'76 Blog

('76 Contributor) After Herman Cain won the Florida straw poll by more than twice the votes either Perry or Romney got, my thoughts were these:  (1) Contrary to what Morgan Freeman and the rest of the Liberals think, the Tea Party is not racist. For if they were, why would they vote for a black guy? (2) Contrary to Bill Kristol’s view that this was a vote of no confidence for Perry or Romney and that Cain is just a flash in the pan and can’t win the nomination, I see much more going on. At the end of July at the Western Conservative Summit, I listened to Herman Cain and said as follows: “It’s time to vote for the real black guy.”  He rocked the house in Denver that day and swept the straw poll. (3) A friend said at the time that Cain will never get nominated because he doesn’t have a chance….when pressed for a reason; none was given other than “because I think he can’t.” I heard other reasons like, he has never been in politics before, or he just ran a pizza business, or we already tried a guy with no experience and the American people won’t do that again. Well, I’m here to say the following: If we conservatives keep thinking like that, we will end up with Obama for another four years and America as we know it will be gone forever! (4) If ever there was a time for a novice politician to come in to save the day, it is now. Don’t forget, our founders were not politicians; they were farmers, businessmen and traders who had an idea. Now we have a successful businessman with actual ideas and solutions, and we pooh-pooh him, we ought to be ashamed of ourselves. Isn’t that what got us into this mess in the first place, voting professional politicians into office thinking they could fix our problems?

(The Daily Caller, Aug. 9) Terrorists, are we?  How banal the left’s invective has become.  Fiscal responsibility is no doubt a terrifying prospect to the irresponsible spenders and entitlement addicts.  But really: In their horror of sobering up, can’t Vice President Joe Biden, Congressman Mike Doyle, and Joe Nocera of the New York Times do better than to equate Tea Party patriots with suicide bombers? I’ve seen this bad movie before.  Twenty years ago, after beating me for Governor of Colorado in a race where I advocated constitutional tax and spending limits (narrowly rejected on the 1990 ballot), Democrat Roy Romer called my fellow Republican, Douglas Bruce, a terrorist for bringing up the limitation amendment again in 1992. The scare tactic failed, and Colorado voters approved our Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights, which has served the state well as both a fiscal guardrail and an economic accelerator ever since.  The competitive advantage it gives us over other states has been worth billions in jobs gained, incomes boosted, taxes unlevied, debts unincurred. Now it is the country as a whole that must either assert global competitiveness or slouch into the sunset.  The president’s hatchet man, tough-talking defender of a bankrupt status quo, hysterically denigrates those who urge us to save ourselves.  But Biden’s slur against the citizens responsibility movement of today will hurt his cause, and embolden ours, just as Romer’s rhetoric stiffened the backbone of fed-up Coloradans in the ‘90s. The Veep’s frothing and flailing bespeak the desperation of the defeated.  While this week’s deal on the debt ceiling is no great triumph for the forces of austerity, the Democrats’ fond hopes of revenue enhancement have been dashed.  Obama’s bluff was called and found false.  The irresponsibility binge, if far from over, is on warning for detox. Margaret Thatcher laughed off this kind of thing.  She regarded Biden-style invective from opponents as a sure sign that her side was winning.  Take heart, said the Iron Lady: when the other guy turns to venom, it means he’s run out of facts and logic.  So it seems we’ve got them right where we want them. Nor are Democrats the only ones sputtering farcically at the scary sight of middle America up on its hind legs in anger over Washington’s red ink.  Sen. John McCain spoke for many Beltway Republicans when he anathematized the anti-tax forces as “hobbits.” Talk about fighting words.  It’s clear there would have been no White House honors to Tolkien, if alive, from McCain, if elected. These panicky comparisons of the aroused grassroots to Frodo the Ringbearer or Carlos the Jackal by a frightened establishment are one more indicator the truly historic upheaval we’re witnessing.  America has never seen anything like this before, and the fiscal zombies of Capitol Hill have no idea what to make of it.   Within 100 days after McCain conceded limply to the triumphant Obama, a new political voice had begun roaring its demands for an end to Washington business as usual by both men’s parties.  The Tea Party – not a just another caucus of partisans but a banner for the people’s insistent purpose, as in “search party” or “farewell party” – has been on a three-year winning streak since then. In 2009 they hit the townhall circuit, raising the alarm against Obamacare and puncturing the president’s messianic pretensions.  Then in 2010 they fired Speaker Pelosi and elected a Republican House.  Now in 2011 they have stood as a stern conscience forcing Boehner’s GOP to keep its word and begin steering the country off the course to fiscal suicide.  Quite a run so far, and 2012 is still ahead. The tendency of great nations to spend themselves to death after about 250 years, and America’s need for a responsibility movement to save ourselves – morally as well as fiscally – was concerning some of us long before Republicans lost the White House.  In Colorado since 2007 we’ve been talking about Element R, a nonpartisan third force of citizens who would vow, “Responsibility begins with me.”  From this has come my new book about what America the Responsible once was and could be again – must be again, if we want the United States to see 2076. When the Western Conservative Summit, which I chaired, convened in Denver last month with a thousand delegates from 25 states, there was a lot of focus on personal responsibility as the USA’s only guarantor of freedom and only safeguard of success.  Tea Party spirit was strong, as evidenced when Herman Cain won big in the straw poll over Mitt Romney, Rick Perry, Michele Bachmann, and ten other 2012 contenders. Cain’s rousingly delivered, pro-principle, pro-reform, anti-Washington message punctuated the weekend like a thunderclap.  But there no threats of jihad from him or the other speakers, nor did the summiteers talk of dynamiting anything but the dependency ethic.  Not a hostage-taker or a terrorist in the bunch.  Joe Biden would have been so let down. John Andrews is a former president of the Colorado Senate, director of the Centennial Institute at Colorado Christian University, and the author of Responsibility Reborn: A Citizen’s Guide to the Next American Century (Denali Press, 2011)  

Centennial Institute tips our hat to Jim Czupor and Marta Sipecki of InterPro Group public relations firm in Denver, who served expertly as press secretaries for Western Conservative Summit 2011, July 29-31 in Denver.  (They previously handled the same duties for Tribute to the Troops with Sarah Palin, May 2 at the CCU campus.)  You can learn more about their firm at www.interprogroup.com. After each day's program wound up at the Summit, Jim burned the late oil compiling a log of media coverage.  His own words after the final day give the best summary: "Pretty amazing!" (Friday, July 29, 12:00 midnight) Here's a sample of coast-to-coast national news coverage from tonight's opening session.  This does not include stories carried by more than 30 TV station stories in markets around the country.  Nearly all the stories mention the Western Conservative Summit.  And, as you might imagine, all the major cities in Texas and Pennsylvania picked up AP stories about tonight's keynote speakers, Rick Petty and Rick Santorum. CBS NEWS http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/07/29/national/main20085769.shtml The Washington Timeshttp://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/jul/29/perry-slams-obama-administration-conservative-summ/ The Washington Post (AP)http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/perry-santorum-keynote-western-conservative-summit-in-denver/2011/07/29/gIQA9GdHiI_story.html NPRhttp://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=138842898 ABC News (AP)http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=14193567 ABC News "The Note"http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2011/07/rick-perry-heads-out-west-to-face-first-straw-poll-test.html ABC News "The Note"http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/07/29/7195677-2012-palins-not-so-subtle-threat FOX Newshttp://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/07/29/perry-keynotes-conservative-summit-in-denver/ NBC News (Dallas Ft. Worth)http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/politics/Perry-Brushes-Off-Attack-on-Gay-Marriage-Stance-126441073.html CBS4 (Quad Cities) (AP)http://www.whbf.com/story/15177830/perry-keynotes-conservative-summit-in-denver The Denver Posthttp://www.denverpost.com/frontpage/ci_18581020?source=rss Grand Junction Sentinelhttp://www.gjsentinel.com/breaking/articles/perry-keynotes-conservative-summit-in-denver/ Politicohttp://www.politico.com/news/stories/0711/60225.html Huffington Post (AP)http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20110729/us-perry-western-conservatives/ Salon.com (AP)http://www.salon.com/wires/politics/07/29/D9OPMPJG2_us_perry_western_conservatives/ Texas Tribunehttp://www.texastribune.org/texas-politics/2012-presidential-election/perry-beats-santorum-book-sales-conference/ The Houston Chroniclehttp://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/7676028.html Dallas Newshttp://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/headlines/20110729-perry-watch-governors-name-on-colorado-conservative-summit-ballot.ece Fort Worth Star Telegramhttp://www.star-telegram.com/2011/07/29/3257158/perry-doesnt-change-stance-on.html The State (Texas) Columnhttp://www.thestatecolumn.com/colorado/texas-gov-perry-to-face-straw-poll-in-colorado/ San Antonio Expresshttp://www.mysanantonio.com/news/article/Perry-stresses-personal-opposition-to-gay-marriage-1647370.php Austin American-Statesman (AP)http://www.statesman.com/news/texas/perry-stresses-personal-opposition-to-gay-marriage-1668416.html Galveston Daily News (AP)http://galvestondailynews.com/ap/97ea4f/ Beaumont (TX) Enterprise (AP)http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/article/Perry-keynotes-Conservative-Summit-in-Denver-1647370.php The Kansas City Star (AP)http://www.kansascity.com/2011/07/29/3045896/perry-keynotes-conservative-summit.html St. Louis Todayhttp://www.stltoday.com/news/national/govt-and-politics/article_399633f4-66ff-58b1-8f96-6cc9556b6f0c.html Newsday (AP)http://www.newsday.com/news/perry-stresses-personal-opposition-to-gay-marriage-1.3062409?qr=1 NBC News "First Read"http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/07/29/7195677-2012-palins-not-so-subtle-threat CNNhttp://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/07/29/perry-on-straw-poll-ballot-in-colorado-this-weekend/ FOX 31 Denverhttp://www.kdvr.com/news/politics/kdvr-perry-headlines-summit-txt,0,1805705.story 7NEWS Denverhttp://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/28713069/detail.html Forbes (AP)http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2011/07/29/general-us-perry-western-conservatives_8592612.html Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AP)http://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/perry-stresses-personal-opposition-1059195.html Pittsburgh Post-Gazettehttp://earlyreturns.sites.post-gazette.com/index.php/early-returns-20/53-post-gazette-staff/3108-daily-santorum-rick-vs-rick Erie (PA) Times-News (AP)http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110729/APA/1107291042 Philly Burbs (AP)http://www.phillyburbs.com/news/national/election_news/perry-stresses-personal-opposition-to-gay-marriage/article_333f2e3b-13fc-56bc-ae6c-144d6bf3b2c4.html Wilkes Barre Times-Leader (AP)http://www.timesleader.com/news/ap?articleID=7416061 Lancaster (PA) New Erahttp://lancasteronline.com/article/ap/429723_Perry-stresses-personal-opposition-to-gay-marriage.html Lebanon (PA) Daily News (AP)http://www.ldnews.com/state/ci_18581018 Commentary Magazinehttp://www.commentarymagazine.com/2011/07/29/perry-candidacy-unofficial/ Connecticut Post http://www.ctpost.com/news/article/Perry-stresses-personal-opposition-to-gay-marriage-1647370.php Seattle Post-Intelligencerhttp://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Perry-stresses-personal-opposition-to-gay-marriage-1647370.php Seattle Timeshttp://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2015771404_apusperrywesternconservatives.html The News Tribune (Tacoma) (AP)http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/07/29/1764015/perry-keynotes-conservative-summit.html The Olympian (AP)http://www.theolympian.com/2011/07/29/1742973/texas-gov-perry-reiterates-opposition.html The Omaha World-Herald (AP)http://www.omaha.com/article/20110730/AP06/307309993 Long Island Press (AP)http://www.longislandpress.com/2011/07/30/perry-stresses-personal-opposition-to-gay-marriage/ Albany Times-Union (AP)http://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Perry-stresses-personal-opposition-to-gay-marriage-1647370.php Ocala (FL) (AP)http://www.ocala.com/article/20110729/APA/1107291042 AOL News (AP)http://www.aolnews.com/story/perry-stresses-personal-opposition-to-gay-marriage/1891356/?cid=10 The Boston Globehttp://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2011/07/29/perry_keynotes_conservative_summit_in_denver/?rss_id=Boston.com+%2F+Boston+Globe+--+National+News Greenwich Time (AP)http://www.greenwichtime.com/news/article/Perry-stresses-personal-opposition-to-gay-marriage-1647370.php Charlotte Observer (AP)http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/07/29/2491130/perry-keynotes-conservative-summit.html Mytrle Beach Sun News (AP)http://www.thesunnews.com/2011/07/29/2306092/perry-keynotes-conservative-summit.html Las Vegas Sunhttp://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2011/jul/29/us-perry-western-conservatives/ Columbus (GA) Ledger-Enquirer (AP)http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/2011/07/29/1676088/perry-keynotes-conservative-summit.html San Francisco Chronicle (AP)http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/07/29/national/a184806D40.DTL    In a message dated 7/31/2011 12:39:52 A.M. Mountain Daylight Time, interprogroup@gmail.com writes:(Saturday, July 30, 12:00 midnight) Denver Post - Photos from WCShttp://photos.denverpost.com/mediacenter/2011/07/photos-western-conservative-summit/#name%20here Denver Posthttp://www.denverpost.com/legislature/ci_18583801 ABC News "The Note"http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2011/07/battle-over-marriage-rick-santorum-unleashes-on-rick-perry-for-gay-marriage-stance.html The Washington Post (Santorum quote)http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/quotations-of-the-day/2011/07/30/gIQAFcgkiI_story.html The Washington Times (Juan Williams at WCS)http://www.washingtontimes.com/blog/inside-politics/2011/jul/30/juan-williams-earns-cheers-conservatives/ Drudge Report (picks up Washington Times story)http://drudgereport.com/ National Review Online (Bolton at WCS)http://www.nationalreview.com/primary-event Secaucus New Jersey Newshttp://www.secaucusnewjersey.org/texas-governor-rick-perry-rumored-to-run-for-president-5846.html The Durango Heraldhttp://durangoherald.com/article/20110731/NEWS01/707319920/-1/s ColoradoPolshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pb5hkVu6frA Who Said You Saidhttp://www.whosaidyousaid.com/2011/07/western-conservative-summit-bright-lights-on-the-right/ (Sunday, July 31, 9:30pm) Here's a list of national coast-to-coast news coverage from today's WCS focused primarily on the Straw Poll results. It's pretty amazing! The Denver Posthttp://www.denverpost.com/commented/ci_18589938?source=commented- ABC News "The Note"http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2011/07/herman-cain-wins-western-conservative-summit-straw-poll-rick-perry-second.html CNN (Mentions CI and CCU)http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/07/31/cain-wins-denver-straw-poll/ The CNN story also appeared on local TV stations:WHIOTV - Dayton, OHWCYB - Bristol, CTKIRO- Seattle, WAKXLY-Spokane, WAWSB-Atlanta, GAKFOX, El Paso, TXWISC-Madison, WIWTOV-Stuebenville, OHKTVU, San Francisco, CAWCTI-Jacksonville, FLWJXT-Jacksonville, FLKOCO-Oklahoma City, OKWJAC - Johnstown, PAKSAT- San Antonio, TXKMBC - Kansas City, MOWMUR - Manchester, NHWLWT - Cincinnati, OHKCCI- Des Moines, IAKITV-Honolulu, HIWGAL - Lancaster, PAFoxReno - Reno, NVKSBW - California's Central Coast (Salinas, Monterey, Santa CruzWPIX, Pittsburgh, PAWBPF, Palm Beach, FL KJCT, Grand Junction, COKRDO - Colorado Springs, COKVIA - El Paso, TXKHBS-KHOG - Northwest ArkansasWRTV - Indianapolis, INKERO - Bakersfield, CAWYFF - Greenville, SCKETV - Omaha, NBKOAT - Albuquerque, NMKCRA - Sacremento, CAKPRC - Houston, TXWPTZ- Plattsburgh, NY/Burlington and Hartford, VTWFTV - Orlando, FLWMTW - Portland, WAWISN - Milwaukee, WIWDSU - New Orleans, LAWLKY - Louisville, KYWAPT - Jackson , MIWXII - Winston-Salem, NCWFMZ - Allentown, PAWSOC - Charlotte, SCKGTV - San Diego, CANBC - MontanaWDIV - Detroit, MIWESH - Orlando, FL USA Today (AP)http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/2011-07-31-cain-republicans-straw-poll_n.htm?csp=34news National Review Onlinehttp://www.nationalreview.com/primary-event/273233/cain-takes-inaugural-denver-2011-straw-poll-michael-sandoval The Washington Post (AP)http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/campaigns/cain-wins-presidential-straw-poll-of-conservatives-meeting-in-denver/2011/07/31/gIQAwNRolI_story.html The Washington Timeshttp://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/jul/31/cain-comes-on-strong-out-west/ Worlds News Online - Washington Timeshttp://www.worldnewslive.net/?p=91081 The Washington Examiner (AP)http://washingtonexaminer.com/news/nation/2011/07/cain-wins-straw-poll-conservatives-denver San Francisco Chronicle (AP)http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/07/31/politics/p131821D50.DTL Miami Herald (AP)http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/07/31/2339204/cain-wins-straw-poll-of-conservatives.html Minneapolis Star-Tribune (AP)http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/126485998.html Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AP)http://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/cain-wins-straw-poll-1062915.html Breitbarthttp://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D9OQRH2O1&show_article=1 Huffington Post (AP)http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20110731/us-republicans-straw-poll/ Politcohttp://www.politico.com/news/stories/0711/60334.html Real Clear Politics (AP)http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2011/Jul/31/cain_charms_conservatives_meeting_in_denver.html NewsMaxhttp://www.newsmax.com/InsideCover/Republicans-StrawPoll/2011/07/31/id/405501 Salon.comhttp://www.salon.com/wires/allwires/07/31/D9OQRH2O1_us_republicans_straw_poll/ Forbeshttp://billionaires.forbes.com/article/01vo3ri74V9oR?q=U.S.+Republican+Party Public Opinion Onlinehttp://www.publicopiniononline.com/ci_18589966 Macon (GA) Telegraph (AP)http://www.macon.com/2011/07/31/1650356/cain-charms-conservatives-meeting.html Macon.com (GA)http://www.macon.com/2011/07/31/1650389/cain-wins-straw-poll-of-conservatives.html Rome (GA) News-Tribune (AP)http://romenews-tribune.com/view/full_story/14905693/article-Cain-wins-straw-poll-of-conservatives-in-Denver?instance=home_news_lead The Daily Citizen-Dalton, GA (AP) http://daltondailycitizen.com/news_tab3/x1073356527/Cain-wins-straw-poll-of-conservatives-in-Denver Texas Tribunehttp://www.texastribune.org/texas-politics/2012-presidential-election/perry-distant-second-cain-denver-straw-poll/ Dallas Morning Newshttp://topics.dallasnews.com/article/07Vqgfk5QBgRP?q=Rick+Perry Houston Chronicle (AP)http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/7677594.html Fort Worth Star-Telegram (filed before the Straw Poll vote)http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/07/30/3258307/perryscope-tracking-the-governors.html San Antonio Express (AP)http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/article/Cain-wins-straw-poll-of-conservatives-in-Denver-1679384.php Austin American Statesman (AP)http://www.statesman.com/news/nation/cain-wins-straw-poll-of-conservatives-in-denver-1676933.html KCEN-TV, Temple, TX http://www.kcentv.com/story/15182222/perry-is-2nd-in-denver-presidential-straw-poll Beaumont Enterprise, TX (AP)http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/article/Cain-wins-straw-poll-of-conservatives-in-Denver-1679384.php FOX NEWShttp://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/07/31/republican-straw-poll-caps-denver-summit/ Newsdayhttp://www.newsday.com/news/cain-wins-straw-poll-of-conservatives-in-denver-1.3064935 The Seattle Times (AP)http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2015786530_apusrepublicansstrawpoll.html The Charlotte Observer (NC) (AP)http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/07/31/2494521/cain-wins-straw-poll-of-conservatives.html the Bradenton Herald (FL) (AP)http://www.bradenton.com/2011/07/31/3386787/cain-wins-straw-poll-of-conservatives.html Reno Gazette-Journal (NV) (AP)http://www.rgj.com/article/20110731/NEWS19/110731014/Cain-wins-straw-poll-conservatives-Denver-?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Local%20News|p One News Now (AP)http://www.onenewsnow.com/AP/Search/Politics/Default.aspx?id=1402604 Bellingham Herald (WA) (AP)http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2011/07/31/2123895/cain-wins-straw-poll-of-conservatives.html Tacoma News Tribune (AP)http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/07/31/1765757/cain-wins-straw-poll-of-conservatives.html Journal and Courier - Lafayette, IN (AP)http://www.jconline.com/article/20110731/NEWS/110731001/Cain-wins-straw-poll-conservatives-Denver?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|FRONTPAGE|s Sun Herald - Biloxi, Gulfport and South Mississippi (AP)http://www.sunherald.com/2011/07/31/3313842/cain-wins-straw-poll-of-conservatives.html Sacremento Bee (AP)http://www.sacbee.com/2011/07/31/3806860/cain-wins-straw-poll-of-conservatives.html San Jose Mercury News (AP)http://www.mercurynews.com/presidentelect/ci_18589966 Seattle Post-Intelligencer (AP)http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Cain-wins-straw-poll-of-conservatives-in-Denver-1679384.php Las Vegas Sun (AP)http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2011/jul/31/us-republicans-straw-poll/ Danbury News-Times (CT) (AP)http://www.newstimes.com/news/article/Cain-wins-straw-poll-of-conservatives-in-Denver-1679384.php Stamford Advocate (CT) (AP)http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/Cain-wins-straw-poll-of-conservatives-in-Denver-1679384.php Boston Globe (AP)http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2011/07/31/cain_wins_straw_poll_of_conservatives_in_denver/ Mrytle Beach Sun News (SC) (AP)http://www.thesunnews.com/2011/07/31/2308135/cain-wins-straw-poll-of-conservatives.html San Diego Union-Tribune (AP)http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/jul/31/cain-wins-straw-poll-of-conservatives-in-denver/ Connecticut Post (AP)http://www.ctpost.com/news/article/Cain-wins-straw-poll-of-conservatives-in-Denver-1679384.php Greenwich Time (CT) (AP)http://www.greenwichtime.com/news/article/Cain-wins-straw-poll-of-conservatives-in-Denver-1679384.php Westport News (CT) (AP)http://www.greenwichtime.com/news/article/Cain-wins-straw-poll-of-conservatives-in-Denver-1679384.php Albany Times-Union (AP)http://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Cain-wins-straw-poll-of-conservatives-in-Denver-1679384.php Buffalo News (NY) (AP)http://www.buffalonews.com/wire-feeds/24-hour-national-news/article507625.ece News-Observer - Raleigh, NC (AP)http://www.newsobserver.com/2011/07/31/1381602/cain-wins-straw-poll-of-conservatives.html The Kansas City Star (AP)http://www.kansascity.com/2011/07/31/3048346/cain-wins-straw-poll-of-conservatives.html The Wichita Eagle (KS) (AP)http://www.kansas.com/2011/07/31/1956138/cain-wins-straw-poll-of-conservatives.html Centre Daily Times - State Collge, PA (AP)http://www.centredaily.com/2011/07/31/2864290/cain-wins-straw-poll-of-conservatives.html Lebanon Daily News (PA) (AP)http://www.ldnews.com/state/ci_18589966 York Dispatch (PA) (AP)http://www.yorkdispatch.com/penn/ci_18589966 Modesto Bee (CA) (AP)http://www.modbee.com/2011/07/31/1797677/cain-wins-straw-poll-of-conservatives.html The Olympian (WA) (AP)http://www.theolympian.com/2011/07/31/1744475/cain-wins-straw-poll-of-conservatives.html The Times-Leader (Wilkes Barre, PA) (AP)http://www.timesleader.com/news/ap?articleID=7420336 Fort Collins Coloradoan (AP)http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20110731/UPDATES01/110731012/Herman-Cain-wins-Colorado-conservative-straw-poll?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News Belleville News Democrat, Belleville, IL (AP)http://www.bnd.com/2011/07/31/1806278/cain-wins-straw-poll-of-conservatives.html Columbus Ledger-Enguirer (GA) (AP)http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/2011/07/31/1677832/cain-wins-straw-poll-of-conservatives.html The Herald - Rock Hill, SC (AP)http://www.heraldonline.com/2011/07/31/3259642/cain-wins-straw-poll-of-conservatives.html Daily Journal, Franklin, IN (AP)http://www.dailyjournal.net/view/story/1337929e5c6848f2aa60087592e650db/CO--Republicans-Straw-Poll/ The Republic, Columbus, IN (AP)http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/1337929e5c6848f2aa60087592e650db/CO--Republicans-Straw-Poll/ National TV stations that picked up the AP Story:CBS Atlanta, GA KVUE-TV Austin, TX 13WMAZ-Macon, GA WWLTV - New Orleans, LA7NEWS Denver, CO CBS5 - Cheyenne, WY Northern Colorado 5 -- Fort Collins, Loveland, Greeley KTNV - Las Vegas, NVKOIN - Portland, ORWXXA - Albany, NYCBS21 - Harrisburg, PAKGET - Bakersfield, CAWHAM- Rochester, NYKPVI - Pocatello/Idaho Falls, IDWETM - Elmira/Corning, NYWNCT - Greenville/Jacksonville, NCWFMJ - Youngstown, OHWGGB - Springfield, MAWSLS - Roanoke, VAKLTV - Tyler, TXWSHM - Springfield, MAKIII - Corpus Christi, TXKSWO - Wichita Falls, TXNECN - Boston, MAWIS - Columbia, SCWLNE - Providence, RIKTRK - Houston, TXWRCB - Chattanooga, TNKFDA - Amarillo, TXWGCL - Atlanta, GAWHTM - Lancaster, PAWMBF - Myrtle Beach, SCKWES - Midland, TXWCSC - Charleston, SCValleyNewsLive - Fargo/Grand Forks, ND WSB - Atlanta, GA9NEWS - Denver, CO More Coverage from Saturday Des Moines Registerhttp://caucuses.desmoinesregister.com/2011/07/30/santorum-supports-federal-definition-of-marriage/ New York Daily Newshttp://origin.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2011/07/end-game-still-no-debt-deal-obamas-losing-indies-and-bloomberg-outlines-911-ce Longview News-Journal (TX) (AP)http://www.news-journal.com/news/local/article_627c599e-bba9-11e0-90e1-001cc4c03286.html         

(Syndicated Columnist & Centennial Fellow) Some liberals inform us that conservative criticism of President Barack Obama is racially motivated, which is why they would no doubt be surprised that conservatives gathered in Denver recently gave some of their loudest cheers for presidential aspirant Herman Cain. Did they not notice he was black?Of course they did, but it didn't matter. By the calculations of my own internal applause meter, they were at least meagerly less enthusiastic about the speeches of white Republican candidate Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania and white Texas governor Rick Perry, whose hints he'll run are about as subtle as his state is small.They also embraced the remarks of several other blacks, including those of Juan Williams. You'll remember he was the Fox commentator who also worked for National Public Radio before it decided to crack down on free speech.He had said on Fox that he might feel nervous seeing Muslims at an airport because he knew some radical Muslims had given us 9/11, but made it clear such feelings were out of place because most Muslims were fine, decent folks. You would have to be insane or a left-wing zealot to think that's a firing offense, but I repeat myself. At any rate, the issue is between the NPR bosses of the time and their psychiatrists.Juan Williams is himself a liberal, and still got a warm reception at the Western Conservative Summit. Consider that and then consider what conservative commentator Ann Coulter has to take with her when she gives speeches on liberal campuses -- bodyguards. This audience heaped huzzahs on Williams when he said all sides need to listen to each other, and this brings me to stating explicitly what I've been hinting at: While obviously passionate on some subjects, the people attending were also polite, cheerful, informed, reasonable and the possible salvation of America.I make a point of this not because it is unusual to find Americans cut of the same courteous, constructive cloth, but because whole bunches of left-wingers are forever telling us the Tea Party activists, Christian conservatives, economic conservatives and libertarian enthusiasts have the compassion of al Qaeda and the intellectual heft of a Dick-and-Jane reader. What was the word Vice President Joe Biden used about the Tea Party the other day -- terrorists? Lefties resort to this ad hominem attack because the world has been busily disproving their worn-out idea of a statist utopia while the principles of conservatives are as fresh as the founders were, are and will be.Speaking of that, the most important content point of the conference was that this nation is in deep, deep trouble, partly because of an overwhelming debt, but also because of a steady march toward dignity-denying, freedom-cheating, socialist-style ambitions making serfs of us all, and a wimpy, blame-us, sovereignty-erasing foreign policy. Making the latter observation was the brilliant John Bolton, former U.N. ambassador and future secretary of state if a Republican with sense gets elected president in 2012. To me, the scariest thing he talked about was how a nuclear-armed Iran could be a WMD supplier to real terrorists (not members of the Tea Party) and would definitely change the balance of power. Our White House fiddles while this issue irradiates.Also hugely impressive was Arthur Brooks, president of the American Enterprise Institute and someone making the factually demonstrable point that nations that cut spending to get themselves out of debt are many times more successful than those that try to tax themselves out of debt, or even tax and cut.I'd like to talk about all the speakers, but must now move on to full disclosure by bragging that I am an uncompensated fellow of the Centennial Institute, the think tank that organized and sponsored the conference along with small but culture-changing Colorado Christian University, where I'll help teach a course this fall. For that I will be paid and won't mind a bit.Jay Ambrose, formerly Washington director of editorial policy for Scripps Howard newspapers and the editor of dailies in El Paso, Texas, and Denver, is a columnist living in Colorado.

The results of the Western Conservative Summit 2011 Denver Presidential Straw Poll are in, and the winner is Herman Cain with 48 percent of the vote.  Rick Perry was the runner-up with 13 percent. A total of 508 ballots were cast over the three-day conference. Results were announced at the closing session of the Western Conservative Summit 2011 held at the Denver Marriott City Center, 1701 California Street in downtown Denver. Event organizer and Director of the Centennial Institute John Andrews said,  “The Denver Straw Poll is the first test of 2012 presidential preferences among grassroots activists in Colorado and the Western states.  Conference attendees included Republican volunteers, Tea Party activists, conservatives and libertarians of all kinds, along with members of the faith comunity. "To keep it fair," Andrews added, "the straw poll ballot included a voting line for the only announced Democratic candidate, President Obama, as well as write-in options for any other Democrat and for any third-party candidate.”  The Denver Straw Poll ballot alphabetically listed the following announced and undecided Republican candidates. Their names and percent of votes follows: Michele Bachmann- 9 % John Bolton- 4% Herman Cain- 48% Newt Gingrich- 1% Rudy Giuliani- 0% Jon Huntsman- 0% Gary Johnson-0% Thaddeus McCotter- 0% Sarah Palin- 1% Ron Paul- 2% Tim Pawlenty- 1% Rick Perry- 13% Mitt Romney- 10% Rick Santorum- 10% Paul Ryan received one write-in vote. Texas Governor Rick Perry (R), who is considering a run for U.S. President in 2012, and presidential candidate Rick Santorum (R-Pa) keynoted the opening night dinner session on Friday, July 29. Herman Cain, another candidate, spoke this morning on the topic of “This Time, Real Change.” Cain is former chairman and CEO of Godfather’s Pizza and former chairman of the Board of Directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. John Bolton, former US Ambassador to the United Nations, who has said he will decide in September about his 2012 White House bid, also addressed the delegates on Saturday morning, July 30. His topic was "Defending America in a Dangerous World." Western Conservative Summit 2011 is presented by Centennial Institute, a public policy think tank affiliated with Colorado Christian University in Lakewood, Colorado, and in partnership with 710 KNUS, The Daily Caller, Independence Institute, Colorado Union of Taxpayers, CitizenLink (part of Focus on the Family), Americans for Prosperity, the Heritage Foundation, Tea Party Patriots of Colorado, and 30 other conservative groups.  Summit co-chairs are John Andrews, director of the Centennial Institute, and Bill Armstrong, president of Colorado Christian University.  Andrews is a columnist for The Denver Post and is former president of the Colorado Senate and author of the recently released book Responsibility Reborn: A Citizen’s Guide to the Next American Century.  Armstrong is a former businessman and represented Colorado in the U.S. House of Representatives (1972-1978) and the U.S. Senate (1978-1990). The Centennial Institute at Colorado Christian University works to enhance public understanding of the most important issues relating to faith, family and freedom.  As part of this endeavor, the Institute focuses its efforts on conducting research, analyzing public policy options and sponsoring seminars, conferences, and other activities that involve students, faculty, staff and outside experts. For more information: www.ccu.edu/centennial  

Centennial Institute announced today that it will hold a 2012 presidential straw poll at the upcoming Western Conservative Summit in Denver.  Balloting will take place at 11:00 a..m, Sunday, July 31. Results will be announced at 12:45 p.m. The Denver Straw Poll will be the first test of 2012 presidential preferences among grassroots activists in Colorado and the Western states.  Summit organizer John Andrews said the target audience for his annual conference is movement conservatives, the faith community, Republican volunteers, and Tea Party activists. “No one knows yet who the Republican nominee for president will be," said Andrews, "but this should be a lot of fun for anyone interested in presidential politics - and particularly revealing in terms of next year's wild card, the Tea Party.  "To keep it fair," Andrews added, "the straw poll ballot includes a voting line for the only announced Democratic candidate, President Obama, as well as write-in options for any other Democrat and for any third-party candidate.” Western Conservative Summit 2011 runs Friday through Sunday, July 29-31 at the Denver Marriott City Center, 1701 California Street in downtown Denver. Andrews said the Summit will be at capacity with more than 900 delegates expected from 20 states.  They will have the opportunity to see and meet two announced Republican candidates and two who are still unannounced, but considered to be potential candidates.  Texas Governor Rick Perry (R), who is considering a run for U.S. President in 2012, and presidential candidate Rick Santorum will keynote the opening night session.  Santorum, a former U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania, and Governor Perry will speak about “America at the Crossroads” at the Summit’s welcome dinner which begins at 6:00 p.m., Friday, July 29. Herman Cain, another presidential candidate, speaks at the Summit at 10:30 a.m., on Sunday, July 31.  His topic is “This Time, Real Change.” Cain is former chairman and CEO of Godfather’s Pizza and former chairman of the Board of Directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. John Bolton, former US Ambassador to the United Nations, who has said he will decide in September about his 2012 White House bid, will address the delegates on Saturday morning, July 30, at 10:00 am.  His topic is "Defending America in Dangerous World." The Denver Straw Poll ballot, printed as part of each delegate's program book, alphabetically lists the following announced and undecided Republican candidates: Michele Bachmann, John Bolton, Herman Cain, Newt Gingrich, Rudy Giuliani, Jon Huntsman, Gary Johnson, Thaddeus McCotter, Sarah Palin, Ron Paul, Tim Pawlenty, Rick Perry, Mitt Romney, and Rick Santorum, in addition to the listing for President Obama and the write-in lines.  John Andrews noted  that invitations to send a campaign video or surrogate speaker have gone out to all GOP candidates who are officially in the race but not attending the conference. Western Conservative Summit 2011 is presented by Centennial Institute, a public policy think tank affiliated with Colorado Christian University in Lakewood, Colorado. Additional Summit speakers are: 1. Fox News Analysts Juan Williams and Dick Morris 2. Political Commentator Tucker Carlson 3. Syndicated Newspaper Columnist Cal Thomas 4. Democratic Pollster Pat Caddell 5. Salem Radio Talk Show Host Dennis Prager 6. Author and Commentator Mark Steyn 7. Vice President of Young America’s Foundation Kate Obenshain 8. Founder and President of the Center for Security Policy Frank Gaffney 9. President of the American Enterprise Institute Arthur Brooks 10. Comedian Brad Stine 11. “The Big Black Lie” Author Kevin Jackson 12. Businessman and Philanthropist Foster Friess Full conference tickets are $250; separate session tickets are $80 and allow participants to attend either (a) Friday only; (b) Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.; (c) Saturday from 1:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.; or (d) Sunday only.  Individual sessions include lunch or dinner; or Sunday brunch. Western Conservative Summit originated in 2010 at Lone Tree, Colorado. This year's event, moved to Denver to accommodate audience demand, is presented in partnership with 710 KNUS, The Daily Caller, Independence Institute, Colorado Union of Taxpayers, CitizenLink (part of Focus on the Family), Americans for Prosperity, the Heritage Foundation, Tea Party Patriots of Colorado, and 30 other conservative groups.  Summit co-chairs are John Andrews, director of the Centennial Institute, and Bill Armstrong, president of Colorado Christian University.  Andrews is a columnist for The Denver Post and is former president of the Colorado Senate and author of the recently released book Responsibility Reborn: A Citizen’s Guide to the Next American Century.  Armstrong is a former businessman and represented Colorado in the U.S. House of Representatives (1972-1978) and the U.S. Senate (1978-1990).

(Story by Lynn Bartels from DenverPost.com, June 30) Texas Gov. Rick Perry, a potential candidate for president in 2012, will be the keynote speaker at this year’s Western Conservative Summit. Another presidential contender, Herman Cain, and Fox News Commentator Juan Williams also are the who’s who speaking list. Rick Perry at a recent Republican event (AP Photo, Gregory Bull) The event begins July 29 at the downtown Denver Marriott, which means, alas, not another replay of last year’s hilarious Lone Tree branding controversy. (More on that later.) Among the questions that will be explored at the conference: Can Republicans and the Tea Party work together? The theme for this year’s summit is “Fulfilling America’s Promise,” said John Andrews, president of the Centennial Institute, which is co-hosting the event. He drew comparisons between the late President Reagan and President Obama. “Our president says America needs to be fundamentally transformed. Reagan, the hero of conservatives, said ‘We’re that shining city on the hill, our best days are yet to come,’” Andrews said. “The summit explores this crossroads.” Perry will speak Friday night on July 29, with speakers and workshops scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, ending with a straw poll on the presidential race. U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann, now a presidential candidate, was the keynote speaker at last year’s first-ever summit. Andrews said he believes her appearance in Colorado helped shine her star. Last year’s event was held at the Marriott South on Park Meadows Drive, which has a Littleton mailing address. But conference organizers continually used a Lone Tree dateline, and also asked summit participants to sign a Lone Tree Declaration, affirming “six tenets of who we are and what we stand for.” The city of Lone Tree was not amused after the Denver Post printed the six tenets and it received complaints from citizens. The city pointed out the conference wasn’t even in Lone Tree, which inspired a great Andrews one-liner. “Technically it’s not, but to quote Tina Fey, ‘We can see Lone Tree from the hotel,”‘ he said at the time. Andrews said the conference this year was moved to Denver in part because of the size: They expected 300 attendees last year and got about 900. But he also wasn’t happy with the “get lost” feeling he said he got from Lone Tree officials. “It just kind of wounded us. We said, ‘OK, we’ll go somewhere else,” he said. And just a warning to Lone Tree city officials: The Lone Tree Declaration is back, although it will be slightly revised. “We’re prepared that the chicken-little politicians of Lone Tree may feel the sky is falling but it’s a risk we’re willing to take,” Andrew said. The new Lone Tree Declaration is still being tweaked. Here’s some of what was in last year’s: 1. In our adherence to the self-evident truths of the American Founding, we are conservatives. 2. In our debt to the civilizational heritage of Jerusalem, Athens, Rome, London, and Philadelphia, we are Westerners. 3. In our concern for the mounting threat to liberty, seeing freedom in the balance, we convene with solemn purpose at this Summit. 4. We seek a conservative renewal for our country through civic action that puts principle above party, resists the corruption of power, bridges intramural disagreements or rivalries, and protects an open public square centered on the nation’s Judeo-Christian core. 5. We commit ourselves unswervingly to a political and social order that upholds individual freedom and personal responsibility, limited government and the rule of law, free enterprise and private property, traditional family values and sanctity of life, compassion for the poor and voluntarism in service to others, natural law and morality, strong defense and secure borders, all in keeping with the original intent of the Constitution. 6. We reject, and will resist, the socialist temptation, transnational progressivism, secular utopian illusions, appeasement, disarmament, or capitulation to jihad and sharia. Article printed from The Spothttp://blogs.denverpost.com/thespot/2011/06/30/texas-gov-rick-perry-to-kick-off-colorado-conservative-summit/33180/    

So an Obama impersonator, Reggie Brown, got the hook at a GOP leadership conference when his jokes hit too close to home? None of that at Western Conservative Summit 2011, July 29-31 in Denver. Our program includes comedian Brad Stine as well as contrarians Juan Williams and Pat Caddell. Register today at www.WesternConservativeSummit.com.    

(Scripps Howard Syndicate) Just maybe, possibly, conceivably we've come to a non-violent revolutionary moment in America, and here's one reason I think so: A Denver area conference. Called the Western Conservative Summit 2010, it impressed me not just because of the recitation of principles to which I subscribe -- individual liberty, limited government, constitutionalism, strength in the face of our enemies -- but because of the mood conveyed by both the audience of some 600 and more than a dozen speakers. Their disposition struck me as cheerful, positive and informed more by an idea of mission than anger at the other side. Dennis Prager, a radio talk show host, told the crowd that liberals were mostly good people, that many people in his own family were liberals. Don't attack them, he said. It's their fallacious arguments you want to deal with. He spoke of the great slogan on coins, "E Pluribus Unum," meaning of course that out of many different people, we are still one as a nation. Republican Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota talked about self-sacrifice, unity and dedication to one another as Americans. She ended her speech with the true story of four chaplains in World War II, a Jewish rabbi, a Roman Catholic priest and two Protestant pastors. Aboard a ship that was hit by a torpedo, they did everything they could to help the men aboard survive, even taking off their own lifejackets to give to others. They went down with the ship, their arms linked together. Putting such earnestly conveyed feelings of purposes beyond the narrowly partisan together with various acute analyses, I had an image of an emotionally balanced, powerful, alert, energized, morally informed, widely inclusive force awakened from slumber by an overly leftist administration and marching toward something pretty big.  I don't mean just possible conservative control of the House after the November election, but rather long-term, significant efforts to subdue the threat of runaway statism while maintaining this country as "the last, best hope of earth," in the words of Abraham Lincoln.  Of course, one regional gathering does not a revolution make. In and of itself, it proved nothing, though quite a bit, it seems to me, in the context of the town hall and Tea Party protests, of radio, cable TV and Internet commentary coming on top of what is being said in more traditional media and of polls telling us that increasing numbers of Americans are frightened about the direction of government. It is extraordinary to see the Tea Party rallies involving everyday, middle class Americans. Bashed, of course, as racists -- unlike Prager, many liberals cannot live without the ad hominem slur -- they are nothing of the kind. What set them off as much as anything was a new, ill-conceived, vastly controlling, misrepresented health-care entitlement that will cost hundreds of billions over the years on top of other entitlements that could be economically ruinous all by themselves. If you think the Tea Party represents just a tiny slice of America in its disenchantment with almost all things concerning Barack Obama, check out a recent Washington Post-ABC News poll saying close to six in 10 voters think the president is more apt to be wrong than right in policies. Most would agree with the Tea Party that the president's handling of the economy is better described as a mishandling of the economy. The public has even less use for both parties in Congress, as it should, given the irresponsibility of so many Republican and Democratic members. Some might think conservatives are still too unrepresentative of the whole to have long-term sway. But consider, first, that the latest Gallup poll says 42 percent of Americans call themselves conservatives while only 20 percent say they are liberal. Then consider estimates that no more than 40 to 45 percent of American colonists were clearly behind the independence movement while 20 percent remained steadfastly loyal to Great Britain.  Remember who came out on top?  (Jay Ambrose, formerly Washington director of editorial policy for Scripps Howard newspapers and the editor of dailies in El Paso and Denver, is a columnist living in Colorado. He can be reached at SpeaktoJay@aol.com.)

(CCU Student) Looking back at Western Conservative Summit 2010 through the eyes of a future soldier, the words I remember most are these: "What price are you willing to pay for freedom?"They were spoken by the last man from whom I would expect to receive a lesson in patriotism -- a Lebanese PLO operative who partook in missions against Israel and the west from the time he was a child. However, Kamal Saleem’s words at Western Conservative Summit were probably the most moving and thought provoking of the entire weekend. Kamal Saleem was born in Beirut, Leabanon to parents who devoutly followed Shariah law and the teachings of Jihad and the Koran. Saleem participated in his first mission against Israel with the PLO at the mere age of seven. He continued to follow his beliefs and fight against the west throughout his entire childhood and yong adult life. As a young man, Saleem was a frequent house guest and strong friend of Omar Khadafi and his family. Saleem helped to train terrosts to fight against the United States and Israel and instructed numerous organizations from the IRA to the Black Panthers. Eventually, he was sent to the United States and given the task of secretly recruiting young Muslim men in America to travel to the Middle East and join in the Jihad against Israel and her ally, the United States. While here in the United States,Saleem was involved in an acciddent and was taken in by a Christian and Jewish family. Because of the amazing love and grace of these individuals, Saleem found the love of Christ and left his old life of evil behind. He now is a steadfast believer and an ardent patriot of his new home, the United States. During his speech, Saleem asked us who would stand on the wall and defend freedom from her enemies. This is when his speech particualrly began to grab my attention. As a cadet in the Army ROTC program at CCU, I have truly begun to dig into and explore the concept of deending freedom and protecting the American people from the enemy. And frankly, I am more than willing to stand on the wall next to Mr. Saleem any time. It is the bravery of this man that insired me and moved me so much. I couldn’t help but share my feelings with Mr. Saleem and the moment we shared will be with me forever. When I told Mr Saleem how I felt about what he said and that I was preparing to become an officer in the Army, it brought tears to his (and to mine) and he shared with me his heartfelt gratitude that I have rarely felt from anyone else during my time as a cadet. Something that Saleem asked the crowd was what they were willing to pay in exchange for the freedom we have in the United States. Sadly, I do not think many in the crowd, and in this nation, can answer that question. The majority of us simply go on through our lives and never give it a second thought. As a result, fewer and fewer men and women are willing to stand up and a make a consious decision to stand guard for freedom. Let us hope that with men like Kamal Saleem and others, more freedom lovers will take to the wall. Whether it be with a microphone, a pen, a computer, or a rifle, we all have a part to play in keeping the American dream and liberty alive and safe.