeared in an episode of "Law and Order: Special Victims Unit." But perhaps her biggest accomplishments had to do with energy and clean air. Under her leadership, New Jersey's federal one-hour air quality standard ground level ozone violation dropped from 45 to four, allowing more beaches to stay open, and earning the state recognition from the Natural Resources Defense Council She also saw to it that New Jersey implemented a better watershed management program and opened shellfish beds for harvesting.

Whitman's work didn't stop when she left office. In January, 2001, President George W. Bush appointed her as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. She later resigned. In 2005, she wrote the book It's My Party, Too: Taking Back the Republican Party... And Bringing the Country Together Again and formed the "It's My Party Too" political action committee, whose goal is to help elect more moderate Republicans. Whitman, herself, is considered a moderate Republican and has had this to say about Conservatism,

"The defining feature of the conservative viewpoint is a faith in the ability, and a respect for the right, of individuals to make their own decisions - economic, social, and spiritual - about their lives. The true conservative understands that government's track record in respecting individual rights is poor when it dictates individual choices."

Christine Todd Whitman and her husband have two children, Kate and Taylor. Following in her mother's footsteps, Kate ran for Congress in 2008. Whitman currently serves as director of Texas Instruments and United Technologies, is co-chair of CASEnergy Solutions, and has a lobbying group, Whitman Strategy Group, which specializes in matters of the environment and energy. Her dog, Coors, is the mother of former President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush's dog, Barney.

Considering a projector rental or a plasma rental for your your next convention or event? Then Call a Tech Travel Agent today at 800-736-8772.

Peg Luksik Wants Arlen Specter's Senate Seat

2010-01-28T13:07:00.000-05:00

Switching parties, being shouted down at Townhall meetings, and telling a favorite Conservative Congresswoman to "act like a lady" when she disagrees with him are just a few of the signs that lead many to think Arlen Specter won't won't be continuing his nearly 30 year-run in the Senate after this year. Several challengers have come forward, looking to turn Pennsylvania red again, and one of those people is Conservative Peg Luksik.

Luksik says her run is not about unseating Specter, but about giving families a voice in Washington D.C.. A Conservative and pro-life activist, Luksik isn't new to running for office in the Keystone State. In the 90's, she ran for Governor three times: once as the Republican nominee (she received 46% of the vote), and twice as a member of the Constitution party (receiving impressive amounts of the vote both times, as well as beating the Democratic nominee in several counties). Luksik has returned to the Republican party and said she's not afraid of the big names she'll face in the primary, such as former Congressman Pat Toomey, who is seen as the frontrunner in the race, even polling more favorable than Senator Specter.

So who is Peg Luksik? She was born in Alabama, but raised in the Philadelphia area. Her father was in the army and she was the oldest of four sisters. She went on to graduate from Clarion University of Pennsylvania with a degree in Special Education and Elementary Education. In 1997, she was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Humanities Degree by Stonehill College in Massachusetts.

Luksik considers herself a very family-oriented candidate and has a strong pro-life background. As a matter of fact, she is the founder of Mom's House. Mom's House is an organization that provides single parents with an alternative to abortion. It helps parents escape the welfare cycle by providing them with support and child care so they can finish their education. According to Luksik, the reason she started the charity is,

"I never intended to start a charitable organization, but I had several miscarriages before my oldest was born and in my prayers for the blessing of a child, I promised that I would do something to help children. Mom’s House is one year younger than my first child."

She is also a founding member and Chairman of the National Parent's Commission. According to her website, the Commission grew out of Luksik's desire to "give parents a voice in education." What started as two people soon became a national, full-scale parents' rights movement that helped "protect families from intrusive activities, and experimental educational programs." Before she knew it, Luksick found herself reviewing grants for the United States Department of Education and was called on as an expert on many components of so-called education reform.

Last year, she managed a Congressional campaign for Iraqi war veteran William Russell who ran against John Murtha. This year, her decision to run for the Senate comes from a desire to restore what she calls "kitchen table" common sense to Washington.

Despite her experience in politics and education, Luksik says the most important thing in her life is her family. She and her husband, Jim, a high school teacher, have six children - five sons and one daughter.

Considering a projector rental or a plasma rental for your your next convention or event? Then Call a Tech Travel Agent today at 800-736-8772.

Will New Mexico See a Female Governor in 2010?

2010-01-26T09:00:00.000-05:00

This year, Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico will end his eight year stint in the position and so many prominent people are vying for a chance at his seat. This includes two Democrats and four Republicans. Three of the candidates are female, which gives New Mexico the chance to have its first female governor ever. They include Democrat and current Lieutenant Governor Diane Denish and Republicans, Dona Ana County Third Judicial District Attorney, Susana Martinez and State Representative from Albuquerque, Janice Arnold-Jones. Today, we'll take a look at the two GOP candidates.

Janice Arnold-Jones is currently serving her fourth term in the New Mexico House of Representatives, where she has fought for public access to government. As a matter of fact, last year she received the 2009 Lights of Liberty award from the conservative Rio Grande Foundation for using a web cam to allow the public to watch New Mexico's legislature. She currently serves on the House Taxation and Revenue Committee and the Voters and Elections Committee, and in the past has served on a number of other committees, as well as the Blue Ribbon Tax Commission, Election Reform Task Force. A Conservative, she is currently campaigning on the the four "E's," education, economy, energy, and ethics.

Her involvement in her community extends beyond her political service. She is currently the chair of the New Mexico Poison and Drug Information Center. She also works with the New Mexico Commission for Public Broadcasting and the Bernalillo County Council of Health Councils. Arnold-Jones is the chief coach of the American Youth Soccer Organization Region 104 and developed an annual training and tracking regimen for over 500 coaches and 350 referees, which has been recognized as the best in the nation.

She has worked in project management, business management consulting, as a research analysis, a technical writer and an audio/video writer and producer. She is currently employed by Parallax, Inc., where she manages the local office. She is a graduate of Albuquerque High School and the University of New Mexico, where she served as the Vice President of the Associated Students. She and her husband, John L. Jones Commander, Retired United States Navy, reside in Albuquerque and have two children.

Susana Martinez's decision to run for governor was called a "game changer" by the New Mexico media. She has served as the District Attorney for the 3rd Judicial District in Dona Ana County, New Mexico for thirteen years. Also a conservative, she pledges to "cut wasteful spending, lower taxes to create more jobs, end 'pay-to-play' practices and other corruption in government and fight to reform education." She believes in less government, lower taxes, personal responsibility and is a strong proponent of both life and the 2nd Amendment.

Martinez is popular with the people. She won her current seat by earning 60% of the vote and has been re-elected three times. Also, Republicans are generally outnumbered 3 to 1 in her county, but Martinez managed to win, anyway, with hard work and fighting for what is right. Throughout her career, she has earned a reputation as a tough prosecutor and has tried numerous child abuse and homicide cases, including convicting the killer in the case that is responsible for the creation of Katie's Law, a law that required law enforcement officials take DNA for most violent felony arrests and include the samples in a database. As a matter of fact, in 2008, she was named Heart Magazine's "Woman of the Year" for her dedication to children's advocacy. She has also worked to battle public corruption.

Martinez was born in Rio Grande Valley to a hardworking, middle class family. She earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Texas at El Paso and attended law school at the University of Oklahoma. She is married to Chuck Franco, who works in law enforcement and serves as the Dona Ana County Undersheriff. She has a stepson, Carlo, who is currently in the United States Navy.

Considering a projector rental or a plasma rental for your your next convention or event? Then Call a Tech Travel Agent today at 800-736-8772.

Palin Becomes Fox News Contributor

2010-01-19T10:24:00.004-05:00

Last week, Fox News announced that it had signed on one of politics' biggest names, Sarah Palin, to become a contributor. The author, former governor and Republican vice presidential nominee signed what is being called a "multi-year contract" that will give her the opportunity to offer political analysis and commentary on the Fox News Channel, as well as other Fox media outlets, including Fox Business Channel, Fox News Radio, and FoxNews.com, and she will be given the chance to participate in special political programming. She will also host episodes of "Real American Stories," which, according to the news channel, will feature "a series exploring inspirational real-life tales of overcoming adversity throughout the American landscape that will debut in 2010."

"Governor Palin has captivated everyone on both sides of the political spectrum and we are excited to add her dynamic voice to the FOX News lineup," said Bill Shine, Fox News' executive vice president of programming.

In a written statement, Palin said, "I am thrilled to be joining the great talent and management team at Fox News. It's wonderful to be part of a place that so values fair and balanced news."

Of course, the move has not been without criticism. The usual suspects on the left have made their "stupid" comments. In the words of NBC's Chris Matthews, "How can Palin be a pundit when she doesn't know anything."

Even some prominent Republicans say Palin is more interested in making money than ever running for office again. But one Palin confidant and former co-chair of John McCain's presidential campaign, Fred Malek, says this is not the case, "She wants to continue making her views known and her voice heard. It doesn't have anything to do with a political strategy in the future," he told the New York Daily News.

This isn't Palin's first time working in the media. Before entering politics, she worked as a sportscaster for KTUU-TV and KTVA-TV in Anchorage, as well as working as a reporter for the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman. Palin joins a host of other prominent conservatives who have signed on with Fox News, including Karl Rove, Newt Gingrich, and Mike Huckabee.

Considering a projector rental or a plasma rental for your your next convention or event? Then Call a Tech Travel Agent today at 800-736-8772.

Sue Lowden Hopes to Unseat Harry Reid

2010-01-11T22:58:00.003-05:00

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has been making news lately and not in a good way. His popularity is waning, along with many Democrats in the Senate, and his recent comments about President Barack Obama not having a "negro dialect" have people on both sides of the aisle calling for him to step down from his Senate leadership position. With this in mind, Republicans are stepping up to the plate, looking to run against Reid and take his senate seat, something no one has been able to do in 23 years. A recent Rasmussen poll shows that all of the Republican candidates are polling more favorably than Reid and that includes the GOP's Sue Lowden.

So what makes Lowden qualified to take over the coveted senate seat? According to her website, she is a "longtime Nevada resident, philanthropist and an award-winning news reporter, anchorwoman and businesswoman. She has also served as a Nevada State Senator and Chairman of the Nevada Republican Party." During her stint in the Nevada State Legislature, Lowden served as the Senate Majority Whip and Chairman of the Senate Taxation Committee. Fiscally conservative, she was committed to lowering taxes and responsible government spending. This led her to win a number of awards including the Guardian of Small Business Award from the Nevada chapter of the National Federation of Independent Businesses, the Senator of the Year Award from the Clark County Republican Party, the Woman of the Year Award by the Republican Women of Las Vegas, and the 2008 Lifetime Achievement Award by the Republican Women of Henderson.

Before getting into politics, Lowden had already built quite the list of accomplishments. She earned a Bachelors Degree from American University and a Masters Degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University. The New Jersey native also represented her state in the 1973 Miss American pageant, where she was the second runner-up. She is still involved with the pageant and currently serves on the Board of Directors and as an advocate for the organization.

Professionally, Lowden began as an elementary school teacher in New Jersey. Eventually, she would move to Nevada, going to work as an award-winning reporter and anchorwoman for KLAS-TV, a CBS affiliate in Southern Nevada. Lowden has also worked in the business world. She currently serves as a Member of the Board of Directors and Secretary-Tresurer of Archon Corporation and is the former president of Santa Fe Hotel Casion. She is also the former executive vice president of Sahara Hotel and Casino. As a businesswoman, she has earned a Women of Achievement Award by the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce.

Lowden has also served in a number of philanthropic capacities. She began working with the Muscular Dystrophy Association in 1978 when she hosted the local Las Vegas telethon and currently serves on the Board of Directors and as the National Treasurer. She is a founding member of Nevada Child Seekers and the former chief barker for Variety Club for Handicapped Children of Southern Nevada, as well as a founding member of the Southern Nevada Ice Hockey League. As a young woman, she traveled with the USO and the Bob Hope Christmas Troupe to entertain troops all over the world.

Sue Lowden is married to Nevada businessman Paul Lowden, and they currently live in Las Vegas, Nevada. She has four children, Christopher, Jennifer, Paul IV, and the late William, who passed away in 2004, as well as one granddaughter, Vanessa. You can read more about Lowden at her website, SueLowden.com, including her views on taxes (lower them), abortion (pro-life), the Second Amendment (uphold it), Israel (protect it), federal spending (stop it) and more.

Considering a projector rental or a plasma rental for your your next convention or event? Then Call a Tech Travel Agent today at 800-736-8772.

Katherine Jenerette: A Gulf War Veteran for Congress

2010-01-02T13:30:00.000-05:00

"The Sarah Palin of the South." That's what a liberal blog called Congressional candidate Katherine Jenerette, recently. Of course, it was meant to be an insult but conservatives in South Carolina's 1st district will more than likely see it as a compliment.

Jenerette is not your average politician. The United States Army veteran, former NCAA track and field star, Republican activist, and mother of four has done more at 39 than most people have in a lifetime and now she's ready to take on Washington D.C.. A Carolina political website describes her as having "Reagan principles" and she doesn't shy away from her conservative beliefs, no matter whose feelings might get hurt. She has been a vocal opponent to both Democrats and the Republicans who are currently residing in Congress. Last year, she told the Georgetown Times,

“The Democrats have a home team advantage now and Republicans need a congressman who can go toe-to-toe with them. We've had a Republican Congress for six years, and we can have more of the same or we can have someone in there that will make a difference. I am not afraid to say what needs to be said and push legislation for family and values, fiscal responsibility, national security and subjects like immigration and border control. Republicans have let liberals run their agenda. Republican values and principals on issues of life, health care, Social Security and marriage issues have been put on the side burner. The Republican members of Congress need to do a better job of getting out our messages and sticking to them.”

She believes the economy is the biggest issue facing our nation today and like any true Conservative, she knows the only way to fix it is through tax cuts. And as veteran who has served in the Middle East, she has strong feelings on the War on Terror. Jenerette believes the only way to stop terrorism on our soil is to stop it overseas first. In other words, "take the fight to their backyard." She is disgusted with politicians who are putting their own personal agenda above Americans safety and security and feels they should be held accountable. And while she takes a tough stance on illegal immigration, she has even stronger feelings about traditional families,

“Traditional families and faith are at the core and the foundation of our nation. Many of the issues from social security, health care, education options, pro-life and marriage issues are of critical importance to the future of this nation. We cannot ignore the fact that with the Baby Boom Generation moving into retirement many of us face the prospect of being ‘sandwiched’ between our teenagers and the needs of our parents. Whether we are talking about retirees and the cost of prescription drugs or sensible, non-bureaucratic approaches to education for our children, these monumental challenges for our government and society cannot be ignored for long."

So are you wondering what qualifies Jenerette for the job? Let's take a look at her background. She's a veteran of the U.S. Army and the Persian Gulf War Operation Desert Storm, and she currently serves as a Commissioned Officer in the U.S. Army Reserve. Upon returning home from the Gulf War, she attended the University of South Carolina, Coastal Carolina Campus on a Cross Country and Track scholarship. She graduated with a degree in history and went on to receive her Master's degree from the University of South Carolina at Columbia. She is currently an Adjunct Professor of History at with Southeastern Community College.

Jenerette has been politically active for almost two decades, beginning with her work with the Horry County Republican Women's Club. She served as the Horry County Delegate to the South Carolina Republican State Convention in 1992 and hasn't looked back since. She worked as a campaign volunteer for various governors, including Arthur Ravenel, Jr. and Mark Sanford, Senator Elizabeth Dole, and President George W. Bush. She also served as a Field Representative for Congressman Henry E. Brown, Jr.. In 2004, she ran for State Senate District 28 and lost by less than 2,000 votes, nearly defeating Democratic Senator Dick Elliot who has been in office since 1962.

Katherine Jenerette currently lives in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina with her husband Van Jenerette, and their four children, a son, Christian David, and three daughters, Benjamin Elizabeth, Drake Katherine, and Wilson Gabrielle. She is a member of the First Baptist Church in North Myrtle Beach and an associate member of the Huguenot Protestant Church of Charleston.

Considering a projector rental or a plasma rental for your your next convention or event? Then Call a Tech Travel Agent today at 800-736-8772.

Elizabeth Scott: A Voice for Education in Washington's 21st

2009-12-14T21:23:00.004-05:00

According to her website, Elizabeth Scott is "an educator, a community leader and local budget watchdog, a school leader who helps students learn debate and speech skills and takes the time to deliver dictionaries to kids who need them. She is a loving wife and mother of three who says, 'Now is the time for the rest of us to step up and fix the mess in Olympia.'"

Perhaps this is why Scott has decided to run for office in Washington's 21st district. The aspiring State Representative has been endorsed by a number of influential people, including DiAnna Brannan, founder of the Christian Homeschool Network, radio host Kirby Wilbur, and Rob McKenna, Washington State's attorney general, as well as a number of Republican and Libertarian activists, local politicians, and Republican Women's groups.

Scott's professional background is heavy in education and her dedication to the issue is evident in her campaign. She has taught English as a Second Language to students in Illinois, South Carolina and Washington, as well as overseas in China and the United Arab Emirates. She taught at Edmonds Community College, North Seattle Community College, Lake Washington Technical College, and was a founding faculty member of Cascadia Community College. Scott also worked as a Reasearch and Policy Analyst at Evergreen Freedom Foundation in Olympia, Washington.

She attributes this experience to knowing the "critical role" schools and colleges play in "shaping the future," and claims she can be advocate for her district and the state's kids. Scott says education can be improved in a number of ways,

"...reward good teachers, give principals freedom and flexibility, and stop micromanaging from Olympia if we attach the money to the student and allow competition do its miraculous work from within the system. I will work to raise academic standards by returning to an emphasis on math and reading so our students will be able to meet basic federal requirements, and by allowing principals and teachers to take a creative approach in order to help their students reach these standards."

But she isn't a single-issue candidate. Scott is a big proponent of individual rights and liberty. As a member of the National Rifle Association, Scott says she will do what it takes to see to it that the Second Amendment is upheld. She will also be a strong defender of property rights, working to remove excess tax and regulation. She is for smaller government with less spending at both the state and federal levels, and has spoken at a number of Tea Parties over the last year.

So what other credentials does Scott bring to the table? She's been very active in her community over the years; she's been a member of the Edmonds Citizens' Levy Review Committee, where she worked to avoid tax increases. She's been a member of the Evergreen Republican Women's Club since 2004 and even served as the Outreach Chair from 2005-2006. She has also volunteered with local middle school and high school students in a number of capacities.

As mentioned above, Scott is a member of the N.R.A. and is currently learning marksmanship. A self-described "Midwest farm girl," she is also a member of the Washington State Farm Bureau, the Snohomish County Chapter of the Citizens' Alliance for Property Rights, and Evergreen Freedom Foundation.

Scott has a B.A. in Linguistics with a minor in Literature from Seattle Pacific University. She also holds a M.A. in Teaching English as a Foreign Language from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Illinois. She and her husband Paul are the parents of three children and are very active in their church.

One of the First Female Senators, Paula Hawkins, Dies at 82

2009-12-05T11:27:00.007-05:00

Paula Hawkins, the first female to be elected to the United States Senate in her own right, died on Friday. She was 82 years old. Hawkins was also the first and only female elected to the Senate from Florida and according to the Orlando Sentinel, she fought hard to get through the "good ol' boys" club."

She was working as a Republican committeewoman when she decided to run for the Public Service Commission in 1972. She campaigned as a populist and a consumer advocate, and won a second term in 1976. In 1974 she ran unsuccessfully for the United States Senate -the seat was won by Jack Eckerd- and in 1978, Eckerd ran unsuccessfully for governor, with Hawkins under him as Lieutenant Governor on the Republican ticket. In 1980, she beat out Democrat Bill Gunter with 52% of the vote, finally earning herself a spot in the United States Senate. She served only one term.

"Senator Paula Hawkins broke the glass ceiling for women like me to be able to pursue public service at the highest levels. She blazed a trail by winning statewide office at a time when being an elected Republican woman wasn't very common in the Sunshine State, needless to say in the United States Senate," Florida State Senator and gubernatorial candidate Paula Dockery told the Orlando Sentinel.

While Senator Hawkins didn't enjoy being called a feminist, she considered herself a champion of children's and women's rights. She backed legislation that would help homemakers get jobs upon becoming widowed or divorced and wanted to equalize pension benefits for women by considering the years they spent raising children. She fought for tax breaks on child care expenses and to get day care for children of Senate employees. She also fought hard against drugs and child abuse, disclosing that she had been molested as a child, while speaking at the Third National Conference on Sexual Victimization. This led to her penning a book in 1986, Children at Risk, My Fight Against Child Abuse: A Personal Story and a Public Plea.

She was pro-life and opposed abortion-on-demand, as well as the Equal Rights Amendment. She also refused to join the Congressional Woman's Caucus because she thought women's issues were "family issues" and concerned more than just women. She as quoted as saying, ""I did not like the Equal Rights Amendment. I predicted that it would bring about the downfall of the father's responsibility to support the family."

Hawkins also served as the Vice President of Air Florida from 1979-1980 and director of the Rural Telephone Bank Board from 1972-1978. In 1988, she was named the director of Philip Crosby Associates, a consulting company started by Winter Park businessman and author, Philip B. Crosby. In 1997, she joined the board of Nu Skin Enterprises. Nu Skin Enterprises is a direct selling company that sells cosmetics, nutritional supplements and technology services.

Hawkins was born on January 24, 1927 in Salt Lake City, Utah, and grew up in Utah and Georgia. She was married to Gene Hawkins and they had three children, Genean, Kevin, and Kelly Ann. She attended Utah State University and was a member of the Church of Latter Day Saints.

It is reported that Hawkins died in her home in Winter Park, Florida, after complications from a fall. She had also recently suffered a stroke. Florida Governor Charlie Crist ordered all flags lowered to half-staff and Dean Cannon, Florida House Speaker-designate, held a moment of silence on Friday.

Christina Jeffrey: A Conservative For South Carolina

2009-11-26T18:30:00.000-05:00

With so much going wrong in Washington, DC these days, it seems as though Conservatives, Republicans, and Independents are already getting set to bring true change to government in 2010. One such person is Christina Jeffrey. Jeffrey is running for Congress in South Carolina's Fourth Congressional District on a platform of social and fiscal conservatism. According to her website, she is running because she is tired of "tyranny,"

"Like you, I hate tyranny in all its ugly forms. The founding fathers made sure that our system would enable us to resist tyrants. But for their system to work, each branch of government has to be checked by the other branches. That’s not happening, and it is also why we see the people rising up to protest an overactive Presidency and a flaccid Congress."

So who is Christina Jeffrey? According to her website, she is a college professor with a PhD in political science and a person who has "built her life upon Conservative Principles." She has worked in Germany and Turkey, experience that enhanced her knowledge of international problems our country is facing. She has worked as a tenured Associated Professor of Political Science at both Kennesaw State and the University of Georgia. She has also served as the Congressional Historian for the 104th United State Congress. Jeffrey is currently a professor at Wofford College, where she teaches Foundations of American Government.

Jeffrey claims her knowledge of international trade, public policy and economic issues are just what her district needs and says she understands the many challenges facing our country today. Of Congressman Bob Inglis, who currently serves South Carolina's Fourth District, she has said,

“We do not have real representation in Washington, he is symbolic of the path many Republicans have taken over the past few years as he has continued to compromise our conservative values. He is sadly out of touch with his constituents. What the SC 4th district needs is someone who adhere to the republican principles. Times have changed, but the principles that brought the Republican Party to power in 1980 are the principles held by the majority of the 4th congressional district. What we need is new leadership that will adhere to the republican principles.”
On her website, you can also find "Christina's Big Five," a set of five important topics that Jeffrey is basing her campaign on; they are: 1) Constitution, 2) Money, 3) Country, 4) Rights and 5) Values. Under "Our Constitution," she states that she believes The Constitution of the United States serves as the foundation of our laws and is not subject to judicial reinterpretation. Under "Our Money," Jeffrey talks about the decline of the United States dollar and what can be done to fix it such as limited federal spending.

For number three, "Our Country" Jeffrey mentions national security and takes a very pro-military stance on the issues. She also mentions that she is anti-illegal immigrant, but also pro-legal immigrant. She feels the country must maintain our sovereignty and strong national security to remain the "most free, most prosperous nation on earth." "Our Rights" is about fighting the nanny state. Jeffrey is a pro-gun candidate who supports the Second Amendment, and a strong proponent of free speech, property rights, and individual liberties.

Finally, Jeffrey believes our American values are those based on the Judeo-Christian ideals of the Founding Fathers. She believes "religious expressions of individuals should be accommodated in the public sphere." She also believe in protecting the innocent, making her a pro-life candidate. She is also in favor of traditional marriage and believes Affirmative Action is unconstitutional.

Christina Jeffrey is one of five Republican candidates who will be on the ballot for the primary held on June 10, 2010.

Palinmania Sweeps the Nation

2009-11-22T19:53:00.000-05:00

Unless you live under a rock, you know Sarah Palin's book Going Rogue was released this week and you know the former Alaskan Governor and Republican Vice Presidential Candidate has been everywhere. Traveling the country, making stops to do interviews and sign books, Palinmania has swept the nation, attracting both positive and negative attention. Media personalities from Martha Stewart to Washington Post book reviewer Ana Marie Cox have bashed her and various media outlets continue to speak untruths and spread rumors about Palin. The Associated Press even assigned eleven reporters to fact-check her book (comepared to the two assigned to the health care reform bill), but the American people are still lining up to support her like never before.

Going Rogue sold a record-breaking 300,000 copies on the first day of its release and the day after, the former Governor began a thirteen-stop book signing tour that hits cities in Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Virginia, North Carolina, Alabama, and Florida. Attendees are waiting in the streets to get an autograph and camping out overnight in the cold, just to get a glimpse. But most people have probably seen or heard Palin interviewed on a number of radio and television shows. Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Barbara Walters, Oprah Winfrey, Mark Levin, Bill O'Reilly, and others have had their chance to question Palin about everything from some nasty rumors to her plans for the future. Here's a look at some of the things she's had to say.

When asked about running for president in 2012, Palin told Fox News host Bill O'Reilly that she felt she was qualified but wouldn't confirm whether or not she planned to run. Oprah's audience snickered when Palin told the talk show host that she wouldn't confirm her plans with her, even if she were planning to run for office again. Of John McCain, she calls him a "patriot" and "friend" but doesn't have a lot of great things to say about his campaign staff and the way they treated her during the 2008 election. Of the now infamous Katie Couric interview, she insists she didn't answer the question about what publications she reads because Couric was treating her rudely.

When Rush Limbaugh asked the former Governor what her goal with the book is and who she's trying to reach, she responded,

Just everyday, hardworking Americans who want government back on their side and I want to help them have their voice be heard. And the book is all about that, and the book is about my record and my accomplishments as a mayor and as a governor that kind of lay the foundation for Americans to see where it was that I was and how I got to where I am. It was just a lot of hard work and it was a lot of very commonsense measures that I undertook politically and practically speaking, and the book is about that, and hopefully people will read it and enjoy it and learn something from it.
While those sort of topics are making the headlines, Governor Palin has also spoken out about a number of current issues the nation is facing and what needs to be done about them. From the economy, "Let's go back to what Reagan did" and "stay committed to those free market principles" to the topic she seems to know a lot about, energy, "What is complicated about tapping into abundant, safe domestic supplies that could provide stability for our country and security for our country?"

Love her or hate her, one thing's for certain, Sarah Palin causes a stir whenever her name is mentioned!

Lyn Bliss Elected VP of Southwest Ohio FRW

2009-11-05T10:29:00.000-05:00

The Ohio Federation of Republican Women held their annual fall conference recently and officers for 2010 and 2011 were elected. Darke County Republican Women's Club member, Lyn Bliss, was elected Vice President of the Southwest District which includes Republican Women’s Clubs in Butler, Champaign, Clark, Clermont, Clinton, Greene, Hamilton, Logan, Miami, Montgomery, Preble, Shelby, Warren and Darke counties.

Bliss has served in a number of roles at the Darke County Republican Women's Club, including corresponding secretary, recording secretary, card party committee member, nominating committee member, picnic committee member, publicity chairlady, membership book editor, and representative to the OFRW and representative to the National Federation of Republican Women. She is also a member of the Ohio Republican Party and Republican National Committee.

She has also served on a number of non-political boards. Bliss is a League of Women Voters Board of Directors member, Junior Vice President of VFW Auxiliary 7262, Board Member and Secretary of the Darke County Metropolitan Housing Authority and webmaster for the Darke County Republican Party as well as a member of the Eagle’s Auxiliary, Women of the Moose, Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, Greenville Area Women’s Connection, Core Committee for the Greenville Schools Levy, Darke County Historical Society (Garst Museum), Friends of the Greenville Library, Committee to Restore the Greenville Mausoleum, Citizens Against Carbon Sequestration, Senior Advocate Scholarship Fund, Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority Alumni, University of Iowa Alumni, University of Maryland Alumni, Wright Patterson Club and the Dayton Art Institute. She has served as a member on the following boards: Edison Community College Board of Trustees, the Darke County Republican Central and Executive Committees, Board of Directors for the Cancer Association of Darke County and was also the Political Education chair for the Ohio Federation of Republican Women.

Bliss is a former schoolteacher and a graduate of the University of Maryland and the University of Iowa. She and her husband, Al, make their home in Greenville.

Other officers elected include: President Jean Turner of Gibsonburg, Vice President Carol Salmon of Canfield, Treasurer Karen McTague of Oak Harbor, and Secretary Pet Rettig of Clyde. In addition to Bliss, the six district Vice Presidents are: Kathy Wise of Newark for Central District, Jewette Toney of Wintersville for East District, Donna Thatcher of Freemont for Northwest District, Edwina Wolcott of Warren for Northeast District, and Shawn Priest of Leesburg for South District.

Sarah Palin Announces Book Tour

2009-11-04T00:03:00.000-05:00

Former Alaska Governor and Republican Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin's highly anticipated book Going Rogue: An American Life will officially be released in just two weeks. The book, which already reached the number one spot on a number of best-seller lists, is expected to be a personal and political chronicle of Palin's life and according to publisher HarperCollins, will be full of "fascinating details."

Today, the former governor took to her Facebook page to announce that she'll be visiting a number of places across the country, in the coming weeks, to promote her book. Palin said she will be announcing the exact locations for scheduled book signings in the next few days and that she looks forward to meeting as many people as possible, "I’ve decided to travel to cities outside of the typical book tour venues, and I hope to cover as much of the country as I can."

In addition to book signings, she will make be making a number of media stops, or so she hopes. Palin listed a number of media personalities she'd like to meet with and not surprisingly, most of them are big supporters of the former Governor. Her media wishlist includes: Bill O’Reilly, Barbara Walters, Sean Hannity, Greta Van Susteren, Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Mark Levin, Laura Ingraham, Dennis Miller, Tammy Bruce, and others, including local Alaska personalities Bob & Mark and Eddie Burke.

Palin is already scheduled to appear on Oprah Winfrey's show on November 16, the day before the book is released. Winfrey, who openly backed Barack Obama in the 2008 Presidential election, came under fire for not inviting then Republican Vice Presidential candidate Palin to her show, considering Palin was and is easily one of the most influential people in the country.

Interview with S.E. Cupp

2009-10-30T13:30:00.001-04:00

S.E. Cupp is a phenomenal author, columnist and political commentator, and it seems as though she's everywhere these days. She's written for a number of publications, everything from the Washington Post to Sports Illustrated, on topics ranging from Sarah Palin to NASCAR. She's appeared on a number of television programs and radio shows, including regular spots on "Hannity," "Fox and Friends," and "Red Eye." According to her website, she is working on her second book (her first, Why You're Wrong About the Right, was published in June 2008). We had a chance to talk with Cupp about everything from what the GOP can do to attract more young people to what she likes to do when when she needs a break from the world of politics and news. Here's what she had to say:

1. How did you become interested in politics?

SEC: I was interested in everything when I was young. Politics, history, art, science, culture...I was always a really curious kid. When I was 10 I wanted to be "Ambassador of France" when I grew up...but more because Shirley Temple had become an ambassador. Then it was an astronomer. Later I considered going to Annapolis. Then I wanted to be a foreign service officer. Eventually I settled on a writing career, but I always knew I'd continue to be curious about the world around me. And that included politics.

2. What makes you a conservative? What issues are most important to you right now?

SEC: I'm a conservative because I find a few central tenets really compelling: strong national defense, fiscal responsibility, limited government and lowering taxes. These are things that affect my daily life. I believe conservatism has come up with the best answers for those issues. And I'm incredibly uncomfortable with the malleability of liberal philosophy, its moral relativism, its reliance on the zeitgeist as cause creator, its antipathy toward religion, and its inherent elitism.

3. You are often mentioned as a voice for young conservatives and the future of conservatism. What do you think the right can do to get more young people interested and involved?

SEC: The GOP needs to embrace young, new messengers that can deliver our message in more interesting, relevant, and creative ways. Sometimes the party clings to the old guard and the party's anointed patriarchs at the exclusion of everyone else...it's turf war, and it is what will make conservatism staid and stale for the younger generation. We need our veteran leadership -- but we also need fresh voices.

4. What about women? How do you think conservatism relates to women's issues?

SEC: Conservatism is better for women because conservatism is better for everyone. Conservatism is better for minorities and the youth, as well as middle aged white guys. Conservatism fosters ingenuity, self-reliance, innovation, independence, strong family values, and a sense of purpose. It creates jobs, boosts capitalism, defends freedom, and spreads democratic values to the rest of the world. When you start to use identity politics as a way to appeal to certain demographics, you become a cheap pander. Conservatism's benefits are self-evident -- my uterus has nothing to do with it.

5. Are there any women in politics (in or out of office) whom you admire?

SEC: I admire plenty of women, but certainly not because they're women. I admire Condoleeza Rice's intellect. I admire Laura Bush's quiet dignity. I admire Judith Sheindlin's decisiveness. And I admire Sarah Palin's tenacity. But those are all qualities I've also found in many of the men I admire.

6. What do you feel is your biggest accomplishment to date?

SEC: Being someone my parents are proud of.

7. Do you plan to run for office in the future? If not, is there anyone you would like to see run for office?

SEC: Absolutely not. I enjoy my journalistic freedom to write and say what I want.

8. Finally, I know you're a big NASCAR fan - what else do you like to do when you need a break from the political world?

SEC: I love shooting. I own a .12 gauge shotgun, and am partial to skeet shooting. I enjoy fishing as well. I've recently taken up knitting, which is very relaxing. And I travel as much as I can. Day to day though, it's always a nice escape from news when I can squeeze in an hour of mindless television.

Thanks so much to S.E. Cupp for taking part in our interview. To learn more about her, you can visit her website: Red S.E. Cupp

Considering a projector rental or a plasma rental for your your next convention or event? Then Call a Tech Travel Agent today at 800-736-8772.

Interview with Noelle Nikpour

2009-10-28T13:07:00.000-04:00

Noelle Nikpour is a Republican Strategist and Consultant, who is often featured on television programs such as "Fox and Friends," "Red Eye," and "Good Day New York." We had a chance to ask the Arkansas native a few questions on everything from why the Republican Party is important to women's issues to why she thinks the GOP needs a makeover! Here's what she had to say:

Why did you decide to get involved with politics?
NN: I decided to get involved in politics because I wanted to make a difference and be a part of a greater good!

What do you think is the most important issue currently facing the country?
NN: The economy and its future is the most important issue at hand for this country. With unemployment at an all time high, foreclosures on the rise, and our dollar appearing weaker, we must address this and turn it around.

You say the GOP needs a new image - what do you think needs to be changed and how can it be accomplished?
NN: The GOP needs a new image by way of how we are viewed, especially by young adults and college Republicans. The Dems have done a great marketing job in order to capture these important groups. We need more young Republican role models that they can relate to and need to show more diversity in a "less sterile" environment.

How is the GOP important to women's issues and what can be done to help the party relate to women better?
NN: Be it a mom, a wife, a working woman, the GOP aligns with many women on such issues from anti abortion, lower taxes, and basic conservative values. As more moms and wives go into the work force to make ends meet, they begin to see the importance of why our party lobbies for less government and lower taxes and they can relate to it first hand!

Are there any women in politics (in or out of office) whom you admire?
NN: Sarah Palin is a woman to admire! Like her or not, she is the epitome of the modern day woman! She holds a job, is a mom, a wife, and takes care of herself. She wears many hats and must be Webster's definition of multitasking!

Would you ever run for office? If not, is there anyone you'd like to see run in the next few years?
NN: I would never seek to run for office due to the fact I'd rather be behind the scenes making it all work for a great man or woman who is willing to put it all on the line for public office. There are so many great candidates that would possibly consider a run for office and it will prove to be an exciting time for the GOP. With that said, I'd like to see a candidate that has strong experience in economics by way of education or experience! I mean, really, we need to see a proven "job history" on the next President we elect! I'm just sayin'...............

Big thanks to Noelle Nikpour for taking part in our interview! You can learn more about her at her website: Noelle Nikpour.

Virginia Foxx: One of Congress's Most Conservative Members

2009-10-21T20:32:00.000-04:00

In 2008, Dr. Virginia Foxx was reelected to her third term in Congress, representing North Carolina's Fifth District. During that time she's been controversial, yet conservative. The non-partisan magazine National Journal has ranked her the most conservative member of Congress. She is also one of 38 Republicans to score a perfect approval rating from the American Conservative Union. Let's take a look at the life and accomplishments of one of Congress's most conservative members.

Foxx was born in The Bronx, New York, on June 29, 1943. She went on to graduate from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and a Masters degree in Sociology. She earned an Ed.D. in Curriculum and Teaching/Higher Education from University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Foxx began her professional career as a research assistant and secretary at UNC and later moved on to teach at Caldwell Community College, eventually becoming a sociology instructor at Appalachian State University. At Appalachian State, she worked her way up through several positions, holding several administrative positions and eventually becoming the Assistant Dean of the college. She went on to serve as the Deputy Secretary for Management in the North Carolina Department of Administration, under Governor Jim Martin, and served as President of Maryland Community College for seven years.

Congresswoman Foxx has served on a number of state and national committees and has been active in a number of civic and business affairs. She has served on the Executive Committee of the North Carolina Citizens for Business and Industry, the Watauga County Board of Education, she was appointment to the National Advisory Council for Women's Educational Programs, she's served on the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation Advisory Panel. In addition, she has served the Board of Directors of the John William Pope Center for Higher Education Policy, Board of Directors of the N.C. Center for Public Research, the UNC-Chapel Hill Board of Visitors, National Conference of State Legislatures' Blue Ribbon Advisory Panel on Child Care, was a Charter Member of the Mount Airy Museum of Regional History, and the Foscoe-Grandfather Community Center Board.

Some of Foxx's most notable work as a Congresswoman has been dealing with military and veterans' affairs. In 2006, her first bill was signed into law by President Bush. The Hero Act allows troops to increase retirement savings by investing some of their combat pay into Individual Retirement Accounts. Foxx is also a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, which, according to her website, is the "world’s largest women’s patriotic service organization." She currently serves on the Committee on Rules and has recently been outspoken on health care, saying, "Republicans have a better solution that won't put the government in charge of people's health care" and "[the Republican plan] is pro-life because it will not put seniors in a position of being put to death by their government."

Congresswoman Foxx is married to Tom Foxx and they currently reside in Banner Elk, North Carolina. Before becoming a member of Congress, she and her husband owned a nursery. She is also a lay leader at her church and enjoys reading, gardening and being a grandparent.

Liz Cheney Launches Keep America Safe

2009-10-18T15:21:00.000-04:00

Her father may have been Vice President of the United States for eight years, but these days it's Liz Cheney's name you often hear in the news. The former Deputy Secretary of State has been doing everything from standing up for the Bush administration's tactics in the War on Terror to speaking out about national security, leaving many Americans to wonder if she will be running for political office in the near future. One of Cheney's latest projects, along with Weekly Standard founder and editor William Kristol, and former attorney and CourtTV producer Debra Burlingame, is launching Keep America Safe.

The website is designed to keep Americans updated with information about critical national security issues, encourage dialogue between citizens and elected officials, and influence public policy that is critical to the national security of the United States. The website appears to be a result of the current administration's stances on foreign policy. From their mission statement,

The United States remains a nation at war. We face a growing threat from rogue regimes that seek or have already obtained nuclear weapons. America’s interests are challenged by an authoritarian China, a resurgent Russia, and dictators in our own hemisphere who ally themselves with our adversaries. Amidst the great challenges to America’s security and prosperity, the current administration too often seems uncertain, wishful, irresolute, and unwilling to stand up for America, our allies and our interests.

The statement goes on to talk about how the Obama administration is going against policies that have kept the country safe since September 11, 2001, talks about how America is an unparalleled positive force in the world, and talks about how Keep America Safe will make the case for an "unapologetic approach" to fighting terrorism, victory for wars in which the country fights, democracy, human rights, and a strong military.

The website features a number of resources that help support Keep America Safe's mission. Resources include a former CIA director's letter to President Obama, the 9/11 Commission Report, recent news stories on Pakistan from the New York Times and the Associated Press, letters from al-Zawahiri to al-Zarqawi, along with critical thinking and commentary pieces from the likes of Time Magazine and Debra Burlingame.

A special "Spotlight" section highlights a photo and information about "high value" Gitmo detainee Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. Under the "Take Action" section, there are ways for the American public to get involved with Keep America Safe's mission, including ways to contact your legislators, write to news editors, call talk radio, join the website's emailing list, or make a financial contribution.

Keep America Safe is a non-profit, non-partisan organization, according to the website. You can keep up with the organization via Twitter, Facebook or their special Youtube video channel, or visit the website for more information: Keep America Safe.

Marsha Blackburn: Tennessee's True Conservative

2009-10-12T17:05:00.000-04:00

Marsha Blackburn has never been one to stay quiet when it comes to politics, whether it be at the grassroots level or during her career representing Tennessee's 7th Congressional District. At the age of 25, she founded the Williamson County Tennessee Young Republicans and in 1989, she served as Chairman of the Williamson County Republican Party for two years. In 1992, she took her passion to a new level by running unsuccessfully for Congress. Despite the loss, she would go on to serve as the chairwoman of the Tennessee Film, Entertainment and Music Commission in 1995 and become elected to the Tennessee State Senate in 1998. During that time she led the effort to prevent the passage of a state income tax and to protect the state's Second Amendment rights.

In 2002, Blackburn decided to make another attempt at running for Congress, successfully becoming the first female to represent Tennessee based on her own merits (three other women have represented the state on behalf of their deceased husbands) and the first Republican to represent the Nashville area since Reconstruction. Some consider her a potential candidate for governor of the state in 2010. Since entering office, Blackburn has proven that she is a true Conservative, both on fiscal and social issues and has become a mainstay in the media, frequently appearing on television shows such as Fox News' "Hannity."

As a member of Congress, Blackburn has worked tirelessly to pass tax relief, promote an "ownership society," create health care legislation for small businesses, restore concurrent receipt for Veterans, increase pay for members of the military, prohibit partial birth abortion and reform the personnel system of the Department of Defense. She currently serves on the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming. Blackburn has also served in a number of leadership roles including her roles as Communications Chair of both the Republican Study Committee and National Republican Congressional Committee, as Deputy Whip, and as co-founder of the Congressional Songwriters Caucus. In 2008, she signed on as a senior advisor to Governor Mitt Romney's presidential campaign but resigned to endorse former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson for president.

Most recently, she has been a strong proponent of "Czar" accountability legislation. In a recent appearance on "Hannity," she had this to say on the matter,
"...the more people know about this and the more they realize that this administration has put in place as many 'czars' in eight months as the Bush administration did in eight years. And that is of concern. And the other thing is the lack of transparency. We think, when individuals are going to act with this authority, that a Cabinet secretary has, or be placed between the administration and the Cabinet secretary and be outside of that line of congressional oversight, that, indeed, the American public needs to know."
With a 100% pro-life voting record, Blackburn has been heavily praised by the National Right to Life and has been honored by several fiscally conservative groups such as the Americans for Tax Reform who called her a "taxpayer hero" in 2003. The National Journal has called her a "top House Conservative" and she received the "true blue" award from The Family Research Council. She has also received 100% approval from the U. S. Border patrol.

Congressman (as she prefers to be called) Blackburn was born June 6, 1952 in Laurel, Mississippi. She received her Bachelors degrees from Mississippi State in 1973. She has been married to Charles "Chuck" Blackburn for over 30 years. The couple has two children, Mary Morgan Ketchel and Chad Blackburn, and one grandson, Jack Ketchel.

Ileana Ros-Lehtinen: The First Hispanic Woman in Congress

2009-10-08T09:20:00.000-04:00

When it comes to Republican Congresswomen in the news, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen isn't a name you hear often, but she has definitely made an impact on the party and the country. Not only is she the most senior ranking Republican female in Congress, but she's the first Republican female to represent the state of Florida in Congress, as well. A Cuban immigrant who has truly paved her own way to live the American dream, she is also the first Hispanic woman elected to Congress. Throughout the twenty years she's spent representing Florida's Eighteenth Congressional District, she has been a driving force for a number of issues and like any prominent politician, has not been without controversy. Here is a look at the life and career of Ileana Ros-Lehtinen:

Ileana Ros-Lehtinen was born July 15, 1952 in Havana Cuba to businessman, activist and author Enrique Ros and his wife Amanda Adato. At the age of eight, her family was forced to flee Cuba and they moved to Miami, Florida. Ros-Lehtinen received an Associates Degree from Miami-Dade Community College, both her Bachelors and Masters Degrees from Florida International University, and her Doctorate Degree in education from the University of Miami. She eventually took her passion for education to a new level and started and ran Eastern Academy, a private elementary school in south Florida.

According to her website, in 1982, after listening to many of her friends and neighbors complain about the issues facing their lives, she decided to run for the Florida House of Representatives. Her bid for a seat was successful and she went on to serve a second term in 1986. One of her most notable achievements during that time was the creation of the Florida Pre-paid College program which allows parents to lock in college tuition rates.

In 1989, Ros-Lehtinen ran successfully for her current seat in Congress. Even though she is a Republican and holds a number of strong Conservative stances, she often sides with Democrats on the issues of gay rights. She is currently the only Republican member of the LGBT Equality Caucus and believes gays should be allowed to serve openly in the military. She also voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment which would have restricted marriage to be only between a man and a woman. She has also fought to keep oil drilling off the Florida coast (though she does support drilling in ANWR), co-sponsored the Coral Reef Preservation Act, and co-founded the National Marine Sanctuary Caucus.

On many other issues, Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen is a staunch Conservative. She was a strong supporter of the war and subsequently the surge in Iraq. Ros-Lehtinen, whose maternal grandparents were Jewish and very active in Cuba's Jewish community, is also a strong supporter of Israel. She supported President Bush's tax cuts, supports free trade, voted against the estate tax, and signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge. She has also voted against stem cell research.

Ros-Lehtinen is perhaps one of the most prominent members of the Cuban-American lobby and is a member of the Congressional Cuba Democracy Caucus. Her strong views have led her to lobby against ending the United States embargo against Cuba and she has worked to prevent United States banks from doing business with the Cuban government. She has referred to the country as "that system of godless communism," was instrumental in the failed attempt at allowing Elian Gonzalez to stay in the United States and even attempted to block Jimmy Carter's visit to the country in 2002.

Ros-Lehtinen's humanitarian work doesn't just stop in Cuba. As the ranking member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, she has worked on behalf of human rights in a number of other places including Tibet, Iran, Haiti and Darfur, and she has been a loud voice for free trade with Columbia, as well as an advocate for democracy in Iran and Venezuela. She is currently traveling to Honduras, in an effort to convince her colleagues that they must restore aid to the nation.

Upon being re-elected in 2008, she made headlines after hanging up on both President Barack Obama and his chief o staff, Rahm Emanuel who were calling to congratulate her. She has also been accused of wishing for the assassination of Fidel Castro, something she strongly denies. Ros-Lehtinen was recently inducted to the Florida Women's Hall of Fame.

Ros-Lehtinen is married to Dexter Lehtinen. She two daughters, Amanda and Patricia, and two stepchildren, Douglas and Catherine.

Get Your Great American Conservative Women 2010 Calendar

2009-10-07T09:55:00.002-04:00

Yes, you read right. The Clare Boothe Luce Policy Institute (CBLPI) has put together the "Great American Conservative Women" 2010 calendar and has already sold out the initial 25,000 copies of its first printing. This is the fifth such calendar released by the the CBLPI.

According to Alyssa Cordova, spokeswoman for the institute, the calendar is meant to celebrate conservative women and encourage young women to follow in their footsteps. Though she wouldn't name names, Cordova also mentioned that several journalists turned the institute down, fearing that they would lose credibility after appearing in anything labeled "conservative." She also mentioned a desire for former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin to make an appearance in 2011.

Of course, as with anything conservative, liberals are already making the calendar a target, "The left is petty. They go for the cheap and easy…whether that’s attacking Sarah Palin for spending money on a wardrobe, or calling Obama’s opposition racist, or attacking a calendar of conservative women," said Miss December and columnist S. E. Cupp. Even so, the Huffington Post has already put together a "help make a liberal women calendar" effort.

The calendar features conservative women including former Miss California Carrie Prejean, Ann Coulter, Michelle Malkin, former U.S. Treasurer Bay Buchanan, author and activist Star Parker, former chairman of the Virginia GOP Kate Obenshain, Regnery Publishing president Marji Ross, Eagle Forum founder Phyllis Schlafly, pollster Kellyanne Conway, Cupp and Congresswoman Michele Bachmann. It cost $25 or for students, it's free.

According to their website, the Clare Booth Luce Policy Institute is dedicated to the "power and potential of conservative women" such as "Clare Boothe Luce, Margaret Thatcher, and Sarah Palin." Founded in 1993, their mission is to prepare women for effective leadership and to promote leading conservative women. Their programs stress the importance of moral values, strength of character, academic integrity, strong work ethic as well as pro-American, pro-business, and pro-family ideas. Learn more about the institute or order your calendar at their website here: CBLPI Home

Considering a projector rental or a plasma rental for your your next convention or event? Then Call a Tech Travel Agent today at 800-736-8772.

Sue Lynch to Lead the NFRW

2009-10-06T01:50:00.000-04:00

The National Federation of Republican Women (NFRW) has elected a new leader, but she's no stranger to politics or the GOP. Wisconsin's Sue Lynch currently serves as the First Vice President of the national grassroots political organization and just last month was unanimously elected to head the group. Lynch spoke with a La Crosse, Wisconsin news station (WXOW) about her new position, saying she would be moving to the Washington D.C. area. The move allow her to work closely with current Republicans in Congress and the Senate and enhance NFRW visibility. Her two year term will begin in January, 2010 - just in time to help the GOP take back Congress and the Senate.

In addition to her current positions as the group's First Vice President, Lynch also currently serves as Director of Region 1 (which includes Alaska, Hawaii, California, Oregon, and Washington), and as an adviser to both the NFRW Leadership Development Committee and the NFRW Special Events Committee. She has also served as second and third vice presidents and chairman of the Nominating Committee at the federal level. At the state level, she served as President of the Wisconsin FRW for four years and President of two local-area groups.

Lynch, a mother of two daughters, has been involved in Republican politics for over 30 years, having worked as chief of staff and office manager to three members of Congress and serving a number of gubernatorial and presidential campaigns. During the Reagan administration, she worked as the staff assistant to then Secretary of Agriculture John Block as well as holding other positions within the Department. For over twelve years, she taught campaign schools and did field work for campaigns for the Free Congress Foundation. She also lectured for the Krieble Institute.

In addition to her professional work, Lynch has been involved in a number of community activities. She served as president of the Franciscan Skemp Auxiliary-Mayo Health System, the state public policy chairman for the Partners of Wisconsin Hospital Association, she served the committee on Volunteer's Board Member for the American Hospital Association, and as a volunteer for the American Cancer Society. In 2007, she was named the Grassroots Volunteer of the Year for the Midwestern Division. She was also chosen as an outstanding volunteer for the West Salem Village People in 2007 for her work securing a building for a local Boys and Girls clubs. In 2006, she was chosen as one of the Most Influential Women of the Coulee Region. In 2001, she received the Caring for America Award for Community Service.

The NFRW is one of the largest and most influential women's political organizations in the United States. It recruits, trains, and elects candidates, advocates the GOP's philosophy and initiatives, and empowers women of all ages, ethnicity, and backgrounds in the political process. You can read more about the group here: History of the National Federation of Republican Women

Sarah Palin's "Going Rogue" Already Number One

2009-10-04T14:32:00.000-04:00

Republicans, Conservatives and Sarah Palin fans flocked to online book sellers such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble this week to pre-order the former governor's book, Going Rogue: An American Life. As a matter of fact, the book, which will not be released until November 17, 2009, quickly became the number one selling book on both websites last week, beating out the late Senator Ted Kennedy, and books by several top authors including Dan Brown and Mitch Albom.

The book's release date was originally scheduled for sometime during the spring of 2010, but Palin, along with author Lynn Vincent, completed the book in just four months after signing a deal with with publisher HarperCollins. HarperCollins plans to release an initial 1.5 million copies of the 432-page book and book sellers are already competing for even more sales. The book, originally priced at $28.99 is being offered at $15.45, a 45% discount, at both Amazon and Barnes & Noble's websites and Wal-mart is offering the book for a mere $13.50.

According to Amazon, the book will be a, "personal and political chronicle of her life." HarperCollins would not release any clues about of the book's contents but claimed it is full of "fascinating details." The title of the book is said to refer to the 2008 Presidential election when Palin, the GOP Vice Presidential candidate, supposedly strayed from McCain's campaign message. Many McCain staffers accused Palin of "going rogue."

Palin's book is just the latest is best-selling Conservative reads: Michelle Malkin's Culture of Corruption spent weeks on top of the New York Times nonfiction list. Glenn Beck's Common Sense and Mark Levin's Liberty and Tyranny have also been big sellers over the last few months.

Pre-order your own copy of the book here: Going Rogue

WWE's Linda McMahon to Run for Senate

2009-09-18T07:53:00.000-04:00

Following former Colorado Lt. Governor Jane Norton, Linda McMahon became the second Republican woman to announce that she would run for a United States Senate seat this week. The World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) CEO announced on Wednesday that she'd be entering the race to unseat current Connecticut Senator Chris Dodd. McMahon would run as a Republican in what's quickly becoming one of the biggest political races in the country.

In a statement, she said,

"Washington is out of control, and sadly, Senator Chris Dodd has lost his way and our trust. I can't sit by on the sidelines anymore knowing that I have both the experience and the strength to stand up to special interests and bring badly needed change to Washington."

McMahon's campaign financing will come mostly from the wealth she and her husband, Vince, have accumulated through their wrestling empire. Running as a fiscal conservative, she has pledged not to take cash from any political action committees or special interest groups and has put a $100 limit on any private donations made to her campaign. There are several other prominent people running for Dodd's seat including former Congressman Rob Simmons, former ambassador Tom Foley, state Senator Sam Caligiuri, and former Ron Paul advisor Peter Schiff.

McMahon has been involved with the Connecticut Republican Party for several years and appointed to Connecticut State Board of Education by Governor Jodi Rell earlier this year. She was nominated in the State Senate with an overwhelming 34-1 vote. She has given money to a number of political candidates - both Republicans and Democrats - including Joe Lieberman and Rahm Emanuel.

As for her duties as CEO of WWE, McMahon's husband will be taking over, effective immediately. The couple's two children, Shane and Stephanie McMahon are also involved in WWE operations and are expected to help with their mother's duties.

Linda Marie Edwards-McMahon was born October 4, 1948 in North Carolina. She graduated from East Carolina University with a degree in French. She is also a certified teacher. She and Vince McMahon met at church when they were just thirteen and sixteen and after dating throughout high school, they were married in 1966. The couple has resided in Connecticut for the last 30 years.

McMahon is committed to public service and supports a number of organizations including the USO, the Make-a-Wish Foundation, the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, the Starlight Foundation and Community Mayors. She also supports the Connecticut Grand Opera and its arts education program. She is also responsible for creating the Get R.E.A.L. initiative for education and literacy. She has served on the Governor's Council for the World Special Olympics and in 2004, she was elected to serve on the Board of Trustees of Sacred Heart University.

Jane Norton to Run for Colorado Senate Seat

2009-09-16T05:26:00.000-04:00

Add former Colorado Lieutenant Governor Jane Norton to the list of Republican women looking to run for office in 2010. On Tuesday, September 15, the native Coloradan traveled the state to announce that she would be entering the race to unseat Democrat and current United States Senator Michael Bennett. During her announcement speech, she was not hesitant to tackle Washington D.C.'s "giant hand,"

"Seizing control of our car companies, banks, insurance companies - exploding the national debt - and chipping away at individual liberty. And now, the federal government is attempting a take-over of 17% of our nation’s economy in the form of government-run health care. They have unleashed a tidal wave of spending unprecedented in American history... That is why I have decided that I cannot and will not sit by and do nothing."

Norton also addressed illegal immigration and a subject that has been a big part of her own life: health care. With a Bachelor's degree in health sciences, Norton has served in a number of prominent health care-related positions. Not only did she serve her home state as the Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, but she also served under President Reagan as the regional director of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. On health care, she had this to say,

"We need to reduce the cost of health insurance by promoting choice and competition. We need to provide tax equity so that people who buy their own insurance receive the same tax benefits as those who get insurance through their employers. We need real tort reform that limits expensive and frivolous lawsuits that drive up costs. And we need to tell President Obama and Senate Democrats that cutting Medicare for seniors as a way to pay for health care reform is immoral and wrong. And as the daughter of two Medicare recipients, I will not allow this to happen."

So who exactly is Jane Norton?

She was born October 12, 1954 in Grand Junction, Colorado, to Walter "Bus" and Elinor Bergman. After graduating from Grand Junction High School and Colorado State University, she began teaching middle school and would eventually work for Medical Group Management Association, heading its Office of State Government Relations and Office of Strategic Relationships. She also holds a Master's degree from Regis University. Norton is married to Mike Norton, former United States Attorney of Colorado, is the mother of two children and two step-children, and grandmother to seven.

Norton has been involved with Republican politics for most of her adult life and has served in countless leadership roles. She was a member of the Colorado General Assembly from 1986-1987. In 2003, she became the 46th Lieutenant Governor of Colorado where she achieved a number of accomplishments including appointing a state court judge, signing legislation into law, and hosting the Joint Chiefs of Staff for the Jordanian Armed Forces. She also convened a Committee to Promote Adoption, was chair of the Colorado Commission of Indian Affairs, co-chair of the Colorado Space Coalition, worked tirelessly to help small businesses to purchase lower health care plans, restored funding to the Ryan White AIDS Drug Assistance Program, oversaw the Governor’s Commission on Community Service, and was recognized for her countless other efforts in matters such as veterans affairs, education, community preparedness, strengthening families, and numerous other health care-related services. She also served as part of a Council of State Governments delegation to Mexico that worked to promote dialogue between American leaders and their Mexican counterparts on trade, cross border cooperation, and immigration policy.

Jane Norton currently works to support law enforcement as the executive director for the Denver Police Foundation, a group that reaches out to police officers and their families in times of crisis and also, provides equipment, training and technology. She also serves as as President of the Board of Directors of the Colorado Emergency Preparedness Partnership. Norton has participated in a tour of the nation's missile defense operations, the West Point Combating Terrorism Center and National Homeland Defense Foundation Symposium training sessions. She is also a graduate of the FBI's Citizen's Academy.

Nancy Nix: Butler County, Ohio Treasurer

2009-09-08T12:35:00.000-04:00

Nancy Nix is currently the Treasurer for Butler County in Ohio and is seeking the endorsement of the Butler County Republican Party so that she can run for County Commissioner. Nix, a CPA, says financial issues are closest to her heart. She is fiscally conservative and feels we need less government in our lives. As a mother of three children ages 11, 13, and 14, she says she doesn't yet know what her political future holds, but she isn't ruling anything out. Regardless of what office she holds, one thing is certain; Nix has a very bright future ahead.

We had the opportunity interview Nix, recently. Here is what she had to say:

Can you tell us about your personal and professional background? Family? Where did you grow up/go to school? What did you do before getting involved with politics?

Nix: I grew up in Palmyra, Missouri, as the second daughter of a very middle class, Catholic family. My parents worked hard to provide for my sister and me. I was Student Council President in both middle school and high school.

I went to Northeast Missouri State University (now Truman State) in Kirksville, MO, and received a B.S. with double majors in Marketing and Accounting in 1992. I sat for and passed the CPA exam 6 mos later and have spent 12 years working in accounting and banking.

Why do you consider yourself a Conservative/Republican? What issues are most important to you?

Nix: As an accountant and banker, fiscal issues are most important to me. I consider myself a Conservative/Republican because I don't believe in citizens being dependent upon their government from cradle to grave. The United States Constitution was built upon this concept. The more entitlements our society provides to its citizens, the more they will demand. This is not be financially sustainable over the long term.

The current levels of government debt and spending are completely unacceptable.

As a long time volunteer of many community service organizations, I believe in most cases people will take care of people. Yet, there must be a safety net in place, especially for children and the elderly. Safety nets go too far, in some cases, and as a result, the entitlement class grows.

There is also duplication of services and too much bureaucracy. We need smaller, more efficient government, and people should be able to keep their own hard-earned money instead of many times paying for the poor choices of others. There should be adequate regulation to keep the "winners" in our society in check, so they cannot take advantage of the poor.

Why did you decide to become personally involved with politics?

Nix: My dad successfully ran for county office when I was in high school, and it left an impression on me. However, I never took it seriously until I had three children of my own and became more interested in my community. I served a term on City Council and learned a great deal in the process. Since 2007, I have been the County Treasurer and am still learning a great deal about government, elections, and most of all, human nature.

What are some of the things you have accomplished as Treasurer and as a city council member?

Nix: When I was Vice Mayor in 2003, I managed a bond issue campaign for new schools. For ten weeks, I worked on that campaign full time, and our city now has 6 new and 2 renovated elementary school buildings. This was the first time I realized I could truly make a difference.

Also on City Council, I led the initiative for the Direct Election of the Mayor and town hall meetings called "Conversations with Council," which continue still today. My term on council was tumultuous, as our city has been in drastic decline with thousands of jobs going oversees or being eliminated. Only recently my city was named one of the "Ten Most Dying Cities" in America, so one can imagine how difficult it has been for all council members the past several years.

As Treasurer, we have cut 30% of our staff and over 20% of our budget, with no loss in service or quality. Through working with the State of Ohio, we have hosted outreach programs to people in foreclosure, as well as offered Seniors & Money and Rebuilding Credit seminars. Through the rough economy, we have kept our delinquencies within a manageable and stable percentage. We have bid out banking services, saving taxpayers thousands in fees.

You're considering a run for the Butler County Board of Commissioners. What would you like to accomplish at that position? What sort of changes would you like to see in Butler County?

Nix: I am currently seeking the endorsement of the Butler Co Republican Party to be County Commissioner. The endorsement would be the nomination for the Primary in May 2010 and the General Election in Nov 2010. This is a long process!

If successful, I would like to work to help get Butler County back on firm financial footing, just as I did during my tenure on Middletown City Council. I would like to promote regionalization, transparency throughout the county, and establish an Office of Management and Budget, that would provide accountability for all taxpayer dollars that run through the county.

Butler County has been ripe with scandals and nepotism, and I would like to be the Commissioner that restores faith in public servants to Butler County residents.

Do you have political aspirations beyond the local level?

Nix: My children are still young enough (14, 13, and 11) that I don't spend a great deal of time contemplating my future past the next five years. I will keep working hard and learning, and believe opportunities will present themselves, as they always have. I've never been one to shy away from opportunity. Having said that, I don't see myself reaching for a higher office for another 8 years.

The Life of Nancy Reagan

2009-09-01T10:35:00.000-04:00

A quick search of the internet and it's hard to find very many pictures of Nancy Reagan without her husband, President Ronald Reagan by her side. But then again, the former first lady has been quoted as saying, "My life really began when I married my husband."

While the President and Mrs. Reagan were seemingly one of the closest couples to ever reside in the White House, life for Nancy Davis Reagan actually began on July 6, 1921 in Manhattan. She was born to Kenneth Robbins, a car salesman, and actress, Edith Luckett. Her parents split up shortly after she was born, and Mrs. Reagan would spend a few years living with her aunt and uncle in Maryland, but in 1929, her mother married Loyal Davis, a neurosurgeon, the man she would refer to as her father. The family moved to Chicago where she attended Girls' Latin School and spent her time swimming, playing tennis and dancing.

Mrs. Reagan attended Smith College in Massachusetts where she studied English and theater. Upon graduation, she returned home to Chicago where she worked as both a nurse's aide and a sales clerk in a Marshall Field's department store, but soon the acting bug bit and Reagan moved to New York City to follow in her mother's footsteps, becoming a professional actress. There, she gained roles in Zasu Pitts' 1945 road tour of Ramshackle Inn and the Broadway musical Lute Song before moving to Hollywood and signing a seven year contract with MGM. During that time, Reagan appeared in eleven feature films including Hellcats of the Navy in which she starred opposite her husband. Mrs. Reagan's acting received mixed reviews but in an 1975 interview, she claimed, "I was never really a career woman but became one only because I hadn't found the man I wanted to marry. I couldn't sit around and do nothing, so I became an actress."

Despite dating several Hollywood leading men, including Clark Gable, Mrs. Reagan would go on to marry President Reagan on March 4, 1952, three years after they met and she then retired from acting. The couple had two children, Patti and Ron, in addition to the President's children, Michael and Maureen, from a previous marriage. Throughout the years, the couple was known for being particularly attentive with each other and very much in love. Each spoke very fondly of the other in public letters and interviews and Mrs. Reagan was often thought of as a huge influence on many of her husband's political decisions. Actor Charlton Heston even referred to their relationship as "the greatest love affair in the history of the American Presidency."

As her husband became involved with politics, Mrs. Reagan devoted much of her time to various causes and charity organizations. She visited and worked with veterans, the elderly, and handicapped and she was appointed to the California Arts Commission. As the first lady of California, she was voted "Woman of the Year" by the Los Angeles Times.

In January 1981, Mrs. Reagan became First Lady of the United States. Many say she brought a glamour and formality back to the role that had been missing for many years. Mrs. Reagan was very interested in fashion; her wardrobe consisted of many designer gowns and suits and she employed two private hairdressers. She also attended the wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana and hosted over 56 state dinners during her eight years in Washington DC. One of her first tasks was fixing up the White House, which, at the time, had been described as being "in a state of disrepair" by an aide. Mrs. Reagan renovated and redecorated many parts of the White House with privately donated funds, claiming, "This house belongs to all Americans, and I want it to be something of which they can be proud."

The "Just Say No" drug awareness campaign is perhaps one of the most notable aspects of Mrs. Reagans's legacy. She traveled over 250,000 miles around the world and the United States to inform people of the dangers of drug abuse. She spoke to schoolchildren, visited drug abuse prevention programs and drug rehabilitation centers, and appeared on several television talk shows. She even made several guest appearances on television shows such as "Dynasty" and "Diff'rent Strokes" and spoke at the United Nations General Assembly, becoming the first First Lady to do so.

Once the couple left Washington DC, they returned home to California where they split their time between their ranch in Santa Barbara and a home in Bel Air. Mrs. Reagan continued to stay in the public eye. In 1989, she established the Nancy Reagan Foundation and continued to speak out against drug and alcohol abuse. She also authored a book about her time as First Lady. When the President was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease in 1994, she often appeared publicly on his behalf, and became very involved with the National Alzheimer's Association. Since her husband's death in 2004, she has made appearances at a number of national events, despite her deteriorating health.

Michele Bachmann's Health Care Town Hall

2009-08-27T20:20:00.000-04:00

Like many members of Congress have doned this summer, Minnesota Representative Michele Bachmann held a town hall meeting for her constituents today, allowing them to voice their opinion about the very controversial proposed health care reform bill. Bachmann, who is against the bill, was joined by Texas Congressman Michael Burgess, who is a doctor and chair of the Congressional Health Care Caucus.

Hundreds of people packed the Lake Elmo, Minnesota middle school where the town hall took place, with overflow seating and video feed being provided for those who couldn't get into the auditorium. Most audience members applauded and cheered on the Congresswoman from the time she entered the room and told her they supported her decision to vote against the bill. One speaker, who had recently undergone knee surgery, told Bachman, "You're my hero - I like the fight you have."

The loudest cheers came when Bachmann spoke of British citizens giving birth in the hallways of hospitals, due to overcrowding. When a man interrupted, Bachman quickly retorted, "I'll tell you what, I've given birth here probably more times than you, sir. I've given birth in the Stillwater hospital and I'll tell you it is the finest care you could ever receive."

While most attendees applauded Bachmann's criticism of the bill, there were several who were there to speak out against her and other Conservatives. Dr. Ilya Gorodisher asked the Congresswoman, "Why do you persist on destroying the president's plan. Why do you persist on stretching the truth to the point of lies?" Others shouted the words "lies" and "shut up" over Bachmann's remarks.

Media who attended the event described it as "lively" and "feisty" and said many speakers' words were drowned out due to applause and boos. Some audience members even left early, stating that they were tired of the yelling and screaming. Hostility amongst attendees on both sides of the fight has been a fairly common theme at many similar town hall meetings throughout the summer.

Bachmann referred to the American health care system as the "greatest health care system the world has ever known" and insisted the new health care bill would destroy it. Last week, she appeared on Fox News' "Hannity" to discuss this very issue. There, she stated that the bill was unconstitutional and asserted that many members of Congress were not listening to their constituents. She encouraged the American people to stand up against the bill and not to be fooled when leaders referred to the "public option" by another name.

You can watch video of Bachmann's appearance on "Hannity" here:

Sarah Palin vs. Nationalized Health Care

2009-08-13T06:56:00.002-04:00

Since resigning from her position as Governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin has not given up on her quest to remove excessive government from our everyday lives. Over the course of the last week, Palin has, as promised, bypassed the media to deliver her message to the American people by way of her official Facebook page. Response from the public, the media and even the President proves that not only is Palin relevant, but she is still a huge threat to "business as usual" politics in Washington DC and throughout the country.

On April 7, Palin began her quest against the nationalized health care plan by simply saying "...hell no." In a brief statement, she suggested that not only will the system not reduce the cost of health care but rationing of care will cause the sick, the elderly and the disabled to suffer at the hands of a "death panel:"

"The America I know and love is not one in which my parents or my baby with Down Syndrome will have to stand in front of Obama’s “death panel” so his bureaucrats can decide, based on a subjective judgment of their “level of productivity in society,” whether they are worthy of health care. Such a system is downright evil."

Palin goes on to commend Congresswoman Michele Bachmann for standing up to the Obama administration and insists we must stand up to the debate because nationalized health care is a "point of no return for government interference" in our lives. A few days later, Palin posted a number of supporting articles authored by everyome from Senator Sam Brownback to economist Thomas Sowell.

On August 11, at a town hall meeting in New Hampshire, President Barack Obama responded to Palin's claims that health care would be rationed and that the weakest members of society would suffer most:

“Let me just be specific about some things that I’ve been hearing lately that we just need to dispose of here. The rumor that’s been circulating a lot lately is this idea that somehow the House of Representatives voted for death panels that will basically pull the plug on grandma because we’ve decided that we don’t, it’s too expensive to let her live anymore....It turns out that I guess this arose out of a provision in one of the House bills that allowed Medicare to reimburse people for consultations about end-of-life care, setting up living wills, the availability of hospice, etc. So the intention of the members of Congress was to give people more information so that they could handle issues of end-of-life care when they’re ready on their own terms. It wasn’t forcing anybody to do anything.”

Late last night, Palin fired back, citing a section in the bill entitled "Advance Care Planning Consultation." She says the Presidents words are "misleading" and goes on to cite Section 1233 of the health care bill which essentially says that when a Medicare recipient's health changes significantly, when they enter a nursing home, or every five years, these "Advanced Care Planning Consultations" are authorized by the bill. Palin points out that if the consultations are there strictly for compassionate reasons, as many would have you believe, why does it even belong in a bill whose purpose is to "reduce the growth in health care spending."

Palin goes on to say that the problem doesn't lie in the bill, alone, but in statements made by Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel, a policy advisor to Obama and brother to the President's chief of staff. Palin points out that Dr. Emanuel has gone as far to say that health care should not be provided for those who cannot and never will be participating members of society, such as patients with dementia. Emanuel has also advocated preferred medical care to individuals between the age of 15 and 40.

Check out more of her thoughts on Nationalized Health Care by reading Palin's response to Obama.

Considering a projector rental or a plasma rental for your your next convention or event? Then Call a Tech Travel Agent today at 800-736-8772.

Cindy McCain: A Woman with Heart

2009-08-10T03:05:00.000-04:00

During the 2008 Presidential election, Cindy McCain captured our attention as Senator John McCain's wife and the nation's potential First Lady. Throughout the campaign, she stood strong as democrats and the media attacked both her and her family with rumors and accusations that proved never to be true. Unfortunately, few got to know Cindy McCain the philanthropist and woman with a big heart.

Cindy Lou Hensley McCain was born in Phoenix, Arizona to beer distributor James Hensley and his wife, Marguerite. She attended the University of Southern California, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education in 1976 and receiving her Master of Arts in Special Education in 1978. Despite being offered a role in her father's business, she went on to work as a special education teacher at a high school in Arizona. She met John McCain in 1979 and the two were married in 1980. In 1982, McCain began his political career with his wife at his side giving her full support. The couple has four children: Meghan, John IV, James, and Bridget.

Between time spent supporting her husband's political career, raising her children and fulfilling her duties as chair of her late father's company, McCain has worked tirelessly helping needy children and working to improve health care and other issues around the world through a number of charitable organizations, including one she founded herself, the American Voluntary Medical Team (AVMT). The organization, which planned trips for medical professionals to disaster-plagued parts of the world, allowed McCain to lead 55 missions throughout the course of seven years. Trips were taken to places such as Kuwait after the conclusion of the Gulf War, Zaire to help refugees from Rawanda, and many other nations including Nicaragua, India, El Salvador, and Iraq.

In 1991, during a trip to Bangladesh, following the 1991 cyclone, McCain and the AVMT were at Sisters of Charity of Mother Teresa Children's Home when she spotted two baby girls who were in desperate need of medical attention. McCain felt the two girls would benefit from being brought to the United States and they did, in more ways than one. John and Cindy McCain adopted one of the girls (their daughter Bridget) and helped a family friend adopt the other.

In 2001, McCain became involved with Operation Smile, a non-profit organization that provides cleft lip and palate repair to children all over the world. She has traveled to Morocco, Vietnam, and India with the organization and currently serves on the board of directors. She also serves on the board of directors of CARE, one of the largest international humanitarian organizations in the world, and HALO Trust, a nonprofit organization that removes debris left by war, such as landmines. With HALO Trust, McCain has visited Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Mozambique and Angola.

Friends of the very private McCain say that despite her wealth and privileged upbringing, working with these organizations is where she is most comfortable and she's not afraid to get her hands dirty. They call it her "defining characteristic," despite how she is often portrayed in the media. In 2008, Vonnie Wray, the development director at Operation Smile told the Arizona Republic that McCain is "low maintenance" and insists, "the thing that differentiates Cindy and why I think she will make an excellent first lady is that she has this true connection with the underserved." Though Cindy McCain never made it to the White House, she is certainly making her mark on the world and its people.

Women of the GOP in the News

2009-08-04T03:00:00.000-04:00

So many Republican and Conservative women were in the news last week, it was hard to pick just one to write about! Here is a run-down of Women of the GOP who made headlines:

- RedState.com held its first gathering in Atlanta on Saturday, featuring many prominent Conservative and Republican speakers. Liz Cheney was the star of the show with her "America needs a Commander in Chief, not a Global Community Organizer" line. Georgia Secretary of State and candidate for Governor of Georgia Karen Handel and Nikki Haley, candidate for Governor of South Carolina were also in attendance.

- Conservative blogger, pundit, and author Michelle Malkin has been making the talk show rounds, promoting her new book Culture of Corruption. But it was yesterday's appearance on "The View" that has everyone talking. Malkin put the mostly liberal hosts in their place as she spoke out against Obama and his many czars. You can watch her appearance in its entirety here:

- Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin may have resigned last week, but she hasn't completely left the spotlight. Governor Palin appeared at the NRA's XVIII Gun Collectors Seminar in Anchorage Alaska on Saturday, giving a speech and being presented with a number of awards for supporting the Second Amendment. You can read more about the event here: NRA's XVIII Gun Collectors Seminar in Anchorage Alaska

Sarah Palin's Official Resignation Speech

2009-07-27T04:33:00.000-04:00

Three weeks after shocking the country by announcing that she planned to resign from her position as Governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin kept her word. On July 26, 2009, she stood before a crowd in Fairbanks, Alaska and ceremoniously handed the title over to Sean Parnell, Alaska's former Lieutenant Governor under Palin. In her speech, she spoke at length about being thankful for the military, spoke out strongly against the media, and denounced big government. You can view the speech in its entirety below.

Kelly Ayotte to Run for Senate?

2009-07-21T04:27:00.000-04:00

Just two weeks ago, New Hampshire Attorney General Kelly Ayotte announced she was leaving office to explore running for a seat in the United States Senate, replacing Republican Senator Judd Gregg who is not planning to seek re-election. Upon announcing her resignation, she said, "Recently, many New Hampshire citizens have urged me to run for United States Senate. I appreciate their confidence in me." Ayotte, the state's first female Attorney General, has served and been supported by both Republican and Democratic governors.

As of today, just three days after leaving the Attorney General's office, it looks as though Ayotte is taking her desire to run a step further. In a press release, she announced that she has filed a United States Senate campaign committee with the Federal Election Commission, which will allow her to begin raising money to explore and pursue running for office, "Today I filed the necessary paperwork with the Federal Elections Commission (FEC) in order to form a candidate committee for the United States Senate. This is the next step in the legal process as I explore my potential candidacy for the race in 2010."

While a number of prominent citizens of New Hampshire have expressed their interested in running for Senator Gregg's seat, Ayotte is thought to be a front-runner in the race, which could be why the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has already released an ad attempting to compare Ayotte to Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. The ad insists both women are simply abandoning their constituents for their own personal gain. New Hampshire State Democratic Chairman Ray Buckley told the Associated Press, "We now know that she is deserting the people of New Hampshire in favor of personal ambition. Not unlike Sarah Palin, Kelly Ayotte has broken her promise to the people she represents and put politics before public service."

"I would let my record of public service speak for itself," Ayotte responded to the criticism. The National Republican Senatorial Committee has also responded, reminding Democrats that President Obama once promised serve a full six-year term in the Senate.

Kelly Ayotte graduated from Pennsylvania State University in 1990 with a B.A. in Political Science and from Villanova Law School in 1993. A member of both the New Hampshire and Maine state bars, Ayotte spent a year as a law clerk for the New Hampshire Supreme Court followed by four years working as a litigation associate with the firm of McLane, Graf, Raulerson, and Middleton. She joined the Office of the Attorney General in 1998 as a prosecutor, handling white collar, public integrity, and homicide cases. In 2003, she was appointed Deputy Attorney General and in 2004, Attorney General. Throughout her legal career, she has been the recipient of many rewards and honors. Kelly Ayotte currently lives in Nashua, New Hampshire with her husband, Joseph Daley, and daughter, Katherine.

Congresswoman Sue Myrick of North Carolina

2009-07-14T10:03:00.000-04:00

When you think of Republican Women, Susan Myrick may not be the first person who comes to mind. But the Congresswoman has been serving North Carolina's Ninth District proudly since 1995. Here is a look at the life of the first and only female Republican to serve Congress from North Carolina.

Sue Wilkins Myrick was born August 1, 1941 in Tiffin, Ohio. While living in Ohio, Myrick graduated from Port Clinton High School in and attended Heidelberg College for two years. She began her career by starting an advertising and public relations firm and later went on to serve on the Charlotte City Council in North Carolina. She would later become the first and only female mayor in Charlotte's history, serving two terms. During her time as mayor, Myrick focused on removing drug dealers from Charlotte neighborhoods, and managed to improve the city's transportation without raising taxes.

During her eight terms in Congress, Myrick has had many accomplishments. Perhaps, the one most near and dear to her own life is serving as the co-chair of the House Cancer Caucus and championing legislation for breast cancer that called for increased research, education, early detection, and development of promising new therapies. Myrick, herself, is a breast cancer survivor. Her own experience has prompted her to become a strong voice against socialized medicine and the health care system currently being pushed by the President and Democrats in Congress. On her website, she states, "I don’t believe in a government run health care system. Do you really want the same government that responded to Katrina, and who can’t seal off our borders, to run and control your healthcare?"

Two other issues Myrick feels strongly about are disaster relief and the war against terror. She is the founder of the Congressional Anti-Terrorism Caucus which works to educate the public about the dangers of Islamofascism and meets with experts on terrorism. Her experience dealing with North Carolina's floods, hurricanes, and torandoes in recent year has taught Myrick that federal government can't always be depended on to respond efficiently in times of emergency. For this reason, Myrick appreciates the importance of depending on private groups and as a leader, has worked extensively with them on-site during times of disaster.

Myrick currently serves on the oldest, broadest and most powerful committee in the House: the Energy and Commerce Committee. There, she is also a member of the Health subcommittee, and the Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection subcommittee. In 2009, she was elected to serve on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. From 2002 to 2004, Myrick served as chairman of the Republican Study Committee, an organization of House Republicans who work to advance a Conservative economic and social agenda. It was this role that allowed her to become a national voice for Conservatives. In 2003, she was appointed as Deputy Whip and continues to serve in that capacity, today.

When she's not busy taking care of her constituents in North Carolina, Sue Myrick is a wife and mother to two children and three step-children. She and her husband, Ed, also have twelve grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Michele Bachmann: The GOP's 2nd Most Hated Woman

2009-07-09T02:15:00.000-04:00

Last night, Sean Hannity called her the GOP's "second most hated woman." He was, of course, talking about Congresswoman Michele Bachmann from Minnesota's Sixth Congressional District. After Governor Sarah Palin, Bachmann is perhaps the most recognizable and outspoken female member of the Republican Party and much like Governor Palin, Bachmann is a target of liberals in Washington DC and within the media. Each week, we see her on numerous news programs or holding press conferences on every issues from abortion to wasteful spending, but just who is Michele Bachmann?

The third female and first Republican to represent Minnesota in Congress, Michele Bachmann was born on April 6, 1956 in Anoka, Minnesota. She graduated from Winona State University, received her J.D. from Oral Roberts University and her LL.M. degree in tax law from William and Mary. Bachmann, who is a mother to five children, began her political activism in the 90's by getting involved with her local school system. In 1993, Bachmann along with other parents opened a Charter School that's Christian leanings were the source of much controversy. She also loudly opposed Minnesota's "School-to-Work" program.

In 2000, Bachmann officially entered the political arena, becoming a State Senator representing Minnesota's 56th District. During that time, she proposed a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. In 2004, she was appointed Assistant Minority Leader in charge of Policy for the Senate Republican Caucus. In 2006, Bachmann successfully won the election to her current seat in Congress. She currently serves on the Financial Services Committee and on several subcommittees including: Capital Markets, Insurance, and Government Sponsored Enterprises; Domestic and International Monetary Policy, Trade and Technology; Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.

During her short time in Congress, Bachmann has been outspoken on everything from the war in Iraq to energy. She was a strong opponent of the federal bailout and introduced the Light Bulb Freedom of Choice Act, insisting the government should not be in the business of telling consumers what they can and can't buy. In October, 2008, during a controversial appearance on "Hardball with Chris Matthews" she not only questioned Barack Obama's patriotism but called for an investigation into several Democratic members of Congress' patriotism. Bachmann has taken a strong position on several other current, hot-button issues including favoring the privatization of Social Security and constitutional amendments banning gay marriage and opposing minimum wages increases and abortion.

Bachmann, not one to stray away from controversial topics or stand up what she believes in, is currently under fire for refusing to fill out the 2010 Census. Bachmann told The Washington Times she would only answer the question about how many people lived in her household, claiming the Census is becoming far too personal, "I know for my family the only question we will be answering is how many people are in our home, we won't be answering any information beyond that, because the Constitution doesn't require any information beyond that." Several House Republicans have been urging Bachmann to reverse her decision.

Bachmann currently lives in Stillwater with her husband Marcus. The couple has five children: Lucas, Harrison, Elisa, Caroline, and Sophia. They currently own a small mental health care practice. Bachman, who was yesterday appointed to be a member of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute's advisory board has parented 23 foster children.

GOP Pundits React to Sarah Palin's Resignation

2009-07-07T14:33:00.000-04:00

On Friday, July 3, 2009, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin announced her intention to resign from office at the end of July. (The transcript of Sarah Palin's resignation speech can be found here.) On what would have normally been a slow news day, a Friday leading into a holiday weekend, the world was taken by surprise by the news and reacted accordingly. Accusations flew and speculation surfaced everywhere from within the media to online social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook. As imagined, those on the left side of the political aisle, for the most part, used the opportunity to fire more accusations and insults towards Palin and many on the right were left disappointed. But not everyone responded negatively. Several big name Republican pundits, though somewhat suprised, stepped in and defended Palin and her decision.

Radio giant Rush Limbaugh took a break from his 4th of July golfing trip to talk about not ruling out Palin's potential for a 2012 presidential run, "I don't think this precludes her running for office down the road, the presidency, in 2012, at all. I think these people saying she's an instant target because she quit is just inside the beltway formulaic. And she's not that... If anything, this woman's M.O. is outside-the-box, not formulaic, so until we know what this is all about, I think it's just everybody being the smartest person in the room. All I know she is going to continue to fire up people."

Former Governor Mike Huckabee sang a different tune, insisting he is a fan of hers, he insinuated that if Palin cannot handle current attacks as Governor, she certainly would not be able to handle them as President of the United States, "The danger that Sarah Palin faces, and let me be very quick to tell you -- in the way of full disclosure -- I am a Sarah Palin fan. I like her personally. I like her points of view. I think she's right on the issues. The challenge that she's going to have is that there will be people who say 'Well, look if they chase you out of this, it won't get any easier for you at other levels of the stage.'" It should be noted that many believe Governor Huckabee is planning his own run for President in 2012 and Palin is often seen as one of his biggest competitors.

Former adviser to President George W. Bush, Karl Rove, called Palin's move "risky," but also conceded that it's "not clear what she's doing and why."

Other top-name Republican pundits and strategists weighed in and were very supportive of Palin's decision. Mary Matalin called into CNN over the weekend and described the decision as "brilliant." "Well, I think it’s really brilliant, with two caveats, one being that there’s nothing else, ala the Sanford fiasco. There’s nothing else that we don’t know. If all that’s there is what we see right now, it’s brilliant. And, secondly, that she has a plan and people have a plan to put up with the conventional wisdom, chatterati and the political class saying how stupid it is, because it’s brilliant.

The ever-controversial Ann Coulter appeared on "Hannity" on Monday night and not only defended Palin but lashed out at her critics saying, "They're talking about her like an ex-girlfriend. They're totally over her but they just can't stop talking about her. 'No, I'm over her. She's history, I feel more sorry for her than I do for me,' but they can't stop talking about her. I mean who is the last politician they said was a hick, wasn't going any place, was stupid? I think that's Ronald Reagan. She has this amazing ability to connect with people. And you know, as Nixon said, they're not going to have Palin to kick around anymore."

Governor Palin, herself, decided to avoid her critics and the media and instead turned to Twitter and Facebook to get her message to those she really wanted to reach: the American citizens. She has been furiously standing up to rumors and speculation via the social networking websites and posting messages such as "Critics are spinning, so hang in there as they feed false info on the right decision made as I enter last yr in office to not run again...." and "We'll soon attach info on decision to not seek re-election... this is in Alaska's best interest, my family's happy... it is good, stay tuned."

While no one knows for sure what's in store for Palin's future, no one can argue that we will be hearing about her from both supporters and critics for a long time to come.

Jan Brewer, A Look at Arizona's New Governor

2009-07-02T11:20:00.000-04:00

When President Barack Obama asked Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano to step in as Secretary of Homeland Security, Arizona Secretary of State Jan Brewer was appointed to run The Grand Canyon State, becoming Arizona's fourth female governor.

Jan Brewer was born in 1944 in Hollywood, California and holds a degree in radiology from California Community College. She is married to John Brewer, who is a chiropractor. They have three sons, one of whom died in 2007, and Brewer accredits her political career to her interest in her sons' education. When she took office, Brewer told the Arizona Star that even though she has big plans for the state, she hopes she can maintain her normal daily life including her Saturday trips to Costco, putting her favorite meals in the crockpot before heading out to work in the morning, "getting in the dirt" of her garden, and enjoying her daily Coke Zero. She claims that staying in touch with the people she serves is key to successful governing:

"They do the same thing every day that you do. They face the same problems with their children. They face the same things with education and paying to send them to college. And you bring that with you, and you feel like you're their voice."

Brewer moved to Arizona in 1970 and has since spent 26 years serving the people of the state. She was supervisor of Maricopa County, a member of both houses of Arizona legislature, and was serving her second term as the state's Secretary of State when she stepped in as Governor in January. As Secretary of State, Brewer worked to help taxpayers keep more of their money and make the election process more accessible. She consolidated assignments, eliminated staff overtime, and had the state legislature update laws to rid the state of unnecessary expenditure and to help address the state budget deficit. She also compiled the Help America Vote Act State Plan which eliminated punch card voting systems, created centralized and uniform voter registration system and put touch-screen voting devices for disabled voters in each precinct. She also introduced and passed legislation that allowed men and women in the military to register and vote via fax or internet, which allowed hundreds of Arizona's military members to vote in the 2008 elections.

As Chairman of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, Brewer turned the county around from being deep in debt to becoming one of the most fiscally sound counties in the United States. Brewer also worked to secure better salaries for sheriff's deputies, secure thousands of acres of land away from development and into county parks, and improved the Maricopa Medical Center Burn unit which today is one of the best health care facilities in the nation. As a member of the Arizona State legislature, Brewer served as the Majority Whip for three years, leading the way in reform that continues to help millions of Arizonans with tax relief, budget reform, truth in sentencing, open enrollment, school report cards, charter schools, clean air and water, and state trust land preservation. She also created the first Living Will statue in the nation.

In addition, Brewer has many other accomplishments and professional and community affiliations. She has served on the Governor's Military Task Force, as vice-chairman of the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission, vice-chairman of WESTMARC, which focuses on economic development and growth issues, as Chairman of the Board of Directors for RIAZ, Inc. (Recovery Innovations of Arizona), and as Co-Chairman of the Continuum of Care organization dealing with homeless issues. She is also a charter member of Luke Fighter County Partnership which is dedicated to preserving the missions of Luke Air Force Base. She is also a member of Hope and a Future, Child Help USA, Arizonans for Children, the Arrowhead Republican Women's Club, the Maricopa County SMI Commission, the Arizona Rifle and Pistol Association, the Japanese-American Citizens League, and the Life in Christ Lutheran Church in Peoria.

The Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy

2009-06-24T15:30:00.000-04:00

"The home is the child's first school, the parent is the child's first teacher,and reading is the child's first subject." - Barbara Bush

Last month, in our profile of former first lady Barbara Bush, we mentioned that she is currently serving as head of the The Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy. The Foundation has been going strong for twenty years, helping families realize the importance of literacy and helping parents and children learn to read together by supporting the development and expansions of family literacy programs across the country. They award competitive grants to nonprofit organizations, correctional institutions, homeless shelters, schools, school districts, libraries, and community and faith-based agencies. Since 1989, they have awarded over $32 million to 723 family literacy programs in all 50 states and Washington D.C.

The Barbara Bush Foundation began awarding grants in 1990, receiving applications from all over the country. In September of that year, they awarded eleven different grants totaling over $500,000. By September 2007, the foundation had benefited over 650 programs, many of which still serve their communities today. In January 1996, the Foundation began launching statewide literacy grant programs. The first state to receive the grants was Maine. Partnering with the Maine Department of Education, the Foundation has awarded grants to 166 family literacy programs in schools and community organizations.

In February 1996, the Foundation launched another statewide program entitled "The First Lady's Family Literacy Initiative for Texas" which has awarded 118 grants to programs in over 65 Texas cities. Mrs. Bush's daughter-in-law, former first Lady Laura Bush is the Honorary Chair of this initiative. The grants from this program have been given to community-based organizations, libraries, charter schools, pediatric medical clinics, Head Start and Even Start programs, as well as many others. Because of this initiative, more adults are learning English and getting their GEDs, obtaining better jobs, reading to their children, and becoming more involved in their children's school and home lives.

In 1999, the Foundation's efforts move to Florida with the "Governor's Family Literacy Initiative for Florida." Mrs. Bush's son, former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, serves as Honorary Chair of this program which has awarded grants to over 151 programs throughout Florida.

In addition to the grants and statewide programs, in 1995, the Foundation started "A Celebration of Reading." The annual fundraiser, which began in Houston and is now held each year in Texas, Maryland, and Florida, features readings from best-selling authors and members of the Bush family. Proceeds benefit the foundation. Participants in the fundraiser have included Mary Higgins Clark, James Patterson, Reba McEntire, Patricia Cornwell, and Mary Tyler Moore among dozens of other authors.

Mrs. Bush has called literacy "the most important issue we have" and has worked tirelessly to promote the importance of not just reading, but reading as a family, during and even after her very public life. She has accredited her own family for her love of reading, saying that some of her fondest memories are of her family gathered around each other during the evenings, engrossed in their own reading.

Congressional Pro-Life Women's Caucus Fights Abortion Bail-Out

2009-06-16T13:58:00.000-04:00

What do Michele Bachmann of Minnesota, Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, Mary Fallin of Oklahoma, Virginia Foxx of North Carolina, Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington, Candice Miller of Michigan, Sue Myrick of North Carolina, Jean Schmidt of Ohio, and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen of Florida all have in common? Besides being current Congresswomen, they are all members of the Congressional Pro-Life Women's Caucus. The Caucus, formed in 2007, allows these powerful leaders to stand up for women and their unborn babies in the fight against abortion.

The latest item on their agenda is the "1.8 million dollar bailout of the abortion industry." Along with the Susan B. Anthony List, a group that works to advance the role of pro-life women in politics, and other pro-life groups, the Caucus recently urged Congress to ensure tax-payers' dollars are not used to fund abortions and that the Dornan Amendment is preserved. The Dornan Amendment, named for former California Congressman Robert Dornan, is a law that bans tax-payer funding of abortion in Washington D. C., except for when the mother's life is in danger or in the case of rape or incest. It has been in place for almost twenty years.

If President Obama gets his way, the law would be amended to make tax-funded abortion legal in D.C.. Pro-life groups say changing the law would encourage at least an extra 1,000 elective abortions each year that would not have occurred before. Joy Yearout of the Susan B. Anthony List told CNSNews that what the President wants to do is change the law so that it says "federal funds," creating a loophole that allows for the use of local taxes. Yearout is hoping the members of Congress will know the details and potential ramifications of the change in the law before the legislation is even placed in front of them and says her group is currently working with the pro-life members of Congress to make that happen. Because Washington D.C. allows teenagers to get abortions without parental consent, the fear is that teenage girls would flock to D.C. to have abortions, ignoring the laws in their home states.

The National Right to Life Committee calls President Obama's commitment to reducing the number of abortions a "political scam." In a statement, the National Right to Life Committee's Legislative Director, Douglas Johnson, said,

"Some wide-eyed journalists and various political shills for the Obama administration continue to write fairy tales about how President Obama wants to pursue policies that would reduce abortions. In reality, President Obama is pursuing a step-by-step strategy to expand access to abortion..."

Johnson also said,

"The abortion industry's own studies suggest that many thousands of residents of the nation's capital are alive today because of the abortion funding ban that President Obama now proposes to repeal."

Visit the Stop the Abortion Bailout Action Center at the Susan B. Anthony List to learn what you can do to help the Pro-Life Women of Congress spread the word to their colleagues about President Obama's proposed actions regarding abortion.

Karen Handel takes on Voters' Rights

2009-06-15T12:56:00.000-04:00

In what Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel calls a "shockingly political move," the Department of Justice (DOJ) recently discarded Georgia's voter verification program which was put in place to help prevent non-Georgia citizens from voting. According to Secretary Handel, the DOJ's new orders essentially violate federal law and contradict previous demands placed in 2007, before the new administration took office. In an exclusive statement Handel explained to us,

"The irony of this DOJ situation is that, right after I was elected I received a letter -- a demand letter if you will -- from the DOJ asking why we did not have the verification program, required by federal law, in place. The reason was pretty simple, the previous administration did not do it. We did, immediately and communicated the details to DOJ. For more than a year, the DOJ knew this verification program was in place, and no one raised a question or an objection. It was only after groups like MALDEF and the ACLU starting complaining that the DOJ become interested. When those groups sued Georgia, two federal courts ordered us to continue the verification programs -- with lawyers from the DOJ sitting in the court room.

Now seven months later, DOJ has essentially voided the court orders and are now directing us to stop the verification process -- the same process they directed us to implement in 2007. DOJ's directive prohibits the citizenship verification and even prohibits the basic verification to ensure that that individuals registering are at the very least who they say they are. The fraud potential created by the DOJ decision is vast. There are dozens of cases across the country involving improper and illegal voter registration activities by ACORN and other groups. This decision creates a gaping opportunity for additional fraud and opens the door for "universal voter registration” with no checks whatsoever.

It's also important to note that the verification process is required under the Federal Help America Vote Act (HAVA). HAVA specifically requires states to verify information from new voter registration applicants with the Department of Driver Services databases and with the Social Security Administration databases. DOJ's decision essentially directs us to ignore Federal law. Because of this, we have sought clarification from the DOJ. To date, we have not received a response."

Though Secretary Handel is currently working harder than any other elected official in the country to protect the rights of citizens to "fair and honest elections," the issue reaches far beyond the state of Georgia. This move by the DOJ under the Obama administration is setting the tone for the 2010 and 2012 elections and will, according to Handel, have serious implications all over the country,

Should DOJ confirm its intention to prohibit the verification process in its entirety, all states will be affected. This is a direct assault on the integrity of elections and is yet another example of the Federal government overreaching into the state's authority. Further, I am very concerned that we are seeing the beginning of politicizing the elections process as we approach 2010 and head into 2012, which will be the first election after redistricting and reapportionment.
So, if we consider the controversies surrounding the census and the anticipated fights that will occur around redistricting, one can see that this issue here in Georgia may well have an impact nationally.

So what can you do to help Handel in her effort to protect the voting rights of all American citizens? The Secretary asked us to pass along this message,

"[You] can help with a mouse click or two. I started an online petition with the goal of getting 10,000 signatures of people who want their voices heard in opposition to this terrible decision. That petition now has more than 20,000 names on it. It can be found at www.karenhandel.com and I urge your readers to sign it, ask their friends to sign it, post it on their Facebook pages and tweet messages in support of it on Twitter. We can make a difference and that is the first step."

Karen Handel was elected Secretary of State in Georgia on November 7, 2006 and been a champion for the people, their rights, their tax dollars and an advocate for responsible government ever since. She is currently running for Governor of Georgia and more information can be found at her website.

We'd like to thank Secretary Handel for taking the time to answer our questions and wish her luck with leading the fight for voters' rights.

Interview with Stacy Mott, Founder of Smart Girl Politics

2009-06-11T10:00:00.000-04:00

During the aftermath of the 2008 election, like many of us, Stacy Mott was looking to find conservative women like herself. Little did she know that six months later, she'd be the founder and president of Smart Girl Politics, a "conservative women's movement" with over 11,000 conservative female (and male) members. Yesterday, I had the opportunity to talk to Stacy about all things Smart Girl Politics (SGP) - from how it began to what her goals are for the future of the organization.

What prompted you to start SGP?

Mott: Smart Girl Politics started as my personal blog last summer. When the election was over, I struggled to find other conservative women on the internet like myself. I put a small "help wanted" sign on my blog asking if there were any other conservative women who wanted to join with me. I received 60 emails the first week.

Did you expect the response SGP has received?

Mott: I am surprised daily by the growth of SGP. I could never have imagined six months ago that my little help wanted ad would lead to an organization of over 11,000 women and men.

Where would you like to see SGP in the future? What are your goals for the group?

Mott: I would like to see SGP become a resource for conservative women. SGP will continue to be a community environment that supports the voices of conservative women. We have three main goals for SGP. The first is to provide a voice to conservative women. The second is to educate women not only on how to get involved in political activism through our training and education classes. We will take this training use it for voter registration and get out the vote efforts. Finally, we are training conservative women to take back their communities by running successfully for local offices, including school boards, town councils, etc.

What has been your best SGP-related moment?

Mott: It's amazing how many I have from the past six months. I still laugh when I think of the first radio interview I did hiding in my bedroom closet with my three small children outside the door yelling at me. One of the biggest moments was watching the O'Reilly Factor with my husband one night and having Tammy Bruce mention Smart Girl Politics as the alternative to NOW. My email box was overloaded with comments the next day.

Are there any women in politics (GOP or otherwise) whom you really admire? Why?

Mott: There are so many great conservative women to admire in politics. I admire Michelle Bachmann and the courage that she had during her last campaign. She held her own against some really vicious attacks. I would say that is the same reason that I admire Sarah Palin as well. Not only has she been attacked, but they continue to attack her family repeatedly. The fact that she can take those punches and continue on is a reason for anyone to admire her regardless of your party.

What makes you a conservative?

Mott: Life experience has made me a conservative. Until 9/11, I was a Democrat. The last eight years have shaped my life more than the previous twenty-five. I became more aware politically and paid more attention to the world around me. Having my children also had an impact on my political views. It's amazing how much you change when you have a family to protect.

Why do you think conservatism is important to women?

Mott: I think conservatism is important to women because it affects so many aspects of our lives. Contrary to the media accounts, conservative women are smart, hard-working, and tough individuals. We are concerned about our families and willing to do whatever it takes to fight for their future.

A big thank you to Stacy Mott for participating in our interview and we would like to wish her much continued success with Smart Girl Politics!

Ann Romney: Survivor and Fighter

2009-06-08T16:08:00.000-04:00

During the 2008 Presidential election, Ann Romney became a well-known figure in American politics. As her husband, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, traveled the country, attempting to win the hearts and minds of Americans, Mrs. Romney was by his side. But there is much more to her than being the wife of a former Governor and Presidential candidate. Here is a look at the life of Ann Romney:

Ann Lois Davies was born in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan in 1949 to Edward and Lois Davies. She grew up in Michigan and met the man who would later become her husband as an elementary student at Kingswood School in Bloomfield Hills, but they would not begin dating until she was sixteen and after his senior prom. In 1969, when Governor Romney returned home from missionary work in France, the couple was married. Mrs. Romney, who had begun her college career at Brigham Young, graduated from Harvard Extension School with a degree in French Language. While her husband was taking on the world of business and politics, she took pleasure in taking care of the couple's five sons, Tagg, Matt, Josh, Ben, and Craig and teaching scripture classes.

In 1998, Ann Romney was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis but has worked hard to overcome the condition. In a 2007 interview with People Magazine, Mrs. Romney said,

"The thing people are most curious about is that I have MS and then the fact that I've overcome it. When you're used to being healthy and strong and vibrant and everything and then – bang – overnight you're desperately ill, it's frightening. People liken it to the same stages you go through grieving a death, where it takes a long time to accept it. Now that I've had it a number of years, I spend a lot of time on the phone privately talking to people who have just been recently diagnosed. That's my way of helping others. I always recommend going to a good doctor, doing the right medicines and then combining that with holistic treatments."

In late 2008, Mrs. Romney faced another health scare, but like her battle with Multiple Sclerosis, she overcame it. Following a routine mammogram, Romney was diagnosed with Ductal Carcinoma In Sutu which is often called the early stages of breast cancer, even though it's non-invasive. After the diagnosis, she underwent a lumpectomy and has been cancer-free ever since.

Mrs. Romney's spent much of her time as First Lady of Massachusetts doing charity work. One of her main focuses was on teen pregnancy prevention efforts and she spent a lot of time involved with a number of children's charities. She served as director of the inner city-oriented group, Best Friends and Operation Kids of Salt Lake City presented her with a Lifetime Achievement Award. She also served as a board member for the United Way and as Governor's Liaison to the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, along with becoming a member of the New England chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Chapter.

When she isn't involved with charity, her husband, five sons, or eleven grandchildren, Mrs. Romney is an avid equestrian. She has even received awards in dressage at adult amateur and national levels. In 2006, she earned a gold medal and in 2005, she won a silver medal at the Grand Prix level from the United States Dressage Federation. In 2004, along with her trainer, Jan Ebling, Romney qualified for the Pan-Am games. Mrs. Romney accredits her ability to deal with her Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis to her involvement in the sport.

Sarah Palin to Help Raise Autism Awareness

2009-06-07T16:52:00.000-04:00

Over 12,000 people with autism and related disorders and their families are expected to turn out at Manhattanville College in New York today to participate in a two-mile walk around campus. The event, in its eight year, is organized by the Westchester-Fairfield chapter of Autism Speaks, one of the country's largest autism advocacy groups. But there is one expected guest who won't blend into the large crowd. Alaska Governor Sarah Palin plans to walk along with her sister, Heather Bruce. Bruce's son Karcher has autism. A spokesperson for Autism Speaks says they are "fortunate" to have the Governor show up for the cause.

During the 2008 election , when Governor Palin ran as the Vice Presidential nominee on the GOP's presidential ticket, she pledged her support for families with special needs,

"Sometimes even the greatest joys bring challenge. And children with special needs inspire a special love. To the families of special-needs children all across this country, I have a message: For years, you sought to make America a more welcoming place for your sons and daughters. I pledge to you that if we are elected, you will have a friend and advocate in the White House."

Even though she didn't make it to the White House, the Governor, whose youngest son has Down Syndrome, has upheld her promise by donating her time to special needs causes such as the Special Olympics. Palin's spokeswoman, Meghan Stapleton said about the Autism walk,

"This is just a fantastic opportunity to give back to another community and another state that has been good to her."

The Governor and her family have a few other plans for their time spent in New York. On Saturday, more than 20,000 people came out to see Governor Palin in Auburn, New York, where she helped local officials celebrate Founder's Day and raise money for a museum dedicated to the life of William Seward. Seward was the Secretary of State who helped make Alaska the 49th state. Later this evening, she will receive an award from the Independent Group Home Living Foundation on Long Island. The non-profit group provides services and support for people with developmental disabilities.

Nikki Haley for Governor of South Carolina

2009-06-05T13:07:00.000-04:00

South Carolina State Representative Nikki Haley is running for Governor of her state and she's campaigning on one simple message: "conservatism."

Current South Carolina Governor, Mark Sanford, calls Haley a "terrific and inspiring choice." She is often characterized as "one of the strongest fiscal conservatives in state government" and a true "Reagan Republican." That's because Haley is not afraid to fight for lower taxes and less government and stand up for true conservative values. She works tirelessly to eliminate wasteful spending and bring transparency and common sense to government on behalf of her constituents. On wasteful spending, Haley has said,

“Our state currently wastes too much of our hard earned money. As a fiscal conservative, I oppose wasteful spending. I know the value of a dollar, and when you send us more than enough money to meet critical needs like education, health care and law enforcement, we owe it to you to return what’s left over. State government must do a better job of living within its means. That’s why I support strict spending limits that will keep government from growing faster than your ability to pay for it.”

In both 2005 and 2009, she was named "Friend of the Taxpayer" by the South Carolina Association of Taxpayers and Governor Sanford named her a "Taxpayer Hero" in 2005. She has also won the Palmetto Leadership award from the South Carolina Policy Council and the Strom Thurmond Excellent in Public Service and Government award from the South Carolina Federation of Republican Women. Currently fulfilling her second term, Haley has served as a State Representative since 2004 and was the first Republican Indian American to win a seat in any state house. Since elected, she has served as the Chairman of the Freshman Caucus and Majority Whip.

Nikki Haley was born in Bamberg, South Carolina and currently resides in Lexington, South Carolina with her husband Michael and their children, Rena and Nalin. She graduated from Clemson university with a degree in accounting and currently serves on the board of directors for Mt. Horeb United Methodist Church Medmission. Haley is a member of the Lexington County Chamber of Commerce, Lexington Rotary Club, National Association of Women Business Owners, West Metro Republican Women, Lexington County Republican Party and the NRA.

You can learn more about Nikki Haley at her website: Nikki Haley for South Carolina Governor

Michelle Malkin: Not Afraid to Speak Her Mind

2009-05-28T10:49:00.000-04:00

In recent years, Michelle Malkin's popularity has soared as a conservative blogger and pundit. She has become a strong voice for the right who is not afraid to speak her mind. Whether she's blogging at www.michellemalkin.com or appearing on any number of news programs, Michelle Malkin stands up for conservative values like no one else.

Michele Maglalang Malkin was born in Philadelphia to Filipino parents who were in the United States on a student visa. She grew up in New Jersey and graduated from Oberlin college before marrying Jesse Malkin, a Rhodes Scholar and economist for the RAND Corporation. They have two children. Malkin's career began at the Los Angeles Daily News, where she worked as a columnist from 1992-1994. She eventually moved to Seattle to write for the Seattle Times and in 1999, she became a nationally syndicated columnist. Since then, she has made quite the name for herself.

In 2006, Malkin created the website Hot Air, which has become one of the most popular conservative sites on the internet. Her on blog (launched in 2004) is ranked as one of the top five conservative blogs. In 2007, she was recognized by the National Republican Senatorial Committee as one of the "best-read national conservative bloggers." In addition to daily blogging, Malkin has written three books: Invasion: How America Still Welcomes Terrorists, Criminals, and Other Foreign Menaces to Our Shores In (2002), Defense of Interment: The Case for 'Racial Profiling' in World War II and the War on Terror (2004), and Unhinged: Exposing Liberals Gone Wild (2005). But she doesn't stop at writing. Malkin has appeared on MSNBC, Fox News, C-SPAN, and a number of national radio programs, including serving as a guest-host for Bill O'Reilly's "The Factor." She is currently a Fox News contributor.

As with anyone who is outspoken in the world of politics, Malkin's stances have not been with controversy. Whether she's speaking out against illegal immigration or for tougher national defense, Malkin always manages to get under the skin of the left and even some on the right who stray from the core principles of conservatism and the Republican Party.

In recent months, Malkin has taken her internet presence to the social networking site, Twitter, allowing her even more contact with her fans. There, she posts messages about everything from her blog updates and TV appearances to her thoughts on Sonic Cherry Limeade and the show "Jon and Kate Plus 8." You can "follow" her at @michellemalkin.

Barbara Bush: The Bush Family Matriarch

2009-05-27T13:21:00.000-04:00

As Americans, the Bush family has been a part of lives for the better part of three decades. While male members of the family have served as governors, vice presidents, and presidents, the women behind them served their country and became just as recognizable as their famous husbands. Today, we'll take a look back at the life of former First Lady Barbara Bush.

Much like her daughter-in-law, Barbara Pierce Bush has been one of the most well-received first ladies in American history. Her warm manner, her witty charm, and her love for others has even earned her the nickname "everybody's grandmother." Mrs. Bush was born in 1925 in Rye, New York, to Pauline and Marvin Pierce. Some of her fondest memories include swimming, tennis, and bike-riding, and it was at an early age that she developed a love for reading, which would later inspire to take on a great cause. She attended boarding school in South Carolina and it was there, at the age of sixteen, that she met George Herbert Walker Bush. The two would be engaged a year and a half later, just before he went off to war as a member of the United States Navy. Barbara Bush went on to attend Smith College but dropped out when her fiance came home from war. Two weeks later the two were married on January 6, 1945.

When the future President graduated from Yale, the two moved to Texas to begin life together. While he built a business in the oil industry and started a career in politics, Mrs. Bush took care of the couple's six children: George, Robin, Jeb, Neil, Marvin, and Dorothy. Unfortunately, life took a turn for the worse when the couple's daughter, Robin, was just three years old; she died from a battle with leukemia. But Mrs. Bush insists the experience helped "love every living human more."

During President Bush's political career, Mrs. Bush was always at his side. Her friendly, likable manner helped win over both the voters and the press. When Bush became Vice President under President Ronald Reagan, Mrs. Bush decided to take on literacy as her special cause, calling it "the most important issues we have" as Americans. Mrs. Bush donated much of her time to the cause and eventually became the Honorary Chairman of the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy. She has also been involved with various other issues including AIDS, homeless, work with the elderly, and school volunteer programs. During her time as First Lady, Mrs. Bush was also known for being seen with Millie, her English Springer Spaniel, and even wrote a children's book about the dog.

Since leaving the White House in 1993, Mrs. Bush has remained a public figure. She openly supported her son's bid for President and has been present at many of his events. She has been inducted several women's fraternities, and has had at least five elementary and middle schools named for her. She currently serves on the boards for the Mayo Clinic and AmeriCares and heads the Barbara Bush Foundation for Literacy.

She and the former President split their time between their home in Houston, Texas and Kennebunkport, Maine.

History of the National Federation of Republican Women

2009-05-26T14:28:00.001-04:00

The National Federation of Republican Women (NFRW) is one of the largest and most influential women's political organizations in the United States. A grassroots organization, the NFRW recruits, trains, and elects candidates, advocates the GOP's philosophy and initiatives, and empowers women of all ages, ethnicity, and backgrounds in the political process. But how and when did the NFRW begin?

Believe it or not, Republican women began forming clubs before women were even allowed to vote and were inspired by the 1872 Republican Platform which stated,

"The Republican Party is mindful of its obligation to the loyal women of America for their noble devotion to the cause of Freedom ..."

The oldest Republican women's club on record was founded in Salt Lake City, Utah in the late 1800's, leading the way for hundreds of such clubs to form throughout the new few decades. By the late 1930's, the state of Indiana, alone, had over 140 clubs created by and for Republican women. But in 1938, Marion Martin, the assistant chairman of the Republican National Committee, decided it was time to organize the groups and clubs into a large national organization. Martin called a meeting at the Palmer House in Chicago and in attendance were delegates from every state that had at least 60% of their counties associated with a Republican women's club. The group adopted rules, elected Joyce Arneill of Denver as the first President, and established the NFRW to

"...foster and encourage loyalty to the Republican Party and the ideals for which it stands - to promote education along political lines - to encourage closer cooperation between independent groups and the regular party organization, which are working for the same objectives, namely sound government - to promote an interchange of ideas and experiences of various clubs to the end that the policies which have proven particularly effective in one state may be adopted in another - and to encourage a national attitude and national approach to the problems facing the Republican Party."

At the time of its founding, Maryland, Virginia, and Alabama had not yet granted women the right to vote. Franklin D. Roosevelt has been elected with only two states voting Republican. There were only six Republican governors 89 Congressmen, and 16 GOP Senators. Even so, the NFRW grew and gained momentum amongst women who were concerned with an ever growing government. By 1940, 34 states along with Washington D. C. were represented by NFRW.

The group took on the role as a lobbyist group in its earliest days, staying on top of important issues such as the Wagner Labor Relations Act, national debt, and foreign matters. Arneill urged all members of the club to contact their representatives about these matters and let them know that the women of the GOP were concerned about these issues.

Today, there are thousands of local NFRW clubs and members across the United States and even in some U.S. territories and their goals are all the same as the women who met to form the group over 70 years ago: to put Republicans in office, and to encourage women's involvement in politics, and to be sure the nation is aware of what is going on in our country. Members are ages 19-90 and include everyone from housewives to celebrities, first ladies to potential Presidential candidates, and they hold national conventions across the country, each year. Members not only help get the GOP in office, but they also benefit the communities with prorams such as the NFRW's Caring for American and literacy programs.

The current President of the NFRW is Shirley Sadler of Ohio and their newly renovated headquarters (pictured above) is located at 124 N. ALfred Street in Alexandria, VA.

Considering a projector rental or a plasma rental for your your next convention or event? Then Call a Tech Travel Agent today at 800-736-8772.

Lynne Cheney's American History

2009-05-19T18:31:00.000-04:00

Lynne Cheney may be best known for being the wife of Vice President, Dick Cheney, but there is so much more to her than that! Lynne Ann Vincent Cheney was born on August 14, 1941 in Casper, Wyoming to Wayne Vincent, an engineer, and Edna Lybyer, a deputy sheriff. Few know that Mrs. Cheney is very educated. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Colorado College, her Master of Arts degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder, and a Ph.D in British Literature from the University of Wisconsin. She has also received a number of awards and honorary degrees from numerous other colleges and universities.

Cheney married the Vice President in 1964. Two years later, they had a daughter, Elizabeth, and three years after that, another daughter, Mary was born. The Cheney's have six grandchildren, Samuel, Kate, Elizabeth, Grace, Philip, and Richard.

Mrs. Cheney's love of history has been a strong force that has guided her career. From 1986-1993, Cheney served as chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities. During that time she published a report that warned about the failure of schools to teach history. The report stated that,

"A system of education that fails to nurture memory of the past denies its students a great deal: the satisfactions of mature thought, an attachment to abiding concerns, a perspective on human existence."

She also served as a member of the Commission of the Bicentennial of the Constitution and served on George W. Bush's education team when he was the Governor of Texas, revising Texas standards for studying history. She also founded the American Council of Trustees and Alumni in an effort to reform higher education in America.

The desire to teach children more about history is perhaps what led Mrs. Cheney to write six best-selling books about American history for children including America: A Patriotic Primer (2002), A is for Abigail: An Almanac of Amazing American Women (2003), When Washington Crossed the Delaware: A Wintertime Story for Young Patriots (2004), A Time for Freedom: What Happened When in America (2005), Our 50 States: A Family Adventure Across America (2006), and We the People: The Story of Our Constitution (2008). Mrs. Cheney donated some of the proceeds from the books to charity but also established the James Madison Book Award in an effort to encourage historical knowledge. The award is given each year to an author who "represents excellence in bringing knowledge and understanding of American history to young people."

But Mrs. Cheney writes more than children's books. Throughout her life, she has written numerous articles on topics such as woman suffrage in the West to the way Americans celebrated the country's centennial for several popular publications. She has also written and co-written several other books including both fiction and non-fiction on the subjects of politics and history, and a memoir.

Mrs. Cheney's expansive career hasn't just center on writing. She served as co-host of the CNN program "Cross-fire" from 1995 to 1998. From 1994-2001, she served on Lockheed Corporation's Board of Directors. In 2000, her name was tossed around as potential running mate for President George W. Bush, losing the honor to her husband. Cheney has talked about running for the Senate in her home state of Wyoming but has yet to do so. She currently serves as a senior fellow in education and culture at the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research.

Senator Elizabeth Dole: A Life of Public Service

2009-05-17T23:04:00.000-04:00

Mary Elizabeth Hanford Dole was born in Salisbury, North Carolina on July 29, 1936. She went on to attend Duke University, where she was a member of Delta Delta Delta. She did her post-graduate work at Oxford and upon leaving Oxford, took a job as a high school teacher in Massachusetts while pursuing her Master's Degree in education at Harvard. While there, she also graduated from Harvard Law School. In 1972, she was introduced to Senator Bob Dole, who would become her husband three and a half years later.

Dole began working in Washington DC during the last years of the Lyndon Johnson administration and stayed on to work for President Richard Nixon. Under Nixon, she served as Deputy Assistant for Consumer Affairs and was later appointed to the Federal Trade Commission. In 1975, Dole made the decision to become a Republican and campaigned for her husband who ran as Vice President with Gerald Ford on the Republican ticket in 1976. In 1980, she left the White House to support her husband's run for President.

During the Reagan years, Dole served as director of the White House Office of Public Liaison before becoming the first woman to be appointed as Secretary of Transportation. During her time as Secretary center high-mounted stop lamps became mandatory on all new cars She worked with Mothers Against Drunk Driving to withhold federal highway funds from any state with a drink age below 21 and privatized the national freight railroad.

When President George Bush was elected to office in 1989, Dole served as the Secretary of Labor. Two years later, she became president of the American Red Cross where she served for eight years. During that time, she once again campaigned for her husband's bid for the presidency in 1996. In 2000, Dole, herself, ran for President but dropped out of the race before the primaries began. She was later believed to be among the choices of potential Vice Presidential candidates before President George W. Bush finally chose Dick Cheney.

This led Dole to set her sights on her home state of North Carolina. Even though she had not actually lived in the state in over 40 years, Dole won the Senate race by a large margin. In 2004 she became the chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee. During her time in the Senate, she served on the U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services where she was able to prevent any North Carolina military bases from being closed. She also served on the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Aging, and the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Dole ran for Senator again in 2008, but lost to Democrat Kay Hagan.

Elizabeth Dole has written two books: Hearts Touched by Fire: My 500 Most Inspirational Quotations in 2004 and along with her husband, Unlimited Partners: Our American Story in 1988 (though it was re-released in 1996). Recently, the Dole's spoke at the University of Kansas. Elizabeth Dole told the crowd she began getting involved in politics when she was in high school and served the student government. She went on to become the class president during her senior year at Duke. "The whole world of public policy and politics was like a magnet to me," she said as she reflected on her many years of public service.

Laura Bush delivers SMU Commencement Speech

2009-05-16T18:24:00.000-04:00

Former First Lady Laura Bush addressed Southern Methodist University students on Saturday, May 16th, when she delivered the keynote commencement speech. Mrs. Bush graduated from the university in 1968, over forty years ago, with a Bachelor of Science degree in education.

The former First Lady, dressed in a blue and red graduation gown, spoke of her days at SMU and told graduates that those experiences will be "influential for the rest of your life." She also told the almost 2,000 students in SMU's packed Moody Coliseum that "you won’t waste your talent and education if you use them in service to others." She went on to mention several world issues and how students shouldn't ignore them when looking for their "calling,"

"Between cellphones and the Internet, you have a world of information literally at your fingertips. And because our world is so small, you can’t ignore the genocide in Darfur or the recent brutal treatment of democracy leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi in Burma. You know the plight of children orphaned by AIDS in Africa. Today begins a period of incredible liberty and adventure, a time to find your calling and to demand the most of life before life makes specific demands on you."

The speech lasted about fifteen minutes and Mrs. Bush claimed that when she graduated, she never dreamed that one day, she'd be the one to deliver the commencement address or serve on the Board of Trustees.

SMU is where former President George W. Bush's Presidential Library is set to be built and the former First Lady mentioned that in her speech, as well, saying,

"The bonds formed at SMU are strong, and no matter how many years you’ve been away, I hope that you'll find, like I have, that coming back to SMU feels like coming home. That is why I am so happy that George and I will spend the rest of our lives working here on the SMU campus at the Bush Library and Institute."

You can watch Laura Bush's speech in its entirety here: SMU Video Library

Women of the GOP "In the News" Weekly Round-up

2009-05-15T16:16:00.000-04:00

Lot of great Conservative and Republican Women in the news this week! Here is your weekly round-up:

- Fox News' Primetime Shows have been filled with Conservative and Republican women, this week. Last night, Cindy McCain, wife of Senator John McCain sat down with Greta Van Susteren to discuss everything from her work in Camboida and Congo to her Twitter habits. Tonight, Women of the GOP favorite Liz Cheney, daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney, will be on "On the Record" to discuss the CIA vs. Nancy Pelosi and more on the CIA memo controversy. Meanwhile, "The View" co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck visited "Hannity" to discuss everything from President Obama to her new cookbook. Sean Hannity also interviewed Miss California Carrie Prejean about her big news-making week!

- Congresswoman Michele Bachmann has spoke out this week, calling on Congress to block ACORN's access to federal housing funds due to charges of voter registration fraud. Yesterday, Bachmann spoke outside the Capitol,

"ACORN, as you know, is no stranger to the spotlight. Yet no matter how many times prosecutors investigate and even indict ACORN and their employees, they emerge unblemished as far as the federal government is concerned from having access to federal tax dollars."

- Governor Sarah Palin has, once again, made news this week. Not only did she defend Miss California Carrie Prejean against "malicious attacks" but rumor has it, Palin has signed a book deal to publish her memoir sometime next spring. Palin tells the Associated Press,

"There’s been so much written about and spoken about in the mainstream media and in the anonymous blogosphere world, that this will be a wonderful, refreshing chance for me to get to tell my story, that a lot of people have asked about, unfiltered.”

- Finally, Georgia Secretary of State and Conservative Republican candidate for Governor, Karen Handel has a new message and a new website: Karen Handel for Governor - Bring it on! Handel gave a big speech today at the Georgia Republican Convention in Savannah, GA. In it, she presented a message of change, her personal story, and beating the odds in both life and politics!

Debra Medina: Dark Horse in Texas

2009-05-14T12:33:00.000-04:00

As the 2010 Texas Governor's race heats up, you've probably heard of at least two big names vying for the position: current Governor Rick Perry, who is running for an unprecedented third term, and Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson. But you my not have heard of candidate Debra Medina, a favorite amongst conservatives and libertarians who are tired of the same old ways of doing things and looking for new leadership (and smaller government) in Texas.

Medina isn't your typical politician, running to further her own career. She is running to have an impact on the state of Texas and its people. Instead of a resume padded with fancy political titles that mean nothing, Medina brings to the table the determination, worth ethic, and the desire to return the role of government back to the "Constitutional Republic" the Founding Fathers meant it to be. At a recent Tea Party in Burleson, Texas, Medina spoke of just that,

"While many of the Tea Parties around Texas have focused on what's happening in Washington, DC, and that's easy to do, we see us as us and them as them...I've got to come on the heels of that and ask us to remember that government starts right here, first. It starts at the school boards and it starts at the city councils and it starts at the commissioner's courts. And we train our politicians as they serve us in those capacities how we want them to behave as elected officials. It's important for all of us to remember the proper role of government. Any of us that are students of history see that's what happening in Washington DC right now is not fixing the problem, it is making it worse...we need to remember what the proper role of government is and we need to start asking each other not just how we shift the tax burden from one place to another but what service is your local government providing that would be more appropriately provided by the family or the church or the community."

So who is Debra Medina? According to her website, Medina's hometown is Beeville, Texas and she is married with two children, ages 23 and 19. When she's not involved in politics, she enjoys cooking, gardening, horseback riding, and reading. Medina received a nursing degree from Baptist Memorial Hospital System in 1984 and a Bachelors degree in Business Management from Le Tourneau University in 1995. She is currently the President and CEP of Prudentia, Inc., a medical claims management and legal consulting firm. Medina serves as the Chairman of the Republican Party of Wharton County, Texas and is the State Coordinator for Ron Paul's "Campaign for Liberty." She is also a member of the Wharton Rotary Club.

Medina maintains a blog on her website where she stays in tough with her supporters by posting her thoughts on big issues - everything from taxes to the swine flu - and talks about her political ideology and other activities she is involved with. Recently, she has written about her displeasure with SB 855, a bill making its way through the Texas Senate. According to her blog, the bill

"allows local communities to call elections to raise taxes and fees to pay for light rail, roads, and hike & bike trails...the bill also establishes a progressive income funding structure, an income tax."

Medina asks her readers to keep this in mind when they go to the polls on the now passed May 9th election day and during future elections. You can watch the rest of her Tax Day Tea Party Speech here:

Where are the Republican Women?

2009-05-12T10:51:00.001-04:00

Why are Republican women the minority in Washington? That is the question Erika Lovley of POLITICO.com explored this week. Women make up 51% of the United States population, but in Congress, the numbers are far from representative. Of 435 men and women in Congress, only seventeen of them are Republican women, and just four of 99 Senators are female members of the GOP. And if 2008 is any indication, things aren't getting much better. Despite having Alaska Governor Sarah Palin on the ticket as the Vice Presidential candidate in November, there were 96 women on the ballot for the Democrats, only 37 Republicans. Political science professor, Laurel Elder told Politico,

"Republican women are more reluctant to throw their hat in the ring because they don't see a lot of women like themselves in leadership or on the news. This idea that the GOP is just going to treat everyone fairly hasn't worked. If the GOP wants more women, they're going to have to do more than just recruit women. They need to urge them to run"

Several Republican members of Congress agree with Elder's statement. Representative Pete Sessions (R-Texas) claims the Republican party is focusing on "finding highly qualified female candidates who can effectively convey the Republican message," but former Representative Thelma Drake (R-Virginia) claims the negative press coverage and harsh accusations from opponents is enough to turn women away from politics. When news broke that Governor Palin's seventeen year old daughter was pregnant, the Palin family was often subject to negative and downright hateful treatment from the media and many liberal groups. Drake tells Politico she is still angry at the effect television ads had on her own grandchildren,

"For Republican women to say, ‘This is something I want to subject my family to’ — it’s a big role.' It’s difficult to find people to run for office, and it will be more difficult in the future because of the tones in campaigns."

Republican National Committee Co-Chairwoman Jan Larimer claims the RNC is taking notice and making a push to recruit and train women to run for office in 2010.

"Part of our goal is to dramatically increase the number of Republican women running for office. Chairman Steele and I agree that we must redouble our efforts to build a strong grass-roots organization that encourages participation by every Republican in every state and territory."

With this issue on the table, it will be interesting to see just what happens in 2010and 2012 regarding female Republicans. Will the national presence of Governor Palin influence more women to run for office or will the treatment of her family and other various other issues send a message that has women shying away from politics in general?

Candice Miller: A Voice for National Defense

2009-05-11T13:19:00.000-04:00

When Congresswoman Candice Miller (R-Michigan) visited Guantanamo Bay in March, she came to one conclusion: Guantanamo Bay should not be closed and the detainees should not be released. "You're looking at pure evil," she said. Miller, a member of the House Homeland Security Committee, toured the detention center with a bipartisan group of members of Congress. There, they talked to troops and received a classified briefing on the detainees. As to how the detainees were being treated Miller said,

"I think many Americans would be surprised at how humanely these people are being treated. For example, the medical facilities are second to none. All the modern apparatus of a U.S. hospital are offered there."

Milller also said she learned that the facility was modeled after two United States jails, including one from her home state of Michigan's Lenawee County, saying, "If it's good enough for state prisoners in Michigan, it should be good enough for terrorists." She has co-sponsored a bill that would prevent prevent the transport of detainees to American prisons.

Congresswoman Miller has served on the House Homeland Security Committee since March 2008. She represents Michigan's 10th District which is a border district and home to the Blue Water Bridge, the second busiest border crossing on the northern tier. Her district is also home to the Selfridge Air National Guard Base, three Coast Guard stations, and it borders Chemical Valley, one of the largest collections of petro-chemical operations in North America and the CN Rail Tunnel, the busiest rail artery in the U.S. Serving this location. Because of the 10th District's location, it's no surprise that Miller's top priorities include building homeland security presence, enhancing the security of our airways, roadways, railways and waterways, and securing our food and water supplies by enhancing Northern Border security.

Miller also serves on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. According to Miller, Michigan has never gotten its share of tax dollars returned for its infrastructure needs. The Committee allows her to offer oversight and influence to insure the Blue Water Bridge and other similar portals receive deserved federal attention. It also allows her to serve as a voice for protecting the Great Lakes, Michigan's most cherished natural resources.

Before being elected to Congress, Miller served as Michigan's Secretary of State for two terms. She is a lifelong resident of Macomb County, Michigan and before entering public service, she worked for her family's marina business on Clinton River. She and her husband, Donald Miller, a former Air National Guard Colonel and current Macomb County Circuit Court Judge have one daughter.

Lynn Jenkins Delivers GOP's Weekly Radio Address

2009-05-02T19:30:00.000-04:00

Today, Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins of Kansas became the first freshman Republican in Congress to respond to President Obama's weekly radio address. Jenkins, a former CPA and the former Kansas State Treasurer spoke out on Democrats' "truly eye-opening" spending policies and focused on the wasteful use of taxpayer money to fund the stimulus bill,

"Well, in the last few weeks, we've heard about plenty of 'stimulus' waste Taxpayer dollars earmarked for a homeless program in a town with no homeless problem. Millions to extend an 'Artwalk' in New York. And more than a million dollars for sidewalks and trash cans outside a casino in Michigan...This bill was supposed to be about jobs, but it's gone off the rails in practically no time at all and millions of your tax dollars are being wasted. It's quickly turning into a symbol of everything wrong with Washington, D.C. - unchecked spending, no accountability and oversight, and more and more debt piled onto our children and grandchildren."

Jenkins went on to talk about how Obama's first 10 days have been full of "spending, taxing, and borrowing" and how Republicans want to fight for the middle class and small businesses. You can watch the address in its entirety here:

So who is Lynn Jenkins? Here's a little information about the Congresswoman from Kansas' Second District:

A sixth-generation Kansan, Lynn Jenkins was born and raised on dairy farm near Holton, Kansas. She attended Kansas State University and Weber State College and graduated with a degree in Accounting. After working as a Certified Public Accountant for many years, Jenkins served two years in the Kansas House of Representatives and one term as a Kansas State Senator. In 2002, she became the Kansas State Treasurer. During her tenure as Treasurer, she served as the president of the National Associating of State Treasurers. Jenkins was elected to Congress in 2008. She currently serves the Committee on Financial Services on both the subcommittee on Capital Markets, Insurance, and Government-Sponsored Enterprises, and the subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity. Jenkins is also mom to two children, Hayley and Hayden.

A fiscal conservative, Jenkins would like to make President George W. Bush's tax cuts permanent, is often critical of many "wasteful" pork projects, and claims the rising price of oil is due to excess regulation. She also hold strong views on illegal immigration claiming that it "is wreaking havoc on our economic, legal, and national security interests." In January, Jenkins introduced a bill to prevent detainees from being moved from Guantanamo Bay to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

Women of the GOP Weekly Round-Up

2009-05-02T00:36:00.000-04:00

Many Conservative and Republican women are doing great things this week. Here is your weekly round-up!

- Governor Sarah Palin became the latest politician to jump on the Twitter bandwagon this week. To give you an idea of just how popular the Governor continues to be, less than 48 hours ago, she had around 600 Twitter "followers." Now, she has a little over 14,000.

- In other Palin news, the Governor appeared on the TLC show "American Chopper" this week. You can watch part of the interview here:

- In even more Palin news, Time Magazine listed its annual list of "100 Most Influential People." Not surprisingly, Governor Palin made the list.

- Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins of Kansas will deliver the GOP response to President Barack Obama's weekly radio address this Saturday. According to her website, she will "speak on Washington’s spending habits, the massive debt being piled on the backs of the next generation and the need for bipartisan cooperation going forward." Jenkins is the first freshman Republican ever asked to respond to a Presidential radio address.

- While most of Hollywood has had some not so nice things to say about Miss California Carrie Prejean's response to a question about gay marriage, actress Angie Harmon defended the beauty queen telling Us Magazine,

"If someone is standing up for how they feel and talking about their beliefs, why are we punishing her for that? I just don't understand how we've gotten to a place in America where, if someone doesn't agree with everyone, then they are punished for it."

Liz Cheney Speaks Out

2009-04-27T11:41:00.000-04:00

The political world is all abuzz about Liz Cheney's appearance on MSNBC, last week. In an interview with Norah O'Donnell, she defended her father, former Vice President, Dick Cheney, former Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, and the Bush Administration's interrogation tactics and claimed they brought about valuable intelligence. Cheney explained that memos on the matter expressed that it was important not to cross a line into torture and that everything that was done is often used on Americans for training purposes. Cheney also defended her father's legacy and spoke about the future of the Republican Party, but it was her willingness to stand up to the more-often-than-not biased reporter's accusations and asinine assumptions that have some blogs and websites posting headlines such as "Cheney '12" as headlines for the interview. You can watch the video here:

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

About Liz Cheney:

While most people know Liz Cheney as the oldest daughter of the former Vice President, they probably don't realize that Cheney served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State during the Bush Administration, that she is an attorney, or that she is the mother of five children.

Elizabeth Cheney Perry was born in 1966. She attended Colorado College and graduated from the University of Chicago Law School in 1996. Between college and attending law school, Cheney worked at the State Department and the consulting firm, Armitage Associates LLP. After law school, she practiced law privately for the firm White and Case, worked as international law attorney, a consultant at the International Finance Corporation, served as Special Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of State for Assistant to the former Soviet Union, and as a USAID officer in U.S. embassies in Budapest and Warsaw.

In 2002, she would be appointed to the position of Deputy Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs but the appointment was not without controversy. Many claimed the position was created just for the daughter of the Vice President, but the State Department claimed she had been recommended by Colin Powell and that the position was just vacant at the time of her appointment. The London Times saw her appointment as "America is getting serious about Middle East Reform." As Deputy, Cheney was given control of the Middle East Partnership Initiative which was put in place to help create democracy and economic progress in the Middle East. Cheney left this position after two years to work for President George Bush's re-election campaign, often speaking to women voters, but would return to the U.S State Department in 2005. During that time, she oversaw the launch of Fund of the Future (a foundation that provides capital for small businesses) and Foundation of the Future (a group that promotes freedom of the press and democracy).

Since the Bush Administration left office, Cheney has continued her busy career in politics. In 2007, she worked as a co-chair for Senator Fred Thompson's Presidential campaign, and later went on to work for Governor Mitt Romney when Thompson dropped out of the race. That year, she also wrote a big editorial for the Washington Post, criticizing Hillary Clinton's position on the war in Iraq. She also speaks publicly about international relations and the role of women in democracy and has been rumored to be helping her father research for a book about his work in public service.

Liz Cheney is married to Philip Perry, the former General Counsel of the Department of Homeland Security. The couple have five children: Kate, Elizabeth, Grace, Philip, and Richard.

Elisabeth Hasselbeck Beyond the View

2009-04-26T00:05:00.000-04:00

It's not easy being the lone voice of dissent, especially when your co-workers do not let you get a word in, but every day Elisabeth Hasselbeck manages to do it and keep her dignity. For those who don't know, Hasselbeck is one of the co-hosts of the controversial women's talk show, "The View." Each day, Hasselbeck stands up to her liberal co-hosts and speaks her mind about a range of issues from abortion to the war in Iraq, often making headlines, and winning the sympathy and admiration of conservatives across the country. But there is a lot more to Elisabeth Hasselbeck than "The View."

Elisabeth DelPadre Filarski Hasselbeck was born and grew up in Rhode Island where she was raised in the Catholic Church and attended Catholic schools. Eventually, she went to Boston College where she earned a degree in Fine Arts. Upon graduating from Boston College, she worked for Puma shoes, as a designer, before auditioning for and being cast in the reality show "Survivor." In her time between "Survivor" and "The View," Hasselbeck begin making a name for herself in the entertainment industry. She judged the 2001 "Miss Teen USA" pageant and in 2002 she began hosting "The Look for Less," a television show on the Style Network. But 2002 was a big year for Hasselbeck for another reason; on July 6, she married her college sweetheart, former NFL quarterback, Tim Hasselbeck. In 2003, she would begin guest-hosting "The View" from time to time and was eventually hired to replace Lisa Ling.

Since becoming "The View's" youngest and most conservative co-host, Hasselbeck has continued to make a name for herself. She's appeared on a number of television shows from "Hannity" to "The Tonight Show" and even filled in on Fox News morning show "Fox and Friends." She's appeared on many magazine covers including the famed Fitness cover where she bravely donned a bikini just three months after giving birth. But Hasselbeck has always been known for her athleticism and competitive nature. She served as captain of the Boston College softball team, leading the team to back-to-back Big East championship titles. In 1999, she ran the Boston marathon. In 2004, she'd find herself doing even more running, but this time it would be to carry the Olympic torch through the streets of New York City.

Hasselbeck is also known for being a champion of several causes, whether they are political or charitable in nature. In the politial arena, she campaigned for Senator John McCain in the 2008 election. Before the election, she traveled with Governor Sarah Palin to several rallies in Florida and during the Republican National Convention, she hosted a luncheon for Cindy McCain. She gave a speech at the 2004 Republican National Convention. Hasselbeck has also worked with a number of charities, including the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, Making Memories Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, The Wireless Amber Alert Program Initiative, Autism Speaks, and the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness. She has filmed a public service announcement encouraging breast cancer awareness and continues to support that cause.

So what's next for Elisabeth Hasselbeck? What else could she possibly add to her list of accomplishments? Recently, she created a clothing line for QVC. In May, her new cookbook "The G-Free Diet" will be released in May, focusing on gluten-free recipes. (Hasselbeck suffers from Celiac disease.) In May, she will also guest-star on the show "Ugly Betty." Despite all of this, Hasselbeck will take on her biggest project in August when she gives birth to her third child. The baby will join big sister, Grace Elisabeth and big brother, Taylor Thomas.

Women of the GOP Weekly Round-Up

2009-04-25T00:26:00.000-04:00

Lots of great Conservative and Republican women in the news this week. Here is your weekly round-up!

- Former First Lady Barbara Bush appeared on "On the Record" with Greta Van Susteren this week to discuss a number of topics including her health (she recently had open heart surgery), a cause that's very dear to her: literacy, and why her family (particularly her most famous son) likes to "oink" at her. You can watch the video at FOXNews.com. Stay tuned, Women of the GOP will be profiling Mrs. Bush later this week!

- The usually brash Ann Coulter softened her tone this week to eulogize her mother, the late Nell Coulter. Mrs. Coulter died last week. After reading the piece, it's easy to understand who influenced Coulter's very political life and it seems as though the two women had a very deep admiration for each other.

- A few weeks after a fake website claiming to be Governor Sarah Palin's legal defense fund popped up, it looks as though an official website for the Governor Sarah Palin Legal Expense Fund is now available and taking donations. According to the website, the state of Alaska has spent over $1 million and the Governor has spent over half a million dollars defending herself against frivolous political attacks.

- Love her or hate her, Meghan McCain knows how to make headlines. This week, McCain filled in for Elisabeth Hasselbeck on "The View."

- Women of the GOP favorite Dana Perino has a new job. Public relations firm Burson-Marsteller hired Perino to be their "chief issues counselor." In that position, she will help the firm build their "media and issues capabilities and provide senior counsel to clients." In other Perino news, the former White House Press Secretary appeared on CBS News' "Washington Unplugged" on Friday to talk about the news of the day. The Chicago Tribune has the video.

Where is Condoleezza Rice?

2009-04-19T01:15:00.000-04:00

When politicians began throwing their names into the race for the 2008 Presidential election, many people began to speculate about then Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Websites such as Rice2008.com began to pop up all over the internet, encouraging Secretary Rice to run. When it became obvious she wasn't going to, many Republicans hoped to persuade Senator John McCain to pick her as his running mate. But Rice made it pretty clear that she was not interested in running for any political office,

"I don't know how many ways to say no. I don't have any desire to run for president. I don't intend to. I won't do it...I know what it takes to run for president. I've watched it up close, one of these days very soon I am going to want to return to being an academic again and to get back to the California life, and the world of ideas."

It's been a few months since the Bush administration left office and many people have been left wondering what Secretary Rice is doing now, especially after she recently made headlines for writing a piece about the Masters entitled, "My Weekend on Tiger's Trail." Throughout her public life, Rice has been known for her love of sports and has even joked about wanting to become the next NFL commissioner. Turns out, she's also a fan of Tiger Woods. In the piece, she jokes,

"...when I was able to get tickets for my first Masters, I was really excited. I’ve been to Super Bowls, the Final Four, the U.S. Open Tennis Championships—nothing matched the anticipation of my first Masters. As the time approached, my assistant Anne said, 'They want to know who you want to follow.' Borrowing language from Anne’s generation, I said, 'Duh?' I know Tiger from our Stanford connection. I once sat with him at a Stanford-Duke basketball game. Stanford won on a buzzer-beater, and we stormed the court together. With that kind of bonding, whom else would I pull for?"

So, aside from blogging about her trip to Augusta, what else has Rice been up to? Well, just last week, she joined former President George W. Bush in a visit to Southern Methodist University for a meeting to discuss the George Bush institute. Afterwards she took pictures with students and faculty and then, along with several other former Bush aides and advisers, the Secretary had dinner at the former President's home.

A quick Google news search will tell you that the former Secretary of State has been invited to speak at many upcoming events and occasions. On April 30, she will speak at the Economic Club of Southwestern Michigan, she'll return to Washington D.C. to speak at the Annual Yitzhak Rabin Memorial Lecture, and even as far ahead as January, 2010, Rice has been lined up to speak at the Marin Speaker Series.

But true to her word, Secretary Rice returned to academia in March. She is currently a political science professor at Stanford University. At Standford she also serves as a Senior Fellow of the Hoover Institution. Even so, people continue to speculate a future run for President and even Governor of California. For now, it looks like she's pretty content at Stanford, but who knows what the future will hold for Condoleezza Rice.

Women of the GOP "In the News" Round-Up

2009-04-18T01:12:00.000-04:00

Lots of great Conservative and Republican women in the news this week, here is your weekly round-up!

- Condoleezza Rice's name has been in the headlines this week. What exactly has she been up to? Is she running for office? Returning to academia? Not exactly. Looks like she is writing about the Masters over at The Daily Beast. Not exactly what the world expected! (Stick around - tomorrow, "Women of the GOP" will have a profile on Secretary Rice, including everything else Rice is up to these days!)

- Did you attend your local Tax Day Tea Party on Wednesday? Thousands of Americans gathered in large cities and small towns to protest the government's misuse of our tax dollars! GOP Women from all walks of life were out in full force! Actress, Janine Turner, attended the San Antonio Tea Party. Georgia Secretary of State and candidate for Governor Karen Handel told a crowd at the Peachtree City Tea Party the Obama administration and Democrats in Congress are "in the midst of a full-on assault on the freedoms that this country was founded upon."

- Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann has been making a name for herself and getting under the skin of many liberals, lately. Bachmann isn't hesitant to criticize current Democrats in office or their policies and this week, she has been making headlines for daring to speak out and warn against Americorp.

- Alaska Governor Sarah Palin told a "Right to Life" crowd in Indiana, this week, that she briefly considered having an abortion when she found out her youngest son, Trig, would be born with Down syndrome. She followed that idea by saying, "The moment he was born, I knew that moment my prayers had been answered." Despite the way the mainstream media has handled the story, those who attended the event say the speech made them love and respect the Governor even more. You can watch part of Palin's speech here:

Patricia Heaton: Celebrity Voice for the Pro-Life Movement

2009-04-14T02:16:00.000-04:00

The words "conservative" and "Hollywood" aren't usually compatible, but don't tell that to Patricia Heaton. Heaton is one of the few conservative A-list actresses who speaks openly about her politics, religious beliefs, and values. During the 2008 Presidential election, she attended fundraisers for Senator John McCain, supported Governor Sarah Palin, and has volunteered for President George W. Bush. She says she was raised as a Democrat but decided to switch parties when she felt there wasn't a place for "pro-life" members in the Democratic party.

Much of Heaton's activism centers around pro-life issues. She is the Honorary Chair of "Feminists For Life," which is an organization that opposes abortion and embryonic stem cell research from a feminist perspective. She spoke about the organization on an appearance on "The O'Reilly Factor,"

"The early feminists were pro-life. And really, abortion is a huge disservice to women, and it hasn't been presented that way. As Feminists for Life-what we're trying to do is support women, and so what we want to do is-reach women on campus-college campuses so that, when they get pregnant, they can find housing. They can find money they need to stay in school."

In 2005, during the media coverage of Terri Schiavo's last days, in an exclusive interview, Heaton told "Entertainment Tonight" that she was against taking Schiavo's feeding tube away and vowed to fast in her honor. In 2006, Heaton starred in a commercial along with several other celebrities opposing Missouri's proposed constitutional amendment regarding embryonic stem cell research. In a 2004 interview with Life News, Heaton was asked about her stance on abortion,

"I find it impossible to subscribe to a philosophy that believes that the destruction of human life is a legitimate solution to a problem that is mostly social, economic and psychological. In reality, most women 'choose' abortion because they believe they have no other choice."

Patricia Heaton is best known for her role as "Debra Barone" on the show "Everybody Loves Raymond," a role for which she won two Emmys. She was born in Bay Village, Ohio and attended Ohio State University. Heaton has been married to British actor David Hunt for almost twenty years. They have four sons, Sam, John, Joseph, and Daniel.

Elizabeth Ames Jones - Texas Railroad Commissioner

2009-04-12T18:10:00.000-04:00

When you think of Republican women holding a political office, "Railroad Commissioner" is probably not the first position that comes to mind, but you haven't met Elizabeth Ames Jones, yet. Ames Jones was appointed to be the Railroad Commissioner of Texas in 2005 by Governor Rick Perry, and in 2006, she was elected to serve a six year term in office. She is only the second woman to serve the Commission in its 118 year history. This comes after being elected three times to the Texas House of Representatives.

While serving the Texas Legislature, Ames Jones served as one of three Texas appointees to the Southern States Energy Board and Chairman of the Budget and Oversight for the Energy Resources Committee. She also served on several other committees such as the Appropriations, Local and Consent Calendars, and Select School Finance. She led the way to establish the Texas Cord Blood Bank in San Antonio which stores and provides umbilical cord stem cells to treat various diseases. In December, Ames Jones spoke at Valley Baptist Medical Center, which has collected over 3,000 cord blood donations, about the importance of cord blood,

"This is an issue that is very near and dear to my heart," Jones said. "I've had family and friends experience medical tragedies in their lives with life-threatening cancers. Some did not survive. In honor of those, I've worked very hard...It is the ultimate recycling project - one that saves lives."

The other cause that is important to the Commissioner is becoming less dependent on foreign energy sources. On her the Texas Railroad Commission website, she promises to protect Texas' natural resources and foster the growth of domestic energy sources. In August, 2008, Ames Jones wrote an Op-Ed for the Wall Street Journal entitled "How Texas Struck it Rich Beneath Suburbia." In it she talks about how politicians are blocking the way for the United States to become energy independent,

"If there is an energy crisis in this country, it is because too many states and too many lawmakers in Washington are too timid about allowing entrepreneurs to bring to the surface what is buried right below us. In Texas, we’re not timid. Thanks to longstanding public policy encouraging responsible production, 18% of all the oil and 30% of all the natural gas produced onshore in the U.S. is produced in this state. That makes us the No. 1 energy-producing state in America."

Ames Jones considers herself a "rock-solid" conservative. As a member of the Texas House, she worked to ensure a budget that cut state spending for the first time since World War II and overcome a ten billion dollar revenue shortfall. All of this was done without raising taxes. She has been a champion for homeowners' rights, and played an important role in creating property appraisal reform legislation and lowering homeowners' insurance premiums. She has won several awards for her work ethic, been called a "Fighter for Free Enterprise," and has been recognized for her contributions to Texas law enforcement.

Elizabeth Ames Jones is a sixth generation Texan from San Antonio and a graduate of the University 0f Texas, Austin. She and her husband, Will, have two children. You can read more about Commissioner Ames Jones (including her Wall Street Journal Op-Ed) at her official website: EAJ: Home.

Sharron Angle to take on Harry Reid?

2009-04-11T22:04:00.000-04:00

It looks like Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid may have some competition in 2010. Former Nevada state Assemblywoman Sharron Angle is contemplating running against the Senator. Angle is reaching out to former supporters, hoping to raise $100,000 by May. In an interview with the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Angle said,

"I need to know what kind of support I have for a run like this. That's what the exploration is all about."

The Nevada Appeal has called her "one of Nevada’s most conservative voices." The Mineral County Independent has called her "A known proven fighter for taxpayers..." And the Las Vegas Sun claims she, "…has been a consistent ‘no’ vote on spending increases in the Legislature.”

According to her website, Angle is focused on several key issues such as limited taxation, developing domestic oil sources, supporting a military force of superior strength, securing the border, a business-friendly and free market environment, reforming Medicare/Medicaid and Social Security, defending the property owner rights, self-defense, family values, protecting life, and education. She says her overall political philosophy is,

"... that government properly exists only by the consent of the governed and must be restrained from intruding into the freedoms of its citizens. In the Nevada State Legislature, I have consistently fought for smaller and more efficient government, traditional values, lower taxes and the right of the people to vote and petition."

Angle served four terms as a Republican Assemblywoman in Nevada's 26th district, serving from 1999 - 2005. During her time in the Nevada Assembly, Angle served on the Committee on High-Level Radioactive Waste, the Legislative Commission, the Information Technology Subcommittee, the Commission on Substance Abuse Education, Prevention, Enforcement, and Treatment, the Committee on Education, the Committee on Elections, Procedures, and Ethics, the Committee on Health and Human Services, and the Nevada Commission of Aging among others. She was the author of the Property Tax Reform Initiative (Prop 13) and has tried to get a property tax limit placed in the Nevada State Constitution.

Angle has a number of other achievements under her belt. She's published a novel, Prairie Fire, and has long been very involved in education. She served a term on the Nye County School Board of Trustees, spent five years as an instructor at Norther Nevada Community College, spent 25 years as a substitute teacher, worked as a lead teacher at World of Light Christian Academy, and served as a tutor and service supervisor for Nye County Juvenile Probation. Her other accomplishments include helping to establish the Ely Hot Line Crisis Call line for troubled teens, Winnemucca Fine Art Gallery, and the Tonopah Life Center for Family Fitness. She has been a small business manager for 22 years and has served as a sexual harassment investigator for 13 years. She is a member of the Republican Women of Reno and the Sonrise Church.

Sharron Angle was born in Klamath Falls, Oregon in 1949 and has lived in Nevada for over 50 years. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Nevada, Reno. She has been married to Ted Angle for 35 years and they have two children and ten grandchildren. In her spare time, she paints, writes, swims, skis, and lifts weights.

You can learn more about Angle at her website: Sharron Angle.com

Sarah Palin in the News

2009-04-11T03:09:00.001-04:00

Ever since Senator John McCain chose Sarah Palin as his running mate for his 2008 run for President, the country has been captivated (both for better and for worse) with the Governor of Alaska. Some five months after the election, people are still trying to make a name for themselves through Palin.

The latest example comes from the group, Free American Citizens. Earlier this week, the group set up a website claiming all donations would go to help pay Palin's legal fees from the "Troopergate" investigation, but the Governor sent out a statement via her spokesperson saying she was not affiliated with the group,

"The continuing generosity of Alaskans and Americans is overwhelming as many reach out to assist Governor Sarah Palin and her family with their legal bills.However, the official legal defense fund for Governor Sarah Palin has not been formed and the Governor cannot accept monies for those obligations from any other entity than the one in formation. Numerous federal and state laws to need to be abided by and the official legal defense fund will have very strict donation guidelines.We thank everyone interested in helping the Governor. The best way to assist her will be through this official fund which will launch later this month."

Today, the website is still taking donations but now claims they are for Palin's "war chest" for a 2012 run for President. The group claimed they meant no harm and that all funds would indeed be sent to Palin to help pay for her legal defense but Palin cannot legally accept the money. The Governor owes over $500,000 in legal fees from what she calls "partisan, false and frivolous" ethics investigations.

In other Palin news, it seems as though the Governor is weighing in on Secretary of Defense Robert Gates's proposed $1.4 billion reduction of the Missile Defense Agency’s budget. In a letter to Gates, Palin says that a global missile defense shield "is more important now than ever" citing technology development of North Korea and Iran. Palin says she fears North Korea has the potential to reach Alaska, Hawaii, and the West Coast with a nuclear armed warhead and mentions Alaska's own Fort Greely as an ideal spot to continue with training and development.

You can read the entire letter to Gates at the
Governor's Official Website.

Dana Perino Goes to Africa

2009-04-08T01:43:00.000-04:00

Just one day after we profiled Dana Perino, the former White House Press Secretary writes an article for The Washington Post: "Americans Answer a Call to Help."

Perino says that many people asked her what she planned to do once her boss, President George W. Bush, left office. At first, she didn't have an answer, but that changed in February 2008 when she accompanied the President on a five country trip to Benin, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ghana, and Liberia. While on this trip, Perino states that her "mission became clear" and she knew she'd eventually "return to Africa and try to help in some small way."

And return, she did. Perino and her husband volunteered at Living Hope, a "faith-based organization that leads several programs for people affected by all aspects of AIDS and HIV." Perino explains that the program is just one part of President Bush's much-celebrated Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. In the piece, she talks about the people she helped while working there and the inspiring American volunteers she met.

Perino says she chose Africa because "the need is so great" and "an American dollar can be stretched so far." She also reflects on her own childhood and the days when her mom and dad were "always doing something for other people."

You can read the rest of Perino's article here: PERINO: Americans answer a call to help - Washington Times

Dana Perino

2009-04-06T13:35:00.000-04:00

In 2007, when the late Tony Snow stepped down from his position as White House Press Secretary, President George W. Bush appointed then Deputy Press Secretary, Dana Perino, to the position. Perino accepted the job, becoming only the second woman to ever hold the position. For a year and a half, we watched her handle Helen Thomas and the White House Press Corps with dignity and confidence. Her intelligence, beauty, and youth captured the nation as she served the remainder of President Bush's term. Here is a look at the life of the woman beyond the White House briefing room:

Dana Marie Perino was born on May 9, 1972 in Wyoming. Her family moved to Denver when Perino was two years old and not long after that, Perino had already decided on a future in politics. According to an interview with The Rocky Mountain News, at the age of six, Perino told her parents, "I'm gonna work in the White House." At the age of eight, Perino and her father were having debates about the day's news stories at the dinner table. By high school, she had joined the debate team and while attending college at The University of Southern Colorado, she took a job as a radio disc jokey at a country music radio station.

After college, Perino moved to Illinois to work on her Master's degree and while there, worked as a television news reporter for a year but decided journalism wasn't what exactly she wanted to do. "I think if I’d been good at that, I would have recognized it and stuck with journalism. But really, I wasn’t very good at it." Perino has said of reporting. Eventually she would make the move to Washington D.C. to work as an assistant for Republcan Congressman Scott McInnis. After several months of answering McInnis' constituent complaints, she was offered a job as press secretary for Congressman Dan Schaeffer.

Eventually, Perino would leave Washington to get married and spend several years away from our nation's capitol. She met her husband, Steve McMahon, in 1997 and moved to London where McMahon worked as a businessman. The couple soon moved to San Diego and Perino worked for a public relations firm but according to friends, she wasn't happy there. Which is probably why Perino returned to DC shortly after September 11, 2001. She took a job as communications director for the White House's Council on Environmental Quality and eventually joined the White House Press Staff in 2005.

2006 was a busy year for Perino. Not only did President Bush name her Deputy Press Secretary, but Perino became a step-grandmother when her step-daughter gave birth to twins. In 2007, she filled in for then Press Secretary, Tony Snow, as he left to undergo cancer treatments and in August, 2007, when Snow resigned for good, the President appointed Perino to the position saying,

"What I look for in somebody like Dana is somebody to walk in that Oval Office and give me sound judgment and good advice, and I've found that over the course of the time I've known her she's capable of doing that."

Perino is known for staying on message and being a staunch supporter of President Bush. In the now infamous incident involving an Iraqi journalist throwing a shoe at the President, Perino was injured when a microphone stand fell into her eye. When asked about the incident, Perino joked, "Sure I would take a shoe for the President." Currently, she can be seen on cable news stations including Fox News and C-Span providing political commentary on current events.

Laura Bush Part 2: Life Before Washington DC

2009-04-04T21:40:00.000-04:00

Laura Lane Welch Bush was born in Midland, Texas, on November 4th, 1946, to Harold and Jenna Welch. An avid reader and advocate for literacy, some of her fondest memories from her childhood come from reading with her parents. Mrs. Bush has said,

"I learned [how important reading is] at home from my mother. When I was a little girl, my mother would read stories to me. I have loved books and going to the library ever since. In the summer, I liked to spend afternoons reading in the library. I enjoyed the Little House on the Prairie books and Little Women, and many others... Reading gives you enjoyment throughout your life."

Mrs. Bush grew up in Midland and attended Southern Methodist University. She graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Education and went on to teach elementary school in Dallas and Houston. She would later earn a degree in Library Science from the University of Texas and work as a librarian. She has often said her time as a teacher and librarian helped her realize how important reading truly is.

The future first lady would not meet her husband until 1977, at a barbecue. They were married later that year and their twin daughters, Barbara and Jenna arrived four years later, in 1981. She would spend the next few years raising her daughters, campaigning for her father-in-law, President George H. W. Bush, and volunteering to work with babies with AIDS.

When George W. Bush decided to run for Governor of Texas in 1994, Mrs. Bush originally resisted, insisting she was not interested in politics. But Mrs. Bush's transition to First Lady of Texas was seamless. She dove into the role, becoming a champion for several important causes. She was an advocate for literacy and several children's causes. She began "Take Time For Kids" an awareness campaign to educate parents and caregivers; she urged the people of Texas to establish family literacy programs. She established "Reach Out and Read, " a pediatric reading program and "Ready to Read," an early childhood education program. Mrs. Bush raised money for public libraries and established the Texas Book Festival. She focused on helping abused and neglected children through the establishment of "Rainbow Rooms" and the "Adopt-a-Caseworker" Program. She also helped raise Alzheimer's and breast cancer awareness.

In 1999, when then Governor George Bush announced that he would run for President, Mrs. Bush has said she joked to her husband that it was okay as long as she never had to give a speech. Fortunately, she wasn't true to her word. At the 2000 Republican National Convention, Mrs. Bush gave a speech that would put her in the national spotlight and give the country a glimpse at the elegant woman from Midland, Texas. Laura Bush would go on to become, not just First Lady, but a leader and role model for women and people all over the world.

Laura Bush Part One: First Lady with Class

2009-04-02T20:18:00.000-04:00

For eight years, we watched First Lady Laura Bush's every move. Whether she was at her husband, President George W. Bush's, side or involved in her own endeavors, we watched a woman with class, style, and grace become a role model for women all over the world. Here is a brief look at her time as First Lady of the United States.

It's no surprise that Laura Bush left Washington DC with one of the highest approval ratings of any first lady (82%). A champion of health and education issues, both here in the United States and abroad, it seemed as though Mrs. Bush was well received anywhere she went, by people from all walks of life. She has been praised for her humanitarian efforts, admired for her positive attitude, and credited with helping make President Bush into the leader he has been for the last eight years.

A former teacher, librarian and avid reader, Mrs. Bush began work on various education and child development initiatives almost as soon as her husband was elected President.She served as honorary ambassador for the United Nations Literacy Decade and has spoken at lengths about the importance of reading and literacy. Through her position with the U.N., she traveled to poor nations to witness and become an advocate for how literacy helps fight poverty. Together with the Library of Congress, she started the annual "National Book Festival" After September 11th, the First Lady spoke out to families to help them parent through the tragedy and composed open letters to students,

We need to reassure our children that they are safe in their homes and schools. We need to reassure them that many people love them and care for them, and that while there are some bad people in the world, there are many more good people.

Mrs. Bush didn't take her role as one of the most powerful women in the world lightly. She became an important advocate for many women's issues, especially health issues. Working with The Heart Truth campaign, she lead the federal government's effort to inform women that heart disease is not just a "man's disease."

She also became an advocate for breast cancer, working with the Susan G. Komen Foundation and by helping Partnership for Breast Cancer Awareness and Research of the Americas gain international support. Mrs. Bush's involvement with women's and health issues didn't stop at the border. She often traveled abroad, spreading HIV/AIDS awareness. In November 2001, she gave the weekly presidential radio address, taking the opportunity to speak up for the women of Afghanistan and in 2002, spoke directly to the people of Afghanistan on behalf of women's rights

White House Press Secretary, Ari Fleischer once said that Mrs. Bush is "more popular and welcome in many parts of the country than the president." But Mrs. Bush always stood behind her family, including her twin daughters, Jenna and Barbara, and her husband. In 2006, in an interview with Fox News' Chris Wallace, Mrs. Bush disagreed that people were losing confidence in her husband,

Well, I don't think they are. And I don't really believe those polls. I travel around the country, I see people, I see their response to my husband, I see their response to me. There are a lot of difficult challenges right now in the United States... All of those decisions that the President has to make surrounding each one of these very difficult challenges are hard. They're hard decisions to make. And of course some people are unhappy about what some of those decisions are. But I think people know that he is doing what he thinks is right for the United States, that he's doing what he — especially in the war on terror what he thinks he is obligated to do for the people in the United States, and that is to protect them...

Mrs. Bush has also said that "history" will be the judge of her husband's legacy, but I think we can all agree that history will not be the judge of Laura Bush's legacy. Mrs. Bush's tenure as first lady will be and already has been proven more accomplished and has been carried out with more class than any previous First Lady in recent history.

Check back tomorrow as Women of the GOP takes a look back at Laura Bush before she became First Lady.