Linda Biamonte for New Jersey's 2nd

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.

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Sandy Adams for Congress in Flordia's 24th

"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.

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Cynthia Lummis: Wyoming's Congresswoman

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.

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

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.

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Peg Luksik Wants Arlen Specter's Senate Seat

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.

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Will New Mexico See a Female Governor in 2010?

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.

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Sue Lowden Hopes to Unseat Harry Reid

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.

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Marsha Blackburn: Tennessee's True Conservative

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.

Get Your Great American Conservative Women 2010 Calendar

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

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Sarah Palin's "Going Rogue" Already Number One

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

Women of the GOP in the News

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

Congresswoman Sue Myrick of North Carolina

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.

Interview with Stacy Mott, Founder of Smart Girl Politics

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!

Nikki Haley for Governor of South Carolina

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

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.

Elisabeth Hasselbeck Beyond the View

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 "In the News" Round-Up

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

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.

Angie Harmon: A Conservative Voice from Hollywood

When it comes to politics, it's rare to hear anyone in Hollywood speak out against Barack Obama, much less a true conservative voice. Actress Angie Harmon became the exception to the rule, recently, when she told a Fox News reporter she was not a fan of the current President. She also admitted that she's tired of having to defend herself when it comes to disliking Obama:

Here's my problem with this, I'm just going to come out and say it. If I have anything to say against Obama it's not because I'm a racist, it's because I don't like what he's doing as President and anybody should be able to feel that way, but what I find now is that if you say anything against him you're called a racist. But it has nothing to do with it, I don’t care what color he is.

Harmon went on to say she thought Senator John McCain had more experience and would have done a better job and spoke about how much she likes Alaska Governor, Sarah Palin:

I admire any kind of woman like her...People cannot look at this woman. I really think they're afraid of her and her morals, ethics and values and the fact that she hangs on them. Is she the most experienced person in the world? But she was running to be the Vice President, so we then put the most inexperienced person as the President. That didn't make any sense to me.

This isn't the first time Harmon has spoken out about politics. In 2004, she and her husband, former football player, Jason Sehorn, spoke at the 2004 Republican National Convention and actively supported George W. Bush for President. In 2008, she told Us Magazine she would be voting for McCain and was seen attending several fundraisers for the candidate. She explained her dissent from typical liberal Hollywood, "We have an underground Republican Party."

Harmon, who was born in Texas, currently lives in Los Angeles with Sehorn and their three daughters, Finely, Avery, and Emery. On parenting, Harmon has said she raises her daughters "with a healthy dose of manners and religion." She is perhaps best known for her role on "Law and Order" but has also starred in a number of other films and television shows. When she's not being being a political activist, Harmon is very involved with charity and has worked with various groups such as CJ Foundation for SIDS and the HollyRod Foundation.